Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for quick and convenient fault diagnosis of a geophone group-geophone cable complex of a geophysical data acquisition system used in the collection and recording of seismic information, such faults within each geophone group of such a system being identified, irrespective of the fact that a cable or cable segment is interconnected between the group under test and the fault-testing apparatus of the present invention.

Abstract: Method and apparatus which provides a retrievable anchor for a floating vessel. The apparatus includes a ballast chain secured to a winch located on the vessel. The chain is lowered into a submergible anchor shell which together with the chain forms the anchor. A conduit can be provided for conveying to the shell a fluid for preventing corrosion and marine life growth on the chain.The method includes connecting a ballast chain to an anchor shell and lowering it to the water bottom using the chain as a supporting link between the floating vessel and the shell. Once the shell is on the bottom, more ballast chain is placed into it so that the chain and the shell provide the necessary fixity for mooring the vessel. Subsequently, the upper end of the chain is connected to a pendant (a suspended rope secured to a locking means on the vessel) which may be used to lower the remaining portion of the chain.

Abstract: In areal seismic exploration, seismic impulses are generated successively at locations spaced along a centrally located, asymmetic sawtooth shot-point line which regularly crosses a median line coincident with the line of survey. Seismic waves resulting from each impulse are detected at at least a pair of detector spreads each parallel to the median line, but offset from each other a distance equal to an integral multiple of the vertical offset of the shot-point line. Preferably the detected signals are summed on a cross-steered basis, such that the resulting traces associated with crossed sets of centerpoints normal to the survey line provide directional ("dip") information to better indicate areal subsurface structure. Additionally, the dectected signal can be stacked on a common depth point bases (CDPS).

Abstract: The disclosure provides an aqueous hydroxy-aluminum drilling fluid having a ratio of hydroxy groups to aluminum atoms in the range of from 1.0 to 2.7 and a concentration of at least 0.5 molar and including an effective amount of a polymer selected from the group consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyvinyl alcohol and a corrosion inhibitor.

Abstract: This invention relates to an automatic method and apparatus for quick and convenient testing of one or more geophones of a geophysical data acquisition system through the generation and analysis of the impulse response characteristics of such geophones. In particular, geophone response characteristics related to first and second adjacent absolute peak amplitudes associated with the damped equation of motion of the geophone coils are detected and digitally indicated in a surprisingly accurate manner, irrespective of whether or not the testing is carried out in a laboratory or field environment.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the present invention are described in which connection (and disconnection) of a plurality of geophones associated with a digital seismic data acquisition system is greatly simplified without sacrificing flexibility as to the number of geophone flyers per station or the interval spacing per station and also without the addition of separate subcabling in the internal linkage of the flyers to the field digitizing equipment. The apparatus includes a multiple-phone flyer-jumper connected to each channel of a remote data acquisition and telemetering circuit (RDATC). The latter in turn is linked to a central control and recording station usually located in a truck. In accordance with the present invention, each jumper-flyer includes a central multi-conductor cable segment of say N+1 conductors where N is an even positive number greater than two, such as 4, 6, etc., terminating at each of its ends in the central leg of a multi-armed connector.

Abstract: The method utilizes a multiple-phone flyer-jumper connected to one channel of a series of channels of a remote data acquisition and telemetering circuit (RDATC). Each RDATC acts in combination with a group of geophone flyers, say 1, 2, 3, etc., to store, amplify, filter, gain control and digitize analog data from each group of flyers and then telemeter the data to recording circuitry in the field truck. Each flyer group can be flexibly made up of two, three, four or more flyer-jumpers; each flyer-jumper includes a central multi-conductor cable segment of say N+1 conductors, where N is an even positive number greater than two, terminating at each of its ends in the central leg of multi-armed connector. A plurality of series/parallel connected geophones, say nine in number are used in combination with the central segment.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a non-recursive digital synthesizer for producing a surprisingly accurate synthesized sinusoid suitable for testing elements of a geophysical data acquisition system in either a laboratory or a field environment. In accordance with the present invention, [(C/2)+1]-discrete--16-bit binary words are stored in a read-only memory (ROM), representing discrete amplitudes of a digitized sinusoid in a frequency range of 1-500 Hz, and then accessed in succession to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). A separate suppression circuit means at the output of the DAC is adapted to operate in synchronization with movement of the binary words through the DAC; in that way, glitches generated by the various digital elements of the synthesizer are suppressed. Result: accuracy of the generated sinusoid to the elements under test is assured.

Abstract: Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from tar sands is assisted using a controlled flow of hot fluid in a flow path within the formation but out of direct contact with the viscous petroleum; thus a solid-wall, hollow tubular member in the formation is used for conducting hot fluid to reduce the viscosity of the petroleum to develop a potential passage in the formation outside the tubular member into which a drive fluid is injected to promote movement of the petroleum to a production position.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, overflash within a withdrawal zone of a complex fractionating column is monitored to provide a surprisingly useful control characteristic related to the efficiency (or lack thereof) of not only the fractionation column inself, but associated processes linked to the column. To accurately monitor the overflash, notched weir means including an upright wall means, is positioned at the intersection of the withdrawal tray and the downcomers connecting the former with a lower, adjacent fractionating tray. Differential pressure measuring means is also provided with sensing means in the vicinity of the notched weir means. In turn, the differential pressure measuring means is connected in series to a recording means located external of the column. Result: As overlimit swings in overflash occur, corrective action, say via a separate process controller means, can be quickly implemented to bring the system back to stable operations.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for estimating steam quality which involves sampling a steam-water mixture and utilizing volume relationships between the volume of initial sample and volume of the sample when water in sample is converted to steam.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for recovering viscous oil from a tar sand formation having a large vertical dimension including a substantially vertical lined shaft extending through the tar sand formation. A first opening is formed in the lower portion of the shaft lining and at least one lateral hole extends into the formation through the first lateral hole. A plurality of tubular members are positioned in the lateral hole to provide both a closed loop flow path for fluid flow from the shaft into and out of the hole out of contact with the formation and a separate flow path for production fluids from the hole into the shaft. A steam source is connected to the tubular members forming the closed loop flow path. A second opening is formed in the shaft lining and a steam injection conduit extends through the second opening into the formation. The steam injection conduit is connected to the steam source for injecting steam into the formation.

Abstract: Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from thick tar sands is assisted using a closed-loop flow path formed in a well by concentric casing and tubular members extending from the earth's surface through a substantial portion of the formation for conducting hot fluid to reduce the viscosity of the petroleum in the formation to develop a potential passage in the formation outside the flow path into which a drive fluid is injected to promote movement of the petroleum to the well for production up a production flow line extending up the interior of the tubular member.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method are described with which the resonance frequencies of seismic detector elements, such as geophones, hydrophones, or sets of geophones or hydrophones, may be automatically determined and displayed with relatively high precision, e.g., to two decimal places. The apparatus is useful under rough field conditions, as well as under laboratory conditions.

Abstract: Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from thick tar sands is assisted using a closed-loop flow path formed in a well by concentric casing and tubular members extending from the earth's surface through a substantial portion of the formation for conducting hot fluid to reduce the viscosity of the petroleum in the formation to develop a potential passage in the formation outside the flow path into which a drive fluid is injected to promote movement of the petroleum to the well for production up a production flow line extending up the interior of the tubular member.

Abstract: A field dressable inflatable packer which includes a resilient inflatable sleeve formed of a rubber tube having a plurality of spaced-apart cord members extending longitudinally over the entire length of the tube and clamp means for disconnectably connecting the resilient sleeve in operable position over an inner tubing section which clamp means are constrained in position on the tubing string during operation of the packer but which may be removed for repair or replacement of the resilient sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating fluids includes a pipe through which the fluid to be heated flows having a ferromagnetic pipe attached in heat-transmitting relationship thereto. An insulated wire extends longitudinally through the ferromagnetic pipe and is electrically connected in series therewith. The secondary windings of a pair of transformers are connected in series with each other and the ferromagnetic pipe by the insulated wire and the primary windings of the transformers are connected to a source of alternating current. A control responsive to the temperature of the fluid in the fluid conveying pipe is provided for regulating the power output to the series connected ferromagnetic pipe and insulated wire by, in alternative embodiments, disconnecting the transformers from the circuit, reversing the polarity of one transformer secondary with respect to the secondary of the other or bypassing one of the transformers.

Abstract: Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from thick tar sands is assisted using a closed-loop flow path from the earth's surface through a substantial portion of the formation for conducting hot fluid to reduce the viscosity of the petroleum in the formation to develop a potential passage in the formation outside the flow path into which a drive fluid is injected to promote movement of the petroleum to a production position.

Abstract: Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from tar sands is assisted using a substantially vertical passage from the earth's surface which penetrates the tar sand and has extending therefrom a lateral hole containing a flow path isolated from the tar sand for circulating a hot fluid to and from the vertical passage to develop a potential flow path into which a drive fluid is injected to promote movement of the petroleum to a production position.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining gas saturation in a petroleum reservoir using logging signals indirectly related to the abundances of oxygen and carbon nuclei in the reservoir rock. The first step of the invention is to record first and second logs sensitive to the abundance of oxygen and carbon nuclei, respectively, after the region surrounding the well bore is caused to have fluid saturations representative of the bulk of the reservoir. A purposeful change is then made in the fluid saturations in the region surrounding the well bore by injecting a liquid capable of displacing substantially all of the original fluids. The logs are recorded a second time. The displacing fluid is then itself displaced by brine, and a third suite of logs is recorded. The total fluid and oil saturations are then determined from the differences between respective corresponding logs and from known fractional volume oxygen and carbon contents of the reservoir brine and oil and the first injected liquid.