Abstract: A system and method for imaging biological samples on multiple surfaces of a support structure are disclosed. The support structure may be a flow cell through which a reagent fluid is allowed to flow and interact with the biological samples. Excitation radiation from at least one radiation source may be used to excite the biological samples on multiple surfaces. In this manner, fluorescent emission radiation may be generated from the biological samples and subsequently captured and detected by detection optics and at least one detector. The detected fluorescent emission radiation may then be used to generate image data. This imaging of multiple surfaces may be accomplished either sequentially or simultaneously. In addition, the techniques of the present invention may be used with any type of imaging system. For instance, both epifluorescent and total internal reflection methods may benefit from the techniques of the present invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for accessing data from electronic documents stored as print streams are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electronic document conforming to one of a plurality of print formats is obtained. The electronic document is parsed according to the one of the plurality of print formats to generate an intermediate data structure conforming to an intermediate format such that the electronic document is converted to the intermediate format, wherein the intermediate format is different from the plurality of print formats. One or more rules are applied to obtain data for a plurality of regions of the electronic document from the intermediate data structure. The data for the plurality of regions of the electronic document that has been obtained from the intermediate data structure is stored or provided, thereby enabling a report to be generated using at least a portion of the data for the plurality of regions that has been stored or provided.

Abstract: A method of determining one or more bulk rheological properties of a particle laden fluid comprising providing a system comprising a vessel, a pump coupled to the vessel, and a flow-through apparatus coupled to the pump and the vessel, wherein the flow-through apparatus comprises a flow chamber, a bob rotatably disposed within the chamber, wherein the bob comprises an outer geometry adapted for continuous laminar flow in an axial direction, and a gap between the chamber and the bob, pumping the particle laden fluid into the flow-through apparatus, shearing the particle laden fluid within the gap of the flow-through apparatus, and collecting data from the bob and observing the particle laden fluid to determine one or more bulk rheological properties of the particle laden fluid.

Abstract: Provided are methods that include a method comprising: placing a clean fluid comprising proppant particulates into a portion of a fracture in a subterranean formation, and depositing one or more of the proppant particulates into the fracture to form a partial monolayer. In another aspect, the invention provides methods that include placing a degradable fluid loss additive comprising collagen into a subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a pari-mutuel wagering environment is presented. The method includes receiving a wager amount at a server from each of a plurality of players, allocating a portion of each wager amount to a payout pool, and allocating a second portion of each wager amount to a jackpot. The method further includes simultaneously presenting a question to the plurality of players and receiving answers to the question from the players. The method also includes allocating pro rata shares of the payout pool to each player that answers the question correctly, and, if a specified percentage of the players answer the question correctly, allocating pro rata shares of the jackpot to each of the players that answered the question correctly. The system further includes a plurality of remote terminals and servers for performing the method.

Abstract: Methods and devices for testing friction reduction systems are described herein. Embodiments of the disclosed devices allow direct measurement of fluid or rheological properties of friction reduction systems in a “one pot” or integrated device while maintaining the particles in suspension. In an embodiment, a device for testing a friction reduction system comprises an outer chamber. The device also comprises an impeller disposed at the bottom of the outer chamber for mixing the friction reduction system. In addition, the device comprises an inner chamber fixedly disposed within the outer chamber. The inner chamber has an inlet and an outlet such that the inner chamber is in fluid communication with the outer chamber. The device further comprises a bob rotatably disposed within the inner chamber.

Abstract: Some of the methods provided comprise the steps of: providing an aqueous treatment fluid that comprises a polysaccharide and a dual functional component, the aqueous treatment fluid having a first viscosity; allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide such that the viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid increases to a second viscosity, the second viscosity being greater than the first viscosity; placing the aqueous treatment fluid into a subterranean formation; and allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide so as to reduce the second viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid to a third viscosity, the third viscosity being less than the second viscosity.

Abstract: A variety of methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one embodiment, a method that comprises: introducing a treatment fluid into a subterranean formation, wherein the treatment fluid comprises water and a concentrated polymer composition comprising a complexing agent and a friction reducing polymer. Also disclosed is a method that comprises combining at least water and a concentrated polymer composition to form a treatment fluid, wherein the concentrated polymer composition comprises a complexing agent and a friction reducing polymer; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation. Also disclosed is a concentrated polymer composition comprising: a friction reducing polymer in an amount of about 15% to about 60% by weight of the composition; and a complexing agent.

Abstract: Many methods and compositions are provided. One of the methods provided comprises the steps of: providing an aqueous treatment fluid that comprises a polysaccharide and a dual functional component, the aqueous treatment fluid having a first viscosity; allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide such that the viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid increases to a second viscosity, the second viscosity being greater than the first viscosity; placing the aqueous treatment fluid into a subterranean formation; and allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide so as to reduce the second viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid to a third viscosity, the third viscosity being less than the second viscosity. An example of a composition is a viscosified treatment fluid for treating subterranean formations comprising: an aqueous base fluid and an apparent cross linked reaction product of a polysaccharide and a dual functional component.

Abstract: An excitation and detection system is provided for separately detecting different wavelengths of emission light emitted from a sample. The system comprises an excitation assembly to excite a sample and a detection assembly to receive fluorescence emitted from the sample. The detection assembly includes a multi-band dichroic member and at least first and second detection cameras. The multi-band dichroic member has a transmission/reflection characteristic with at least two transmissive regions separated from each other along the wavelength spectrum and with at least one reflective region separated from the transmissive regions along the wavelength spectrum. The dichroic member transmits fluorescence that aligns with the at least two transmissive regions to the first detection camera. The dichroic member reflects fluorescence that aligns with the reflective region to the second detection camera.

Abstract: Many methods and compositions are provided. One of the methods provided comprises the steps of: providing an aqueous treatment fluid that comprises a polysaccharide and a dual functional component, the aqueous treatment fluid having a first viscosity; allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide such that the viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid increases to a second viscosity, the second viscosity being greater than the first viscosity; placing the aqueous treatment fluid into a subterranean formation; and allowing the dual functional component to interact with the polysaccharide so as to reduce the second viscosity of the aqueous treatment fluid to a third viscosity, the third viscosity being less than the second viscosity. An example of a composition is a viscosified treatment fluid for treating subterranean formations comprising: an aqueous base fluid and an apparent cross linked reaction product of a polysaccharide and a dual functional component.

Abstract: The present invention comprises systems and devices for sequencing of nucleic acid, such as short DNA sequences from clonally amplified single-molecule arrays.

Abstract: A method of determining one or more bulk Theological properties of a particle laden fluid comprising providing a system comprising a vessel, a pump coupled to the vessel, and a flow-through apparatus coupled to the pump and the vessel, wherein the flow-through apparatus comprises a flow chamber, a bob rotatably disposed within the chamber, wherein the bob comprises an outer geometry adapted for continuous laminar flow in an axial direction, and a gap between the chamber and the bob, pumping the particle laden fluid into the flow-through apparatus, shearing the particle laden fluid within the gap of the flow-through apparatus, and collecting data from the bob and observing the particle laden fluid to determine one or more bulk rheological properties of the particle laden fluid.

Abstract: Methods and devices for testing friction reduction systems are described herein. Embodiments of the disclosed devices allow direct measurement of fluid or rheological properties of friction reduction systems in a “one pot” or integrated device while maintaining the particles in suspension. In an embodiment, a device for testing a friction reduction system comprises an outer chamber. The device also comprises an impeller disposed at the bottom of the outer chamber for mixing the friction reduction system. In addition, the device comprises an inner chamber fixedly disposed within the outer chamber. The inner chamber has an inlet and an outlet such that the inner chamber is in fluid communication with the outer chamber. The device further comprises a bob rotatably disposed within the inner chamber.

Abstract: A variety of methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one embodiment, a method that comprises: introducing a treatment fluid into a subterranean formation, wherein the treatment fluid comprises water and a concentrated polymer composition comprising a complexing agent and a friction reducing polymer. Also disclosed is a method that comprises combining at least water and a concentrated polymer composition to form a treatment fluid, wherein the concentrated polymer composition comprises a complexing agent and a friction reducing polymer; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation. Also disclosed is a concentrated polymer composition comprising: a friction reducing polymer in an amount of about 15% to about 60% by weight of the composition; and a complexing agent.

Abstract: The invention is for a method of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, a method is provided for pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first fluid has a relatively high concentration of a hydratable additive and the second fluid has either none or a relatively low concentration of the hydratable additive.

Abstract: The invention is for a method of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, a method is provided for pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first fluid has a relatively high concentration of a hydratable additive and the second fluid has either none or a relatively low concentration of the hydratable additive.

Abstract: The invention is for a method of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, a method is provided for pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first fluid has a relatively high concentration of a hydratable additive and the second fluid has either none or a relatively low concentration of the hydratable additive.

Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided of pumping a first fluid having a relatively high concentration of a particulate suspended therein and pumping a second fluid having either none of the particulate or a relatively low concentration of the particulate suspended therein, and then merging at least the first and second fluids to form a treatment fluid having a merged concentration of the particulate. According to this aspect, the first and second fluids are pumped at different average bulk fluid velocities through different pumping chambers of fluid pumps. This helps reduce wear on the pumps.

Abstract: The inventions are for methods of forming and delivering a treatment fluid into a wellbore. In one aspect, methods are provided of treating a base aqueous solution to obtain a first aqueous solution, for example, to have a substantially reduced concentration of at least one component relative to the concentration of the component in the base aqueous solution, and using the first aqueous solution and a lower-quality water, such as the base aqueous solution, to form a treatment fluid. The first aqueous solution and the lower-quality water are merged after pumping the fluid portions toward the wellbore. The component is selected for being deleterious to the use or performance of a treatment fluid. More particularly, the component is selected from the group consisting of: a dissolved ion, oil, grease, a production chemical, and suspended, water-insoluble solids. This allows the use of lower-quality water for some of the water required for making up the treatment fluid.