7722 results about "Earth surface" patented technology

An underground radio communications and personnel tracking system uses a portable communications device worn by a miner when underground in a mine. A cap-lamp transceiver provides voice and text communication on ultra-low frequency (ULF) to ultra-high frequency (UHF) carrier frequencies and modulation adapted by programming of a software defined radio to making selective and agile radio contacts via through-the-earth, conductor / lifeline, coal seam, tunnel, and ionosphere / earth-surface waveguides for transmission of electromagnetic waves. These waveguides comprise layered earth coal and mineral deposits, and manmade mining complex infrastructures which serendipitously form efficient waveguides. Ultra-Low Frequency F1 / F1 repeaters are placed underground in the mine, and providing for extended range of communication of the cap-lamp transceiver with radios and tracking devices above ground of the mine.

The invention provides a method for analyzing spatial variations in field and crop performance. The method allows analysis of the field and crop performance as a function of various treatment and / or environmental conditions. This method is an advance over the prior art in that it allows better defined, more accurate comparisons of adjacent test areas, eliminating the need for extrapolation of data and avoiding inaccuracies therefrom. Also, the more accurate comparisons allow better characterization of effects due to the environment, such as those caused by genotype by environment (GxE) interaction. The more accurately defined comparison units also lead to improved analysis when comparing to other data layers for non-spatial analysis. The invention also provides a system for carrying out this method. The system preferably includes a device for inputting spatially-referenced data, a memory, an output device, and a processor. The output data may be represented spatially or non-spatially. The information provided by the method and system of the invention will allow farmers to make more informed decisions regarding seed and farming inputs and practices, thereby maximizing agricultural productivity.

A method of generating a geodetic reference database product is disclosed The method comprises acquiring mobile mapping data captured by means of digital cameras, range sensors and position determination means including GPS and IMU mounted to a vehicle driving across the earth surface, the mobile mapping data comprising simultaneously captured image data, range data and associated position data in a geographic coordinate system. Linear stationary earth surface features are derived from the mobile mapping data by processing the image data, range data and associated position data. 3D-models are generated for the linear stationary earth surface features in the geographic coordinate system from the image data, range data and associated position data and stored in a database to obtain the geodetic reference database product. A 3D-model could include an image representing the colors of the surface of the 3D model or a set of smaller images representing photo-identifiable objects along the model. The 3D-models could be used to rectify aerial imagery, to correct digital elevation models and to improve the triangulation of digital elevation models.

A system emplaced in a subsurface formation configured to produce radio frequency (RF) fields for recovery of thermally responsive constituents includes coaxially disposed inner and outer conductors connected at an earth surface to an RF power source. The inner and outer conductors form a coaxial transmission line proximate said earth surface and a dipole antenna proximate said formation. The inner conductor protrudes from the outer conductor from a junction exposing a gap between the conductors to a deeper position within the formation. The RF power source is configured to deliver, via the conductors, RF fields to the formation. The system also includes at least one choke structure attached to said outer conductor at a distance at least ¼ wavelength above said junction. The choke structure is configured to confine a majority of said RF fields in a volume of said formation situated adjacent to said antenna.

This invention discloses a valve that generates a hydraulic negative pressure pulse and a frequency modulator for the creation of a powerful, broadband swept impulse seismic signal at the drill bit during drilling operations. The signal can be received at monitoring points on the surface or underground locations using geophones. The time required for the seismic signal to travel from the source to the receiver directly and via reflections is used to calculate seismic velocity and other formation properties near the source and between the source and receiver. This information can be used for vertical seismic profiling of formations drilled, to check the location of the bit, or to detect the presence of abnormal pore pressure ahead of the bit. The hydraulic negative pressure pulse can also be used to enhance drilling and production of wells.

The invention provides a method for ecological remediation on an acid tailing pond. By removing acids from soil, and by laying nonwoven cloth and a sealing layer, good partitioning is achieved, and byfurther laying a water reservation layer and a coated seed layer, the purpose of re-greening an acid tailing pond is achieved. The method has the beneficial effects that rainwater can be reserved tothe maximum extent, the sealing layer is capable of preventing the rainwater from infiltrating into tailings, the problems of underground water and ground water pollution can be substantially solved,the construction method is simple, and the construction cost is low; by using a seed coating technique, a set of rapid nursery stock breeding technique is formed, a stable ecological remediation system is cultured, the target of completely re-greening woody plants within 90 days is achieved, and environment problems of acid tailing ponds are solved for good.

Optimal structures for high efficiency thin film silicon solar energy conversion devices and systems are disclosed. Thin film silicon active layer photoelectron conversion structures using ion implantation are disclosed. Thin film semiconductor devices optimized for exploiting the high energy and ultraviolet portion of the solar spectrum at the earths surface are also disclosed. Solar cell fabrication using high oxygen concentration single crystal silicon substrates formed using in preference the CZ method are used advantageously. Furthermore, the present invention discloses optical coatings for advantageous coupling of solar radiation into thin film solar cell devices via the use of rare-earth metal oxide (REOx), rare-earth metal oxynitride (REOxNy) and rare-earth metal oxy-phosphide (REOxPy) glasses and or crystalline material. The rare-earth metal is chosen from the group commonly known in the periodic table of elements as the lanthanide series.

A method of generating a geodetic reference database product is disclosed The method comprises acquiring mobile mapping data captured by means of digital cameras, range sensors and position determination means including GPS and IMU mounted to a vehicle driving across the earth surface, the mobile mapping data comprising simultaneously captured image data, range data and associated position data in a geographic coordinate system. Linear stationary earth surface features are derived from the mobile mapping data by processing the image data, range data and associated position data. 3D-models are generated for the linear stationary earth surface features in the geographic coordinate system from the image data, range data and associated position data and stored in a database to obtain the geodetic reference database product. A 3D-model could include an image representing the colors of the surface of the 3D model or a set of smaller images representing photo-identifiable objects along the model. The 3D-models could be used to rectify aerial imagery, to correct digital elevation models and to improve the triangulation of digital elevation models.

A roaming sensor system collects data on the condition of roads and bridge decks and identifies and maps defects, including cracks, potholes, debonding, tracking, delamination, surface ice, surface water, and rebar corrosion. Data are collected by a vehicle or a fleet of vehicles driven at normal traffic speeds. The vehicle is outfitted with sensors that collect data using acoustic surface waves, ground penetrating radar, mm wave surface radar, and / or video images. The data are transmitted to a control center for analysis and distribution.

The invention discloses a sublevel shrinkage caving stage open afterwards filling mining method. In the earlier stage of stoping, caved ores are utilized to support surrounding rocks on a top tray, and in the later stage of stoping, a goaf area is filled with fillers to control ground pressure so as to achieve safe and efficient mining. Ore blocks are mined in two steps, mining blocks in step two are stoped after the mining blocks in step one are stoped and filled. After the ores are completely let out, the goaf area is filled with the fillers to control the ground pressure. Because the stoping modes of sublevel ore caving, sublevel shrinkage, final ore drawing and empty area afterwards filling are adopted, the mining method has large one-time filling amount and low cost; the method adopts middle-deep hole drilling and blasting and carry scraper ore removal, and the device has high level and large production capacity; the method has the advantages of large production capacity of the sublevel caving method and the stage open stope method, high recovery rate of the filling method, and earth surface protection; the safety is good, and drilling, ore removal and other operations are all carried out in a sublevel drilling and ore removal approach roadway; and the ores can be removed in advance, and the ores can be removed partially after the first sublevel is ready.

The invention discloses a system for predicting geologic hazard based on rainfall intensity, moisture content of slope soil and deformation. The system comprises an automatic rainfall gauge, a soil moisture sensor, an omnibearing tilt sensor, an omnibearing vision sensor, an embedded system and a monitoring center computer, wherein the automatic rainfall gauge is used for monitoring rainfall and rainfall intensity of a geologic hazard point; the soil moisture sensor is used for monitoring moisture in soil at the geologic hazard point; the omnibearing tilt sensor is used for detecting earth surface deformation and internal deformation of the geologic hazard point; the omnibearing vision sensor is used for evaluating geologic hazard scale; the embedded system is used for wirelessly transmitting video and monitoring data; and the monitoring center computer is used for predicting and forecasting the geologic hazard and comprises a communication module, a data receiving module, a rainfall and rainfall intensity-based geologic hazard prediction module, a slope displacement-time curve-based geologic hazard prediction module, a soil moisture, rainfall and rainfall intensity-based geologichazard prediction module and a soil moisture content and slope deformation-based geologic hazard prediction module. The system has the advantages of complete monitoring means, accurate prediction andforecast, high intelligence and on-line real time.

An autonomous water source (AWS) for extracting water from ambient air and delivering it to a plant to support growth. The system is based on an adsorption-desorption-condensation (ADC) cycle using a sorption material to extract moisture from ambient air and condensing the water vapor driven off from the sorption material by subsequent heating and followed by condensation. Liquid condensate produced in this process on the condenser is collected and delivered by gravity to a plant to reduce thermal stress and to support growth. The invention provides a sustainable source of irrigation water for agriculture and forestry, including areas where no water resources exist or are not economically viable. It can be tailored in size, and therefore, output capacity, reflecting the desired water requirements of a particular application, and can be used to replace most agricultural situations now reliant on surface water drip feed systems. The device is simple, rugged, invulnerable to rain, snow, and freezing conditions, and can be designed to last for many years without service as there are few moving parts and power required for operation is provided by sunlight.

A system and process is disclosed for retorting oil shale and extracting shale oil and other hydrocarbons therefrom, in which a cased heat delivery well is drilled generally vertically through an overburden and then through a body of oil shale to be retorted to the bottom thereof, generally horizontally under the body of oil shale to be retorted, and then back to the earth surface. Heat energy is transmitted conductively to the body of oil shale to be retorted from a closed loop heat delivery module in the well, the module comprising a fluid transmission pipe containing a heating fluid heated to at least a retorting temperature. Heat energy is also transmitted to the body of oil shale to be retorted above the fluid transmission pipe by vapor conduits that conduct retort vapors upward through the body of oil shale to be retorted; the ascending retort vapors condense and reflux, delivering their latent heat of vaporization to the body of oil shale to be retorted, and the condensed retort liquids descend. If not recycled, the retort liquids are collected in a sump at the bottom of a production well and are transmitted to the surface for processing. The vapor conduits communicate at upper ends thereof with the production well, so that vapors that do not reflux are collected in the production well and are transmitted to the surface for processing.

A wellbore system with a tubular string extending from an earth surface down into a wellbore in the earth, a packer system with a selectively settable packer element, and a disconnect located between an end of the tubular string and the packer system, the disconnect operable from the surface by imposing a downward force on the tubular string. In one aspect the packer system's packer element is a tension-set packer element. A wellbore disconnect with a top sub, a piston having an upper end secured to the top sub and a portion below the upper end releasably secured with at least one releasable member to a carrier member, the carrier member having apparatus for selectively gripping the piston, the apparatus for selectively gripping the piston also selectively gripping a bottom sub within which the piston is movable, the at least one releasable member releasable in response to a downward force on the disconnect.

An earth wellbore heat loop system has been developed which has, in certain aspects, a heat loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth to a bottom of the wellbore, a heat loop disposed in the heat loop wellbore and extending down to a position near the bottom thereof, the heat loop including a heat loop comprising pipe and a bottom member, the pipe extending down to the bottom member on one side thereof and up from the bottom member on another side thereof, the bottom member comprising a body, a first bore through the body extending from a first opening of the body to a second opening of the body, the first opening and the second opening each sized and configured for receipt therein of an end of a heat loop pipe, a second bore having at least a one opening on the body, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing. Filler material has been developed for use in a heat loop wellbore that has, in certain aspects an amount of water, and an amount of a gel material, such as a polymer. An amount of thermally conductive solids may be used with the polymer and the water.

This invention discloses a valve that generates a hydraulic negative pressure pulse and a frequency modulator for the creation of a powerful, broadband swept impulse seismic signal at the drill bit during drilling operations. The signal can be received at monitoring points on the surface or underground locations using geophones. The time required for the seismic signal to travel from the source to the receiver directly and via reflections is used to calculate seismic velocity and other formation properties near the source and between the source and receiver. This information can be used for vertical seismic profiling of formations drilled, to check the location of the bit, or to detect the presence of abnormal pore pressure ahead of the bit. The hydraulic negative pressure pulse can also be used to enhance drilling and production of wells.

The invention discloses an intelligent geologic hazard comprehensive monitoring system and a multi-level forecast analyzing method. The system is a monitoring device which can be assembled and disassembled according to the requirement, and is applicable to outdoor assembly. The system is a shaft after assembly, measures in fixed time and wirelessly transmits information of slope underground depth deformation to a system information analysis control unit form the ground, acquires an image in a monitoring area by continuously scanning in fixed time by a laser scanner, and is provided with a multipoint fixed point ranging laser to carry out accurate range measurement on a selected object. The system and the method take the geologic hazard underground depth deformation and ground surface direct deformation displacement as main monitoring forecast foundation, and divide hazard forecast into four levels, namely a preparing level, a pre-warning level, an early forecast level and a hazard forecast level by combining with assistant parameters and induction factors of physical and chemical field variations, thereby integrally completing the functions of monitoring, analyzing and forecasting on site.

A method for forecasting reduction in sunlight intensity due to cloud cover at a photovoltaic power plant is described. The method comprises determining characteristics of one or more clouds from sensors surrounding the photovoltaic power plant. The cloud characteristics are used to create a 3D map of the clouds. The 3D map in combination with information on the angle of the sun is used to create a 3D projection on the surface of the earth, resulting in a 2D surface irradiance map. The 2D surface irradiance map may be taken in successive projections or used in combination with wind speed data to forecast fluctuation in irradiance at the photovoltaic power plant. The forecasted reductions in power may be used to enact measures at the plant such as reducing the power output of inverters to prevent sudden fluctuations in the power output of the photovoltaic plant feeding the utility.

A self-contained / interruption-free earth's surface positioning method and system, carried by a user on the earth's surface, includes an inertial measurement unit, a north finder, a velocity producer, an altitude measurement device, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, a data link, a navigation processor, a wireless communication device, and a display device and map database. Output signals of the inertial measurement unit, the velocity producer, altitude measurement device, the GPS receiver, the data link, and the north finder are processed to obtain highly accurate position measurements of the user. The user's position information can be exchanged with other users through the wireless communication device, and the location and surrounding information can be displayed on the display device by accessing a map database with the user position information.

A method and system for controlling drilling mud density in drilling operations. The mud required at the wellhead is combined with a base fluid of a different density to produce diluted mud in the riser. By combining the appropriate quantities of drilling mud with base fluid, riser mud density at or near the density of seawater may be achieved, thereby permitting greater control over the pressure in the wellbore and various risers. Blowout preventers may also be used in combination with the process to control these pressures. Concentric risers are disclosed, wherein an annulus defined within one riser is utilized to carry the different density base fluid to the injection point for injection into the drilling mud, while an annulus defined within another riser is utilized to carry the combination fluid and cuttings back to the drilling rig. Cuttings are separated in the usual manner at the surface. The diluted mud is passed through a centrifuge system to separate drilling mud from the different density base fluid. The centrifuge system may also be utilized to separate the recovered drilling fluid into a substantially barite portion and a substantially drilling fluid portion, wherein the two portions are stored locally at the rig and recirculated during drilling operations.

The invention relates to a multi-effect pollution removal purifying agent and a method for applying the same. The purifying agent is complexly formed by a strong oxidant, an effective adsorbent and an assistant medicament by a weight percentage of strong oxidant 10-80%, effective adsorbent 10-70% and assistant medicament 5-50%. The surface water treatment process of using multi-effect pollution removal purifying agent of the invention comparing with the common flocculants has the following advantages: effectively improving the turbidity removal ratio, increasing the flcos formation amount and alum blossom density for the difficult coagulated surface water, improving the deposition efficiency, oxidizing and removing the organic matters in the water, eliminating the chroma and odor caused by the pollution, increasing the effluent conventional indexes, obviously improving the indexes such as oxygen consumption and ammonia nitrogen, wherein the removal rate of oxygen consumption and ammonia nitrogen can reach 25-60%, the removal rate of small organic molecules, benzenes and phenols can reach more than 80%, playing an obvious roll for the algae inactivation of lake water and reservoir water which are serious eutrophic, improving the algae removal efficiency of the deposition and filtration technologies with an algae removal rate of 80-90%, improving the coagulation efficiency, reducing 20-30% of the common flocculant dosage, effectively adsorbing the codeposition heavy-metal ion. The adding equipment of the invention is easy and convenient to use with little investment and fast effect.

The invention discloses a method for improving earth surface shape change monitoring precision of an InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) technology based on a high-precision DEM (Digital Elevation Model). The method comprises five steps below: step 1, generating an interferogram by using radar data; step 2, generating a differential interference phase diagram; step 3, establishing error phases and performing feature analysis; step 4, establishing an error phase optimal function calibration model; step 5, recovering earth surface shape change information of a monitoring region based on results of steps 2 and 4. According to the invention, the error phases and elevation values or the error phases, the elevations and coordinate values along a distance / azimuth of different regions of a research region are extracted, the optimal function calibration models of the error phases of corresponding regions are established respectively based on a least square method, and a simulative error phase is finally removed from the differential interference phase diagram to further recover shape change information along a direction of a sight line of a radar in the monitoring region. The method for improving the earth surface shape change monitoring precision of the InSAR technology based on the high-precision DEM has practical value and wide application foreground in the application field of a satellite borne synthetic aperture radar monitoring technology for earth surface shape change.

A system and process is disclosed for retorting oil shale and extracting shale oil and other hydrocarbons therefrom, in which a cased heat delivery well is drilled generally vertically through an overburden and then through a body of oil shale to be retorted to the bottom thereof, generally horizontally under the body of oil shale to be retorted, and then back to the earth surface. Heat energy is transmitted conductively to the body of oil shale to be retorted from a closed loop heat delivery module in the well, the module comprising a fluid transmission pipe containing a heating fluid heated to at least a retorting temperature. Heat energy is also transmitted to the body of oil shale to be retorted above the fluid transmission pipe by vapor conduits that conduct retort vapors upward through the body of oil shale to be retorted; the ascending retort vapors condense and reflux, delivering their latent heat of vaporization to the body of oil shale to be retorted, and the condensed retort liquids descend. If not recycled, the retort liquids are collected in a sump at the bottom of a production well and are transmitted to the surface for processing. The vapor conduits communicate at upper ends thereof with the production well, so that vapors that do not reflux are collected in the production well and are transmitted to the surface for processing.

The present invention provides a downhole method and apparatus to determine the percentage of oil based mud or water based mud filtrate contamination in a formation fluid sample. The present invention determines the percentage of filtrate contamination in a sample comprised of a mixture of crude oil and an oil based mud filtrate or of formation brine and a water based mud filtrate. The filtrate contamination percentage is determined from a relationship between the densities of uncontaminated formation fluid and filtrate. Filtrate may oil based or water based mud. The density of formation fluid is determined from a series of high precision pressure measurements of formation fluid at a plurality of depths in a hydrocarbon producing well. The density of filtrate is provided by downhole measurements with a flexural mechanical resonator or by measurements made downhole or at the surface.

The invention provides an analysis method of the corrosion action and the corrosion effect of a carbonate rock. The method comprises the following steps: detecting petrologic parameters, geological fluid characteristics and geological background parameters of a reservoir stratum of the carbonate rock; selecting a plunger sample, and preparing the plunger sample into a diagenetic fluid; performing weighing, physical property analysis, CT scan analysis and microscopic property analysis on the sample before experiment; performing a corrosion simulated experiment on the carbonate rock, and collecting the reaction generated liquid; performing the physical property analysis, the CT scan analysis and the microscopic property analysis on the sample after experiment; analyzing the content of Ca<2+> and Mg<2+> of the generated liquid; analyzing the corrosion action of the carbonate rock under different controlling factors, determining a three-dimensional structure and a microcosmic pattern of representation of a corrosion hole of the carbonate rock, and quantitatively assessing the corrosion hole of the carbonate rock and the communicated property evolution. By the method, the corrosion action and the corrosion benefits of the carbonate rock from an earth surface to the deep burying environment can be analyzed, and more accurate analytical data is provided for assessing and forecasting the favorable reservoir stratum of the carbonate rock.

A method and system for drilling creating a wellbore which, in at least certain aspects, includes positioning a drilling apparatus at a desired location at the earth surface, the drilling apparatus having rotating and hammering apparatus for simultaneously rotating and hammering a dual tubular string into the earth, the dual tubular string with an outer casing string spaced apart by an annular space from an inner drill pipe string, both the outer casing and inner drill pipe string being hollow, a drill bit secured to a lowermost end of the inner drill pipe string and, optionally, a casing drill apparatus secured at a lowermost end of the casing string, drilling through the earth to form the wellbore by simultaneously rotating and hammering the dual tubular string with the drilling apparatus; and, in certain aspects, installing a geothermal heat loop and grouting the space around it.

Embodiments use seismic processing methods that account for the spatial variability of surface wave velocities. Embodiments analyze surface wave properties by rapidly characterizing spatial variability of the surface waves in the seismic survey data (302). Filtering criteria are formed using the spatial variability of the surface waves (204). The filtering criteria can then be used to remove at least a portion of the surface waves from the seismic data (206, 319). The rapid characterization involves estimating a local group velocity of the surface waves by cross-correlation of the analytic signals (302).

This invention relates to compositions used in treating subterranean formations, which include a hydrated polymer, and a dry blended multi-functional component. The hydrated polymer and dry blended multi-functional component are mixed at the ground surface of a wellsite, and subsequently injected into the formation providing controlled delay in crosslinking to achieve targeted fluid viscosity properties. The hydrated polymer may be a guar, hydroxypropyl guar, carboxymethyl guar, carboxymethylhydroxypropyl guar, synthetic polymers, and guar-containing compounds. The dry blended multi-functional component may include a crosslinker and a chelating agent, and the well treatment fluid may further include an activator mixed with the hydratable polymer. The chelating agent may be a polyols, gluconate, sorbitol, mannitol, carbonate, or any mixtures thereof. The crosslinker may be any source of boron, alkaline earth metal borates, alkali metal borates, zirconium compounds, titanium compounds, or any combination thereof, while the activator may be a caustic soda or magnesium oxide compound. The invention further provides methods for producing a well treatment composition including providing a hydrated polymer, and providing a dry blended multi-functional component. Also, methods of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation, as well as cleanup operations and gravel packing a wellbore are provided as well.

The invention belongs to the technical field of river water body pollution control and in particular relates to a multiple-element compound flocculating settling agent and the application of the multiple-element compounded flocculating settling agent in arsenic pollution water body treatment. The multiple-element compounded flocculating settling agent is prepared by compounding malysite, aluminium salt, hypermanganate, polyacrylamide and aqueous solution. The multiple-element compounded flocculating settling agent can be applied in the arsenic pollution water body treatment to remove arsenic in the arsenic pollutant water body. The concentration of the arsenic in the treated water can meet or is superior to the specified requirement of three types of water on the arsenic concentration in the national earth surface water environment quality standard (less than 0.05 mg / L). The invention also can be used for removing heavy metals such as copper, chromium, cadmium, lead and the like in water by sedimentation. The multiple-element compounded flocculating settling agent can be used together with a multiple-element compounded metal oxide arsenic removal setting agent in static or flowing arsenic pollution water body treatment for removing the arsenic in the water body polluted by arsenic.