Abstract: Diverless monitoring of cathodic protection of offshore platforms wherein a reference electrode is passed along a guideline in proximity to a portion of the platform subject to corrosion is improved by maintaining the electrode at a fixed distance and radial direction from the taut guideline, as by slideably mounting a fixed distance from a second parallel taut guideline.

Abstract: A method for improving the water-dispersibility of alpha alumina monohydrate containing up to about 86 weight percent Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 wherein the method comprises mixing with the alpha alumina monohydrate from about 0.1 to about 50 weight percent based on the weight of the alumina of a salt compound selected from the group consisting of salts having the general formula MX wherein M is a polyvalent metal cation constituent for which the solubility product, K.sub.SP, of the corresponding metal hydroxide is less than 10.sup.-20, and X is an anion constituent derived from a monovalent acid having an ionization constant, K.sub.A, greater than 10.sup.+1 and phosphorus dichloride, phosphorus trichloride, phosphorus pentachloride, phosphorus tribromide, phosphorus pentabromide and antimony pentachloride.

Abstract: Urea is produced by reacting phosgene and ammonia, one of the reactants being in the liquid state and the other gaseous, at -50.degree. to -20.degree. C.

Abstract: A process and catalyst for converting hydrocarbon oils to desirable components by contacting said oils in the presence of hydrogen under hydrocarbon conversion conditions with a catalyst comprising a catalytic amount of a catalytic metal supported on gamma alumina.

Abstract: An improved digital-controlled power amplifier for low frequency, high power applications. The circuit consists of an alternator with stator windings rewound in a binary sequence for generation of primary power, whereupon pulsed semi-conductive controlled rectifiers are digitally controlled to turn on selected binary combinations of the stator output voltages for summation to produce an output voltage of selected amplitude versus duration; and further, the summed voltage output is switched by a polarity switching bridge to enable generation of a bi-polar output to the circuit load.

Abstract: 1,2-dichloroethane is produced by reacting, in a vapor phase, chlorine and ethane in the presence of a copper containing catalyst at a temperature in the range of from about 200.degree. to about 500.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for removing methane from a subterranean coal deposit. A carbon dioxide-containing fluid is introduced into the coal deposit through an injection well and held therein for a period sufficient to enable a substantial amount of methane to be desorbed from the surfaces of the coal deposit. Following the hold period, the injected carbon dioxide-containing fluid and desorbed methane are recovered through a recovery well or wells spaced from the injection well. The process is repeated until sufficient methane has been removed to enable safe mining of the coal deposit.

Abstract: Characteristics of the feedstock for a delayed coking operation are determined prior to carrying out the coking operation, and the feedstock is adjusted by blending, thermal cracking, or other processing to provide certain predetermined characteristics to the feedstock prior to conducting the coking operation. Feedstocks having desired predetermined characteristics produce a premium grade coke having very low coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: Blowout prevention equipment for use in a well operation is described. The equipment includes a combination of a ram-shear designed to sever a pipe string extending through the blowout prevention equipment down into a wellbore and a slip device positioned below the ram-shear to hold the severed lower portion of the pipe string and to prevent it from falling down into the wellbore. The slip device and the ram-shear may be operated simultaneously by a hydraulic control system so that the slip device is in position to hold the severed pipe string as the pipe string is sheared. The slip device includes a split slip bowl movable into proximity of the pipe string and plurality of gripping segments carried by each section of the slip bowl.

Abstract: .beta.-diketones having two ketone groups bonded to a common carbon atom which is bonded to at least one hydrogen atom, such as 2,4-pentanedione, are reacted with vinyl chloride to form telomers.

Abstract: A shear wave vibrator is constructed having a frame with first and second oppositely facing plenum chambers secured to the frame and each having an outer periphery. A skirt is attached to each of the outer peripheries. A fan is attached to the frame with conduits supplying a volume of air under pressure to each of the plenum chambers. A modulation apparatus is mounted in each of the first and second plenum chambers to cause a variation in air pressure in each of the plenum chambers in accordance with a predetermined signal in a manner to cause the air pressure in one chamber to decrease at the same instant the air pressure in the oppositely facing chamber is increasing and vice versa. The entire apparatus is mounted between opposite walls of a trench.

Abstract: A method of induced polarization geophysical surveying which derives meaningful parameters relative to the subsurface strata in both time domain and frequency domain for comparison and/or deductive data compilation and graphic depiction. The system includes a current source as energized by an input wave generator providing an input signal of predetermined frequency content, amplitude relationship and duration; in addition, a plurality of energy receiving detectors are utilized in equi-spaced array such that differential electrical measurement between successive detectors may be gained during each single input energy operation. Such differential electrical measurements are further susceptible of cross correlation relative to the input current signal to provide increased signal-to noise differentiation with respect to usable induced polarization resultant values.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process whereby recovery of copper from copper ores using leaching and solvent extraction techniques can be increased. The process generally comprises leaching to obtain a pregnant leach liquor, washing ore residues with an extra quantity of water to obtain extra dissolved copper values, recovering said copper values, combining the extra wash water with the pregnant leach liquor, extracting copper values from the total leach liquor to yield a raffinate which still contains some copper values, and cycling part of the raffinate through a low pH extraction circuit to lower the copper values remaining in the raffinate to about 0.01 to 0.02 grams per liter or less before disposal.

Abstract: In an auger mining system which forms an opening in the earth comprising a pair of axially aligned cylindrical holes and wherein the opening has a bottom, the system has a pair of side-by-side conveyors. Each auger conveyor has a shaft and a flight around the shaft which shafts are journaled through bearings at each end to a spacing member and where the spacing members are rigidly tied to each other by a longitudinal member having an underside. A supporting apparatus including a skid is attached to the auger pair and extending to the bottom of the opening. The skid may be attached either to the underside of the longitudinal member or to each of the bearings. If the skids are attached to the bearings, then skids which are on adjacent bearings of mating auger pairs are arcuately staggered to permit side-by-side positioning of the skids.

Abstract: A method for sealing a permeable subterranean formation, particularly adjacent to a wellbore, is disclosed. Briefly, the method comprises;A. adding a liquid polymerizable material (e.g. furfuryl alcohol) to the wellbore at the site adjacent to the permeable subterranean formation,B. adding an acidic catalyst to the wellbore at the site defined in (a),C. allowing polymerization to occur both in the wellbore and in the adjacent subterranean formation, andD. removing the polymerized material from the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for recovering ethane and ethylene from a gaseous mixture is disclosed. The method comprises: (1) contacting said gaseous mixture with a solvent to provide ethane- and ethylene-enriched solvent and (2) recovering from said enriched solvent said ethane and ethylene. The solvent used in the method is cyclohexane, cyclohexene, 1-chlorobutane, or 1,1,1-trichloroethane. The method is applicable also to recovering ethane and ethylene from methane containing these materials.

Abstract: An improved nonflammable coating composition containing vinyl chloride, dialkyl maleate, and bis (2-chloroethyl) vinyl phosphonate, the improvement comprising forming a tertelomer using a free radical initiator in the presence of xylene, wherein the alkyl constituent of the maleate contains from 3 to 15 carbon atoms and the alkyl constituent of the phosphonate contains from 1 to 15 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Well tools comprising a go-devil actuated well safety valve, a locking assembly for releasably locking the safety valve at a desired depth in a well, running and pulling tools for installing and removing the safety valve, a go-devil ball for closing the safety valve, and apparatus for dropping the go-devil ball in a well under pressure and for retrieving the ball. The go-devil safety valve is mounted above the locking assembly and includes a trigger type latch which is released from above by the impact of the go-devil ball. The valve may be reset for reopening the valve without removal of the valve from the well bore by means of a special reset and pulling tool disclosed herein. The go-devil valve is installed in a well, preferably above a storm choke, to shut the well in under emergency conditions which releases the go-devil ball at the surface in response to hazardous conditions such as fire. The go-devil ball drops to the go-devil valve which closes in response to the impact of the ball.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the lateral position of a marine seismic cable relative to water current which is effective through utilization of one or more cable paravanes having a thrust adjustable hydrofoil and/or stabilizer elements. The hydrofoil is constructed as a pivotally supportable frame having an elastomeric skin which is supported on the sides of the hydrofoil by movable support members, and a servo-controlled reversible motor is controlled to reciprocate the opposite side support members relative to the hydrofoil longitudinal center line. One or more hydrofoils may then be controlled as to angle of attack and camber from the towing ship by means of acoustic energy transmission and reception at the paravane.

Abstract: A drilling assembly including a jet nozzle bit rotatable on a fluid supply shaft. The assembly includes a bearing housing protected by seals and vent ports to prevent fluid which has leaked between the fluid supply shaft and the jet nozzle bit from contaminating the bearings.