Abstract: Devices and an improved system for fairing or producing smooth surfaces. Rails positioned on and attached to the surfaces are used to form guide strips on the surface which are made of filler. A straight edge is moved over the guide strips to fair and smooth the filler applied between the guide strips.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a metal valve, each having a body with flow passages and curved internal sealing surfaces and a valve member with a flow passage and external curved sealing surfaces. Both the body and valve member sealing surfaces are curved as a portion of the involute of a circle and are sealingly engageable. The valve member is mounted in the body for rotation between open and closed positions, permitting and preventing flow through valve.

Abstract: An improved catcher sub has a longitudinal flow passage and a collet slidably mounted around the flow passage in the sub housing. The collet has a number of fingers and each finger has a resilient seal segment. The collet is held and supported in up fingers contracted position where the resilient seal segments seal on each other forming an annular seal ring smaller than the longitudinal flow passage. When high pressure is applied on a ball sealingly engaging the annular seal ring, the collet is supported in the up contracted position while the pressure moves an annular piston to a position which permits the collet to be moved to a lower expanded position larger than the longitudinal flow passage by a later application of lower pressure on the ball and the ball to be expended downwardly through the collet and sub flow passage.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve valve useful in a flow conduit to control and vary area of openings open for flow through the valve. The valve has a sleeve having a through flow passage and the sleeve is moveable between open, intermediate and closed positions. When the sleeve is in open position, the area open for flow through the valve is equal to area through the sleeve flow passage. As the sleeve is moved from open position to intermediate positions toward closed position, the area open for flow at each position is reduced to no area open for flow at closed position and conversely. Also disclosed is a pressure operated shifting tool which when lowered into the sleeve valve selectively locates in the valve, engages the sleeve, moves the sleeve upwardly or downwardly between positions and automatically disengages from the sleeve for retrieval. The invertible shifting module in the shifting tool is provided with a positioning sleeve which determines the distance the sleeve is moved when the shifting tool is operated.

Abstract: An improved running or pulling tool which automatically connects to a lock mandrel when the improved tool dogs are inserted into a lock mandrel fishing neck. The dogs are releasably positioned for automatic connection by lower shear members. The tool is releasably positioned in a configuration for downward jarring by upper shear members. When operating to lock a lock mandrel in or unlock a lock mandrel for retrieval from a well conduit, the improved tool may be jarred repeatedly upwardly or downwardly as required. The improved tool may be disconnected and released from the lock mandrel at any time during locking or unlocking operations by jarring upwardly to shear the upper members followed by downward jarring to shear the lower members. The tool may be operated to release by downward jarring if the tool skirt or core contacts a lock mandrel fishing neck.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sliding sleeve valve and a selective pressure operated shifting tool engageable in the selected sleeve valve for shifting the valve sleeve between open and closed positions. The sleeve valve is connectible in a well conduit and is especially useful in highly deviated and horizontal wells. The sleeve valve has a longitudinal flow passage through, centralizers for centralizing the valve in well conduits, longitudinal flow slots on the valve body and ports connecting the flow slots and flow passage. The pressure operated shifting tool is connected to reeled tubing by a quick disconnect. The shifting tool includes an invertible shifting module which may be inverted to shift the valve sleeve to closed or open position. The shifting tool keys are locked retracted for running and on complete shifting of the sleeve are automatically released from the valve sleeve and returned to locked retracted position for retrieving.

Abstract: Disclosed is a new and novel poppet type safety valve useful in flow conduits in fluid storage well systems. The safety valve is programmable to automatically close at various predetermined ratios of production mass flow rate-ambient pressure to prevent undesirable high flow rates or uncontrolled out-flow of fluid stored in a reservoir if the flow conduit or wellhead is damaged. This safety valve is lowered into and locked and sealed in a landing nipple in the well conduit. The safety valve has a variable bias which biases the valve member toward open position and a variable flow restrictor which is automatically actuated by a sensing actuator continually sensing reservoir pressure to vary the restricted annular flow area between the valve housing and inside of the well conduit for closure at the desired flow rate. The valve element has a through flow passage with locking recesses in the flow passage into which the sensing actuator may be releasably locked.

Abstract: In the disclosed pressure operated valve, a sleeve valve controlling flow between outside and inside the valve is releasably connected in a housing when the sleeve valve is in open position. Pressure on a ball sealingly engaging the sleeve valve operates the sleeve valve from open to latched closed to disconnect positions and expends the sleeve valve from the housing.

Abstract: A flapper valve assembly when closed permits flow through in one direction and prevents flow in the opposite direction. When open, two way flow may occur and the flapper valve member is biased toward closed position, to sealingly engage an annular seat, by one or more springs in the wall of the flapper valve housing. This structure provides a greater closing force applied to the flapper valve through a tension member connected to the flapper valve hinge. Three forms of tension members are disclosed.

Abstract: A running and pulling tool is disclosed which is releasably connectible to a fishing neck on a well tool. The running pulling tool has an elongate mandrel on which a connector having dogs is slidably mounted for connecting to and releasing the dogs from a fishing neck. The connector is positioned in a first connecting position by a retainer which is moveable to a position permitting movement of the connector to a second position releasing from the fishing neck. A latch releasably positions the retainer in position for retaining the connector in the first position. The running pulling tool may be used to run and anchor a well tool in a well conduit and to retrieve an anchored well tool.

Abstract: A retrievable subsurface safety valve positioned in a well conduit is actuated to close by a predetermined flow rate through the safety valve. A valve member having a sealing surface is moveable by flow to sealingly engage an annular seat in the valve, closing the valve to flow. All forms of the invention safety valve have retrievable variable weight assemblies which releasably lock in the valve member for varying the flow rate at which each valve closes. In two invention forms, the weight assemblies when retrieved from the valve members leave the valve members open for passage of well tools through the valve members. In one invention form, the valve housing has a variable bias for biasing the valve member toward open position and this safety valve may be operated to expend the seat, housing and valve member with or without the variable weight assembly.

Abstract: A locking system utilizing metal seals for sealing and a rotary lock mandrel which is rotated to lock by a rotary running tool in a landing nipple in a well conduit. The lock mandrel has a metal sealing surface sealingly engageable with a metal seat in the landing nipple and orientors on a number of helically profiled segments which are rotatably engageable with mating profiled segments in the landing nipple. As the lock mandrel is lowered on the running tool into the landing nipple, lock mandrel segments are oriented between nipple segments, and the mandrel metal sealing surface engages the metal seat in the landing nipple. Downward jarring on the running tool rotates the mandrel segments into engagement with the landing nipple segments, locking the lock mandrel in the landing nipple, sealingly engaging the metal seal surface on the metal seat and releasing the running tool from the locking mandrel for retrieval from the well conduit.

Abstract: A system for sealing and anchoring reeled tubing in a landing nipple in well tubing. An hydraulically actuated lock mandrel having a locator is connected on the reeled tubing and lowered inside the tubing and into the landing nipple. The lock mandrel sealingly engages the landing nipple and the locator stops downward movement of the lock mandrel in the landing nipple. Pressure applied in the reeled tubing actuates the lock mandrel to lock and anchor the reeled tubing in the landing nipple. On sufficient reduction of pressure in the reeled tubing, the lock mandrel automatically unlocks from the landing nipple. Two embodiments of the lock mandrel are disclosed, each utilizing a different type of locator.

Abstract: A safety valve for use in a well conduit which is automatically actuated to close when production flow impingement on a retrievable flow choke in the safety valve operating tube is sufficient. The safety valve utilizes all metal to metal seals and includes a unique roller detent mechanism, which releasably positions the operating tube in valve open position and provides snap closure of the valve. The operating tube has internal locking recesses and a metal seat. A flow choke of the size to cause safety valve closure at a selected flow rate is connected on a lock mandrel having a metal sealing surface. The lock mandrel with choke is lowered into the safety valve and operated to seal on the metal seat and lock in the locking recesses. When it is desirable to change the choke size, the lock mandrel is retrieved from the safety valve to surface.

Abstract: A locking system utilizing metal seals for sealing and a rotary lock mandrel which is rotated to lock by a rotary running tool in a landing nipple in a well conduit. The lock mandrel has a metal sealing surface sealingly engageable with a metal seat in the landing nipple and orientors on a number of helically profiled segments which are rotatably engageable with mating profiled segments in the landing nipple. As the lock mandrel is lowered on the running tool into the landing nipple, lock mandrel segments are oriented between nipple segments, and the mandrel metal sealing surface engages the metal seat in the landing nipple. Downward jarring on the running tool rotates the mandrel segments into engagement with the landing nipple segments, locking the lock mandrel in the landing nipple, sealingly engaging the metal seal surface on the metal seat and releasing the running tool from the locking mandrel for retrieval from the well conduit.

Abstract: An hydraulically operated slip assembly useful to grip pipe being run into or pulled from a well. This assembly has upper and lower plates, each having a passage for pipe. Wedges, carrying unique slip systems are positioned around the passages between the plates and are slidably mounted for guided radial movement inwardly to initially grip pipe in neutral position and outwardly to ungrip pipe as moved by an hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted aside on the lower plate. The unique slip systems automatically increase gripping force on initially gripped pipe on more than about 0.7 inches up or down movement from neutral position caused by loads on the pipe. Forces resulting from increased pipe gripping force on pipe develop frictional forces within the slip assembly, which effectively prevent outward movement of the wedges after inadvertent or on purpose operation of the cylinder to ungrip the pipe.

Abstract: A system for controlling flow in a well conduit including a landing nipple in the well conduit and a standing valve, which after landing in the landing nipple may be retrieved or expended from the landing nipple. The standing valve permits upward flow and prevents downward flow through the landing nipple and conduit and has a resilient seal which expands into a groove in the landing nipple to provide limited resistance to upward flow moving the standing valve upwardly out of the landing nipple. Sufficient weight on the standing valve or pumping down the conduit with sufficient pressure releases a landing ring on the standing valve to retract, permitting the standing valve to be moved downwardly and expended out of the landing nipple.

Abstract: A system and a plug for plugging a well conduit. The plug includes a lock mandrel and a valve. There is a prong releasably connected in the plug. A running tool is adapted to releasably connect to the plug lock mandrel and prong. After the plug is lowered into a well conduit and installed in a landing nipple, upward releasing force on the running tool moves the prong upwardly closing the valve and plug to flow and the prong locks in valve closed position. Later, the prong may be disconnected and raised from the plug to surface, permitting pressure outside and inside the plug to equalize for retrival of the plug.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a wireline blowout preventer are disclosed. The rams in each embodiment are keyed to end bodies which close the outer ends of body cross bores for the rams. One blowout preventer embodiment utilizes cross pins having flat surfaces positioned in each end body. The pin flat surfaces slidably engage flat surfaces on a sleeve connected and keyed to each ram to key rams to end bodies. The other embodiment keys the rams to the end bodies with a square sleeve connected and keyed to each ram. Each square sleeve is moveable through square hole in the end body. The end bodies may be positioned inverted, inverting the rams to prevent flow downwardly through the blowout preventer when the rams are in closed position.

Abstract: A lock system for wells which includes a landing nipple in the well tubing and two embodiments of a lock mandrel, which are sealingly engageable and releasably lockable in the landing nipple to control flow through the well tubing. One lock mandrel is closed to flow and "plugs" the landing nipple. The other lock mandrel, which will operate as a standing valve, has a through flow passage and a check valve preventing downward flow through the flow passage and lock mandrel. Both lock mandrels utilize "C" rings for locking in landing nipples and may be released for expending downwardly from landing nipples by a predetermiend downward force.