Abstract: A method is disclosed for measuring at the water's surface the distance between a submerged wellhead and a downhole tubing hanger located in a subsea well which includes lowering an electrical conductor cable through the wellhead until the weighted lower end of the cable engages the tubing hanger. The cable contains two tools, one of which is capable of emitting an electrical signal for transmission to the surface when the cable is picked up and the lower end of the cable disengages from the hanger and the other of which is capable of emitting another electrical signal when it passes a preselected point in the wellhead. The cable is picked up to generate one signal and raised until the other tool passes the preselected point in the wellhead to generate the other signal. The distance the cable has been raised between emission of the two signals is then added to the known distance between the lower end of the cable and the other tool to determine the distance between the wellhead and the tubing hanger.

Abstract: A dynamic weighing system for vehicles in motion which is specially adapted for weighing a plurality of coupled railroad cars of varying length randomly interspersed in a continuous coupled train. The system is adapted to automatically weigh and record each individual car in the train without the necessity of special grade slopes, special decoupling devices, mechanical switches, special positioning measurements, special axle measurements and counting and systems to screen out unwanted noises from irregular car movement. The inventive system in a preferred embodiment will not register locomotives and cabooses. The preferred system utilizes preselected photocell sensor units in an arrangement keyed to the cross section bulk of each car. The shape of the cars interrupts photocell signals at predetermined points on a weigh bridge, thereby actuating means at the precise point when each car is at the optimum weighing position on a scale.

Abstract: A blowout preventer control system for use in well operations includes a BOP having at least one opening chamber and at least one closing chamber, and an operating power fluid source connected to the BOP opening and closing chambers by an opening conduit and a closing conduit, respectively. A valve controlled conduit is connected to the opening conduit to ensure drainage of power fluid from the opening chamber of the BOP. A three-way shuttle valve is connected into the closing conduit close to the BOP. The shuttle valve is provided with an inlet which is connected to the closing conduit and another inlet which is connected by a conduit to an independent BOP operating power fluid source. An outlet of the shuttle valve is connected to the closing chamber of the BOP.

Abstract: A portable, electrohydraulic, acoustic transmitter releasably attaches to a solid medium such as a drill string to generate essentially longitudinal, acoustic signals in the medium. The signals are frequency modulated so that encoded messages may be transmitted between a surface and subsurface location to activate downhole equipment.

Abstract: A pressure insensitive, fail-safe subsea valve is disclosed. The valve is manipulator operable for deep water application and does not require conventional diving techniques to install, maintain or remove. The valve is pressure balanced by employing a hollow valve stem which equalizes the pressure on both ends of the stem.

Abstract: There is disclosed a universal joint for multiple flowline system wherein all of the conduits pass through the interior of the joint. The conduits whichpass through the universal joint on axes offset from the pivot axes of the joint are provided with flexing means which enable the offset conduit to rotate around a pivot axis of the universal joint when the joint is flexed.

Abstract: A method and appartus are disclosed for making a subsea flowline connection between two pipelines. A connector assembly having a base plate is positioned on the sea floor to receive the ends of two intersecting pipelines. Once one of the pipelines is attached to the base plate, the base plate is displaced horizontally along the sea floor toward the other pipeline. When the second pipeline is attached to the base plate, the ends of the pipelines are a predetermined distance apart and a prefabricated spool piece is then remotely installed. In this manner, the base plate permits the connection of spatial and axial misalignments which otherwise would require the on-site fabrication and installation of a spool piece.

Abstract: An improved method for transmitting fluid pressure signals through a conduit is disclosed wherein time delay is minimized. In the practice of this invention, a pressure pulse is applied to a conduit for a predetermined time interval and thereafter reduced to a maintenance level. The invention is particularly useful in sequentially controlling subsea oil well valves from a remote surface station.

Abstract: This application relates to seismic data gathering devices and to testing the impedances of the geophone channels of such devices. The invention includes impressing a test current on each channel to be tested, said current developing a test voltage indicative of the impedance; generating a high reference voltage which corresponds to the maximum acceptable impedance of the channel; generating a low reference voltage which corresponds to the minimum acceptable impedance of the channel; and comparing the test voltage with the reference voltages.

Abstract: Normally immobile mineral values are recovered from a subterranean formation by penetrating the formation with an access shaft and drilling two radial arrays of substantially horizontal wells out into the formation from the shaft, one array of wells being substantially shorter than the other array. A mobilizing fluid is injected into the formation via alternate longer wells so that an outer zone of high fluid mobility is created in the formation. Then the mobilizing fluid is injected into all of the longer wells to sweep the mineral values to the shorter wells where such values are recovered. Improved sweep efficiency of the mineral values is achieved thereby.

Abstract: This invention provides for transmission of composite swept sine wave seismic signals wherein auto-correlation side lobes of such signals are reduced. The frequency spectrum of a desired swept sine wave seismic signal is divided into a number of consecutive segments, and the segments are arranged to form a sequence of segments by the order of frequency content. Component swept sine wave seismic signals each covering a segment in the sequence are generated simultaneously from the same location to produce the desired seismic signal. The component swept sine wave seismic signals are generated in a manner so that they alternate as upsweeps and downsweeps for consecutive segments in the sequence of segments. The seismic signal comprising the sum of the component swept sine wave seismic signals will have an auto-correlation function with reduced side lobes.

Abstract: A method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation is disclosed wherein a novel solution is injected into and driven through the formation. The solution contains an effective amount of surface-active agent having the general formulaR.sub.1 O(C.sub.3 H.sub.6 O,.sub.m (C.sub.2 H.sub.4 O).sub.n YXwhereinR.sub.1 is a linear or branched alkyl radical, an alkenyl radical, or an alkyl or alkenyl substituted benzene radical, the non-aromatic portion of the radical containing from about 6 to about 24 carbon atoms;m has an average value of between about 1 and about 10;n has an average value of between about 1 and about 10;Y is a hydrophilic group; andX is a cation, preferably monovalent.

Abstract: Carbonyl sulfide is removed from propane and other similar liquefied petroleum gas products by mixing liquid methanol with the untreated liquefied gas and then contacting the liquid mixture with solid potassium hydroxide.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for selective diversion in a deviated wellbore comprising generally perforating the casing with a first group of perforations at the top or bottom abutting an imaginary plane which is substantially in the vertical and extends along the longitudinal axis of the casing and perforating the casing with a second group of perforations circumferentially spaced-away from the plane. Diversion is accomplished by injecting buoyant or non-buoyant diverting agents into the casing and transporting them down the casing in a pathway adjacent to the casing and the imaginary plane. The diverting agents bypass the circumferentially spaced-away perforations and seat in at the perforations at the top or bottom of the casing.

Abstract: A method for measuring the thickness of an ice sheet is disclosed. The resistance of an electric circuit embedded in an ice sheet floating at the surface of a body of water is measured. A relationship between the measured electric resistance and the ice sheet thickness is possible because sea ice has a much larger resistance than sea water and, therefore, acts as an insulator. Thus, the resistance of the circuit is altered by the vertical location of the water's surface on the circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the flow rate of drilling fluid flowing from a subaqueous well. The invention may also be used to determine the presence of an abnormal drilling condition during heaving motion of an offshore vessel from which the drilling operation is conducted. The invention measures the volume of fluid passing predetermined locations in the drilling system at particular points in time so as to eliminate the influence that the expansion and contraction of a telescoping section has on the total volume of drilling fluid within the system.

Abstract: A process for the in situ recovery of viscous oil from a subterranean formation is disclosed. Steam is injected into the formation via a well, permitted to soak, and heated fluids including heated viscous oil are produced sufficient to create a substantial fluid mobility in the formation. Then a hydrocarbon solvent having a low concentration of low molecular weight paraffinic hydrocarbons is injected into the formation, and another steam injection, soak and oil production cycle is performed to recover significant additional quantities of oil.

Abstract: An applicator for applying chemical treating fluid to equipment, such as pump-sucker rod equipment, being run into a well includes a housing capable of being mounted on a wellhead and having an opening to permit passage of the equipment therethrough. A series of circumferentially spaced apart nozzles are arranged in the housing for directing flow of the chemical radially onto said equipment. Valve means are provided for controlling the flow of the chemical to the nozzles. A movable actuator which operates the valve means has a first position at which flow of the chemical through the valve is prevented and a second position at which flow of the chemical through the valve is permitted. The actuator includes spring means for urging the actuator to the first position thereof and means supported on the housing, which is responsive to the weight of the suspended equipment in the well to move the actuator to the second position thereof.

Abstract: A method for joining two or more jacket or substructure components of an offshore platform in the water to form a single jacket unit. An offshore platform is located in deep water by dividing a jacket or support of extensive length therefor into at least two sections which have only sufficient buoyancy to float at water surface when the sections are launched from at least a vessel at a selected location. The sections are aligned and connected together. Guide means ensure proper alignment of the legs of the sections. Access tubes from the surface of the water to the hollow legs permit direct internal welding in securing the legs of the sections together. The sections are then sunk at the selected location until the jacket is in an upright position at which point it is anchored by driving piling through the jacket's hollow legs into the sea floor, following which the deck of the platform is placed or stabbed on the anchored jacket.

Abstract: A method for joining two or more jacket or substructure components of an offshore platform in the water to form a single jacket unit. An offshore platform is located in deep water by dividing a jacket or support of extensive length therefor into at least two sections which have only sufficient buoyancy to float at water surface when the sections are launched from at least a vessel at a selected location. The sections are aligned and connected together. Guide means ensure proper alignment of the legs of the sections. Access tubes from the surface of the water to the hollow legs permit direct internal welding in securing the legs of the sections together. The sections are then sunk at the selected location until the jacket is in an upright position at which point it is anchored by driving piling through the jacket's hollow legs into the sea floor, following which the deck of the platform is placed or stabbed on the anchored jacket.