Abstract: The disclosure relates to systems and methods for detecting features on billets of laminated veneer lumber (LVL). In some embodiments, an LVL billet is provided and passed through a scanning assembly. The scanning assembly includes an x-ray generator and an x-ray detector. The x-ray generator generates a beam of x-ray radiation and the x-ray detector measures intensity of the beam of x-ray radiation after is passes through the LVL billet. The measured intensity is then processed to create an image. Images taken according to the disclosure may then be analyzed to detect features on the LVL billet.

Abstract: A method for making a web comprising a layer of crosslinked cellulosic fiber overlaid on and fastened to at least one layer of regenerated cellulose fiber. In one method the crosslinked cellulosic fiber is be sandwiched between two regenerated cellulose fiber layers. The regenerated cellulose can be viscose or lyocell or be made from several solvents.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for a steerable horizontal electric dipole source system for underwater deployment as a moving source in electromagnetic surveying of subsurface regions for hydrocarbons. Position locating sensors (195) are placed near each electrode (26, 27), and means (197, 198) are provided for correcting the electrodes to be at the same elevation with azimuth aligned with the source tow line (11) and the electrode mid-point positioned over the source tow line, based on instantaneous location information from the sensors. The streamer (28) connecting the electrodes may also be monitored for shape by sensors, with corrections made by lateral and vertical control means disclosed herein. The invention can be applied to any marine streamer used in geophysical surveys, including a towed streamer (191) of electromagnetic or seismic receivers (192).

Abstract: The invention provides methods for improving the germination of manufactured seeds. The methods comprise the step of subjecting a manufactured seed to at least one change in ambient pressure for a period of time sufficient to generate a conditioned manufactured seed.

Abstract: A probabilistic method for classifying observed CSEM response for a resistive anomaly to classify the response into multiple geologic categories indicative of hydrocarbon production potential. Each category is assigned a prior probability (301). For each category, conditional joint probability distributions for observed CSEM data in the anomaly region are constructed (303) from rock property probability distributions (302) and a quantitative relationship between rock/fluid properties and the CSEM data (304). Then, the joint probability distributions and prior probabilities for each category (305) are combined with observed data (307) and used in Bayes' Rule (306) to update the prior category probabilities (308). Seismic data may be used to supplement CSEM data in the method.

Abstract: Method for modeling anisotropic elastic properties of a subsurface region comprising mixed fractured rocks and other geological bodies. P-wave and fast and slow S-wave logs are obtained, and an anisotropic rock physics model of the subsurface region is developed (21). P- and fast and slow S-wave logs at the well direction are calculated using a rock physics model capable of handling fractures and other geological factors (22). Calculated values are compared to measured values in an iterative model updating process (23). An upscaled ID model is developed by averaging elastic properties in each layer using an upscaling theory capable of handling at least orthorhombic anisotropy (24). The ID model may be used to generate synthetic seismic response for well ties or AVO modeling (25). Further, a method is disclosed for estimating anisotropy parameters from P- and fast/slow S-wave logs from one or more deviated wells.

Abstract: Method for making a probabilistic determination of total seal capacity for a hydrocarbon trap, simultaneously considering both capillary entry pressure and mechanical seal capacity, and where capillary entry pressure is estimated by relating it directly to the buoyancy pressure applied by the hydrocarbon column to the top seal. The method thus considers the substantial uncertainty associated with input parameters, which uncertainty limits the utility of such analyses for robust hydrocarbon column height and fluid contact predictions. The method disclosed for estimating seal capillary entry pressure, the requisite input parameter for capillary seal capacity analysis, by inverting trap parameters avoids the need for direct measurement by mercury injection capillary capacity tests on small pieces of rock, which test results often are not available for all desired locations nor are they necessarily representative of adjacent rocks in the seal.

Abstract: A method for designing a controlled-source electromagnetic survey that will discriminate between a defined deep marginal-interest reservoir (2) and specified false positive resistivity structures of concern (3, 4, 5). A reservoir model and a false positive model are constructed for each false positive scenario. The resistivity of the false positive model may be tuned to give electromagnetic data similar enough to the reservoir model when forward modeled that any differences fall in the model null space. A null-space discriminating ratio (“NSDR”) is defined, for example as the peak normalized difference of the two related modeled electromagnetic field data sets. An area coverage display of NSDR values (6) allows determination of such additional data as may be needed to distinguish the false positive body, and a survey design is developed accordingly (7). Reduction of the number of variables affecting the area coverage displays is a key feature of the method.

Abstract: Method for reducing air wave and/or magnetotelluric noise in controlled source electromagnetic surveying by either shielding the source (61) from the air interface, shielding the receivers from downward traveling electromagnetic energy, or by employing a second source (62) to preferentially cancel the air wave (and MT) part of the signal, or a combination of the preceding.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovery of natural gas liquids (NGL) and a pressurized methane-rich sales gas from liquefied natural gas (LNG) are disclosed. In certain embodiments, LNG passes through a heat exchanger, thereby heating and vaporizing at least a portion of the LNG. The partially vaporized LNG passes to a fractionation column where a liquid stream enriched with ethane plus and a methane-rich vapor stream are withdrawn. The withdrawn methane-rich vapor stream passes through the heat exchanger to condense the vapor and produce a two phase stream, which is separated in a separator into at least a methane-rich liquid portion and a methane-rich gas portion. A pump pressurizes the methane-rich liquid portion prior to vaporization and delivery to a pipeline. The methane-rich gas portion may be compressed and combined with the vaporized methane-rich liquid portion or used as plant site fuel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the removal of sulfur contaminants from a hydrocarbon stream comprising: (a) providing a gaseous hydrocarbon stream having sulfur contaminants, but having less than 10 ppmw of said sulfur contaminants as thiophenes, to a bed of adsorbent material, said material having at least one Group VIII metal compound with at least one Group VI, IA, IIA, IB metal compound on an inorganic metal oxide support material, without substantial added hydrogen, to absorb said contaminants; (b) periodically stopping said providing of said gaseous hydrocarbon feed stream of (a); (c) then, regenerating said adsorbent bed by introducing at least one regenerant, in any order, in the place of said stream; and, (d) continuing to alternate (a) and (b) plus (c) as needed.

Abstract: Method for determining best and worst cases for values of model parameters such as porosity and shale volume fraction generated by non-unique matrix inversion of physical data such as seismic reflection amplitudes. The matrix is diagonalized, and then orthonormal basis vectors associated with insignificant diagonal elements are used to generate upper and lower bounds on the solution. Best and worst case solutions are determined as linear combinations of the null basis vectors, where the expansion coefficients are determined by making a best fit to the upper and lower bounds.

Abstract: Method for efficient inversion of controlled-source electromagnetic survey data to obtain a resistivity model of the subsurface of the survey area. The method extracts the dimensions and location of sub-surface structures as they may be revealed by existing seismic or other available high resolution survey data from the subsurface area (33). This structure geometry information is used to construct a discretization (grid, or mesh) for the inversion computation (34) that is different from the mesh used for the forward modeling calculations (32) in that (a) it has fewer and hence larger cells; and (b) the cells honor the assumed structural information. The inversion need only extract resistivity information (35), the geometry of the resistive structures being specified by the inversion mesh.

Abstract: Method for obtaining rock parameters such as porosity and vshale directly from inversion of seismic data corresponding to a single trace location. This method is distinguished from existing methods that obtain elastic properties from inversion of seismic data, then relate the elastic parameters to rock lithology parameters such as porosity or vshale because it is accomplished in one step, can incorporate anisotropy and does not require multiple trace locations for stability. The data are separated into partial stacks, and a wavelet is specified for each stack. A set of linearized equations are constructed relating seismic reflectivity to changes in elastic parameters, and another set of linearized equations is constructed relating the changes in elastic parameters to the lithologic parameters. The linearized reflectivity equations are combined with the linearized rock physics equations, convolved with the specified wavelets, and equated to the seismic data.

Abstract: A geophysical model of a subsurface region is generated based on seismic data, e.g., seismic reflection data. Migration and seismic inversion are applied to the seismic data to generate estimates of one or more physical or seismic properties of the subsurface region. Seismic inversion, such as spectral shaping inversion, is applied before or after migrating the seismic data through a variety of techniques that each avoid the amplification of dipping energy while optimizing computational efficiency and/or accuracy.

Abstract: Method for identifying, determining and correcting source-related phase errors in data from a controlled source electromagnetic survey by using data from ordinary survey receivers, i.e. without benefit of source monitoring data. Abrupt anomalies indicating source malfunctions are identified (71) in the time domain by plotting time intervals between neighboring zero crossings or by zero-lag cross correlation between consecutive bins of receiver data, and the amount of the time error (73) can be determined by performing cross correlation between two bins on either side of an anomaly. In the frequency domain, transmitter anomalies can be identified by looking for discontinuities in plots of phase vs. offset, and the corrective phase shift can be determined by matching the phase on one side of the anomaly to that on the other side. A global time/phase shift (76) can be determined by using phase frequency-scaling behavior at near offsets.

Abstract: Method is provided for simulating a physical process such as fluid flow in porous media by performing a fine-grid calculation of the process in a medium and re-using the fine grid solution in subsequent coarse-grid calculations. For fluid flow in subsurface formations, the method may be applied to optimize upscaled calculation grids formed from geologic models. The method decreases the cost of optimizing a grid to simulate a physical process that is mathematically described by the diffusion equation.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method of simulating the signal of an electromagnetic source using one or more dipole sources. In the method a dipole source is located at an excitation location corresponding to a segment of the electromagnetic source to be simulated. The dipole source is activated, and an electromagnetic signal recorded at one or more receiver locations. This process is repeated for additional excitation locations corresponding to additional segments of the electromagnetic source. The data from the sequence of dipole source excitation locations is processed to determine the simulated signal of the electromagnetic source.

Abstract: Method for efficient processing of controlled source electromagnetic data, whereby Maxwell's equations are solved [107] by numerical techniques [109] such as finite difference or finite element in three dimensions for each source location and frequency of interest. The Reciprocity Principle is used [103] to reduce the number of computational source positions, and a multi-grid is used [105] for the computational grid to minimize the total number of cells yet properly treat the source singularity, which is essential to satisfying the conditions required for applicability of the Reciprocity Principle. An initial global resistivity model [101] is Fourier interpolated to the computational multi grids [106]. In inversion embodiments of the invention, Fourier prolongation is used to update [120] the global resistivity model based on optimization results from the multi-grids.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program for improving the signal-to-noise ratio of a signal S(t), S(t) containing Signal and noise, are disclosed. A measurement of S(t) at a frequency-of-interest is obtained. Noise measurements of S(t) at one or more noise frequencies where the Signal portion of S(t) is expected to be small are obtained. The noise at the frequency-of-interest is estimated using the noise measurements at the one or more noise frequencies. The estimated noise is subtracted from the measurement of S(t) at the frequency-of-interest.