Abstract: This is a drilling tool which can be manipulated from the surface to one position to drill a directionally oriented hole or to a second position to drill a straight hole. A special tool is inserted in the drill string near the bit. It includes a hollow torque member, which is connected into the drill string. Surrounding the torque member are two eccentrically bored sleeves, one within the other. The two sleeves are rotatable with respect to each other and with respect to the torque member. When the cam sleeves are opposed, the torque member is aligned along the borehole axis. When the cam sleeves are oriented in the same direction, their eccentricity is added and the torque tube is thrown off center to cause the bit to drill in a prescribed direction. Means are provided so that the position of the sleeves can be changed from the surface. Manipulation is by mud circulation and pipe movement.

Abstract: A method for cleaning and stimulating an oil, gas or injection well, in which wax, tar and/or bituminous materials are either already deposited or would be precipitated by the injection of an acidizing solution consisting of a mixture of an octanol and a lower alcohol with an aqueous acid solution, involving the injection of an aromatic solvent either before and/or after the alcohol-acidizing solution. To enhance the interfacial miscibility of the aromatic solvent and the alcohol-acidizing solution, a small amount of amine having no more than eight carbon atoms may be added to the aromatic solvent. This method is useful in both production and injection wells.

Abstract: This describes a method for improved data signaling equipment for use with well-drilling tools for rapidly sending measurements made down the hole in the wellbore to the surface without the need of an electric cable. A special well tool is connected into a drill string having a drill bit coupled thereto for drilling a borehole. During normal drilling operations, the data-sending equipment is not in operation, and the main body of circulating or drilling fluid is passed through a main valve in the downhole tool and bypasses a pressure-changing unit. A sensing unit is incorporated in the downhole tool and measures downhole parameters. When it is desired to send these data to the surface, the main circulation of drilling fluid is stopped and the bypass valve closed. Then, a small amount of fluid is supplied to the "closed" drill string from a substantially constant-pressure source.

Abstract: A method of producing highly viscous oil from an underground formation penetrated by a well. Steam is injected through a first channel into the lower part of the formation. At the same time, previously recovered oil from the formation is injected through the well in a channel surrounding the steam channel to the upper part of the formation. This native oil insulates the formation from the steam and also serves to block the steam from rising in the formation. The heated oil can then be recovered from an adjacent well or injection can be stopped and the oil can be recovered from the well through which the fluid was injected.

Abstract: This invention concerns means for protecting a marine wellhead (including the Christmas tree) on an offshore hydrocarbon-producing platform from damage due to fire. Special means are provided to place the wellhead a small depth, e.g., 25 to 50 feet, below the water surface under the deck of the offshore platform. These special means include a horizontal plate supported by the platform and sealed to the upper end of the casing. A cylindrical housing, called a "portable cellar," is lowered from the platform and seals with the horizontal plate. The cellar housing extends above the surface of the water. Water is then pumped out of the sealed cellar so that work on or through the wellhead can be done in a normal open-air environment. After the operation is performed on or through the wellhead, the cellar is removed, the water again surrounds the marine wellhead, so that, in case of fire, it cannot be damaged by heat.

Abstract: This invention concerns the drilling of boreholes in the earth. It concerns a rotary drilling system having a particular bottom hole assembly (BHA) for use in increasing or decreasing the angle of deviation from the vertical of a borehole. It also teaches a method whereby the angle of deviation can be calculated for each assembly. There is one assembly disclosed for increasing the angle of deviation and another assembly disclosed for decreasing the angle of deviation. Also disclosed is a novel "universal stabilizer" for use in the bottom hole assembly.

Abstract: This invention relates to water pollution control and concerns a system for removing dispersed oil from water by contacting the oily water with sulfur to cause the oil to coalesce or agglomerate. In a preferred embodiment, the water containing the dispersed oil is passed through a bed of granular media presenting a surface area of solid phase sulfur to coalesce the dispersed oil. The coalesced oil is then separated from the water.

Abstract: This invention concerns a status alarm for a seismometer group recorder. In using group recorders, the automatic recording feature leaves the field personnel (the user) with minimum confidence that operations are satisfactory, in the absence of a status alarm. An alarm functions when a particular group recorder has been energized and is presumptively ready for operation. The alarm system is actuated only when the major systems within the group recorder are ready to operate. The alarm may be either visual or aural or both.

Abstract: This invention concerns means for protecting a marine wellhead (including the Christmas tree) on an offshore hydrocarbon-producing platform from damage due to fire. Special means are provided to protect a wellhead placed a small depth, e.g., 25 to 50 feet, below the water surface under the deck of the offshore platform. These special means include a horizontal support frame supported by the platform. The wellhead is supported at about the same level as the support frame. A heavy shield comprising a heavy framework somewhat bell- shaped with an open bottom is lowered over the wellhead and comes to rest on the fixed frame or shelf. This shield is removable, but is ordinarily kept in position. In event of a fire on the production platform above the submerged wellhead, debris that may fall from the platform is diverted by the shield. Ocean water continually surrounds the marine wellhead, so that, in case of fire, it cannot be damaged by heat.