Abstract: A slip assembly (60) for securing a tool in a well includes an upper and a lower c-ring slip body (12, 14) each including an outer gripping surface (16, 18) and inner gripping surface (20, 22). An actuator member (68) is axially movable relative to both slip bodies and includes a camming surface (70) for engagement with the upper and lower slip bodies. The slip assembly withstands high axial loads, and forces are equally distributed between the slip bodies.

Abstract: A liner hanger running tool (10) and method are provided for positioning a liner in a well bore. A tool mandrel (24) is supported from a running string, and a housing (44) surrounds the tool mandrel. A flow annulus between the mandrel and the housing allows fluid to pass upward through the running tool to a position above the liner. A hydraulic release mechanism (78, 79) is activated by fluid pressure within the mandrel to axially move a piston (50) positioned radially outward of the mandrel to release the running tool from the liner.

Abstract: A baffle includes a body member having a first surface, a second opposed surface, and an outer peripheral edge. An aperture may be formed through the body member to define an inner peripheral edge. The inner peripheral edge is distorted to be non-planar. An apparatus includes a first conduit having a first end, a second end, and a first channel extending therebetween. At least one baffle is disposed in the first channel and includes a body member having a first surface, a second opposed surface, and an outer peripheral edge. At least one aperture may be formed through the body member to define an inner peripheral edge. The inner peripheral edge is distorted to be non-planar. A second conduit may be disposed inside the first conduit and extend through the aperture in the baffle. The apparatus may be an ultraviolet light reactor, a heat exchanger, or a static mixer.

Abstract: A jumper including an upstream connector configured to communicate with an umbilical, and a downstream connector configured to communicate with an end device. The jumper also includes a conduit having a first end attached to the upstream connector and a second end attached to the downstream connector, a plurality of valves, and a programmable processor.

Abstract: A downhole tool 100 includes closure seats 116, 176 for seating with a closure, such as a ball. Shear pins or other connectors temporarily limit axial movement of each closure seat which is initially housed within a restricted diameter portion of the central throughbore in the tool body. A piston axially moves in response to fluid pressure to pressurize fluid in a chamber and controllably release fluid through one or more restrictions. The closure seat may be lowered to engage a stop 108, 159, such that the seat may move axially to an enlarged diameter bore portion of the tool, thereby allowing radial expansion of a closure seat to release the ball.

Abstract: Methods and systems relating to subsea wellhead orientation are disclosed. A system may include a wellhead with an orientation key on an outer surface and an opening on an inner surface and a Christmas tree attached to a guide tube having an orientation profile which engages the orientation key and guides the Christmas tree into a desired orientation relative to the wellhead. The system may also include a lockdown sleeve with a mating profile on an inner surface, and a protuberance on an outer surface which engages the opening on the inner surface of the wellhead when the lockdown sleeve is in a desired orientation relative to the wellhead. In addition, the system may include a tubing hanger with a mating profile on an outer surface which engages the mating profile of the lockdown sleeve and guides the tubing hanger into a desired orientation relative to the lockdown sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements in the steeping process of corn wet milling and a steeping system therefore. The process for steeping corn includes subjecting corn situated in a battery of no less than four steeping tanks to a countercurrent flow of steep water. The first steeping tank defines a new corn receiving tank and the last steeping tank defines a discharge tank. The countercurrent flow of steep water includes sulfur dioxide and flows in a direction from the discharge tank to the new corn receiving tank. The sulfur dioxide concentration in the steep water of the first steeping tank is greater than the sulfur dioxide concentrations in a plurality of the remainder of the steeping tanks, which maintain sulfur dioxide levels that are substantially equivalent.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements in the steeping process of corn wet milling and a steeping system therefore. The process for steeping corn includes subjecting corn situated in a battery of no less than four steeping tanks to a countercurrent flow of steep water. The first steeping tank defines a new corn receiving tank and the last steeping tank defines a discharge tank. The countercurrent flow of steep water includes sulfur dioxide and flows in a direction from the discharge tank to the new corn receiving tank. The sulfur dioxide concentration in the steep water of the first steeping tank is greater than the sulfur dioxide concentrations in a plurality of the remainder of the steeping tanks, which maintain sulfur dioxide levels that are substantially equivalent.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treatment of liquids by generating hydroxyl radicals through the dissolution of water molecules by hydraulic cavitation.

Abstract: A liner hanger assembly comprises a tool mandrel (104) suspended on a running string, and a slip assembly (120) for engaging a casing to support the liner hanger and liner from the casing. The release assembly (175) releases the set liner hanger from portions of the assembly to be retrieved to the surface. A cementing bushing (130) is releasable and reinsertable into the liner, and includes a circumferential loading ring (226).

Abstract: A downhole tool 100 includes a closure seat 116, 176 for seating with a closure, such as a ball. Shear pins or other connectors temporarily limit axial movement of the closure seat which is initially housed within a restricted diameter portion of the central throughbore in the tool body. The closure seat may be lowered to engage a stop 108, 157, thereby positioning the seat within an enlarged diameter bore portion of the tool and allowing radial expansion of a closure seat to release the ball.

Abstract: A gasket having an upper surface, a substantially cylindrical inner surface abutting the upper surface, a lower surface abutting the inner surface, and generally opposite the upper surface, and an outer surface abutting the upper surface and the lower surface, and generally opposite the inner surface. The outer surface has a sealing surface between the upper surface and the lower surface, a first depression between the sealing surface and the upper surface, and a second depression between the sealing surface and the lower surface. A distance between the first depression and the second depression may be less than a distance between the upper surface and the lower surface. The outer surface may have a first seal wing between the sealing surface and the upper surface, and a second seal wing between the sealing surface and the lower surface.

Abstract: A tieback connector for attaching a riser to a subsea production assembly is provided. The tieback connector includes a main body adapted to be coupled to the subsea production assembly having a central passageway sufficiently large to pass an end of the riser string therein and a connector positioner coupled to the main body, which is adapted to secure the tieback connector around a circumferential surface of a wellhead of the subsea production assembly. The tieback connector further comprises an aligning extension portion defined by a funnel-shaped tip, which aids alignment of the riser terminus during landing of the riser string onto the wellhead. The tieback connector secures the riser to the wellhead.

Abstract: A wellhead assembly with high pressure interface is provided. The wellhead assembly includes a tubing spool that connects the wellhead to a BOP and a casing hanger that is landed in the wellhead and connected thereto. The wellhead assembly further includes a gasket that is disposed between opposing ends of the tubing spool and casing hanger. A connector engages the wellhead and tubing spool forcing the opposing ends of the tubing spool and casing hanger together, which thereby applies a compressive load to the gasket, which in turn forms a fluid tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: A system and method is provided which includes using a liquid treatment apparatus, which is equipped with cyclonettes, for example, to subject a liquid medium processing stream in an alcohol production process to hydraulic cavitation, i.e., to shear under vacuum, at one or more locations. The liquid treatment apparatus, in one embodiment, is directed to the formation of a central axial jet and a vacuum chamber that can be sealed by the exiting jet. Cavitation is generated by directing a high velocity jet of liquid medium processing stream through a volume of vapor under a vacuum created in the chamber through which the jet travels. This can reduce the production cost of alcohol, such as ethanol, by improving alcohol yield per bushel, among other benefits. In one embodiment, the alcohol production process is a dry grind process, a modified dry grind process, or a wet mill process. In one embodiment the alcohol production process utilizes grain as a starting material.

Abstract: A baffle includes a body member having a first surface, a second opposed surface, and an outer peripheral edge. An aperture may be formed through the body member so as to define an inner peripheral edge. The inner peripheral edge is distorted so as to be non-planar. An apparatus includes a first conduit having a first end, a second end, and a first channel extending therebetween. At least one baffle is disposed in the first channel and includes a body member having a first surface, a second opposed surface, and an outer peripheral edge. At least one aperture may be formed through the body member to define an inner peripheral edge. The inner peripheral edge is distorted so as to be non-planar. A second conduit may be disposed inside the first conduit and extend through the aperture in the baffle. The apparatus may, for example, be configured as an ultraviolet light reactor, a heat exchanger, or a static mixer.

Abstract: A gate valve apparatus provides a manually operated gate valve with an operation mechanism that reduces the force required to actuate the gate valve and minimizes the number of handwheel turns required. Disclosed is a gate valve apparatus including a valve body, a bonnet, a gate, a ball screw arrangement, a gear reducer arrangement and a handwheel. The ball screw arrangement, gear reducer arrangement, and the handwheel are associated with the valve stem and gate such that rotational force applied to the handwheel is converted by the gear reducer arrangement and the ball screw arrangement into linear force applied to the valve stem and then to the gate.

Abstract: A system and method for subsea drilling/completion. The system comprises a high-pressure riser extending from a semi-submersible platform to a subsea wellhead. A landing string extends along the insider of the riser, and has a surface blowout preventer and at least one subsea blowout preventer attached thereto. A tubing hanger running tool is run from the platform toward the wellhead. In one embodiment, hydraulic control for various functions of the tubing hanger running tool is communicated either through the tubing string or through the riser. In another embodiment, hydraulic control lines for the tubing hanger running tool extend from the platform to the tubing hanger running tool through an umbilical line, which may either run through the tubing string, inside the riser but outside the tubing string, or outside and alongside the riser.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for treatment of liquids by generating hydroxyl radicals through the dissolution of water molecules by hydraulic cavitation.