Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for obtaining a subterranean material sample. The inventive sampling apparatus comprises an elongate housing having a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough, a tip member movable through the passageway, and a locking means for releasably preventing the tip member from moving from a first portion of the passageway to a second portion of the passageway. The inventive sampling method comprises the step of inserting the inventive sampling apparatus into the ground. The present invention also provides a device for retaining material in a housing, said device comprising a plurality of resilient petal members.

Abstract: A three-phase well test apparatus and method using a two-phase separator. A separator is used to separate well fluid into gas and liquid constituents. The gas constituent is measured by a gas flow meter, and a pressure control valve is used to prevent surging of the gas beyond the range of the meter A pump is used to pump liquid out of the separator through a liquid flow line. A recirculating line is provided, and a valve may be acutated between a flow position and a recirculating position in response to a liquid level in the separator. When liquid is not being flowed for measurement, it is recirculated to the separator and thereby continuously mixed to maintain the liquid in a homogeneous condition. Downstream from the valve is a liquid meter and a meter prover connection. The recirculation mixes the liquid A mixer may be positioned downstream from the pump to additionally mix the liquid flowing therethrough.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing a wellbore being drilled through both shale and sandstone zones. A shale stabilizing agent and finely divided particulate material are combined in a water based drilling fluid to provide the stabilization.

Abstract: A wire line cable in which composite rods are spaced apart and axially disposed between a flexible, elongated, membrane which can be pressurized and a flexible outer protective sheath surrounding but separate from the membrane.

Abstract: Fracture initiation and propagation during drilling or running casing in a well are prevented or inhibited by including an effective amount of a specially sized solid particulate loss prevention material in the well fluid prior to encountering formation breakdown in a susceptible zone.

Abstract: (a) An alkanolamine solution containing anions, a conductance probe connected through a meter to a recorder and a stirrer are provided in a container, (b) the solution is stirred at a constant rate and metering and recording of the conductance of the alkanolamine solution are initiated, (c) an anion exchange resin in the OH.sup.- form is then introduced to the container in an amount in excess of that required to exchange all anions from the amine solution, (d) the conductance of the alkanolamine solution is monitored until steady state is reached, and (e) the total anion content and the sodium content (if present) are determined from the conductance trace.The process and apparatus may be used to display conductance changes with time and rate of conductance changes with time in order to determine which anions are present in the alkanolamine solution, whether or not sodium is present and the magnitude of conductance values at various time intervals.

Abstract: An electrical downhole centrifugal pump for pumping fluids from a deep well includes a relatively small diameter pump housing which is suspended from a tubing string and including a series of impellers and diffusers. The impellers are mounted on a vertical shaft connected to a motor for driving the impellers relative to the diffusers on the housing. Upper and lower shrouds enclose the top and bottom surfaces of impeller blades rotating with the shaft. A first group of impellers are arranged to move freely longitudinally on the shaft while a second group are fixed to the shaft to prevent relative longitudinal motion. A lifting vane is formed on the outer surface of the upper shroud on the impellers which are fixed to the shaft. A net lifting force is thus applied to the shaft by those impellers of the second group having upthrust impellers to diminish the load carried by a pump shaft thrust bearing.

Abstract: Radioactive waste is mixed with concrete and stored below any potable aquifers in a well casing traversing a stable geological hydrocarbon-containing formation. Salt water and/or hydrocarbon zones are sealed off with clean cement. Preferred storage is in offshore deep non-operating oil or gas wells.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-complex, simple to use and economical coupling device or connecting two elements, which provides for disconnection of the two elements when the tension applied to the coupling device exceeds a predetermined load. The coupling device includes an outer and an inner sleeve each having an axial bore. The lower end of the inner sleeve is slidably disposed within the upper end of the outer sleeve and the sleeves are relatively moveable. A frangible elongated member with a predetermined tensile strength connects the outer and inner sleeves through the axial bores. The frangible member breaks under a predetermined amount of stress thereby allowing the outer and inner sleeves of the coupling device to separate and disconnecting the attached elements. One or more internal longitudinal passages through the outer and inner sleeves adjacent to the axial bores allow passage of wire cables, gases, fluids or mechanical linkages through the coupler.

Abstract: An improved process for producing an anisotropic pitch product suitable for carbon fiber manufacture. A metal alkylaryl sulfonate is combined with a carbonaceous feedstock substantially free of mesophase pitch, and the combination is heated for a period of time at an elevated temperature while passing a non-oxidative sparging gas such as nitrogen through the feedstock. The process is carried out for a sufficient period of time to produce an anisotropic pitch having from 50 to 100 percent by volume mesophase which is suitable for producing good quality carbon fibers.In one aspect of the invention, an oxidatively reactive gas is used as the sparging gas.

Abstract: In an oilfield production system, a water driven jet pump is used to evacuate vapors from storage tanks to thereby recover the vapors and prevent emissions from passing to the atmosphere. The jet pump entrains the vapors in process water which is passed to a process separator already in the system. The gas is separated for recovery.

Abstract: The invention provides a highly space efficient solution to designing hydrocyclone vessels and the liners that are used therein. Moreover, the invention reduces the maintenance requirements for the vessels by providing the liners as units which are preassembled outside the vessel and installed in and out of the vessel without bolts or other minimally detailed process. The invention primarily includes a three chamber vessel wherein the inlet chamber is between the outlet and reject chambers. Therefore the inlet to the liners is between the plates dividing the chamber into separate chambers and the outlets from the liners extend straight into the end chambers. This avoids having to provide conduits from the reject end of the liner to a reject gallery in the plate or outside the vessel. Secondly, the design incorporated a no bolt design to secure the involute inlet into the liner and secure the liner into the opening in the plate.

Abstract: Group 2A metal greases having a dropping point in excess of 650.degree. F. are produced by a manufacturing process in which water is carefully controlled in the process while conversion to grease is occurring. It is necessary to complete the reaction and dehydrate the reaction mixture before finish oils and additives are added in order to obtain a reproducible grease with a high drop point and a low penetration value.

Abstract: Aqueous alkanolamine solution containing iron sulfide particles is passed through a bed of contact materials having openings greater than the size of the iron sulfide particles and the iron sulfide particles adhere to the contact material. The contact material is regenerated to sequentially remove alkanolamine and iron sulfide particles by contacting it with water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for locating correct near vertical boundary or fault positions in a velocity model using common reflection point (CRP) gathers. Conventional migration velocity analysis examines the migrated image for hints to correct the velocity model. Vertical boundaries such as faults or salt flanks must be accurately determined to produce reliable images of deeper reflectors. Previous methods have placed faults by trial and error, since a depth image of a nearly vertical boundary is difficult to produce. The present method examines the sensitivity of CRP gathers to abrupt lateral changes across a nearly vertical fault to determine the location and the dip of a nearly vertical fault from a series of CRP gathers.

Abstract: The present invention resides in a three directional horizontal drilling process which is suitable for the in-situ treatment or extraction of undesirable contaminants from subsurface formations. A first extraction well is drilled utilizing three directional horizontal drilling techniques in the general vicinity of a contaminated subsurface formation. A second injection well is strategically drilled to direct contaminants into a subsurface screen system in the extraction well, thus facilitating the extraction and collection of undesirable contaminants.

Abstract: A fluid handling system comprises a vessel having an interior, an outlet collector disposed in the vessel having a plurality of flow tubes disposed through its bottom, the flow tubes all having substantially identical lengths and substantially identical diameters and the flow tubes all having their upper ends at substantial identical elevations; and a level controller for maintaining a liquid level in the collector interior below the upper ends of the flow tubes. In a presently preferred embodiment, the flow tubes have a flow resistance which is very large compared to the flow resistance through the vessel, the flow tubes are substantially uniformally distributed across a horizontal cross section of the vessel, and the primary flow direction through the vessel is vertical.

Abstract: Fracture initiation and propagation during drilling are prevented or inhibited by including an effective amount of a specially sized solid particulate loss prevention material in the drilling fluid prior to encountering formation breakdown in a susceptible zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for grouting holes in the ground to prevent a contaminated zone within the ground from contaminating other zones in the ground. In particular, the grouting apparatus is adapted to follow the hole previously formed in the ground and not detour therefrom forming a separate hole which will be grouted in lieu of the previously formed hole. When the grouting apparatus reaches the bottom of the hole, grouting material is expelled from the lower end thereof. The apparatus is thereafter withdrawn as the grouting material fills the vacated hole. The apparatus comprises a plurality of tubular segments connected together to form a pipestring. At the bottom end of the string, there is attached a tip assembly. The tip assembly comprises an outer tubular sleeve and an internal telescoping tubular sleeve.

Abstract: A composite tubular member having an outer cylindrical member containing fibers oriented to resist internal pressure and provide low bending stiffness, and two inner smaller core members located near the neutral axis of the composite tubular members containing fibers oriented to provide high axial stiffness, high tensile strength and low bending stiffness and fibers oriented to resist shear stress, positioned opposite each other and adjacent to the inner walls of the outer cylindrical member.