Abstract: The present application describes a method and modeling system for managing and modeling well completions. The method includes constructing a wellbore model of a completion. Then, the wellbore model may be applied to generate one or more simulated production profiles, wherein the simulated production profiles include two or more of pressures associated to depth, temperatures associated to depth, flow rates associated to depth, fluid flow velocities associated to depth, and any combination thereof. The completion and one or more sensors may be disposed into a well. Sensory data may be acquired or obtained from the sensors associated with the completion. The sensory data is examined to determine if production conditions have changed. If the production conditions have changed, one or more measured production profiles are generated from the sensory data and are compared to the at least one simulated production profile to determine a modification to the completion.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of biomass to render structural carbohydrates more accessible and/or digestible using concentrated ammonium hydroxide with or without anhydrous ammonia addition, is described. The process preferably uses steam to strip ammonia from the biomass for recycling. The process yields of monosaccharides from the structural carbohydrates are good, particularly as measured by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the structural carbohydrates. The monosaccharides are used as animal feeds and energy sources for ethanol production.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of installing tubular conduits (for example, casing, liners, sand screens) into a deep or highly deviated borehole is disclosed. A lower plug is attached at one end of a portion of a tubular conduit. This end is inserted into a borehole. After insertion into the borehole the desired length of conduit intended to resist internal collapse forces and be substantially neutrally buoyant, a plug is attached at the upper end. The plug has a valve designed to enable fluid communication between the pressurized fluid section and the insertion string. A pump is attached to the valve and the pressurized fluid is added to the pressurized fluid section, after which the valve is closed. After the tubular conduit is inserted to the desired depth, the valve is opened allowing the pressurized fluid flow out of the pressurized fluid section. Conventional well construction activities may then resume.

Abstract: A composite composition which comprises a synthetic polymer, and corncob granules which have been modified, such as with a chemical reacted with the hydroxyl groups on the granules is described. The corncob granules are modified so as to be compatible with the polymer.

Abstract: A process for the conversion of monocot lignocellulosic grass waste from mushroom growth into byproducts is described. In particular, the present invention releases glucans from the waste which can be easily hydrolyzed, after a less severe thermochemical process (i.e. AFEX), and into sugars for producing ethanol or other by-products by fermentation.

Abstract: A wellbore apparatus and method for use in a wellbore for completion and production are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an outer permeable material (15) in the wellbore comprising a first basepipe section (11) with at least a portion of the basepipe is perforated (21), the first basepipe is inside the outer permeable material (15) and at least part of the perforated basepipe is designed to be adjacent to a production interval (14), a second basepipe section (10) with at least a portion of the second basepipe is slotted (16), the second basepipe is inside the outer permeable material (15) and above the perforated basepipe section (11) designed to be adjacent to the production interval wherein at least a portion of the slotted basepipe is designed to be adjacent to a non production section of the wellbore. The production completion apparatus may be installed into the wellbore to provide redundancy against well-screen failure.

Abstract: A method for drilling and completing a gravel packed well is disclosed. The method comprises drilling a wellbore with a drilling fluid, conditioning the drilling fluid, running the gravel packing assembly tools to depth in the wellbore with the conditioned drilling-fluid, and gravel packing a wellbore interval with a completion-fluid. The completion fluid may be the same as the drilling-fluid. This method may be combined with alternate-path sand screen technology to ensure proper distribution of the gravel pack.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for excavating a wellbore is disclosed. An apparatus embodiment comprises (a) means for isolating a wellbore at a determined location, (b) means for excavating a downhole cavity in a wellbore, and (c) means for removing the means for isolating the wellbore to provide full access to the wellbore and the excavation. The method and apparatus can create excavation cavities suitable for drilling multilateral wellbores through the excavation using a kick-off. One embodiment of the method comprises isolating a wellbore at a determined location, providing means for excavating a downhole cavity in a wellbore, excavating a downhole cavity in a wellbore above the determined location, and removing the means for isolating the wellbore and means for excavating the downhole cavity from the wellbore to provide full access to the wellbore and the excavation cavity.

Abstract: A method of selectively depositing a ferroelectric thin film on an indium-containing substrate in a ferroelectric device includes preparing a silicon substrate; depositing an indium-containing thin film on the substrate; patterning the indium containing thin film; annealing the structure; selectively depositing a ferroelectric layer by MOCVD; annealing the structure; and completing the ferroelectric device.

Abstract: A wellbore apparatus and method suitable for either wellbore completions and production. The completion and production apparatus comprises at least one primary flow joint, the primary flow joint comprising at least one three-dimensional surface defining a body capable of fluid flow with at least one permeable surface, and at least one secondary flow joint, the secondary flow joint comprising at least one three-dimensional surface defining a body capable of fluid flow with at least one permeable surface. The method comprises providing a completion and production apparatus comprising at least one primary flow joint and one secondary flow joint wherein multiple fluid flow paths can be provided. The production completion apparatus may be installed into the wellbore to provide at least two flowpaths in the wellbore during well completion, injection and production.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants which after harvest degrade the lignin and cellulose therein to fermentable sugars which can further be fermented to ethanol or other products. In particular, the transgenic plants comprise ligninase and cellulase genes from microbes operably linked to a DNA encoding a signal peptide which targets the fusion polypeptide produced therefrom to an organelle of the plant, in particular the chloroplasts. When the transgenic plants are harvested, the plants are ground to release the ligninase and cellulase which then degrade the lignin and cellulose of the transgenic plants to produce the fermentable sugars.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants which after harvest degrade the lignin and cellulose therein to fermentable sugars which can further be fermented to ethanol or other products. In particular, the transgenic plants comprise ligninase and cellulase genes from microbes operably linked to a DNA encoding a signal peptide which targets the fusion polypeptide produced therefrom to an organelle of the plant, in particular the chloroplasts. When the transgenic plants are harvested, the plants are ground to release the ligninase and cellulase which then degrade the lignin and cellulose of the transgenic plants to produce the fermentable sugars.

Abstract: The present invention provides transgenic plants which after harvest degrade the lignin and cellulose therein to fermentable sugars which can further be fermented to ethanol or other products. In particular, the transgenic plants comprise ligninase and cellulase genes from microbes operably linked to a DNA encoding a signal peptide which targets the fusion polypeptide produced therefrom to an organelle of the plant, in particular the chloroplasts. When the transgenic plants are harvested, the plants are ground to release the ligninase and cellulase which then degrade the lignin and cellulose of the transgenic plants to produce the fermentable sugars.

Abstract: A method of selective etching a metal oxide layer for fabrication of a ferroelectric device includes preparing a silicon substrate, including forming an oxide layer thereon; depositing a layer of metal or metal oxide thin film on the substrate; patterning and selectively etching the metal or metal oxide thin film without substantially over etching into the underlying oxide layer; depositing a layer of ferroelectric material; depositing a top electrode on the ferroelectric material; and completing the ferroelectric device.

Abstract: A semiconductor structure includes, on a SOI substrate, a CMOS formed on the substrate; and a SiGe HBT formed on the substrate. A method of fabricating a semiconductor structure includes preparing a SOI substrate having plural active regions thereon; forming a CMOS on the SOI substrate in a first active region; and forming a SiGe HBT on the SOI substrate in another active region.

Abstract: A method of thermal compression bonding conductors of a multiconductor flat cable or electrical component by melting through a base layer from the reverse side of a base layer supporting the conductors. The multiconductor flat cable or electrical component comprises a base layer with conductors disposed thereon and a flat cover having an opening provided therein at a bonding site, preferably by die cutting. The flat cover with the opening is laminated to the base layer, overlaying the conductors, so that the conductors are mechanically stabilized by the base layer while being exposed through the bonding opening. The shape of the multiconductor flat cable or electrical component of the present invention may be highly varied. In one embodiment, the flat multiconductor electrical component circumferentially extends around a central area, for example, totally encompassing in IC chip which may be connected to the conductors thereof at a bonding site.

Abstract: A method of forming a reticle includes providing a reticle blank having a quartz layer, an attenuated phase shift layer, and a metal layer; covering the reticle blank with photoresist; patterning the photoresist into multiple levels; and etching the reticle blank according to the multi-level photoresist pattern.

Abstract: A decoder circuit includes a probability circuit which generates branch metrics using bit-wise probabilities representing frame-to-frame correlation relationships. The branch metrics are input to a decoder which outputs decoded data bits as a function of the bit-wise probabilities for at least predetermined bit positions.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating survivor metrics in a Viterbi equalizer of a receiver, such as a receiver operative to receive a PSK-modulated signal, for example, a .pi./4, differential, phase-shift-keying, modulated signal. The state transition metric, defined as a function of two successive states, is converted into a function defined by pairwise differences between allowable symbols of a PSK-modulated signal. When operative to receive the .pi./4 DQPSK-modulated signal, the number of calculations required to calculate state transition metrics is reduced significantly.

Abstract: A bonding opening exposing conductors through a cover of a multiconductor flat cable or electrical component to allow direct bonding thereof is described. The multiconductor flat cable or electrical component having a base layer with conductors disposed thereon and a flat cover having an opening provided therein at a bonding site, preferably by die cutting. The flat cover with the opening is laminated to the base layer, overlaying the conductors, so that the conductors are mechanically stabilized by the base layer while being exposed through the bonding opening. The shape of the multiconductor flat cable or electrical component of the present invention may be highly varied. In one embodiment, the flat multiconductor electrical component circumferentially extends around a central area, for example, totally encompassing in IC chip which may be connected to the conductors thereof at a bonding site.