Abstract: An underground storage tank provided with a manway is equipped with a riser extending from the storage tank, about the manway, to a point just below the access way provided in the ground level of the installation. The riser is provided with a water-tight cover which is released through operation of a cam. The water-tight riser excludes water from the interior of the riser and the manway, ensuring access to the manway, operation of the fittings provided in the manway, an additional containment of fluid passing through the manway and the area of the tank adjacent thereto. Because it is water-tight, an alarm sensitive to liquid may be placed in the interior of the riser to alert the operator to the possible loss of containment, or loss of water-tight sealing between the cover and the riser.

Abstract: In connection with downhole placement of proppant materials for the purpose of enhancing oil recovery through a subsurface fracture-stimulation treatment, phenolic resin activator is injected after resin-coated proppant is pumped. The results are a reduced probability of problems attendant to premature screenout, savings in the quantity of activator needed, more concentrated placement of the activator close to the wellbore, and the ability to continue the fracturing treatment longer. Injection of activator is accomplished through tubing extending at least as deep as the perforations, while injection of proppant is done through the tubing-casing annulus.

Abstract: An earth-boring bit has a bit body and at least one cantilevered bearing shaft depending inwardly and downwardly from the bit body. A cutter is mounted for rotation on the bearing shaft and includes a plurality of cutting elements arranged in generally circumferential rows including an outer or heel row of cutting elements. At least one of the cutting elements in the heel row has an outermost surface at least partially formed of super-hard material that defines a cutting edge for shearing engagement with the sidewall of the borehole as the cutters roll and slide over the bottom of the borehole during drilling operations.

Abstract: A boat lift control system may be programmed so that with a push of a button, either remotely or adjacent the system, the lift may lift or lower a boat to a pre-programmed elevation. Plural elevations may be programmed into the system including those corresponding to, for example, low tide, high tide, a loading elevation and a storage elevation. The inventive system also includes a manual override allowing manual operation of the lift to any desired elevation. Upper and lower limit stop mechanisms prevent movements of the lift beyond pre-set upper and lower limits.

Abstract: A drilling column has a percussive drilling head attached to a lower end thereof. The drilling column includes a skirt extending downwardly from a lower end thereof in surrounding relationship to the drilling head. The skirt is disposed in eccentric relationship to the drilling head, so that an enlarged space is formed at one side of the drilling head. An air duct arrangement extends through the drilling column for supplying compressed air to the drilling head. That compressed air exits the drilling head through a front face thereof and then flows upwardly through the enlarged space in the skirt and then travels through a discharge channel arrangement formed in the drilling column. In that way, cuttings entrained in the compressed air are removed upwardly from the drill hole. The drilling column is sealed-off with respect to the upper open end of the drill hole by a chuck pipe, enabling compressed air or liquid to be introduced from above ground into a gap surrounding the drilling column.

Abstract: A tendon cluster array is disclosed for tethering a superstructure of a tension leg platform to an ocean floor in which a plurality of tendons are anchored to the ocean floor at their lower ends with a substantially planar, horizontally disposed tendon bracket receiving the upper ends. A tendon bracket connection pivotally secures the tendon bracket to a downwardly disposed surface of the superstructure.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting corrosion on metal surfaces and downhole equipment and above surface separation equipment from a mixture of brine and crude oil extracted from underground formations. The method comprises the injection on a periodic basis of an effective amount of an oxime compound having the formula: ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are the same or different and are selected from hydrogen, lower alkyl groups of one to eight carbons or aryl groups. In addition to functioning as a corrosion inhibitor for the metal surfaces in contact with the mixture, the oxime compound is less susceptible to neutralization by contact with acidic species, and is less likely to emulsify the brine and crude oil mixture brought to the surface.

Abstract: A preform element, such as a cutting element for a drag-type drill bit, includes a facing table of superhard material having a front face, a peripheral surface, and a rear surface bonded to a substrate which is less hard than the superhard material. The rear surface of the facing table is integrally formed with a plurality of ribs which project into the substrate and extend in directions outwardly away from an inner area of the facing table towards the peripheral surface thereof.

Abstract: A tool component comprises abrasive compact, typically a diamond abrasive compact, having a flat working surface which presents a cutting edge and an opposite surface bonded to a surface of a cemented carbide substrate to define an interface having at least two steps. The steps extend from one surface of the component to another surface and the interface is spaced from the working surface at one of the component surfaces a greater distance than at the other component surface. The tool component has particular application as a cutting insert for a rotatable cutter of an earth boring bit.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a system and method for simultaneously installing a pipe loop and a grout pipe in a wellbore. In another aspect such a system is then used to grout the wellbore by releasing the grout pipe from the pipe loop or from a bottom member connected with the pipe loop and then introducing grout through the pipe into the wellbore as the grout pipe is removed upwardly from the wellbore. In another aspect a drilling-grouting system is provided with which while one hole is being drilled a previously-drilled hole is being grouted.

Abstract: An apparatus for the protection of instrumentation placed within a drill string in a well, as during drilling comprising support structure, including a carrier sized for reception in the string, and; elastomeric structure carried by the support structure and including multiple elastomeric pads spaced about a longitudinal axis defined in the well, the pads extending generally longitudinally, and protruding in directions radially of the axis to absorb radial loading and torsional loading exerted in direction about the axis, and to deflect in said directions of radial and torsional loading.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing volatile contaminants from the phreatic zone of contaminated ground. The apparatus is a system comprised of at least one air injection well and at least two pressure relief wells arranged in a line. Air is injected into the contaminated ground water to allow sparging of the volatile contaminants from a linear region between injection and relief wells. The volatile contaminants are captured by the injected air and carried to the extraction line for removal and treatment.

Abstract: The rotatable blowout preventer 10 comprises a stationary outer housing 12 and a rotatable inner housing 38 having a curved surface 42 thereon defining a portion of a sphere. An annular packer assembly 46 includes spherical packer elements for sliding engagement with the curved surface of the inner housing such that a packer assembly may seal against various sized tubulars. A lower rotary seal 98 between a piston 56 and the outer housing 12 is exposed to the differential between pressurized hydraulic fluid and the well pressure within a lower end of the bore 32 within the outer housing. A flow restriction member 114 between the rotatable inner housing and the outer housing reduces fluid pressure downstream from the flow restriction to less than 40% of the upstream pressure. The upper rotary seal 120 is open to atmospheric pressure and is subjected to this reduced pressure.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for use with an underground tank of fire suppression fluid in which the fluid level within the tank can be visually determined quickly during pumping operations. Also, the fluid in the underground tank is protected from freezing by draining the fluid standing above the top of the tank. Protection against collapse or rapture of the underground tank is provided by a method of ventilating air into and out of the tank.

Abstract: This invention relates to a precast concrete wall consisting of a plurality of precast concrete, retaining wall segments used as a retaining wall, used to buttress against earth forces, used to abate noises, and a method of constructing such a wall. The wall can be economically constructed from the precast wall segments which are adapted to be easily and rapidly stacked and joined in series to save on the cost of labor and materials. Each of the wall segments is capable of being varied in height, width or length, but having a generally similar cross-section. The wall segments also have members which form a stay-in-place form when two wall segments are placed end to end. Cast-in-place concrete is poured into the form and, upon hardening, becomes an integral structural support column for the wall.

Abstract: A method of mounting a hard insert in a cutting tool such as a drill bit is disclosed. The insert has a head and a shank which tapers inwardly in a direction away from the head of the insert. The cutting tool body has several seats which are shaped and tapered complementally to the insert shank. The insert is pressed or tapped into the seat so that the insert shank engages the seat in the tool in a friction fit. The insert shank may be frustoconical, or, alternatively, polygonal or irregular in shape. The taper of the shank (and the complemental taper of the seat) should be relatively shallow, with an included angle in the range of 4.degree. to 14.degree.. Preferably, the included angle of the shank should be slightly greater than that of the seat.

Abstract: A well screen for gravel-packing a wellbore interval comprising at least two joints connected by a well tool. Each joint is comprised of a length of screen section which has at least one, axially-extending shunt conduit thereon for carrying gravel slurry to different levels within the interval. The well tool has at least one by-pass tube therein which is adapted to align with and fluidly-connect the shunt conduits on respective joints whereby gravel can flow from one of the shunt conduit, through the by-pass tube, and into and out of the other shunt conduit. A packing means is mounted on the tool for preventing any substantial annular, axial flow past the tool when the tool is an operable position within the wellbore.

Abstract: A semi-automated harvester for collecting fruits or vegetables comprising a retractable boom pivotally and rotatably mounted to a collection vehicle for movement up and down and around the collection vehicle, and a conveyor system integral to the retractable boom for engaging fruit or vegetables by vacuum means and conveying the fruit or vegetables along the retractable boom to a collection point for release and consolidation.

Abstract: A longitudinally compact mechanism for anchoring a well tool to a casing includes a plurality of first slip members and a plurality of second slip members. The first slip members and the second slip members are carried on the well tool at the approximate same longitudinal position, and the first slip members are alternately circumferentially positioned with the second slip members. Each slip member is expanded by relative movement of an independent piston operatively connected thereto.

Abstract: A raingutter leaf guard assembly 8 is mounted on top of a typical raingutter 56 to prevent leaves from passing through a grid 12. A hinge portion 24 permits raising the leaf guard assembly 8 when an angled rod 30 affixed to a long pole 32 is mated to a funnel shaped opening 28 in lever 26. A downward pull of pole 32 from ground level raises the leaf guard assembly 8 and dumps leaf debris to the ground. Assembly 9 is comprised of an elbow 44 permanently connected to a raingutter end cap 38. A long pipe 52 is connected to the elbow 44 from ground level. A female duplex hose bib adaptor 54 completes the pipe thread 50, and garden hose thread 55 connections, thereby flushing a gutter clear of debris. All raingutter maintenance is performed on the ground.