Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for testing a device is described. The novel method and apparatus uses a reduced number of method steps, instructions, and clock cycles in order to test a device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for testing a device is described in which a device is instructed in one instruction to receive address information and a first data packet. The address information and the first data packet are loaded into the device. The first data packet may be selectively passed through a first storage element into a second storage element, and the address information may be loaded into the first storage element. The device is then instructed to program the first data packet into an address location of said device defined by the address information stored in the device. The device is then instructed to read or capture a second data packet from the address location defined by the address information. The second data packet is then output from the device.

Abstract: A method and a drilling fluid/cement slurry composition for cementing a wellbore. The drilling fluid/cement slurry composition comprises A cement slurry composition comprising:a) a cementitious material;b) a drilling fluid; andc) a dispersant selected from the group consisting of water soluble polymers comprising allyloxybenzene sulfonate or allyloxybenzene phosphonate polymerized with at least one of acrylic acid, acrylamides, alkyl acrylamides, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, sulfonated or phosphonated styrene sulfonated or phosphonated vinyl toluene, sulfonated or phosphonated isobutylene, acrylamidopropane sulfonate, acrylamidopropanephosphonate, vinyl alcohol, sulfonated or phosphonated propene and alkali, alkaline earth and ammonium salts thereof.

Abstract: An acoustical method of determining the spherical, or vuggy, porosity in carbonate rock formations, as a function of shear modulus. Total porosity and shear modulus of the formation is measured. Then the intrinsic granular porosity, dry bulk modulus, and spherical porosity are calculated. The carbonate rock is modeled, consisting of a primary host medium composed of carbonate grains with intergranular porosity between them. The model is easily modified to account for the case of intercrystalline microporosity existing within the grains, in addition to the intergranular porosity between them.

Abstract: Spacer fluids comprising a dispersant selected from the group consisting of water soluble polymers comprising allyloxybenzene sulfonate or allyloxybenzene phosphonate polymerized with at least one of acrylic acid, acrylamides, alkyl acrylamides, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, sulfonated or phosphonated styrene, sulfonated or phosphonated vinyl toluene, sulfonated or phosphonated isobutylene, acrylamidopropane sulfonate or acrylamidopropanephosphonate, vinyl alcohol, sulfonated or phosphonated propene and alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts thereof and water with optional additional components such as surfactants, viscosifiers and wetting materials to form a rheologically compatible spacer fluid for use between a drilling fluid and a cement slurry and a method for using such spacer fluids to displace drilling fluids from a wellbore space with a cement slurry.

Abstract: A reflective liquid crystalline diffractive light valve for use in a diffractive projection system. The liquid crystal cell includes a transparent substrate and a reflective substrate treated to provide alternating stripes which cooperate with the liquid crystal to form liquid crystal domains extending across the thickness of the cell that will produce an appropriate phase difference in light reflected by the cell, irrespective of the polarization of incident light. The techniques embodied in the present invention are applicable to the creation of electrically controllable diffractive optical elements for ray optic, integrated optic or fiber optic utilization operated in either transmission or reflection. Diffractive patterns may be lithographically, holographically or interferometrically generated.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising three main assemblies, an applicator, an infusion/aspiration tube with a subcutaneous bone penetration means, and a strain relief protector. The apparatus enables a user in field or emergency environments to quickly, safely and reliably place an infusion/aspiration device in a patient's bone, regardless of the thickness of skin and tissue over the bone, and to ensure it will remain in place throughout other emergency procedures and severe environmental conditions. The infusion/aspiration apparatus incorporates a bone stop to ensure precise location of the bone penetration means at the intended marrow depth in the patient's bone.

Abstract: A method for programming or testing a CPLD using an additional read register. In one embodiment, the method comprises: instructing the CPLD in one instruction to load program data, load address information and program the program data into a memory location having an address defined by the address information; loading the program data into a first data storage element and the address information into an address storage element; programming the program data into the memory location; instructing the CPLD to read verify data from the memory location; and capturing the verify data into a second data storage element. The second data storage element comprising a read registers. The novel method further comprises comparing the verify data with the program data. The verify data and the program data may be compared within the CPLD or the verify data may be output from the CPLD and compared with the program data externally.

Abstract: A well completion spacer fluid is provided which is particularly suitable for separating a cement slurry from drilling fluid in primary cementing operations. The well completion spacer fluid is also useful for separating other potentially incompatible fluids in the wellbore, such as, separating drilling fluid from a completion brine. The spacer fluid basically comprises water, a hydrous magnesium silicate clay, silica and organic polymer(s).

Abstract: A dry, regenerable solid oxide process directed to convert SO.sub.x from the flue gas stream from a power plant, a coal or oil-fired plant or process heat furnace, or an FCC regenerator to elemental sulfur without using a Claus unit, a hydrogen plant, a regeneration gas separation system, or a hydrogenation section. This dry, regenerable solid oxide process is also effective on Claus plant tail-gas. This process uses solid oxides, such as, for example, magnesium aluminates or spinels to remove sulfur oxides from flue gas streams. The solid oxide is then regenerated by a reducing gas to release the sulfur compounds contained on the solid oxide to produce a gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxides and elemental sulfur. The elemental sulfur is then condensed and recovered as a product and the resulting gas stream may be recycled to be reprocessed over the solid oxide.

Abstract: There is provided a process directed to the use of gases containing or mixed with carbon monoxide, such as synthesis gas, to aid in the regeneration of sulfur oxide-sorbed solid oxides, such as magnesium aluminates or spinels. This process is especially useful in applications where the solid oxide is used to purify the flue gas stream from an FCC regenerator, coal or oil-fired plant, power plant or process heat furnace, or the tail gas from a Claus plant. The process is also useful to remove sulfur oxides from flue gases produced in solid fuel combusters. According to this invention, carbon monoxide may be used alone or in combination with other gases to make the regeneration of the solid oxide exothermic or less endothermic, thereby improving the effectiveness of the regeneration.

Abstract: Metallic track members having locking slots designed for receiving and retaining metallic stud members that contain construction aids enable the assembly of metallic frames used in the construction of buildings. A flat metallic strip is converted to a W-shaped metallic track member by a series of stamping, bending and severing steps. U-shaped stud members, manufactured in a similar manner are inserted into the track members and held relatively stable by upper and lower track members. An upper track member can be the same shaped design as the lower member or can be U-shaped with stud retaining means into which the stud members can slip-fit. The process for manufacturing is adaptable for computer aided manufacturing using data from the computer aid design of the building. Manufacturing equipment for the manufacture of the construction members is relatively light-weight and can be transported to the job site.

Abstract: An attenuator for use in attenuating tube waves in a borehole includes a body formed from a permeable material having a rigid matrix which can be saturated with fluid. In its simplest form, the attenuator is one or more cylindrical bodies as part of a borehole acoustic logging system. Alternatively, the shape, particularly at the end regions, can be modified to reduce the amount of reflection of tube waves in the borehole. Another attenuator includes a body for placement in a borehole formed from an attenuating material, the shape of the body being selected such that the change in impedance experienced by acoustic waves in the borehole is gradual rather than abrupt. One particularly preferred shape for the body comprises one in which the diameter is greatest towards the center of the body, for example the shape formed by two cones placed base to base, or a cylinder having conically tapered ends. A number of bodies can be used where appropriate.

Abstract: A liquid crystalline diffractive light valve for use in a diffractive projection system. The liquid crystal cell includes substrates treated to provide alternating stripes which cooperate with the liquid crystal to form liquid crystal domains extending across the thickness of the cell that will produce a 180.degree. phase difference in light emerging from adjacent domains, irrespective of the polarization of incident light.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing potassium sulfite from a potassium hydroxide feedstock. A feedstock is tested for the presence of iron and, if the feedstock contains less than 0.3 ppm of iron, it is reacted with sulfur dioxide in an aqueous solution to form potassium sulfite. Alternatively, potassium sulfite that has a yellow or brownish color can be decolorized by adding about 0.02 to about 0.8 wt % hypophosphorous acid to it.

Abstract: An FCC process and apparatus operates with closed reactor cyclones and a catalyst stripper using H2 or recycled stripper vapor for stripping gas. Preferably stripper vapor is removed, cooled and condensed, and some vapor recycled to the stripper. Isolation of the stripper from the cracked product vapors permits use of large amounts of stripping steam, or stripping gases such as hydrogen.

Abstract: A fluidized catalytic cracking (FCC) process and apparatus uses a catalyst stripper with slant trays or shed trays having "downcomers". Downcomers, vertical catalyst/gas contacting elements, provide a vertical, countercurrent region for catalyst/stripping vapor contact. The downcomers improve stripping effectiveness.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for determining an indication of a nonlinear property of the formation. A sonic tool is used in a borehole to generate a signal having multiple cycles of a wave of a predetermined frequency. The amplitude of a tube wave resulting from the signal is measured. The measured amplitude is then used to determine an indication of the nonlinearity of the formation according to a relationship which relates the measured amplitude to the amplitude of a second harmonic tube wave which is generated in the borehole by the tube wave of the predetermined frequency due to the nonlinear property of the formation. The indication of nonlinearity may then be utilized to give an indication of the relative consolidation of the formation surrounding the borehole.

Abstract: A process which provides electronic access to pre-paid funds for cash or payment for goods and services. A card is issued to a customer with a value selectable by the customer. The card has a magnetic stripe with an encoded card number including a bank identification number (BIN) and an account number. The central card processor establishes a zero balance database including the card numbers, but with blank fields for the customer data and the value of the account. When a customer purchases a card, the sales agent transmits to the central database computer which fills in the blanks in the database, activating the account, and transmits an acknowledgement signal back to the sales agent. The customer can immediately use the card in ATM or other remote terminals to acquire cash or purchase goods and services. The customer inputs a PIN number which is provided with the card, or a customer selected alternative PIN number.

Abstract: A multi-bed process of removing sulfur oxides and/or other combustible sulfur-containing compounds from a gas stream including combusting the other combustible sulfur-compounds when present in the gas stream with air or oxygen to convert such sulfur-containing compounds to sulfur oxide and form a sulfur oxide enriched gas stream. The sulfur oxide enriched gas stream is contacted with first and second serially connected solid adsorbent beds for adsorbing the sulfur oxides in the form of inorganic sulfates and/or sulfur oxides. A third adsorbent bed is contacted with a reducing gas stream to regenerate the bed by reducing the retained inorganic sulfates and/or sulfur oxides to hydrogen sulfide and/or sulfur dioxide, to thereby form a hydrogen sulfide and/or sulfur dioxide bearing stream. The feeds to each of the beds are realigned to place the second and third beds in series with the sulfur oxide and/or sulfur dioxide enriched stream being fed to the second bed and to place the first bed in a regenerative mode.

Abstract: A process for catalytically cracking a heavy feed in a single riser reactor FCC unit, with delayed riser quench and large amounts of shape selective cracking additive is disclosed. The feed is preferably quenched after at least 1 second of riser cracking. The catalyst inventory preferably contains over 3.0 wt % ZSM-5 cystal, in the form of an additive of 12-40% ZSM-5 on an amorphous support. Quenching with recycled LCO is preferred. Delayed quenching, with this catalyst system, produces unexpectedly large amounts of C3/C4 olefins, with little or no increase in coke make.