Abstract: Heavy hydrocarbon containing sludges such as refinery waste streams, oil storage tank sludges and marine oil tanker ballast are treated by passing the sludges in a flow stream through an indirect dryer to vaporize liquids having a boiling point at atmospheric pressure of less than about 700.degree. F. and to provide substantially dried solid particles discharged from the dryer. The dried particles, containing heavy hydrocarbons as a coating or as a part of the solids, are conducted to a combustor/oxidizer and exposed to a high velocity flow stream of oxygen containing gas, typically low pressure forced air, to burn the residual hydrocarbons in the solids and to reduce heavy metals and the like to oxides thereof. A sludge handling system includes a rotary disk type indirect dryer connected to a lift pipe type combustor/oxidizer for thorough exposure of the dried solids to an oxygen containing atmosphere.

Abstract: The resistivity of a geologic formation is measure through drillpipe or casing by applying a low frequency bipolar voltage to the casing and to a ground electrode and traversing the casing with a tool having contractors which are connected to a differential amplifier to detect a differential voltage within the casing caused by current leaving the casing into the formation. The differential amplifier is connected to a unity gain inverter and a switching arrangement for alternately reversing the polarity of the connection of input voltages to the differential amplifier. A switching network alternately connects the outputs of the differential amplifier and the output of the inverter to the input of a low pass filter, and a clock is provided for driving the network in synchronization.

Abstract: A pipeline survey pig includes an elongated hollow pig body having an enclosure for supporting a generally cylindrical tubular instrument chassis which, in turn, supports an inertial reference unit and associated signal processing and recording devices. A plurality of resilient cup members support the pig body for traversal through a pipeline section under the urging of pressure fluid. The cup members are spaced apart and secured to the pig body by spacer members which may be selectively provided to predetermine the axial spacing of the cup members so that the center of stiffness of the pig is in a predetermined position. The instrument chassis is secured in the pig body by a cam mechanism which is actuatable from one end of the chassis after insertion into the pig body to wedge opposed chassis door members into engagement with the pig body to enhance heat transfer between the chassis and the pig body.

Abstract: Unconsolidated formations may be produced to yield hydrocarbons and other fluids by forming an openhole wellbore in the region to be produced, cleaning the wellbore face with a low solids content, low leakoff type fluid and/or underreaming the wellbore to provide a clean face in the region of interest and followed by insertion of a production tubing string including a filter medium which will retain larger formation sand particles in the wellbore cavity but will allow a limited amount of solids fines to be produced with the produced fluids. An in situ sand pack is formed within the wellbore cavity together with a dilatant zone of generally cylindrical shape having an outer radius which grows into the formation until the in situ stresses increase and the dilatant zone as well as the in situ sand pack become stable. This type of well completion eliminates the requirement for other means of consolidating formation sands as well as the cost of installing artificial gravel packs in a well.

Abstract: A borehole centralizer includes an elongated shank member on which opposed head members are slidable and are connected to articulated arms which are movable radially inwardly and outwardly to centralize a tubing string or apparatus in a borehole in which the centralizer is disposed. A tension coil spring is disposed around the shank and connected to the opposed head members for exerting an axially directed force which is converted to radially directed forces urging the articulated arms radially outwardly. The centralizer is operable to exert substantially constant outward biasing forces on the articulated arms for a relatively wide range of borehole diameters.

Abstract: A mechanical indicator and arresting apparatus for use with downhole tools which are extendable through wellbore tubing strings by a wireline cable or the like. The indicator apparatus includes a body supporting an elongated actuating rod which is movable longitudinally by an actuator member associated with the tool to extend a plurality of arresting fingers which are pivotally mounted on the body member from a retracted position, which permits movement of the indicator through the tubing string, to an extended position for engaging a transverse surface on the tubing string to arrest movement of the indicator in at least one direction of movement through the tubing string. The actuating rod includes a latch member for holding the fingers in a retracted position and a spring biased plunger is engageable with the fingers to move the fingers to their extended position in response to movement of the actuating rod.

Abstract: A cable reeling apparatus particularly useful for reeling and dereeling cable for seismic signal recording operations includes a lightweight frame on which a propulsion unit and drive shaft for a cable spool are supported. The cable spool is permanently mounted on the shaft and includes a removable side flange so that coils of cable may be mounted on and demounted from the spool. The spool hub and flanges are provided with cooperating grooves for receiving flexible strapping wherein the coil of cable may be bound at circumferentially spaced points before removal from the spool and field operations may be carried out without dedicated spools for each cable coil.

Abstract: Steam distribution lines may be adapted for desuperheat without being removed from service by adding a branch conduit and a closure valve, hot tapping the line through the closure valve and adding a desuperheater apparatus including an elongated injection conduit with water injection nozzles disposed near the distal end thereof. An insertion and retraction device is mounted on the valve and supports the desuperheater apparatus for insertion of the desuperheat water injection conduit into the interior of the distribution line without interrupting steam flow. Temperature indicators and controllers are similarly installed on the distribution line downstream of the desuperheater apparatus.

Abstract: A hydraulic in-the-hole type percussion tool including an elongated piston-hammer which is disposed for delivering percussion blows to an impact receiving bit or shank member and is adapted to reset an elongated tubular sleeve type distributing valve disposed in the tool cylinder rearwardly of the piston-hammer. The distributing valve is moved in one direction by the piston-hammer and is urged in the opposite direction by pressure fluid which is transferred to a chamber to act on a pressure surface of the distributing valve when the piston-hammer uncovers a fluid transfer port. An in-line hydraulic accumulator is disposed between the percussion mechanism and a source of working fluid and includes an annular piston forming an accumulator chamber and biased by a series of conical washer type springs. The tool is adapted to use high pressure water or drilling mud as the working fluid and which is conducted to and from opposed expansible chambers formed in an inner cylinder member.

Abstract: A borehole televiewer apparatus includes a housing section having a cavity for the disposition of an acoustic signal transmitting and receiving transducer. An elongated threaded rod is disposed in the cavity and held stationary relative to the housing and supports a nut, a slipring assembly, the transducer and a drive motor assembly for axially translating the transducer and rotating the transducer while precluding rotation of the motor and a support plate therefor relative to the rod. The support plate is keyed to the rod by an elongated key and keyway configuration to prevent rotation of the motor and the support plate while permitting axial translation of the motor and support plate along the rod.

Abstract: Friction pressure losses are obtained for non-Newtonian or generalized Newtonian fluids being pumped through conduits at high flow rates, such as in hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations, by measuring friction pressure losses in a pipe viscometer under laminar flow conditions. The pipe viscometer includes a pump which supplies fluid to a continuous loop having three pipe sections of different diameter for measuring pressure drop at different flow velocities. Sets of data points of generalized shear stress and shear rate are measured for determining the consistency index (K") and the Power Law or flow behavior index (n').

Abstract: Water, oil and gas mixtures such as produced from oil and gas wells are analyzed as to the proportionate content of each component in the total mixture by calorimetric processes in systems which separate the gas from the fluid mixture, withdraw a sample of the liquid mixture and subject the sample at a given or determined flow rate to a heat exchange process. The remaining main flow of the liquid mixture is also subjected to a heat exchange process and a heat balance is calculated for the flowstream based on the change in temperature of main liquid flowstream and the change in temperature of the heat exchange medium. The processes are carried out on the main flowstream by interposing a heat exchanger in the flowstream or by reinjecting into the flowstream a measured amount of heat exchange fluid such as separated water or crude oil.

Abstract: A jacket for supporting an offshore platform or the like comprises at least one vertical column member, laterally and vertically spaced guide sleeves for piles to be driven into the sea floor and lateral bracing connecting the guide sleeves to the column member. The jacket may be installed with the piles prepositioned extending through the guide sleeves and temporarily secured thereto until the jacket and pile assembly is in position on the sea floor and ready for pile driving. The vertical column member may receive a pile which may include a well casing. A method of installation for the jacket may include drilling a well through the column member after installation of the jacket and securement to the sea floor by the piles which extend through the guide sleeves.

Abstract: Oil and other contaminants entrained in a water flowstream may be measured to determine the concentration thereof by passing a sample of the flowstream through a vessel defining a chamber in which a light beam is projected to a photo sensitive element. Changes in light intensity caused by changes in concentration of oil or other contaminants are compared with the light intensity measured with a clarified or oil-free sample of liquid. A measuring system utilizes a centrifugal pump having a restricted fluid outlet to provide for thoroughly dispersal of the oil in the liquid flowstream. An alternate source of liquid may include a source of clear water or a source of clarified water which has been held in a holding tank to allow oil to separate from the water sample. The system is adapted for measuring the concentration and absorportion coefficient of oil entrained in a water flowstream such as refinery waste water streams, produced water streams from oil field flooding operations and the like.

Abstract: Multiple wellbores may be extended from a common, generally vertical wellbore and completed for conduction of fluids between said common wellbore and each of said wells by drilling the common wellbore, inserting a seal bore into the common wellbore below the junction of a deviated well with said common wellbore, inserting a whipstock and then drilling the deviated well. The whipstock is removed and a guide member is inserted into the common wellbore and secured to the anchor member. A dual packer is inserted in the common wellbore above the junction of the deviated well and is connected to the guide member to provide a slow passage into the wellbore located below the junction. A second tubing guide connector member is inserted into the common wellbore with a tubing string extending downwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A pipeline survey pig including an onboard inertial reference unit and signal processing units for receiving acceleration and angular velocity signals generated by the inertial reference unit, calculating resultant values of angular velocity and accelerations and averaging the calculated values to provide recordable signals related to the position of the pig and changes in curvature of the pipe. The pig is supported by a plurality of resilient cup shape support members which have a stiffness characteristic whereby the natural frequency of vibration which may cause lateral excursions of the pig is less than the signal generating rate yet greater than the frequency of the signal to be measured. The center of stiffness and the center of gravity of the pig are disposed along the central axis of the pig and the pipeline section being measured and are preferably coincident with each other.

Abstract: Multiple downhole seismic signals are generated by an apparatus comprising one or more elongated rod segments insertable in a borehole and provide with spaced-apart predetermined lengths of Primacord explosive charge helically wrapped on the exterior of the rod segment and spaced apart by circumferential baffles supported on the rod segment. The charges are selectively fired through a motor actuated selector switch and a switch stepping and firing circuit including only two conductors and blocking diodes for imposing signals of opposite polarity on the selector switch and its actuating motor.

Abstract: Oily sludges containing volatile hydrocarbons are mixed with diatomaceous earth or perlite in a system which includes an indirect dryer for vaporizing liquids have a boiling point of less than about 700.degree. F. Dried solids are discharged from the dryer and conveyed to an oxidation unit comprising a rotary kiln or lift pipe combustor. Dried hydrocarbon free solids are recirculated for mixing with the oily sludge and condensable vapors are condensed and separated for further use or disposal. A system including the indirect dryer, condenser, oxidation unit, separators for the condensate and separators for gaseous products can be modified to receive hydrocarbon contaminated soils and other earth-like materials having particle sizes ranging from as low as 10 microns up to about 1.0 inches.

Abstract: Apparatus for interconnecting a tubing string with downhole tool and for controlling the flow of fluid into a wellbore through the tubing string comprising an elongated body member and a resiliently deformable sleeve disposed around the body member and radially deformable to form a seal against the wellbore wall to seal off a zone of interest. The body member includes a passage for extension of a wireline cable from the tubing string to the downhole tool. An electric motor operated rotary plug valve is disposed in the apparatus body and is operable to be rotated to valve pressure fluid from the tubing string into an expansible chamber to cause the seal sleeve to deform to seal the wellbore. The valve member is movable to positions to relieve pressure fluid from the seal, to valve pressure fluid to the wellbore at an injection point below the seal and to block all ports.

Abstract: Vapor pressure of liquid compositions is measured by a system having a cylinder member in which a reciprocal piston is disposed for movement to contain a sample of liquid and expand the chamber while measuring the pressure in the chamber until a substantially constant pressure is reached with increasing chamber volume. Liquid is circulated from a source such as a petroleum pipeline to the apparatus and continually through the expansible chamber in a retracted position of the piston. When a sample vapor pressure measurement is to be taken, the piston closes off a passage leading to the chamber and displaces liquid out of the chamber until a minimum volume is reached. The movement of the piston is then reversed to increase chamber volume while monitoring pressure and temperature to detect the onset of cavitation.