contact the position variation between the vehicle and the pipeline and to control the motive equipment for cancelling out the variation. Environment, Oceanic bottom, Pipe laying

Method for the ultimate disposal of high level radioactive waste Assigned to Chevron Research Co, San Francisco, Calif. USA US Patent 4 400 314 (23 Aug 1983)

A method for disposing of an aqueous solution of radioactive nuclides in which water from a water-containing, porous, generally horizontally-extending, water-permeable geological formation lo- cated below sorptive sedimentary geological strata is first produced. Next a dilute solution of the nuclides is formed by mixing the produced water with the aqueous solution. Finally the dilute solution is injected into the formation. Radioactivity, Waste disposal/general, Seabed

Wide swath precision echo sounder Assigned to The Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D.C. USA US Patent 4 400 803 (23 Aug 1983)

The wide swath precision echo sounder for providing topographic profiles of a target area with high spatial resolution has a moving transmitter for transmitting a plurality of programmed accoustic pulses substantially perpendicular to the direction of motion of the transmitter. The transmitter has circuits for multiple frequency generation, for frequency programming and for control. The frequency programming circuits are coupled to the multiple frequency generating circuits and to the control circuits for sequencing of the acoustic pulses. Each pulse of the plurality of programmed acoustic pulses is transmitted at a different frequency and the extended reflected signals from the target area are caused to overlap each other in t ime Dual receivers receive the backscattered energy from the target area, and synthetic aperture and interferometer circuits which are coupled to the dual receivers process sequences of the received energy from the target area to provide a numerical measure of the depths and lateral ranges to the particular points of target area from which the backscattered energy was reflected. Echo-sounding, Topography, Accoustic

Drill string shock absorber with pressurized lubricant system Assigned to Hughes Tool Co, Houston, Texas, USA US Patent 4 402 495 (6 Sep 1983)

In the shock absorbing apparatus for a drill string of the type having a tubular body, a mandrel is reciprocally mounted in the body for rotation therewith and an annular chamber in the body contains fluid under pressure for absorbing shock by allowing longitudinal movement of the body and the mandrel with respect to each other. Annular and axially spaced seals are fitted between the mandrel and an inner wall portion of the body with a sealed lubricant cavity located between the seals containing lubricant. Drilling pipe or string, Protection

Seabed supported submarine pressure transfer storage facility for liquified gases Assigned to Cook, Stolowitz and Frame, Visalia, Calif. USA US Patent 4 402 632 (6 Sep 1983)

A seabed supported submarine storage facility for cryogenically cooled and liquified gases, the facility operating entirely submerged at a fixed substantial depth offshore. A two-part sealed, slidably telescoping pressure transfer tank is adapted for transferring pressure derived from ambient water at depth to the liquified gases stored in the tank to promote and maintain the liquid state of the gases. A conduit extends between the tank and the surface to facilitate tank loading and unloading. Pressure control arrangements comprising a plurality of hydraulic rams commonly operative between the two parts of the tank control the amount of actual pressure applies to the stored gases. Storage tank, Seabed, Gases, Cryogenic systems

Treating deep sea nodules by segregation roasting Assigned to Combustion Engineering Inc, Windsor, Conn. USA US Patent 4 402 735 (6 Sep 1983)

A process for recovering a concentrate upgraded in the content of at least one nonferrous metal value selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper and cobalt from deep sea nodules. A feed material is produced by mixing 100 parts by weight of the nodules, with 40 to 60 parts by weight of middlings as later defined, 30 to 60 parts by weight of a chloridizing agent comprising a mixture of sodium chloride and a calcium compound, and 2 to 10 parts by weight of a carbonaceous reductant. The feed material is roasted in a non-oxidizing atmosphere by heating to a temperature above 850°C. The roasted material is cooled in a non-oxidizing atmosphere and is then ground to at least minus 270 mesh. A slurry is formed of the ground material, and magnetic separation is used on the slurry to produce three materials. First a material having relatively high

magnetic properties and concentrated in the non-ferrous metal values. Second a middlings material having lower magnetic properties and less concentrated in the non-ferrous metal values. Third a non-magnetic tailings material low in its nonferrous metal values. Nodules, Extraction, Nickel, Cobalt, Copper

Metallic material proof against attachment of marine organisms Assigned to Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo, Japan US Patent 4 402 906 (6 Sep 1983)

A metallic alloy containing Mn in an amount of from 5 to 12.31 weight percent, at least one member selected from the group consisting of Sn in an amount of not more than 5 weight percent, AI ~n an amount ot not more than 8.5 weight percent, Zn in an amount of not more than 7 weight percent, Fe in an amount of not more than 2.5 weight percent, and Ni in an amount of not more than 2.5 weight percent, and the balance to make up 100 weight percent of Cu plus normally entrained impurities. The alloy is characterized by metallographically possessing an alpha-face-centred cubic lattice, single-phase structure. Fouling, Protection, Metal, Alloy

Inside blowout preventer Assigned to Wood George and Co, Houston, Texas, USA US Patent 4 403 628 {13 Sep 1983)

The inside blowout preventer has upper and lower bodies. The upper body has a centre passage therethrough and includes an externally lower pin end including a centre passage seat pocket with a downwardly and outwardly tapered side surface terminating in a shoulder at its lower end. The lower body has a centre passage therethrough and includes an internally threaded upper box end for threaded attachment to the pin end of the upper body. A valve seat in the preventer has an external side surface upwardly and inwardly tapering so as to mate with the sea pocket. An upwardly biased dart valve with a lesser taper at the valve seat surface mates with the seat pocket and operates in conjunction with the seat so that normal downwardly circulated fluid through the seat opens the dart valve, excessive backpressure against the dart valve preventing such opening from occurring. The seat has an outwardly turned flange for upward contacting of the shoulder at the terminating end of the seat pocket to prevent excessive back pressure applied to the dart valve from such hard upward wedging of the seat in the seat pocket so as to outwardly distort the pin end. Blow-out preventer, Valves, Construction

Torque transmitting expansion joint and a hanger assembly incorporating same Assigned to Baker International Corp, Orange, Calif. USA US Patent 4 403 654 (13 Sep 1983)

In this apparatus for producing a well from productive zones penetrated by the well bore a casing is set below the top of the well. The apparatus has a downhole tubing hanger secured to an upper level of the casing and supporting at least one lower production tubing string communicating with a production zone. A surface tubing hanger is arranged to seat in a hanger bowl in the top portion of the casing. At least one space-out tubing string extends from the downhole hanger to the surface hanger and is removably sealingly connectable in the downhole hanger to the lower production string to transmit production fluid from the lower production tubing string to the surface. Each space-out tubing string includes a safety valve and a torque transmitting telescoping joint. Casing, Joining, Down-hole tools

Draw works disabling device for use with a well drilling apparatus B. B. Trout, Chickasha, Okla. USA US Patent 4 403 655 (13 Sep 1983)

A device for disabling the draw works of a well drilling apparatus of the type which includes a pressurized air supply connected through a draw works valve for actuating the draw works and an accumulator connected through an accumulator valve for supplying hydraulic fluid to a blow out prevention device which locks the drill string against movement. The device has a first valve for regulating the supply of air from the pressurized air supply to the draw works. The device also had fluid conveyance arrangements for actuating the first valve responsive to the actuation of the accumulator holding the drill string against the movement for actuation of the first valve such that the pressurized air supply is isolated from the draw works and such that the movement of the draw works is prevented. Drilling rig, Drilling pipe or string, Blow-out preventer

Multiline riser support and connection system and method for subsea wells Assigned to Hughes Tool Co, Houston, Texas, USA US Patent 4 403 658 (13 Sep 1983)

In a support and connection system for a subsea well having a

1 9 8 M a r i n e a n d P e t r o l e u m G e o l o g y , 1984, Vo l 1, M a y