Abstract: Provided herein are methods of increasing production from a hydrocarbon containing formation by adding a proppant to the formation, wherein a treatment fluid comprising a colloidal silica nanoparticle is added to the formation before, during or after the time the proppant is added to the formation.

Abstract: A method of increasing production from a hydrocarbon containing formation by adding a proppant to the formation, wherein a treatment fluid comprising a colloidal silica nanoparticle is added to the formation before, during or after the time the proppant is added to the formation is described and claimed.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of increasing production from a hydrocarbon containing formation by adding a proppant to the formation, wherein a treatment fluid comprising a colloidal silica nanoparticle is added to the formation before, during or after the time the proppant is added to the formation.

Abstract: A process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery is described and claimed. This process includes introducing a gas, a liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas, into an underground formation containing hydrocarbons such as crude oil and gas, permitting said gas to be absorbed by said hydrocarbons, and withdrawing said hydrocarbons containing the gas therein, wherein a pill of Hydrocarbon Recovery Fluid comprising surface functionalized nanoparticles is inserted into the underground formation containing hydrocarbons before, during or after the introduction of the gas, liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas.

Abstract: A method of increasing production from a hydrocarbon containing formation by adding a proppant to the formation, wherein a treatment fluid comprising a colloidal silica nanoparticle is added to the formation before, during or after the time the proppant is added to the formation is described and claimed.

Abstract: A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

Abstract: This invention describes and claims the stimulation of several Wolfcamp and Bone Springs targeted wells in the northern Delaware Basin using fracturing treatments and a new method employing relatively small pre-pad pill volumes of Brine Resistant Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticle Dispersions ahead of each stage of treatment have been successfully performed. The invention includes a method of extending an oil and gas system ESRV comprising the steps of adding a Brine Resistant Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticle Dispersion (“BRINE RESISTANT SDND”) to conventional oil well treatment fluids. The invention also includes a method of increasing initial production rates of an oil well by over 20.0% as compared to wells either not treated with the BRINE RESISTANT SDND technology or treated by conventional nano-emulsion surfactants. The Method focuses on the steps of adding a Brine Resistant Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticle Dispersion to conventional oil well treatment fluids.

Abstract: A process of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery is described and claimed. This process includes introducing a gas, a liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas, into an underground formation containing hydrocarbons such as crude oil and gas, permitting said gas to be absorbed by said hydrocarbons, and withdrawing said hydrocarbons containing the gas therein, wherein a pill of Hydrocarbon Recovery Fluid comprising surface functionalized nanoparticles is inserted into the underground formation containing hydrocarbons before, during or after the introduction of the gas, liquified gas or a vaporized liquified gas.

Abstract: A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and apparatus for grinding spices and grains. One system includes a mill for grinding a spice or grain material, comprising a body and a handle rotatably coupled to the body. The handle is also coupled to an input of a speed boost assembly. An output of the speed boost assembly is coupled to a grind assembly, which includes a rasp. The speed boost assembly is configured to cause the rotational frequency of the rasp to be greater than a rotational frequency of the handle.

Abstract: Devices and methods for storing and dispensing herbs can incorporate a container, a cap and an insert. The container has an opening extending from a proximal to an opposing distal end. An interior wall of the container is threaded at least a portion of its longitudinal length. The cap is releasably coupleable with the distal end. The insert, which is engaged with the proximal end, has a handle at one end and a head at an opposing end. The head of the insert is threadedly coupled to the interior wall of the container such that rotation of the handle results in movement longitudinally along the container. As a result, rotation of the handle when the head and the cap are coupled to the container results in compression of herbs or the like; and further rotation of the handle when the cap is removed results in the herb being forced out of the container.

Abstract: A brewing apparatus including a fluid reservoir having a first end and a second end. The brewing apparatus can include a lid portion configured to removably engage the first end of the fluid reservoir and a cartridge holder configured to removably engage the second end of the fluid reservoir. A spring-loaded plunger can slidably connect to the lid portion.

Abstract: A handheld food slicer including a first handle having a plurality of elongated fingers, each finger separated from an adjacent finger by a blade receiving slot, a second handle movably coupled to the first handle and a plurality of blade members spaced to align with the blade receiving slots to mate with the fingers to collectively define a food receiving passageway when the first and the second handles are in an expanded configuration in which a distal end of the first handle is at least partially spaced apart from a distal end of the second handle, the fingers of the first handle configured to pass through the food receiving passageway adjacent the blade members as the first and the second handles move from the expanded configuration towards a compressed configuration in which the distal end of each of the first and the second handles is relatively closer to the other.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and apparatus for grinding spices and grains. One system includes a mill for grinding a spice or grain material, comprising a body and a handle rotatably coupled to the body. The handle is also coupled to an input of a speed boost assembly. An output of the speed boost assembly is coupled to a grind assembly, which includes a rasp. The speed boost assembly is configured to cause the rotational frequency of the rasp to be greater than a rotational frequency of the handle.

Abstract: A liquid detection apparatus for monitoring liquid stored in a wine barrel may include an upper portion configured to be inserted into an opening of the wine barrel and a lower portion configured to extend into the liquid when the upper portion is seated in the opening. A sensing device may be located within the lower portion and at least partially surrounded by a protective layer. The sensing device may be configured to obtain sensed input for the liquid through the protective layer. An alert system may be at least partially located within the upper portion and configured to generate an alert in response to the sensed input obtained by the sensing device.

Abstract: A multiple slicing device includes a frame including a receptacle and a plurality of cutting elements, and a working portion including an activation mechanism, a cam mechanism, and a forcing member. The activation mechanism can include two handles where moving one of the handles toward the other handle collapses the forcing member via the cam mechanism, onto a food item placed in the receptacle between the forcing member and the cutting elements, to efficiently and simultaneously cut or slice the food item into multiple pieces.

Abstract: Devices and methods for storing and dispensing herbs can incorporate a container, a cap and an insert. The container has an opening extending from a proximal to an opposing distal end. An interior wall of the container is threaded at least a portion of its longitudinal length. The cap is releasably coupleable with the distal end. The insert, which is engaged with the proximal end, has a handle at one end and a head at an opposing end. The head of the insert is threadedly coupled to the interior wall of the container such that rotation of the handle results in movement longitudinally along the container. As a result, rotation of the handle when the head and the cap are coupled to the container results in compression of herbs or the like; and further rotation of the handle when the cap is removed results in the herb being forced out of the container.

Abstract: A brewing apparatus including a fluid reservoir having a first end and a second end. The brewing apparatus can include a lid portion configured to removably engage the first end of the fluid reservoir and a cartridge holder configured to removably engage the second end of the fluid reservoir. A spring-loaded plunger can slidably connect to the lid portion.

Abstract: A cutting and sharpening device includes a body, a blade element having a cutting edge and rotatably mounted with respect to the body, and a sharpening tool configured to be removably coupled to the body. The sharpening tool can be selectively moved between a first position in which the sharpening tool is spaced from the blade element and a second position in which the sharpening tool contacts the blade element adjacent the cutting edge. The device can be used as a rolling cutter or slicer, and as a sharpening device that sharpens the blade element when the sharpening tool is coupled to the body. The sharpening tool can sharpen the cutting edge when it is in the second position and the blade element is rotated or rolled, directly or indirectly, on a surface.

Abstract: A device for scraping a surface and scooping items from the surface incorporates a body, a handle, a blade and a scoop. The body has a proximal portion, a distal portion and a central portion that fixedly couples the proximal portion with respect to the distal portion. The handle is located at the proximal portion of the body, and is adapted to be held by a user and to facilitate single-handed manipulation of the device by the user. The blade is located at the distal portion of the body, and is oriented to project outward from the body. The scoop is coupled to the central portion of the body, the scoop having a sidewall adapted to be folded in at least one location such that the sidewall can be expanded to form a scoop having a hollow portion for receiving the items, and can be collapsed by folding the sidewall such that the scoop is roughly the same thickness as other portions of the body.