Abstract: A method of measuring the rate of corrosion of a metallic structure that is subjected to a corrosive ambience. It subjects a thin metallic enclosure to the same ambience as the metallic structure is subjected to. The thin enclosure is subjected to the ambience on one side, while it maintains a different condition on the other side of the enclosure. Then, it detects a change when the different condition is no longer maintained due to the thin enclosure having corroded through.A probe for detecting the corrosion rate of metallic piping or the like. It includes a thin metal enclosure mounted with one side subjected to the corrosive ambience acting upon the piping. There is means for subjecting the other side of the thin enclosure to a condition that is different from that of the corrosive ambience. And, there is a means for detecting a change of the different condition when the thin metal enclosure corrodes through.

Abstract: A method for improving signal-to-noise ratio in seismic surveying. It involves generating a series of seismic charges at time spaced intervals but at the same location. A single record is made having a time duration sufficient to cover the maximum reflection time of interest plus the total time for the series of charges. And, thereafter, the record is processed by Fourier transform of the single record to the frequency domain and by constructing frequency domain representation of the series of time intervals plus using the latter to superimpose frequency domain representations of the seismic signals resulting from each of the seismic charges. Then the processing includes inversely transforming the superimposed frequency domain representations back to the time domain.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering a non-pressurized and uncontaminated fluid sample from deep in a well or the like in an elongated sampler having a sample chamber formed by valves at both ends thereof in a tubular housing for trapping the fluid sample therein comprising, (1) venting the trapped sample fluid from one of the end valves into the well having a vertical portion extending at a predetermined distance above the sample chamber for (1) preventing detrimental pressure to build-up and (2) contamination of the sample fluid during ascent to the surface. A mechanism for carrying out the above method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Outlet structure of a powdered coal gasification generator. The bottom of the generator has an outlet throat with cylindrical walls that extend beyond the base. And, the walls terminate in an oblique manner with a face shaped to promote flow of slag from the generator to a single point in order to minimize reentrainment of slag into the gasification products.

Abstract: A method or system for raising gas and liquid from a well used in in situ heating of a formation. Such heating may be done by radio frequency having an appropriate wave length in the earth e.g. about fifteen meters. The well has a production tube suspended from the well head. And, the method steps include sweeping the annulus with dry gas to drive the products up the production tube, at low flow. Also, another step is that of measuring the pressure differential between the annulus and the outlet of the production tube. And, another step is that of increasing the flow of the dry gas whenever the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined minimum. The increased flow is continued for an interval long enough to clear the liquid product that has risen in the tube and caused the differential pressure increase.

Abstract: A method for sampling a fluid, as a multi-phase chemical product as liquid chemical tracers from a well in a field of wells comprising basically (1) injecting a sample of the liquid from the well through a plurality of valves, as solenoid valves on a plurality of liquid containers, and (2) controlling the well liquids responsive to a timing switch, as a stepping switch, through the valves into the liquid sample containers to be filled one after another, periodically, and consecutively from the well in a prearranged order for providing an improved method that is more accurate and more precise.

Abstract: An automatic multi-phase well fluid sampler comprises an inlet solenoid valve means on each of a plurality of sample containers for receiving multi-phase well fluid such as a produced oil-water fluid from one of a plurality of wells, and each of the inlet valve means being responsive to a timing and stepping switch means for precisely filling its sample container periodically, in consecutive order, from the same well for providing an improved well sampler system that is more accurate, more precise, more readily adjustable, less complex, discharges less waste oil that damages the environment from the single well, and that indicates the arrival of the multi-phase well fluid at the production well from an injection well and/or the arrival of various chemical concentrations thereof thereafter.

Abstract: A wireline fishing tool for retrieving a fish or object from an inaccesible loction as a broken drill bit deep in a well comprises an elongated rod with two toothed jaws pivotally connected to the lower end thereof and being extendible from a bell shaped housing toward the inaccessible object and being retractable into the housing for closing the jaws around the fish, or object and a shear pin for maintaining the jaws open as the tool is lowered into the well until the jaws contact the object. Additional movement towards the object starts retraction of the jaws into the bell shaped housing, which first shears a shear pin holding the rod extended from the housing while further movement shears the second shear pin holding the jaws open whereby the jaws are then closed tight on the object by contact with the bell shpaed housing and held tight with a ratchet and pawl for locking the jaws and rod in the housing for retrieval at the surface.

Abstract: In the combination of a reactor vessel which includes a quench ring and a dip tube surrounding a bottom outlet, there is an improved quench ring structure. It includes a first annular cooling conduit mounted against the floor of the reactor chamber and surrounding the outlet. That floor supports a refractory lining. There is a second annular cooling conduit mounted beneath the first conduit. And, there is a high temperature resistant seal between the two conduits. The result maintains a tight seal against escape of high temperature reactor gas, in spite of any warping of the reactor floor.

Abstract: A special tool for use in fishing operations during well drilling when a so-called string shot is used. The tool is made up of a hollow sub that may be connected into a string of pipe for lowering in the well. And, it includes a sliding sleeve in the sub. There is a gate in the wall of the hollow sub that is held in place by the sliding sleeve so as to leave the hollow sub open when a preliminary fishing opertion is attempted. And, there is means associated with the sleeve for sliding it to a different position so that the gate will be shifted in order to guide a string shot to the outside in case the inside of the fish is plugged.

Abstract: A new circuit is added to the old electrical circuit including two electrodes underwater positioned very close to a gas exhausting gun gaseous exhaust such as an air gun, wherein the exhaust from the firing gas exhausting gun momentarily blows away the conductive sea water from one or both of the electrodes to produce a high voltage pulse due to the large increase in resistance in the circuit indicating the precise moment of firing of the gas exhausting gun.This new circuit added to the above circuit is a circuit polarity reversing circuit which includes particularly a positive current generator, a negative current generator, and a sea ground for forming a third electron source when any of the two electrodes becomes defective, thus forming a fail-safe system.

Abstract: A method for plugging a well comprises (1) extending two sets of dogs on a bridge plug for engaging the sides of the well by releasing an expandable means, and (2) releasing a high pressure fluid for triggering and releasing the expandable means for extending the two sets of dogs for securing the bridge plug at the desired depth in the well. A bridge plug for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pulsed magnetic procedure and apparatus for measuring wall thickness. It is especially applicable to pipelines. It includes pulsing a magnetic reluctance coil that is located close to the wall, and measuring the inductance of the pulsed coil. Also the distance of the coil from the wall is accurately determined so that the inductance is a measure of the wall thickness.Apparatus may include the combination of an ultrasonic transducer mounted fixed relative to the magnetic pulse coil and arranged so that ultrasonic energy pulses are directed toward the wall. In this manner reflected ultrasonic pulses will provide a measure of the distance. In addition, by proper angle thereof, ultrasonic pulses may also determine the presence of any anomaly.

Abstract: An improvement for a combination with a fuel injection type internal combustion engine which employs AC type high tension spark that is initiated by the injection valve opening. The improvement includes a gating circuit, and it has means for opening the gate at the beginning of a predetermined crank shaft position. Also, it closes the gate whenever the injection valve has opened, or at the end of a predetermined number of degrees of crank shaft rotation whichever occurs first.

Abstract: In the combination of an internal combustion engine which has an electronic ignition system that develops a continuous high-voltage AC type spark signal, there is an improvement which provides for controlling the duration of the spark signals. Such duration control acts to vary the crank angle degrees that are encompassed by the spark duration, which variation is in accordance with an engine parameter. The parameter may be engine load, and the variation control saves spark energy consumed while extending the life of the spark plugs.

Abstract: A method of testing bottoms of large storage tanks. It involves sealing the outer edges of the bottom plate against gas leakage, followed by feeding a halogen gas to the under side of the bottom plate. Then the top of the bottom plate inside the tank is scanned manually, using a hand-held halogen detector in order to detect any leaks.

Abstract: An improvement for a system used to measure temperature of hot gases that are laden with entrained solids. The system involves use of a pyrometer that is mounted outside of a sight hole through the wall of a vessel containing the laden hot gases. And, the improvement concerns a projecting shelf above the sight hole to divert molten slag in order to keep the sight hole clear. Also there is a sloped recess at the bottom of the sight hole to drain any slag away from the lower portion thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making wall thickness measurements. It is particularly applicable to pipeline use. It uses a pulse-echo acoustic arrangement with a single piezoelectric transducer sending and receiving acoustic signals from both faces. It has a pair of reflectors, one for each face of the transducer so that acoustic energy is directed both normal to the wall and at an angle in order to simultaneously measure the wall thickness and find any anomaly such as pitting or the like. For pipeline use there may be a plurality of instruments situated around the periphery of a unit to scan the walls as it travels through the pipeline.

Abstract: An engine timed ignition system of the type that combines a short duration high voltage spark with a reduced voltage DC spark sustaining signal. It includes in the system apparatus for starting the DC sustaining signal simultaneously with the high voltage spark. And, it includes apparatus to positively stop the DC sustaining signal after a predetermined interval in order to avoid a continuing spark discharge.

Abstract: A corrosion monitoring system for measuring cathodic protection current flow. It is applicable to a buried structure that has cathodic protection applied to it. The monitoring system includes a microcoulometer connected between the buried structure and a small target electrode of a predetermined size.