Abstract: A method of producing a velocity volume for a seismic survey volume, based on two-way time seismic data and process velocity data, is disclosed. Two-way time seismic data is loaded into a computer for a plurality of seismic shot lines in the survey region, as are process velocities for common depth points (CDPs) in the survey region. The process velocities correspond to velocities used to perform normal move-out, dip move-out, migration and other imaging processes. The computer can display the two-way time information in cross-section or map views, and can display the velocity functions as a function of two-way time. The human analyst enters interpreted velocities, based on actual data or on visualization of the horizons, into the cross-sectional view of the seismic shot line, and then edits the input velocity data to produce a velocity function, for each CDP of interest, that matches the interpreted values.

Abstract: A method for dehydrating a liquid/liquid production stream which is comprised of a heavy crude oil (i.e. about 30.degree. A.P.I. or less) and water which originally forms a water-in-oil emulsion wherein hydrocyclone is used as a primary separator to separate substantial amounts of the water from the stream. The stream is first treated without chemicals to sustantially alter of its characteristics by either (a) heating the stream to substantially reduce the viscosity of the heavy crude therein and/or (b) inverting the emulsion in the stream to an oil-in-water emulsion. Once the characteristics of the stream are so altered, the stream is passed through the primary hydrocyclone to separate out a significant amount (e.g. about 50% or more) of the water. The stream is then passed either to a second hydrocyclone or a stablization tower to separate additional water from the oil and bring it within shipping and/or sale specifications.

Abstract: A system and method for the real-time monitoring of the location (e.g. vertical extent) of a fracture within a waste disposal formation as that fracture is being formed. Acoustical-energy sensors (e.g. geophones) are isolated within the annulus of the well through which the waste material is injected into the formation. This eliminates the need for expensive, dedicated monitor wells while protecting the sensors from the abrasive effects of the injected waste material.

Abstract: Fluid samples, including petroleum fuels, may be analyzed as to certain properties such as octane number by a near infrared spectrometer by a method which carries out steps of verifying operating conditions of the spectrometer, comparing measured values of absorbance of radiation at predetermined wavelengths with a set of training values for the fluid composition in question and indicating an out of range condition when a predetermined set of measured values, when averaged, exceeds a predetermined limit. The system carries out a verification of its operating conditions by performing a routine analysis on a reference fluid, such as toluene. A so-called diagnostics routine may be performed to verify operating parameters of the system such as the radiation source, and the throughput of certain optical elements whose transmissivity may be affected by residue from the fluids being analyzed.

Abstract: Organic waste such as hydrocarbon waste, refinery sludges, tank bottom sludges, certain wastes from paint, solvent and wax manufacturing and active metals and active metal oxide compositions are disposed of by combining such compositions with bentonite and water to adsorb the waste composition into the bentonite followed by injection of the waste, bentonite and water slurry into a subterranean disposal zone to fix the waste material within disaggregated matrix or created fractures.

Abstract: Deviated wells, in particular, are hydraulically fractured at reduced rates and with higher viscosity fracturing fluids if the fracture design indicates during an initial test fracture that the instantaneous shut-in pressure, upon cessation of injection, exceeds a predetermined amount indicating high friction pressure losses in the near wellbore region of the fracture. Increasing the fracture fluid viscosity and reducing the fracture fluid rate of injection minimizes the creation of multiple fractures of reduced width in the near wellbore region and the high probability of fracture screenout resulting from the creation of the multiple reduced width fractures.

Abstract: A method for determining the minimum length for a fracture in a fluid-producing formation to control the production of sand therefrom wherein a plurality of critical drawdown pressures are calculated from known formation data which correspond to a plurality of different, estimated respective fracture lengths. Once the critical drawdown pressures for the reservoir are correlated with their corresponding fracture lengths, a critical drawdown curve for that particular reservoir is established. Additional sets of curves are generated from known data which when overlaid with the critical drawdown pressure curve allows a minimum length of fracture to be selected which will produce the formation at a given rate at a prescribed drawdown pressure without producing any substantial amounts of sand from the formation.

Abstract: Toxic wastes including naturally occurring radioactive materials are disposed of into subterranean earth formation zones which are bounded both above and below by zones which have higher in situ compressive stresses. The materials are prepared in a slurry of finely ground solids and a carrier liquid and are injected into a fracture created in the disposal zone by a process which includes initiating and extending the fracture with a fracturing fluid having a filter cake building solids material entrained therein to build a sealant layer on the fracture faces, The fracture fluid is followed by injection of the waste material which is followed by injection of more fracture fluid and/or a clear liquid such as fresh water or seawater to remove all toxic material from the injection well and the vicinity thereof. The fracture is then allowed to close to confine the waste material therein.

Abstract: A gas-liquid separator for a well pump includes a stationary helical baffle disposed in a tubular housing for separating gas from liquid and conducting gas through a center conduit disposed in the housing to a tubing string in communication with the separator or into the well annulus for flow to the surface. The baffle may be interposed in a conventional downhole submersible pump between the motor section and the pump section and the pump section may be modified to have a hollow impeller drive shaft for conducting gas separated by the separator through the pump section and out of gas discharge ports in the pump section housing. In an alternate embodiment gas is discharged from the hollow drive shaft into the tubing string and liquid separated from the gas is pumped through the pump section and out into the wellbore annulus.

Abstract: An improved method for stimulating coal degasification wells comprising the injection of a foam into a coal seam which contains natural or induced fractures. Thereafter, high pressure gas is injected into the coal seam and suddenly released to cause disintegration of coal surrounding the borehole.

Abstract: Earth formation evaluation for detection of hydrocarbon fluids is carried out by a microwave frequency range sensor (antenna or wave guide) disposed in the face of a diamond or PDC drill bit configured to minimize invasion of drilling fluid into the formation ahead of the bit. The sensor is connected to an instrument disposed in a sub interposed in the drill stem for generating and measuring the alteration of microwave energy. In particular, the dielectric constant of the earth formation in a zone which is substantially uninvaded by drilling fluid may be detected and compared with density and/or porosity logs to determine the presence of hydrocarbons in relatively thin layers of formation material.

Abstract: A pipe and tube cleaning system, particularly useful for cleaning scale from pipes and tubes used in oil and gas production operations and containing naturally occurring radioactive materials in the scale, includes an elongated closable tub for supporting a section of pipe or tube for combined hydraulic jet blast and mechanical cutting and cleaning action by a lance insertable within the pipe to remove scale from the interior of the pipe. A slurry of particulate material removed from the pipe and the cleaning liquid (water) is collected in the tub and discharged to a particle size reduction and filtering system which reduces the particle size of the material to form a slurry of very fine particles which may be disposed of through an injection well. Some of the slurry may be returned to the system for use as cleaning liquid. Pipe is loaded into and removed from the tub by a pipe handling mechanism including retractable supports with ramp surfaces which position the pipe for movement into and out of the tub.

Abstract: A wellbore is formed in the earth with an elongated, non-rotating tubular drillstem which may consist of a well casing or liner and including an expendable sub and reamer bit part connected to the lower distal end of the drillstem. A retrievable drilling fluid operated motor and drive member assembly are disposed in the drillstem. The motor and drive member include pressure fluid responsive mechanism for engagement with and disengagement from the reamer bit part to rotatably drive the reamer bit part and a central bit part connected to the drive member without rotating the casing type drillstem. The motor, drive member and central bit part may be retracted from the drillstem upon completion of drilling operations without retrieving the expendable reamer bit part.

Abstract: A land vehicle system for collecting crude oil and other contaminants which have been spilled on snow and ice covered surfaces includes a crawler tractor having an auger type collection and transfer mechanism mounted forwardly thereof for skimming the contaminant and a layer of snow and/or ice from the Earth's surface. The recovered oil and snow and/or ice are transported by a vacuum line to a storage and transport vehicle towed by the tractor. The storage and transport vehicle may be self-propelled and includes an onboard storage tank which is heated to melt the snow and/or ice and a separator for separating air used to transport the contaminated snow and/or ice to the tank. The tractor includes onboard prime movers for operating a vacuum pump for collecting the contaminated snow and/or ice and a prime mover for propulsion and operation of the skimming and collection mechanism.

Abstract: A method of forming a scale model for simulation of a seismic survey is disclosed. The model includes layers which are formed by way of stereolithography or similar methods, from a CAD data base; the precision of the formation of the layers allows for construction of the model without adhesives between all layers for structural integrity of the model, although adhesive or a wetting agent may be used, depending upon the desired simulation experiment. The model also includes molded layers which are poured, injected, or otherwise introduced in liquid form. The liquid may then be solidified, or may remain in liquid form, depending upon the survey. These molded layers may be made into the prefabricated layers where appropriate, or during the process of constructing the model. Simulation of the survey may be made by imparting acoustic energy thereinto and detecting the same.

Abstract: A survey system including a survey instrument operable to receive signals indicating the Easting, Northing and elevation of a surveyed point. The survey instrument transmits data regarding the surveyed point coordinates to a radio terminal mounted on the survey instrument and having a command keyboard associated therewith. The radio terminal is operable to communicate with a base radio and controller connected to a digital computer which stores survey data for a predetermined number of survey points and is capable of performing calculations of at least elevations of points disposed intermediate a set of coordinates on a survey grid and calculating hole depth for blastholes based on the elevation of a surveyed point on the surface of material from which the hole is to be drilled. The base radio and controller are operable to communicate with plural survey instrument and radio terminal units.

Abstract: A sucker rod well pump base that is readily movable and universally adjustable comprising at least two spaced apart footing members which carry, but are not connected to at least two spaced apart transverse support members. A plurality of spaced apart hold down members are carried along the length of the support members in an unconnected manner, but yet are restrained from movement away from the footing members by abutment of the hold down members against the support member. Each hold down member carries at least one tie down member for securing the base to a well pump unit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mixing and distributing two reactants within a column. The apparatus forms a mixing zone in the column into which a first reactant (e.g. a process stream having both gas and liquid phases) flows vertically downward. The second reactant (e.g. quench gas) is introduced into the mixing zone and flows radially to intercept the downflowing process stream. Due to the construction of the mixing zone, a torturous path is provided which thoroughly mixes the different gas phases and the liquid phase by several different mechanisms, i.e. (a) radial jet mixing; (b) perpendicular mixing of the liquid and gas phases; (c) jet/turbulent mixing; (d) high velocity swirl jet mixing and atomizing of the liquid phase; (e) turbulent swirl mixing after the liquid is atomized; (f) additional turbulent jet mixing; and (g) energy dissipation of the flow as the mixed stream is distributed radially outward across the column through first a sieve tray and then a riser tray.

Abstract: Predetermined quantities of slurried solids wastes are injected into earth formation waste disposal zones having a predetermined in situ stress distribution and compaction rate for a predetermined hydraulic injection pressure and wherein the disposal zones are bounded by zones having greater in situ stresses. Unconsolidated or lightly cemented formation zones may be used for waste disposal wherein it is determined that a substantial compaction of the material defining opposed faces of hydraulic fractures may occur. Fracture volume available for retention of solids in the slurry is calculated based on fracture height, fracture length, elastic deflection of the fracture faces, compaction of the fracture faces and the number of fractures based on either unequal or substantially equal horizontal stress distributions.

Abstract: There is provided a transient electromagnetic method and apparatus for inspecting objects. The apparatus includes a sensing portion, which has a transmitting antenna and at least one receiving antenna thereon. The sensing portion is located adjacent to the object which is to be inspected such that the antennas are adjacent to the object. There is also a magnet located adjacent to the sensing portion. The magnet has poles located adjacent to the object, so as to provide a steady-state magnetic field to the object. By inducing eddy currents into the object, families of cracks, such as caused by environmental conditions, can be detected. In addition, magnetic flux leakage methods can be used in combination with the transient electromagnetic method to further assisting detecting crack families in pipeline inspection applications.