Abstract: A releasable coupling or safety sub for a drill string including an inner tubular member piloted within an outer tubular member, the inner member including expansible lock members shiftable laterally of the tubular member into locking engagement with a transverse shoulder on the outer member, a retaining member holding the lock members outwardly in engagement with the shoulder, release of the retainer member from the lock members enabling the latter to move laterally inwardly to a position released from the shoulder, permitting the tubular members to be separated from one another. The coupling includes a device acting between the lock members and outer member for imposing an axial preload on the inner and outer members to place the outer member in compression and the inner member in tension to provide a rigid structure.

Abstract: Real time responsive devices are mounted at the inlet to an in-hole motor to measure the interval of time during which drilling fluid circulates through the motor.

Abstract: An in-hole motor drill assembly has the rotor of the motor which may be connected to the drill bit through a shaft connected to the rotor, and a housing which may be connected to the running string, and a normally disengaged clutch between said housing and said shaft. Means are provided for engaging the clutch by exerting a negative force on said housing, which is applied to the shaft by a pick-up bearing, if the bit is stuck against upward movement. The shaft can be rotated by rotation of the running string. In normal operation, during drilling, the clutch is disengaged to permit the shaft to rotate relative to the housing. The bearing which picks up the shaft and bit, during normal off-bottom circulation or retrieval of the assembly, is constructed to permit longitudinal movement of the housing relative to the shaft, when the bit is stuck, to engage the clutch.

Abstract: The invention relates to the design of earth bore-hole drill bits embodying shaped preformed cutters containing hard abrasive materials, such as diamonds, the cutters being mounted in companion preformed sockets in the hard metal bit matrix. The extent of penetration of the preformed cutters into the formation being drilled is controlled by providing surface set diamonds embedded in the matrix at or adjacent to its gage portion, the surface set diamonds projecting from the matrix to a much lesser extent than the preformed cutters. As a result, the surface set diamonds can penetrate into the formation only to the extent determined by engagement of the adjacent face of the matrix with the formation. Although the preformed cutters project from the matrix to a greater distance than the surface set diamonds, their extent of penetration into the formation is no greater than that of the surface set diamonds.

Abstract: An improvement in abrasion resistance is obtained in zeolite compositions containing alumina and clay in a matrix by employing comminuted zeolites.

Abstract: A pseudoboehmite having properties suitable for incorporation into a matrix for a zeolite containing catalyst and the process for producing the same from an aluminum sulfate derived gel.

Abstract: An in hole fluid motor for driving a drill bit utilizing the circulation of drilling fluid to drive the motor, having a sealed bearing assembly. The bearing assembly has a hollow, rotary drive shaft disposed within a tubular relatively stationary housing with radial bearings and thrust bearings disposed between the drive shaft and housing. Sealing structures are provided between the drive shaft and housing in axially spaced relation with the bearings disposed in a chamber between the sealing structures and lubricated by a lubricant confined by the sealing structures and pressurized through a diaphragm by the pressure of fluid externally of the housing in the drill hole. One of the sealing structures has a pair of clean fluid reservoirs separating the bearing lubricant from the drilling fluid in the housing by a pair of sealing devices, one between the bearing lubricant and a first of the clean fluid reservoirs and the other between the first and the second clean fluid reservoirs.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in catalysts formed by spray drying water slurries of a faujasite type zeolite of relatively low sodium content in a matrix, containing pseudoboehmite and added anionically derived alumina gel.

Abstract: A subsea test valve system for well completed at the floor of the sea includes a safety valve and disconnect mechanism mounted in a blowout preventer at the bottom of the sea and having hydraulic fluid pressure operated means for opening the safety valve and controlling a latch in the disconnect mechanism. A tubing test string shut off valve is releasably latched in the disconnect mechanism and has a hydraulic fluid operated shut off valve and a valve for venting the test string to the riser pipe which extends from the blowout preventer to the vessel or platform at the surface of the sea. The subsea hydraulic pressure operated devices are supplied with pressure fluid from a subsea accumulator under the control of subsea pilot valves which are operated by small pressure differences, to accomplish rapid operation at great depth from a control console on the vessel or platform.

Abstract: A subsea test valve system for wells completed at the floor of the sea includes a safety valve and disconnect mechanism mounted in a blowout preventer at the bottom of the sea and having hydraulic fluid pressure operated means for opening the safety valve and controlling a latch in the disconnect mechanism. A tubing test string shut off valve is releasably latched in the disconnect mechanism and has a hydraulic fluid operated shut off valve and a valve for venting the test string to the riser pipe which extends from the blowout preventer to the vessel or platform at the surface of the sea. The subsea hydraulic pressure operated devices are supplied with pressure fluid from a subsea accumulator under the control of subsea pilot valves which are operated by small pressure differences, to accomplish rapid operation at great depth from a control console on the vessel or platform.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a zeolite containing cracking catalyst by employing a sodium silicate derived silica gel in combination with clay to form a catalyst having a good attrition resistance, low carbon, and hydrogen forming properties.

Abstract: Method of producing pseudoboehmite by reacting an aluminum salt with an aluminate.

Abstract: A silica-alumina gel derived from a cationic aluminum source and also an anionic aluminum source and processes for producing such gel.

Abstract: A composite drill collar for drilling bore holes in earth formations including a structural steel outer jacket having a lower end secured to a lower coupling connectable to a drill bit and an upper end secured to an upper coupling connectable to an adjacent drill collar thereabove. An annular heavy metal core of depleted uranium or sintered tungsten is disposed in the jacket and is held in compression therein as by shrink fitting it to the jacket. The structural steel jacket has a heavy wall thickness to carry the bending, torsion, compression, tension and impact loads encountered in the drilling operation, so that such loads are not carried through the core, which has the purpose of increasing the density and mass of the composite drill collar, lessening considerably the tendency for a deviated well bore to be produced.

Abstract: An in-hole motor drill assembly has the rotor of the motor connected to the drill bit, and normally disengaged torque transmitting members are engageable, if desired, without changing the load on the bit, to lock the bit and motor housing together for rotation of the bit by rotation of the motor housing.

Abstract: An in-hole fluid motor has a stator connected with a fluid conduit and a rotor connected with a drive shaft for a bit to drill a bore hole as drilling fluid is circulated through the conduit and the stator, the fluid returning through the bore hole annulus to the top of the bore hole. A circulation valve between the stator and the fluid conduit is opened by the flow of fluid through the valve to by-pass the stator and allow flow of fluid into the annulus. The circulation valve is incorporated in a structure which allows the conduit to fill and dump during lowering in and removal from the fluid in the bore hole.

Abstract: The production process for pseudoboehmite from leach liquors produced in the acid treatment of clays, which liquors contain Fe and alkaline earth ions.

Abstract: An in-hole motor drill assembly has the rotor of the motor connected to the drill bit and a housing connected to the running string, and normally disengaged torque transmitting members between said housing and said drill bit provide for engaging said bit and running string for mutual rotation, by pulling on the running string. The torque transmitting members are locked in engagement, enabling the tension on the drill pipe string to be relieved, and the bit can be rotated by rotation of the drill pipe string in either direction. The usual pick-up bearing between the housing and the shaft provides an abutment for a releasable thrust transmitting member which normally holds the clutch disengaged.

Abstract: An in-hole fluid motor assembly has a clutch engageable between the bearing housing and the drive shaft which is rotatable in the bearing housing, to connect the housing to the shaft and enable rotation of the bit by the housing. The clutch is engaged without increasing the load imposed on the bit. Drilling fluid in or flowing through the assembly and into the drive shaft is employed to hold the clutch disengaged while the circulating pump is running, and a spring normally acts to engage the clutch when the circulation of fluid is diminished by stopping the pump. In one form, the clutch may be automatically engaged if circulation is blocked and the pump continues to apply pressure to the fluid.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in the processes of exchanging zeolites, particularly zeolites of the faujasite type to reduce their sodium content by a multiple exchange under autogenous superatmospheric pressure.