Abstract: A method for generating self-propped hydraulic fractures. In one embodiment, the method comprises injecting three fluid stages sequentially, each with successively higher viscosity, comprising a pad, a sealing slurry, and a displacement fluid which may be referred to as a sweep. Compositions of each of the three fluid stages are provided, each of which may be selected based upon characteristics of the formation being treated or upon one or more characteristics of the desired fracture.

Abstract: A method for generating self-propped hydraulic fractures. In one embodiment, the method comprises injecting three fluid stages sequentially, each with successively higher viscosity, comprising a pad, a sealing slurry, and a displacement fluid which may be referred to as a sweep. Compositions of each of the three fluid stages are provided, each of which may be selected based upon characteristics of the formation being treated or upon one or more characteristics of the desired fracture.

Abstract: A method for generating self-propped hydraulic fractures. In one embodiment, the method comprises injecting three fluid stages sequentially, each with successively higher viscosity, comprising a pad, a sealing slurry, and a displacement fluid which may be referred to as a sweep. Compositions of each of the three fluid stages are provided, each of which may be selected based upon characteristics of the formation being treated or upon one or more characteristics of the desired fracture.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to the field of oil recovery from reservoirs. More specifically, it relates to the recovery of oil from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs using a process for preparing a dispersion of capsules for use downhole including the steps of providing capsules containing a dense liquid, each capsule having a capsule wall defining an inner area, the capsule wall having an outer side. The capsules are functionalized by adding a carbon dioxide-philic compound to the outer side of the capsule wall. A dispersion is then prepared by adding the functionalized capsules to supercritical carbon dioxide such that a stable dispersion of capsules in supercritical carbon dioxide is achieved.

Abstract: System and method for fixing a distal femur having a Hoffa fracture. The system may comprise a main plate, an outrigger plate, and a coupling member that mounts the outrigger plate to the main plate. In an exemplary method, an elongated body portion of the main plate may be secured to a shaft region of the distal femur, and a wider head portion of the main plate may be secured to an end region of the distal femur. The outrigger plate may be mounted on the head portion of the main plate, and an arm of the outrigger plate may be fastened to a condylar fragment of the femur with one or more fasteners, such that the outrigger plate spans and stabilizes the Hoffa fracture.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for fixing a bone using a plate and a coupler that are connected to one another with flexible members. The plate may be configured to be attached to a shaft region of a bone. The coupler may be configured to be disposed on an end region of the bone, and may define a bore and an aperture. The flexible members may include a first flexible member and a second flexible member, each including a wire or cable. The first flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate, through the bore, and back to the plate. The second flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate to the coupler on a path that approaches the coupler transverse to a line that is parallel to the bore. The apparatus and method may be used to stabilize the greater trochanter of a femur.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bone fixation using a plate straddled by a retainer. In an exemplary system, the plate may be an elongated plate configured to be disposed longitudinally on a bone. The retainer may have a body interconnecting a pair of mounting regions. The body may define a recess, and each mounting region may define a first aperture and a second aperture. The retainer may be configured to be mated with the plate to position a section of the plate in the recess such that the retainer straddles the plate. The first apertures may be configured to define through-axes that are tangential to the bone, to enable use with a line including wire and/or cable, and each second aperture may be configured to define a through-axis that extends through opposite sides of the bone while avoiding a medullary canal thereof, to enable use with a threaded fastener.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to the field of oil recovery from reservoirs. More specifically, it relates to the recovery of oil from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs using a process for preparing a dispersion of capsules for use downhole including the steps of providing capsules containing a dense liquid, each capsule having a capsule wall defining an inner area, the capsule wall having an outer side. The capsules are functionalized by adding a carbon dioxide-philic compound to the outer side of the capsule wall. A dispersion is then prepared by adding the functionalized capsules to supercritical carbon dioxide such that a stable dispersion of capsules in supercritical carbon dioxide is achieved.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to the field of oil recovery from reservoirs. More specifically, it relates to the recovery of oil from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs using a process for preparing a dispersion of capsules for use downhole including the steps of providing capsules containing a dense liquid, each capsule having a capsule wall defining an inner area, the capsule wall having an outer side. The capsules are functionalized by adding a carbon dioxide-philic compound to the outer side of the capsule wall. A dispersion is then prepared by adding the functionalized capsules to supercritical carbon dioxide such that a stable dispersion of capsules in supercritical carbon dioxide is achieved.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for fixing a bone using a plate and a coupler that are connected to one another with flexible members. The plate may be configured to be attached to a shaft region of a bone. The coupler may be configured to be disposed on an end region of the bone, and may define a bore and an aperture. The flexible members may include a first flexible member and a second flexible member, each including a wire or cable. The first flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate, through the bore, and back to the plate. The second flexible member may be configured to extend from the plate to the coupler on a path that approaches the coupler transverse to a line that is parallel to the bore. The apparatus and method may be used to stabilize the greater trochanter of a femur.

Abstract: A fracture interrogation system includes an antenna adapted for placement in a subterranean wellbore and a plurality of pseudoparticles adapted for distribution with a proppant material into hydraulic fractures along the wellbore. The presence of the pseudoparticles in the hydraulic fractures is detectable by the antenna. The pseudoparticles can include a magnetoelastic resonator having a resonant frequency. An interrogation field excites the resonators at the resonant frequency for detection by the antenna. The same or a different antenna can act as the interrogation field source, and the system can be configured to operate in a talk-and-listen mode to better separate the response signal from the interrogation signal. Electromagnetic, mechanical, or acoustic impulses can be used to excite resonators of the pseudoparticles.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to the field of oil recovery from reservoirs. More specifically, it relates to the recovery of oil from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs using a process for preparing a dispersion of capsules for use downhole including the steps of providing capsules containing a dense liquid, each capsule having a capsule wall defining an inner area, the capsule wall having an outer side. The capsules are functionalized by adding a carbon dioxide-philic compound to the outer side of the capsule wall. A dispersion is then prepared by adding the functionalized capsules to supercritical carbon dioxide such that a stable dispersion of capsules in supercritical carbon dioxide is achieved.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to the field of oil recovery from reservoirs. More specifically, it relates to the recovery of oil from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs using a process for preparing a dispersion of capsules for use downhole including the steps of providing capsules containing a dense liquid, each capsule having a capsule wall defining an inner area, the capsule wall having an outer side. The capsules are functionalized by adding a carbon dioxide-philic compound to the outer side of the capsule wall. A dispersion is then prepared by adding the functionalized capsules to supercritical carbon dioxide such that a stable dispersion of capsules in supercritical carbon dioxide is achieved.

Abstract: Systems and methods for bone fixation using a plate straddled by a retainer. In an exemplary system, the plate may be an elongated plate configured to be disposed longitudinally on a bone. The retainer may have a body interconnecting a pair of mounting regions. The body may define a recess, and each mounting region may define a first aperture and a second aperture. The retainer may be configured to be mated with the plate to position a section of the plate in the recess such that the retainer straddles the plate. The first apertures may be configured to define through-axes that are tangential to the bone, to enable use with a line including wire and/or cable, and each second aperture may be configured to define a through-axis that extends through opposite sides of the bone while avoiding a medullary canal thereof, to enable use with a threaded fastener.

Abstract: System and method for fixing a distal femur having a Hoffa fracture. The system may comprise a main plate, an outrigger plate, and a coupling member that mounts the outrigger plate to the main plate. In an exemplary method, an elongated body portion of the main plate may be secured to a shaft region of the distal femur, and a wider head portion of the main plate may be secured to an end region of the distal femur. The outrigger plate may be mounted on the head portion of the main plate, and an arm of the outrigger plate may be fastened to a condylar fragment of the femur with one or more fasteners, such that the outrigger plate spans and stabilizes the Hoffa fracture.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to the field of oil recovery from reservoirs. More specifically, it relates to the recovery of oil from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs using a process for preparing a dispersion of capsules for use downhole including the steps of providing capsules containing a dense liquid, each capsule having a capsule wall defining an inner area, the capsule wall having an outer side. The capsules are functionalized by adding a carbon dioxide-philic compound to the outer side of the capsule wall. A dispersion is then prepared by adding the functionalized capsules to supercritical carbon dioxide such that a stable dispersion of capsules in supercritical carbon dioxide is achieved.

Abstract: A fracture interrogation system includes an antenna adapted for placement in a subterranean wellbore and a plurality of pseudoparticles adapted for distribution with a proppant material into hydraulic fractures along the wellbore. The presence of the pseudoparticles in the hydraulic fractures is detectable by the antenna. The pseudoparticles can include a magnetoelastic resonator having a resonant frequency. An interrogation field excites the resonators at the resonant frequency for detection by the antenna. The same or a different antenna can act as the interrogation field source, and the system can be configured to operate in a talk-and-listen mode to better separate the response signal from the interrogation signal. Electromagnetic, mechanical, or acoustic impulses can be used to excite resonators of the pseudoparticles.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to the field of oil recovery from reservoirs. More specifically, it relates to the recovery of oil from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs using a process for preparing a dispersion of capsules for use downhole including the steps of providing capsules containing a dense liquid, each capsule having a capsule wall defining an inner area, the capsule wall having an outer side. The capsules are functionalized by adding a carbon dioxide-philic compound to the outer side of the capsule wall. A dispersion is then prepared by adding the functionalized capsules to supercritical carbon dioxide such that a stable dispersion of capsules in supercritical carbon dioxide is achieved.

Abstract: An air handler system comprising a cabinet housing a blower unit and a heat exchange unit. The blower unit and the heat exchange unit are located in a substantially same lateral dimension in the cabinet. The blower unit and the heat exchange unit are separated by a distance that provides for a substantially uniform flow of air through a vertically-orientated plane of the heat exchange unit when the blower unit is in operation.

Abstract: This invention generally relates to the field of oil recovery from reservoirs. More specifically, it relates to the recovery of oil from sandstone and carbonate reservoirs using a process for preparing a dispersion of capsules for use downhole including the steps of providing capsules containing a dense liquid, each capsule having a capsule wall defining an inner area, the capsule wall having an outer side. The capsules are functionalized by adding a carbon dioxide-philic compound compound to the outer side of the capsule wall. A dispersion is then prepared by adding the functionalized capsules to supercritical carbon dioxide such that a stable dispersion of capsules in supercritical carbon dioxide is achieved.