Abstract: The present application provides a method for removing drag reducer additive (“DRA”) from liquid hydrocarbon fuel. The method comprises: providing contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising an initial concentration of DRA; contacting the contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel with a quantity of fresh attapulgus clay under conditions effective to produce decontaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising a reduced concentration of the DRA; said fresh attapulgus clay being effective to remove about 10% or more of a target DRA when 1 g of the fresh attapulgus clay is added in increments of from about 0.02 gram to about 0.1 gram, with agitation, to 100 ml. of contaminated liquid hydrocarbon fuel comprising from about 8 to about 9 ppm of the unsheared target DRA.

Abstract: A circulation loss combination for water-based drilling fluid system(s) comprising: a first amount of alkali metal silicate; a second amount of water insoluble particulate; and, a quantity of water soluble activating agent effective to reduce the pH of the water-based drilling fluid system to a value sufficiently low to form an effective circulation loss structure at a desired period of time after addition to the water-based drilling fluid system.

Abstract: A method for producing platform molecules comprising: forming a mixture comprising first and second phenylene rings comprising halogenated carboxylic groups, and a third phenylene ring comprising a desired substituent and a first functionality at a para-position to a second funcitonality; and exposing the mixture to conditions effective to react the first halogenated carboxylic group with the first functionality to produce a first ester bond, and the second halogenated carboxylic group with the second functionality to produce a second ester bond; producing platform molecules comprising terminal groups comprising the first functional group at a position para to first ester bond and the second functional group at a position para to the second ester bond.

Abstract: Metal oxide nanoparticles having at least some surface acid sites functionalized with an adhesion promoter and at least some surface acid sites functionalized with a coupling agent. The nanoparticles are useful in forming composites comprising photopolymerizable matrix monomers, and are primarily suitable for dental and medical restoration. In a preferred embodiment, the metal oxide comprises zirconium, and the coupling agent is a zirconate.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet, the backsheet, and the absorbent core form a layered assembly including a front region, a back region, and a crotch region disposed between the front region and the back region. The garment is characterized by a vertical longitudinal plane that extends substantially centrally through the front, back and crotch regions. Each of the front and back regions includes a pair of ear portions extending in substantially opposite lateral directions with respect to the longitudinal plane. Each ear portion is a breathable stretchable layer assembly having a plurality of vent sites. Further, each ear portion includes an outer layer that is an extension of the backsheet and which extends laterally to the side edge of the ear portion, and an inner layer that is an extension of the topsheet and which also extends laterally to the side edge of the ear portion.

Abstract: A method of testing corrosive lubricating media using a wear testing apparatus without a mechanical seal. The wear testing apparatus and methods are effective for testing volatile corrosive lubricating media under pressure and at high temperatures.

Abstract: A method for producing a precursor polymer dispersion for addition to a brine for use in drilling and completion operations comprising providing a precursor brine having a first salt content, and mixing a water-soluble polymer with the precursor brine at a sufficient concentration and under conditions sufficient to produce a precursor polymer dispersion effective at a sufficient concentration in a final brine having a second salt content to improve the rheology and/or fluid loss control properties of the final brine.

Abstract: Methods and compositions effective for preventing or resolving emulsions of oil in aqueous solutions, preferably for preventing or resolving oil-in-water emulsions formed in aqueous brines used as completion fluids or workover fluids.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for testing equipment located in a local environment by presenting a detectable indicator gas therein. The apparatus has a container portion, a chemical substance stored in the container portion, a pump operable to draw air into the container portion and in contact with the chemical substance to generate a detectable indicator gas, and an outlet to the container for directing the indicator gas into the local environment. Further, the pump is integrally formed as one piece with the container portion. Preferably, the pump is a manually squeezable polymeric bulb that is joined (e.g., by molding) seamlessly with the container portion.

Abstract: A drilling system fluid and method of using same. The drilling system fluid comprises water as a continuous phase, an amount of a multivalent metal, and a quantity of a water soluble polyacrylamide copolymer having a charge density of at least about 1%. In a preferred embodiment, the fluid also comprises a second amount of a monovalent salt effective to increase gas hydrate suppression and decrease density when compared to a fluid consisting essentially of only a divalent salt in the absence of the monovalent salt.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting a physician-patient consultation is disclosed wherein the patient is located, at least initially, remotely from the physician. The system includes a first clinic station operable by a physician, a patient station remote from the first clinic station for communicating information relating to the patient, and a second clinic station operable by medical personnel for direct contact with the patient, i.e., conducting a physical examination of the patient. A communications network is also provided which includes a communication link between the first clinic station and the patient station, whereby the fist communication link utilizes an interactive computer network and a second communications link between the second clinic station and the first clinic station. In the method, a first set of patient information is communicated from the patient station to the first clinic station and thus to the physician.

Abstract: An emulsifier composition for treating marine cuttings, preferably in situ, to convert free hydrocarbons to isolated hydrocarbons; drill cuttings treated with the emulsifier composition; droplets of the emulsified free hydrocarbons; drill cuttings further treated with encapsulating material; and, isolated hydrocarbons comprising encapsulated droplets of free hydrocarbons and emulsifier.

Abstract: A method for selecting an emulsifier for isolating free hydrocarbons in a given drilling system and a method of using the emulsifiers to treat drill cuttings to isolate free hydrocarbons, including bitumen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a ceramic matrix composite comprising forming an infiltrated fiber reinforcement by infiltrating a plurality of plies of a fibrous material with a precursor polymer which decomposes to a substantially pure product selected from the group consisting of a refractory metal carbide and a refractory metal boride, and exposing the infiltrated fiber reinforcement to conditions effective to cure the precursor polymer and to decompose the precursor polymer to said substantially pure product.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article includes a topsheet, a backsheet and an absorbent core disposed therebetween. One or more of the backsheet, topsheet, and absorbent core is constructed of an absorbent composite that includes an absorbent layer of hydratable fine fibers in the form of microfibril obtained from cellulose or a derivative thereof and super absorbent polymer (SAP) particles bonded together by the hydratable fibers, and a nonwoven substrate supporting the absorbent layer such as SMS. The absorbent layer is coated over the surface of the nonwoven substrate. The core may include one uniform layer of the absorbent composite or a composite having one layer of the nonwoven substrate and a plurality of segmented absorbent layers applied thereon. In the latter design, the absorbent layers are spaced apart from one another to expose surface sections of the substrate. These non-coated surface sections provide wicking zones which allow room for the absorbent layers to expand and prevent gel blocking.

Abstract: High fluid loss acid soluble lost circulation material and spotting pill comprising the lost circulation material. The spotting pill preferably is weighted to a density substantially the same as the drilling fluid used to treat the formation.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent article defined by a pair of longitudinally extending side edges and a pair of end edges extending between the side edges, has a front waist region, a back waist region, and a crotch region located between the waist regions. The disposable absorbent article also includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet is provided with a plurality of openings which direct bodily exudates received into or by the crotch region to a storage space disposed below the topsheet. The topsheet is spaced generally upward from the core such that the storage space is disposed between the topsheet and the core. The disposable absorbent article further includes at least one or more elongated elastic strands which are attached to the topsheet so as to space or urge the topsheet generally upwardly from the core.

Abstract: A disposable absorbent garment includes a topsheet, a backsheet, and an absorbent core disposed between the topsheet and the backsheet. The topsheet, backsheet and absorbent core are assembled together to form a layered assembly including a front region, a back region, and a crotch region disposed between the front region and the back region. The layered assembly has a longitudinal plane that extends substantially centrally through the front, back and crotch regions. Each of the front and back regions further includes a pair of ear portions extending in substantially opposite lateral directions with respect to the longitudinal plane. Further, each of the ear portions includes a layered section of a material layer and a stretchable member extendible between a contracted configuration and an extended configuration.

Abstract: A waterproof zip closure is formed by extruding a first thermoplastic material onto its teeth, and applying a transverse force while the first thermoplastic material cures. The transverse force is sufficient to move the teeth in the separating direction, but is less than that which can cause separation. After curing of the thermoplastic material, the tapes and teeth of the zip closure are coated with a second thermoplastic sealing material, while the transverse force is maintained. When the transverse force is removed the sealing material is forced together to provide a waterproof seal. The second thermoplastic sealing material on the tapes further improves the waterproof nature of the zip closure.

Abstract: An automatic focusing device employs an active range finder to establish an initial range to an object. A blur is calculated based on the initial range. If the blur is less than a predetermined value, the active range finder is bypassed in favor of a passive range finder. A focusing drive is responsive to the output of the passive range finder to drive the focus toward zero blur. If the initial range provides a blur calculation exceeding the predetermined value, the focusing drive responds to the active range finder until the calculated blur is reduced to a second predetermined value, at which time the active range finder is bypassed in favor of the passive range finder. Thereafter, the focusing drive responds to the passive range finder.