Abstract: Alumina spheres having high crush strength are produced by hydrogelling low viscosity acidified alumina slurries in a surfactant-containing ammonia solution, said slurries being inserted into the ammonia solution dropwise.

Abstract: A structure exposed to a marine environment is coated with a coating comprising stainless steel particles such as stainless steel flakes in a coating matrix. Marine growth is removed from the coating by impressing an electrical potential. Marine growth is also prevented. Preferably, the structure is coated with a first coating comprising metallic zinc prior to coating with a second coating comprising stainless steel flakes in an inorganic polymer matrix, and a cathodic potential is impressed.

Abstract: Buildup of scale on polished rods extending above certain stuffing boxes on wells producing relatively large amounts of brine incidental to oil production in arid regions is prevented by employing a rigid upper wiper ring in combination with a lower retaining ring in combination with a wiper assembly positioned above the stuffing box.

Abstract: An improvement in the method of determining oil saturation in a subterranean formation, penetrated by a well-bore, is disclosed. In the method of determining oil concentration by measuring thermal neutron decay with a low salinity aqueous liquid in said well-bore and said formation, and measuring thermal neutron decay with a high salinity aqueous liquid in said well-bore and said formation, the improvement comprises adding to said low salinity liquid in the well-bore, only, a material which adjusts the thermal neutron capture cross section of the well-bore so that it is approximately the same as the thermal neutron capture cross section of the well-bore when it contains the high salinity liquid.

Abstract: Alumina slurries (suspensions) can be stabilized against viscosity increases by treating with water which has been heated to temperatures of from about 40.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C., then cooling, decanting the water, and recovering a wet cake. Water is then added to the recovered wet cake alumina to obtain a slurry with a desired alumina content and CO.sub.2 is sparged through the finished slurry. Optionally, hot water saturated with carbon dioxide can be used for the treatment, to extend the stability of the slurry. Peptizing agents can be used as usual.

Abstract: Catalysts of the general structure ##STR1## have been found to be effective heterogeneous hydroformylation catalysts at temperature of from about 60.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. and hydrogen to carbon monoxide (H.sub.2 /CO) gas pressures of from about 100 to about 3500 psig for both primary and internal olefins. The process produces an increased amount of linear normal aldehydes. At the completion of the hydroformylation reaction, the reactor gas can be altered to essentially pure hydrogen and the catalyst then further converts aldehyde formed by the hydroformylation reaction to alcohols under the same reaction conditions. The copolymer support acts as a ligand and allows the catalyst to be easily recovered.

Abstract: A method of grain-orienting the crystal structure of a layer of semiconductor material by application of a raster scanning electron beam to a layer of polycrystalline semiconductor material which has been previously formed on a substrate, such as by sputter-plasma film deposition. The method comprises electron beam lithography computer-applied to the crystal growth and orientation of a polycrystalline thin sheet of silicon or other semiconductor material.

Abstract: Polybutene-1 in type II form can be accelerated in a phase transformation to the stable polybutene-1 type I form by applying a volatile solvent such as n-hexane and allowing the solvent to evaporate. The phase transformation can be accelerated by additional treatment with heat below the melt temperature of about 90.degree. C. and/or ultrasonic sound.

Abstract: Broadly, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing 1-methylnaphthalene and 2-methylnaphthalene wherein the process comprises reacting naphthalene and methanol in the vapor phase at elevated temperatures and optionally under pressure in the presence of an effective amount of activated alumina catalyst. In a preferred embodiment the invention is directed to a process for preparing 2-methylnaphthalene in high selectivity by reacting naphthalene and methanol in the vapor phase at elevated temperatures in the range of about 500.degree. to about 650.degree. C. in the presence of an effective amount of activated alumina catalyst.

Abstract: Alumina slurries are stabilized to prevent thickening and gelling by digesting dried alumina powder in hot water for a time sufficient to stabilize the alumina. The digested alumina is then recovered and dispersed in water containing a small amount of peptizing agent. The slurries so prepared have a low rate of thickening and gelling time is greatly extended.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbonaceous liquids and gases from subterranean kerogen-containing oil shale formations comprising (a) penetrating the oil shale deposits with at least two well bores; (b) fracturing the oil shale deposits in a lower vertical portion thereof; (c) igniting the hydrocarbonaceous deposit; (d) introducing through the first well bore a free oxygen-containing gas to the ignited point of the oil shale deposit to effect thermal decomposition of the hydrocarbonaceous material therein and to propagate a combustion zone through the fractured communication area and the second well bore, thereby forming a region of combusted shale between the first well bore and the second well bore; (e) allowing the combustion to continue until a sufficient volume of combusted shale has been formed; (f) then jetting an aqueous liquid into and through the combusted shale zone to remove the mineral residue remaining after combustion; (g) positioning conventional explosives in the oil shale deposit in the vicinit

Abstract: Rhodium (I) and Iridium compounds covalently bound directly to inorganic oxide polymers such as silica gel, alumina, silica-titania, aluminosilicates and open-lattice clays are air-stable and have high hydroformylation activity converting all classes of olefins to aldehydes under hydrogen/carbon monoxide atmospheres at pressures of from about 100 to 1500 psig and about 90.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. The catalysts have the structureP .sub.(.tbd.) A--O--M.rarw.(CO).sub.nwherein A is silica, titanium alumina, M is rhodium or iridium, n is 2 or 3, respectively, and P is an inorganic oxide polymer. The catalyst is also effective to hydrogenate the resulting aldehyde to alcohols under the same conditions and a hydrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A heavy cylinder having an axial flow passage is pumped down a rotary drill string to a position adjacent a drill bit to cause an in-seam horizontal drill to be guided in a downward direction. The cylinder can be removed with a latchable retrieval tool after the path of the borehole is sufficiently altered.

Abstract: A catalyst having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein R is zero or an alkyl having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms and wherein P is a polystyrene polymer backbone, where the 6-member ring is part of the polymer. The catalyst is useful for converting olefins to aldehydes in high yield under reaction temperatures of from about 90.degree. to 140.degree. C. and pressures of about 300 to about 5000 psig in the presence of hydrogen and carbon monoxide yielding gases, and preferably polymer swelling solvents such as benzene, THF and toluene. The catalyst is also useful in hydrogenation reactions.

Abstract: Polymer-bound bis(triphenylphosphine)rhodium or iridium carbonyl halide can be activated for use as a hydroformylation catalyst by treatment with a non-complexing base, particularly NaBPh.sub.4 (where Ph=phenyl or C.sub.6 H.sub.5 moiety) in a suitable polar solvent for an appropriate period of time. Such treated compounds are immediately active as hydroformylation catalysts under reaction conditions of about 50 to about 3500 psig of a hydrogen-carbon monoxide gas mixture and about 60.degree. to about 150.degree. C. temperature.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are produced from source rocks in fluid communication with geopressured sections by (a) producing fluids from the geopressured section to reduce pressure, (b) shutting in to allow migration from the source rock to the formerly geopressured section, and (c) producing the migrated hydrocarbons from the section.

Abstract: An anti-friction sucker rod coupling and guide apparatus comprises:(a) a rod member having an anti-friction surface along its cylindrical length;(b) fasteners affixed at each end of the rod member for attaching the rod member within a sucker rod string;(c) a rod guide having an inner anti-friction surface contacting the anti-friction surface of the rod member and slideably positioned about the rod member, the rod guide having an outer diameter sufficient to functionally contact the inner diameter of a tubing string in which the sucker rod string is positioned, the rod guide further including passageway sufficient to permit passage of produced fluid the fasteners adapted to maintain the rod guide on the rod member within deformation.

Abstract: Crack initiation in metallic structural members subject to cyclic loading is predicted by sensing metallurgical changes taking place as a result of the cyclic loading. Fatigue loading produces a cycle comprising a condition described as fatigue relaxation followed by fatigue intensification. By monitoring this cycle, measured strain for a known applied load will increase or decrease. By monitoring the change in strain load, crack initiation can be predicted as fatigue relaxation becomes fatigue intensification. In a preferred embodiment, the strain gauge is mounted beneath a patch excluding ambient atmosphere during monitoring of the structural members.

Abstract: A method of preparing carbon-carbon coupled condensation products of alkylphenols is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises oxidation of certain specific alkylphenols using palladium acetate as the catalyst in acetic acid or other suitable solvent.

Abstract: A system for porting of hydraulic fluid in a hydraulically driven seismic energy vibrator of the reciprocating mass type. A mass is reciprocated relative to an earth contacting frame which includes at least two hydraulic piston rods coacting with internal cylinders within the mass. The piston rods, of the type having double rod ends, each include a single axial bore therethrough in communication with respective opposite sides of the piston ring assemblies, and cross porting is effected between opposite ends of the mass cylinders.