Abstract: Embodiments of present invention provide a method of forming a phase change memory device. The method includes forming a bottom electrode on a supporting structure; forming a first blanket dielectric layer, a phase-change material layer, a second blanket dielectric layer, and a hard mask sequentially on top of the bottom electrode; forming an inner spacer in an opening in the hard mask to modify the opening; extending the opening into the second blanket dielectric layer to create an extended opening; filling the extended opening with a heating element; etching the second blanket dielectric layer, the phase-change material layer, and the first blanket dielectric layer respectively into a second dielectric layer, a phase-change element, and a first dielectric layer; forming a conductive liner surrounding the phase-change element; and forming a top electrode on top of the heating element. A structure formed thereby is also provided.

Abstract: A beverage production system, comprising a cup dispensing station configured to dispense cups, a beverage dispensing station configured to dispense a beverage, and a turntable assembly. The turntable assembly comprising a central axis, an inner turntable including a first row of cup receptacles, and an outer turntable including a second row of cup receptacles. The outer turntable is disposed circumferentially about the inner turntable, and the outer turntable is configured to rotate about the central axis to align the cup receptacles of the second row with the cup dispensing station and the beverage dispensing station. The turntable assembly is configured to align an opening in a cup receptacle in the second row with an opening in a cup receptacle in the first row. A slide assembly includes an arm configured to slide a cup positioned in the cup receptacle in the second row into the aligned opening of the cup receptacle in the first row.

Abstract: A well coring apparatus is provided with the capability for monitoring the length of the core in the inner barrel (32) of a core barrel (16) and the rate at which the core enters the inner barrel (32). The device includes a Sonic Core Monitor (78) which is disposed in the upper end of the inner barrel (32) and a piston (68) which is disposed in the lower end thereof. The inner barrel (32) is filled with a pressurized fluid. The Sonic Core Monitor (78) generates an ultrasonic pulse that is transmitted down to the surface of the piston (68) and reflected back up to the Sonic Core Monitor (78). The time between the transmitted and received pulse is then measured and distance determined therefrom. Both length of core and rate of core entry into the inner barrel (32) can then be determined. If the core is proceeding at too slow a rate, a valve (50) can be opened to allow drilling fluid to bypass the core barrel (16). This provides the surface operator with an indication that a jam has occurred.

Abstract: A well coring apparatus is provided with the capability for monitoring the length of the core in the inner barrel (32) of a core barrel (16) and the rate at which the core enters the inner barrel (32). The device includes a Sonic Core Monitor (78) which is disposed in the upper end of the inner barrel (32) and a piston (68) which is disposed in the lower end thereof. The Sonic Core Monitor (78) generates an ultrasonic pulse that is transmitted down to the surface of the piston (68) and reflected back up to the Sonic Core Monitor (78). The time between the transmitted and received pulse is then measured and distance determined therefrom. Both length of core and rate of core entry into the inner barrel (32) can then be determined. If the core is proceeding at too slow a rate, a valve (50) can be opened to allow drilling fluid to bypass the core barrel (16). This provides the surface operator with an indication that a jam has occurred.

Abstract: A method for determining the productivity of a well site includes extracting a core with sponge coring techniques and measuring the parameters of the core. The parameters measured are porosity, permeability and percent mobile oil. A core factor is calculated which is the square root of the product of permeability and porosity and indicates the space available in the core for oil production. The core factor is multiplied by the percent mobile oil to provide a Production Index. The Production Index indicates the capacity of a given oil well to produce oil. With the Production Index data, perforations are selectively placed in various areas along the longitudinal axis of a well casing (38) to selectively allow communication between the interior of the well casing and a formation of interest. In this manner, only areas having high oil mobility are communicated within a given region of the formation of interest.

Abstract: A well coring apparatus (10) includes an outer barrel (12) and an inner barrel (18). The inner barrel (18) is sealed at one end with a sealing member (80) and has a reciprocating piston (70) disposed in the other end thereof. An O-ring (68) is disposed at the receiving end of the inner barrel (18) to provide a seal therefor. Spring members (76) provide a restrictive force to the piston (70). A sponge (50) is disposed around the inner walls of the inner barrel (18) for contacting the core (82). A fluid is disposed in the inner space (78) of the inner barrel (18) and pressurized. Reciprocation upward of the piston (70) causes the fluid to flow therefrom out the receiving end of the inner barrel (18). This flow of fluid washes the sides of the core (82) to prevent drilling mud from caking about the surfaces thereof and preventing proper transfer of fluids contained within the core (82) to the sponge (50).

Abstract: A well coring apparatus (10) includes an outer barrel (12) and an inner barrel (18). A hollow sponge (50) is disposed along a liner (52) for insertion into the inner barrel (18). The sponge (50) is operable to absorb subterranean fluid from a well core (54). A plurality of reinforcing members (56) are disposed on the inner surface of the liner (52) to prevent movement of the sponge (50) with respect thereto. A plurality of orifices (58) are disposed in the surface of the liner (52) to allow gas and/or fluid to escape from the interior thereof when the subterranean fluid contained within the core (54) bleeds into the sponge (50).

Abstract: A well coring apparatus (10) includes an outer barrel (12) and an inner barrel (18). The inner barrel (18) is sealed with a rupturable diaphragm (24) and a check valve (49). A sponge (50) is disposed around the inner walls of the inner barrel (18) for contacting the core (58). A fluid (54) is disposed in the sealed inner barrel (18) to prewet the sponge (50). A piercer (32) is reciprocally disposed within the outer barrel (12) and has a conical shaped surface (38), the apex of which is operable to pierce the diaphragm (24). In response to forming of the core (58), the fluid (54) displaced by the core (58) prevents drilling mud from being disposed between the core (58) and the sponge (50).

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for obtaining oil and water saturation data from subterranean formations includes a drill bit (12) for boring a well core (26) containing the fluids. A core-catcher bowl (18) guides the well core (26) in the apparatus (10). An outer barrel (14) is attached to the drill bit (12) and contains the core-catcher (18). An inner liner (20) positioned in the outer barrel (14) receives the well core (26). An oil absorbent sponge-like member (22) is contained in the inner liner (20) with a diameter (24) for receiving the well core (26). The oil absorbent sponge-like member (22) absorbs the fluids contained in the well core (26).

Abstract: This invention concerns the drilling of boreholes in the earth. It concerns a rotary drilling system having a particular bottom hole assembly (BHA) for use in increasing or decreasing the angle of deviation from the vertical of a borehole. It also teaches a method whereby the angle of deviation can be calculated for each assembly. There is one assembly disclosed for increasing the angle of deviation and another assembly disclosed for decreasing the angle of deviation. Also disclosed is a novel "universal stabilizer" for use in the bottom hole assembly.

Abstract: This invention concerns the drilling of boreholes in the earth. It concerns a rotary drilling system having a particular bottom hole assembly (BHA) for use in increasing or decreasing the angle of deviation from the vertical of a borehole. It also teaches a method whereby the angle of deviation can be calculated for each assembly. There is one assembly disclosed for increasing the angle of deviation and another assembly disclosed for decreasing the angle of deviation. Also disclosed is a novel "universal stabilizer" for use in the bottom hole assembly.