Abstract: A ceramic fiber composite structure particularly suitable for use as a hot gas cleanup ceramic fiber composite filter and method of making same from ceramic composite material has a structure which provides for increased strength and toughness in high temperature environments. The ceramic fiber composite structure or filter is made by a process in which a continuous ceramic fiber is intimately surrounded by discontinuous chopped ceramic fibers during manufacture to produce a ceramic fiber composite preform which is then bonded using various ceramic binders. The ceramic fiber composite preform is then fired to create a bond phase at the fiber contact points.

Abstract: A drilling, production, test, and oil storage caisson for use in deep water offshore well operations. Separate low pressure and high pressure drilling risers are independently supported on buoyancy modules. Multiple drilling and production risers are left in the water and connected to the drilling rig and well(s) as needed to prevent the need for the raising and lowering of different risers during the various steps involved in beginning and completing wells. Surface and lower BOP stacks are utilized. Means for controlling the accelerations and velocity of the drilling riser buoyancy modules in the event of riser failure is provided. A subsea tree with dual master valves allows for production directly through a vertical production riser, flowline, to the production manifold on the caisson. A twisted tubing production riser is formed from three strings of tubing that are used for the flowline, annulus, and conduit for control lines.

Abstract: A stress relieving joint for use with riser pipe in floating systems wherein a vessel is subject to variable motion caused by wind, currents, and wave action. The riser pipe has one end connectable to the sea floor and an upper portion adapted to pass through a constraining opening at the bottom of the vessel. A ball joint and socket assembly is removably attached to the keel at the constraint opening. A sleeve is attached at substantially its midpoint in the ball joint. Riser pipe received in the sleeve is provided with wear strips that reduces the rate of reduction in wear surface diameter.

Abstract: A catenary riser support, for a floating offshore structure, that receives the riser and is attached to the floating offshore structure. The catenary riser support is formed from a tube that is rigidly attached to the floating structure and a flex joint in line with the catenary riser. The tube includes a gradual bend that complements the natural catenary curve of the catenary riser. A pipe adaptor attached in line with the flex joint and riser allow the flex joint to be pulled up against the tube. The flex joint allows the catenary riser to move relative to the floating structure.

Abstract: A EMAT inspection system is utiliized on sheet metal prior to it being formed or rolled to identify surface defects and sub-surface defects such as pencil pipe inclusions by using ultrasonic Lamb waves with the results being displayed on a remote screen of a display and control system which also records the inspection results and controls the EMAT system.

Abstract: A pipeline branch arrangement that forms a piggable-Y at the intersection with the trunkline and is oriented vertically relative to the trunkline. The approach piping to all legs of the piggable-Y are configured to incorporate 3D bend or larger radii as required. This arrangement permits the passage of foam pigs, hard pigs, and smart pigs. Rotation of the piggable-Y to the vertical plane configures all of the branch piping in the vertical plane, which permits the support sled width for pipe laying to be kept to a minimum. The arrangement of the 3D bends fore and aft of the piggable-Y aligns the trunkline ends in a co-linear manner. This permits the configuration to be installed by conventional S-Lay techniques.

Abstract: An integrated flue gas treatment condensing heat exchanger having a particle charger located upstream of the second stage heat exchanger of the system for improved cleaning of flue gas and increased removal of fine particulate matter.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus and method for identifying a restriction in the flowline of a hydrocarbon production system, utilizes an optical fiber or optical fiber cable which is engaged along and preferably spirally wound around and along the flowline. Spaced apart strain gauges which are advantageously in the form of Bragg grating sensors, are engaged with the optical fiber at spaced locations along the flowline. The strain gauges are also engaged with the flowline to measure strain in the flowline. The hoop strain in particular indicates a change in pressure which can be measured by light signals supplied to and received from the optical fiber. Differences in strain along the flowline indicate pressure gradients in the flowline which in turn identify restrictions in the flowline.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection technique using a specially designed electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) launches and receives longitudinal ultrasonic waves into a thin metal wall or thin metal foil seal of a container, causing it to vibrate and launch ultrasonic compressional waves into liquid contained therein. The contents of plastic containers having a metal foil seal forming one wall are easily inspected. The EMAT establishes a magnetic field in the surface of the metal parallel to the surface. Radio frequency (RF) eddy currents are also induced by the EMAT in the surface of the metal. A Lorentz force is generated in the metal surface according the vector product of J, the current density, and H, the magnetic field, and the force generated by the interaction of the perpendicular components of the magnetic field H and the eddy currents J is directed normally to the surface of the metal.

Abstract: A circulating fluidized bed processor has a processor enclosure at least partially defined by a front wall and a rear wall spaced away from the front wall. A bottom wall is connected between the front and rear walls and a mechanism is provided for supplying primary air through the bottom wall for fluidizing a circulating bed in the enclosure. Another mechanism is provided for recirculating the bed from a top of the enclosure back to the enclosure. One or more secondary air plenum(s) are provided in the enclosure between the front and rear walls for supplying secondary air into the fluidized bed, above the bottom wall, so that secondary air reaches deep into the enclosure. The plenum(s) are formed of a waterwall which has a plurality of openings therein to allow communication of gases and solids therethrough from one side of the waterwall to the other.

Abstract: A shallow draft floating offshore drilling/producing structure. The structure is formed from a buoyant hull on which one or more modules or decks may be placed to support process equipment, a drilling rig, utilities, and accommodations for personnel. Drilling and/or producing is accomplished through a center well in the hull. The hull includes fixed ballast, an oil storage area, and voids and variable ballast for offsetting the lighter weight of the stored oil. The hull is designed to have a relatively small water plane area. The hull is also designed to have roll and pitch periods that are detuned from waves in the area that the hull is to be installed.

Abstract: A burner having lower emissions and lower unburned fuel losses by implementing a transition zone in a low NO.sub.x burner. The improved burner includes a pulverized fuel transport nozzle surrounded by the transition zone which shields the central oxygen-lean fuel devolatilization zone from the swirling secondary combustion air. The transition zone acts as a buffer between the primary and the secondary air streams to improve the control of near-burner mixing and flame stability by providing limited recirculation regions between primary and secondary air streams. These limited recirculation regions transport evolved NO.sub.x back towards the oxygen-lean fuel pyrolysis zone for reduction to molecular nitrogen. Alternate embodiments include natural gas and fuel oil firing.

Abstract: A fiber optic acoustic emission (FOAE) sensor particularly suitable for vibration sensing in a hostile environment has a pair of optical fibers each having an end face. In one embodiment, a hollow tube or core having opposite open ends receives the end faces of the optical fibers. Means are provided for fixing the optical fibers in the hollow core with the end faces facing each other and spaced by a distance from each other in the core. A signal processing unit is connected to the optical fibers for supplying light to, and for receiving light from, the optical fibers and for measuring variations in optical phase which result in changes in the light intensity due to vibrations of the hollow core. The hollow core is fixed in a resonant cylinder, and the resonant cylinder is fixed in a housing to complete the sensor.

Abstract: An integrated flue gas treatment desulfurization system for treating flue gas exhausted from an electrostatic precipitator and passing at a flue gas flow velocity in the range of 10-20 ft./sec. or more through a condensing heat exchanger and a wet flue gas scrubber. The scrubber sprays a reagent throughto the flue gas effectively remove pollutants and metals prior to exhausting same in a dry form after treatment by mist eliminators located downstream of the system.

Abstract: An apparatus to mix a slurry mixture with an oxidization air within a reaction tank of a wet scrubber spray tower of a flue gas desulfurization system for a furnace. The apparatus improves the contact between forced oxidization air and slurry mixture within the reaction tank.

Abstract: An improved plasma arc welding arm method and apparatus for keyhole welding rotating workpieces has an arcuate gear track supporting a corresponding arcuate geared cart bearing a plasma arc welding torch prevents voids in keyhole weld starts and finishes. The gear track is mounted on a manipulator arm for positioning the welding torch in proximity to a rotating workpiece to be welded. The torch may be rotated on the cart and gear track in the same direction and at the same rotational speed as the workpiece.

Abstract: An improved CFB reactor or combustor arrangement has at least a first and a second group of impact type particle separators or U-beams with cooling surfaces located adjacent and immediately upstream of the second group of U-beams which serve to cool flue gas/solids flowing through the CFB before it reaches the second group of U-beams. By reducing the gas temperature in the vicinity of and entering the second group of U-beams, the U-beams can be made of less expensive materials and are thus less expensive to produce and maintain. The heat absorbed by the local cooling surfaces can be applied to heat a working fluid supplied to a turbine or other process.

Abstract: A heat pipe heat exchanger for regulating the temperature of a wellstream fluid conveyed in a subsea pipeline from a wellhead has an annular reservoir surrounding a section of pipeline adjacent the wellhead. One or more heat pipes extend from the annular reservoir into the seawater. In a heat removal configuration, a working fluid is contained within the annular reservoir. The working fluid boils and is evaporated by heat from the wellstream fluid and forms a vapor, which rises upwardly into and is condensed within the heat pipes, releasing heat into the surrounding seawater. The recondensed working fluid flows back down into the reservoir to repeat the cycle. In a heat providing configuration, the working fluid is contained in the heat pipes, where it is boiled by heat transferred from the surrounding seawater. The resulting vapor rises upwardly into the annular reservoir and the heat is transferred to the cooler wellstream fluids.

Abstract: A dynamically positioned loading buoy for transferring liquid from an offshore structure to a tanker. The loading buoy is a floating hull. The hull is provided with thrusters that are used to position the loading buoy and tanker in a safe position relative to the offshore structure. The use of thrusters on the loading buoy eliminates the need for anchors and mooring lines for the loading buoy. The transfer hose used to transfer oil between the offshore structure and the loading buoy may be stored on the loading buoy or the offshore structure. The transfer hose used to transfer oil between the loading buoy and the tanker is stored on a reel on the loading buoy.

Abstract: A deflector means having a trapezoidal cross section for reducing erosion of heat exchanger tubes caused by a flowing, particle-laden combustion gas produced in a fossil fuel-fired boiler, and a draft loss reduction means for use in connection with the deflector means. The deflector means preferably is attached to heat exchange tubes in a first row of a tube bank so as to precondition the combustion gas flow. The draft loss reduction means preferably is affixed to heat exchange tubes in a second row of a tube bank in order to reduce draft loss typically caused when combustion gas flows around heat exchange tubes.