Abstract: A method and system for determining the probable direction of extension of a hydraulically induced fracture in a hydrocarbon bearing formation wherein prior to inducing the fracture, the formation region to be fractured is heated and thermally induced acoustic emissions from the formation are sensed to determine the orientation of the maximum and minimum horizontally directed in situ compressive stresses based on the acoustic emission rate and/or intensity. A device including a microwave energy generator and an array of acoustic transducers is lowered into a wellbore to generate and measure the thermally induced acoustic emissions.

Abstract: Sand is evacuated from horizontal and vertical wellbores utilizing a jet pump connected to the distal end of a concentric tubing string which is insertable in the wellbore and extendable from the earth's surface or from a seal member providing a crossover flow path between the wellbore annulus above the seal member and the inner tubing member of the concentric tubing string. The jet pump includes a plurality of nozzles for ejecting evacuation of fluid into the wellbore to agitate and entrain accumulated solids for flow into a pump inlet cavity and to be propelled out of the pump by a portion of the evacuation fluid acting as a jet pump power fluid. The inner tubing member may be coilable tubing which is inserted into the outer tubing member after the jet pump has been lowered into the wellbore. An upper portion of the concentric tubing string may be made up of preassembled sections of the inner and outer tubing members.

Abstract: An adaptable, accurate, high resolution centrifuge core measuring method using a single strobe flash per measurement uses a microprocessor controller to control the measuring method, not a computer. The controller, not the camera clock, decides when the camera data should be read. The camera data is read into and stored in the controller, not a computer. The controller reads the camera array, controls centrifuge speed, determines alignment of the proper catch tube, flashes the strobe, determines lapse time, rereads the pixels, stores and analyzes the pixel information and the other steps of the method. The controller is capable of operating in many modes. But at any point, for operator intervention the controller is adapted to let the computer intervene.

Abstract: The bubble point pressure, vapor pressure and liquid composition of hydrocarbon liquid flow streams is determined by causing the liquid flow stream to flow through a system having a plurality of eductors at selected various total pressure differentials across the eductors and measuring the pressure at the minimum pressure point or suction port of the eductors to obtain a reading of the vapor pressure. The system may comprise an array of three or more eductors arranged in parallel having flow regulating valves for controlling the flow rate and pressure drop across the eductors, respectively. The system may also comprise one eductor connected to a plurality of flow lines, each having flow control and/or shutoff valves arranged to provide for selective control of the flow rate and the resultant total pressure drop.

Abstract: The vertical and lateral displacement of sections of fluid transmission pipelines due to earth subsidence or heaving is determined using vertical and horizontal arrays of magnetometer sensors located spaced apart on a boom or support member for providing multiple readings of the earth's magnetic field intensity and the anomaly caused by the presence of the pipeline. True position of the sensors may be measured using stadia techniques or electromagnetic radiation signals transmitted from a reference point. The sensor array may be mounted on a landbased vehicle or suspended from a rotary wing aircraft to provide access to remote regions which may not be accessible to conventional equipment and techniques.

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: A pipeline vortex spoiler system comprising elongated foamed plastic strakes which are formed in sections approximately fifteen to twenty feet in length and have a somewhat inverted T-shaped cross sectional configuration. The strakes are disposed on the exterior surface of a cylindrical pipeline or the like to form a spiral or helical path and are secured to the pipeline section by flexible cylindrical bands or straps. The strake sections are adaptable to use on pipeline sections and other cylindrical bodies having a wide range of diameters, and are easily stored, shipped and attached to pipelines and similar bluff body structures in the field.

Abstract: A system for injecting fluid additive into a fluid transmission pipeline including a branch conduit in communication with the pipeline, a pump in the branch conduit for raising the pressure of fluid withdrawn from the pipeline, and an eductor having a branch passage in communication with the additive fluid for withdrawing the additive fluid from a source without increasing the pressure of the additive fluid to the branch conduit pressure or the nominal pipeline fluid pressure. A mixture of pipeline fluid and additive fluid are reinjected through an annular dispersion chamber interposed in the main pipeline. The additive fluid may be metered by a positive displacement flow meter or a metering valve which throttles the flow of additive fluid from a pressurized source.

Abstract: Centrifugal pipeline pumps for crude oil and other hydrocarbon liquids are provided with removable cover members between the seal housing portions of the pump casing and the outboard bearing housing portions of the pump, which cover members have vapor adsorption filters supported thereon and in fluid flow communication with the pump fluid leakage collection spaces formed between the pump shaft seal housings and the pump shaft bearing housings. The cover members and vapor adsorption units may be easily removed from the pump casing in assembly to provide access to the pump shaft seals for inspection or repair.

Abstract: A change in curvature or displacement of a section of submarine or subterranean fluid transmission pipeline is measured by traversing the pipeline with a pig having an onboard instrument package, including accelerometers and a longitudinal position measuring device comprising a magnetometer for counting the girth welds or other known magnetic anomalies along the section of pipeline to be measured. The accelerometers are mounted at the central longitudinal axis of the pig which is substantially coincident with the central longitudinal axis of the section of pipeline being measured so that the roll attitude of the pig does not influence the signals generated by the accelerometers. This arrangement precludes the requirement of mounting the accelerometers on a gyroscopic stabilized platform since the absolute position of the pig in space is not required, but primarily the change in curvature or displacement of the pipeline from a predetermined course is what is desired to be known.

Abstract: A drillstem loading and behavior measurement method and system includes spaced apart subs disposed at the upper end of the drillstem and connected to each other and to a power or conventional swivel and having strain gages and accelerometers mounted thereon in such a way as to measure axial loading, axial vibration, torsional loading, torsional vibration and bending modes of the drillstem during operation. Accelerometers are mounted on respective ones of the subs at a distance from each other sufficient to determine vibration waveforms in axial, torsional and bending modes.

Abstract: A geologic core holder includes an elongated barrel constructed of a composite of wound and longitudinally extending nonmetallic fibers embedded in a resin matrix to provide a high strength structure which presents minimal attenuation of x-rays and magnetic flux. The barrel has opposed end flanges and the core holder includes removeable end plugs which are slideable in a bore formed by the barrel. Opposed pairs of split retaining blocks are engageable with the end flanges for securing the end plugs in the barrel bore. One of the end plugs is adapted to support a flexible sleeve for holding the core sample within a cavity formed in the barrel bore whereby fluid pressure may be applied to exert a particular pressure and temperature condition on the core so that pressure fluid flow characteristics through the core may be studied and x-ray imaged.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating slugs of fluid of one phase flowing through a conduit which is conducting fluid of another phase comprising an elongated inlet manifold connected to an inlet conduit at one end and being of sufficient cross-sectional flow area to reform the fluid flow from the inlet conduit into substantially channel flow for the liquid entering the inlet manifold. A liquid discharge manifold is located below the inlet manifold and is connected to the inlet manifold by a plurality of downcomer conduits which are spaced apart one from the other along the length of the inlet manifold. A gas discharge conduit is connected to the downstream end of the inlet manifold and to a gas-liquid separator for demisting the gas discharged from the inlet manifold. Gas blow-by through the discharge manifold is prevented by a liquid trap formed by a liquid discharge conduit connected to the liquid discharge manifold.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided to sense and measure solarinduced luminescence, as well as reflectance, within the field of view of a target window for receiving a composite ray of light from the target. A first filter within the path of the composite ray of light transmits a first narrowband component thereof, including a predetermined Fraunhofer Line frequency, to a first sensor. A second narrowband component thereof, proximate the Fraunhofer Line frequency, is directed to a second sensor such that ratios of the electromagnetic energy impinging, respectively, on the first and second sensors may be determined. A removable filter tray assembly carrying the narrowband filters and fine tuning means are employed to facilitate the selection of the predetermined Fraunhofer Line frequency.

Abstract: A connector for attaching a downhole tool to the end of a tubing string insertable in a wellbore includes a frangible coupling portion having a pin with a predetermined cross sectional area which will fail in tension to separate the connector from the tool if the tool becomes stuck in the wellbore. The pin is disposed in a body member of the connector and interconnected therewith by spring washers to absorb transient shock or impact loads on the tool. The connector includes passages for extending electrical conductors through the coupling portion whereby electrical signals may be transmitted through the tubing string to the downhole tool.

Abstract: A system for controlling turning of the trailer of a tractor-trailer unit comprising a cam which is supported on and fixed to the fifth wheel hitch member of the tractor and is engageable with cam followers mounted on a pivotable cam lever secured to the trailer frame. The cam lever includes opposed cam followers engageable with the cam and for actuating opposed traces of a flexible cable which extend along the trailer frame and are secured to a pulley mounted on a pivotable rear axle bogie of the trailer. In response to turning movements of the tractor, the trailer bogie follows a track or path through the turn which is approximately the same path as the tractor. The cam is configured so that on backing the trailer the bogie remains fixed in a non-turning position relative to the trailer frame.

Abstract: When sulfonated surfactants are used to displace crude oil from a subterranean formation, the produced oil and water contain the surfactant and form a tight emulsion. This crude oil-water-surfactant emulsion is broken with a strong inorganic acid, for example, hydrochloric acid. The amount of acid added is sufficient to lower the pH of the water in the emulsion to 3.0 or lower. Thereafter, the oil is separated from the emulsion by conventional techniques.

Abstract: A process for recovering hydrocarbons from a porous hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising: (a) injecting water and oxygen into the formation through an injection means and causing at least a portion of the oxygen to combust with a portion of the hydrocarbons in the formation, provided that the oxygen in the formation effectively remains a distance away from the production means, e.g., production well or wells; (b) injecting water, oxygen and hydrocarbons into the formation and causing at least a portion of the oxygen to combust with at least a portion of the injected hydrocarbons; and (c) recovering hydrocarbons from the formation through the production means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing solid particles which have settled out in a region of a wellbore which employs at least one pair of conduit means, one of said conduit means having nozzle means thereon, said conduit means being disposed in the region of settled particle and passing fluid through one conduit means and the nozzle means into region of settled particles to mix with same and recovering the mixture of fluid and particles from said region by way of the other conduit means.

Abstract: An apparatus useful for introducing an additive material into a pipeline in which a primary material is flowing in a direction generally parallel to the centerline of the pipeline comprises: a probe located at least partially in the pipeline and in communication with an additive material source; and at least one first aperture and at least one second aperture located in the probe in the pipeline and acting as passageways for additive material from the additive source and the probe to the interior of the pipeline, provided that the first and second apertures are located away from the centerline of the pipeline and are oriented to face substantially downstream relative to the general flow of the primary material in the pipeline.