Abstract: A process for upgrading heavy oil to fuel products comprises deasphalting the heavy oil with an oxygenated solvent and simultaneously converting the oxygenated solvent and deasphalted oil over a ZSM-5 type catalyst to produce gasoline and distillate boiling range hydrocarbons.

Abstract: Certain glucans are made useful as mobility control agents in subterranean oil recovery by the addition of clay flocculant to minimize adsorption loses. Because of the non-ionic character of glucans, these loses are excessive in the absence of the flocculants used herein.

Abstract: In magnetotelluric exploration, channels of measurements of the earth's electric and magnetic field are digitized. Blocks of digital samples are transformed into frequency domain representations of the power spectra, including amplitude and phase, at selected harmonics. The coherence between the power spectra from different channels is determined and compared to a threshold. The power spectra which have a coherence exceeding the threshold are stacked and recorded on magnetic tape.

Abstract: An inwardly offset surface of the cover of a carton is cut in a plane transverse to the top of the cover. A protrusion on the bottom surface of a complementary recess in the latch flap extends through the hole to latch the carton with the protrusion being within the cover recess to prevent accidental opening of the carton. The mold for producing the carton cuts the hole while thermoforming by relative movement between a male key mounted in the male mold member and female key mounted in the female mold member. Both keys have flat surfaces transverse to the closing motion of the molds. These flat surfaces are biased into engagement one with the other so that the plastic is cut in a shearing action.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the formation of a continuous web of a tubular thermoplastic film from an extrudate of a thermoplastic polymeric material or resin, wherein the thermoplastic film has a profiled wall contour extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the film. The apparatus for forming a profiled tubular thermoplastic film, and the method which is implemented through the intermediary of the apparatus, provides for an annular cooling ring extending about the extrusion die orifice and which incorporates a central aperture through which the extruded plastic material is conveyed while still in a molten or heat-plastified state, and is adapted to direct a uniformly distributed flow of a cooling medium, such as air, against the circumferential surface of the extruded tubular plastic film material.

Abstract: Disclosed is a packing tray having an improved rib reinforcement. At least one tapered rib extends along the bottom of the tray from a longitudinal centerline portion toward opposing sidewalls. The rib cross-section progressively decreases from the centerline portion toward the terminating end of the rib. The tapered rib provides tray reinforcement where it is most needed while minimizing intrusion into available packaging volume.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for cutting the web remaining from a plastic sheet containing thermoformed articles into strips, loosely indexing and aligning a plurality of thermoformed articles in each strip with article punches, sequentially isolating the articles from each other so that they have complete freedom of movement in both across-machine and machine directions, exactly registering the articles with the article punches in a selected sequence, precisely trimming the articles from the plastic web, and ejecting them from the apparatus.

Abstract: Energy is conserved and air pollution reduced by crushing retorted shale after subjecting raw shale to retorting conditions.

Abstract: Viscous oil is recovered from a subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation by injecting a slug of CO.sub.2 carbonated water containing a CO.sub.2 solubility promoter into the formation via an injection well, subsequently injecting a heated fluid to release the CO.sub.2 from the injected carbonated water and recovering oil from the formation through a production well.

Abstract: Shapeforming acrylonitrile polymer film by providing acrylonitrile polymer aquagel film, conforming said aquagel film into the desired shape and while in said shape, heat-removing at least substantially all of the water from said aquagel film.

Abstract: A multilayer oriented heat sealable film structure comprising a polyolefin film substrate, a coextruded layer of random copolymer of ethylene and propylene, a primer layer on said random copolymer layer and a layer of heat sealable acrylic interpolymer on said primer layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the forming of cross-laminated thermoplastic film, particularly from a supply roll of a layflat, highly melt-oriented tubular thermoplastic film. The layflat tubular film is advanced while concurrently being rotated about its longitudinal axis to thereby generate a compound linear and rotary motion, inflated and slit by a heated wire or laser beam on a bias to provide at least two layers of film strips which are adapted to be superimposed and laminated with the orientation of one layer being biased relative to the other layer so as to provide a cross-laminated thermoplastic film evidencing high strength in both the machine direction and the transverse direction of the film web.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for measuring and controlling foam sheet blow-up in a thermoformer oven. Control of the oven operation is achieved through monitoring the measured blow-up of a material which being heated in the thermoformer oven in order to regulate the thickness of the plastic material prior to its conveyance into a molding or forming station.

Abstract: A method for improvement of the signal-to-noise ratio of seismic data records comprising determination of the angle of incidence of acoustic waves transmitted into the earth with respect to subterranean reflecting layers which yields minimum attenuation of the acoustic wave during passage through intermediate layers is disclosed. The offset or distance between source and receiver is then selected so that the waves used to generate representations of the structure of the earth are incident on the reflector at substantially the optimal angle, thus yielding maximum signal strength, and maximizing the signal-to-noise ratio. Minimum offsets, to eliminate multiple surface/evaporite layer reflections from seismic records may be indicated as well.

Abstract: A method of identifying potential low water cut hydrocarbon producing zones in a sand or sandstone formation by logging the formation to determine its permeability and porosity values and generating from said two sets of values a log of specific surface areas of the formation. The aforesaid zones may be identified directly from the specific surface area log as being those regions in which the specific surface areas are about 500 m.sup.2 /cm.sup.3 bulk volume or more. Alternatively or additionally, the specific surface area log may be used to determine irreducible water saturation values of the formation which can then be compared with fractional water saturation values. The aforesaid zones are those in which the irreducible water saturation values approximate or exceed the fractional water saturation values.

Abstract: A structure for use in exploiting arctic offshore areas where floating ice masses may be present. The structure is comprised of a floating hull having ice-breaking capabilities which is moored by a plurality of mooring means which extend vertically from a moonpool in the hull to the marine bottom directly under the hull. The mooring means comprises flexible lines, e.g. nylon, steel, or the like or rigid conduits, e.g. drill pipe.Means are provided within the moonpool for tensioning the mooring means to thereby draw the hull downward to a position below its normal buoyant position thereby substantially eliminating vertical heaving of the hull. When an ice mass contacts the hull, tension on the mooring means is relaxed to thereby allow the hull to rock upward against the ice thereby generating the forces necessary for the ice-breaking operation. Due to the present mooring means, the hull moves only a relatively short lateral distance in breaking an approaching ice mass.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for determining the permeability of a formation which includes the steps of traversing a bore-hole with a tool having a means for transmitting low frequency acoustic energy. The transmitting means is pulsed and the acoustic energy is detected by a first wide band receiver having a frequency response of between at least 0.1k hertz and 30k hertz. The receiver is coupled to the transmitting means only by means of a cable which has a length exceeding about 5 feet and preferably a length of about 15 feet. The amplitude of tube waves detected by the receiver is determined at a plurality of locations in the bore-hole. The change of amplitude in tube waves at various of these locations provides a measure of permeability. The receiver employed preferably comprises a cylinder of piezoelectric material having end plates at the ends of the cylinder and a passageway through one of the end plates which transmits ambient but not dynamic pressure changes.

Abstract: This specification discloses a rotary drilling technique for drilling a highy deviated wellbore into the earth's crust wherein a drill string comprised of drill collars and drill pipe is used to advance a drill bit attached to the drill pipe at the lower end of the drill string into the earth and form the wellbore. A first portion of the wellbore is formed to extend into the earth's crust and thereafter a highly deviated second portion of the wellbore is formed by drilling with the drill string arranged to have the drill collars located in the first portion of the wellbore and to apply compressive force on the drill pipe that extends therebelow and thus on the drill bit attached to the lower end thereof to apply the desired weight-on-bit for effective drilling of the second portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for reducing the sticking tendency of a rotating drill string in its drill cuttings and the surrounding wall cake by constructing the drill string elements, such as the tool joints, drill collars, wear knots, etc. with noncircular cross-sectional shapes. The noncircular shapes may be triangular, square or other higher order multi-faceted shapes, or elliptical, etc. Rotation of the drill string causes a periodic opening to form between the noncircular elements and the cuttings and wall cake which results in a movement of the mass of solids around the noncircular elements to positions away from the drill string, thereby mitigating the tendency of the drill string to differentially stick. Further, hydraulic seals are also likely to be broken by the reciprocating action of the noncircular elements.

Abstract: A marine compliant riser system is provided for attaching a flexible flowline to a buoyed conduit riser section. The improved system includes a yoke assembly for receiving flexible flowline with a means for retaining a terminal portion of the flexible flowline at a substantially normal catenary departure angle. Support means are mounted at the top of the buoyed section, and gooseneck connection means mounted on the support means for establishing fluid communication between the flexible flowline and conduit in the buoyed riser section.An installation method is disclosed for completing the improved riser system in deepwater.