Abstract: According to the invention there is provided a method of conduction including the steps of providing a quaternary ammonium compound, and causing the quaternary ammonium compound to conduct ionically.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an inline valve. The inline valve includes, a housing, a choke member in operable communication with the housing, a portion of the choke member being substantially immobile relative to the housing and a portion of the choke member being mobile relative to the housing. The inline valve further includes, an actuator in operable communication with the movable portion of the choke member, the actuator selectively causing the choke member to deform radially.

Abstract: An expandable packer or anchor is disclosed. It features a gripping device integral to or mounted in a sleeve over the mandrel. Upon expansion, a sealing element engages an outer tubular and the gripping device, such as wickers on slips, preferably digs into the outer tubular. The expansion is preferably by pressure and can incorporate pressure intensifiers delivered by slick line or wire line. Release is accomplished by a release tool, which is delivered on slick line or wire line. It stretches the anchor or packer longitudinally, getting it to retract radially, for release. The release tool can be combined with packers or anchors that have a thin walled feature in the mandrel, to release by pulling the mandrel apart.

Abstract: There is provided a method of forming a barrier over a polar liquid phase or a non-polar liquid phase including the steps of: providing a liquid system including the polar liquid phase or non-polar liquid phase and a monomer having a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion, monomer being located at one or more boundaries of the polar liquid phase or non-polar liquid phase; and polymerising the monomer so as to form a polymeric barrier at the one or more boundaries.

Abstract: There is provided a solid ionically conductive polymer having repeat units of a quaternary ammonium and including a plasticiser in an amount sufficient to render the polymer non-crystalline thereby increasing conductivity.

Abstract: An expandable packer or anchor is disclosed. It features a gripping device integral to or mounted in a sleeve over the mandrel. Upon expansion, a sealing element engages an outer tubular and the gripping device, such as wickers on slips, preferably digs into the outer tubular. The expansion is preferably by pressure and can incorporate pressure intensifiers delivered by slick line or wire line. Release is accomplished by a release tool, which is delivered on slick line or wire line. It stretches the anchor or packer longitudinally, getting it to retract radially, for release. The release tool can be combined with packers or anchors that have a thin walled feature in the mandrel, to release by pulling the mandrel apart.

Abstract: An expandable packer or anchor is disclosed. It features a gripping device integral to or mounted in a sleeve over the mandrel. Upon expansion, a sealing element engages an outer tubular and the gripping device, such as wickers on slips, preferably digs into the outer tubular. The expansion is preferably by pressure and can incorporate pressure intensifiers delivered by slick line or wire line. Release is accomplished by a release tool, which is delivered on slick line or wire line. It stretches the anchor or packer longitudinally, getting it to retract radially, for release. The release tool can be combined with packers or anchors that have a thin walled feature in the mandrel, to release by pulling the mandrel apart.

Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.

Abstract: An expandable packer or anchor is disclosed. It features a gripping device integral to or mounted in a sleeve over the mandrel. Upon expansion, a sealing element engages an outer tubular and the gripping device, such as wickers on slips, preferably digs into the outer tubular. The expansion is preferably by pressure and can incorporate pressure intensifiers delivered by slick line or wire line. Release is accomplished by a release tool, which is delivered on slick line or wire line. It stretches the anchor or packer longitudinally, getting it to retract radially, for release. The release tool can be combined with packers or anchors that have a thin walled feature in the mandrel, to release by pulling the mandrel apart.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are provided for isolating a storage application from a network interface driver. The apparatus includes a definition module, an application interface, a translation module, and a data buffer. The definition module defines a set of storage application functions. The translation module translates each storage application function to one or more network interface driver functions. The data buffer transfers data blocks between the storage application and the network interface driver.

Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.

Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.

Abstract: An expandable packer or anchor is disclosed. It features a gripping device integral to or mounted in a sleeve over the mandrel. Upon expansion, a sealing element engages an outer tubular and the gripping device, such as wickers on slips, preferably digs into the outer tubular. The expansion is preferably by pressure and can incorporate pressure intensifiers delivered by slick line or wire line. Release is accomplished by a release tool, which is delivered on slick line or wire line. It stretches the anchor or packer longitudinally, getting it to retract radially, for release. The release tool can be combined with packers or anchors that have a thin walled feature in the mandrel, to release by pulling the mandrel apart.

Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.

Abstract: One or more templates are provided for circulating fluids in a main well bore and for drilling and completing at least one offset well bore from the main well bore. Each template has a body, an inlet leg, a main outlet leg, and an offset outlet leg. A straddle assembly is mounted in the template to configure the template for fluid circulation. The straddle assembly, in cooperation with the inlet and main outlet legs, effects a downhole flow path which directs fluids from the inlet leg through body of the template and out the main outlet leg, bypassing the offset outlet leg. The straddle assembly is distally displaced from the template to reconfigure the template for drilling. A diverter is placed in the body of the template upon displacement of the straddle assembly to define a drill string path from the inlet leg to the offset outlet leg. The offset well bore is drilled by conveying a drill string through the drill string path.

Abstract: An expandable packer or anchor is disclosed. It features a gripping device integral to or mounted in a sleeve over the mandrel. Upon expansion, a sealing element engages an outer tubular and the gripping device, such as wickers on slips, preferably digs into the outer tubular. The expansion is preferably by pressure and can incorporate pressure intensifiers delivered by slick line or wire line. Release is accomplished by a release tool, which is delivered on slick line or wire line. It stretches the anchor or packer longitudinally, getting it to retract radially, for release. The release tool can be combined with packers or anchors that have a thin walled feature in the mandrel, to release by pulling the mandrel apart.

Abstract: A wellbore packer and slip combination for production tubing and the like comprises a plurality of slip elements that are caged together around the periphery of a cylindrical mandrel. An axially displaced actuator simultaneously engages all of the elements to ramp one end of all elements against a casing wall. After the one end of the slip and packer unit is set, further displacement of the actuator expands the other end of the elements against the casing wall. The packer and slip assembly may be retracted and recovered by a simultaneous lift and rotation of the tool string.

Abstract: A composition for use in extracting metals from aqueous solutions of metals salts comprises at least one o-hydroxyaryloxime containing at least 5 aliphatic or alicyclic carbon atoms and at least one ester containing from 10 to 30 carbon atoms, the weight ratio of o-hydroxyaryloximes to the esters being in the range of 10:1 to 1:3. A process for extracting metal from aqueous solutions using the composition is also disclosed.

Abstract: A composition for use in extracting copper values from aqueous solutions of metal salts comprises one or more o-hydroxyaryloximes containing at least 5 aliphatic or alicyclic carbon atoms which are strong metal extractants which, in 0.2 molar solution in an aliphatic hydrocarbon solution when loaded with 50% of the theoretical uptake of copper, will be in equilibrium with a 0.1 molar solution of copper as copper perchlorate at a pH less than 1 and one or more branched chain aliphatic or aliphatic-aromatic esters containing 10 to 30 carbon atoms, wherein the ratio of the number of methyl carbon atoms to the number of non-methyl carbon atoms is higher 1:5 and the weight ratio of A to B being in the range of 10:1 to 1:3.

Abstract: An inflatable packer is disclosed involving an expandable mandrel. The mandrel is initially corrugated, creating spaces for a material which can be pushed against an inflatable element when the corrugated mandrel is expanded. The mandrel can be expanded by use of fluid or mechanical forces. The mandrel can be configured to facilitate progressive expansion. Different fluids can be used to facilitate a permanent set using a hardenable material in the annular space between the mandrel and the element. Different materials can be used so that when subjected under pressure as the mandrel is expanded, they contact each other to form a hardenable filler material. A relief mechanism is provided to allow escape of excess inflation medium in certain circumstances. The yield strength of the mandrel material can vary along its length to facilitate progressive inflation. In certain applications, the inflatable described can also expand the casing in which it is mounted.