Abstract: The present invention relates to a transgenic plant having an altered level of salicylic acid 3-hydroxylase (“S3H”) protein, compared to that of a non-transgenic plant, where the transgenic plant displays an altered leaf senescence phenotype, relative to a non-transgenic plant. The present invention relates to a mutant plant comprising an inactivated gene encoding S3H protein, where the mutant plant displays a premature or precocious leaf senescence phenotype, relative to a non-mutant plant. The present invention also relates to methods for promoting premature or precocious leaf senescence in a plant, delaying leaf senescence in a plant, and making a mutant plant having a decreased level of S3H protein compared to that of a non-mutant plant, where the mutant plant displays a premature or precocious leaf senescence phenotype relative to a non-mutant plant. The present invention also relates to inducing or promoting pathogen resistance in plants.

Abstract: Particulates, such as proppants, that are coated with a coating agent selected from the group consisting of: organosilanes, organosiloxanes, polysiloxanes, long carbon chain hydrocarbon amines containing no silicon or fluoro-based groups in the molecule, amine functionalized polyolefins and polymerizable natural oils; and a chemical additive selected from the group consisting of: a scale inhibitor, a biocide, and an H2S scavenger. The coating agent controls the release of the additive from the particulate surface into surrounding fluid, providing a slow release that promotes the long lasting effect of the additive. The coated particulates have use in oilfield applications such as hydraulic fracturing operations, gravel pack operations, and in water treatment processes.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as the petroleum and pipeline industries includes a particulate, an aqueous liquid and a chemical compound that renders the particulate surface extremely hydrophobic. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate extremely hydrophobic during or before making the slurry.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as the petroleum and pipeline industries includes a particulate, an aqueous liquid and a chemical compound that renders the particulate surface extremely hydrophobic. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate extremely hydrophobic during or before making the slurry.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as the petroleum and pipeline industries includes a particulate, an aqueous liquid and a chemical compound that renders the particulate surface extremely hydrophobic. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate extremely hydrophobic during or before making the slurry.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as petroleum and pipeline industries comprises an aqueous liquid, particulates, a hydrophobizing agent that renders the particulate surface hydrophobic and a hydrophobic polymer. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate hydrophobic during or prior to making the slurry. The method and composition can find many applications in different industries, particularly in petroleum industry.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as petroleum and pipeline industries that includes: a particulate, an aqueous carrier fluid, a chemical compound that renders the particulate surface hydrophobic, and a small amount of an oil. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate hydrophobic during or before the making of the slurry. The addition of the oil greatly enhances the aggregation potential of the hydrophobically modified particulates once placed in the well bore.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as petroleum and pipeline industries that includes: a particulate, an aqueous carrier fluid, a chemical compound that renders the particulate surface hydrophobic, and a small amount of an oil. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate hydrophobic during or before the making of the slurry. The addition of the oil greatly enhances the aggregation potential of the hydrophobically modified particulates once placed in the well bore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transgenic plant having an altered level of salicylic acid 3-hydroxylase (“S3H”) protein, compared to that of a non-transgenic plant, where the transgenic plant displays an altered leaf senescence phenotype, relative to a non-transgenic plant. The present invention relates to a mutant plant comprising an inactivated gene encoding S3H protein, where the mutant plant displays a premature or precocious leaf senescence phenotype, relative to a non-mutant plant. The present invention also relates to methods for promoting premature or precocious leaf senescence in a plant, delaying leaf senescence in a plant, and making a mutant plant having a decreased level of S3H protein compared to that of a non-mutant plant, where the mutant plant displays a premature or precocious leaf senescence phenotype relative to a non-mutant plant. The present invention also relates to inducing or promoting pathogen resistance in plants.

Abstract: Described is a proppant composition comprising particulates coated with a polymeric coating comprising a polymerizable natural oil, and a method of making this composition. The polymerizable natural oil is a glyceryl ester that comprises greater than about 40% by weight of polyunsaturated fatty acids, or a derivative of this ester. The proppant composition is made by mixing particulates with a polymerizable natural oil and polymerizing the polymerizable natural oil to coat the surface of the particulates with polymer comprising polymerized natural oil. The composition may be used in a slurry that is used for hydraulic fracturing operations to improve proppant transportation and to mitigate proppant flowback.

Abstract: A method of improving the flow of fluids into or along a deviated wellbore that has a partial or complete obstruction caused by fill particles, comprising removing the fill particles from the obstruction and depositing the fill particles within the wellbore, uphole and/or downhole of the partial or complete obstruction. The method described herein removes obstructions and/or stimulates a well in which productivity has been impaired by the presence of fill in the wellbore. This is accomplished without removing the fill from the wellbore, and therefore avoids the consequent disposal or storage considerations.

Abstract: A proppant slurry is formed by lifting dry proppant using one or more augers and distributing an additive to modify the dry proppant as it falls from the top of the augers into a blender tub. Water is added to the blender tub and the modified proppant for forming the proppant slurry. The additive hydrophobically modifies surfaces of the proppant, typically sand, to produce stable proppant/bubble aggregations for forming proppant packs when introduced into formation fractures. The additive is distributed using main spray nozzles directed downwardly onto the falling proppant in a direction of fall of the proppant. Auxiliary spray nozzles protrude upwards into the proppant and distribute additive within and beneath the falling proppant and in a direction of travel thereat. Spray orifices further distribute additive to the falling proppant.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of systems for characterizing resonance behavior of magnetostrictive resonators are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a first channel including one or more driving coils and one or more magnetostrictive resonators, the first channel having a first impedance; a second channel having a second impedance, the second impedance differing from the first impedance by an impedance attributable to the one or more magnetostrictive resonators; a signal source configured to apply an input signal to both the first and second channels; and a signal receiver configured to generate a combined output signal in response to output signals measured from both the first and second channels.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as petroleum and pipeline industries comprises an aqueous liquid, particulates, a hydrophobizing agent that renders the particulate surface hydrophobic and a hydrophobic polymer. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate hydrophobic during or prior to making the slurry. The method and composition can find many applications in different industries, particularly in petroleum industry.

Abstract: Compositions, apparatuses and methods for isolating target zones for hydraulic fracturing, in particular, the use of smart fluids (i.e., magnetorheological fluids) to isolate target zones for fracturing by inducing an electromagnetic field to increase the viscosity of the fluids to form packers or plugs in the annulus of the wellbore and to isolate the target zone are disclosed.

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of systems for characterizing resonance behavior of magnetostrictive resonators are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a first channel including one or more driving coils and one or more magnetostrictive resonators, the first channel having a first impedance; a second channel having a second impedance, the second impedance differing from the first impedance by an impedance attributable to the one or more magnetostrictive resonators; a signal source configured to apply an input signal to both the first and second channels; and a signal receiver configured to generate a combined output signal in response to output signals measured from both the first and second channels.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry composition for use in industries such as petroleum and pipeline industries, such as for use as a fracturing fluid. The aqueous slurry composition includes a particulate, an aqueous liquid and a chemical compound that renders the particulate surface hydrophobic. The slurry is produced by rendering the surface of the particulate hydrophobic during or prior to making the slurry.

Abstract: A sand slurry composition and a method for making sand slurries are disclosed. The sand slurry composition is comprised of sand, an aqueous liquid and a chemical compound that renders the surface sand of hydrophobic. The method is comprised of rendering sand surface hydrophobic during or before making the slurry. This method and composition can find many applications in different industries, especially in various oil field applications.

Abstract: The present application is directed to an aqueous slurry composition for hydraulic fracturing operations and to a method of making such a composition. In particular, the present application is directed to aqueous slurry compositions comprising a liner gel that has significantly improved capability to transport proppants in a hydraulic fracturing operation. Such aqueous slurry compositions comprise an aqueous liquid, a hydrophobically modified associative polymer, proppants and a compound that renders the proppant surface hydrophobic.

Abstract: Modified (iso)eugenol 4-O-methyltransferase enzymes having novel capacity for methylation of monolignols and reduction of lignin polymerization in plant cell wall are disclosed. Sequences encoding the modified enzymes are disclosed.