Abstract: A vibratory separator for separating components of material introduced to the vibratory separator, the vibratory separator in one particular aspect being a shale shaker, the vibratory separator including a basket for holding screening apparatus, the basket having two sides spaced-apart by a first end at which the material is introduced into the basket and a second end spaced-apart from the first end, components separated from the material exiting the basket from the second end, vibrating apparatus connected to the basket for vibrating the basket, screening apparatus mounted in the basket, the screening apparatus having at least a first portion and a second portion, the first portion at the first end of the screen and the first portion lower in the basket than the second portion, receptacle apparatus below the screening apparatus for receiving material components flowing through the screening apparatus, maintenance apparatus for maintaining height of a portion of the screening apparatus, and a pool of the mate

Abstract: A system for increasing efficiency of a closed-earth-loop heat pump system; for increasing heat pump efficiency by feeding relatively colder water to heat pumps when they operate in a cooling mode; and, in certain aspects, systems for using excess produced heat and/or waste heat generated by an air conditioning system that employs an earth loop heat exchange apparatus, the system having power production apparatus that uses the excess produced heat and/or waste heat from air conditioning apparatus to generate electricity and reduce the heat dissipation load on the earth loop heat exchange apparatus; and, in one aspect, such a system that provides cooling fluid to a fuel cell that produces water and electricity.

Abstract: An earth wellbore heat loop system has been developed which has, in certain aspects, a heat loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth to a bottom of the wellbore, a heat loop disposed in the heat loop wellbore and extending down to a position near the bottom thereof, the heat loop including a heat loop comprising pipe and a bottom member, the pipe extending down to the bottom member on one side thereof and up from the bottom member on another side thereof, the bottom member comprising a body, a first bore through the body extending from a first opening of the body to a second opening of the body, the first opening and the second opening each sized and configured for receipt therein of an end of a heat loop pipe, a second bore having at least a one opening on the body, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing.

Abstract: Methods for making screen assemblies and screens for a vibratory separator or shale shaker, such methods including applying glue in a glue pattern to at least one layer of screening material, said applying done by powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect moving with powered mechanical screen movement apparatus the at least one layer of screening material beneath the powered moving mechanical glue application apparatus; in one aspect, using hot melt moisture-curing glue, and in one aspect facilitating the cure of moisture-curing glue by applying moisture to it.

Abstract: A screen support for supporting screening material of a screen assembly for use on a shale shaker for separating components of material introduced thereto, the screen support having a body, a plurality of spaced apart holes through the body, each of said holes for receiving part of a fastener used for releasably connecting the screen assembly to a shale shaker; the screen support in certain aspects being a frame, a perforated plate, a strip support or a unibody structure; a screen assembly with such a support; such a screen assembly, in certain aspects, with a plastic grid or layer with corresponding fastener holes; a shale shaker with any such screen assembly; and methods of their use.

Abstract: A clamp system for releasably securing a screen to a vibratory separator apparatus, and methods of its use, and a plate for such a system, the clamp system having, in certain aspects, a plate for contacting a screen end of a screen to be mounted to a vibratory separator apparatus, the plate having a plate linear dimension and the screen end having a screen linear dimension, the plate having a plate body, a bolt with a first end extendable through the plate and a second end extendable through part of the vibratory separator apparatus, the bolt tightenable in place to hold the plate in position with respect to the screen and the vibratory separator apparatus, and the plate linear dimension substantially equal to the screen end linear dimension.

Abstract: A screen which in at least certain aspects has at least one layer of screening material, at least one ramp formed on the at least one layer of screening material, and the at least one ramp having an upwardly projecting portion and also a lower portion or piece connected to the at least one layer of screening material, the at least one ramp positioned on the at least one layer of screening material normal to transverse to or at an angle to a direction of fluid to be flowed over the screen so that at least a portion of the fluid will pass up and over the upwardly projecting portion, the fluid, in one aspect, having solids entrained therein to be separated from the fluid by the screen.

Abstract: A method for controlling subsea drilling operations including, in at least certain aspects, controlling the subsea drilling operations with a control system having three subsea pod containers of a control system, each with apparatus for controlling the subsea drilling operations, the system also having activation apparatus for activating a chosen one of the subsea pod containers and maintenance apparatus for maintaining the two subsea pod containers other than the chosen one in a standby mode providing triple redundancy of control of the subsea drilling operations.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonically inspecting a tubular member which has a first surface spaced-apart from a second surface by a thickness of the tubular member, and two spaced-apart ends the method including transmitting sonic beams to the tubular member with transducer apparatus which are reflected from the first surface and from the second surface, the transducer apparatus controlled by control apparatus, while to inspect the first surface for first surface defects, moving the transducer apparatus adjacent sensing apparatus which signals the control apparatus to cease processing of signals related to inspection of the second surface, and, the transducer apparatus continuing to transmit sonic beams for the inspection of the first surface, and completing inspection of substantially all of the second surface for second surface defects while continuing to inspect the first surface.

Abstract: A screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the screen assembly having a first screen portion having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end, and a second screen portion formed integrally of or connected to the second end of the second screen portion. A screen assembly with a first portion of screening material and a second raised portion of screening material, the second raised portion extending from a material introduction end of the screen assembly to a material exit end thereof, the raised portion, in one aspect, culminating in an apex above the first portion of screening material.

Abstract: A conveyor for a centrifuge and a centrifuge with such a conveyor, the conveyor having a plurality of spaced-apart flight members spaced apart along its length, a plurality of support members extending between, and connected to the flight members, the support members spaced-apart around the flight members, the members and support members defining a plurality of open areas through which fluid to be treated by the centrifuge is flowable from within the conveyor out into the bowl. In one aspect, a fluid velocity decreasing chamber is provided between an exit tube end and impeller apparatus for radially accelerating the fluid with the conveyor. In certain aspects the open “caged” conveyor structures diffuses fluid flow from the conveyor so that a dispersed unfocused flow of fluid exits the conveyor into the bowl, and, in one particular aspect with feed from within the conveyor to space adjacent a beach area of the bowl.

Abstract: A support for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, a screen assembly with such a support, a vibratory separator with one or more such screen assemblies, and a method of using such a screen assembly, such a support having a body, a first series of holes through the body each hole having a first opening size as viewed from above, a second series of holes through the body each hole with a second opening size as viewed from above, the second series of holes at a selected area of the body and the support positionable in a vibratory separator so that the selected area is adjacent a selected location with respect to the vibratory separator, and the second opening size smaller than the first opening size and/or the second series of holes with holes spaced apart differently than the holes of the first series of holes; and in one aspect, a plastic grid with such hole series for fusing together layers of screening material.

Abstract: A flying disc which, in certain aspects, has a disc body having an outer perimeter and a plurality of cuts, indentations, grooves, and/or weakened areas spaced-apart around the outer perimeter, and at least one portion of the disc body between at least one pair of the cuts, etc., the at least one portion folded up or down from the disc body, and which, in one aspect, has such folded portions around an entire outer periphery of the disc body. In certain aspects such a disc has a weight or weights, secondary piece or secondary disc connected to the disc body on either the top or bottom thereof, the weight(s), secondary piece or disc, in one aspect, for facilitating flight of and/or for stabilizing the disc body.

Abstract: An earth energy transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring energy for an entity, the system, in certain aspects, having apparatus and related items for measuring an amount of energy transferred for the entity to or from the moving energy transfer fluid, and apparatus and related items for invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred. The system, in certain aspects, including apparatus and related items for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price. The system, in certain aspects, including apparatus and related items for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the apparatus and related items for measuring to the apparatus and related items for invoicing. Methods are disclosed for using such systems to measure and calculate an amount of energy transferred and/or to invoice an entity for the transferred energy.

Abstract: A wellbore method which, in certain aspects, includes providing with a primary system a fluid with microorganisms, the primary system including introduction apparatus, with the introduction apparatus introducing the fluid with microorganisms into an earth formation bearing hydrocarbons, the microorganisms for facilitating removal of the hyrdrocarbons from the earth formation bearing hydrocarbons, effecting heat exchange between the fluid with microorganisms and heat transfer fluid that has traversed an earth loop of an earth loop heat exchange system, the earth loop heat exchange system with an earth loop extending from an earth surface down into the earth with the heat transfer fluid flowable through the earth loop and heat transfer apparatus for transferring heat between the fluid with the microorganisms and the heat transfer fluid; and, in certain asepcts wherein effecting the heat exchange between said fluid with microorganisms and the heat transfer fluid prolongs life of and/or enhances activity of the m

Abstract: A screen assembly for a vibratory shaker, the screen assembly including at least two screening members, and the at least two screen members connected by sewing material. In one aspect of such a screen assembly the sewing material is thread in a stitch pattern across the at least two screening members, a pattern of expandable material on and corresponding to the stitch pattern, and the thread passing through holes in the pattern of expandable material, the expandable material expanded within the holes following extraction of a needle therefrom, the needle used to apply the sewing material, to inhibit tearing of either of the at least two screening members between holes.

Abstract: A method for treating a fluid slurry with concrete grindings to separate constituents thereof, the constituents including water, sand and cement particles, the method including removing solids (e.g. large concrete fragments, rock, etc.) from fluid slurry with vibratory separation apparatus, the vibratory separation apparatus having screen apparatus for separating materials, the vibratory separation apparatus producing wet solids flowing off the top of the screen apparatus and a fluid stream containing water and cement particles, the fluid stream discharged beneath the screen apparatus, feeding at least a portion of the fluid stream to centrifuge apparatus, and separating cement particles from the fluid stream with the centrifuge apparatus and producing a stream of water with the centrifuge apparatus; and re-usable cement particles recovered using such a method.

Abstract: A method for ultrasonically inspecting a tubular member, the tubular member having an inner surface, an outer surface, and two spaced-apart ends including a first end of the tubular member, the method including transmitting sonic beams to the tubular member with transducers such that sonic beams are reflected from: the first end and the inner and outer surface of the tubular member, completing inspection of the outer surface of the tubular member while continuing to inspect the inner surface of the tubular member, and sensing a distance from the transducers to the first end of the tubular member, continuing to transmit sonic beams for the inspection of the inner surface of the tubular member until the transducers are near its first end; and, in one aspect, detecting an inner surface defect near the first end of the tubular member after the outer surface inspection has ceased.

Abstract: A method for making a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, which, in certain aspects, includes placing a first layer of screening material below a glue application apparatus, and applying with the glue apparatus an amount of glue in a pattern to a portion of the first layer of screening material, unrolling part of a second layer from a second roll and positioning the part of the second layer adjacent part of the first layer to which glue has been applied, moving the part of the second layer and the part of the first layer between opposed rotatable spaced-apart rollers to press together the part of the second layer and the part of the first layer to form a pressed-together layer of first and second layers of screening material. In certain aspects hot glue is used and is cooled following application of the second layer on the first layer.

Abstract: A movement system for moving a person. In at least certain aspects, the system has a power apparatus and primary line apparatus connected to the power apparatus. The power apparatus selectively moves or plays out and takes in the primary line apparatus. One or a plurality of secondary lines are connected to the primary line apparatus In those embodiments with a plurality of secondary lines, the secondary lines diverge from each other and extend to a corresponding movement station in a structure. The or each secondary line has a distal end extending into its corresponding movement station for connection to a personal support apparatus around a person, and the or each secondary line is movable by the power apparatus to move a person to whose personal support apparatus the or each secondary line is attached.