Abstract: A pumpable heat transfer composition comprising a carrier liquid, a phase change material insoluble in the carrier liquid, and a solid microporous structure. The invention also comprises the method of making this composition.

Abstract: The present invention provides substituted phenols which are effective to inhibit polymer formation during the manufacture of acrylonitrile. Preferred substituted phenols are (a) hindered phenols, nonhindered phenols, and partially hindered phenols, or (b) combinations of hindered phenols with nonhindered or partially hindered phenols. A most preferred substituted phenol is p-nitrosophenol. In a preferred embodiment, the substituted phenols (with the exception of p-nitrosophenol) are combined with hydrogen transfer agents.

Abstract: The present invention provides a closed-loop system for drilling boreholes. The system includes a drill string having a drill bit, a plurality of sensors for providing signals relating to the drill string and formation parameters, a downhole device which processes various downhole sensors signals and computes dysfunctions relating to the drilling operations and transmits such dysfunctions to a surface control unit. The surface control unit determines the relative severity of such dysfunctions and the corrective action required to alleviate such dysfunctions based on programmed instruction and then displays the nature and extent of such dysfunctions and the required corrective action as a display for use by the operator. The programmed instructions may contain models, algorithms and information from prior drilled boreholes, geological information about subsurface formations and the borehole drill path.

Abstract: A water soluble corrosion inhibitor containing a compound having at least one five-membered heterocyclic ring having at least one thione group and at least one other pendant group is described. Such a corrosion inhibiting compound can be made by reacting together a thiourea and a polyalkylene polyamine. A specific example includes preparing 1-(2-aminoethyl)-2-imidazolidinethione by reacting thiourea, per se, and diethylenetriamine. These corrosion inhibition compounds have greatly reduced aquatic toxicity, and may be employed as corrosion inhibitors in hydrocarbon streams.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant, the coating comprising an antimicrobially effective amount of antimicrobial metal atoms incorporated into a coating of amorphous carbonaceous material.

Abstract: Polymer compositions made by reacting a polyol with an aromatic hydrocarbon containing only a single reactive functionality have been discovered to be useful demulsifiers for crude oil compositions. The aromatic hydrocarbon should have at least one aryl group and only one functionality reactive with a hydroxyl. The polyol may optionally be crosslinked prior to reaction with the aromatic hydrocarbon, and the crosslinking agent may be a diepoxide.

Abstract: An apparatus for sending signals downhole during drilling operations uses a main pump to pump mud from a mud pit at a substantially constant flow rate. The bulk of the pumped mud goes downhole to maintain adequate circulation for the drill bit. A bypass pipe is provided with a shut-off valve that is controlled by an electronic controller. By pulsing the opening and closing of the shut-off valve, the volumetric flow downhole is pulsed. The pulse amplitude and duration can be controlled. These pulses in the flow rate are detected by a suitable downhole device such as a flow rate measurement device, a pressure detector or a turbine. The initial "wake-up" pulse is made long enough so that the detection device downhole is always able to detect it. Subsequent to this wake-up pulse, adjustments are made to the pulse duration, in steps of about 2 seconds, for the smallest pulse period that is detectable downhole.

Abstract: Polyether polyols having reduced terminal unsaturation are prepared in a process comprising a first step comprising reacting propylene oxide with an initiator having at least two hydroxyl groups in the presence of a basic catalyst, a second step of contacting the polyether product of the first step having allyl terminal unsaturation with an isomerization catalyst whereby the allyl terminal unsaturation of the polyether is reduced by at least 90% conversion to propenyl terminal unsaturation in one step and, in a final step, the resulting polyether product of the first step is contacted with an acid catalyst whereby a substantial amount of the propenyl terminal unsaturation of the polyether is removed and the corresponding polyether having an additional hydroxyl group is obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for scavenging H.sub.2 S from aqueous and hydrocarbon substrates, preferably natural gas, using aldehyde ammonia trimers.

Abstract: Completion method for avoiding formation impairment in the completion of a wellbore by anchoring and activating a plug at a selected position in the wellbore to seal off a selected portion of the wellbore from other portions of the wellbore. The plug is positioned at the selected position in the wellbore and anchored at that position. A seal in the plug is then activated such that fluid cannot pass the plug. Other parts of the wellbore can then be operated at different pressures than the isolated part of the wellbore without impairment of the formation resulting from the loss of well fluids into the formation.

Abstract: The present invention provides a pipe junction holder for connecting a pipe to a mechanical joint. The junction holder contains a wedge placed between a seal gland and a wedge gland. The wedge has a split opening along its outer sloped surface. The seal gland is adapted for connection to the mechanical joint and the wedge gland. The wedge gland is adapted to seat over the wedge and cause the wedge to clamp on the pipe when the wedge glang is connected to the seal gland. The inner surface of the wedge is designed to clamp along substantially the entire circumference of the pipe when the wedge is tightly held in place over the pipe. The invention also provides a method of joining pipes with mechanical joints, wherein a free end of the pipe is adapted to be seated in a socket end of the mechanical joint.

Abstract: Boost Mode Regulator techniques are used to provide regulated a.c. or d.c. output from a.c. or d.c. sources. One embodiment involves regulation of the output of an a.c. source to provide a regulated d.c. voltage. The source inductance becomes part of the boost mode circuit, thus avoiding the losses associated with the addition of external inductors. When a three-phase alternator is the power source, the circuit comprises a six diode, three-phase rectifier bridge, three FET transistors and a decoupling capacitor. The invention involves shorting the output of the power source to allow storage of energy within the source inductance. During this time, the decoupling capacitor supports the load. When the short is removed, the energy stored in the inductances is delivered to the load. Because the circuit uses the integral magnetics of the source to provide the step-up function, the efficiency of the design can be quite high.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process of forming an antimicrobial coating on a surface of a medical implant, the coating comprising an antimicrobially effective amount of antimicrobial metal atoms incorporated into a coating of amorphous carbonaceous material.

Abstract: A discrete, minimally-equipped standard seismic calibration system is permanently installed over a subsurface reservoir structure that contains fluids of economic interest. Changes in the fluid content as a function of long-term time lapse may introduce changes in the acoustical characteristics of the reservoir rock layers, producing a corresponding change in the seismic signature recorded by the calibration system. The difference between two signatures over a selected time epoch defines a time-lapse calibration signature. The time lapse calibration signature can be applied to reduce the results of different conventional seismic data-acquisition systems of different vintages and technologies to a common standard.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding thermosetting polymers onto clothing. The apparatus includes at least one molding device, at least one polymer supply and a control system for controlling the operation of the molding devices and polymer supplies. The molding devices include die sets having an input member and a mold. The polymer supplies supply polymers for injection into the input members of the molding devices for use in molding three dimensional bodies of polymers onto substrates such as clothing.

Abstract: The invention is a control device or directional drilling tool. The control device has an electromotor drive in the orienting device. The measuring and control device is situated between the orienting device and the drill string. Cable lead-throughs through the orienting device are eliminated. The electromotor drive of the orienting device can be actuated independently of drilling operations, making it possible to perform a rapid and precise performance of an orientation process while continuing drilling operations, reducing deviations from the planned drilling program.

Abstract: This invention presents a series of polyfunctional polymers useful as deinking agents. The polymers, which generally have molecular weights in the 2,000-100,000 range, can be used to effectively separate and remove ink in a variety of deinking processes, including flotation, wash, and mechanical, resulting in fibers of superior brightness.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for molding thermosetting polymers onto clothing. The apparatus includes at least one molding device, at least one polymer supply and a control system for controlling the operation of the molding devices and polymer supplies. The molding devices include die sets having an input member and a mold. The polymer supplies supply polymers for injection into the input members of the molding devices for use in molding three dimensional bodies of polymers onto substrates such as clothing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a methods of making an edible material and the application thereof to sticky or moist food products. The edible material may be sprayed on the moist food product. The food product with the edible material thereon may be used make sandwiches or stored without any additional protection. Individually wrapped slices of the moist food product may be further wrapped in plastic films, boxed and transported. Sandwiches utilizing the moist food products with the edible material thereon may be made and stored and sold in convenience store, grocery stores and the like.