Abstract: A method of installing a pressure transducer in a borehole to measure the fluid prepare of a geological formation The pressure transducer is installed into the borehole at a desired, depth, and then the borehole is filled with a cement grout. The fluid connection between the pressure transducer and the formation is opened by pumping a fluid through tubing to displace the cement grout. A process of hydrofracture can be employed to provide a communication path of fluid between the formation, and the pressure transducer surrounded by the fractured grout. In one embodiment of the invention, a pressure transducer is cemented into the borehole along with a check and pressure relief valve. In another embodiment the pressure transducer is installed in the tubing at a subsequent stage.

Abstract: An electrical plug comprising: a connector body having a first and second axial end, the first axial end electrically connectable in use to a jack; a ferrule extending from the second axial end of the connector body, to which a cable is electrically and/or physically connectable in use; and an elongate sleeve rotatably mounted on the connector body and having a first and second axial end, wherein the first axial end of the sleeve has at least one bayonet slot for engagement, in use, with a respective lug of a jack, and the second axial end of the sleeve terminates at the second axial end of the connector body, such that the sleeve substantially encloses the connector body.

Abstract: Drill stern test apparatus includes a drill string, wireline coring system and a downhole tool that is seated in the core barrel of the coring system. A valve packer within the downhole tool is inflated to seal the core barrel and allow a valve to be operated by movement of the drill string. One or more packers can be inflated to isolate the test zone in the borehole below the coring system. The apparatus is operated to allow the test zone fluid to flow upwardly in the downhole tool and be measured. Downhole tool transducers accumulate the data and transmit the same to the surface. The wireline can be pulled to relieve packer inflation pressure, release a latch and allow the downhole tool to be pulled to the surface while leaving the coring system in place.

Abstract: A method of degassing a coal seam by directionally drilling a borehole in a rock formation that is adjacent the coal seam, or between two different coal seams. The borehole is then pressurised to fracture the adjacent coal seam(s) to enhance the permeability thereof and allow fluids to flow from the coal seam to the borehole and be extracted from the coal seam.

Abstract: Method of treating a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising unconsolidated or poorly consolidated particulates, by contacting the formation with a solution or a dispersion of an organosilane which is a silylated polymer of formula (I): (RO)3-nRnSi-A-B-A-Si(OR)3-nRns??(I) wherein each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted, alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, or a —C(O)R group where R is as hereinbefore defined; n is 0, 1 or 2; each A is a divalent organic radical; and B is a poly(oxyalkylene) linking group, a polyurethane linking group, or a poly(meth)acrylate linking group wherein the poly(oxyalkylene) linking group or the polyurethane linking group has a number average molar mass in the range of 600 to 20,000 g mol?1. The poly(meth)acrylate linking group has a number average molar mass in the range of 600 to 40,000 g mol?1.

Abstract: The invention is a separator designed to separate an incoming stream of liquid, gas, and some particulate matter into a separate gas stream, and a separate liquid stream containing the particulate matter. This is achieved through cyclonic action and the use of a float to operate internal valves within the cyclone. The float is mounted on a shaft which is rotated by the motion of the incoming fluid stream and this motion is used to agitate the solids in the liquid so as to prevent the outlet port from becoming jammed. The outlet port also has an auger contained therein that removes particulate matter.

Abstract: A mining system for extracting ore using directional chilling techniques to obtain access to the orebody. Spaced-apart roadways are formed in the ore formation, with a downhill roadway being lower in elevation than the other roadway, and the downhill roadway having a ditch therein draining downhill. A borehole is formed between roadways in the ore formation using the directional drill bit, and then the end of the drill string is equipped with a jetting nozzle. The jetting nozzle is moved within the borehole to erode the formation and mine the ore. In one embodiment, a slurry of mined ore and jetting fluid flows as a slurry down the intersection of the mined face and the floor towards a ditch formed in the downhill roadway. In another embodiment, a slurry of the mined ore and the jetting fluid flows down the borehole, and then down the ditch formed in the downhill roadway. In each case, the ore flows down the downhill roadway to a sump.

Abstract: A drill stem test conducted through the drill string of a wireline coring system using a downhole tool comprising test zone packers, a valve packer, a latching assembly with a clump valve and main valve, all of which are conveyed on the wireline with a communications cable and inflation tube, to seat in the core barrel. Gas pressure drives the liquid level in the drill string down to a suitable test level which is retained by inflating the packer system to seal a valve packer within the drill string, and isolating the test zone using single or dual packers. The compressed gas is relieved from the drill string leaving it unpressurised and with a depressed liquid level therein. A valve can be opened by raising the drill string to induce inward fluid flow, and after a flow period the valve is shut by lowering the drill string. A pressure recovery process then takes place, in which the pressures are measured by downhole transducers and transmitted to surface via the communications cable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cementing a zone of borehole casing using an external casing packer (ECP). The method involves sealing the base of the ECP with a ball dropped in a seat, and then pressurising the casing to inflate an elastomeric packer sleeve through a one-way valve. When a design differential pressure is reached across the casing and elastomeric sleeve, a grout valve in the upper part of the packer opens to limit the sleeve inflation pressure and to provide a one-way valve through which cement grout passes to permit grouting of the annulus between the casing and the borehole.

Abstract: A gas analysis system for determining the gas content of subterranean strata. A boring operation is commenced to form a borehole into or through a subterranean formation, such as a coal or shale formation to determine the gas content thereof. The drill fluid, cuttings and any desorbed gas is carried from the downhole location to surface analysing equipment in a closed system, so that the desorbed gases are not exposed to the air. The drill stem is capped or sealed at the surface, as well as the wellbore annulus to effectively seal the drill liquid, cuttings and desorbed gasses. The drill fluid, cuttings and desorbed gasses from the formation are coupled from the wellhead apparatus to the gas processing equipment via a closed system so that the constituents and volume of the gas can be determined.

Abstract: The invention is a separator designed to separate an incoming stream of liquid, gas, and some particulate matter into a separate gas stream, and a separate liquid stream containing the particulate matter. This is achieved through cyclonic action and the use of a float to operate internal valves within the cyclone. The float is mounted on a shaft which is rotated by the motion of the incoming fluid stream and this motion is used to agitate the solids in the liquid so as to prevent the outlet port from becoming jammed. The outlet port also has an auger contained therein that removes particulate matter.

Abstract: A water supply system that supplies water to a plumbing system from either a mains supply, or an auxiliary supply. In a default state, a shuttle valve is pressure balanced and couples water from the mains supply to the plumbing system via mains inlet port and outlet port, and in another state the shuttle valve is pressure unbalanced and moved so that auxiliary water is coupled to the plumbing system via an auxiliary inlet port and the outlet port of the shuttle valve. Water is drawn from an auxiliary tank and coupled to the plumbing system when two conditions exist, namely when water is demanded, as sensed by flow sensor, and when water is available from the auxiliary supply, as sensed by float system. Water pressure at the auxiliary inlet port causes the shuttle to move from the default state and couple water from the auxiliary inlet port to the outlet port and thus to the plumbing system.

Abstract: A pumping system in which a pump (5) is controlled by a programmed controller (22) in response to input signals from an inlet pressure transducer (3) and an outlet pressure transducer (15) and in certain circumstances inputs from various flow sensors (4,19). The controller (22) can be programmed to allow the pump (5) to prematurely operate before an outlet pressure reaches a low pressure threshold, when usage of the liquid is high. The controller (22) can be programmed to detect a lack of prime of the pump (5), to restore prime once the pump (5) has lost prime, and to prevent successive on/off pump cycles when the outlet flow is continuous and at a moderate or low level.

Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising unconsolidated or poorly consolidated particulates, the method comprising contacting the formation with a solution or a dispersion of an organosilane, characterised in that the organosilane is a silylated polymer of formula (I): (RO)3-nRnSi-A-B-A-Si(OR)3-nRn (I) wherein each R is independently a substituted or unsubstituted, preferably unsubstituted, alkyl group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably, 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or a —C(O)R group where R is as hereinbefore defined; n is 0, 1 or 2; each A is a divalent organic radical, for example, an alkoxy linking group such as propoxy; and B is a poly(oxyalkylene) linking group, a polyurethane linking group, or a poly(meth)acrylate linking group wherein the poly(oxyalkylene) linking group or the polyurethane linking group has a number average molar mass in the range of 600 to 20,000 g mol?1 and the poly(meth)acrylate linking group has a number average molar mass in the range of 600 t

Abstract: Sand in unconsolidated subterranean formations causes problems in oil recovery, which can be overcome by a method of consolidating sand in a subterranean formation, which method comprises: (i) contacting said sand in a first location in the presence of water with a slurry in a liquid medium of cement of average particle size less than 10 microns to produce in said medium a mixture comprising sand, water and some of the cement, and a remainder comprising the rest of the cement, (ii) preferably separating from said location said remainder from said mixture, (iii) which mixture is allowed to set to give permeable consolidated sand.

Abstract: A pumping system in which a pump (5) is controlled by a programmed controller (22) in response to input signals from an inlet pressure transducer (3) and an outlet pressure transducer (15) and in certain circumstances inputs from various flow sensors (4,19). The controller (22) can be programmed to allow the pump (5) to prematurely operate before an outlet pressure reaches a low pressure threshold, when usage of the liquid is high. The controller (22) can be programmed to detect a lack of prime of the pump (5), to restore prime once the pump (5) has lost prime, and to prevent successive on/off pump cycles when the outlet flow is continuous and at a moderate or low level.

Abstract: A water supply system for supplying water to a building including a water tank (13) for collecting water from the roof (10) and gutters (12) of the building (11); a water level sensor means (21) for sensing the level of water in the water tank; a tank water system (22) for supplying water from the water tank (13); a water pump (23) for pumping water from the water tank (13) along the tank water system (22); a non-return valve (25) downstream of the pump in the tank water system; a pressure sensor means (26) for sensing water pressure of water within the tank water system, said pressure sensor means (26) is located downstream of the non-return valve (25); a mains water system for supplying mains water; a three port valve (35) having a first port (34) connected to the tank water system downstream from the pressure sensor means (26), a second port (37) connected to the mains water system and a third port (41) connected to the building's water reticulation system; wherein when the first (34) and third port (41) a

Abstract: A well abandonment apparatus is described. The apparatus can be run on drillstring and does not require the use of explosives to sever the casing. The apparatus includes both a cutting device to perforate and sever the casing and a sealing device to prevent well fluids from reaching the surface while the well abandonment operation is proceeding.

Abstract: A connection arrangement includes a first connector (12) with an opening leading to first and second contacts (14, 16), where the first contact includes a beam (40) that is biased upwardly against the second contact but which can be depressed out of engagement with the second contact. The beam is depressed by a plug inner contact (32) of a mating second connector (30) that passes into the opening and depresses the beam, in an arrangement that assures firm engagement of the plug inner contact with the beam despite small beam movement. A stop (70) lying under the beam, limits its downward movement by the plug inner contact. The plug inner contact is spring biased downwardly with respect to the second connector frame (36) but can move up, so the second connector can continue to move down a short distance after the plug inner contact has pushed the beam against the stop, to enable full engagement of largely coaxial outer contacts (26, 34) of the first and second connectors.

Abstract: A process for removing free fatty acids (FFA) and preferably cholesterol from liquid anhydrous animal fats is described. The process uses a dilute solution of alkali metal base to form a salt of the FFA and then an alkali metal salt to precipitate the FFA from the animal fat. Preferably, a cyclodextrin is used in the process to remove cholesterol. Liquid vegetable fats are used in blends with the processed animal fat to produce a spreadable mixture for table use. The processed animal fat can be reconstituted to whole milk with the FFA and cholesterol removed for various commercial uses.