Abstract: A microwavable container useful in the microwave heating of items, particularly foodstuffs, comprises readily separable components. An outer shell which will remain relatively cool and, therefore, capable of being handled, is flexibly hinged to an inner shell capable of sustaining high temperatures. The inner shell rotatably folds about the flexible hinge in such a way that it is arranged in a substantially spaced relation to the outer shell and is releasably secured to the outer shell. The outer shell is made of a first microwavable polymeric material. The inner shell is made of a second microwavable polymeric material which is different from the first microwavable polymeric material. A consumer may heat a food product in the inner shell of the present invention without risking contact with that inner shell when the inner shell becomes hot. After use, the components are readily separable for separate recycling processes.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to determine the amount of oil and water or brine in a representative core sample of reservoir rock at an overburden stress which approximates reservoir stress conditions. The core sample is initially saturated with reservoir hydrocarbon (crude oil) and aqueous fluids (water or brine). The core sample is surrounded with an elastic jacket, or sleeve, and placed in a confining pressure vessel that simulates reservoir overburden stress on the core sample. The hydrocarbon (oil) fluids and aqueous fluids (water or brine) are than extracted from the core sample with a solvent capable of dissolving both aqueous and hydrocarbon fluids. The solvent and aqueous fluids are separated from the hydrocarbon fluids by evaporation. Thereafter the aqueous fluids are separated from the solvent by extraction. The amounts of oil and aqueous fluids from the sample may be separately determined.

Abstract: A borehole logging tool is lowered into a borehole traversing a subsurface formation and a neutron detector measures the die-away of nuclear radiation in the formation. Intensity signals are produced representing the die-away of nuclear radiation as the logging tool traverses the borehole A signal processor, employing at least one neural network, processes the intensity signals and produces a standoff-corrected epithermal neutron lifetime signal to correct for standoff from the borehole wall encountered by the detector as the logging tool traverses the borehole. The signal processor further generates a porosity signal from the standoff-corrected epithermal neutron lifetime signal derived from measurements in borehole models at known porosities and conditions of detector standoff. A log is generated of such porosity signal versus depth as the logging tool traverses the borehole.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously matrix acidizing two spaced apart zones of a carbonate containing formation. Initially, a lower density acid is injected into an upper zone of said formation hereby forming wormholes which make this zone more permeable. Simultaneous with the injection of the lower density acid, a higher density acid is injected into a lower spaced apart zone of said formation at a pressure sufficient to simultaneously form wormholes within said lower zone thereby acidizing each zone simultaneously. Thereafter, a solidifiable viscous gel with gel breakers is directed into the upper and lower zones which gel enters the wormholes and forms a solid gel therein which precludes entry of additional acid while displacing the acid further into the formation. Subsequently, additional acid is introduced into the upper and lower zones which acid bypasses the wormholes containing the solid gel and penetrates substantially further thereby substantially increasing the permeability of the formation.

Abstract: A core sample of a porous rock from a subterranean reservoir is placed in a pressure cell holder. The sample is desaturated to first fluid irreducible desaturation with a second fluid through a porous plate preferentially wet to only the first fluid. The sample is then flooded with a plurality of first and second fluid ratios. Core pressure is measured along the core at various differential pressure plateau's during initial first fluid desaturation and again during fluid flooding with first and second fluids. A computed tomography (CT) scanning system provides images of the density distribution within the core sample during such flooding. Fluid saturation, determined from these CT images, and the pressure measurements are used to determine the relative permeability and capillary pressure responses of the fluids within the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: A method to reduce water coning in viscous oil formations during primary oil production wherein a horizontal wellbore is heated by circulating steam therein thereby heating a radial area near the wellbore. Near wellbore heating alters a pressure profile in the radial area near the wellbore. Reduced inflow pressure gradients near the wellbore flatten out a pressure sink associated with the wellbore. This reduces substantially water coning which allows more oil to be produced before high water production begins.

Abstract: The invention is a foam method for improving conformance during a steam flood or carbon dioxide flood in a subterranean, oil-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well. In a steam flood oil recovery process, sweep efficiency is improved by injecting steam until steam breakthrough occurs at the production well after which a mixture of steam, a noncondensible gas, and an aqueous surfactant-starch solution is injected into the formation. The aqueous surfactant-starch solution forms a stable foam with the formation oil at formation conditions that reduce the permeability of the highly permeable steam swept zones thereby diverting the steam to other portions of the formation containing unswept oil. The starch is used as a partial substitute for the surfactant to improve the cost of the foam-forming mixture without reducing its effectiveness in increasing sweep efficiency.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method of hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation wherein two horizontally spaced-apart wells are provided and completed to communicate with the formation. Hydraulic fluid pressure is sequentially applied to create and propagate vertical fractures into the formation and to create a vertical fracture that communicates both wells.

Abstract: A method for replacing a damaged or corroded casing with a solid plastic is described herein. After removing the corroded or damaged casing from the wellbore, the borehole is underreamed to a desired diameter. Thereafter, a resin/curing agent mixture sufficient to form a hardened plastic or resin able to withstand downhole stresses, is placed into the wellbore so as to bind with the undamaged casing and close off any thief zone. Subsequently, the resin/curing agent mixture forms a hardened solid. The hardened solid is milled out so as to form a resinous casing the size of the original casing. Later, the hardened resinous casing is perforated to communicate with a targeted zone. Perforation is not required when isolating a zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for protecting pipe joints during shipment. Each individual pipe joint to be stacked in the hold of a ship for transport has several rope rings assembled therearound. Rope rings are assembled around the pipe joints during or just prior to the loading operation, using flexible plastic locking strips to secure the ends of lengths of multiple-stranded hemp rope together forming protective rings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a film comprising a low density linear ethylene copolymer of ethylene and a higher olefin and up to about 10 percent by weight of the total composition of an acrylic polymer.

Abstract: An improved method for removing organic residue from ZSM-18 which can be used during zeolite synthesis or with an as-synthesized ZSM-18. When used during synthesis, a minute amount of noble metal is incorporated into the ZSM-18. Alternatively, a noble metal-containing precursor is impregnated onto as-synthesized ZSM-18. Thereafter, ZSM-18 united with the noble metal is reduced in hydrogen at 200.degree. C. for about 1 hour. Next, ZSM-18 united with the noble metal is calcined at 300.degree. C. for 10-24 hours, and subsequently at 500.degree. C. for 1-3 hours thereby producing a ZSM-18 material that is free of organic residue.

Abstract: A domed container. The container includes a receptacle and dome cover therefore having locking means for releasably locking the cover to the receptacle. The receptacle includes a bottom wall having a top surface delimited by an upstanding rib and terminating in an outwardly extending resilient rim.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing a well completion having a gravel-packed annulus formed by a liner and a well casing, the annulus having at least one region within the gravel pack which is devoid of gravel.

Abstract: A laundry basket and a handle assembly therefor are disclosed. The laundry basket includes a walled container having a peripheral rim about a substantial portion thereof, a pair of opposing hand openings adjacent the peripheral rim, and a pair of handle members extending, respectively, about the rim and through the hand openings, each of the handle members including a bottom portion positioned below the rim, the bottom portion defining an upper boundary of one of the hand openings and a top portion, the top portion being connected to the bottom portion, wherein one of the top or bottom portions of each of the handle members is integral to the peripheral rim. Each portion of the handle members preferably includes a curved exterior surface to facilitate the lifting and carrying of the basket.

Abstract: Recorded seismic traces are gathered into common offset groups. Within each group, the traces are arranged according to shot point number. Mean and standard deviations are determined for each trace. High frequency amplitude variations in the mean and standard deviations caused by variations in source strengths and receiver calibrations are removed to produce traces of low frequency amplitude variations representing subsurface geology or wave propagation effects.

Abstract: A broadline seismic survey is carried out by positioning a plurality of areal arrays of seismic detectors along each of a plurality of broadline receiver lines along the surface of the earth. Array centers along an inline direction of each receiver line are staggered by one-half of an array interval from array centers along the inline direction of adjacent receiver lines. Each detector array on a given receiver line is elongated in a cross-line direction to such receiver line to effect an areal array coverage between broadline centers of the adjacent receiver lines being on opposite sides of the given receiver line. The seismic detectors in each array are connected in common to a recording means.

Abstract: A flexible plastic slider having sidewalls normally diverging outwardly and spaced apart a distance adequate for transverse installation of the slider over the profiled elements of a zipper with rigidizing structure on the slider to move the sidewalls into and retain them in an assembled position on the zipper to prevent the slider from being lifted off the zipper.