Abstract: According to various embodiments, gas-generating additives for use in a cement composition comprise: a gas-generating material at least partially coated with a mixture comprising a fatty acid ester of sorbitan, glycerol, or pentaerythritol and having a shelf life of about 12 months or greater. The gas-generating additives may also include a C8-C18 hydrocarbon. In more embodiments, cement compositions comprise: a gas-generating material at least partially coated with a mixture comprising a fatty acid ester of sorbitan, glycerol, or pentaerythritol and a C8-C18 hydrocarbon for increasing a shelf life of the gas-generating material. In yet more embodiments, cement compositions comprise: a cement; a fluid for making the cement composition pumpable; a hydrogen-generating material at least partially coated with a mixture for delaying a hydrogen-generating reaction, the mixture comprising sorbitan monooleate and an isoparaffin.

Abstract: A system and method for lifting an enhanced image of a delivery item using a first low-resolution color scanner to lift a first image of the delivery item, analyzing the first image with a processor to determine a color of the delivery item, using the color information to adjust the spectrum of an illuminating device, lifting a second image of the delivery item illuminated with the adjusted spectrum, and lifting a second image of the delivery item using a high-resolution grayscale scanner, the second image having enhanced contrast.

Abstract: The links (1) are formed by a set of parts (3, 4, 6, 9, 15) including at least two caps (3, 4) including, on the one hand, means for assembling (13, 14, 15) their feet (3b, 4b) to hold, between their heads (3a, 4a) a decorative casing element (9), and on the other hand, locking means (6, 16) at the junction of their feet (3b, 4b) for immobilising each link (1) on the connecting member. The preferred embodiment includes a rigid tube (15) assembling the feet (3b, 4b) and holding a deformable insert locking the connecting member.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cementing system and method for wellbores by cementing an annulus between a wellbore casing and a wellbore. In at least one embodiment, the invention includes a landing collar defining a restricted passage, a wellbore casing defining a passage coupled to the landing collar, a top cementing plug for sealingly engaging the wellbore casing, a bottom cementing plug for sealingly engaging the wellbore casing, and a fluid injection assembly coupled to the wellbore casing for injecting fluidic materials into the wellbore casing and controllably releasing the top cementing plug and the bottom cementing plug into the wellbore casing. The bottom cementing plug includes a plug body defining a plug passage, a frangible membrane for sealing the plug passage, and a one-way valve for controlling the flow of fluidic materials through the plug passage. The invention also includes the bottom cementing plug and methods for operation.

Abstract: A casket comprises a shell having a pair of opposed side walls and a pair of opposed end walls, the walls defining an upwardly facing flange of the shell, a lid closeable upon the flange of the shell, and a cover removably positioned on the shell when the lid is open, the cover being constructed of a first section which overlies the flange and a second section which overlies a portion of the shell side and end walls extending downward from the flange, the first and second sections being joined along lengths thereof by a third malleable section which functions as a stave thereby permitting an angle formed between the first and second sections to be manually adjusted and set.

Abstract: A guide rail support assembly includes a brace and a guide rail positioned on the brace. A hook device having a base and two hooks extending from the base and around the brace and secures the guide rail to the brace. The brace has no apertures such that the hooks extend completely around the brace without penetrating any portion of the brace. Adjustment shims are positioned adjacent the brace and a spring clip is mounted adjacent the base and the adjustment shims for securing the hook device to the brace.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming plugs in a wellbore, according to which a first volume of slurry is introduced into a work string in a wellbore so that it flows through the work string and discharges before hardening to form a plug. A second volume of slurry is also introduced into the work string so that it flows through the work string and discharges before hardening to form an additional plug.

Abstract: A protective sleeve is applied as a permanent outer cladding shield over a joint infill at the welded end closure portions of adjacent coated sections of pipe for a pipeline in or beneath a body of water. The sleeve once installed forms a seal against entry of water to protect the pipe from corrosion. The sleeve takes the form of a sheet of synthetic resin mounted to form a cylinder about the area to receive the joint infill. A flap is provided on a longitudinal edge of the sheet to prevent leakage and hold the cylindrical shape of the infill when to be applied. Electrically conductive mesh or wire element bands are mounted with an inner side of the sheet to circumferentially engage the coated sections of the pipe on either side of the infill. The sheet and conductive bands are held in place to be applied by an applicator clamp. Electrical current is applied to the mesh bands to fuse the sleeve circumferentially to the coated cover sections of the pipe. The infill is applied in the interior of the sleeve.

Abstract: A hospital bed obstacle detection device (412) and related method for detecting an obstacle between first and second components (24, 26) of a hospital bed (410).

Abstract: A method for completing a well in a single trip, including: inserting a completion tool assembly into the well, the completion tool assembly having a gravel packing assembly and a service tool assembly slidably positioned substantially within an interior cavity in the gravel packing assembly; removably coupling the service tool assembly and the gravel packing assembly; plugging at a first location, whereby fluid is blocked from flowing through the interior channel; diverting fluid blocked by the plugging at the first location through a first fluid flow path to an exterior of the completion tool assembly; circulating a gravel pack slurry through the completion tool assembly; plugging at a second location, whereby fluid is blocked from flowing through the interior channel; diverting fluid blocked by the plugging at the second location through a second flow path that reenters the interior channel at a location distal of the first and second plugging locations; and circulating a filter cake stimulating fluid thro

Abstract: Annular packer (2) arranged on the outside of a production tubing (4) said packer comprises a core (12) comprising elastic polymer swelling by absorption of hydrocarbons. The core (12) may be surrounded by an external mantle of rubber (10), which is permeable to hydrocarbons and may be equipped with a reinforcement (11). The core (12) swells by absorption of hydrocarbons and the packer (2) expands thus in order to seal the annular space (5) between the production tubing (4) and the well wall (6).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining petrophysical parameters within a geologic formation pressurizes a geologic sample through a set of predetermined effective pressures, energizes the sample at each predetermined effective pressure with an electric current and/or sonic energy, and measures a conductivity value (electrical conductivity and/or sonic velocity). Permeability and/or porosity are also measured at each pressure through a traditional method and the functions are compared so that permeability and/or porosity can be subsequently derived from a sonic or electrical measurement of a comparable sample under a effective pressure. An apparatus is also described for acquiring the measurements under tri-axial compression, with a computerized interface in one embodiment.

Abstract: Methods that include a method of determining one or more approximate properties of a subterranean formation and/or a fracture therein comprising: obtaining fluid identity data for a plurality of flowback fluid samples; and using a reservoir model, with the fluid identity data and one or more subterranean formation properties as inputs thereto, to estimate one or more properties in a subterranean formation. Additional methods are provided.

Abstract: An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein at least one of the proppants is a ULW proppant. Alternatively, sequential proppant stages may be introduced into the formation wherein at least one of the proppant stages contain a ULW proppant and where at least one of the following conditions prevails: (i.) the density differential between the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage is greater than or equal to 0.2 g/cc; (ii.) both the first proppant stage and the second proppant stage contain a ULW proppant; (iii.) the rate of injection of the second proppant stage into the fracture is different from the rate of injection of the first proppant stage; or (iv.) the particle size of the second proppant stage is different from the particle size of the first proppant stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a permanent method of repairing leaking, damaged, or weakened pipe by grit blasting the pipe (10), followed by wrapping it with a fiber reinforced composite material (12), then installing two half oversized steel sleeves (14). After that the non-gaseous matter is removed by fresh water and compressed air or inert gas. An epoxy or cementitious grout or combination of both is finally injected into annular chamber 20 of the sleeves through pre-installed inlet port (16) and outlet port (18). The epoxy or cementitious is then allowed to cure. The terminal end of the steel sleeves may be sealed using a pair end flanges (32) matingly securable to a pair of terminator bodies (45).

Abstract: A mobile station (4) in a satellite mobile telephone system predicts when it will move into another cell on the basis of one set of broadcast information thereby reducing the overall processing burden. The mobile station (4) can predict with a useful degree of certainty which broadcast control channel (BOCH) frequencies it should listen on when it wakes up on the basis of a stored map of the relative positions of cells. The broadcast information is valid for a predetermined time interval. Upon waking up, the mobile station (4) determines present time within the predetermined time interval and uses the broadcast information as well as the present time within the predetermined time interval to predict the time at which the mobile telephone will leave the cell.

Abstract: A tubular member 12 having an internal and/or external metal thread 18, 20 at one end thereof, at least part of the thread 18, 20 being coated with an alloy of copper and tin, said alloy containing 5 wt % to 95 wt % copper. The tubular member 10 can be combined with another tubular member 14, 16 to provide a threaded connection 10 having improved galling resistance.

Abstract: A device for exchange and/or reaction between at least two fluids is taught and described herein comprising at least a first space of selected thickness and including side walls defining a first chamber provided with a central part at least partly recessed for a first fluid flow and at least a second chamber for a second fluid flow, the first and second chambers being separated by a first exchanging wall adapted to ensure exchange and/or reaction between fluids of thermal and/or mass transfer type.

Abstract: A well packer assembly with an annular fluid bypass and a check valve. The well packer assembly has an upper packer apparatus and a lower packer apparatus with a stimulation port therebetween. An annular fluid bypass in the upper packer apparatus communicates the well annulus from above packer elements on the upper packer apparatus to below the packer elements. The well fluid circulated through the fluid bypass is discharged into the well annulus below the packer elements on the upper packer apparatus to circulate stimulation fluid through the stimulation port and upwardly through the upper packer apparatus and the tubing used to lower the upper packer apparatus into the well.