Abstract: A "red-alert" end condition digital signal is generated by a transponder system of the present invention formed essentially of MSI's (Medium Scale Integrated Chips) including an oscillator/ripple counter controlling a fixed Gray code logic encoding network in circuit with a programmed 7-segment decoder/driver. The aforementioned system both is initiated by and is in power dependent relationship with a MARK-SPACE interrogation signal and has special utility in digitally monitoring product "overflow" conditions in source/product storage tank networks associated with an oil refinery and/or chemical complex.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention are described in which connection (and disconnection) of a plurality of geophones associated with a digital seismic data acquisition system is greatly simplified without sacrificing flexibility as to the number of geophone flyers per station or the interval spacing per station and also without the addition of separate subcabling in the internal linkage of the flyers to the field digitizing equipment. The apparatus includes a multiple-phone flyer-jumper connected to each channel of a remote data acquisition and telemetering circuit (RDATC). Each RDATC acts in combination with a group of geophone flyers, say four, to store, amplify, filter, gain control and digitize analog data from the flyers and then telemeter the data to recording circuitry in the field truck. In accordance with the present invention, each jumper-flyer includes a central multi-conductor cable segment terminating at each of its ends in the central leg of a multi-armed connector.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention are described in which connection (and disconnection) of a plurality of geophones associated with a series of stations of a digital seismic data acquisition system is greatly simplified without sacrificing flexibility as to the number of geophone flyers per station or the interval spacing per station and also without the addition of separate subcabling in the internal linkage of the flyer to the field digitizing equipment. The method utilizes a multiple-phone flyer-jumper connected to one channel of a series of channels of a remote data acquisition and telemetering circuit (RDATC). Each RDATC acts in combination with a group of geophone flyers, say 1, 2, 3, etc., to store, amplify, filter, gain control and digitize analog data from each group of flyers and then telemeter the data to recording circuitry in the field truck.

Abstract: Instead of being butt-spliced, thermoplastic tapes used to form yarn used by carpet manufacturers are sealed along a longer bias of their off-centered, cross alignment, (providing greater strength but without additional bulk) by means of a heating wand and method of the present invention. The wand includes means for first untwisting the tapes over a short segment thereof and then placing them in relative cross-alignment positions relative to a transversely located heating element. The heating element is in intermittent circuit with an energy source.

Abstract: A high-gain Josephson-type two-particle tunneling detector is positioned in a borehole penetrating an earth formation and tuned for response in a frequency range of 8400 to 9600 gigahertz. Result: IR emission due to "stretching" vibration of the C-H bonds of adjacently situated hydrocarbons can be detected in surprising fashion.

Abstract: A shielded container for transportation of radioactive materials (RAM's) is disclosed in which leakage from the container is minimized due to constructional features including, inter alia, forming the container of a series of telescoping members having sliding fits between adjacent side walls and having at least two of the members including machine sealed lids and at least two of the elements including hand-tightenable caps. Result: A low probability of violation of Public Law 93-633 during transport of the RAM.

Abstract: Phases are measured with a resolution of one degree, and frequencies are measured with a resolution of 0.01 Hz by the same circuitry. An internal voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is forced to operate at 360 times the frequency of the incoming test signal by use of a phase-locked loop and a 360 divider. Clock pulses from the VCO are counted throughout an interval of noncoincidence of the original test signal and any phase-shifted version of that test signal, and the count is digitally displayed directly as phase shift in degrees. Clock pulses from the VCO are counted throughout an interval of (1/3.6) second and the resulting count is digitally displayed with the last two digits marked off by a decimal point, as the frequency.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for quick and convenient fault diagnosis of a geophone group-geophone cable complex of a geophysical data acquisition system used in the collection and recording of seismic information, such faults within each geophone group of such a system being identified, irrespective of the fact that a cable or cable segment is interconnected between the group under test and the fault-testing apparatus of the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cloth bag for storing a younger student's school supplies; i.e., crayons, such items to be carried by the student from classroom to home and vice versa so that the bag of the present invention contemplates use of a strap attached to the top thereof. Within the school room, the bag is used in conjunction with a desk-chair which includes a chair having a seat and a back while the desk includes a planar writing board attached to any upright column located near the front edge of the chair. The bag can be hung at one side of the chair using end of a rod also located so the top of the bag is adjacent to the strap. The rod length is slightly longer than the seat depth. Result: the bag can be wedged between support members of the desk-chair, but easily "unwedged" for transport of the bag (and contents) to another location without disassembly.

Abstract: In areal seismic exploration, seismic impulses are generated successively at locations spaced along a centrally located, asymmetic sawtooth shot-point line which regularly crosses a median line coincident with the line of survey. Seismic waves resulting from each impulse are detected at at least a pair of detector spreads each parallel to the median line, but offset from each other a distance equal to an integral multiple of the vertical offset of the shot-point line. Preferably the detected signals are summed on a cross-steered basis, such that the resulting traces associated with crossed sets of centerpoints normal to the survey line provide directional ("dip") information to better indicate areal subsurface structure. Additionally, the dectected signal can be stacked on a common depth point bases (CDPS).

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic method and apparatus for quick and convenient testing of one or more geophones of a geophysical data acquisition system through the generation and analysis of the impulse response characteristics of such geophones. In particular, geophone response characteristics related to first and second adjacent absolute peak amplitudes associated with the damped equation of motion of the geophone coils are detected and digitally indicated in a surprisingly accurate manner, irrespective of whether or not the testing is carried out in a laboratory or field environment.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention are described in which connection (and disconnection) of a plurality of geophones associated with a digital seismic data acquisition system is greatly simplified without sacrificing flexibility as to the number of geophone flyers per station or the interval spacing per station and also without the addition of separate subcabling in the internal linkage of the flyers to the field digitizing equipment. The apparatus includes a multiple-phone flyer-jumper connected to each channel of a remote data acquisition and telemetering circuit (RDATC). The latter in turn is linked to a central control and recording station usually located in a truck. In accordance with the present invention, each jumper-flyer includes a central multi-conductor cable segment of say N+1 conductors where N is an even positive number greater than two, such as 4, 6, etc., terminating at each of its ends in the central leg of a multi-armed connector.

Abstract: The method utilizes a multiple-phone flyer-jumper connected to one channel of a series of channels of a remote data acquisition and telemetering circuit (RDATC). Each RDATC acts in combination with a group of geophone flyers, say 1, 2, 3, etc., to store, amplify, filter, gain control and digitize analog data from each group of flyers and then telemeter the data to recording circuitry in the field truck. Each flyer group can be flexibly made up of two, three, four or more flyer-jumpers; each flyer-jumper includes a central multi-conductor cable segment of say N+1 conductors, where N is an even positive number greater than two, terminating at each of its ends in the central leg of multi-armed connector. A plurality of series/parallel connected geophones, say nine in number are used in combination with the central segment.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a non-recursive digital synthesizer for producing a surprisingly accurate synthesized sinusoid suitable for testing elements of a geophysical data acquisition system in either a laboratory or a field environment. In accordance with the present invention, [(C/2)+1]-discrete--16-bit binary words are stored in a read-only memory (ROM), representing discrete amplitudes of a digitized sinusoid in a frequency range of 1-500 Hz, and then accessed in succession to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). A separate suppression circuit means at the output of the DAC is adapted to operate in synchronization with movement of the binary words through the DAC; in that way, glitches generated by the various digital elements of the synthesizer are suppressed. Result: accuracy of the generated sinusoid to the elements under test is assured.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, overflash within a withdrawal zone of a complex fractionating column is monitored to provide a surprisingly useful control characteristic related to the efficiency (or lack thereof) of not only the fractionation column inself, but associated processes linked to the column. To accurately monitor the overflash, notched weir means including an upright wall means, is positioned at the intersection of the withdrawal tray and the downcomers connecting the former with a lower, adjacent fractionating tray. Differential pressure measuring means is also provided with sensing means in the vicinity of the notched weir means. In turn, the differential pressure measuring means is connected in series to a recording means located external of the column. Result: As overlimit swings in overflash occur, corrective action, say via a separate process controller means, can be quickly implemented to bring the system back to stable operations.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are described with which the resonance frequencies of seismic detector elements, such as geophones, hydrophones, or sets of geophones or hydrophones, may be automatically determined and displayed with relatively high precision, e.g., to two decimal places. The apparatus is useful under rough field conditions, as well as under laboratory conditions.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining water saturation in a petroleum reservoir using logging signals indirectly related to the abundance of oxygen nuclei in the reservoir rock. The first step of the invention is to record a log sensitive to the abundance of oxygen nuclei, after the region surrounding the well bore is caused to have fluid saturations representative of the bulk of the reservoir. A purposeful change is then made in the fluid saturations in the region surrounding the well bore by injecting a liquid capable of displacing substantially all of the original fluids. The log is recorded a second time. The displacing fluid is then itself displaced by brine, and a third log is recorded. Water saturation is then determined from differences between the logs and from known fractional volume oxygen contents of the reservoir brine and the first injected liquid. It is not necessary that the log responses be independent of the material in the borehole, the casing, the casing cement, or the reservoir rock.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining gas saturation in a petroleum reservoir using logging signals indirectly related to the abundances of oxygen and carbon nuclei in the reservoir rock. The first step of the invention is to record first and second logs sensitive to the abundance of oxygen and carbon nuclei, respectively, after the region surrounding the well bore is caused to have fluid saturations representative of the bulk of the reservoir. A purposeful change is then made in the fluid saturations in the region surrounding the well bore by injecting a liquid capable of displacing substantially all of the original fluids. The logs are recorded a second time. The displacing fluid is then itself displaced by brine, and a third suite of logs is recorded. The total fluid and oil saturations are then determined from the differences between respective corresponding logs and from known fractional volume oxygen and carbon contents of the reservoir brine and oil and the first injected liquid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining oil saturation in a petroleum reservoir using logging signals indirectly related to the abundance of carbon nuclei in the reservoir rock. The first step of the invention is to record a log sensitive to the abundance of carbon nuclei after the region surrounding the well bore is caused to have oil saturations representative of the bulk of the reservoir. A purposeful change is then made in the fuel saturations in the region surrounding the well bore by injecting a liquid capable of displacing substantially all of the original fluids. The log is recorded a second time. The displacing fluid is then itself displaced by brine, and a third log is recorded. Oil saturation is then determined from differences between the logs and from known fractional volume carbon contents of the reservoir oil and the first injected liquid. It is not necessary that the log responses be independent of the material in the bore hole, the casing, the casing cement, or the reservoir rock.