Abstract: A process for making and using a ground product that includes the steps of: reacting a guar split with propylene oxide at a reaction temperature in a range of 120° F. to 180° F. to form a guar derivative; and treating the guar derivative with at least one of washing and drying to form a resultant treated derivative. The process includes transferring the resultant treated derivative to a co-grinder operably associated with a heated vacuum system; and co-grinding the resultant treated derivative with a powdered carboxylic acid to form a ground product.

Abstract: An aircraft is provided including an airframe, an extending tail, and a counter rotating, coaxial main rotor assembly including an upper rotor assembly and a lower rotor assembly. A translational thrust system positioned at the extending tail, the translational thrust system providing translational thrust to the airframe. A horizontal stabilizer with a left elevator and right elevator positioned at the extending tail. A flight control computer to independently control one or more of the main rotor assembly and the elevator through a fly-by-wire control system. The flight control computer is configured to mix a collective pitch of the main rotor assembly and a deflection of the elevator.

Abstract: An embodiment of a bonding jumper systems can include one bonding jumper comprising an electroconductive material. The bonding jumper can be a member comprising an inlet end and an outlet end. The at least one bonding juniper can be configured to be mechanically coupled to a water meter body. The water meter can comprise an inlet and outlet that both comprise an electroconductive fitting. The inlet end is mechanically coupled to the inlet to initiate an electrical coupling and the outlet end is mechanically coupled to the outlet to complete the electrical coupling. The bonding jumper system can further include a cover configured to encapsulate the meter body and the at least one bonding jumper.

Abstract: A drilling rig apparatus is disclosed for improving autodriller control during directional drilling. A BHA determines a relationship between downhole WOB and downhole differential pressure and sends the relationship to a surface controller. The relationships may be sent on a set periodic basis or dynamically in response to the relationships over time differing from each other above a threshold amount. The surface controller estimates downhole WOB by inputting surface differential pressure into a formula implementing the relationship from downhole. The estimated downhole WOB is input into the autodriller for control and is used to estimate MSE. Downhole WOB, either estimated or actual values, may further be used to determine a ratio between downhole WOB and surface-determined WOB values. If the ratio falls below zero in comparison to a prior ratio, then a slack-off rate is adjusted until the ratio reaches zero or a positive value again.

Abstract: A fly-by-wire aircraft and method of flying a fly-by-wire aircraft is disclosed. The aircraft includes a control system for flying the aircraft in one of a proportional ground control mode and a model following controls mode. A control device at a control interface of the aircraft selectively activates a trim follow up function in the control system. When flying the aircraft in a proportional ground control mode, trim follow up function can be activated. The control system can then transition into the model following controls mode with the trim follow up function activated to reduce transient behavior.

Abstract: A method includes coupling a strain gauge to a tubular member, and positioning the tubular member in the wellbore such that the tubular member is placed under bending stress by a curvature or deviation in the wellbore. The method also includes measuring bend on the tubular member with the strain gauge in at least one plane and determining one or more of the magnitude or orientation of the curvature of the wellbore based on an output of the strain gauge.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an antenna for transfer of information along a drill string. The antenna has an antenna coil having a long side and short side. The antenna coil is adapted to be affixed to the drill string such that the long side of the antenna coil is along the longitudinal axis of the drill string, and the short side is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drill string.

Abstract: A process for making and using a ground product that includes the steps of: reacting a guar split with propylene oxide at a reaction temperature in a range of 120° F. to 180° F. to form a guar derivative; and treating the guar derivative with at least one of washing and drying to form a resultant treated derivative. The process includes transferring the resultant treated derivative to a co-grinder operably associated with a heated vacuum system; and co-grinding the resultant treated derivative with a powdered carboxylic acid to form a ground product.

Abstract: A system for making and using a ground product that includes one or more of: a reactor operated to react a guar split with a reagent at a reaction temperature in a range of 120° F. to 180° F. to form a guar derivative, and a treatment and transfer section for optionally treating the guar derivative and transferring the guar derivative to a co-grinder. The co-grinder is operably associated with a heated vacuum system and is operated to co-grind an acid with the guar derivative to form a ground product.

Abstract: A method may include drilling a section of a first wellbore and casing a section of a first wellbore. The method may include lowering a downhole receiving system into the first wellbore to a first wellbore depth and drilling at least one section of a second wellbore. In addition, the method may include positioning an EM telemetry system in the at least one section of the second wellbore and transmitting an EM telemetry signal from the EM telemetry system. The method may include receiving the EM telemetry signal with the downhole receiving system.

Abstract: A method includes providing a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) in a wellbore. The BHA includes a rotary steerable system and a downhole attitude correction and control system. The downhole correction and control system includes a first sensor set, the sensors of the first sensor set positioned near ferromagnetic components of a drill string and a second sensor set, the sensors of the second sensor set positioned further from the ferromagnetic components of the drill string than the sensors of the first sensor set. The downhole correction and control system also includes a RSS controller operatively coupled to and adapted to receive measurements from the first and second sensor sets, the controller in data communication with the rotary steerable system. Corrupted data from the first sensor set and reference data from the second sensor set is obtained, the corrupted data including cross-axis magnetometer and accelerometer measurements.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and system for controlling an aircraft based on detecting control element damage is disclosed. According to one example, a computer-implemented method includes detecting, by a processing system, damage to a control element of the aircraft. The method further includes characterizing, by the processing system, the damage to determine a corrective action to take based at least in part on the detected damage. The method further includes controlling, by the processing system, the aircraft based at least in part on the corrective action.

Abstract: A process for producing crude biodiesel from renewable feedstocks (such as fats, oils, and greases) containing unsaponifiable materials; purifying the crude biodiesel through a purification process; recovering a purified biodiesel distillate stream and a less volatile biodiesel residue stream; and further recovering valuable chemicals from the biodiesel residue. Specifically, the present technology relates to the concentration of valuable chemicals in the biodiesel residue product of biodiesel production and the subsequent recovery of these valuable chemicals. The process may further include the conversion of the biodiesel residue into diesel range hydrocarbons using hydrodeoxygenation and the subsequent purification of the hydrocarbon fraction produced thereby.

Abstract: A biodegradable container including a unitary polymeric body element having a top portion and a cylindrical body portion. The top portion has a cylindrical neck wherein the cylindrical neck defines an inner surface and an outer surface. The container further includes a polymeric bottom element welded to the cylindrical body portion of the unitary polymeric body element. A polymeric cap defines an internal rim configured to be received by the inner surface of the cylindrical neck. The polymeric cap includes an external cover having an interior surface which may be tapered so that the outer surface of the cylindrical neck and the interior surface of the external cover form an inner seal. The interior surface of the external cover may also form an outer seal with the outer surface of the cylindrical neck when the polymeric cap is in a closed position.

Abstract: The field of the invention relates to methods, systems and computer program products for navigating digital media content, in particular for navigating digital media content using an interface abstracted from that digital media content instead of, or as a supplement to, traditional user interface controls. There is provided a method for presenting a user interface to an end user to facilitate the searching, browsing and/or navigation of digital media content, the method comprising the steps of: (a) analysing the digital media content to create “hooks” related to the digital media content, or retrieving “hooks” in the digital media content, and (b) replacing or augmenting a graphical or textual representation of the digital media content with the “hooks.

Abstract: A method for directing formation flying of an aircraft includes sensing a relative position of a leader to a follower aircraft by one or more sensors disposed at the follower aircraft. The relative position is compared to a selected relative position, and a follower velocity of the follower aircraft necessary to move the follower aircraft to the selective relative position is determined via a flight control computer of the follower aircraft. The follower velocity is transformed into flight control inputs and the follower aircraft is moved to the selected relative position via the flight control inputs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for slide drilling are described. The system includes a controller and a drive system. The controller is configured to determine a resonant frequency of a drill string, generate a rotational acceleration profile having a frequency at least substantially similar to the determined resonant frequency, and provide one or more operational control signals to oscillate the drill string based on the generated rotational acceleration profile. The drive system is configured to receive the one or more operational control signals from the controller, and oscillate the drill string based on the generated rotational acceleration profile so that the drill string oscillates at a frequency substantially similar to the determined resonant frequency while slide drilling.

Abstract: Systems and methods for directional drilling are described. The system includes one or more controllers and is configured to receive data from a plurality of downhole sensors, provide operational control signals, determine a relationship between different parameters, receive current data including at least one of current differential pressure (DP), weight-on-bit (WOB), or rotations per minute (RPM) of a drill bit, and estimate at least one of current toolface orientation or current shock and vibration of the drill bit using the current data and the determined relationship. The system is further configured to provide operational control signals that may adjust the current toolface orientation to a desired toolface orientation. Current WOB and/or current RPM are adjusted to minimize current shock and vibration of a portion of a bottom hole assembly (BHA).

Abstract: The field of the invention relates to methods, systems and computer program products for navigating digital media content, in particular for navigating digital media content using an interface abstracted from that digital media content instead of, or as a supplement to, traditional user interface controls. There is provided a method for presenting a user interface to an end user to facilitate the searching, browsing and/or navigation of digital media content, the method comprising the steps of: (a) analysing the digital media content to create “hooks” related to the digital media content, or retrieving “hooks” in the digital media content, and (b) replacing or augmenting a graphical or textual representation of the digital media content with the “hooks”.