Abstract: The present invention provides a wellbore fluid, such as a drilling, completion or workover fluid, said wellbore fluid comprising a glucomannan additive. Further provided is a method of forming a gel plug from the wellbore fluid, a method of modifying the properties of a wellbore fluid, a method of drilling a subterranean hole with such a fluid and the use of glucomannan in wellbore fluids.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wellbore fluid, such as a drilling, completion or workover fluid, said wellbore fluid comprising a glucomannan additive. Further provided is a method of forming a gel plug from the wellbore fluid, a method of modifying the properties of a wellbore fluid, a method of drilling a subterranean hole with such a fluid and the use of glucomannan in wellbore fluids.

Abstract: A method of reducing the viscosity of a water-based drilling fluid without requiring dilution. The method of reducing the viscosity of a water-based drilling fluid, includes: providing a water-based drilling fluid containing a peroxide degradable polymer and a weighting agent, adding a viscosity reducing additive containing an inorganic peroxide to the water-based drilling fluid while maintaining the pH of the water-based drilling fluid at a pH greater than about 8, circulating the water-based drilling fluid having a pH greater than about 8 through a wellbore, and heating the circulating water-based drilling fluid to a temperature of at least about 150° F. so as to activate the inorganic peroxide to degrade the peroxide degradable polymer.

Abstract: A method of reducing the viscosity of a water-based drilling fluid without requiring dilution. The method of reducing the viscosity of a water-based drilling fluid, includes: providing a water-based drilling fluid containing a peroxide degradable polymer and a weighting agent, adding a viscosity reducing additive containing an inorganic peroxide to the water-based drilling fluid while maintaining the pH of the water-based drilling fluid at a pH greater than about 8, circulating the water-based drilling fluid having a pH greater than about 8 through a wellbore, and heating the circulating water-based drilling fluid to a temperature of at least about 150° F. so as to activate the inorganic peroxide to degrade the peroxide degradable polymer.

Abstract: A bait cast fishing reel includes a frame, a spool rotatably coupled to the frame, at least one magnet having a magnetic field coupled to a first one of the frame and spool, at least one electroconductive coil coupled to a second one of the frame and the spool within the magnetic field, an electrical energy storage device electrically coupled to the at least one electroconductive member to store electrical energy generated during rotation of the at least one magnet and the at least one electroconductive member relative to one another during rotation of the spool, a sensor configured to generate spool rotation signals representing rotation of the spool over time, a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to generate a control signal based upon the spool rotation signal, and a braking mechanism coupled to the controller and to the electrical energy storage device.

Abstract: A bait cast fishing reel includes a frame, a first side assembly disclosed on a first side of the frame and a second side assembly disclosed on a second side of the frame. The first side assembly includes a drive train. The second side assembly rotatably supports a spool shaft extending from the second side assembly to the first side of the frame and into releasable engagement with the drive train of the first side assembly. The second side assembly is separable from the frame to disengage an end of the spool shaft from the first side assembly so as to expose the end. The fishing reel further includes a spool having a center bore receiving the shaft, whereby the spool may be mounted onto the shaft or demounted from the shaft over the exposed end of the shaft.

Abstract: A fishing reel body includes a first side; a second line retrieval handle side opposite the first side; a bridge extending between the first and second sides, the bridge supporting a thumb rest portion; a convex surface on the second side configured to extend into the user's palm and an arcuate elevated contour on the second side and configured to extend within the notch between the user's thumb and index finger. The arcuate elevated contour preferably extends substantially adjacent to the thumb rest portion so as to support the user's thumb on the thumb rest portion away from the user's fingers.

Abstract: In a photographic paper production method, a photographic paper support is coated with one or more photographic silver halide emulsion layers and one or more other hydrophilic colloid layers, at least one of the layers including a hardener. The coated support is then dried and conditioned to a temperature of from 24.degree. C. to 33.degree. C. The photographic and other layers on the support are conditioned to an equilibrium relative humidity of from 55% to 70%. The coated support is then stored at the conditioned temperature until the photographic and other layers have achieved a predetermined hardness. The new photographic paper production method reduces the post-production storage time required for photographic paper to achieve an acceptable level of abrasion resistance.

Abstract: A spinning-type fishing reel is provided with a rear-actuated front drag. Concentric shafts are provided with a spool freely rotatable on one shaft. Drag members operate on the spool to provide drag to the spool. A drag knob on the rear of the reel operates on one of the shafts to shift the one shaft axially relative to the other, thereby applying pressure to the drag members and to the spool to increase the drag on the spool. In one form, the spool may be freely rotatable on a spool carrier which is keyed to one of the shafts. A spool cap attached to one of the shafts operates through the drag members to apply drag to the spool. The spool is urged against an abutment carried by the other shaft such that moving one shaft relative to the other by turning the rear-mounted drag knob either increases or decreases the drag on the spool.

Abstract: A vessel for production of deionized water having increased resistance to corrosion and internal contamination. A throughpipe provided with external threads is welded to the domed bottom and the inner tank bottom and extends into the interior of the vessel. A corrosion-resistant coating is applied to the interior of the vessel and partially upwardly on the threaded portion of the throughpipe such that the gasket prevents deionized water and other corrosive materials from attacking and delaminating the coating.