Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for recovering natural gas from a hydrate deposit near or at the sea floor. A rigid dome structure, supported by a floating vessel and movable along the sea floor, is placed over the hydrate deposit. Heated sea water may be pumped from the floating vessel through headers and nozzles in the rigid dome structure. The heated sea water preferably fluidizes the marine sand containing hydrate, releasing gas in the hydrate. The gas is collected in the rigid dome structure and moved through a pipe to the floating vessel, where it may be processed through a turbo-expander and liquefied.

Abstract: An automated system to draw detailed networks for use in various types of engineering analysis and simulations. Nodes can be activated from a set of available node sites. Elements between nodes are automatically drawn by specifying the node start and node end of each element and selecting a draw command and utilizing stored data arrays and graphical software system for input and display of network based computations. A speed draw command can alternatively activate the next node site for the direction command selected and connect the starting and ending nodes with the next available element in a single command. Elements can also contain various attribute types that are displayed and edited on an element toolbar when elements are selected. Values stored in unique data arrays are then available for use in engineering computations.

Abstract: An automated system to draw detailed networks for use in various types of engineering analysis. A set of active node sites are available that are specified by entering the node number and selecting the desired node. Unused node sites can be removed or shown again as necessary. Elements between nodes are then automatically drawn by specifying the node start and node end of each element and selecting a draw command by utilizing stored data arrays and coordinate based graphical system software. Elements can also contain various attributes types that are automatically drawn if selected. Values stored in the unique data arrays are available for use in engineering computations, as well.

Abstract: A system to retrieve fluid property data consisting of a single common fluid property database interface and unique files to allow for efficient retrieval of fluid property data from the AIChE DIPPR database or any other fluid properties database from the hard disk storage area of a general data processor. A text file (1) of fluid descriptions for each fluid category is used to define the selections in the fluid description list box (4). A text file (2) of fluid properties for each fluid property category is used to define the selections in the fluid property list box (5). The selections in each list box change according to the category of fluid description and fluid property that is selected.

Abstract: A system for establishing a circuit between software programs such that applicable data is automatically transferred between programs and all attributes shown on a single common circuit data interface using unique data files on the hard disk storage area of a general data processor. For a given circuit file type, a global file is used as a data holding tank for storing and displaying all attributes determined or modified by each program in the circuit. A command button is used to create a connection between all the programs in the circuit using a switch file in the local path of each program. A data file is also written that has a code to reference each local data item to the global file. This data is automatically retrieved when this data is determined or modified by the active program in the circuit and control is passed back to the single common circuit data interface.