Abstract: Gamma radiation transmission measurements are made with one-shot-collimation to determine the distribution of voids within a gas-liquid mixture flowing in a pipe. The distribution of voids in selected portions of the pipe, taken together with statistical and logical tests applied thereto, provides information from which are determined: type of flow pattern or flow regime, the profile of a large gas bubble in slug flow, and the gas and the liquid volume flow rates in slug flow.

Abstract: A safety system and method, for use with apparatus having a conductive member where the apparatus changes the attitude and/or altitude of the conductive member during the operation of the apparatus, includes an antenna mounted on the conductive member which senses an electric field and provides an AC signal representative of the strength of the electric field. The peaks of the AC signal are averaged over several cycles to provide an average peak signal. A reference signal circuit derives the reference signal from either the average peak signal prior to the change in the member's attitude and/or altitude or while the member's attitude and/or altitude is changing. A control device connected to the averaging circuit and to the reference signal circuit prevents further changing of the conductive member's attitude and/or altitude in accordance with the average peak signal and the reference signal when the electric field strength is greater than a safe value.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for monitoring a petroleum stream includes stratifying the petroleum stream into substantially liquid and gas streams. Predetermined parameters of the stratified petroleum stream are sensed and signals are provided accordingly. A sample of the liquid stream of the stratified petroleum stream is taken and parameters of the sample stream are also sensed with representative signals provided by sensors. Circuitry provides signals representative of the water faction, the gas faction, and the oil faction of the petroleum stream in accordance with the signals from all of the sensors.

Abstract: In the in-situ retorting of oil shale using radio frequency electrical energy, an applicator is inserted into a borehole and energized at a radio frequency. A protective device protects the applicator from expansion of the oil shale formation. The protective device includes an end plate attached to the applicator and a plurality of elements surrounds the applicator and is in contact with the end plate so as to prevent the oil shale formation from contacting the applicator.

Abstract: An electrostatic field meter includes a field head which develops an electrical charge representative of the strength of an electrostatic field at the location of the field head. The electrical charge is converted to an AC signal which is then provided to metering apparatus. The metering apparatus provides an indication of the strength of the electrostatic field in accordance with the AC signal.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a hydrocarbon liquid from a hydrocarbon strata of an earth formation traversed by a borehole wherein the hydrocarbon strata is subjected to RF electromagnetic energy retorting by locating metal tubing formed in a predetermined manner in that portion of the borehole traversing the hydrocarbon strata. Additional metal tubing formed in a conventional manner is connected with the metal tubing located in the borehole traversing hydrocarbon strata so that together they form a production stream. The hydrocarbon liquid from the borehole may be pumped through the production stream to the surface of the earth formation.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming ethylene glycol from sodium methoxide includes combining the sodium methoxide with an anhydrous methanol to provide a mixture. The mixture is then flowed past an anode and then past a cathode. A DC voltage is provided across the anode and the cathode so that the mixture forms ethylene glycol as a product.

Abstract: A method of flooding a petroleum reservoir by way of an injection well to aid in the recovery of hydrocarbons from a recovery well includes running a radioactive well logging tool in the injection well to derive a first well log of the reservoir in the vicinity of the injection well. The reservoir is then flooded with a solvent injected into the reservoir at a predetermined rate from the injection well. The radioactive well logging tool is again operated to derive a second well log. High salinity salt water is injected into the reservoir from the injection well. The radioactive well logging tool is run again to derive a third well log. The well logs are utilized to provide a record of the effectiveness of the solvent flood.

Abstract: An anisotropic well logging system includes a well logging tool including a first transmitter coil spatially arranged within the well logging tool in a first predetermined manner and a second transmitter coil spatially arranged within the well logging tool in a second predetermined manner which ultimately transmits electromagnetic energy into the formation at a frequency which enables electromagnetic energy to propagate through the surrounding earth formation. A first pair of receiver coils spaced a predetermined distance from each other and from the first transmitter coil and spatially arranged within the well logging tool in the same manner as the first transmitter coil provides signals in accordance with the received electromagnetic energy.

Abstract: A seismic exploration system where a plurality of geophone locations are employed in one spread along a survey line. The recording procedure uses a roll-along switch for successively connecting a lesser number of recording channels to the geophone locations as separate records are taken without changing the spread. A signal is superimposed at one of the geophone locations. The signal is outside the useful range of seismic energy so that the particular geophone location may be identified on successive records without interfering with the recording of the seismic energy.

Abstract: A well logging system and method of the present invention determines the dielectric constant and/or conductivity of earth formations some of which have fluid invasion. The system and method of the present invention includes the transmission of electromagnetic energy into the earth formation from a first location in a borehole in the formations at a frequency which enables the electromagnetic energy to propagate throughout the surrounding earth formations. Electromagnetic energy is received by receivers at three locations in the borehole which are spaced longitudinally from the location of the transmission of the electromagnetic energy. The receivers provide signals representative of the total electromagnetic fields at those locations. The dielectric constant and/or resistivity of the earth formations are determined in accordance with portions of the signals from the three receivers corresponding to secondary electromagnetic fields at the three receiving locations.

Abstract: A system for stabilizing the temperature of a radiation detector assembly includes a heat pipe device which generally encloses the radiation detector assembly and absorbs the ambient heat of the radiation detector assembly. A temperature sensor senses the ambient temperature in the heat pipe device and provides a constant current signal representative of the sensed temperature. A heating cooling device controls the ambient temperature within the heat pipe device in accordance with a constant current control signal. Apparatus located at a substantial distance from the radiation detector assembly and connected to the temperature sensor and the heating cooling device provides the constant current control signal to the heating cooling device in accordance with the constant current temperature signal from the temperature sensor so as to control the temperature of the radiation detector assembly.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for reducing carbon dioxide to formic acid includes two redox couple electrolyte solutions separated by a first membrane having photosensitizers. The carbon dioxide to be reduced is provided to a second membrane which is contiguous to one of the redox couple electrolyte solutions. The second membrane has photosensitizers, a catalyst and high hydrogen overpotential material. Water provides hydrogen ions, which participate in the reduction of the carbon dioxide, via a separator. In operation both membranes are illuminated and produce excited photosensitizers which cause electron transfer from a first redox solution to a second redox solution and then to the carbon dioxide in the second membrane thereby, in cooperation with the hydrogen ions, reducing at least some of the carbon dioxide at a surface of the second membrane to provide formic acid.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing oxalic acid to a product includes a cell. A separator which separates the cell into two chambers; a catholyte chamber and an anolyte chamber. Each chamber has an inlet and an outlet. A porous cathode having a catalyst is arranged within the catholyte chamber so that an aqueous catholyte, having ammonium chloride, entering the inlet of the catholyte chamber will pass through the cathode. A porous anode is arranged within the anolyte section so that an aqueous electrolyte, having ammonium chloride, entering the inlet of the anolyte section will pass through the anode and exit through the outlet of anolyte section. A source provides the catholyte which is a mixture of oxalic acid and an aqueous electrolyte, having ammonium chloride, to the inlet of the catholyte chamber while another source provides the electrolyte to the inlet of the anolyte chamber. A d.c.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the electrochemical reduction of a nitroaromatic to a dye includes a housing divided into two sections by membrane. An electrolyte solution including a non-aqueous electrolyte dimethylformamide and a supporting electrolyte is provided to the two sections of the housing. A cathode is located in one section of the housing while an anode is located in the other section. A nitroaromatic is provided to the section having the cathode. A direct voltage is provided to the cathode and to the anode so that a current can pass and cooperate in a reaction between the nitroaromatic and the electrolyte solution to provide a dye.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for reducing carbon dioxide to at least one useful product includes two redox couple electrolyte solutions separated by a first membrane having photosensitizers. The carbon dioxide to be reduced is provided to a second membrane whch is contiguous to one of the redox couple electrolyte solutions. The second membrane has photosensitizers and a catalyst. Water provides hydrogen ions, which participate in the reduction of the carbon dioxide, via a separator. In operation both membranes are illuminated and produce excited photosensitizers which cause electron transfer from a first redox solution to a second redox solution and thence to the carbon dioxide in the second membrane thereby, in cooperation with the hydrogen ions, reducing at least some of the carbon dioxide at a surface of the second membrane to provide at least one product.

Abstract: A dielectric well logging system is provided to determine dielectric constant and resistivity in formations invaded by water to determine oil and water saturations of the formations. Plural transmitters are activated in a time division multiplex manner and sensed by receiver coils. The amplitude ratio and phase difference between the signals sensed by the receiver coils are then used to determine dielectric constant and resistivity which may then be used to determine invasion characteristics.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to a product includes a housing divided into two sections by membrane. An electrolyte solution including a non-aqueous electrolyte dimethylformamide and a supporting electrolyte is provided to the two sections of the housing. A n-Si cathode is located in one section of the housing while an anode is located in the other section. Carbon dioxide is provided to the section having the cathode. A direct voltage is provided to the cathode and to the anode so that a current can pass and cooperate in a reaction between the carbon dioxide and the electrolyte solution to provide a product.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to a product includes a housing divided into two sections by a membrane. An electrolyte solution including a non-aqueous electrolyte and a supporting electrolyte is provided to the two sections of the housing. A cathode is located in one section of the housing while an anode is located in the other section. Carbon dioxide is provided to the section having the cathode. A direct current voltage is provided to the cathode and to the anode to cooperate in a reaction between the carbon dioxide and the electrolyte solution to provide a product.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and identifying abnormal drilling conditions. It determines the normal pump speed-pressure ratio over the range of usual working conditions. It measures the output pressure from the pump. And it measures the speed of the pump. Then it detects a change from the normal pump speed-pressure ratio which indicates abnormal conditions. Identification of the abnormal condition depends upon whether the pump speed increased above normal or the output pressure decreased below normal. If the former, the volume of drilling fluid returning is observed in order to identify one of three conditions. If the latter, the number of decreases greater than a predetermined extent are counted over a predetermined interval of time which may indicate malfunctioning pump valve or valves.