Abstract:
Oil and gas wells and injection wells are cleaned of oil-based drilling muds, pipe thread compounds, other oil contaminants, cement and contaminants in injection water by a composition comprising fresh water or seawater, one-half to ten percent concentration of an alkyl polyglycoside surfactant and one to ten percent of a caustic agent such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide.
Abstract:
Novel formulations for aqueous foams, which, in the presence of hydrocarbons, can persist for 24 hours or more. The formulations comprise one or more nonionic surfactants, a fluorinated surfactant, a solvent (esp. alcohol(s)), a polymer (esp. polysaccharides, biopolymers or synthetic polymers) and water. The foams are suitable for the suppression of hydrocarbon and polar organic vapors, and are especially useful in tanker loading.
Abstract:
There is provided a transient electromagnetic method and apparatus for inspecting objects using moving sensor. The apparatus (13) includes a sensing portion (27) which has a transmitting antenna (29) and at least one receiving antenna thereon (31). The sensing portion (27) is located adjacent to the object which is to be inspected such that the antennas (29, 31) are adjacent to the object. The sensing portion (27) is moved along the object at the same time the transmitting antenna (29) is inducing current in the wall and the receiving antenna (31) is producing a received signal of the induced current diffusion in the wall. Because the antennas (29, 31) are moving during data acquisition, the speed of inspection is increased. The data is then interpreted to determine the thickness of the object.
Abstract:
A dispersant for spacer fluids, cement slurries, completion fluids and mixtures of drilling fluids and cement slurries used for drilling and cementing subterranean wells.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method for testing individuals to determine their capability of conducting predetermined tasks. A base line is generated which is unique to each individual to whom the test is to be presented. The individual's current response to the battery of tests is compared by using an algorithm with the individual's base line to determine impairment of the individual. The algorithm is statistically designed to pass individuals relative to their base line performance level while eliminating all false negatives. When an individual tests positive, the test is repeated one or more times and the results compared using an algorithm which is statistically designed to pass individuals relative to their individual base line performance levels while eliminating all false positives. Such is accomplished by providing a source (10) of images randomly and non-repetitively to a screen (14) for recognition and response by the individual being tested. The responses are recorded in a compiler means (18) and then compared to the previous results of the same individual which are stored in a data base (22) and then tabulated to provide an output signal indicative of the individual's present ability to perform the task in question.
Abstract:
Apparatus for measuring the concentration of one material such as water in another material such as crude or refined oil including a coaxial microwave transmission line (14) formed by a conduit for receiving the material and a center conductor (22) which is sheathed with a dielectric covering (27) which is operable to prevent short circuiting of the transmission path. An oscillator circuit (30) is coupled to the transmission line and is driven by a free-running voltage controlled oscillator and a signal receiver monitors the change in frequency caused by impedance pulling of the oscillator due to the change in the dielectric constant of the mixture. Incident and reflected or transmitted power with respect to the measurement section is measured to determine whether an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion is present to verify the concentration of one fluid in the other for a particular operating frequency.
Abstract:
An improved method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products by contacting a gas comprising methane and an oxidative synthesizing agent under synthesis conditions, the improvement which comprises contacting methane with an oxidative synthesizing agent containing a promoting amount of alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and/or compounds thereof. Stability of the promoted contact agent is enhanced by the presence of phosphorus.
Abstract:
A process for the formation of high purity alumina from Bayer Process alumina trihydrate (gibbsite). The solid hydrated alumina is reacted with concentrated HCl to cause partial or complete conversion to aluminum chloride hexahydrate (ACH). The ACH or mixture of ACH and unreacted hydrated alumina is recovered as a solid and calcined in a single or multistage calcination to high purity alumina. Soda contents in the product anhydrous alumina can be reduced by 98% or greater. Contents of other impurities, such as silica, iron, magnesium, etc., are also markedly reduced. Different degrees of impurity reduction can be obtained by controlling the degree of conversion of the hydrated alumina to ACH and by recycling and treating the acid after solid/liquid separation. The purified products find use in the speciality ceramics field, as catalyst supports, as adsorbents, in electronic components, in prosthetic devices or other applications in which alumina of controlled degrees of purity offers an advantage.
Abstract:
An improved method of producing anhydrous aluminum chloride via aluminum chloride hexahydrate. In a preferred embodiment the method is incorporated into a process for producing aluminum from aluminous ores, and particularly from domestic ore sources comprising (1) acid leaching an aluminous ore to produce aluminum chloride hexahydrate (ACH); (2) calcining the ACH to a specific temperature of above about 450oC to produce highly reactive aluminous particles containing high residual chloride and low residual hydrogen levels; (3) reductively chlorinating the calcined ACH at a low temperature to produce anhydrous aluminum chloride suitable for electrolytic reduction; and (4) electrolytically reducing the anhydrous aluminum chloride in a fused salt to produce aluminum metal and chlorine which is recycled to step (3).