Abstract: A safety system and method, for use with apparatus having a conductive member where the apparatus changes the attitude and/or altitude of the conductive member during the operation of the apparatus, includes an antenna mounted on the conductive member which senses an electric field and provides an AC signal representative of the strength of the electric field. The peaks of the AC signal are averaged over several cycles to provide an average peak signal. A reference signal circuit derives the reference signal from either the average peak signal prior to the change in the member's attitude and/or altitude or while the member's attitude and/or altitude is changing. A control device connected to the averaging circuit and to the reference signal circuit prevents further changing of the conductive member's attitude and/or altitude in accordance with the average peak signal and the reference signal when the electric field strength is greater than a safe value.

Abstract: A system, which controls the content of an impurity in a crude oil stream, includes an injector which injects a demulsifier into a stream of produced wet crude oil in response to a control signal. A three-phase separator receives the produced crude oil with demulsifier and partially separates produced water and gas from the crude oil to provide a separated wet crude oil stream. Apparatus mixes wash water in with the separated crude oil stream in accordance with a control signal to provide a crude oil/wash water stream. A dehydrator removes substantial amount of water from the crude oil/wash water stream to provide a dehydrated crude oil stream. A monitor monitors the content of a predetermined type of impurity in the dry crude oil stream and provides a corresponding impurity content signal to control apparatus. The control apparatus provides the first and second control signals in accordance with the signal from the monitor so as to control the impurity's content of the dry crude oil stream.

Abstract: A petroleum stream analyzer includes a test cell having a petroleum stream, or portion thereof, flowing through it. A neutron source bombards the petroleum stream in the test cell with fast neutrons, which are slowed down and thereafter engaged in thermal neutron capture reaction with materials in the petroleum stream. Gamma ray apparatus including a gamma ray detector provides an energy spectra of gamma rays from the materials in response to the capture of the thermal neutrons by the materials in the petroleum stream. Shielding material separates the neutron source from the gamma ray detector and a housing located within the test cell houses the neutron source, the gamma ray detector and the shielding material in a manner so that a longitudinal axis of the housing, which is substantially aligned with the axial flow of the petroleum stream in the test cell, passes through the neutron source, the shielding material and the gamma ray detector.

Abstract: A method for sealing off a section of tubing deep in a well comprises (1) permanently anchoring a tapered anchor in the tubing by lowering a beaded chain ring thereover for wedging the tapered anchor to the tubing at the desired position of sealing off of the tubing, and (2) fixedly attaching a bridge plug to the tubing by actuation of attaching means to the anchor for sealing off the section of tubing at the desired position. Likewise disclosed are a new bridge plug assembly, a new method for fishing for a cylindrical object deep in a well, a new fishing tool, and a new bridge plug element.

Abstract: A chamber structure for use in making gamma ray emission measurements of a fluid that is subjected to bombardment from a neutron source. It has cross pipes for permitting insertion of measuring instruments into the chamber. And, there are liner sleeves inside the chamber and outside the cross pipes to hold in place and protect a layer of boron for reducing background noise from the iron in the chamber and the cross pipes.