Abstract: A method and system for de-oiling a feed comprising oil and water. The feed has an input temperature above the boiling point of water and an input pressure sufficient to maintain the water in a liquid state. In at least one embodiment, the method comprises pumping the feed with a motive pump through a phase separator having a restriction to effect a phase separation of oil and water in the feed and produce an agitated mixture, supplying the agitated mixture from the phase separator into a pressure vessel operating at a pressure sufficient to maintain in a liquid state water that is at a temperature above the boiling point of water, removing an oil phase from the pressure vessel, and removing a water phase from the pressure vessel.

Abstract: A method for supporting a sucker rod string and associated downhole pumping equipment on a tubing string inlet or an upper extension thereof, during preparation of a wellhead for suspension of an oil or gas well includes the steps of: a) lifting and supporting the sucker rod string and partially disassembling the wellhead to expose an uphole end of the sucker rod assembly; b) engaging a support tool to a portion of the uphole end of the sucker rod assembly; and (c) lowering the sucker rod string into the tubing string inlet or the upper extension thereof, until the lower narrow portion enters the tubing string inlet or the upper extension thereof, and the landing surface of the support tool rests upon the top edge of the tubing string inlet or the top edge of the upper extension thereof.

Abstract: A method to pre-treat an inlet natural gas stream at gas pressure reduction stations to produce LNG removes water and carbon dioxide from a natural gas stream. The energy required for the process is provided by recovering pressure energy in the inlet gas stream. The process eliminates the conventional gas pre-heating process at pressure reductions stations employing gas combustion heaters. The process provides a method to produce LNG at natural gas pressure reduction that meets product specifications.

Abstract: There is provided a method of gas lift having the steps of positioning a valve seat downhole in a gas well experiencing hydrostatic loading, the valve seat having a gas flow channel, and providing a valve closure movable between a closed position engaged with the valve seat to close the gas flow channel and an open position spaced from the valve seat permitted a flow of gas through the gas flow channel, the closure being biased by magnetic attraction to a normally closed position magnetically engaged with the valve seat, such that gas is only able to flow through gas flow channel when gas pressure is sufficient to move the closure to the open position by overcoming the magnetic attraction which maintains the closure in the closed position.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to a tool for digging root balls of trees. The digging tool uses at least two cutting members that move in different paths for digging through the soil and cutting through a portion of the tree's roots. One cutting member moves along a substantially linear-path thereby forming a portion of a side wall of the root ball. The other cutting member moves along an arcuate path for forming a lower wall of the root ball. When the root ball is formed, the tool can be used to remove the root ball and the tree from a first location and move the tree to a second location. The size of the cutting members can be selected to form a root ball of a desired shape and size to allow the tree to continue growing at the second location.

Abstract: An anti-distracted driving system comprises a plurality of transceivers at different locations within a vehicle. Each of the transceivers is operable to receive a signal from a mobile communication device and to output a detection signal indicative of the strength of the received signal. A controller in communication with the transceivers is operable to calculate a corresponding distance of the mobile communication device for each of the detection signals and to determine a location of the mobile communication device within the vehicle based on the distances. The controller can send a signal from a transceiver to a mobile communication device in response to determining that the mobile communication device is near a driver's seat, the signal causing at least one function of the mobile communication device to be inhibited.

Abstract: A tool for use in suspending operation of an oil or gas well driven by an artificial lift with a polished rod connected to a sucker rod in a tubing string includes a body having a lower narrow portion dimensioned to fit within the interior cavity of a tubing string inlet or an upper extension thereof; an upper wide diameter portion defining a substantially horizontal landing surface dimensioned to rest upon the top edge of the tubing string inlet or the upper extension thereof; one or more sucker rod-engaging structures; and one or more longitudinal slots extending through the lower narrow portion and the upper wide diameter portion to allow passage of fluid or gas through the tool when the tool is supported on the top edge of the tubing string inlet or the upper extension thereof.

Abstract: Particular embodiments include a non-dedicated, temporarily installed, airborne special mission payload mounting system which is mechanically interfaced to the Air Deployment System (ADS) rails of a host cargo aircraft. An Adaptive Mounting System (AMS) plate is placed over an ADS rail section and restrained in position. Once the AMS plate is secured, an articulated or fixed position strut can be attached to the AMS plate through the opened side doorway without removing the original door. A removable load transfer brace (LTB) can be coupled from the AMS plate inboard to the floor of the aircraft. The LTB is hinged to the AMS plate, and can be disconnected from the floor of the aircraft and rotated to a vertical position from the AMS plate.

Abstract: A method for facilitating fusion by magnetocompression of hydrogen isotopes. A magnetic field of at least 105 T is exposed to fuel including hydrogen isotopes. After exposure to the magnetic field, the fuel is energized by a laser, ionizing the hydrogen and converting the fuel to plasma. The magnetic field compresses internuclear separation of H2+. The magnetic field also compresses the electron radius of hydrogen atoms, resulting in increased electron binding energy. Each of these changes accompanying magnetocompression facilitates fusion of the nuclei following laser excitation. A solenoid for enhancing magnetic fields is also described. The solenoid includes conduction member defining a cavity therein. The conduction member is a highly conductive material, which may include a composite of a semiconductor and a conductor. The solenoid may be applied to hold the fuel or in any application to concentrate the magnetic field in a small volume.

Abstract: A method of stripping carbon dioxide from a stream of natural gas to be used in the production of liquid natural gas (LNG) comprises the steps of: passing a stream of natural gas through a stripping column; injecting a stripping agent into the stripping column, the stripping agent stripping carbon dioxide from the stream of natural gas and exiting the stripping column as a liquid phase; passing the stripping agent exiting the stripping column through a regenerator column to generate a carbon dioxide gas stream and a recovered stripping agent stream; and cooling the recovered stripping agent stream using a cryogenic vapour generated in the production of LNG and injecting the cooled, recovered stripping agent stream into the stripping column as the stripping agent.

Abstract: A method to produce LNG at straddle plants. In contrast to known methods, there is provided a slipstream of a high pressure, pre-treated, pre-cooled natural gas stream to a straddle LNG plant section. The slipstream is further cooled, and processed in a high pressure column to a methane content of 85% or 85 plus by mole. The processed stream is further treated to remove carbon dioxide. The de-carbonated high pressure stream is further cooled in a heat exchanger by a counter-current vapor fraction of the expanded gas before entering an expander apparatus. The processed, treated and cooled gas is expanded into a separator. The produced LNG fraction is pumped to storage. A portion of the LNG fraction is used as a reflux stream to the high pressure column. The cold vapor fraction from the separator flows through counter-current heat exchangers, giving up its coolth energy before being re-compressed into the high pressure transmission gas pipeline.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-stage hydraulic fracturing tool and system for controllably exposing selected locations along a wellbore to a pressurized fluid. The system comprises an elongated casing (for disposal within the wellbore) defining an internal borehole extending longitudinally, and having one or more ports; an actuation member configured for travelling down the borehole and includes a wedged portion and a groove having a first length in the longitudinal direction, formed at least partially circumferentially around an outer surface of the actuation member, a sliding sleeve member having an aperture for receiving the actuation member, and one or more inward-facing protrusions having a length less than or equal to the first length, connected to the sliding sleeve member and at least initially protruding radially into the aperture.

Abstract: A method for producing liquid natural gas (LNG) includes the following steps. Compressor stations forming part of existing natural-gas distribution network are identified. Compressor stations that are geographically suited for localized distribution of LNG are selected. Natural gas flowing through the selected compressor stations is diverted to provide a high pressure first natural gas stream and a high pressure second natural gas stream. A pressure of the first natural gas stream is lowered to produce cold temperatures through pressure let-down gas expansion and then the first natural gas stream is consumed as a fuel gas for an engine driving a compressor at the compressor station. The second natural gas stream is first cooled with the cold temperatures generated by the first natural gas stream, and then expanded to a lower pressure, thus producing LNG.

Abstract: A jack and push/pull apparatus is provided by attaching to a wellhead an extendable/contractible horseshoe-shaped jack assembly of sufficient diameter to surround and act upon the tubing or casing to be manipulated in the well, the linear action of the assembly being powered between an extended and a retracted position, the assembly having at least one tube-gripping mechanism at the end of the assembly away from the wellhead attachment. Tubing is inserted into the well bore through the assembly and the wellhead, and when injection forces are desired tube-gripping means grip the tubing being injected and the apparatus is powered to a retracted position, forcing the grasped tubing into the well. The operation may be reversed to pull tubing or casing. The assembly can be simply added to the rig while tubing is present on and above the rig's floor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for measuring downhole parameters within a SAGD system. The system includes one or more downhole sensors that are positioned at least within a heel portion of a long production tubing string. Positioning the system within the long production tubing string avoids pulling the sensors to surface each time that the short production tubing string is worked over. The system comprises a ported sub that is threadably connected as part of the long production tubing string. When the tubing string is in a desired position, the ported sub is near the heel portion of the production well. The system further comprises a pumpable sleeve that carries the instrument line downhole into the ported sub. When the pumpable sleeve lands in the ported sub, the instrument line detects information regarding downhole parameters at the heel portion of the production well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are for refining hydrocarbons. The method includes treating feedstock hydrocarbons at a low temperature with electromagnetic (EM) energy for vaporizing selected hydrocarbons. The selected hydrocarbons are vaporized at temperatures below reference vaporization temperatures of at least a portion of the species included within the selected hydrocarbons. The vaporized hydrocarbons may be condensed from the vapor phase for recovery. A remaining secondary product may include a higher viscosity hydrocarbon product with a greater viscosity than the feedstock hydrocarbons, such as a hardened bitumen that is substantially solid at ambient temperature.

Abstract: A chemical treatment process and separation module are described for removal of soluble organic compounds and suspended or emulsified oils and/or solids from produced waters that accompany operations for oil and gas recovery. The process occurs in its entirety within an interval of several minutes. The solubility of organic compounds is first reduced, in an optional step, by pH reduction, followed by treatment with coagulants and flocculants, the latter in conjunction with microbubble flotation. The organic compounds that are rendered insoluble, along with other oily solids, are captured in the floe created by the coagulant and flocculant treatment, and simultaneously made buoyant by the concurrent addition of microbubbles. The water and floe is passed over an array of sloped strainers that separates and diverts the floe from the effluent water, which contains significantly reduced soluble organic content. The separated stream of oily solids can be dewatered for disposal as waste.

Abstract: A windshield wiper lifter includes a bar, a first clip and a second clip. The first clip can be coupled to the bar and can be configured to engage a first windshield wiper arm. The second clip can be coupled to the bar and can be configured to connect to a second windshield wiper arm spaced from the first windshield wiper arm.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a door plug assembly with a sonotube-launch system to be used in a temporarily-mounted control system for an aircraft. The door plug assembly is built from one or more panels designed to fit an opening in the fuselage of the aircraft, the opening being created by the removal of a door on the side of the fuselage. The door plug assembly includes a segmented bubble window with transparent glazing, with a kick panel on the lower portion of the bubble. The door plug assembly further includes a door strut indent which allows a strut to extend from the interior of the aircraft through the indent to the exterior of the aircraft. When a strut is not being used, a close-out panel is secured to the door plug assembly to allow the interior of the aircraft to be pressurized.