Abstract: A universal linking gateway interfaces between a local network of one or more local phones, such as analog phones or PBX phones, a plurality of cell phones and multiple service lines, including a public switched telephone network. Implementation of industry standard protocols such as hookflash signals enable a simplistic local phone to access enhanced calling features including answering calls on multiple service lines, to select and make calls on any desired service line as well as handle simultaneous calls on either an active service line or multiple service lines. Further, the gateway interfaces between a variety of other telephonic devices including PSTN, VoIP, and telephonic intercoms. Wireless communications are controlled by the gateway for proper pairing management.

Abstract: A burner with a casing seal is used to create a combustion cavity at a temperature sufficient to reservoir sand. The burner creates and sustains hot combustion gases at a steady state for flowing into and permeating through a target zone. The casing seal isolates the combustion cavity from the cased wellbore and forms a sealed casing annulus between the cased wellbore and the burner. Water is injected into the target zone, above the combustion cavity, through the sealed casing annulus. The injected water permeates laterally and cools the reservoir adjacent the wellbore, and the wellbore from the heat of the hot combustion gases. The hot combustion gases and the water in the reservoir interact to form a drive front in a hydrocarbon reservoir.

Abstract: A pond receives a flow of contaminated water into the pond substantially tangential to a volume of clarified water which is stored in the pond and which is largely quiescent. The tangential inflow overcomes a large rotational inertia in the stored volume of clarified water and establishes a slow spiral flow path about the periphery of the pond and inwards to a central outlet. The clarified stored water is discharged ahead of the inflowing contaminated water increasing the residence time of the contaminated water in the pond and permitting contaminants to receive at least partial treatment, such as settling of sediment, in the pond.

Abstract: A tailings solvent recovery vessel substantially without conventional internals utilizes nozzles for forming very fine solvent-containing hydrocarbon droplets from a solvent-containing tailings feedstream. The hydrocarbon droplets are discrete from water droplets. The hydrocarbon droplets are small enough to result in a large surface area and a desired fall residence time but sufficiently large that they are not entrained with the rising vapor in the vessel. The feedstream is introduced to the vessel with a pressure drop to result in an initial flashing of the solvent from the solvent-containing droplets. Heat from the vessel atmosphere or from steam flowing countercurrent to the falling hydrocarbon droplets is transferred to the falling hydrocarbon droplets resulting in vaporization of any residual solvent therefrom. A substantially solvent-depleted pool is collected in the bottom of the vessel and retained only so long as is required to pump the underflow stream from the vessel.

Abstract: Collection apparatus are installed in a horizontal separator vessel to aid conventional coalescing media to remove mist and droplets from a gas flow, typically downstream from a compressor. The collection apparatus have filaments which act to wick the coalesced droplets either from the conventional coalescing media or from the sides of the vessel toward an annular channel which collects the droplets and assists in delivering the droplets, by gravity, to the bottom of horizontal vessel where they are carried to a collection area. Use of the collection apparatus permits a reduction in the size of the separator vessel and further permits vapor load factors of up to about 10 times that in a conventionally designed separator vessel.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbon or synthetic base oils from used oil-based drilling mud utilizes acid to deactivate emulsifiers in the drilling mud for altering the emulsion stability and permitting removal of the solids contained in the drilling mud using conventional separation such as centrifugation. A surfactant is typically added to prevent water-wetting as a result of the addition of the acid. The recovered base oil contains substantially all of the deactivated emulsifiers, which can be reactivated through the addition of lime, allowing new drilling fluids to be prepared without the need to add significant amounts of emulsifier to the recycled base oil.

Abstract: A modular steam injection line, for use in steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operations for delivery of an equal steam mass flow along a length of the apparatus, incorporates steam splitter modules fluidly connected for forming the steam injection line. Each of the modular steam splitters is fit with interchangeable nozzles for delivering steam to the formation. The interchangeable nozzles have orifices of different sizes and the nozzle orifice size required for each individual module to deliver an equal mass flow of steam from each module, at sub-sonic rates, along the entire length of the steam injection line.

Abstract: A hopper for transferring granular materials has a unique composite shape which enables accommodation of the safety guard of an auger and access about a back of the hopper. A wedge-shaped base permits pivoting of the hopper to adjust to the angle of the auger used to remove the material, minimizing the angle of the auger and maximizing extraction of material from the hopper.

Abstract: A fluid handling system for drilling cuttings utilizes a constant and gravity managed liquid level between a substantially atmospheric separator and a shale shaker to maximize fluid residence time within the separator and ensure substantially all of the gas entrained in the cuttings is evolved and passed to a flare thus preventing evolution of the gas at the shale shaker. Solids from the separator are combined with liquid recirculation from and returning to the shale shaker. Optionally, a vacuum degasser is positioned between the separator and the shale shaker and separated gases are passed from the degasser to the flare. This method and system is particularly applicable to balanced, underbalanced and air drilling operations where the flow of gas is intermittent and unpredictable.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and methodology enable non-intrusive measurement of parameters related to fluid flow in a conduit. An acoustic sensor is located along the conduit and includes a mechanical amplifier having an acoustic input coupled to the conduit and a microphone coupled to the mechanical amplifier. The microphone receives mechanically amplified acoustic energy from the conduit and establishing first signals which are processed for generating second signals which are related to fluid flow in the conduit. The second signals can include quantitative flow data and qualitative data such as change in state and alarms. The second signals can be transmitted wirelessly to a remote site for further processing. Use of low power components and power management enable long term operations on battery power.

Abstract: A packoff nipple for sealing an annular space in a well pipe has a tubular body, a sealing assembly positioned around the tubular body capable of axial movement along the tubular body and a stop to restrain the sealing assembly from extruding in-to the annular space. The sealing assembly includes one or more elastomeric sealing rings having a circumferential groove formed in a downhole face. An axially moveable actuator, such as a packer cup, engages the sealing ring assembly to causes at least a portion of the sealing rings to expand radially outwardly to seal the annular space and cause the sealing ring assembly to contact the uphole stop. The sealing rings are axially compressed between the uphole stop and the actuator to further expand the sealing rings. The uphole stop may be concave to urge the sealing rings away from the well pipe to avoid extrusion or permanent deformation.

Abstract: A blade system, has rows of blades extending radially outward along the length and around the circumference of a rotor of a low-profile ground-mounted wind turbine which is particularly suited for use in remote locations. The wind-engaging end of each blade is arc-shaped and is turned about 120 degrees to maximize efficiency. Preferably, two rotors having the unique blade system are connected to a single, centrally located generator, and the entire unit is mounted on a frame which is rotatable on wheels about a central shaft. Further, a circular track is provided in for engaging the wheels for ease of rotation of the unit either under the direction of a PLC or in yaw.

Abstract: A comminuting apparatus has a coaxial throwing wheel and impact rotor, the throwing wheel preferably comprising a plurality of channels for conducting particles from a central axis inlet to a plurality of particle exits to impact the impact rotor. The throwing wheel can be an assembly of wear-resistant inserts forming the channels. Flow channels through the throwing wheel can be configured, such as converging towards the particle exits to minimize energy loss during acceleration of the particles. Further, the comminuting apparatus can include a housing for ready access to the throwing wheel and impact rotor. A two-part housing is reversibly separable for accessing the comminuting chamber, throwing wheel and impact rotor within.

Abstract: Asphaltene control additives are added to base fluids which are introduced directly or indirectly into a hydrocarbon-bearing formation to mitigate asphaltene deposition in the formation which results in improved permeability in the formation and production of hydrocarbons therefrom. The fluids to which the additive is added may be liquid CO2-based, aqueous-based or non-aqueous-based fluids. Further, the fluids are fracturing fluids, drilling fluids and wellbore treatment fluids such as acidizing fluids.

Abstract: An external incontinence clamp for stopping involuntary voiding of urine is provided. The clamp includes a first rigid member having opposed ends, each end defining a passage extending therethrough, a second rigid member having opposed ends, each end defining a passage extending therethrough, and two pins of generally u-shape. The pins are adapted to be received by the passages defined by the ends of the first rigid member and of the second rigid member so as to secure the first rigid member in a spaced and generally parallel relationship to the second rigid member. The penis is positioned between the first and second members so that the underside of the penis is in contact with the second member and the top surface of the penis is in contact with the first member, thereby stopping involuntary voiding of urine.

Abstract: A jig is provided for aligning the cutting depth of knife blades on a cylindrical rotary cutter head of a rotary planar machine. The jig has a tripod support adapted for spacing the jig radially over the cutter head. An indexing member circumferentially positions the jig with two radially adjustable knife adjustment members aligned longitudinally and radially over a knife blade. In use, the jig can be calibrated over a knife blade so that the knife blade can be removed and a replacement knife blade installed with the same radial projection along the longitudinal extend of the cutter head. Alternatively, or in addition, each of a plurality of knife blades of a cutter head can be set to the same longitudinal radial projection.

Abstract: Methods of detecting atypical patterns of usage of electricity, determined by monitoring consumption at the primary line, permit detection of grow-ops and unusual line losses due to defective service lines. A meter having a high resolution is connected to the primary line and the data collected is compared to known consumption patterns thus identifying a potential theft or a loss. Once an atypical pattern has been found, the heat signatures of transformers fed by the primary line are measured. An unusual heat signature alerts the utility to load test the secondary lines of each residence fed from the transformer and thus locate suspect residences which may be grow-ops or to locate a line loss due to defective service lines.

Abstract: Window reaming and coring apparatus has a reamer connected in the middle of the tool by mechanical joints which permit the reamer to be displaced substantially parallel to the rest, of the tool body. The apparatus is lowered adjacent a pre-determined zone of interest and mills a parallel window along the edge of an existing wellbore into which the reamer is displaced. Once the reamer is fully displaced laterally into the window, the reamer and coring head can be rotated parallel to the wellbore, in the zone of interest for obtaining and retrieving a crescent-shaped core which has a significant cross section and length, enabling improved analysis of the wellbore lithography.

Abstract: A desanding vessel is inserted in a high velocity fluid stream containing entrained particulates. The vessel comprises an upper freeboard portion having a large cross-sectional wherein the fluid stream velocity drops and particulates fall from suspension. Preferably the fluid stream is introduced offset upwardly from an axis of a horizontally oriented cylindrical vessel, released particulates falling to accumulate in a lower belly portion. The freeboard portion is maintained using a depending flow barrier adjacent the vessel's outlet which sets the depth of accumulation in the belly portion. A cleanout enables periodic removal of accumulations.

Abstract: A portable folding shopping cart and utility carrier has a folding frame and a flexible basket and bottom shelf which can be folded to a compact size and shape for storage when not in us and can be readily unfolded for use. Wheels permit the cart to be easily transported. The basket and shelf are capable of carrying loads of about seventy-five pounds and fifty pounds, respectively.