Abstract: A nonair-blown low sulfur petroleum residual oil is combined with super finely divided particles of calcined premium coke, and the combination is subjected to delayed coking to produce isotropic coke containing reduced sulfur and having a low CTE ratio.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for cleaning and decontaminating rods, shafts or other long tubular materials. In particular, the device cleans and decontaminates rods that are used in downhole remediation tasks that might otherwise transfer contaminants out of the ground. The device scrubs, washes, rinses and dries the outer surface of the rod while recovering the wash and rinse fluids and any soil or other debris scrubbed from the surface of the rods. In one variation, the rinse fluid is recycled for use as wash fluid to conserve fluids used in the field.

Abstract: An electrical cable in which composite rods and electrical conductors disposed between a flexible, elongated, membrane which can be pressurized and a flexible outer protective sheath surrounding but separate from the membrane, provide a pressure stiffened cable assembly that can be run into deviated boreholes.

Abstract: A viscous polymer is passed through a filament or thread forming apparatus and introduced into a flowing solvent. The polymer containing solvent is then passed through a random flow path apparatus where the polymer is broken into fine particles and the solvent and polymer are thoroughly blended. The polymer and solvent leaving the random flow path apparatus may be introduced into a holding apparatus wherein the polymer and solvent are retained until the polymer has gelled.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of seismic exploration utilizing vibrationally generated, elliptically polarized shear waves in an earth medium for subsequent detection of one or more dimensions of orthogonal particle motion. The invention relies upon a shear wave source of a type which couples a continually rotating longitudinal force into an earth medium thereby to propagate an elliptically polarized shear wave for refraction, reflection or subsurface detection, various forms of exploration being well within the capabilities.

Abstract: A viscous polymer is passed through a filament or thread forming apparatus and introduced into a flowing solvent. The polymer containing solvent is then passed through a shear strain apparatus where the polymer not formed into filaments or threads is formed into long fibers and the solvent and polymer are thoroughly blended. The polymer and solvent leaving the shear strain apparatus may be introduced into a holding apparatus wherein the polymer and solvent are retained until the polymer has gelled.

Abstract: This invention relates to a downhole activated device for providing cathodic protection for pipes in a wellbore for the production of hydrocarbons. The downhole activated devices are carried within either the pipe casing or the collars or both and remain generally within the maximum outward profile of the pipe string so as not to interfere with the movement and placement of the pipe string in the wellbore. The pipe string may be rotated, reciprocated and circulated which enhances the ability of the installer to place the pipe string in a deviated or long reach wellbore. Once the pipe string is in place, the devices may be deployed by one of several methods such that pistons mounted in openings in the peripheral wall of the pipe string move outwardly to contact the wall of the wellbore. Such contact with the walls of the wellbore insures that the sacrificial material in the pistons will corrode in preference to the remainder of the pipe.

Abstract: A glycol dehydrator for removing water from produced natural gas includes a conduit for conveying uncondensed hydrocarbons from a reboiler overhead condenser to an auxiliary burner in the reboiler firetube by natural draft from the firetube flue stack.

Abstract: Monitoring and controlling the reactivation of an alkanolamine solution containing heat-stable salts of such alkanolamine with stronger acid anions and weaker acid anions by contacting the alkanolamine solution (a) with a strong base anion exchange resin which has a high affinity for stronger acid anions (b) contacting the effluent alkanolamine solution from the strong base anion exchange resin with a second strong base anion exchange resin which has an affinity for weaker acid anions (c) measuring and recording the electrical conductance of the effluent solution from the first mentioned anion exchange resin (d) removing the first mentioned anion exchange resin from service when the conductance of the effluent alkanolamine solution from said resin indicates breakthrough of stronger acid anions in said effluent, (e) measuring and recording the electrical conductance of the effluent alkanolamine solution from the second mentioned anion exchange resin (f) removing the second mentioned anion exchange resin from s

Abstract: A non air-blown low sulfur heavy aromatic mineral oil which does not produce acceptable isotropic coke when subjected to delayed coking is combined with an inorganic additive which promotes pyrolysis and which vaporizes during calcining and the combination is subjected to delayed coking to produce isotropic coke having a low CTE ratio. The isotropic coke is further processed (including calcination) to produce graphite logs used in nuclear reactors.

Abstract: Micro-distillation apparatus is provided for analyzing acidic anions in which the acidic anion sample is placed in a lower elongated member in water containing an acidifying material, upon heating the acidic anion leaves the lower member as a gas, passing through a permeable membrane into an upper elongated member containing a material which converts the acidic anion to a salt and the salt is recovered for analysis. The micro-distillation apparatus is sized so that a number of samples can be heated in a small heating member, such as a hot block heater.

Abstract: Recarburizer coke containing not more than 0.1 weight percent sulfur and not more than 0.1 weight percent nitrogen is prepared by the catalytic hydrogenation, thermal cracking, and delayed coking of a mixture of pyrolysis tar and petroleum distillate.

Abstract: A method of emulsion breaking comprising contacting an emulsion with a substrate having adhered thereto an alkylphenol-polyethylene oxide-acrylate polymer. The emulsion breaking material is used to separate water-in-oil emulsion by coalescence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of structural traveltime tomography which uses mismatched image information observed on common image point gathers to determine the precise location of near vertical boundaries or faults. The method can distinguish an error caused by a misplaced fault from velocity caused errors, then it reduces these errors by correcting the location of the fault. The result is a better depth image from better aligned events, and better correction to the velocities from a follow-up tomography using current velocity tomography.

Abstract: A method for static correction includes a three step process which eliminates the problems of assuming hyperbolic moveout curves and forming base traces from common midpoint gathers while addressing long spatial wavelength variations. First, after calculating and applying an approximate high-frequency static correction to the individual shot and receivers (using traditional automatic methods), depth migration iterations are employed to coarsely tune the near-surface velocity layer. Second, after applying this correction, the remaining statics are incorporated into the model by tomography, which accounts for the velocity and thickness of the weathering layer and buried anomalies. Third, any residual misalignments are addressed using a multi-windowed statics adjustment within the common image point (CIP) gathers.

Abstract: A method for improving the efficiency of pre-stack depth migration includes the steps of deleting a portion of the received data to obtain a representative remaining portion. All the shots are separated into several series, such that within each series the receiver locations are repeating. One or more series of shots is selected for migrating. With each series, receivers are selected from each shot such that their locations are repeating. This allows maximum re-use of the travel time tables and resulting in the best efficiency of the depth migration. The same principal can be applied to three dimensional prestack depth migration to improve its efficiency.

Abstract: Corrosion and scale inhibitors in fluids produced from a subterranean formation are separated, detected, and quantified by thin layer chromatography through the use of selected developing solvents and visualization reagents.

Abstract: A Heave-Restrained Platform and Drilling System (HRP/DS) comprises a floating structure having a central buoyance means, at least three out-rigger columns, and a hybrid mooring system in which a spread (lateral) mooring system functions with an array of tensioned production risers (serving as a vertical tension leg) to keep the structure generally over a specified seabed location. The central buoyancy means has supports for upper terminations of a plurality of well production risers. Each riser is comprised of plural concentric tubular structural and pressure containment elements connecting a hydrocarbon well on the sea floor with a pressure containment means located on the floating structure.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved particulate receiving chamber within a centrifugal separation device and more particularly within a decanter centrifuge. The improved receiving chamber reduces particle disintegration of the particulates which is particularly advantageous if the particulates are subjected to a further centrifugal separation step because particle disintegration compromises the clarification achievable by successive centrifugal separators. The preferred embodiment of the particulate receiving chamber includes a plurality of spray nozzles for spraying fluid in the chamber whereby the fluid absorbs the impact forces of the particulates which impact against surfaces within the chamber.

Abstract: A Heave-Restrained Platform and Drilling System (HRP/DS) comprises a floating structure having a central buoyancy means, at least three out-rigger columns, and a hybrid mooring system in which a spread (lateral) mooring system functions with an array of tensioned production risers (serving as a vertical tension leg) to keep the structure generally over a specified seabed location. The HRP/DS provides a means for drilling and producing through oil wells in deep water such that critical pressure containment means are achieved with safe, redundant barriers and systems similar to those employed on shallow water fixed platforms.