Abstract: A downhole drilling motor includes a motor housing having an inner bore and an outer surface. A power section includes a stator elastomer at least partially disposed within the inner bore of the motor housing. A bearing section includes an upper bearing at least partially disposed within the inner bore of the motor housing. The motor housing further includes an opening extending from the inner bore to the outer surface to provide a bypass fluid path for a fluid in the inner bore. The opening is disposed on the motor housing between a lower end of the stator elastomer and an upper end of the upper bearing. The bypass fluid path allows the downhole drilling motor to accommodate a higher flow rate of a fluid through the stator elastomer of the power section than through the upper bearing of the bearing section.

Abstract: An oscillation reduction tool configured to prevent or reduce high frequency torsional oscillation by torsionally decoupling a rotary steerable system from a bottom hole assembly, which includes a drilling motor. The tool may convert high frequency torsional oscillation into an internal axial movement without axial displacement of the tool's outer housing. The oscillation reduction tool may flatten an amplitude of high frequency torsional oscillation spikes throughout a spring arrangement. The mechanical energy associated with the internal axial movement is reduced through an internal shock absorbing mechanism, such as fluid movement through a nozzle or annular space. The oscillation reduction tool functions to reduce high frequency torsional oscillation independent of the weight on the bit of the drill string.

Abstract: A separation indicator for indicating when a door has been opened. The separation indicator includes a substrate having opposed inner and outer surfaces and first and second portions, with an elongated tear line between the first and second portions. An adhesive material is applied to the inner surface of the substrate and a message, pattern, or design is printed on the outer face of the substrate. The indicator further comprises a series of perforations separated by uncut links along the tear line, with at least a part of the perforations being angled with respect to the tear line. The links hold the first and second portions of the substate together when the indicator is first placed on a door and break along the tear line when the door to which the indicator is attached is opened. Movement of the door to the open position causes the substrate to tear along the tear line while the first and second portions of the substrate remain adhered to the door and door jamb.

Abstract: A downhole drilling motor includes a motor housing having an inner bore and an outer surface. A power section includes a stator elastomer at least partially disposed within the inner bore of the motor housing. A bearing section includes an upper bearing at least partially disposed within the inner bore of the motor housing. The motor housing further includes an opening extending from the inner bore to the outer surface to provide a bypass fluid path for a fluid in the inner bore. The opening is disposed on the motor housing between a lower end of the stator elastomer and an upper end of the upper bearing. The bypass fluid path allows the downhole drilling motor to accommodate a higher flow rate of a fluid through the stator elastomer of the power section than through the upper bearing of the bearing section.

Abstract: A downhole drilling motor includes a motor housing having an inner bore and an outer surface. A power section includes a stator elastomer at least partially disposed within the inner bore of the motor housing. A bearing section includes an upper bearing at least partially disposed within the inner bore of the motor housing. The motor housing further includes an opening extending from the inner bore to the outer surface to provide a bypass fluid path for a fluid in the inner bore. The opening is disposed on the motor housing between a lower end of the stator elastomer and an upper end of the upper bearing. The bypass fluid path allows the downhole drilling motor to accommodate a higher flow rate of a fluid through the stator elastomer of the power section than through the upper bearing of the bearing section.

Abstract: A drilling assembly includes a power section with a housing that rotates in a first direction at a drill string rotation rate. An output rotates a drill bit through a transmission shaft in the first direction at a rotor rotation rate relative to the housing. A bent housing between the power section and the drill bit rotates in a second direction at a variable rotation rate relative to the power housing. The transmission shaft extends through the bent housing. A mechanical brake system adjusts the bent housing's variable rotation rate. The bent housing rotates relative to the wellbore in a rotary mode, but not in a sliding mode. The sliding mode maintains the drill bit's direction and inclination while the drill string rotates. In all modes, the drill bit's rotation rate is the sum of the drill string rate and the rotor rate relative to the power housing.

Abstract: An integrated bearing section includes a mandrel partially disposed within a housing. The bearing section includes spherical members disposed between the mandrel's outer surface and the housing's inner surface. A radial bearing portion is formed by spherical members disposed partially within grooves and engaging a flat profile opposing surface. The grooves may be in the mandrel's outer surface, an outer surface of a mandrel sleeve, the housing's inner surface, or an outer radial bearing's inner surface. The flat profile opposing surface may be on an outer radial bearing's inner surface, the housing's inner surface, the mandrel's outer surface, or a mandrel sleeve's outer surface. A thrust bearing portion is formed by spherical members disposed partially within grooves in two opposing surfaces, such as the mandrel's outer surface or a mandrel sleeve's outer surface, and the housing's inner surface or an outer thrust bearing's inner surface.

Abstract: A mud-lubricated bearing section including a seal assembly for directing a fluid flowing through a mud-lubricated bearing into a central bore of a mandrel. At least one mud-lubricated bearing is positioned in an annular space between the mandrel and a housing. The seal assembly directs the fluid from the annular space through a mandrel fluid port into the mandrel central bore. The seal assembly seals the annular space, and includes a piston, a plug, and a chamber between the piston and the plug. The piston is configured for axial movement relative to the mandrel and the housing, while the plug is axially fixed relative to the mandrel and/or the housing. The chamber is configured to contain a lubricating fluid. The piston includes inner and outer seals. The plug includes a lower seal and a passage allowing the fluid from the chamber to reach the lower seal for lubrication.

Abstract: A vibration assembly includes a valve above a rotor and stator. The rotor rotates within the stator as fluid flows therethrough. The valve includes a rotating valve segment, which rotates with the rotor, and a non-rotating valve segment each including at least one fluid passage. In an open position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are aligned and a fluid flows through the valve. In a restricted position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are partially or completely unaligned, thereby creating a pressure pulse that is transmitted through the drill string or coiled tubing above the valve. The valve may further include an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve surrounding the non-rotating valve segment. The inner and outer sleeves allow axial sliding but prevent rotation of the non-rotating valve segment. The assembly may further include a lower thrust bearing at a lower end of the rotor.

Abstract: A system for determining autonomous actions of a digital persona includes a desire subsystem configured to identify a desire of the digital persona based upon a priority value of the desire determined using a state of the digital persona, and an intent subsystem configured to select a subset of intents with outcomes that are predicted to reduce the priority value of the desire. The system also includes a goal-setting subsystem configured to map the subset of intents to one or more goals with outcomes matching the outcomes of the subset of intents, a planning subsystem configured to determine a set of plan elements for achieving the one or more goals, an action subsystem configured to initiate or perform the set of plan elements, and a sensory subsystem configured to receive feedback and update the state associated with the digital persona.

Abstract: A downhole vibration assembly includes a valve positioned above a rotor that is disposed at least partially within a stator. The rotor is operatively suspended within an inner bore of a housing and configured to rotate within the stator as a fluid flows through the vibration assembly. The valve includes a rotating valve segment and a stationary valve segment each including at least one fluid passage. The rotating valve segment rotates with a rotation of the rotor. In an open position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are aligned and a fluid flows through the valve. In a restricted position, the fluid passages of the valve segments are partially or completely unaligned, thereby temporarily restricting the fluid flow through the valve to create a pressure pulse. The unobstructed pressure pulse is transmitted through the drill string or coiled tubing above the valve.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a valve assembly and a shock absorbing assembly. The valve assembly includes a valve spring operatively connected to a valve body. The shock absorbing assembly includes a spring operatively connected to a shock absorbing body having a fluid passage therethrough. The valve body is configured to selectively engage the shock absorbing body to create a fluid tight seal over the fluid passage in a first position, and to allow a fluid flow through the fluid passage in a second position. The repeated movement cycle of the selective engagement between the valve body and the shock absorbing body generates a pressure pulse or a varying pressure differential across the downhole tool. The repeated movement cycle is powered by a fluid flow. The tool may be selectively activated and deactivated.

Abstract: A snowplough system of the type being releasably anchored to a front end of a vehicle comprises a plough blade. A vehicle interface is adapted to be releasably anchored to the vehicle. A snowplough interface is operatively connected to the vehicle interface and comprises a structure supporting the plough blade, the structure being movable to displace the plough blade between a ploughing position and a retracted position. A wheel unit is connected to at least one of the vehicle interface and the snowplough interface, and comprises at least one wheel located in front of a front axle of the vehicle, to support part of the weight of the plough blade when in the retracted position.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a heavy crude oil (10) by thermally cracking (12) the heavy crude oil in a cracking vessel to convert a portion to volatile components (14) while simultaneously venting the volatile components from the cracking vessel. Tetrathydrofurfuryl alcohol is optionally added to the heavy crude oil feedstock before or during cracking. The vented volatile components are separated (16) into condensable volatile components (18) and non-condensable volatile components (20). The condensable components are collected and comprise cracked-distilled oil. The cracking residue (48) is removed from the cracking vessel and a cracking residue extract is prepared and mixed with the cracked-distilled oil to produce synthetic crude oil.

Abstract: There is provided a method for the preparation of an N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer having one or more unsubstituted heteroatoms different from nitrogen atom. The method comprises a first step of alkylating an aminopolymer to produce an N,N-dialkylaminopolymer, wherein substantially no N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer is produced; and a second step of alkylating the N,N-diaminopolymer to produce the N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer. The N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer is produced with a satisfactory degree of quaternization and with only a low percentage of the unsubstituted heteroatoms alkylated. The N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer can be an N,N,N-trialkylaminopolysaccharide or an N,N,N-trialkylchitosan such as N,N,N-trimethylchitosan.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a heavy crude oil (10) by thermally cracking (12) the heavy crude oil in a cracking vessel to convert a portion to volatile components (14) while simultaneously venting the volatile components from the cracking vessel. Tetrathydrofurfuryl alcohol is optionally added to the heavy crude oil feedstock before or during cracking. The vented volatile components are separated (16) into condensable volatile components (18) and non-condensable volatile components (20). The condensable components are collected and comprise cracked-distilled oil. The cracking residue (48) is removed from the cracking vessel and a cracking residue extract is prepared and mixed with the cracked-distilled oil to produce synthetic crude oil.

Abstract: There is provided a method for the preparation of an N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer having one or more unsubstituted heteroatoms different from nitrogen atom. The method comprises a first step of alkylating an aminopolymer to produce an N,N-dialkylaminopolymer, wherein substantially no N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer is produced; and a second step of alkylating the N,N-diaminopolymer to produce the N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer. The N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer is produced with a satisfactory degree of quaternization and with only a low percentage of the unsubstituted heteroatoms alkylated. The N,N,N-trialkylaminopolymer can be an N,N,N-trialkylaminopolysaccharide or an N,N,N-trialkylchitosan such as N,N,N-trimethylchitosan.

Abstract: An Echinozoa tissue or organ extract comprising antioxidant compounds is disclosed. Also disclosed is a process for obtaining an Echinozoa tissue or organ extract, as well an extract obtained by this process. Compositions comprising such an extract are also described. Uses of such extracts/compositions, as well as corresponding methods of treatment, for example as an antioxidant or to decrease or inhibit oxidative stress in a cell, tissue or subject are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for concentrating an aqueous suspension of microalgae. The suspension of microalgae is passed through a tangential filtering device for partially removing water from the suspension without rupturing the microalgae, thereby obtaining a concentrated suspension of microalgae and filtered water. Such a method can be use in systems for production of microalgae. An apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: A water injection system (WIS) for diesel engines that reduces NOx, PM and CO2 emissions is provided. Water is injected into the combustion air stream before cylinders in a predetermined proportion to fuel. The present invention utilizes a special water purification element, an oscillating pump, an electronic means to control both water flow and the size of water droplets, a means to prevent water from freezing in cold ambient temperatures, a plurality of special sensors to control water flow in response to rapid load variation, and a means for automatically switching between on and off operations.