Abstract: An improved process for producing an anisotropic pitch product suitable for carbon fiber manufacture. A carbonaceous feedstock substantially free of mesophase pitch is heated at elevated temperature while passing an oxidatively reactive sparging gas such as air through the feedstock. The oxidatively treated feedstock, which contains isotropic pitch, is solvent fractionated to recover a solid pitch which on fusion becomes an anisotropic pitch product having from 50 to 100 percent by volume mesophase. In one aspect of the invention the carbonaceous feedstock is oxidatively treated in a melt phase at a lower temperature and the resulting isotropic pitch is then heated at a higher temperature in a melt phase in the presence or absence of a non-oxidative sparging gas prior to solvent fractionation.

Abstract: A microwave-based emulsion treating method and system comprising a microwave energy source, a microwave applicator for treating an emulsion, a separator vessel for receiving and separating microwave-treated emulsion, an oil-water analyzer for determining water content of the emulsion feed, and water supply means including control means responsive to the analyzer for adding a controlled amount of water to the emulsion feed going to the applicator. The added water may be recirculated from the separator.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining the Reid Vapor Pressure of a bottoms product stream of a fractionating column used for fractionating a multi-component hydrocarbon feed stream into an overhead product stream and a bottoms product stream are provided. The Reid Vapor Pressure of the bottoms product stream is determined in response to the temperature of the bottoms product stream, the vapor pressure of the bottoms product stream, the rate of flow of the bottoms product stream and the rate of flow of the overhead product stream, without an analysis of the particular product stream. The Reid Vapor Pressure indication is used to maintain the actual Reid Vapor Pressure of the bottoms product system substantially equal to the desired Reid Vapor Pressure of the bottoms product stream and to thereby control the quality of the bottoms and other product streams.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring the formation of crystals in a flowing liquid using a flow way that receives a flow of the liquid therethrough; wherein, the flow way includes an optical means and access for illuminating the liquid with a beam of polarized light and then imaging the illuminated liquid to qualitatively ascertain the rate and type of crystal formation within the liquid.

Abstract: A process for removing residual oil from the near wellbore area of a subterranean formation adjacent an injection well of a waterflood operation to improve water injectivity comprising injection through said well into said area seawater containing a surfactant having the formula:RO(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O).sub.7 (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.2 YXwherein:R is a mixture of alkyl groups containing from 12 to 15 carbon atoms,Y is sulfate group, andX is a monovalent cation.After the treatment to improve water injectivity, the formation is waterflooded.

Abstract: Oil compositions comprising crude oils, fuel oils, mineral oils and synthetic oils having high pour points are provided with one or more enhanced characteristics such as improved pour point, viscosity or viscosity index by the addition of a terpolymer comprising an alkyl ester of an unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, an olefinically unsaturated homo or heterocyclic-nitrogen compound, and an allyl acrylate or methacrylate or a perfluoroalkyl ethyl acrylate or methacrylate.

Abstract: A seismic source marine vibrator having compound hydraulic cylinders for high and low frequencies is used to generate both low frequency and high frequency acoustic pulses. Low frequency pulses are generated by operating a low frequency radiating surface and a high frequency radiating surface simultaneously. High frequency pulses are generated by operating the high frequency radiating surface alone.

Abstract: A tensioner system for a riser of a subsea production well. A plurality of at least three tensioners are each pivotally secured to both a lower surface of the production platform and to a tensioner ring that is itself secured to the riser. The tensioner ring may be generally octagonal with arms protruding from alternate faces of the octagon. These arms define the connecting points for the tensioners. The tensioners are angulated with respect to the axis of the riser, converging toward a single point lying on that axis and defining a first angle. The arms preferably form a second angle with respect to the body of the tensioner ring that is equal to said first angle so that the reaction surface defined by the bottom of the arms is perpendicular to the force lines along which the tensioners act. The failure of one of the tensioners will not result in unbalanced forces that could produce bending torsion, as occurred with previous designs.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for testing a blow-out preventor system of a well, which blow-out preventor system is designed to close upon both a smaller drill pipe string and a larger drill pipe string. The apparatus includes a first elongated cylindrical testing mandrel having an outside diameter substantially equal to an outside diameter of the smaller drill pipe string, and a second elongated cylindrical testing mandrel having an outside diameter substantially equal to an outside diameter of the larger drill pipe string. The first testing mandrel is telescopingly received within the second testing mandrel.

Abstract: Method for reducing pressure drop in a conduit carrying a viscous drag reducing material by injecting a lower viscosity liquid which is immiscible with the drag reducing material at the periphery of the conduit to form a flowing annular layer of such lower viscosity liquid thereby reducing the pressure drop in the conduit.

Abstract: A multiple frequency range hydraulic actuator includes a low frequency cylinder with a low frequency actuator piston within. The low frequency piston operates as a high frequency cylinder having a high frequency piston within. The low frequency piston, and high frequency piston operate in conjunction to generate low frequency movement. The high frequency piston operates independently to generate high frequency movement.

Abstract: A light weight, energy dissipation bumper system for protecting the columns of an offshore platform. A plurality of rows of crushable tubes are provided to dissipate collision energy through absorption without storing such energy. The tubes have a diameter to thickness ratio between 30 and 40 for mild steel providing neutral/positive buoyancy. The tubes may be easily replaced when their ability to protect the column to which they are attached to exhausted through flattening. The tubes may extend either axially along or radially outward from the column.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a seismic transducer under water adjacent a towing vessel includes an elongated substantially rigid towing arm. A lower connector assembly is operably associated with the towing arm for connecting a lower end thereof to the transducer. An upper connector assembly is operably associated with the towing arm for connecting an upper end thereof to the vessel. The upper connector assembly includes a first pivot arrangement for permitting the lower end of the towing arm and the connected transducer to be lowered into the body of water. The upper connector assembly further includes a torsional support structure for resisting rotation of the towing arm about a longitudinal axis thereof. Preferably the upper connector assembly also includes a second pivot arrangement for permitting the lower end of the towing arm and the connected transducer to move laterally relative to the towing vessel.

Abstract: Reservoir information for determining residual oil saturation is obtained by injection of a partitioning tracer and a non-partitioning material through an injection well and periodically logging a second well spaced from the injection well to determine time of passage and amount of said injected materials. A preferred partitioning tracer is iodoethanol containing iodine 131, and the second material may be a radioactive tracer having a gamma ray emission spectrum different from the partitioning tracer or it may be a brine having a salinity different from that of formation water in the reservoir.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously generating elliptically polarized seismic shear waves and compression waves downhole for coupling energy through the fluid into the borehole wall. The apparatus includes an elongate frame for support in the borehole and the frame includes a drive means energizable to impart an orbital motion to at least a portion of the frame thereby to generate an orbital shear wave.

Abstract: Apparatus including transportation structure for generating elliptically polarized shear waves in soft earth medium. A suitable carrier includes a jack assembly for transporting shear wave apparatus that includes a telescoping tube for earth engagement. The shear wave apparatus, including a major or lower reaction mass and a passive top reaction mass, is raised and lowered by the jack assembly into operative position while the energy-coupling telescoping tube is extendably forced into an earth medium so that, during shear wave generation, the vibration source or reaction mass is continually imparting shear wave energy into the progressively extending telescoping tube to effect continual energy coupling into the surrounding earth medium. The reaction mass is driven by a plural hydraulic actuator system that imparts elliptically polarized vibration to the telescopic tube which, in turn, imparts elliptically polarized shear waves into the surrounding earth medium.

Abstract: A pressure monitoring apparatus for use in a tubing string having a landing nipple located therein above a well zone which is to be monitored includes a plug body, a mandrel sleeve, a pressure communication mandrel and a pressure sensor. The plug body is landed in the landing nipple, and has an axial body bore therethrough. The mandrel sleeve has a lower portion constructed to be sealingly received within the body bore, and has an axial sleeve bore disposed therethrough. The pressure communication mandrel has a lower portion constructed to be sealingly received within the sleeve bore, and has a pressure communication passage disposed therethrough for communicating the pressure sensor with the well zone. The pressure monitoring apparatus can be adapted for use in methods of monitoring pressure fall-off in a subsurface formation after injection of fluid into the formation, and also can be adapted for use in methods of monitoring a bottom hole shut-in pressure buildup in a production well.

Abstract: A device for generating elliptically polarized shear waves for introduction into a soft earth medium including marshy and water-covered earth surfaces. The device consists of a shear wave generator coupled to a coupling tube having a conical lower end that is maintained in energy-coupling relationship within the earth medium. Shear waves such as elliptically generated shear waves are introduced into the tube member for travel along the tube and further earth coupling about the bottom cone member as it is progressively driven into the earth medium. Suitable hold-down weight is utilized to maintain most effective coupling pressure on the cone member, and, support equipment, either land or marine vehicle, may include crane and alignment structure for continually maintaining the tubular vibrator member in proper vertical attitude during operation.

Abstract: A corrosion cracking test assembly comprising a pair of strips each having notches formed along one edge and assembled in a stressed condition.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for retrieving a running tool/guideframe assembly without the use of winch wires. A portion or each guidepost assembly can be unlatched from the seafloor-mounted template to permit that portion to be retrieved using the guidewires. The unlatchable portion of the guidepost system is formed with a load support that engages and supports the running tool/guideframe assembly so that the assembly is retrieved concurrently with the unlatchable portions of the guidepost assemblies.