Abstract: An electrical stability testing device includes a cup configured to receive a fluid sample. The testing device also includes a pair of electrodes positioned at least partially within the cup. The electrodes are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined gap. The electrodes are configured to have the fluid sample positioned within the predetermined gap while performing an ES test on the fluid sample in the cup. The testing device also includes a wiper positioned at least partially within the cup. The wiper is configured to pass between the electrodes after the ES test has concluded. A width of the wiper is greater than the predetermined gap between the electrodes. The wiper is configured to deform as the wiper passes through the predetermined gap such that the width becomes substantially equal to the predetermined gap and sides of the wiper contact ends of the electrodes to clean the electrodes.

Abstract: A device includes a housing having a bore formed axially therethrough. The housing includes a stop that protrudes radially inward proximate to a lower end of the housing. The device also includes a lower piston positioned in the bore. The lower piston is configured to move axially within the bore in response to a pressure differential across the lower piston. The lower piston is prevented from passing out through the lower end of the housing by the stop. The lower piston has a lower piston hole formed therethrough. The device also includes an upper piston positioned in the bore. The upper piston is configured to move axially within the bore in response to a pressure differential across the upper piston. The upper piston has an upper piston hole formed therethrough. The device is configured to receive a fluid in the bore, between the upper and lower pistons.

Abstract: An electrical stability testing device includes a cup configured to receive a fluid sample. The testing device also includes a pair of electrodes positioned at least partially within the cup. The electrodes are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined gap. The electrodes are configured to have the fluid sample positioned within the predetermined gap while performing an ES test on the fluid sample in the cup. The testing device also includes a wiper positioned at least partially within the cup. The wiper is configured to pass between the electrodes after the ES test has concluded. A width of the wiper is greater than the predetermined gap between the electrodes. The wiper is configured to deform as the wiper passes through the predetermined gap such that the width becomes substantially equal to the predetermined gap and sides of the wiper contact ends of the electrodes to clean the electrodes.

Abstract: A device for aging a drilling fluid includes a housing. The device also includes a lower cap that is configured to be coupled to or integral with a lower end of the housing. The device also includes an upper cap that is configured to be coupled to an upper end of the housing. The upper cap has an upper cap hole formed therethrough. The device also includes a piston that is configured to be positioned within the housing and between the lower and upper caps. The piston is configured to move axially within the housing in response to a pressure differential across the piston. The piston has a first piston hole formed therethrough.

Abstract: A device for aging a drilling fluid includes a housing. The device also includes a lower cap that is configured to be coupled to or integral with a lower end of the housing. The device also includes an upper cap that is configured to be coupled to an upper end of the housing. The upper cap has an upper cap hole formed therethrough. The device also includes a piston that is configured to be positioned within the housing and between the lower and upper caps. The piston is configured to move axially within the housing in response to a pressure differential across the piston. The piston has a first piston hole formed therethrough.

Abstract: A device includes a housing having a bore formed axially therethrough. The housing includes a stop that protrudes radially inward proximate to a lower end of the housing. The device also includes a lower piston positioned in the bore. The lower piston is configured to move axially within the bore in response to a pressure differential across the lower piston. The lower piston is prevented from passing out through the lower end of the housing by the stop. The lower piston has a lower piston hole formed therethrough. The device also includes an upper piston positioned in the bore. The upper piston is configured to move axially within the bore in response to a pressure differential across the upper piston. The upper piston has an upper piston hole formed therethrough. The device is configured to receive a fluid in the bore, between the upper and lower pistons.

Abstract: Rheometer systems and related methods are provided. In accordance with an example, a rheometer system includes a rheometer and a platform supporting the rheometer and movable between a lowered position and a raised position. The rheometer system includes a fluid receptacle defining an opening. The rheometer system includes a receptacle housing having a housing side and adapted to receive the fluid receptacle. The opening of the fluid receptacle facing the rheometer when the fluid receptacle is received by the receptacle housing. The rheometer system includes a thermoelectric device coupled adjacent to the housing side. The rheometer system includes a controller in communication with the thermoelectric device and adapted to control a temperature of the thermoelectric device.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to receive, facilitate, and manage food ordering, especially remote, electronic food ordering. In some embodiments, a food order processing and management system includes an electronic user interface that receives a food order, a database with a plurality of food preparation facilities and capabilities associated therewith, and a central computer coupled to the database, where the central computer is configured to maintain the capabilities of the various food preparation facilities, such as the available ingredients and preparation selections in the database, receive a retrieval time for a particular food preparation facility and present the available capabilities to the user based on the updated database, and notify the food preparation facility of the details of the food order including the selected ingredients and preparation details, along with the retrieval time.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to receive, facilitate, and manage food ordering, especially remote, electronic food ordering. In some embodiments, a food order processing and management system includes an electronic user interface that receives a food order, a database with a plurality of food preparation facilities and capabilities associated therewith, and a central computer coupled to the database, where the central computer is configured to maintain the capabilities of the various food preparation facilities, such as the available ingredients and preparation selections in the database, receive a retrieval time for a particular food preparation facility and present the available capabilities to the user based on the updated database, and notify the food preparation facility of the details of the food order including the selected ingredients and preparation details, along with the retrieval time.

Abstract: A system for testing a wellbore fluid includes a test chamber having first and second platens therein. The chamber is in a thermally insulating enclosure. The enclosure includes a heating element. The platens simulate response of the wellbore fluid through an hydraulically induced fracture in subsurface rock formation. The system includes means to control a distance between the platens. A pump introduces the wellbore fluid into a space between the platens and another pump introduces a pressure test fluid into contact with the wellbore fluid. A respective pressure sensor is in fluid communication with a discharge side of each pump, and a sensor is included to measure a parameter related to the position of the second platen or the space between the platens. A data acquisition and control device is configured to detect signals from the respective pressure transducers and the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a drilling fluid includes a vessel having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a pair of opposed impermeable platens disposed within the vessel. The apparatus further includes a test fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, and a collection container in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. Additionally, the system includes a data acquisition device configured to receive data from at least one of the vessel, the test fluid container, and the collection container. Also, a method for determining sealing characteristics of a drilling fluid includes injecting a test fluid having a fluid loss control material from a test fluid container to a vessel, the vessel having a first impermeable platen and a second impermeable platen with a gap between the two platens. The methods further includes measuring a fracture tip fluid loss through the gap.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing the effects of mud chemistry and bit design on bit balling is disclosed The apparatus includes a replica bit coupled to a rotary drive and having at least one nozzle, a test container, a test formation located within the test container through which the replica bit will be drive, wherein the test formation includes a plurality of layers of pre-manufactured cuttings The apparatus further includes a lifting device applying a force to the bottom of the container to drive the test formation into the replica bit while the replica bit is rotating, a second container within which is a drilling fluid, and a pump for communicating drilling fluid from the container through a conduit to the replica bit.

Abstract: A screen test apparatus includes a test cell disposed within a pressure vessel, a piston disposed within the pressure vessel, wherein the piston is in sealing contact with an inner surface of the pressure vessel, and a screen assembly disposed in an end of the test cell. The screen assembly includes a mount collar, a screen disposed in the mount collar, and an end cap adjacent the screen which includes grooves in a face adjacent the screen and passages extending through the end cap, wherein the screen assembly is configured to fully support the screen while allowing a fluid to pass through the screen.

Abstract: A system for testing a wellbore fluid includes a test chamber having first and second platens therein. The chamber is in a thermally insulating enclosure. The enclosure includes a heating element. The platens simulate response of the wellbore fluid through an hydraulically induced fracture in subsurface rock formation. The system includes means to control a distance between the platens. A pump introduces the wellbore fluid into a space between the platens and another pump introduces a pressure test fluid into contact with the wellbore fluid. A respectve pressure sensor is in fluid communication with a discharge side of each pump, and a sensor is included to measure a parameter related to the position of the second platen or the space between the platens. A data acquisition and control device is configured to detect signals from the respective pressure transducers and the sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing a drilling fluid includes a vessel having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a pair of opposed impermeable platens disposed within the vessel. The apparatus further includes a test fluid container in fluid communication with the fluid inlet, and a collection container in fluid communication with the fluid outlet. Additionally, the system includes a data acquisition device configured to receive data from at least one of the vessel, the test fluid container, and the collection container. Also, a method for determining sealing characteristics of a drilling fluid includes injecting a test fluid having a fluid loss control material from a test fluid container to a vessel, the vessel having a first impermeable platen and a second impermeable platen with a gap between the two platens. The methods further includes measuring a fracture tip fluid loss through the gap.

Abstract: A system for screening a drag reduction agent that includes at least one pressure vessel, comprising: at least one container having an outlet; a first tube fluidly connected with the outlet of the at least one container; a second tube fluidly connected with the first tube; a timer; and a collection vessel configured to receive a fluid from the second tube is disclosed.

Abstract: A screen test apparatus includes a test cell disposed within a pressure vessel, a piston disposed within the pressure vessel, wherein the piston is in sealing contact with an inner surface of the pressure vessel, and a screen assembly disposed in an end of the test cell. The screen assembly includes a mount collar, a screen disposed in the mount collar, and an end cap adjacent the screen which includes grooves in a face adjacent the screen and passages extending through the end cap, wherein the screen assembly is configured to fully support the screen while allowing a fluid to pass through the screen.

Abstract: A pressurized crystallization point test apparatus for pressurizing a fluid sample and optically detecting the degree of crystallization in the fluid sample while simultaneously measuring the temperature and change in volume of the fluid sample during cooling or heating of the sample is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a cell for containing a fluid sample in an interior of the cell, wherein the cell comprises a first transparent window and a second transparent window; a cooling source for cooling the fluid sample; a pressure source for pressurizing the fluid sample; a temperature sensor positioned in the interior of the cell for measuring the temperature of the fluid sample; an external light source configured to direct light into the cell through the first transparent window; and an external light detector configured to measure the amount of light that traverses the first transparent window, a portion of the fluid sample, and the second transparent window.

Abstract: An apparatus for optically detecting the degree of crystallization in a fluid sample while simultaneously measuring the temperature of the fluid sample during cooling or heating of the sample is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a test vial for containing a fluid sample in an interior of the vial, wherein the test vial is light permeable; a cooling source for cooling the fluid sample; a temperature sensor positioned in the interior of the test vial for measuring the temperature of the fluid sample; an external light source configured to direct light into the test vial; and an external light detector configured to measure the amount of light that traverses both the test vial and the fluid sample.