Abstract: The present invention provides a drilling fluid composition and a method of drilling comprising a drilling fluid, which may be oil- or water-based, and a composite microsphere component. The invention drilling fluid composition advantageously reduces the density of a conventional fluid, reduces costs associated with pumping and overcomes problems associated with conventional gas-injection processes. The invention uses conventional drilling and pumping equipment, requires no sea-floor based pumps and may be easily pressure-controlled to maintain the pressure of the fluid.

Abstract: Semicrystalline polymers can have predetermined amounts of their surfaces rendered quasi-amorphous by irradiation. Polymer surfaces which are so modified can display enhanced heat sealability to accept bonding to other materials.

Abstract: A heat-sealable, laminated package for hermetically sealing an object in a pouch of the package. The package has means for facilitating manual tearing the pouch along a predetermined path. The facilitating means includes two closely-spaced stiffened portions on opposite sides of the predetermined path and cut means at one end of the predetermined path for facilitating tearing the pouch along the predetermined path and between the two closely-spaced stiffened portions.