Abstract: Systems and methods for determining inline skew of one or more seismic streamers are disclosed. One system embodiment includes a seismic streamer including a plurality of receivers, a skew detector adapted to detect inline skew of the streamer, and a receiver selector adapted to select which receivers in the streamer to use in data acquisition based on the detected streamer inline skew. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for use in perforating a well having a plurality of explosive charges. Each explosive charge is adapted to generate a perforation tunnel in the formation adjacent to the well. In one embodiment, explosive charges are oriented to create perforation tunnels that converge at a location within the formation in order to create a fracture initiation plane capable of mitigating or avoiding hydraulic fracturing complications.

Abstract: A dynamic inflatable sealing device for maintaining the pressure within an inflatable element at least substantially equal to the pressure in the annulus to maintain the inflatable element in a sealing position. The dynamic sealing device includes an inflatable element forming an internal chamber, the inflatable element expandable to sealing engagement with a wall, and a dynamic valve mechanism in operational connection between the internal chamber and exterior of the internal chamber substantially communicating the pressure external of the inflatable element to the internal chamber.

Abstract: Methods of assuring that a representative formation and/or fluid sample of a subterranean reservoir is obtained are provided. One method of validating a reservoir fluid sample obtained from a wellbore includes the steps of acquiring a reservoir fluid sample in the wellbore; measuring a property of the fluid sample downhole with a technique to obtain a measured downhole fluid property; replicating the measuring technique used to obtain the measured downhole fluid property to obtain at a remote location from the wellbore with a technique to obtain at least one measured remote location fluid property; validating the fluid sample through comparison of the measured downhole fluid property and the at least one measured remote location fluid property.

Abstract: A multi-drop flow control valve system having a plurality of hydraulically actuated flow control valve, each valve set in an initial operating position. The flow control valves are connected to a hydraulic control line in sequence, wherein the second flow control valve is below the first flow control valve and so on. Wherein a first hydraulic pressure in the control line will operate at least the first flow control valve to an actuated position and a second hydraulic pressure greater than the first hydraulic pressure will operate at least the first and second flow control valves to actuated positions. It may be desired for each of the control valves to be biased in the initial position when the hydraulic pressure is less than a base pressure.

Abstract: An optical time domain reflectometry apparatus for sensing a parameter in a region of interest is characterized in that the optical fiber includes a first section into which optical radiation at the probe wavelength is launched and a second section deployed in the region of interest. The first section has a higher intensity threshold for the onset of non-linear effects than the second section. The source launches the optical radiation into the first section at an intensity lower than the non-linear effects intensity threshold of the first section but higher than the non-linear effects intensity threshold of the second section. The attenuation characteristics of the first section are chosen such that the intensity of the optical radiation at the probe wavelength that reaches the second section is below the threshold for the onset of non-linear effects of the second section.

Abstract: A subsurface annular safety barrier including a tubing disposed within a wellbore casing forming a casing-tubing annulus to allow fluid flow from and/or to a subterranean formation, and an annular barrier carried by the tubing and positioned in the casing-tubing annulus proximate the top of a formation, separating communication between the formation and the upper portion of the casing-tubing annulus above the annular barrier, wherein the annular barrier is set in an open position to allow fluid communication between the formation and the upper portion of the casing-tubing annulus and operationally activatable, without mechanical manipulation of a pipe string, to a closed position to prevent undesired fluid flow between the formation and upper portion of the casing-tubing annulus.

Abstract: A system and method of cleaning a gas of undesired particulate, aromas, and gases of the type utilizing a centrifuge with various combinations and apparatus used to liquid wet a gas stream is provided. The gas scrubber of the present invention includes a container for containing a liquid having a surface forming a space between said surface and the container top; a motor having a rotatable vertically mounted shaft mounted above said top with said shaft connected to and rotatable with a centrifuge cylinder having an inlet positioned outside of said container and having an outlet positioned in said space. Said cylinder contains fan blades to draw gas from said cylinder inlet and out said cylinder outlet. A vertically mounted rotatable siphon pipe, connected to said shaft, that has an inlet positioned below said surface and an outlet positioned proximate said centrifuge inlet to draw liquid up and out to the centrifuge inlet and flow down the centrifuge wall to clean the wall and mix with said gas.

Abstract: A system and method of the type for quickly mobilizing a unit for dredging a layer of material from a water bottom is provided. The dredging system includes: a motorized, substantially self-contained vessel positioned above a borrow site, at least one dredging shoe extended from the vessel to a bottom of a water adapted for dredging a material from the bottom to a pre-selected depth, a power source positioned on the vessel in operational connection with the dredging shoe for drawing the material into the shoe and transporting the material through a conduit to a deposit site, and a dredging motivation system connected to the vessel for moving the vessel and the dredging shoe along a dredging path.

Abstract: A pipe spinning apparatus connected in a drilling string for threadably connecting or disconnecting joints of pipes is provided. The pipe spinning apparatus includes a rotatable stem for connecting and disconnecting members, at least one pneumatic, turbine motor rotatably connected to the stem and a throttle control functionally connected to the turbine motor for variably controlling the speed of rotation of the stem. The rotational speed of the stem can be controlled through a range of revolutions per minute (rpm) depending on the air pressure and flow rate provided. The speed may be varied from 0 rpms to at least 500 rpms. A desirable range of operation is from 0 to 200 rpms. This ability to control and vary the speed of the stem greatly increases the safe operation of present kelly spinner over the prior art kelly spinners.

Abstract: A field dressing tool of the type for field dressing small game, is provided. The field dressing tool including: a pair of handles each having a first and second end, each handle forming a trough; a cutting blade connected to a first end of each of said handles, the cutting blades functionally interconnected by a pivot joint; a knife member having a first edge tapering to a point and a notch formed proximate the point on an edge opposite the first edge, the knife member pivotally connected to the second end of one of the handles and pivotable from a position disposed within a trough to a position extending from a handle; and a rake member pivotally connected to the second end of one of the handles, the rake being pivotable from a position disposed within a trough to a position extending from a handle.

Abstract: A carbon deposition chamber is provided with several advantages. The substrate and the heating filaments are cooled to a temperature to prevent carbonization by permitting a cooling fluid to be passed through tubing connected to these elements in a heat sink like manner. The substrate is permitted to rotate back-and-forth to permit more even deposition of carbon films onto the substrate. The heating filaments are permitted to expand and contract without breakage by permitting the electrode attached to one end of the filaments to move freely as the filaments change in length. The gas mixture used within the deposition process is expressed from tubing through three zones, which are each individually determined with needle valves.

Abstract: A modular coating apparatus is disclosed which is adapted to couple to a host system, such as a cluster or in-line type coating system, as well as to operate in stand-alone fashion. The coating apparatus uses extrusion to initially deposit a film having a desired thickness. The substrate upon which the film is deposited may be spun to further distribute the film. Various embodiments of the coating apparatus are disclosed including embodiments utilizing a shim to mask the substrate and embodiments utilizing a rotatable chuck to facilitate cleaning of the substrate and/or the chuck. Preferably the various embodiments are sub-modules which may be interchanged in the main module as desired.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a coating apparatus and method in which most of the relative movement between a dispensing head and the substrate to be coated is provided by the coating head. The moving head configuration reduces the system footprint and diminishes leveling problems. A powered shuttle mechanism carries a dispensing head above a substrate to be coated while riding on a bearing located underneath the chuck holding the substrate thereby providing rigidity and reducing the system footprint. Chuck support is designed to accommodate anticipated vertical sag in the dispensing head by supporting the chuck at points along its periphery thereby permitting the chuck to sag in conjunction with the dispensing head. The shuttle mechanism is equipped with means for automatically adjusting the height of the dispensing head with respect to substrate to compensate for substrate placement error, substrate dimensional variation, and mechanical drift in the mechanical machine parts.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling access to or from a facility associated with providing services and/or sales of merchandise. The facility has an automatically operated, normally closed access gate and a scanner. Patrons may access the facility free of charge or at a discount by displaying an article of merchandise such that the scanner reads a bar code inscribed upon the merchandise. Data corresponding to the scanned bar code is compared to data entered into the memory of an automated data processing device. If that comparison results in establishing a correlation between data from the scanned merchandise and data entered into memory corresponding to merchandise for which a discount is accorded, then a control signal is generated and transmitted to the access gate. The access gate then opens and allows the patron submitting merchandise for scanning to enter or leave the facility.

Abstract: To reduce the danger of bodily harm to occupants of vehicles that leave the roadway, a guardrail system includes a guardrail terminal and a guardrail. The guardrail terminal includes cutting members positioned to cut said guardrail as guardrail moves within said guardrail terminal and the guardrail terminal moves with respect to the guardrail to cut the guardrail when impacted by a vehicle.

Abstract: Extrusion coating of circular and other substrates is taught with a linear extrusion head in a linear motion utilizing a chuck assembly providing a coating bead forming surface. The coating bead forming surface allows for the coating bead to be at a steady state at all points at which the extrusion head interfaces with the substrate during the linear motion. Various configurations of chuck assemblies are taught to allow for improved handling of the substrate, deploying of the chucks in existing machinery, and simplified cleaning of the coating bead forming surface. Additionally, adaptation of the chuck assembly for discouraging undesired migration of the coating material is taught.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method suitable for automatic cleaning of a coating or extrusion head of a coating apparatus. The invention includes a scrubbing station wherein a combination of physical contact and strong solvent solution combine to remove coating fluid from the exterior of an extrusion head. A second cleaning station, preferably a rinsing station then further cleans the head of coating fluid and removes solvent used at a first cleaning station. The solvent used at the rinsing station is preferably self-drying thereby obviating the need for any further cleaning action. The invention also provides for the ability to prime the coating bead at the extrusion head so as to have a fully formed bead ready before the head begins coating a substrate, thereby providing an even coating across said substrate. The priming operation preferably comprises holding the head steady over a rotating priming roller while extruding fluid preferably at a constant volumetric flow rate.

Abstract: A system and method of scrubbing gas utilizing a liquid to wet a gas stream is provided. The scrubber comprises a container containing a liquid; a tube having a tube inlet opened exterior of the container connected via a throat to a tube outlet allowing a gas to flow from exterior the container into the space above the liquid; a motor having a rotatable shaft; a siphon pipe connected to the rotatable shaft having a siphon inlet disposed below the liquid surface and a siphon outlet positioned above the surface proximate the tube throat; wherein the rotating siphon pipe draws and rotates the liquid through the siphon pipe into the tube throat drawing the gas into the throat mixing with and scrubbing the gas; and a second opening in the container for discharging the scrubbed gas from the container.

Abstract: A glass smasher is provided of the type for placement of glass articles for reduction to a particle size for reduced volumetric disposal and/or recycling purposes. Recycling may include reforming into another glass product or use as an aggregate. The glass smasher includes a rotatable barrel which may be divided into one or more internal chambers. At least a first chamber is formed having impacting means for breading and article into particles when the barrel is rotated. The first chamber may include free moving or floating smashing members such as ball bearings, bars or the like and/or attached impacting members. When an article of glass is placed in the first chamber and the barrel is rotated the article is broken into particles. These particles may be rotated and continued to impact the members until a desired particle size is achieved.