Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling a wellbore in the earth from a location in a body of water wherein the drilling operation generates a substantial amount of a mixture of solid drilling cuttings, water and at least one hydrocarbonaceous oil wherein the water and oil are removed from the solid drilling cuttings and any retain solid particles in said water and oil are removed therefrom prior to reuse, disposal, or other disposition of said water and oil.

Abstract: A gravel pack well completion includes an elongated gravel pack screen connected at its upper end to a production tube which in turn is connected to a production fluid pump. The gravel pack screen includes an elongated tube interposed therein and having a primary inlet located generally in the vicinity of the lower end of the screen for maintaining sufficient liquid flow velocity within the screen to prevent settling and accumulation in the wellbore of entrained fine solids entering said screen with production liquids. A gas port is provided in the upper end of the draft tube to conduct gas into said production tube and to prevent significant accumulation of gas in the wellbore at the gravel pack.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for discharging heavy oil-treated particulate coal and controlling emissions from a heavy oil spray contacting vessel.

Abstract: A method for discharging heavy oil treated particulate coal and controlling emissions from a heavy oil spray contacting vessel is disclosed. In particular, a bed of heavy oil treated coal is maintained in the lower portion of the oil spray contacting vessel. The heavy oil treated coal is withdrawn from the bottom of the bed while maintaining the bed at a sufficient depth to remove a major portion of the heavy oil mist from gaseous materials within the vessel. A major portion of gaseous materials are made to pass downwardly through the bed.

Abstract: Dried particulate low rank coal fuel having a reduced reactivity and a reduced dusting tendency is produced from dried particulate low rank coal by a method consisting essentially of: intimately contacting the dried particulate low rank coal with a deactivating oil in an amount sufficient to reduce the reactivity of the dried coal by a desired amount and thereafter intimately contacting the deactivated dried coal with a dedusting oil in an amount sufficient to reduce the dusting tendency of the deactivated dried coal by a desired amount. The deactivating oil has a 5 percent point in excess of about 900.degree. F. and the dedusting oil has a 5 percent point from about 400.degree. F. to about 750.degree. F.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the discharge of particulate solids through a discharge opening from a zone containing an expanded bed of particulate solids, the apparatus comprising a plurality of vertical doors positioned to open and close the discharge opening with the doors being adapted to open and close by rotation about a vertical axis; a mounting means to support the doors in position; and a controller adapted to control the opening and closing of the doors.

Abstract: A method for producing a dried coal fuel having a reduced tendency to spontaneously ignite from a low rank coal by drying the low rank coal and thereafter cooling the dried coal to a temperature below about 100.degree. F. Optionally the dried coal is partially oxidized prior to cooling, and optionally the dried coal is mixed with a deactivating fluid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for contacting particulate coal and a deactivating fluid, the apparatus comprising a mist contacting vessel wherein the coal and a deactivating fluid mist are contacted to produce a coal-deactivating fluid mixture. A method for producing the coal-deactivating fluid mixture is disclosed.

Abstract: In an oil shale retorting process, hot heat-carrying spherically-shaped solids are cycled to a retort zone to mix with and retort crushed oil shale, thereby producing gas and oil products and a mixture of irregularly-shaped, laminar spent shale and spherically-shaped solids. The spherically-shaped solids are separated and recovered from the spent shale for recycle through the process. In one stage of the separation procedure, a mixture of spent shale and spherically-shaped solids is fed to a continuously restored inclined surface whereon the spherically-shaped solids roll from the surface while the irregularly-shaped spent shale solids are separately removed from the inclined surface. Continuous restoration of the inclined surface is achieved through movement of the feed and the impingement area of the inclined surface relative to each other. The separation system may be used for separating other types of spherically-shaped solids which will roll from nonspherical, irregularly-shaped solids which do not roll.

Abstract: A conveyor belt is inclined from horizontal along its longitudinal axis at a preselected angle and is used to separate spherically-shaped rolling solids from irregularly-shaped nonrolling solids. The spherically-shaped solids roll down the inclined upper surface of the conveyor belt until they are removed from the belt. At a preselected area on the belt, the downward movement of the rolling solids is controlled by jets of gas blown up the belt. The force of the jets of gas may be quickly varied to hold the proper amount of spherically-shaped solids on the belt and also prevent the belt from being flooded by a mixture of unseparated solids. This responsive gas control facilitates separation and upward movement of the nonrolling solids. Most of the nonrolling solids eventually move to an upper point on the belt where they are removed.