Abstract: Apparatus and methods for delivering and placing proppant to a subterranean formation fracture including identifying control variables and uncertain parameters of the proppant delivery and placement, optimizing a performance metric of the proppant delivery and placement under uncertainty, calculating sensitivity indices and ranking parameters according to a relative contribution in total variance for an optimized control variable, and updating a probability distribution for parameters, repeating optimizing comprising the probability distribution, and evaluating a risk profile of the optimized performance metric using a processor. Some embodiments may deliver proppant to the fracture using updated optimized values of control variables.

Abstract: A method of performing a stimulation operation at a wellsite is provided. The wellsite has a wellbore penetrating a formation having fractures therein. The method involves predicting placement of proppant parameters in the fractures based on wellsite data, generating an asperity model based on the predicted placement, predicting aperture change for a prescribed closure stress using the asperity model, and determining fracture conductivity based on the predicted aperture change. The method also involves placing into the fractures with a stimulation fluid by injecting the stimulation fluid having the proppant therein into the formation based on the determined fracture conductivity and producing fluid from the reservoirs and into the wellbore through the propped fractures.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for controlling the trajectory of a projectile having two rotationally decoupled sections, wherein the first section is rotationally decoupled from the second section. The first section of the projectile contains a navigation system. The first section also contains an actuator by which aero-control surfaces on the second section are actuated. The second section may have external aero-spin surfaces which provide a torque counter to the rotation of the base projectile. The apparatus and system also includes embodiments having applications for nose sections of projectiles.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for controlling the trajectory of a projectile having two rotationally decoupled sections, wherein the first section is rotationally decoupled from the second section. The first section of the projectile contains a navigation system. The first section also contains an actuator by which aero-control surfaces on the second section are actuated. The second section may have external aero-spin surfaces which provide a torque counter to the rotation of the base projectile. The apparatus and system also includes embodiments having applications for nose sections of projectiles.

Abstract: The invention is a projectile, device and system having a roll control device which may be fixed or deployable, for providing torque counter to the spin of the projectile and providing drag on the projectile. The roll control device includes a guidance collar rotatably attached to the projectile located near a front end of the projectile wherein the guidance collar includes one or more guidance collar aero-surfaces shaped to provide torque counter to the spin on the projectile. The guidance collar aero-surfaces may be controlled by a brake and guidance electronics on the projectile. The invention also includes a body collar fixedly attached to the projectile aft of the guidance collar, wherein the body collar includes one or more body collar aero-surfaces and fixed or deployable drag devices. Another embodiment use only a guidance collar aero-surfaces to orient a fixed drag device relative to an Earth inertial reference frame to create asymmetrical drag on the projectile and thereby altering its trajectory.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for delivering and placing proppant to a subterranean formation fracture including identifying control variables and uncertain parameters of the proppant delivery and placement, optimizing a performance metric of the proppant delivery and placement under uncertainty, calculating sensitivity indices and ranking parameters according to a relative contribution in total variance for an optimized control variable, and updating a probability distribution for parameters, repeating optimizing comprising the probability distribution, and evaluating a risk profile of the optimized performance metric using a processor. Some embodiments may deliver proppant to the fracture using updated optimized values of control variables.

Abstract: A method of performing a stimulation operation at a wellsite is provided. The wellsite has a wellbore penetrating a formation having fractures therein. The method involves predicting placement of proppant parameters in the fractures based on wellsite data, generating an asperity model based on the predicted placement, predicting aperture change for a prescribed closure stress using the asperity model, and determining fracture conductivity based on the predicted aperture change. The method also involves placing into the fractures with a stimulation fluid by injecting the stimulation fluid having the proppant therein into the formation based on the determined fracture conductivity and producing fluid from the reservoirs and into the wellbore through the propped fractures.

Abstract: The invention is a projectile, device and system having a roll control device which may be fixed or deployable, for providing torque counter to the spin of the projectile and providing drag on the projectile. The roll control device includes a guidance collar rotatably attached to the projectile located near a front end of the projectile wherein the guidance collar includes one or more guidance collar aero-surfaces shaped to provide torque counter to the spin on the projectile. The guidance collar aero-surfaces may be controlled by a brake and guidance electronics on the projectile. The invention also includes a body collar fixedly attached to the projectile aft of the guidance collar, wherein the body collar includes one or more body collar aero-surfaces and fixed or deployable drag devices. Another embodiment use only a guidance collar aero-surfaces to orient a fixed drag device relative to an Earth inertial reference frame to create asymmetrical drag on the projectile and thereby altering its trajectory.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to a roll damping apparatus for a spinning projectile having a first section and a second section rotatably attached about a roll axis. The roll damping apparatus comprises a first portion attached to the front section, and a second portion attached to the rear section. The first portion is adapted to cause a braking frictional force to act on the second portion, the braking force being effective to control the spin rate of the front section relative to the rear section. The invention further relates to a spinning projectile having a roll damping apparatus.

Abstract: Stable blend compositions composed of mixtures of polysiloxane(s) and organic polymer(s) are claimed. These polymer blends are white and opaque indicating the presence of phase separation on the micron scale. Such blends can be stored for long periods of time (years) without exhibiting evidence of macroscopic phase separation. These stable blends are achieved without substantial crosslinking as evidenced by the fact that the polymer blend is readily dissolved in a suitable organic solvent for molecular weight characterization. The stable blends of the present invention have particular utility as fouling release coatings for marine applications.

Abstract: Trajectory is controlled by a control system having fins that de-spin a section of the control system relative to a projectile or missile. The control system also includes aero-surfaces that produce a lift when brought to rotation speed of about 0 Hz relative to a reference frame and a brake that couples the guidance package to the rotational inertia of the projectile or missile. In one example, no electric motor is used in the trajectory control system, saving weight and increasing reliability.

Abstract: Trajectory is controlled by a control system having fins that de-spin a section of the control system relative to a projectile or missile. The control system also includes aero-surfaces that produce a lift when brought to rotation speed of about 0 Hz relative to a reference fame and a brake that couples the guidance package to the rotational inertia of the projectile or missile. In one example, no electric motor is used in the trajectory control system, saving weight and increasing reliability.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for isolating highly purified mixtures of natural Type I interferon from white blood cells. The invention also relates to highly-purified mixtures of Type I interferon which resemble natural Type I interferon in that the highly purified mixtures of natural Type I interferon includes at least 9 subtypes, i.e., alpha-1, alpha-2, alpha-5, alpha-7, alpha-8, alpha-10, alpha-14, alpha-21 and omega, giving rise to at least 16, and possibly 20 or more molecular species, including alpha-1a, alpha-1new, alpha-2a, alpha-2b, alpha-2c, alpha-5, alpha-5LG, alpha-7, alpha-8a, alpha-8c, alpha-10a, alpha-14a, alphal4-b, alpha 14-c, alpha-14LG, alpha-21a, alpha-21b, alpha-21c, omega and omega LG.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for isolating highly-purified mixtures of natural type I interferons from white blood cells. The invention also relates to highly-purified mixtures of natural type I interferons which resemble natural type I interferon in that it includes 9 subtypes, i.e., alpha-1, alpha-2, alpha-5, alpha-7, alpha-8, alpha-10, alpha-14, alpha-21 and omega, giving rise to possibly 20 molecular species, including alpha-1a, alpha-1new, alpha-2a, alpha-2b, alpha-2c, alpha-5, alpha-5LG, alpha-7, alpha-8a, alpha-8c, alpha-10a, alpha-14a, alpha14-b, alpha 14-c, alpha-14LG, alpha-21a, alpha-21b, alpha-21c, omega and omega LG.

Abstract: There is provided a system for the delivery of a gaseous product to a reaction chamber. The system includes a fuel tank containing a hypergolic liquid displaced from the fuel tank by a pressurized gas whose flow is controlled by a thruster control valve and directed to a gas generator. Pressurant gas entrained in the hypergolic liquid is not decomposed in the gas generator and causes pressure oscillations. The pressure oscillations are minimized by reducing the diameter of the gas bubbles or by disposing a gas fluid resistor between the gas generator and the reaction chamber.