The present invention relates generally to wall repair compounds such as joint compounds, spackling compounds, and the like used to repair imperfections in walls or fill joints between adjacent wallboard panels. Particularly, the present invention relates to such a wall repair compound comprising a dust reduction additive (DRA) that reduces the quantity of airborne dust generated when the hardened compound is sanded. The dust reduction additive also imparts adhesion to the wall repair compounds to which it is added, for example to a joint compound. More specifically, this dust reduction additive is of sufficiently lighter shade to not impact the shade of the joint compound upon addition. In one embodiment, this invention relates to a non-foaming dust reduction additive that comprises paraffin and/or micro-crystalline wax-based emulsion.

A method of valuation of raw fines materials, comprising selectively screening, biotreatment or composting of raw fines materials or selection as fillers in composites. The method comprises screening the raw fines materials to Grade 1 comprising fines materials of a size of at most about 5 mm and Grade 2 comprising fines materials of a size larger than about 5 mm; and at least one of: A) bio-oxydating organic contaminants of the Grade 1; by adding and mixing organic amendment under controlled temperature, nutrients content and water content conditions and monitoring a content of organic contaminants until the content of organic contaminants stops decreasing; and B) composting the Grade 1; by adding and mixing organic amendment under controlled temperature, nutrients content and water content conditions, and monitoring pathogens content and respiration rate; and stopping the addition of organic amendment upon detection of absence of pathogens at a predetermined respiration rate.

A method of valuation of raw fines materials, comprising selectively screening, biotreatment or composting of raw fines materials or selection as fillers in composites. The method comprises screening the raw fines materials to Grade 1 comprising fines materials of a size of at most about 5 mm and Grade 2 comprising fines materials of a size larger than about 5 mm; and at least one of: A) bio-oxydating organic contaminants of the Grade 1; by adding and mixing organic amendment under controlled temperature, nutrients content and water content conditions and monitoring a content of organic contaminants until the content of organic contaminants stops decreasing; and B) composting the Grade 1; by adding and mixing organic amendment under controlled temperature, nutrients content and water content conditions, and monitoring pathogens content and respiration rate; and stopping the addition of organic amendment upon detection of absence of pathogens at a predetermined respiration rate.

A method of sealing a well includes selecting a preexisting fluid pathway between a production platform and a desired sealing location in the well to be sealed, determining, for the well to be sealed, a desired quantity of sealant having known flow qualities, to be delivered in fluid form to the well in the sealing region of the well, determining, based on the flow qualities of the sealant in fluid form and the flow qualities of the preexisting fluid pathway, the time needed to deliver the desired quantity of the sealant in fluid form to the sealing location in the well, determining, based on the time needed to deliver the desired quantity of the sealant in fluid form to the sealing location in the well, whether the sealant will maintain the fluid form, if necessary, change one or more qualities of the sealant so that the desired quantity of the sealant will reach the sealing location in the well while in the fluid form, and transport the quantity of sealant, in fluid form, through the preexisting fluid pathway between a production platform and the desired sealing location in the well to be sealed.

A method of sealing a well includes selecting a preexisting fluid pathway between a production platform and a desired sealing location in the well to be sealed, determining, for the well to be sealed, a desired quantity of sealant having known flow qualities, to be delivered in fluid form to the well in the sealing region of the well, determining, based on the flow qualities of the sealant in fluid form and the flow qualities of the preexisting fluid pathway, the time needed to deliver the desired quantity of the sealant in fluid form to the sealing location in the well, determining, based on the time needed to deliver the desired quantity of the sealant in fluid form to the sealing location in the well, whether the sealant will maintain the fluid form, if necessary, change one or more qualities of the sealant so that the desired quantity of the sealant will reach the sealing location in the well while in the fluid form, and transport the quantity of sealant, in fluid form, through the preexisting fluid pathway between a production platform and the desired sealing location in the well to be sealed.

Reinforcement for a material may be provided that includes a moldable composition, particularly for a building material, in which barley awns and seed parachutes, such as from bulrush seeds, are present as components in the reinforcement. The seed parachutes may comprise stem fibers and lateral fibers branching off therefrom, where the lateral fibers of the seed parachutes are connected to one another by the barley awns. The barley awns may have a weight proportion of approximately 0.1 to approximately 2 times, such as approximately 0.5 to approximately 1 time, higher than the weight proportion of the seed parachutes. A building material may be provided that includes the described reinforcement. A method for producing the building material may also be provided.

Reinforcement for a material may be provided that includes a moldable composition, particularly for a building material, in which barley awns and seed parachutes, such as from bulrush seeds, are present as components in the reinforcement. The seed parachutes may comprise stem fibers and lateral fibers branching off therefrom, where the lateral fibers of the seed parachutes are connected to one another by the barley awns. The barley awns may have a weight proportion of approximately 0.1 to approximately 2 times, such as approximately 0.5 to approximately 1 time, higher than the weight proportion of the seed parachutes. A building material may be provided that includes the described reinforcement. A method for producing the building material may also be provided.

Described are stabilized materials and methods and systems for providing said stabilized materials. The system includes a first unit for mixing a first combination that includes a quantity of drill cuttings and a drying agent. The system may include a second unit for mixing the first combination with at least a binder and/or a surface acting agent and providing a second combination. The second combination is formed when the first combination is caused to have a reduced moisture content, transitioning from a first state to a second state. The reduced moisture content in the second state is at least 20% less than the moisture content of the drill cuttings. The first combination in a second state is a stabilized material. The first combination in a second state may be a dried material. The binder and/or a surface acting agent with or without additional additives are not introduced until the first combination is in the second state.

Described are stabilized materials and methods and systems for providing said stabilized materials. The system includes a first unit for mixing a first combination that includes a quantity of drill cuttings and a drying agent. The system may include a second unit for mixing the first combination with at least a binder and/or a surface acting agent and providing a second combination. The second combination is formed when the first combination is caused to have a reduced moisture content, transitioning from a first state to a second state. The reduced moisture content in the second state is at least 20% less than the moisture content of the drill cuttings. The first combination in a second state is a stabilized material. The first combination in a second state may be a dried material. The binder and/or a surface acting agent with or without additional additives are not introduced until the first combination is in the second state.

The present invention is directed to products, such as paper and paperboard products, comprising a substrate containing cellulose and top ply comprising microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate, to methods of making such paper and paperboard products, and associated uses of such paper and paperboard products. The microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material are applied at the stage when the wet substrate is in the process of being formed on the wire of a papermaking machine, thereby avoiding the additional cost of more extensive equipment and machinery as well as in separate drying of a coating. The microfibrillated cellulose facilitates the application of inorganic particulate onto the surface of a wet paper or paperboard substrate when applied thusly, by trapping the inorganic particulate on the surface of the substrate and by giving the composite sufficient strength and a suitable pore structure to make it suitable for printing and other end-use demands.