Abstract: Method and apparatus for converting tube waves into body waves downhole for seismic exploration are disclosed, comprising a rotary valve tube wave source for producing swept frequency tube waves that are injected into a tubing or wellbore. The tube waves are converted to body waves by an elongate tube wave converter located at a selected position downhole. The tube wave converter comprises an elongate body that preferably substantially fills the wellbore or tubing and has a preferred shape in order to convert efficiently the tube waves to body waves at the selected position downhole.

Abstract: The quadrupole shear wave logging device of this invention includes a logging sonde, means for generating a quadrupole shear wave in the earth formation surrounding a borehole containing fluid, and means for detecting in the fluid the refraction of the quadrupole shear wave. In the preferred embodiment, the generating means comprises four similar sectors of a hollow piezoelectric cylinder. The four cylinders are polarized radially. The four sectors are so connected to the sonde that they are in the form of a split cylinder coaxial with the sonde axis. Electrical pulses of similar waveforms are applied across the inner and outer cylindrical surfaces of each sector to vibrate the four sectors. The electrical pulses are of such polarities that, during their initial motions of vibration, two oppositely situated sectors are caused to move outward and the remaining two oppositely situated sectors to move inward substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing the oil concentration of a produced, hydrocarbon-containing fluid to no more than about 10 ppm and softening the deoiled fluid to reduce scale-forming constituents. The method and system are capable of treating fluids having temperatures within the range from approximately 120.degree. C. to approximately 160.degree. C., without the need for cooling the fluid to perform either the deoiling step or the softening step. In a preferred embodiment, the deoiling step is performed by first filtering the hot fluid in a first set of coalescing filters and then in a second, identical set of coalescing filters, and the softening step is performed in a thermal softening unit wherein steam is directly sparged into the deoiled fluid in a reaction zone under pressure sufficient to prevent boiling at the reaction zone temperature.

Abstract: A heave compensated stabbing and landing tool and method for use on a floating platform comprises a tool attached to a heave compensator on the floating platform. The tool, attached at one end to a taut line anchored to the seabed, includes means for gripping, raising and lowering a tubing string. The tool is attached to the heave compensator, which is raised to tighten the anchor line and substantially eliminate relative motion between the end of the tubing string and the seabed. The tool grips the tubing string and lowers it to the seabed in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An acoustic borehole well logging method and apparatus for measuring azimuthal anisotropy of a formation traversed by a borehole using at least one multipole transducer. In a preferred embodiment, a dipole wave transmitter and at least one detector sensitive to dipole waves are employed. In an alternative preferred embodiment, a monopole transmitter and at least one multipole detector are employed. In the inventive method, two acoustic wave arrivals are detected, each associated with a different azimuthal orientation relative to the longitudinal axis of the borehole (i.e. each is transmitted by a multipole transmitter oriented at such angle, or is detected by a multipole detector oriented at such angle, or both). The inventive apparatus preferably includes at least one transducer unit including two or more multipole transmitters (or two or more multipole detectors) oriented at different azimuthal angles relative to the tool's longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The invention is an underwater LNG pipeline system in modular sections wherein multiple LNG pipelines utilizing expansion joints to compensate for contraction are connected together by braces to form an integral frame, and including pressure vessels enclosing the expansion joints to permit access to the expansion joints for inspection or maintenance. In a second embodiment, the frame is a separate elongate space frame connected to the pipeline and the pressure vessels. In a third embodiment, the pipelines are INVAR steel and no expansion joints or pressure vessels are included.

Abstract: A seismic exploration method and system employing a streamer that houses at least one pair of orthogonally mounted hydrophones. The streamer may be operated downhole in a well, or may be towed in a body of water by a marine vessel. In the downhole embodiment, the invention permits detection of seismic signals of interest with suppression of noise due to tube waves and (dipole and monopole) modal waves propagating in and along the well, and without the need for locking the seismic detectors to the wall of the well. In the marine embodiment, the invention permits selective detection of waves incident from any incidence direction of interest (including the horizontal and vertical directions). In all embodiments, the incidence angle of the detected seismic wave is determined. The amplitude of the detected wave may also be determined from the incidence angle and the amplitude components detected at each hydrophone.

Abstract: An icebreaking buoy system includes an icebreaking buoy connected to clump weight means positioned on the sea floor by a mooring line having minimum extra length sufficient to permit the buoy to ride up over the largest expected wave. Several such buoy systems may be used to form a line along one or more sides of, or a ring entirely around, an offshore structure or rig to break an ice sheet in the direction or directions it is moving. An anchor fixed to the sea floor may be connected to the clump weight means. Each buoy has a downward sloping bottom portion and a cylindrically or spherically formed top portion. The sides or ends and the bottom of the buoy may be beveled, conical or spherical.

Abstract: A process for heating and softening of hard water by direct heat exchange with steam. The steam is directly sparged into the hard water within a reaction zone and condensed in the water under a pressure sufficient to prevent boiling at the reaction zone temperature. The heated water is then withdrawn from the reaction zone without substantial vaporization of water and filtered to remove scale precipitates resulting from the heating step. At least a portion of the softened water may be heated to generate wet steam which is then recirculated to the reaction zone and sparged into the hard water therein.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating an electrically conductive liquid, such as water, includes a rotatable, balanced, buoyant heating assembly floating in a quantity of conductive liquid partially filling a tank. A pair of opposite polarity electrodes are mounted on the buoyant assembly and a neutral electrode is mounted in the liquid in the tank for heating the liquid by current flow between the electrodes. The buoyant heating assembly is hingedly mounted in the tank and is rotatable by means of a bimetallic coil responsive to the temperature of the liquid from a first position, wherein the pair of electrodes is immersed in the liquid to heat the liquid, to a second position, wherein the electrodes are out of the liquid to terminate the heating process. In one embodiment the spacing between the electrodes on the buoyant heating assembly may be selectively adjusted from outside of the tank to vary the heating rate.

Abstract: An injection mandrel and method for introducing treating fluids into a well comprise a center pocket mandrel having a check valve in fluid communication with treating fluid in the annulus of the well and with a chemical injection valve in the mandrel. Treating fluid is pumped through the check valve and the chemical injection valve into the produced fluids in the mandrel, while reverse flow is prevented. In another embodiment a dip tube communicating with the injection valve pocket places treating fluid at a preselected location in the well.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for acoustic wave generation and transmission into a subsurface earth formation. A logging sonde adapted to be suspended in a borehole within the formation houses a generator means for simultaneously generating a plurality of acoustic waves traveling in the direction of and spaced substantially evenly about the .[.logitudinal.]. .Iadd.longitudinal .Iaddend.axis of the sonde. An acoustic energy reflector means within the housing reflects the waves radially outwards of the axis and into the formation at angles generally perpendicular to the axis. Detectors within the housing spaced longitudinally from the generator and reflector detect acoustic energy in the formation resulting from the reflected waves.