Abstract: To minimize headspace in a storage container and thereby reduce or eliminate alcohol evaporation, concentrated surfactant solutions stabilized by a diluent of higher volatility than the surfactant, such as alcohol, are stored in a flexible bladder fabricated from fabric including an impermeable or semipermeable membrane, such as polyurethane coated fabric. Because the bladder automatically deflates as the fluid level decreases, minimal head space is maintained and evaporation of the alcohol is thus constrained. A rigid support structure may be employed to hold the flexible bladder. With such a storage system, concentrated surfactant solutions may be manufactured at a convenient location for transport to and storage near an injection well, with considerable time between manufacture and application allowed before the surfactant solution degrades by an unacceptable amount.

Abstract: To minimize headspace in a storage container and thereby reduce or eliminate alcohol evaporation, concentrated surfactant solutions stabilized by a diluent of higher volatility than the surfactant, such as alcohol, are stored in a flexible bladder fabricated from fabric including an impermeable or semipermeable membrane, such as polyurethane coated fabric. Because the bladder automatically deflates as the fluid level decreases, minimal head space is maintained and evaporation of the alcohol is thus constrained. A rigid support structure may be employed to hold the flexible bladder. With such a storage system, concentrated surfactant solutions may be manufactured at a convenient location for transport to and storage near an injection well, with considerable time between manufacture and application allowed before the surfactant solution degrades by an unacceptable amount.

Abstract: A method for determining the measurement precision of a formation evaluation tool in a borehole comprises: a) conveying the formation evaluation tool into the borehole, b) using the formation evaluation tool to make measurements, and c) analyzing the measurements using mean squared difference stability statistics to generate an output indicative of measurement precision. Step c) may comprise using an Allan variance to assess the measurements taken in step b). The method may further include deriving an optimum logging speed from the analysis performed in step c), which may occur at the lowest value of the Allan variance.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining an infection condition in an organism by measuring the level of nitrous oxide present in a gas sample taken from the organism. In one embodiment the nitrous oxide content of a gas sample is measured to diagnose systemic inflammatory response in a living organism. In an alternative embodiment, the nitrous oxide level of a gas sample taken from a living organism may be compared the with an expected nitrous oxide level for a healthy organism or with a prior measured nitrous oxide level of the living organism to diagnose the presence or absence of an infection in the living organism. A method and apparatus for determining response to a course of therapy is provided. The method and apparatus compares the nitrous oxide levels of a living organism before and after the administration of a therapy to the living organism to determine a response to the therapy.