Abstract: A remotely actuated rupture disk can be ruptured upon the receipt of a predetermined signal. The disk can be placed in a port, thereby separating different pressure regions. For example, if the disk is placed in a downhole tool assembly, the disk might be used to isolate a specific chamber from the annular well pressure. An actuation signal can be transmitted down the well's annulus and is received by a receiver coupled to the rupture disk. The received signal is conditioned to trigger a destructive material which then ruptures the disk, connecting the two pressure regions.

Abstract: The latent stress in a material can be measured using critically refracted longitudinal ultrasonic technique. The system uses a frame to hold a hydraulic piston. The piston is used to apply an adjustable force against the probes. A signal is initiated by a first transducer. The signal is angled against the piece under test so as to create a critically refracted wave along the piece. The delay time to receive the wave at a first and second probe is measured. The delay time correlates to a stress in the piece.

Abstract: A one-trip squeeze pack system has a unique service seal unit design using concentric tubing, with the inner tubing an extension of the traditional wash pipe and is later used as the production tubing. The inner tubing contains a ported sub which can be isolated in various positions within the outer tubing by way of seals located above and below the ported sub. This seal unit is raised and lowered on the production string and isolated at various positions in order to accomplish setting the packer, running a packing job, reversing out packing fluid, and receiving production fluids.

Abstract: A method and system is shown to passively monitor cement integrity within a wellbore. Different types of sensors (pressure, temperature, resistivity, rock property, formation property etc.) are “pumped” into place by placing them into a suspension in the cement slurry at the time a well casing is being cemented. The sensors are either battery operated, or of a type where external excitation, (EMF, acoustic, RF etc.) may be applied to power and operate the sensor, which will send a signal conveying the desired information. The sensor is then energized and interrogated using a separate piece of wellbore deployed equipment whenever it is desired to monitor cement conditions. This wellbore deployed equipment could be, for example, a wireline tool.

Abstract: A liquid filter element frame is provided comprising an elongate injection moulded body having a plurality of support ribs radiating from a central axis thereof and a support ring encircling the outer edges of the ribs at the operatively lower end thereof. The ring has attached thereto a separately manufactured end disc having a smoothly contoured edge for supporting the lower end of a sleeve of filter fabric, in use. A sleeve made of filter fabric and adapted to be used as a cover for the element frame is also provided in which the operatively lower end and optionally also the upper end of the sleeve is made of a double layer of filter fabric. The frame fits within the sleeve in use.

Abstract: The flapper valve assembly can be used in series to provide collapsible closures in a drill pipe. Thus, when work strings are withdrawn through the flapper valve, it will close in a conventional manner. However, when the work string must be reinserted through the closed flapper, a collar holding the flapper in its closed position can be sheared from its position within the assembly housing.

Abstract: Initially, a set of locking lugs lock an inner mandrel is locked in position with respect to an outer mandrel. Unlocking the travel joint is accomplished by applying a constant vertical or downward force on the tubing string. That vertical force is transmitted through the tubing string to the outer mandrel, which causes hydraulic pressure with a hydraulic chamber to increase. When the hydraulic pressure exceeds a pressure threshold, a pressure sensitive valve opens, and the hydraulic fluid gradually flows into a reserve hydraulic chamber, allowing the outer mandrel to move with respect to the inner mandrel. A viscosity independent flow restrictor limits the transfer of hydraulic fluid to a preset flow rate. After sufficient hydraulic fluid has been received into the reserve chamber, the outer mandrel aligns with the locking lugs, which then move from the locked position to the unlocked position. The travel joint then releases, allowing the outer mandrel to telescope inward and outward.

Abstract: A tape measure comprising a housing having a rubber base and flexible tape coiled up inside, and a top section having a level. The flexible tape is marked with linear measurement scales on the top and bottom. A horizontal slit runs lengthwise along the flexible measuring tape. An inverted pull tab having a “C” shape attaches to the end of the flexible tape. Two vertical slits extend outward from the horizontal slit near the end of the flexible tape. The top section connects to the housing at a center joint, allowing the top section to lock into set angular positions. Alternative embodiments have a fixed top section with multiple levels and/or a rubber base comprising a rubber roller mechanism.

Abstract: Initially, signals relating to well bore fluids that are generated from sensors in presently available down-hole logging tools are analyzed and/or interpreted by an electronic circuit in a well logging tool. The interpretation of these signals can be direct, differential, or summation measurements from the sensors. The signal interpretations can be qualitative or quantitative, depending on how the tool is set up or programmed of the electronic circuit. When gas/oil, gas/water, or oil/water contacts are made in the well bore, the circuit will send a signal to a set of electromagnets or a drag mechanism that will momentarily grab the walls of the pipe. This will create a line tension spike on the load cell/weight indicator on the surface, and a well log can be generated to show where these line tension spikes occur, thus indicating the depth of various fluids in the well bore.

Abstract: The present invention facilitates the fabrication of an unlimited variety of dovetail joints without the use of standardized template devices. Additionally, the device is capable of supporting a workpiece on both sides of the router bit cutting edge and adjusting the angular orientation of the guiding fence in relation to the axis of directional translation. The device is comprised of a router table and a slideably coupled positioning apparatus. The router table comprises a tabletop and means for securing a router so that the router's cutting bit extends upwardly through a central orifice. The upper surface of the router table has two longitudinal guide grooves which are parallel to one another and equally spaced on opposite sides of the central orifice. The positioning apparatus is comprised of a guide fence unit with two pivotally secured parallel runners.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve has a tubular valve housing, a valve closure member movable between an open and a closed position, an axially shiftable flow tube for opening the valve closure member. Hydraulic pressure from the control line is used to move a piston, which in turn moves an axially shiftable opening prong through the closure member. A balance line, or second hydraulic line is also used to make the valve well insensitive. An isolation valve is placed in the flow path of the second hydraulic line. The isolation valve prevents gas migration into the balance line. It also provides volume control for the fluid displaced when the piston is moved by pressure from the control line. Further, the valve can be closed by the application of sufficient pressure through the second hydraulic line.

Abstract: A stinger is fabricated with an orientating key. The stinger is lowered into a wellbore and remains atop a downhole assembly. The angular orientation of stinger with respect to the downhole assemble is also adjustable prior to entering the wellbore. The stinger acts as a guide for coupling an alignment skirt. The alignment skirt is fabricated with an alignment slot for receiving the orientation key. The alignment skirt is lowered onto the stinger and, as inclines on the skirt engage the orientation key, the alignment skirt is rotated until the alignment slot receives the orientation key. The alignment skirt and stinger are then fully coupled. The angular orientation of the orientation key can be determined by coupling an alignment skirt to the stinger, where a directional tool is affixed to the alignment skirt and performs a directional survey.

Abstract: Redundant explosive transfer between two explosive carrier devices is accomplished by inserting into a transfer sub or gun head a non-moveable explosive means for receiving the detonating cord which, at its first end, establishes a gap from an adjacent positive alignment insert (PAI) and wherein the length of explosive means is sufficient to assure detonation between the explosive means and the detonating cord in the event that the detonating cord shrinks due to the temperature of well applications. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a positive alignment insert consists of an aluminum insert housing having an annular region of imbedded explosive. The annular region of the explosive-filled insert is typically annularly lined with an aluminum sleeve for protecting the explosive within and maintaining an annular region of sufficient diameter to allow for the passage and placement of the detonating cord and booster.

Abstract: An electro magnetic rotating machine comprising at least a rotor having at least one magnet creating rotor magnetic poles; and at least one pair of axially spaced apart solenoids disposed on opposite sides of the rotor magnetic poles, the axis of each solenoid is arranged to be transverse a radius of the path of rotation of the rotor. The solenoids are configured to minimize overlapping of magnetic flux between at least one of the rotor magnetic poles and one of the solenoids when said magnetic pole is adjacent to said solenoid.

Abstract: Adaptive neural networks can be used to effectively enhance signal detection in the inherently noisy environment of an oil well. The neural network can be either non-recurrent or recurrent in nature. The system is implemented with a computer that accepts input from at least one sensor mounted to the wellhead or near the wellhead. The detected contaminated signal is a combination of the event signal and the noise from the environment. The event signal can be, for example, the detonation of a perforation gun. The noise can be either random or periodic. The use of adaptive filtering allows the noise to be more precisely predicted and then subtracted from the contaminated signal to produce a cleaner representation of the event signal. Once the predicted noise is subtracted, the remaining event signal can be analyzed using voice or sound recognition systems to produce an output describing what event occurred.

Abstract: A one-trip squeeze pack system has a unique service seal unit design using concentric tubing, with the inner tubing an extension of the traditional wash pipe and is later used as the production tubing. The inner tubing contains a ported sub which can be isolated in various positions within the outer tubing by way of seals located above and below the ported sub. This seal unit is raised and lowered on the production string and isolated at various positions in order to accomplish setting the packer, running a packing job, reversing out packing fluid, and receiving production fluids.

Abstract: A cell migration agent promotes the healing of wounds by promoting movement of fibroblast cells away from the periphery of the wound. The agents can include Indole-3-Acetic acid and its derivatives such as Indole-3-Acetyl-L-Phenylalanine. Significant increases in the migration of fibroblast cells were observed at five days after treatment initiation. When administered in a dosage of between 0.1 and 250 ppm, these compounds appear to have the ability to move healthy human fibroblast cells into areas void of cells more rapidly than if the agent were not present. This results in the plumping of the skin or healing of wounds. The compounds can be delivered by topical or internal methods of application.

Abstract: The method of remotely actuating a downhole device provides the initiation of an acoustic signal. The acoustic signal is amplified within a resonance chamber and is transmitted down a fluid column in the tubing string or in the annulus around the tubing string. The signal can be coded to allow activation of multiple downhole devices. The use of a resonance chamber allows for the amplification of the actuation signal to ensure that a downhole receiver can detect it. The receiver can be either a transducer or a hydrophone. The apparatus and method allow for remote actuation without the need for intervention into the well.