Abstract: A water bottom ore sampler includes a submersible housing for positioning on or near a water bottom, a riser duct mounted within the submersible housing and movable vertically relative to the submersible housing, a drilling assembly disposed within the riser duct for excavating the water bottom, a passage defined within the riser duct through which a particulate fluid mixture produced by the excavation can flow up the riser duct and into an interior of the submersible housing, and a sample container disposed within the submersible housing for collecting ore from the particulate fluid mixture received in the submersible housing.

Abstract: A linear actuator includes a substantially cylindrical magnetostrictive element disposed in a housing. A retainer is cooperatively engaged with the housing and an exterior of the magnetostrictive element such that relaxed portions of the magnetostrictive element are frictionally retained in the retainer. An actuator rod is functionally coupled to one longitudinal end of the magnetostrictive element. A biasing device is disposed between the housing and the retainer to maintain the retainer in lateral compression. The actuator includes magnets arranged to induce peristaltic motion in the magnetostrictive element.

Abstract: A method for seismic event mapping includes transforming seismic signals recorded at selected positions into a domain of possible spatial positions of a source of seismic events. An origin in spatial position and time of at least one seismic event is determined from space and time distribution of at least one attribute of the transformed seismic data.

Abstract: A method for interpreting electromagnetic survey data includes acquiring electromagnetic survey data near a top of a portion of the Earth's subsurface. An initial model of the portion of the Earth's subsurface is generated. The model includes at least spatial distribution of formation resistivity within the portion. The initial model is applied to an artificial neural network trained to generate expected electromagnetic survey instrument response to the initial model. The acquired electromagnetic survey data are compared to an output of the artificial neural network. The initial model is adjusted, and the applying the model to the artificial neural network and the comparing are repeated until differences between the output of the network and the acquired survey data fall below a selected threshold.

Abstract: A method for controlling formation pressure during drilling includes pumping a drilling fluid through a drill string in a borehole, out a drill bit at the end of the drill string into an annular space. The drilling fluid is discharged from the annular space proximate the Earth's surface. At least one of a flow rate of the drilling fluid into the borehole and a fluid flow rate out of the annular space is measured. Pressure of the fluid in the annular space proximate the Earth's surface and pressure of the fluid proximate the bottom of the borehole are measured. Pressure of the fluid proximate the bottom of the borehole is estimated using the measured flow rate, annular space pressure and density of the drilling fluid. A warning signal is generated if difference between the estimated pressure and measured pressure exceeds a selected threshold.

Abstract: A method for demodulating signals from a dispersive, white light interferometer includes generating test interferometry spectra from an interferometer forming part of a sensor for various values of interferometer sensor optical path length. The various test spectra are correlated to a measured spectrum from the sensor to generate a correlation function. The sensor optical path length resulting in the correlation function value reaching a maximum is selected as the optical path length.

Abstract: A wellbore motor includes a source of rotational motive power disposed in a wellbore, a magnetic gear member operatively coupled at an input thereof to the source; and a magnetic gear member output coupled rotationally to a rotary wellbore tool.

Abstract: A wellbore valve includes a valve operator arranged to move axially along an interior of the wellbore, the valve operator arranged to operate a valve. A valve actuator is disposed proximate the valve operator. The valve actuator is arranged to move from one longitudinal position to another. A linear magnetic gear is coupled at an input element thereof to the valve actuator. The gear is coupled at an output element thereof to the valve operator such that motion of the valve actuator is transferred to the valve operator.

Abstract: A wellbore motor includes a means for converting flow of fluid in the wellbore into rotational energy. A magnetic gear member is operatively coupled at an input thereof to the means for converting. A wellbore rotary tool is coupled to an output of the magnetic gear member.

Abstract: A method for interpreting transient electromagnetic survey data includes imparting an electromagnetic field in the Earth's subsurface by passing electric current through a transmitter antenna. The electric current includes switched direct current at a selected switching frequency. Voltages induced in a receiver corresponding to electromagnetic effects induced in the Earth's subsurface are detected. Frequency domain electromagnetic response of the Earth's subsurface is determined from the detected voltages and transient electromagnetic response of the Earth's subsurface is determined from the detected voltages.

Abstract: A method for preparing to move a floating structure away from a wellbore drilled below the bottom of a body of water includes filling a riser extending from the bottom of the body of water to the floating structure with water. The water in the riser is displaced to a selected first depth below the water surface. The riser is sealed at a second selected depth shallower than the first selected depth. The portion of the riser above the second selected depth is withdrawn onto the floating structure.

Abstract: An instrument is disclosed for measuring resistivity of Earth formations from within a conductive pipe inside a wellbore drilled through the formations. The instrument includes a plurality of housings connected end to end and adapted to traverse the wellbore. At least one electrode is disposed on each housing. Each electrode is adapted to be placed in electrical contact with the inside of the pipe. The instrument includes a source of electrical current, a digital voltage measuring circuit and a switch. The switch is arranged to connect the source of electrical current between one of the electrodes and a current return at a selectable one of the top of the pipe and a location near the Earth's surface at a selected distance from the top of the pipe, and to connect selected pairs of the electrodes to the digital voltage measuring circuit. The pairs are selected to make voltage measurements corresponding to selected axial distances and selected lateral depths in the Earth formations.

Abstract: A method for drilling formations below the bottom of a body of water includes disposing a drilling system on the bottom of the body of water. The formations are drilled by rotating a first drill rod having a first core barrel latched therein and advancing the drill rod longitudinally. At a selected longitudinal position, an upper end of the first drill rod is opened and a cable having a latching device at an end thereof is lowered into the first drill rod. The winch is retracted to retrieve the first core barrel. The first core barrel is laterally displaced from the first drill rod. A second core barrel is inserted into the first drill rod and latched therein. A second drill rod is affixed to the upper end of the first drill rod. Drilling the formation is then resumed by longitudinally advancing and rotating the first and second drill rods.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for measuring whole body composition. The method includes confining movement of the body to a selected volume, inducing a static magnetic field in the volume, inducing a pulsed radio frequency magnetic field in the volume, and receiving nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the body. The resonance signals from any part of the body are substantially independent of a position of the body part within the volume. Whole body composition is assessed from the resonance signals.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing composition of a body part from nuclear magnetic resonance measurements made on the body part. The method includes exciting a predetermined sequence of nuclear magnetic resonance phenomena in the body part and measuring nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the body part. At least a part of the measured signals are composed into a measurement vector. The mass of the at least one constituent is determined as a predetermined function of the measurement vector. The predetermined function represents the at least one constituent and defines a standard for a range of at least one of compositional variations and temperature variations of the at least one constituent.

Abstract: A wedge for an anchor system is disclosed. One embodiment of the wedge includes at least two circumferential wedge segments. Each segment defines an exterior tapered surface and an interior surface. The interior surface has gripping elements thereon. The gripping elements define a difference between a major diameter and a minor diameter of about 0.25 to 0.75 of an amount of a difference defined by a conventional thread having substantially a same axial spacing and major diameter as the gripping elements on the interior surface. Another embodiment of the wedge has an interior surface shaped to substantially conform to an exterior surface of a tendon.

Abstract: A method for interpreting transient electromagnetic survey data includes measuring transient response of a medium over a plurality of switching events. The measured transient response to a first one of the current switching events is modeled. Transient response to the model for at least one current switching event prior in time to the at least a first current switching event is calculated. The calculated transient response is summed with the first event measured response and the sum is compared to the electromagnetic survey measurements. The model is adjusted and the calculating summed transient responses is repeated until a difference between the summed calculated responses and the survey measurements falls below a selected threshold.

Abstract: A method for hazardous liquid detection within a container includes inducing a static magnetic field in the container, inducing a radio frequency magnetic field in the container at a frequency selected to excite nuclear magnetic resonance phenomena in liquids; detecting nuclear magnetic resonance signals from the container and analyzing the signals for presence of liquids above a threshold mass.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing body composition. The method includes inducing a static magnetic field in the body. The static magnetic field has a known distribution along a longitudinal axis of the body. A radio frequency magnetic field is induced in the body. The radio frequency and a bandwidth thereof are selected to induce nuclear magnetic resonance phenomena in a selected axial segment along the body. Nuclear magnetic resonance phenomena are from the selected axial segment. Composition is determined from the magnetic resonance signals. The measurement may be repeated in different axial segments by changing the static field amplitude or a frequency of the RF magnetic field. In some embodiments, a gradient field is superimposed over the static field.

Abstract: A method for subsurface Earth surveying includes acquiring seismic data over a selected region of the Earth's subsurface. Seismoelectric data are acquired over a selected region of the Earth's subsurface. Electroseismic data are also acquired over a selected region of the Earth's subsurface. At least one type of electromagnetic survey data is acquired over a selected region of the Earth's subsurface. Survey volumes of the seismic data, the seismoelectric data, the electroseismic data and the electromagnetic data are matched, and a model of the Earth's subsurface is generated that accounts for all of the seismic data, the seismoelectric data, the electroseismic data and the electromagnetic data.