Abstract: A method providing vehicle incident call services to a user is disclosed. A third-party service center receives a communication from a vehicle over at least one data channel. Signaling is automatically sent to the vehicle from the third-party service center and, in response to the signaling, die third-party service center receives from the vehicle, location information comprising at least the latitude and longitude coordinates of the vehicle. An interactive voice recognition (IVR) system located at the third-party service center is used to determine if the latitude and longitude coordinates are valid. If the coordinates are determined to be valid, the third-party service center provides the user with a selection of vehicle-incident non-emergency response services.

Abstract: A method to extract and refine metal products from metal-bearing ores, including a method to extract and refine titanium products. Titanium products can be extracted from titanium-bearing ores with TiO2 and impurity levels unsuitable for conventional methods.

Abstract: A downhole indicating device includes a collet body and a slidable collet comprising a protrusion and surrounding and slidable along a length of the collet body between a low snap position and a high snap position. In the low snap position, the protrusion is depressible under a low snap force, and in the high snap position, the protrusion is depressible under a high snap force with the low snap force being less than the high snap force.

Abstract: Hybrid pull and push based streaming selectively performs a pull-based distribution of a stream to a first point-of-presence (“PoP”) of a distributed platform having low demand for the stream, and a push-based distribution of the stream to a second PoP of the distributed platform having high demand for the stream. The push-based distribution may be used to prepopulate the second PoP cache with the live stream data as the live stream data is uploaded from an encoder to a source PoP of the distributed platform, and before that live stream data is requested by the second PoP. In doing so, requests for the live stream data received at the second PoP may result in cache hits with the requested live stream data being immediately served from the second PoP cache without having to retrieve the live stream data from outside the second PoP.

Abstract: A composition useful as an asphalt additive includes a plurality of substrate particles and a coating layer disposed on the particles, the coating layer including a solid elastomer. A method of producing an asphalt additive includes mixing an emulsion comprising an elastomer with a plurality of substrate particles. Another composition useful as an asphalt additive includes a plurality of substrate particles substantially coated with a first coating layer and a second coating layer, the first coating layer including a solid elastomer. An asphalt mix includes the asphalt additive composition, aggregate, and a binder.

Abstract: A shooting simulation system and method for training personnel in targeting visual and non-line-of-sight targets. The firearm simulation system has a plurality of participants each having a firearm and each being equipped to transmit their location to a remote computer server for storage and use with other transmitted data to determine which participant was a Shooter and which participant was the Shooter's target and for determining a simulated hit or miss of the target and assessing the simulated damage to the target.

Abstract: A magnetic marking method includes drilling a borehole and marking a position along an uncased section of the borehole with a magnetic marker comprising a magnetic rare earth alloy. A magnetic marker for open hole use includes an unconsolidated mass of high remanence, magnetized material that comprises a magnetic rare earth alloy. The magnetic marker for open hole use also includes a suspension fluid suited for conveying the magnetized material through a drill string bore into an open borehole. A magnetic marker for a casing terminus includes a magnet comprising a magnetic rare earth alloy and an attachment mechanism that secures the magnet to a casing shoe. Such magnetic markers for open hole use or a casing terminus can be used for borehole intersection operations.

Abstract: A ranging signal and a reference signal are generated. The reference signal has a lower frequency than the ranging signal. The reference signal is transmitted through a geological formation to be received by a ranging tool in a ranging well while the ranging signal is launched down a target well. The reference signal is reconstructed in the ranging well and a signal that is a combination of the ranging signal launched from the target well and noise are received in the ranging well. The received signal may be in the form of magnetic or electric field values or changes in these fields. The reconstructed reference signal, in combination with the received signal, is used to produce a filtered ranging signal. A relative location of the target well can then be determined in relation to the ranging well based on the filtered ranging signal. The location information can be used to direct drilling operations.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include methods and networks to determine a boundary of a cement mixture. In one embodiment, the method includes detecting first acoustic signals transmitted from at least one of a first plurality of acoustic tags that are mixed with cement slurry, where the cement slurry is deposited in a first section of a wellbore in an annulus between a casing and the first section of the wellbore. The method also includes determining a location of a first boundary of the cement slurry based on the first acoustic signals.

Abstract: A rotary steerable drilling tool and a method according to which a universal joint is sealed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing the collar, the shaft, the universal joint, and first and second shoulders between which the universal joint is positioned; providing first and second self-energizing seals between the collar and the shaft on opposite sides of the universal joint; rotating the collar and the shaft; seating the first self-energizing seal against the first shoulder; and seating a second self-energizing seal against the second shoulder. In one embodiment, the universal joint includes a convex surface formed on the shaft; a first concave surface extending circumferentially about the shaft and adapted to mate with the convex surface to carry a first axial load; and a spacer ring defining a second concave surface adapted to mate with the convex surface to carry a second axial load.

Abstract: In-line viscosity measurement systems and related methods may be useful in measuring the viscosity of a fluid in a flow path and, more specifically, in-line measuring the viscosity of a drilling fluid when integrated with drilling systems. For example, a method may include drilling a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation while circulating a drilling fluid through the wellbore; measuring the viscosity of the drilling fluid with an in-line viscometer system after the drilling fluid has circulated through the wellbore, the in-line viscometer systems comprising either: (1) a two coaxial cylinder configuration, (2) a parallel plates configuration, or (3) a combination thereof positioned to allow for the drilling fluid to flow between the coaxial cylinders or parallel plates.

Abstract: A method includes conveying a junction isolation tool, a junction support tool, a lateral completion assembly, and a completion deflector into a parent wellbore lined with casing. The completion deflector is coupled to the casing and the lateral completion assembly is detached and advanced into a lateral wellbore. After fracturing the lateral wellbore, the junction isolation tool is detached from the junction support tool, retracted back into the parent wellbore, and coupled to the completion deflector by advancing a stinger into an inner bore of the completion deflector. After hydraulically fracturing a lower wellbore portion of the parent wellbore, the junction isolation tool removes the completion deflector from the parent wellbore.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to bearing assembly for drilling a subterranean formation and methods of using the same. In various embodiments, the present invention provides a method of drilling a subterranean formation. The method includes flowing a drilling fluid through a drill string disposed in the subterranean formation, with the drill string including a bottom hole assembly including a bearing assembly including a low flow bearing. The method includes flowing a first part of the drilling fluid into contact with the low flow bearing, while simultaneously flowing a second part of the drilling fluid through a bypass channel around the low flow bearing. The method also includes discharging the first and second part of the drilling fluid between the bottom hole assembly and the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A location of a fracture can be determined in a wellbore. Micro-electro-mechanical (“MEM”) devices of different sizes and shapes can be included in a sweep and injected into a wellbore. A MEM reader can be positioned within a downhole tool for detecting MEM devices in the wellbore after a sweep returns to the surface of the wellbore. The MEM reader can be disposed in the wellbore for measuring the position of the MEM devices remaining in the wellbore. A location, size, and shape of a fracture in the wellbore can be determined based on the position of the MEM devices in the wellbore.

Abstract: A method includes computing match scores for each portion of multiple portions of a first audio fingerprint. The match scores are based on a comparison of the portion with each of multiple portions of a second audio fingerprint. The method includes applying a positional penalty to a highest score of the match scores for a portion of the first audio fingerprint and generating a list of runs based on the highest score for each portion of the multiple portions of the first audio fingerprint. The method includes determining, based on the list of runs, an unordered match between a set of consecutive portions of the first audio fingerprint and a set of non-consecutive portions of the second audio fingerprint. The method includes, in response to determining that a length of the unordered match satisfies a length criterion, outputting an indicator that the first audio fingerprint matches the second audio fingerprint.

Abstract: A cement head including a tubular body having a top end and a bottom end, and a borehole arranged through at least a portion of the tubular body; a cement plug arranged in the borehole and configured to exit the cement head upon releasing a retention device; and a spool assembly arranged on the tubular body, wherein the spool assembly comprises a drum rotatable about a central axis and a continuous cable having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the drum and the second end being attached to the cement plug, and wherein rotating the drum about the central axis results in spooling or unspooling the continuous cable about the drum.

Abstract: Methods for detection of pipe characteristics, such as defect detection of downhole tubulars and overall thickness estimation of downhole tubulars, utilizing remote-field eddy current technique. A defect detection method may further include disposing a defect detection tool in a wellbore, wherein the defect detection tool comprises a transmitter and a plurality of receivers, recording measurements for a plurality of channels, utilizing pre-calculated estimation curves corresponding to the plurality of channels at a plurality of defected candidates to obtain thicknesses corresponding to the plurality of channels at each defected candidate; and evaluating variations for the thicknesses by computing standard deviations between the thicknesses obtained for the plurality of channels at each defected candidates utilizing a minimum variation, and computing an overall thickness change using overall thickness estimations for the plurality of defected candidates.

Abstract: A method for monitoring tubing wall thickness includes conveying a tool through a tubular string in a borehole, the tool including a photon source that directs a photon beam along a radial path toward a wall of the borehole, the tool further including an array of collimated detectors that measure Compton backscattering rates at respective distance bins along the radial path. The method further includes calculating a sequence of ratios between measurements from neighboring detectors. The method further includes identifying one or more local extrema in the sequence, each extremum representing a boundary between different materials. The method further includes determining a wall thickness of the tubular string from absolute or relative positions of the one or more extrema. The method further includes displaying a representation of the wall thickness.

Abstract: An explosive charge assembly comprises a casing, a first liner, a second liner, a first explosive charge disposed between the casing and the first liner, and a second explosive charge disposed between the first liner and the second liner. The first liner and the second liner are configured to form a single jet upon detonation of the first explosive charge and the second explosive charge.

Abstract: A new and distinct Ternstroemia cultivar named ‘BLTG01’ is disclosed, characterized by distinctive dark green with a strong red-bronze flush when immature. Plants have a compact habit and are easily maintained in the landscape with minimal pruning. Leaves hold up well in direct sunlight with minimal leaf yellowing or scorching. The new cultivar is a Ternstroemia, suitable for ornamental garden purposes.