Abstract: This invention relates to water pollution control and concerns system for removing dispersed oil from water by contacting the oily water with sulfur to cause the oil to coalesce or agglomerate. In a preferred embodiment, the water containing the dispersed oil is passed through a bed of granular media presenting a surface area of solid phase sulfur to coalesce the dispersed oil. The coalesced oil is then separated from the water.

Abstract: This is a drilling tool which can be manipulated from the surface to one position to drill a directionally oriented hole or to a second position to drill a straight hole. A special tool is inserted in the drill string near the bit. It includes a hollow torque member, which is connected into the drill string. Surrounding the torque member are two eccentrically bored sleeves, one within the other. The two sleeves are rotatable with respect to each other and with respect to the torque member. When the cam sleeves are opposed, the torque member is aligned along the borehole axis. When the cam sleeves are oriented in the same direction, their eccentricity is added and the torque tube is thrown off center to cause the bit to drill in a prescribed direction. Means are provided so that the position of the sleeves can be changed from the surface. Manipulation is by mud circulation and pipe movement.

Abstract: Proper reheat gas temperature is maintained in a sulfur plant operation at a high turn-down ratio by providing parallel flow paths in the boiler and withdrawing portions of the hot products from each of the flow paths and mixing with first condenser effluent to bring the gas to reaction temperature. This maintains the optimum temperature and flow rate of reheat gas at high turn-down ratios.

Abstract: This invention relates to a structure floating on a body of water, and particularly a structure for drilling or producing wells from below the water. Buoyant members support at least a part of the structure above the surface of the water. The structure is connected to anchors in the floor of the body of water by a series of parallel leg members. Each leg member is composed of a plurality of elongated members, such as large diameter pipe usually called risers. These risers are parallel. Vertically spaced spacers are provided along the risers of each leg to (1) maintain the risers a fixed distance apart and (2) change the natural or resonant frequency of the individual riser pipes to be greater than the flutter frequency caused by the motion of the water past the risers.

Abstract: Seismic waves are generated by detonating an explosive gas mixture in an earth cavity formed by driving a short earth auger to a desired depth, leaving most of the augered earth in the hole surrounding the auger shaft, and then pulling the auger and shaft upwardly to lift and compress the augered earth and pack it around the auger shaft, thereby forming and sealing the cavity below the auger. The gas mixture is then introduced through the hollow auger shaft and detonated, preferably by ignition propagation through the connecting hose and the auger shaft. Upon completion of as many gas fills and detonations as may be desired, the auger is reversed and withdrawn, leaving the ground surface virtually undisturbed.

Abstract: A method of producing highly viscous oil from an underground formation penetrated by a well. Steam is injected through a first channel into the lower part of the formation. At the same time, previously recovered oil from the formation is injected through the well in a channel surrounding the steam channel to the upper part of the formation. This native oil insulates the formation from the steam and also serves to block the steam from rising in the formation. The heated oil can then be recovered from an adjacent well or injection can be stopped and the oil can be recovered from the well through which the fluid was injected.

Abstract: Refinery or similar streams containing NH.sub.3 are processed in a sulfur plant having separate burners for the NH.sub.3 -containing acid gas stream and for the NH.sub.3 -free acid gas stream. A sampling device is provided for continuously or periodically sampling the combustion products from the unit burning the NH.sub.3 -containing gas. The H.sub.2 S/SO.sub.2 ratios at this sample point and in the sulfur plant tail gas are used to control the operation of the system.

Abstract: This invention relates to water pollution control and concerns a system for removing dispersed oil from water by contacting the oily water with sulfur to cause the oil to coalesce or agglomerate. In a preferred embodiment, the water containing the dispersed oil is passed through a bed of granular media presenting a surface area of solid phase sulfur to coalesce the dispersed oil. The coalesced oil is then separated from the water.

Abstract: Aqueous mixtures of fermentation-produced polysaccharides and cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethylcellulose are used as drilling fluids. They exhibit low viscosity at high shear rates and high viscosity at low shear, causing them to be ideally suited for rapid drilling rates and good cuttings carrying capacity. These fluids are stable in the presence of high calcium ion and salt concentrations and can be used in drilling troublesome shale sections without hydration problems. The addition of KCl in modest amounts improves shale stabilization.

Abstract: In the recovery of sulfur from hydrogen sulfide-containing gases wherein the first of a series of reactors is operated under conventional Claus conditions, one or more of the remaining catalytic reactors in the sulfur plant are operated at temperatures of the order of from about 250.degree. to about 400.degree.F. whereby free sulfur is deposited on the catalyst, regeneration of such catalyst is effected by heating a portion of the first reactor-condenser effluent to 500.degree.-700.degree.F. and flowing the resultant hot gas through the deactivated catalyst bed to vaporize free sulfur therefrom and regenerate the catalyst. Before placing the freshly regenerated catalyst bed back on stream, it is cooled with unheated first reactor-condenser effluent to a temperature of from about 250.degree. to about 400.degree. F. Thereafter the above cycle is repeated.