Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an effective seal and connector that maintain a removable mechanical and electrical connection between any two down hole power cables, despite cable movement and well pressure. The connector preferably includes a fluid seal comprised an encasing material that surrounds and/or adheres to protective tubing encapsulating an electrical cable's conductor wires. The encasing material may also surround and/or adhere to the conductive wire's insulation to prevent its outward expansion during well pressure events. The connector's fluid seal also comprises a relatively rigid connection between the connector's protective outer sleeve and the protective tubing encapsulating the conductor wire.

Abstract: A well bore fluid is heated to prevent paraffin build-up or lower the viscosity of asphaltenic crude in the production line by an electrical heating element lowered into a pre-determined subterranean location. The heating element is controlled by a control unit that is connected to a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor, which detects temperature and pressure in the vicinity of the heating element and modifies an electric power source to deliver sufficient electric power to the electric heating element to keep the paraffin or other alkanes in a liquefied state. By modifications, the same heater can be used to generate steam in a well bore for the same purposes or to heat oil in a tank battery to prevent solidification of high molecular weight constituents in the crude.

Abstract: A standoff for providing a fluid-tight seal for an electrical connection in a well between an electrical conductor extending from down hole of the well and a power source conductor extending from an above-ground power source is enclosed by and extends through and further into the wellbore. The power source conductor extends down hole to a connector for connecting the power source conductor to the electrical conductor. The standoff includes a rigid tube adapted to extend through a wellhead barrier of the well and terminate at a lower end. A rubber boot surrounds the rigid tube. An electrical insulative tubular body has a hole forming a first inner surface surrounding the power source cable between the lower end of the rigid tube and the connector, the rubber boot surrounding the tubular body. A sleeve is placed at one end of the tubular body and has a second, larger hole coaxial with the first hole and forming a second inner surface.

Abstract: A continuous communications conduit for use in a well is disclosed. A first (101) and second (102) conduit section are threadably engaged and a weldment is formed (200). A heat shield conduit (220) can be disposed within a bore (111, 112) of a conduit section (101, 102) between a first conduit section shoulder (151) and a second conduit section shoulder (152). A first (301), second (302), and third (303) conduit section can be threadably engaged and a weldment (400) formed. An electrical conductor (300) can be disposed in a bore of the conduit sections (301, 302, 303). A heat shield conduit (320) can be disposed between a first conduit section shoulder (351) and a second conduit section shoulder (352). Optionally, an elastomeric stabilizer (410, 420) may be utilized.

Abstract: A building material which comprises cement, cellulose fibers and admixtures is used in the fabrication of bricks, panels or other building products. The manufacture of this building material is accomplished by adding water, paper, a water repellant composed of calcium stearate, and a sodium silicate to act as a fire retardant material. The mixture is then thickened with cement and a second batch of concrete admixtures including a superplasticizer composed of a polyester polyacrylic polyol and an air entraining resin or surfactant to create an air entrained, viscous material for inserting in a mold or extruding through a press to form load bearing and insulating building materials. The resulting product can be formed into blocks or panels and the panels can be coated with polyurethane/polyurea coating to be bullet and blast resistant.

Abstract: The present invention is a T-Slot block assembly that provides a plurality of attachment points for attachment to a milling machine worktable and to other T-Slot blocks for accommodating a variety of differing clamping or work piece holding jobs. Furthermore said invention can utilize common available clamps, fasteners, step blocks, T-nuts and various common but numerous work holding tooling. No additional mounting plates, or any type of preparatory hardware is required to directly mount the T-Slot Block onto the milling table or other work table where a T-slot is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and method for removably mounting a lubricator assembly (106) to a component of the wellhead stack. The component of the wellhead stack is an annular blowout preventer (BOP) (50). Tool and communication conduit lubrication and access to the wellbore without requiring activation of the packing element of the BOP (50).

Abstract: The present invention discloses a collapsible drilling assembly having field-replaceable cutter or stabilizer blades (214) and method of using and installing new stabilizer blades while at a job location. The drilling assembly is deployed upon a distal end of a drillstring, expanded to a gauge size, and used as an underreamer or alternatively a stabilizer. The drilling assembly operates between retracted and extended positions through the increase in pressure of drilling fluid flowing therethrough.

Abstract: A computer driven information management system selectively ranks and qualifies third-parties, such as vendors, by utilizing user-defined and selected questions and qualification criteria from various data sources to utilize the database information available in public, commercial or in private, or by information directly supplied by the third-party in a registration with the organization desiring information from the third-party. The system displays the results of the scoring system for user selection. Alternatively, the system can automatically generate a notification of selection to the organization, the user and the third-party from whom the information was obtained.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) and a method to prevent undesired objects (not shown) when communication conduit (not shown) is disposed therethrough. The apparatus (100) and method include a flapper assembly (150) to selectively open and close when objects (not shown) larger than the communications conduit (not shown) are desired to pass therethrough.

Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method to insert a small diameter pipe into a borehole while holding a larger diameter pipe. The apparatus includes a table attached to a centralized base which, in turn, provides a telescopic stop tower. The stop tower includes a force transducer that yields a readout when it is abutted by a first wrench when a second wrench secured to the small diameter pipe is turned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a mounting system for mounting a camera, or other similar devices, for afocal photographic viewing through a telescope eyepiece providing an attachment for the telescope which allows attachment of the telescope eyepiece and a yoke which locks and supports a supporting rail along which is mounted a camera platform which is designed to be adjustable to bring the camera or other light receptor device into axial alignment with the eyepiece of the telescope quickly and to hold the device in fixed axial alignment. The invention permits adjustment with four aspects: lateral perpendicular mutually exclusive movement in two axes to the optical axis; longitudinal movement along the optical axis; and tilting or pivoting movement in one of the two lateral perpendicular axes.

Abstract: An underreamer (5) is formed from a tubular body (10) having a longitudinal bore therethrough, and providing an integral piston actuator (20) responsive to hydraulic pressure to move cutters (40) into engagement with the well bore and springs (60) to resist premature engagement of the cutter arms (40) and to return the cutters (40) to the body upon conclusion of the underreaming job. Skewed longitudinal grooves (45) are formed in the tubular body thereby permitting the flowpath through the underreamer to provide substantially the same inner diameter throughout the tool (5).

Abstract: A method for logging, controlling, or monitoring a subsea well or group of wells through a path not within production tubing. Preferred embodiments of the present invention allow logging tools, wire rope, optic fibers, electrical cables, monitoring and measuring instruments and other items known to those skilled in the art of oil and gas production to be disposed into the well without interfering with the flow path through the production string. In another aspect of the invention, a preferred embodiment includes the mooring or tethering of an instrument pod over the subsea well. The instrument pod is designed provide on-board data storage, data processing, data receiving, and data transmission equipment, such that data from the well can be transmitted back to a receiving network where said data may be stored and processed into useful information for reservoir operators.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses to determine the temperature profile of a wellbore using a fiber optic cable and an anchor are disclosed. Furthermore, a pressurized wellhead spool that couples to a standard Christmas tree structure on a well head to facilitate the injection of fiber optic cable into an oil and gas well is disclosed. The wellhead spool is portable and may be connected to fiber optic cable already located at the site, for quick connection to on-site instrumentation. A method of using the apparatuses disclosed to measure wellbore temperature at multiple depths of investigation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hole opener (10) having a tubular body (11) with threaded ends (12, 14) for connection in a drill string. The hole opener provides slots or grooves (21, 21′) along its longitudinal axis (16) into which are inserted cutter arm support members (30, 30′, 60, 60′) which may be screwed, (43) pinned (68) or bolted (168) to the body (11) to permit easy replacement of the support arms (30). The grooves (21, 21′) in the body (11) of the hole opener (10) also provide a spindle (20) spatially aligned with the groove (21, 21′) to support the proximal end of a rotatable journal body (28) supporting the cutter body (25) providing hard facing for grinding of the bore hole to be enlarged. The support arms (30) at their distal end provide further support for the cutter journals (70). The hole opener (10) also may provide pressure compensated lubrication mechanism (71) to provide grease to the bearing surfaces to increase their service life and thereby extend the useful life of the tool.

Abstract: A clamp for repairing a damaged pipe member. Shell members are matingly engaged around the damaged pipe member. Segmented inserts are received in a complementary annular channel formed in an inside face of the shell members to form a ring assembly supporting annular seals between the ring assembly and the damaged pipe member. A shell-sealing annular channel is formed between the ring assembly and the shell members to receive a liquid sealant to form an annular seal between the ring assembly and the shell members. A longitudinal channel is formed in longitudinal faces of the shell member to form longitudinal seals in the shell assembly when a ring assembly is disposed at either end of the shell members. The ring assemblies support seals against the damaged pipe member, including a pipe-sealing annular channel formed between each ring and the damaged pipe member between inner and outer annular seals for receiving a liquid sealant.

Abstract: A lockable swivel (4) for use in drilling applications which allows the operator to selectively engage and disengage the swivel (4). The lockable swivel (4) is comprised of a locking mandrel (7) carried in a body (3) which engages, upon actuation, splined surfaces (20, 21) within the swivel mandrel (5) thereby locking the two together. Various methods for the use of the lockable swivel (4) in wireline and other drilling operations are demonstrated.

Abstract: A lockable swivel (4) for use in drilling applications which allows the operator to selectively engage and disengage the swivel (4). The lockable swivel (4) is comprised of a locking mandrel (7) carried in a body (3) which engages, upon actuation, splined surfaces (20, 21) within the swivel mandrel (5) thereby locking the two together. Various methods for the use of the lockable swivel (4) in wireline and other drilling operations are demonstrated.