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Cybersecurity and Data Privacy
What a Board Needs to Know
Cybersecurity breaches are on the rise and protecting your company against them is imperative. No longer is it a question of "if" but "when" your company will be a target. Directors and executives are not expected to know all the answers, but they should know the right questions to ask. Our panel of experts will discuss how companies can work to protect their investment and brands against breaches that could have negative consequences with the media, shareholders, or the government.
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Tuesday, October 25, 2016 7:00 AM - 9:00 AMPacific Time
Westin South Coast Plaza686 Anton BlvdCosta Mesa, California 92626
Forum for Corporate Directors
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Grand Parkray Hangzhou
Select your stay dates to check availability at Grand Parkray Hangzhou
Grand Parkray Hangzhou
About the Hotel
Property Location
Located in Hangzhou (Xiaoshan), Grand Parkray Hangzhou is within the vicinity of Crazy Appleland and Hangzhou Paradise Park. This 5-star hotel is within the vicinity of Hangzhou Polar Ocean World.
Make yourself at home in one of the 532 air-conditioned rooms featuring refrigerators and LED televisions. Your pillowtop bed comes with down comforters. Complimentary wireless Internet access keeps you connected, and cable programming is available for your entertainment. Private bathrooms with separate bathtubs and showers feature rainfall showerheads and complimentary toiletries.
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments, and facials. You can take advantage of recreational amenities such as a health club and an indoor pool. This hotel also features complimentary wireless Internet access, babysitting/childcare (surcharge), and shopping on site.
Enjoy a satisfying meal at a restaurant serving guests of Grand Parkray Hangzhou. Quench your thirst with your favorite drink at a bar/lounge.
Business, Other Amenities
Featured amenities include a business center, express check-in, and express check-out. Event facilities at this hotel consist of a conference center and meeting rooms. Free valet parking is available onsite.
Hotel Facilities
- Restaurant
- Shopping on site
- Indoor pool
- Free self parking
- Express check-in
- Conference center
- Free valet parking
- Luggage storage
- Total number of rooms - 532
- Dry cleaning/laundry service
- Porter/bellhop
- Full-service spa
- Babysitting or childcare (surcharge)
- Free newspapers in lobby
- Conference space
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Meeting rooms 13
- ATM/banking
- Bar/lounge
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Children's pool
- Business center
- Free WiFi
- Health club
- Elevator/lift
- Children's club (free)
- Express check-out
- Children's club
- Wedding services
- Babysitting or childcare
Room Facilities
- Free newspaper
- Cable TV service
- Turndown service
- In-room childcare (surcharge)
- Separate bathtub and shower
- Down comforter
- Pillowtop mattress
- Bathrobes
- Free toiletries
- In-room safe (surcharge)
- Minibar
- Rainfall showerhead
- Free WiFi
- Iron/ironing board
- Daily housekeeping
- Free bottled water
- Private bathroom
- Air conditioning
- Hair dryer
- Phone
- Desk
- Pillow menu
- Blackout drapes/curtains
- Free cribs/infant beds
- Slippers
- Refrigerator
Hotel Policy
Know Before You Go
- Only registered guests are allowed in the guestrooms.
- No pets and no service animals are allowed at this property.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Sep 29, 1992
|Filing date
|May 3, 1991
|Priority date
|Oct 11, 1990
|Fee status
|Publication number
|Dwight S. Nunley
|Original Assignee
|Nunley Dwight S
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (7), Referenced by (39), Classifications (14), Legal Events (4)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 595,550 which was filed on Oct. 11, 1990, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,620.
The present invention relates to an apparatus which can be attached to a drillstring to improve volumetric and drilling efficiencies, reduces time and energy costs of drilling, and increases drill bit life. The apparatus is a sleeve which can be attached to the outside of a drillpipe, which sleeve contains one or more helical pumping chambers for enhancing the movement of drilling mud and cuttings from bit/formation interface to borehole and thence to the surface. The full spectrum of boreholes from true vertical through "high angle" and including horizontal is encompassed. However, it is understood that the vertical portion of the borehole through unconsolidated formation and gumbo has been cased prior to running this apparatus.
During the drilling of a borehole, or well, through a subterranean formation, drilling mud-a rheolitic slurry of fluid and buoyant suspension agent, e.g. bentonite-is pumped through a passageway in the drillstring to the bit, where it is injected at high velocity and pressure against the formation through jets located in the bit. The particular consistency of the drilling mud captures the cuttings generated by the bit, while its buoyant character assists the cuttings to rise out of the path of the bit. Because the diameter of the drill bit exceeds that of the other drillstring components, the cutting-laden drilling mud rises to the surface in the annulus defined by the drillstring and the wall of the borehole. Because the cutting-laden drilling mud can interfere with the drilling process, it is desirable to move it to the surface at a faster rate than conventional drilling presently allows.
Reduction in volumetric efficiency attributable to reduced effectiveness of the drilling mud hole-cleaning ability impacts a number of parameters. Because some of the cuttings are not removed from the path of the drill bit quickly enough, drilling efficiency (the rate of penetration or ROP) is reduced, leading to increased drilling time and energy requirements to achieve a specified borehole depth. Additionally, energy is lost by grinding the cuttings remaining in the path of the drill bit. The effect increases the difficulty of removing the cuttings and decreases the useful life of the bit--a substantial consideration in costly diamond drilling bit applications. Moreover, frequent removals of the drillstring to replace worn bits is a time consuming and expensive process, while concomitantly increasing the risk of a blow-out endangering personnel.
Yet another important problem encountered in drilling oil and gas wells is the phenomena of "differential sticking." Differential sticking occurs when the fluid in the drilling mud, located in the drillstring-borehole annulus, is absorbed unevenly around the periphery of the drillstring through the porous media of the borehole wall. This fluid loss induces a pressure differential across the drillstring diameter which causes the drillstring to be deflected against the borehole wall on the side experiencing the fluid loss, and can lead to halting engagement of the drillstring against the borehole wall. Once so engaged, the unbalanced fluid pressure acts to keep the drillstring in engagement with the borehole wall. The torque required to free the drillstring may exceed the capacity of the rotary table or the top drive used to drive the drillstring, or may exceed the yield strength of a drillstring component, leading to "twistoff" (torsion induced fracture). Differential sticking may result in the loss of the drill bit and a portion of the drillstring, thereby necessitating time consuming and extremely expensive procedures to recover the detached drillstring portion. In some cases, where the detached portion cannot be retrieved, the drill operator may have to abandon the borehole and begin anew.
A final phenomenon observed with conventional drillstrings is that of "key seating" at "doglegs" (borehole direction changes) and "kick-off-points", i.e., locations at which the angle of attack of the drill bit and drillstring is altered as the inclination from the vertical is increased. The phenomena of key-seating arises when there is sufficient bend in the borehole path to cause a portion of the drillstring to come into contact with one side of the borehole wall. This contact, if not substantial enough to cause differential sticking, can result in the drillstring forming a groove approximately the diameter of the drillstring in the borehole wall. If viewed in cross-section perpendicular to the borehole longitudinal axis, the borehole and groove would resemble a keyhole, with a large lower portion and a narrower upper portion. When key-seating occurs, it may no longer be possible to withdraw the drillstring from the borehole, since the larger diameter elements of the drillstring assembly (drill collars, stabilizers, etc.) will be unable to pass through the narrow groove. The phenomena of key-seating is due in large part to the rigidity of conventional drillstring components, which are unable to provide enough flexure to accommodate borehole directional changes and changes in the angle of attack. As with differential sticking, key-seating can lead to twistoff, necessitating time consuming retrieval procedures or abandonment of the borehole.
The aforementioned problems have provided a fertile ground for invention, and a number of prior art drillstring component designs are directed toward resolving one or more of these problems. One solution adopted by a number of prior art drillstring components, including the present invention, is the use of a helical flat or groove around the periphery of the drillstring component. Prior art drillstring components using such a solution may generally be grouped into two categories, each characterized by a disadvantage that the present invention is designed to overcome.
A first category of prior art helical groove drillstring component employs screw-like threads or broad V-shaped notches. Fitch U.S. Pat. No. 3,085,639 discloses a drill collar having screw-like threads on its periphery for drilling straight boreholes, wherein the flights of the screw coact with the borehole as a screw conveyor in removing cuttings from the vicinity of the drill bit. Arnold U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,331 and Massey U.S. Pat. No. 3,360,960 disclose, respectively, drillstring components having a single and multistep V-shaped helical groove on the circumference designed to reduce differential sticking, increase drilling mud flow through the borehole-drillingstring annulus, and to act as a broach to reduce key-seating.
In operation, the configuration of the helical groove in all three of these patents is such that the sharp edges of the grooves may strip the drilling mud lining the borehole wall (referred to as mud wallcake), leading to instability of the borehole wall and concomitant loss of fluid from the borehole. The drillstring component of the present invention is designed to leave intact the desired wallcake thickness, generally 3/32", while still providing superior performance by increasing drilling mud flow up the annulus, plus reducing differential sticking and key-seating.
A second category of helical groove drillstring component employs a spiral groove wherein the groove constitutes essentially a chord intersecting two points on the circumference of the drillstring component. Fox U.S. Pat. No. 2,999,552, Chance et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,460,202, and Hill et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,800 all disclose spiral groove drillstring components wherein he groove forms a chord on the component, when viewed in traverse section. The purpose of the groove is to reduce differential sticking, improve flow of drilling mud up the borehole-drillstring annulus and to increase the load on the drill bit in directional drilling applications. Hill et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,800 discloses trading-off drillstring component service life in favor of increased drillstring flexibility by employing a relatively deep spiral chord-style groove. The drillstring component of the present invention is designed to provide the benefits attributed to these prior art chord-style spiral groove drillstring components, plus superior service life and flexibility in short radius directional drilling applications.
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of this invention to provide a drillstring component for drilling high angle and short radius directional and horizontal boreholes which experiences reduced mechanical fatique duty relative to previously known drillstring components, and which is readilly integrable with existing drilling systems, including downhole drilling mud-driven turbine style motors ("mudmotors").
It is a further object of this invention to provide a drillstring component for drilling high angle, directional and horizontal boreholes which improves volumetric and drilling efficiencies, reduces time and energy costs of drilling, and increases drill bit life relative to that achieved with previously known drillstring components.
It is another object of this invention to provide a drillstring component for a drilling high angle, directional and horizontal boreholes which substantially reduces the incidence of differential sticking, thereby reducing the major costs associated with retrieval of detached drillstring portions or abandonment of a partially drilled well.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a drillstring component for drilling high angle and horizontal boreholes which has adequate flexibility to reduce the costs and additional effort required by incidents of key-seating and possible twistoff of the lower portion of the drillstring.
It is still another object of this invention to utilize the rotary motion of the drillstring to induce a turbine-style pumping ("turbo-pumping") action of the cutting-laden drilling mud away from the drill bit and subterranean formation interface toward the drilling mud treatment equipment at the borehole entrance.
This invention includes method steps carried out in sequence for obtaining the desired borehole-cleaning capability when drilling high angle, directional and horizontal boreholes.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a component for attachment to a drillpipe which is part of a drillstring carrying a drillbit, said drillstring rotatably driven in a working direction, which drillpipe contains a standard box tool joint at one end and a standard pin tool joint at the other end, which tool joints are of a diameter greater than the section of drillpipe between the two joints, and which drillpipe component is comprised of two elongated cylindrical half sections for clamping over at least a portion of the narrower section of drillpipe and which component, on its outer surface, contains at least one helical pumping chamber having a twist, when viewed in axial elevation, opposite to that in which said drillstring is rotatably driven in said working direction, said pumping chamber, when view is traverse section, having an undercut portion relative to the surface of the drillpipe component, said undercut portion defining a lip.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drillpipe component is manufactured from a polymeric material, such as a thermosetting plastic and is used in a cased borehole.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the drillpipe component is manufactured from a metallic material and is used in an uncased borehole in a consolidated formation.
In both preferred embodiments of the present invention, the undercut defines a volute. The volute pumping chamber embodiment features a cross-section having at least two different radii of curvature, and has no sharp edges which could result in stress concentrations or which could damage the borehole mudcake.
Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
FIG. 1 is an elevation view of the drillpipe component of the present invention clamped onto a standard drillpipe.
FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a drillstring, constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
FIGS. 3-5 illustrate axial cross-sectional views of several preferred embodiments of a drillpipe component constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a cross-section of the drillpipe component of the invention illustrating the volute pumping chamber dimensions.
FIG. 1 shows drillpipe component 25 constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. The drillpipe component is illustrated on a conventional drillpipe 12. Drillpipe component 10 has a left-handed helical pumping chamber 31. Standard American Petroleum Institute ("A.P.I.") box tool joint 16 and pin tool joint 18 are attached, respectively, to the upper end and lower ends of drillpipe 12. A circular passageway 14 is concentrically located within drillpipe 12 for carrying drilling mud to the drillstring bit. Drilling mud is pumped downward through this passageway by a drilling mud pump located near the entrance to the borehole, as described heretofore.
Referring now to FIG. 2, an elevation view of an illustrative embodiment of a drillstring 20, practicing the principles of the present invention, is disposed in a directionally drilled borehole 21. As shown in FIG. 2, borehole 21 comprises a vertical leg leading from the borehole entrance (not shown), a transition zone, a substantially horizontal leg and an annular passage defined by the borehole wall and the exterior of the drillstring. Drillstring 20 is comprised of drill bit 22, downhole mudmotor 23, drill collar 24 and drill pipe 25 containing the component of the present invention. The drillstring may, in addition, employ stabilizer units, not shown. Full length drillstring components 25 are joined by mating their respective threaded box and pin tool joints. The drillstring is engaged by a rotary table near the entrance of the borehole in a manner per se known. Drill bit 34, downhole mudmotor 23 and the assorted joint sections and stabilizer units are conventional devices and form no part of this invention. Rather, the invention resides in use of the drillpipe component containing the uniquely designed helical pumping chamber 31 (of FIG. 1 hereof) which chamber is cascaded upwards at each end of drillstring component 25 near the tool joint connection. A single helical groove is illustrated in FIG. 2, but it is to be understood that any number of grooves can be used to accomplish the turbo-pumping objectives of the invention. Five or more chambers spaced apart in equal relation around the periphery of drillpipe component 25 are expected to provide the optimum cross-section for flexibility and fatigue resistance.
Drillpipes on which the component of the present invention are practiced may be any conventional drillpipe. Such drillpipe is typically manufactured from high strength steel meeting A.P.I. metallurgy specifications. Drillstring component 25, and the drillpipe to which the component of the instant invention is attached are of standard size (e.g., 71/4" diameter for an 83/4" borehole) and length for a given application.
FIG. 2 illustrates the flexibility of drillpipe component 25 at borehole kick-off point 26.
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 show a number of drillpipe component axial cross-sectional plan views illustrating the uniquely designed pumping chamber constructed in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 3 provides an axial cross-sectional view of drillpipe component halves 30 and 30a, having five pear-shaped or finger-like continuously curving undercut pumping chambers 31. The pumping chambers are undercut with respect to the cylindrical surface of the drillstring components, thereby forming a lip 32 associated with each pumping chamber. In the preferred embodiments shown in FIGS. 3-6, the pumping chamber forms a volute having at least two portions of different radii of curvature. FIG. 4 shows six volute pumping chambers in a drillstring component cross-section, while FIG. 5 shows eight volute pumping chambers in a drillstring component cross-section. Each of these figures shows the two halves being held together by bolts 51.
The two halves of the drillpipe component of the present invention can be manufactured from any appropriate material. Non-limiting types of materials which can be used include plastics, such as thermoset plastics, which preferably contain a strengthening filler component. Filler components may include such things as carbon black and fibers and filaments comprised of spun glass or carbon. It is preferred that the drillpipe components of the instant invention be comprised of a thermosetting plastic.
The two halves may be joined by any appropriate means including the use of bolts and locknuts only, or in conjunction with a hinge along one side.
Each of the drillpipe component cross-sections in FIGS. 3-5 has a central bore 33 through which the drilling mud is pumped to drill bit 22. The direction of twist of pumping chambers 31, indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 3-5, is counterclockwise when viewed in axial elevation (i.e., a left-hand twist, see FIG. 1), based on the convention that the drill is rotated in a clockwise direction. The surface of pumping chamber 31, when view in axial cross section, may define a tear-shape, or pear-shape having a continuously curved perimeter so as to minimize the creation of stress concentration points that might otherwise result in fracture of lip 32 or destruction of the wallcake, or mudcake, lining the borehole. The pumping chamber is characterized by having an undercut portion, with respect to the surface of the drillstring component, so that lip 32 is formed to overhang the pumping chamber, as shown in FIG. 6.
In the preferred embodiment configuration, the pumping chamber, when viewed in axial cross-section, defines a continuously curved volute having at least two portions with different radii of curvature. Referring again to FIG. 6, pumping chamber 31 is comprised substantially of two portions having radii of curvature "c" and "d". The precise configuration of the pumping chamber axial cross-section is not critical, provided that the radius of curvature of portion "d" of the volute is substantially smaller than that for portion "c". In one preferred embodiment, the ratio c to d is 3.25:1.
In an alternate embodiment, the shape of the volute is a mirror image across the radius A--A shown in FIG. 6. This embodiment of the helical volute pumping chamber is contemplated to have the advantage of increasing turbidity in the drilling mud present in the borehole-drillstring annulus, while having lower pumping capacity. Creating turbidity in the drilling mud located in the borehole-drillstring annulus can have important advantages as described hereinafter.
The helical pitch of the pumping chambers 31 (i.e., the distance between portions of the same groove measured on a line parallel to the drillpipe component longitudinal axis) will vary depending upon the number of pumping chambers employed and the volume of the pumping chambers. It is contemplated that the pitch of the spiral should not be less than that necessary to encircle the circumference of the drillpipe component over a length equal to 12 times the outer diameter of the drillstring component, and not more than that necessary to encircle same over a length 3 times such diameter. However, the velocity in the drillstring longitudinal direction of any point on the interior of the pumping chamber must exceed that of the velocity of the drilling mud in the adjacent borehole-drillstring annulus, within the range of drillstring rotation speeds.
It is also contemplated that the cross-sectional area of the pumping chambers 31 may equal from 5 percent to 60 percent of the cross-sectional area of a smooth surface drillpipe component of the same inner and outer diameters. The minimum cross-sectional area within each pumping chamber must be such that a cutting of the maximum size likely to be encountered in drilling a given subterranean formation will pass cleanly through the pumping chamber, i.e., without becoming stuck in the pumping chamber.
The pumping chamber 31 in drillpipe component provides a number of advantages over prior art spiral groove drillstring components and conventional circular cylinder drill collars when used in high-angle, directional and horizontal drilling applications. The helical volute pumping chambers act partly in a manner analogous to an Archimedean screw by propelling the cutting-laden drilling mud generated at the drill bit backwards and upwards toward the top of the borehole. Furthermore, as the drilling mud is propelled upward by the pumping chamber, it induces a dynamic flow field in the annulus. Rotation of the drillpipe component creates a partial suction at the bottom of the borehole tending to draw up additional amounts of drilling mud due to the localized underbalanced condition at the drill bit/formation interface, thus increasing the rate of penetration.
In conventional drilling applications, only about one-half of the borehole depth is attributable to the mechanical cutting energy of the drill bit; the balance of the earth cutting power is supplied by the hydrodynamic impact forces created by injecting the drilling mud through the drill bit jets. Drillstring component 25 harnesses the rotational energy of drillstring 20, which would otherwise be lost, for example, as heat, and uses that energy to increase the volumetric efficiency of the drilling rig. The turbo-pumping action induced by spiral pumping chamber 31 (of FIG. 1) enhances cuttings removal and provides a clear path for the drill bit to contact uncut formation, rather than pulverizing previous cuttings which heretofore were not quickly removed from the drill bit path. Consequently, significant increases in the rate of penetration of the drill bit and a concomitant increase in drill bit life may be realized.
Referring again to FIG. 1, pumping chamber 31 of drillpipe component 25 significantly reduces the incidence of differential sticking because pumping chamber 31 acts to equalize fluid pressure around the periphery of the drillpipe component. Also, since the drilling mud is free to flow through pumping chamber 31 to equalize any gradients around the drillpipe periphery, there is no longer a problem of lateral fluid pressure imbalance maintaining the drillstring in halting engagement with the borehole wall. Finally, since drillpipes incorporating the components of the present invention are not subject to drag induced by lesser degrees of differential sticking (i.e., downhole torque reduction), the drillstring can achieve higher rotary speeds with less concern about twistoff.
Finally, the configuration of pumping chamber 31 is designed to permit increased flexion of the drillstring component relative to previously known devices. Whereas, for example, a drillstring component designed in accordance with Hill et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,811,800, based on the data contained in FIG. 10 of that patent, would experience twistoff within six hours (assuming a conservatively low rotary speed of 35 r.p.m. and a bend radius of 50 feet), it is contemplated that a drillpipe component constructed in accordance with the present invention, and having five or more helical pumping chambers, would have a service life of several hundred hours.
It is to be understood that the number of spiral pumping chambers 31 employed at equally spaced locations around the circumference of the drillpipe component may vary from one to many, and that precise configuration of the pumping chambers is not critical, provided that the pumping chambers preferably have a twist oriented in the direction opposite that of the drillstring rotation. Furthermore, the range of cross-sectional area of the drillpipe component that can be dedicated to the pumping chamber is limited at the lower end only by the minimum needed to induce a pumping action (dependent in part also upon the helical pitch) and at the upper limit by the minimum amount of metal required to maintain the torsional strength of the drillstring component.
For the volute pumping chamber shown in FIG. 6, wherein the dimensions a-f are: a=3.25"; b=1.50"; c=0.5"; e=0.19" and f=0.25", the cross-sectional area of the pumping chamber is about 2.0 in2.
Calculated values of the pumping capacity for a 30 foot long drillpipe component embodying the present invention, with the foregoing pumping chamber dimensions, and having a pitch of 1/10 turns per foot, are presented in Table 1 as a function of the number of volutes present on the drillpipe component periphery.
TABLE 1______________________________________ Pumping CapacityNumber of % Reduction GPM @ RPMVolutes in Area 10 RPM 25 RPM 50 RPM______________________________________1 7.6 5.5 13.8 27.63 22.9 16.5 41.4 82.85 38.3 27.5 69.0 138.06 46.0 33.0 82.8 165.68 61.3 44.0 110.4 221.8______________________________________
While the prior art helically grooved drillpipe components emphasize that the grooves serves to increase the load on the drill bit when used in directional and horizontal drilling applications, the counter-rotation twist of the drillstring of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with downhole mudmotors, since operation of invention drillstring component will not induce any "screw down" or other forces which might cause the mudmotor or bit to deviate from its intended path. Since the function of the mudmotor and assembly is to maintain a true course for the interpenetration of oilsand zones, extraneous forces introduced by the prior art drillstring components may be undesirable. In fact, such "screwing down" action may result in aggressive contact between these other prior art devices and the borehole wall, thereby destroying the wallcake and impeding progress.
Finally, the pumping capacity of the present invention, as represented in Table 1, gives a drillpipe component embodying the present invention the additional advantage of borehole cleaning in the event of a drilling mud pump shutdown or failure. With presently existing drillstring components, drilling mud pump shutdown can result in cuttings quickly settling out of suspension and packing in against the drillstring stabilizers, drill collars and bit, thereby impeding or preventing withdrawal of the drillstring. However, simply rotating a drillstring embodying the drillpipe component containing the pumping chambers of the present invention--using the rotary table or top drive--will keep the cuttings in suspension and pump cutting-laden drilling mud to the surface. Thus, a drillstring embodying the present invention features greatly enhanced retrievability, even in the event of drilling mud pump shutdown or failure.
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|David Hosie
|Apparatus and method to reduce fluid pressure in a wellbore
|Aug 27, 2009
|May 30, 2012
|Novel spiral drill rod
|Oct 30, 2006
|Mar 9, 2016
|Schlumberger Technology Bv
|Method and apparatus for removing cuttings in high-angle wells
|Sep 19, 2002
|Mar 27, 2003
|Baker Hughes Incorporated
|Active controlled bottomhole pressure system & method
|U.S. Classification
|175/323, 175/325.5
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Feb 21, 1996
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Apr 25, 2000
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Oct 1, 2000
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Dec 5, 2000
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20000929


text:
- Product Details
Show your folks how much you care with this Personalised Mum and Dad Bauble which is decorated in a red and white colour scheme.
A cute picture on the front of the bauble shows Mr Claus in a red and white Christmas outfit, alongside a christmas sack filled with presents and surrounded by green and red stars and hearts.
Red lettering spells out the fixed wording "Mum & Dad" below Mr Claus on the front of the bauble.
You can add a personalised message of up to 20 characters per line to the back.
Each bauble comes with its own ribbon attached so it's ready to hang (ribbon colour may vary) and measures approx. Height: 7 CM Width: 7 CM Depth: 7 CM.
- Customer Review
3 Customer Reviews
Tuesday, 24 December 2013++
Tuesday, 24 December 2013++
Wednesday, 23 October 2013++
- Delivery & Returns
We are aware of how important it is for you to receive your gifts in time. Therefore, once you place your order we will process straight away and dispatch as soon as they are ready to go. We usually dispatch all items within 1-3 days however, this may be a little longer during special occasions such as Christmas. If multiple items ordered, we may dispatch items separately or all together, depending on the process.
Hassle Free Returns Policy:
We're sure that you will be satisfied with your purchase and we also understand that sometimes you may want to return. We keep this process simple! Just contact us if you wish to return goods. Please note: personalised, made-to-order and perishable items are non-refundable.
- Ask a Question
Ask a Question
Question about: Personalised Mum and Dad BaublePlease do not include or disclose any sensitive personal information, password or credit card information in your message. Your personal security is extremely important to us.No questions yet. Be the first to ask the question!
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Note: Sample below may appear distorted but all corresponding word document files contain proper formattingExcerpt from Term Paper:
Operating Systems
Copernicus, Newton, Kepler, and Einstein all developed "laws" or theories so fundamental to our understanding of the universe that they are known to most people (Krass, 2003). Moore's notion that computing power would double about every 18 months as engineers figure out how to build ever-faster microprocessors is not as popular as Einstein's theories, but it has held up very well over the years.
Many of those advances, however, have been made within the confines of the 32-bit architecture. However, since the mid-'90s, some computers have been built with expanded memory and processing speeds, as a result of 64-bit architecture. While 64-bit processors have traditionally been expensive, proprietary, and complex computers used mainly by scientists and engineers, modern and relatively inexpensive 64-bit processors bring this speed advantage to the everyday processors that power Websites, corporate applications, and even personal computers.
Sixty-four-bit computing represents the third major architecture shift since the invention of the microprocessor. The first shift, in the early 1980s, took processors from 8-bit to 16-bit computing. The second came a few years later with the move from 16-bit to 32-bit computing. The third shift appeared in the mid-1990s, when the first proprietary 64-bit processors hit the market. More recently, Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, and Apple Computer have introduced 64-bit processors for desktop computers and servers running the Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems.
Understanding the Differences Between 32-Bit and 64-Bit
It is important to understand what a 64-bit processor really does, and what potential advantages it has over a 32-bit processor (Dean, 2003). Many people believe that a 64-bit processor can work on twice as much information at the same time in comparison to a 32-bit processor. This is true in some ways, but does not equate to a doubling in performance, as many believe.
64-bit processor is simply one that can work with numbers that are up to 64 bits long instead of 32 bits long. Each bit is a binary digit represented by a 1 or a 0, and each additional bit to a binary number means it can represent a greater range of numbers. This range is known as the 'dynamic range'.
Increasing the dynamic range of a processor provides an advantage as it can more easily manipulate larger numbers. However, this is a limited advantage even in high-end applications. Most CPUs do not need to be throwing around numbers larger than 4.3 billion, and if it does come across one occasionally, it can always split it up, although at the cost of performance.
One of the true benefits of 64-bit processors is the ability to access more physical memory (Dean, 2003). At the moment, with complicated programming tricks and workarounds, a 32-bit processor can only access 4GB of memory, because each bit of memory must have an address so the processor can locate it. With 4GB of memory, a user has used up every number a 32-bit processor can represent as an address, and it is nearly impossible for the processor to be able to recognize more memory.
64-bit processor can potentially access up to 18 million terabytes (18 billion gigabytes). Not that any one person would want that much yet, but there are plenty of applications where 4GB is not enough, such as large database servers, 3D CAD and scientific analysis.
Performance benefits will increase when software is written specifically to take advantage of 64-bit processors. In this case, a 64-bit processor can perform an instruction on a larger chunk of data in one operation, but again, this is only of benefit if a user is working with very large numbers, or they need very high integer precision. As such, daily office applications and games realize very little benefit or improvement from 64-bit technology.
In a nutshell, the main performance-related benefit of 64-bit computing is the ability to access more memory. As many personal computers sold today are supplied with 512MB of RAM, it is reasonable to assume that PCs being shipped in future years time might come with 4GB as standard, in which case user will consider a 64-bit processor to increase their capabilities.
An additional benefit that comes from some 64-bit processors, including the 32-bit/64-bit AMD64 processors, is an increase in the number of registers, GPRs (General Purpose Registers) (Dean, 2003). Registers store each piece of data just before being operated upon, so the more registers, the more data can be made ready to process - although this raises another challenge of how best to manage these registers to make sure they're optimized. Still, more registers are an excellent thing for programmers.
How 64-Bit Processors Work
The term 64-bit describes the size of the addresses the processor uses to organize the system's main memory banks (Krass, 2003). Sixty-four-bit systems use wider registers so that the programs running on the computer can compute these larger addresses. This expansion of the main memory address range greatly improves the overall ability of the chip to crunch data. While a 32-bit processor can directly address as many as 4 gigabytes (billion bytes) in the main memory, a 64-bit system can address as many as 16 exabytes or 16 billion gigabytes.
This means that computers with 64-bit processors can run database and other business programs faster, manage larger data files and databases, allow more concurrent users and applications to access data, and reduce software-licensing fees. Basically, the more memory a processor can access at one time, the less it relies on information stored on the computer's disk drive.
The less I have to go to disk, the faster my applications run," says Jeff Jones, director of strategy for IBM DB2 information-management software (Krass, 2003). "The faster my applications run, the quicker I can make business decisions."
Since memory costs have been lowered (a decade ago, 4 gigabytes of memory cost about $100,000; today the cost is under $2,000), the processor has become more of a bottleneck (Krass, 2003). The notion of a chip that can tackle 16 exabytes may seem like too much of a good thing, but companies are already figuring out ways to optimize their older applications to take advantage. New applications written expressly for 64-bit architectures are being developed by Microsoft and others.
64-bit processor, with 64-bit registers and a 64-bit integer data path, has the ability to address considerably more memory than a 32-bit processor, with 32-bit registers and a 32-bit integer data path. A 32-bit processor provides flat addressing of up to 232 32-bit bytes, or about 4GB of memory. On the other hand, a 64-bit processor provides flat addressing for 264 64-bit bytes, or 18 billion GB (18 exabytes) of memory. Scalability increases associated with 64 bits are dramatic and can be illustrated by the following example:
64-bit integer arithmetic
SOURCE: Krass, P. (November 17, 2003). Moore is merrier: for power users everywhere, your chip has come in. Hewlett-Packard Company. CTO.com.
In a 64-bit CPU, integer arithmetic is 64 bits providing greater performance and precision. Since most compilers support 64-bit data types, even on 32-bit CPUs, the main benefit for integer arithmetic is enhanced performance on larger data types.
The main benefit of 64-bit computing is increased scalability of your computer and applications. Some applications cannot fit into a 32-bit computing model. For example, limitations on file size in a 32-bit environment may require database systems to use multiple files to represent one single file. Applications requiring large files, a large number of files, or a large number of users benefit from 64-bit computing.
The following table summarizes the sources of increases in performance and scalability associated with 64-bit computing by type of application:
example sources of performance and scalability gains
Large database
Larger memory allocation per user
Many more users
Large file implementations
Reduced swapping
Decision support
Direct addressing
Reduced swapping
Large file implementations
Technical applications
Large process data space
More available shared memory segments
Reduced swapping
High-precision arithmetic
SOURCE: Krass, P. (November 17, 2003). Moore is merrier: for power users everywhere, your chip has come in. Hewlett-Packard Company. CTO.com.
Advantages and Disadvantages
64-bit computing has been in the public eye for more than a decade. In 1992, DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation - now a subsidiary of HP-Compaq) released the Alpha 64-bit processor, running at the then-incredible speed of 200 MHz (Dean, 2003). Since then, there have been a slew of 64-bit processors on the market, including the MIPS R. series, Sun UltraSPARC, IBM PPC 970 and more. These processors were all targeted at high-end computing applications, such as scientific analysis, or running large back-end servers.
However, in recent years, 64-bit computing has become more available to the masses, mainly in the form of AMD's new AMD64 architecture (previously known as x86-64), and, to a lesser extent, Intel's IA64-based processors. Both chip giants have taken very different approaches to the 64-bit proposition, and both are approaching it from different directions.
The main advantages of 64-bit are faster computing and lower IT costs, and these two benefits work simultaneously (Krass, 2003). The speed advantage means complex…[continue]
"32 Bit And 64 Bit Operating Systems" (2004, March 23) Retrieved November 28, 2016, from http://www.paperdue.com/essay/32-bit-and-64-operating-systems-163497
"32 Bit And 64 Bit Operating Systems" 23 March 2004. Web.28 November. 2016. <http://www.paperdue.com/essay/32-bit-and-64-operating-systems-163497>
"32 Bit And 64 Bit Operating Systems", 23 March 2004, Accessed.28 November. 2016, http://www.paperdue.com/essay/32-bit-and-64-operating-systems-163497
7 billion by 2008 establishing the fact that Linux is no more a fringe player but rather a mainstream. IDC admitted that Linux is not being used just on new hardware only. As an alternative customers frequently reinstall existing servers to run Linux. While considering for such use as also the use of Linux for secondary OS, IDC forecasts for servers running Linux to remain 26% larger in 2008. Evidently,
NET development platform, further accelerating performance on the Windows 7 desktop and server operating systems (Wildstrom, 2009). This strategy worked as it gave Microsoft the opportunity to create a highly differentiated system level of performance wills also ensuring backward compatibility to previous generation applications and their respective API calls (Bradley, 2009). Microsoft also took the added step of ensuring the MinWin kernel could also manage a high level of transaction
Without the consent of the user, the program will never be elevated to administrator privilege. The MIC or integrity levels is again a new security concept with Vista OS. This feature is controlled by the Access control entry (ACE) in the System Access control List (SACL) of a file, process or a registry key. By associating every process with an integrity level, the OS limits privilege escalation attacks. [Matthew
Windows CE: Compare/Contrast Linux and Windows XP Windows CE Windows CE (consumer electronics), as the name indicates is Microsoft's embedded operating system specially developed for many types of consumer electronic gadgets like PDA's, industrial controllers and other mobile communication devices. It is in a true sense a multitasking and multithreading operating system and hence allows for two applications to be run at the same time. The first version of Windows CE had
Microsoft has provided legacy API support in the latest WinHEC-delivered kit of the Microsoft Windows Vista Developer's SDK to ensure upward and backward compatibility. Having a more streamlined kernel is also going to give the user interface greater speed and ability to respond to more complex imaging tasks. As a result, Microsoft is planning to have Tablet PC technology and touch-screen support on all versions of Windows 7 in
BluetoothTM is a low cost, low power, short-range radio technology- originally perceived as cable replacement alternative for the cable / wire connected devices such as mobile phone hand, headsets, and portable computers. The BluetoothTM's goals expanded to include standardized wireless communications between any electrical devices and created a notion of Personal Area Network. The write-up traces history of BluetoothTM starting with its unusual name to formation of Special Interest Group,
According to Paul B. Mckimmy (2003), "The first consideration of wireless technology is bandwidth. 802.11b (one of four existing wireless Ethernet standards) is currently the most available and affordable specification. It allows a maximum of 11 megabits per second (Mbps)" (p. 111); the author adds that wired Ethernet LANs are typically 10 or 100 Mbps. In 1997, when the IEEE 802.11 standard was first ratified, wireless LANs were incompatible and


text:
Gift Premium Subscription To psymonkey
Join Date:02-10-2006
Last Activity:10-21-2016 12:36 AM
Likes Given: 25
11 Likes on 10 Posts
- Too many to list
- Ian
- Married
- Hampton
Posted in thread: Partially carbonated beer coming out of my primary on 10-11-2016 at 08:02 PM
I just had this while racking a Belgian Quad from the secondary to the keg. I've been brewing
for a good while now, and have never had the beer I pulled for my hydrometer have two inches of
foam on it...
Posted in thread: Spike Brewing Kettle Giveaway on 07-26-2016 at 10:52 PM
Awesome - thanks!
Posted in thread: Blichmann BrewEasy on 05-14-2016 at 05:28 PM
See post 762, and the posts that follow. Yup, done it, higher efficiencies because you wash the
grains.Haha - two pages ago no less! I'm looking forward to trying it.
Posted in thread: Blichmann BrewEasy on 05-14-2016 at 03:08 AM
I'm curious if anyone has tried adding a basic fly-sparge to the end of their mash? I have the
5g gas version, so I don't have to worry about keeping the coil submerged. As long as the BK
isn't so sha...
Posted in thread: Blichmann BrewEasy on 02-04-2016 at 12:59 PM
Cool - I think I'm going to give this a shot on my next brew-day. I've also been kicking around
the idea of using 1G less during the Mash, and at the end pumping 1G of fresh water at fly
sparge temps ...
Posted in thread: Blichmann BrewEasy on 02-03-2016 at 06:16 PM
Rice hulls are your friend... :)Last couple of batches, I have done a reverse dough-in,
layering rice hulls and crushed grain in a dry mash tun and pumping water from underneath the
false bottom.Not s...
Posted in thread: Blichmann BrewEasy on 01-31-2016 at 07:47 PM
What causes stuck sparge on this system? I'm new to all grain, and hope to buy this system
sometime in the next 2 months of so.There are a few things, though this one was almost
certainly caused by to...
Posted in thread: Blichmann BrewEasy on 01-31-2016 at 07:37 PM
Today I learned that the only thing that sucks worse than a stuck sparge is a stuck
recirculating mash....carry on.Actually - EDIT: My mash had a bit of foam on top, kinda looked
like a beautiful beer...
Posted in thread: Reviews on Millar's Barley Mill? on 01-29-2016 at 12:30 PM
For the owners of the B2 or B3 models who built a base, can you upload some pictures on how you
have it set up? Just stumbled upon the MM while researching mills since I am going AG. Still
doing some ...
Posted in thread: Reviews on Millar's Barley Mill? on 01-14-2016 at 06:43 PM
For a mill with hardened rollers you will not find a better mill for anywhere near the price of
a b3. I have the b2 and bought it right after its release. I have run over a thousand pounds of
grain th...


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qHigh-Yield Gross Anatomy addresses many of the recurring clinical themes of the USMLE Step 1. The information presented in this text prepares you to handle not only the clinical vignettes found on the USMLE Step 1, but also the questions concerning basic gross anatomy conceptsq--Provided by publisher.7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams aamp; Wilkins; 2014:468. Figure 1-4: A: From Daffner RH. Clinical Radiology: The Essentials. ... Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams aamp; Wilkins; 2014:461. Figure 2-5: From Eisenberg RL. Clinical Imaging: An Atlas of Differential Diagnosis. 4th ed. ... B: From Brandt WE, Helms CA. Fundamentals of Diagnostic Radiology. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williamsanbsp;...
|High-YieldTM Gross Anatomy
|Ronald W. Dudek, Thomas Louis
|Lippincott Williams & Wilkins - 2014-02-11