Abstract: A fuel strainer for use in a turbine that filters debris out of fuel feed lines of the turbine to prevent clogging of flame nozzles in the turbine. The strainer comprises an elongated straining member with a plurality of apertures therethrough. The sum of the cross-sectional areas of the apertures is significantly greater than the cross-sectional area of the fuel feed line, and each individual aperture is smaller than all of the fuel holes in the flame nozzles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for reconfiguring a burner assembly having an air register, a central burner tip adapted to burn fuel oil, and a plurality of peripheral burner tips adapted to burn a combustion gas. The method is directed to such burner assemblies wherein substantially all of the combustion oxygen is provided by air directed into the air register. The method comprises the steps of replacing the oil-burning central tip with a gas-burning central tip and connecting the central tip to a source of combustion gas. The invention further provides a burner assembly having characteristics of the reconfigured burner assembly prepared from the method of the invention, namely a burner assembly having: an air register, a central burner tip and a plurality of peripheral burner tips, wherein the central burner tip is connected to a combustion gas conduit which has an eductor for drawing combustion oxygen into the central burner tip from a location outside the air register.

Abstract: A method and system for producing an indicator for amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) analysis of seismic survey data is disclosed. According to the disclosed method and system, a raw AVO indicator is generated for each of multiple depth points, from the AVO intercept and gradient coefficient values. The indicator is generally a positive amplitude number for those locations having petrophysical importance, while the background neighboring points will have a zero or negative value for the raw indicator. Statistics are derived for a group of depth points that surround the depth point under analysis, in time and in space, from which a probability function may be evaluated, assuming a distribution of values in the background trend of AVO intercept and gradient values, and based upon which the raw AVO indicator will be modified. In one embodiment, the probability function is evaluated to determine the loci of points that are within the background to a certain statistical confidence.

Abstract: A method for recompleting a wellbore containing a casing and a tubing string extending from a surface through the casing to a zone of interest by through-tubing rotary drilling by forming an opening through the casing at a selected point, passing a rotatable drill string including a drill bit through the tubing and drilling a second wellbore by drilling out of the cased wellbore through the opening.

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 seal and extender assembly which prevents surface water and other environmental liquids from inadvertently entering a sump, such as one used in a gasoline service station. The seal assembly includes an extender and a cover. The extender defines a channel and has a first end and a second end, the first end has a larger diameter than the diameter of the second end, the first end is secured to the sump adjacent the access port. The cover has a top surface and a perimeter surface, the top surface covers the access port and the perimeter surface secures to the second end of the extender.

Abstract: A method for reducing the concentration of radioactive material in a contaminated area by removing contaminated soil from the contaminated area; determining a field survey specific activity concentration representative of the remaining soil in the contaminated area; comparing the field survey specific activity concentration with a field validation data set to determine the total concentration of contaminating radioactive material in the contaminated area and removing additional quantities of contaminated soil from the contaminated area as required. The soil area may alternatively be blended with clean soil to reduce the concentration of radioactive material in the soil or a combination of blending and removal may be used. A method for estimating the total concentration of radioactive material in a soil sample is provided.

Abstract: Blends of alkyl polyglycoside surfactants having an alkyl chain length of C11 to C16 and blends of alkyl polyglycoside surfactants, in the presence of an ethoxylated alcohol cosurfactant, will form Winsor type III microemulsions in a water-oil mixture in a hydrophile-lipophile balance range of at least about 9.8 to 10.8 at 130.degree. F. wherein the water may be a chloride brine. The compositions are particularly useful in oil and gas well cleanout operations, formation acidizing, and well cementing operations and provide superior cleaning ability for removal of oil based drilling fluids, hydrocarbons and oil based pipe sealant and lubricant compositions, for example.

Abstract: A method for recovering waterflood residual oil from a waterflooded oil-bearing subterranean formation penetrated from an earth surface by at least one well by injecting an oil miscible solvent into a waterflood residual oil-bearing lower portion of the oil-bearing subterranean formation through a well completed for injection of the oil miscible solvent into the lower portion of the oil-bearing formation; continuing the injection of the oil miscible solvent into the lower portion of the oil-bearing formation for a period of time equal to at least one week; recompleting the well for production of quantities of the oil miscible solvent and quantities of waterflood residual oil from an upper portion of the oil-bearing formation; and producing quantities of the oil miscible solvent and waterflood residual oil from the upper portion of the oil-bearing formation. The formation may have previously been both waterflooded and oil miscible solvent flooded.

Abstract: The present invention is a computer system and a method using a computer for generating a bill of lading describing a liquid commodity shipment. A central processing unit operates on program instructions and comprises processor means and a main memory. A database is connected to the central processing unit over a bus and stores information pertaining to shipment containers to be delivered and filled for shipment of the liquid commodity. A computer program is stored in the main memory and comprises program instructions for determining compliance with predetermined conditions of shipment of the liquid commodity over a regulated transportation surface. Means for generating a bill of lading using the processing means operate on program instructions using the stored information.

Abstract: A method of obtaining gravity gradient well logs over selected baselines, using a well log tool having first and second gravity meters separated by a fixed distance, referred to as the baseline, is disclosed. Gravity gradient measurements are obtained in the wellbore by stepping the tool along the wellbore, where readings at adjacent depths are obtained by setting one of the gravity meters at the same depth at which the other gravity meter is or was located in another reading; alternatively, the well log tool may include a single gravity meter, with readings at adjacent depths made by moving the tool along the wellbore by the baseline. The user or computer system selects a virtual baseline, corresponding to a multiple of the gravity gradient measurements. The gravity gradient is then obtained by summing the individual gravity gradient measurements and dividing by the number of summed measurements.

Abstract: A system for transacting fuel purchases. A plurality of fuel dispensing pumps are interconnected to an island transaction terminal through a central master terminal. Each fuel dispensing pump comprises an independent fuel dispensing nozzle. Storage is provided for storing fuel dispensing pump reservations. A processor determines whether one of the plurality of fuel dispensing pumps is already reserved. A money acceptor and a money equivalent acceptor receive payment of money and a money equivalent, respectively. The central master terminal verifies the payment. An enabler enables the requested fuel dispensing pump to dispense fuel using a remote signal to the requested fuel dispensing pump upon verification of the payment by the central master terminal.

Abstract: A system and method for removing light non-aqueous liquids via a wellbore from at least a water-saturated subterranean zone using an oleophilic absorbent wick by positioning the wick in a wellbore extending from the surface through at least a portion of the subterranean water-saturated zone; reducing the pressure in the wellbore and removing vaporized light non-aqueous liquids from the wellbore.

Abstract: A system and a method for producing increased quantities of oil from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas through a well bore penetrating an oil bearing formation containing a gas cap zone and an oil bearing zone by separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas downhole in an auger separator to produce a separated gas and an oil enriched mixture; compressing at least a portion of the separated gas downhole to a pressure greater than the pressure in the gas cap zone to produce a compressed gas; and, injecting the compressed gas into the gas cap and, recovering at least a major portion of the oil enriched mixture.

Abstract: A method of repairing damaged hot refractory linings in high-temperature vessels includes forming an opening through the outer shell of the vessel proximate to the damaged region of the hot refractory lining, and introducing a refractory material into the damaged region. The refractory material is rapidly injected in a sufficient amount to effect complete filling, and is fast curing to strength at the operating temperature of the vessel. The method eliminates the need to allow the vessel to cool down to ambient temperature and then reheat the vessel to operating temperature thereby eliminating thermal cycling of the refractory lining.

Abstract: A well completion spacer fluid is provided which is particularly suitable for separating a cement slurry from drilling fluid in primary cementing operations. The well completion spacer fluid is also useful for separating other potentially incompatible fluids in the wellbore, such as, separating drilling fluid from a completion brine. The spacer fluid basically comprises water, a hydrous magnesium silicate clay, silica and organic polymer(s).

Abstract: A method is provided for remediation of soils contaminated with at least one volatile organic contaminant, such as benzene, toluene, xylene, polynuclear aromatics and the like. The method includes placing a layer of a vapor barrier material over the contaminated soil and thereafter treating the soil so as to stabilize the soil and thereby reduce emissions of the volatile organic contaminants therefrom. The vapor barrier material is selected from oil-based muds, natural gels, and aqueous surfactant-based foams, and in particular, certain aqueous surfactant based foams which are relatively easy to generate and use, as well as being long-lasting in effect. The method may obviate the need to chemically treat a remediation site, or erect costly containment structures, such as a tent or canopy, to reduce emissions of the volatile contaminants during soil remediation activities.

Abstract: An isotope ratio monitoring gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (irm-GC/MS) unit for generating a chromatogram having improved resolution for peaks representative of individual carbon dioxide isotopes measured when a complex GC amenable organic sample (e.g. petroleum hydrocarbons) is combusted in the presence of a metal catalyst. The present irm-GC/MS unit is similar to known irm-GC/MS units of this type except it uses a capillary combustion tube in the furnace which is connected to the capillary column and has approximately the same inside diameter as that of the capillary column (e.g. 0.25 mm I.D.) whereby any "dead volume" attributable to the combustion tube is substantially eliminated.

Abstract: A computer-operated method for analyzing seismic data to discern the presence of hydrocarbon-bearing formations is disclosed. According to the disclosed method and system, amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) analysis is performed to assign, for each depth point in a survey region, an AVO intercept value and an AVO gradient value; the AVO intercept value corresponds to the zero-offset response for acoustic reflections from the depth point, while the AVO gradient value corresponds to the rate of change of the amplitude as a function of the angle of incidence of the acoustic energy (typically, with the square of the sine of the angle).

Abstract: An advisor system and method for determining reservoir properties includes a processor accessible to a tutorial system module and an expert system module. An input/output interface accesses directly with the tutorial system module and with the expert system module through a bridge. The expert system module includes a "help" utility, a rule base, a correlations library and a program interface between the library and rule base. Based on the input, the rule base selects correlation subroutines from the correlation routine library necessary to determine the reservoir properties. The advisor system can provide advice on using available Pressure-Volume-temperature (PVT) laboratory reports and location of the reservoir property in the PVT laboratory report.