Abstract: Improved matchbooks having separable message sheets are provided for. The novel matchbooks each comprise a comb of matches having a plurality of matches and a cover. The cover is attached to and folded over the comb such that the cover substantially encloses the comb when the cover is in a first closed position and permits a consumer to access the matches in the comb when the cover is in a second open position. The cover has igniting material on the cover on which the matches may be struck and ignited. The matchbooks also have a message sheet providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted. The message sheet is separably connected to the cover such that the message sheet is separable from the cover. Thus, the message sheet may be removed from a novel matchbook by a consumer without compromising the integrity of the matchbook.

Abstract: Improved matchbooks having separable message sheets are provided for. The novel matchbooks each comprise a comb of matches having a plurality of matches and a cover. The cover is attached to and folded over the comb such that the cover substantially encloses the comb when the cover is in a first closed position and permits a consumer to access the matches in the comb when the cover is in a second open position. The cover has igniting material on the cover on which the matches may be struck and ignited. The matchbooks also have a message sheet providing a substrate on which a message may be imprinted. The message sheet is separably connected to the cover such that the message sheet is separable from the cover. Thus, the message sheet may be removed from a novel matchbook by a consumer without compromising the integrity of the matchbook.

Abstract: A method for processing magnetotelluric data to identify subterranean deposits is provided for. The data comprise the amplitude of alternating magnetic or electrical fields recorded over time in at least two vector components at one or more locations in an area of interest. Amplitude pulses are identified in the data, wherein the pulses are time segments comprising an amplitude peak meeting defined threshold criteria in at least one vector component. The pulses are filtered at a set of predetermined frequencies to separate amplitude data at each frequency from the remainder of the amplitude data in the pulses. The frequencies correspond to subterranean depths over a range of interest. Differential impedances ?Z of the pulses at each frequency at each location are then statistically analyzed to determine a value correlated to the resistance of the earth at each frequency. The resistance values are indicative of the presence or absence of deposits at the corresponding subterranean depth at the location.

Abstract: Methods of processing seismic data to remove unwanted noise from meaningful reflection signals are provided for. The methods comprise the steps of assembling seismic data into common geometry gathers in an offset-time domain without correcting the data for normal moveout. The amplitude data are then transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a limited Radon transformation. That is, the Radon transformation is applied within defined slowness limits pmin and pmax, where pmin is a predetermined minimum slowness and pmax is a predetermined maximum slowness. A corrective filter is then applied to the transformed data enhance the primary reflection signal content of the data and to eliminate unwanted noise events. After filtering, the enhanced signal content is inverse transformed from the time-slowness domain back to the offset-time domain using an inverse Radon transformation.

Abstract: Methods of processing seismic data to remove unwanted noise from meaningful reflection signals are provided for. Assembled seismic data are transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a Radon transformation. Preferably, the Radon transformation is applied within defined slowness limits pmin and pmax that will preserve coherent noise, and according to an index j of the slowness set and a sampling variable ?p; wherein j = p ma ? ? x - p m ? ? i ? ? n + 1 ? ?sec ? / ? m ? ? ? p , ?p is from about 0.5 to about 4.0 ?sec/m. The coherent noise content of the transformed data is then enhanced, and the primary reflection signal content diminished by filtering at least a subset of the transformed data.

Abstract: Aqueous fluids for circulation through a well during drilling operations, especially drilling operations where shale and another clay bearing formations are encountered, and methods for circulating such clay stabilizing drilling fluids are provided for. The drilling fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid, a viscosifying polymer, a starch, and a chloride-free clay stabilizer. In one embodiment, the starch is selected from the group consisting of potato and corn starch and mixtures thereof and is present in relatively high amounts, i.e., starch in amounts from about 6 to about 18 lb/barrel of fluid, and stabilizer in amounts up to about 3% by volume of fluid. Other embodiments provide concentrations of polymer, starch, and clay stabilizer effective to provide the fluid with clay swelling of about 10% or less, preferably about 5% or less, and shale disintegration of about 10% or less, preferably about 5% or less. Preferably the novel fluids also comprise an environmentally friendly lubricant and surfactant.

Abstract: Improved methods of processing seismic data which comprise amplitude data assembled in the offset-time domain in which primary reflection signals and noise overlap are provided for. The methods include the step of enhancing the separation between primary reflection signals and coherent noise by transforming the assembled data from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain. More specifically, the assembled amplitude data are transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a Radon transformation according to an index j of the slowness set and a sampling variable ?p; wherein j = p max - p min + 1 ? ? µ ? ? sec ? / ? m ? ? ? p , ?p is from about 0.5 to about 4.0 ?sec/m, pmax is a predetermined maximum slowness, and pmin is a predetermined minimum slowness. Alternately, an offset weighting factor xn is applied to the assembled amplitude data, wherein 0<n<1, and the amplitude data are transformed with a Radon transformation.

Abstract: An apparatus for separating natural gas from production streams comprising a liquid dispersion of water, sand, and natural gas is provided for. The separator comprises a vessel having an interior surface defining a spherical interior space. The interior space allows a production stream introduced therein to experience a velocity drop sufficient to allow separation of the natural gas from the sand and water components. The separator also comprises a stream inlet port in the vessel, a liquid drain in the lower end of the vessel, and a gas outlet port at the upper end of the vessel remote from the stream inlet port. A baffle is mounted in the interior of the vessel in the path of the production stream between the stream inlet port and the gas outlet port. The baffle is effective to spread and direct a high pressure production stream introduced into the interior space via the stream inlet port downward toward the liquid drain.

Abstract: Improved methods of processing seismic data which comprise amplitude data assembled in the offset-time domain in which primary reflection signals and noise overlap are provided for. The methods include the step of enhancing the separation between primary reflection signals and coherent noise by transforming the assembled data from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain. More specifically, the assembled amplitude data are transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a Radon transformation according to an index j of the slowness set and a sampling variable ?p; wherein j = p max - p min + 1 ? ? ? ? ? sec ? / ? m ? ? ? p , ?p is from about 0.5 to about 4.0 ?sec/m, pmax is a predetermined maximum slowness, and pmin is a predetermined minimum slowness. Alternately, an offset weighting factor xn is applied to the assembled amplitude data, wherein 0<n<1, and the amplitude data are transformed with a Radon transformation.

Abstract: Methods of processing seismic data to remove unwanted noise from meaningful reflection signals are provided for. Assembled seismic data are transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a Radon transformation. Preferably, an offset weighting factor xn is applied to the amplitude data, wherein 0<n<1, and the Radon transformation is applied within defined slowness limits pmin and pmax that will preserve coherent noise, and according to an index j of the slowness set and a sampling variable ?p; wherein j = p max - p min + 1 ? ? µ ? ? sec ? / ? m ? ? ? p , ?p is from about 0.5 to about 4.0 ?sec/m. The coherent noise content of the transformed data is then enhanced, and the primary reflection signal content diminished by filtering at least a subset of the transformed data.

Abstract: Methods of processing seismic data to remove unwanted noise from meaningful reflection signals are provided for. The methods comprise the steps of assembling seismic data into common geometry gathers in an offset-time domain without correcting the data for normal moveout. The amplitude data are then transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a Radon transformation. A corrective filter is then applied to enhance the primary reflection signal content of the data and to eliminate unwanted noise events. The corrective filter has a pass region with a lower pass limit and a higher pass limit. The higher pass limit is set within 15% above the slowness of the primary reflection signals and, preferably, it is more closely set to the slowness of the primary reflection signals. The lower pass limit is also preferably set within 15% below the slowness of the primary reflection signals.

Abstract: Improved methods of disseminating advertising messages to consumers are provided for. In particular, the subject invention provides for methods for disseminating manufacturer coupons to a target consumer group. The method comprises packaging a product in a pouch container having associated therewith a manufacturer coupon pertaining to products or services other than the packaged product. The packaged product is a single-serve food product. The manufacturer coupon is redeemable by a consumer of the product and a member of a target consumer group. The manufacturer coupon also includes machine readable code associated therewith to facilitate automated processing of the coupon. The packaged product is then packaged in a shipping carton. The shipping carton has a machine readable indicator assigned to the manufacturer coupon. The indicator is read and, in response thereto, the carton with the packaged product is shipped to consumer food service outlets associated with the target consumer group.

Abstract: Methods of processing seismic data to remove unwanted noise from meaningful reflection signals are provided for. The methods comprise the steps of assembling seismic data into common geometry gathers in an offset-time domain without correcting the data for normal moveout. The amplitude data are then transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a Radon transformation. At least of subset of the transformed data is filtered to enhance its coherent noise content and to diminish its primary reflection signal content by defining a slowness high-pass region and, a slowness low-pass region. The low-pass region is defined to enhance the low slowness coherent noise content and to diminish the primary reflection signal content thereof, thereby generating a first subset of said transformed data having enhanced low slowness coherent noise content.

Abstract: Self-generating foamed fluids for circulation through a well during drilling operations and methods for circulating such self-generating foamed drilling fluids are provided for. The drilling fluid comprises an aqueous solvent, a polymer, a surfactant, a first foam generating agent, and a second foam generating agent. The first and second foam generating agents react to generate a gas within the drilling fluid and thereby to foam the drilling fluid. Preferably, the foam generating agents are selected such that they react to generate carbon dioxide. Preferably a base fluid comprising excess amounts of only one of the foam generating agents is pumped into the drill string using a hydraulic pump. The other foam generating agent then is injected in a controlled manner downstream of the circulation pump such that the drilling fluid is foamed after being pumped for circulation through the well. The novel drilling fluids preferably have a density of from about 5.8 lb/gal to about 0.

Abstract: Methods of processing seismic data to remove unwanted noise from meaningful reflection signals are provided for. The seismic data is transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a high resolution Radon transformation. That is, the Radon transformation is performed according to an index j of the slowness set and a sampling variable ?p; wherein j = p max - p min + 1 ? ? ? µ ? ? ? sec ? / ? m ? ? ? ? p , ?p is from about 0.5 to about 4.0 ?sec/m, pmax is a predetermined maximum slowness, and pmin is a predetermined minimum slowness. A corrective filter is then applied to enhance the primary reflection signal content of the data and to eliminate unwanted noise events. After filtering, the enhanced signal content is inverse transformed from the time-slowness domain back to the offset-time domain using an inverse Radon transformation.

Abstract: A method for processing magnetotelluric signals to identify subterranean deposits is provided for. The methods comprise obtaining magnetotelluric data from an area of interest. The magnetotelluric data comprises the amplitude of magnetotelluric signals recorded over time at one or more defined locations in the area of interest. The data for each location then is filtered through a set of frequency filters. The frequency filters correspond to subterranean depths over a range of interest. Amplitude peaks in the filtered data then are identified and analyzed to determine a value correlated to the resistance of the earth at each frequency and location. The resistance values are indicative of the presence or absence of deposits at the corresponding subterranean depth.

Abstract: An exercise machine for performing squat exercises is provided for. The exercise machine comprises a support frame with a shaft horizontally mounted on the frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis. There is at least one weight arm connected to the shaft. The weight arm is adapted to carry a weight at a point distant from the connection between the weight arm and the rotating shaft. Thus, the weight arm provides resistance and load as the shaft rotates. The novel squat machines also comprise a work arm that is connected to the shaft such that actuation of the work arm causes the shaft to rotate. A yoke is connected to the work arm. The yoke is adapted to accommodate the shoulders of an exerciser such that the exerciser is able to provide upward force on the work arm in opposition to the resistance of the weight arm by performing a squat exercise. When the exerciser performs the squat, the work arm causes the shaft to rotate and the weight arm to travel along an arcuate path.

Abstract: Methods of processing seismic data to remove unwanted noise from meaningful reflection signals are provided for. The seismic data is transformed from the offset-time domain to the time-slowness domain using a limited Radon transformation. That is, the Radon transformation is applied within defined slowness limits pmin and pmax, where pmin is a predetermined minimum slowness and pmax is a predetermined maximum slowness. A corrective filter is then applied to enhance the primary reflection signal content of the data and to eliminate unwanted noise events. After filtering, the enhanced signal content is inverse transformed from the time-slowness domain back to the offset-time domain using an inverse Radon transformation.