Abstract: Wellhead supported subsea template apparatus and methods of installing such template apparatus are provided. The template apparatus are each comprised of a central support member adapted to be positioned into engagement with an upper portion of an existing wellhead and to be supported thereon above the sea floor. Attached to the template are a plurality of laterally spaced guide slot members, mechanisms for removably connecting the central support member to a running tool, and mechanisms for preventing the support member from rotating on the wellhead after being positioned thereon.

Abstract: A tubing assembly is disclosed for providing fluid communication and wireline access from a tubing string through a tubing remnant extending above a packer set within a casing. In combination, the tubing assembly comprises a funnel guide connectable to the lower portion of the tubing string, and a packer connectable with the tubing string above the funnel guide for establishing a sealed zone within the casing extending from above the funnel guide to the tubing remnant packer. The funnel guide further comprises a body having a lower flared skirt adapted to receive thereinto an upper portion of the tubing remnant, a central bore extending through the body, and devices on an upper portion thereof for connection to the tubing string.

Abstract: A turbine for driving a drill bit includes means for locking the turbine rotor. A generally cylindrical locking assembly is connected to the rotor via a splined connection which permits relative axial movement of the locking assembly and rotor while restricting relative rotational movement thereof. A tab extends radially outwardly from the locking assembly and is receivable in an axial groove formed on the inner surface of the turbine case. When so received, rotational movement of the locking assembly and thus the rotor is prevented. An annular cavity is formed on the inner surface of the turbine case adjacent one end of the groove. When the tab is received therein, rotational movement of the locking assembly and rotor relative to the turbine case is permitted. A wellbore may be reamed and washed with the rotor in its locked condition by rotating the drill string as in conventional rotary drilling and circulating fluid.

Abstract: A terminator assembly is disclosed herein for use in mooring a floating structure to the floor of a body of water. A hawsepipe extends downwardly from adjacent an upper support on the floating structure and is supported by a lower support. Tension members utilized from mooring the floating structure extend downwardly from adjacent the upper support through the hawsepipe and a lower end of the tension member is adapted for connection to the floor of the body of water. A locking device is connected to an upper portion of each tension member for maintaining the tension member in tension by acting upon the upper portion of the hawsepipe to transfer the vertical loads through the hawsepipe to the lower support on the floating structure.

Abstract: Methods and related apparatus are described for determining lithological characteristics, such as formation material type and porosity, of an underground formation by utilizing compressional velocity (V.sub.p) and shear velocity (V.sub.s) data. One described method utilizes the plotting of V.sub.p and/or V.sub.s versus a Seismic Parameter, such ad K/.rho. or the Bulk Velocity, and boundaries of velocity values of certain formation material types to define a field of data points. By comparing the position of the data points to the boundaries of the formation material types, the formation material type and, later, porosity can be determined. A method is described for determining the presence of a hydrocarbon gas at a particular location in an underground formation utilizing the above methods. Also, a method is described for determining V.sub.s from V.sub.p data and obtained ratios of V.sub.p and V.sub.s for at least one formation material type.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for completing a plurality of zones in a wellbore. A packer having a tubular element extending therethrough is suspended in a wellbore between two hydrocarbon-bearing zones of interest. The lower zone is perforated and stimulated if necessary. Thereafter, the tubular element is sealed with a plug which includes an explosive charge and the upper zone is fractured and stimulated. The explosive is then detonated thus severing the tubular element at the plug thereby permitting production of formation fluids from both zones into a common string of tubing.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for displacing hydrocarbon fluid within a subterranean formation by the introduction of an aqueous micellar fluid. In the method, the aqueous micellar fluid comprises a surfactant, from about 1 to about 30 wt. % sulfonate, and as the major constituent, water. The sulfonate further is comprised of a mixture of monosulfonate and disulfonate. At the start of the introduction of the aqueous micellar fluid, a monosulfonate-rich sulfonate mixture is utilized and at the end of the introduction, a disulfonate-rich mixture is utilized. Such grading or adjusting or mono- to disulfonates is used to increase the effectiveness of the micellar fluid and can occur throughout the introduction process either linearly or exponentially with respect to time, or in block slugs in the micellar fluid alone, a phase control fluid alone, or across both.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the rotational torque of a drill bit powered by a downhole motor. The downhole motor is suspended from a hydraulic ram at the lower end of a string of drill pipe. A torque sensor detects the reactive torque in the downhole motor during drilling. In response to the detected torque level, pressurized drilling fluid from the downhole motor is provided to the hydraulic ram thereby varying the weight applied to the drill bit in order to maintain a constant torque level.

Abstract: An improved drill bit and a method for making the same. A body having an upper end is adapted for connection to a source of rotary motion. A curved surface formed on the lower end of the body includes a plurality of cutting elements embedded therein. A port provides drilling fluid between the curved surface and the bore during drilling. The cutting elements and fluid courses formed on the curved surface define a gap between the surface and the bore during drilling. The gap is formed to provide no more than a substantially linear reduction in drilling fluid pressure with increasing bit radius. In making the bit, a bottomhole pattern and a substantially constant flow area are selected. Dimensions of the lower drill bit surface are calculated to provide the selected flow area over the surface when the bit is in position above the bottomhole pattern.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of displacing reservoir fluids through a subterranean retrograde or gas-condensate reservoir wherein a displacement fluid is introduced into the reservoir and it is displaced along with the reservoir fluids through the reservoir. The displacement fluid can be inherently miscible with the reservoir fluids at the temperture and pressure of the reservoir and comprises a nonoxidizing gas selected from a group consisting of carbon dioxide, flue gas, nitrogen, residue gas, and mixtures thereof in selected proportions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus operable on a wireline logging cable for sampling and testing bore hole fluids, transmitting the results obtained from such testing to the surface for determination whether or not the particular sample undergoing testing should be collected and brought to the surface. The apparatus comprises a downhole tool having an inflatable double packer for isolating an interval of the bore hole coupled with a hydraulic pump, the pump being utilized sequentially to inflate the double packer and isolate an interval of the bore hole and to remove fluids from the isolated interval to test chamber means where resistivity, redox potential (Eh) and acidity (pH) are determined, and finally to dispose of selected samples to one or more sample container chambers within said tool or to reject them into the bore hole if not selected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for connecting a tubular element to an underwater wellhead. A wellhead extension having a threaded lower end is threadably connected to an underwater wellhead. A stinger connected to a lower end of a string of riser pipe is lowered into the wellhead extension until the riser pipe is sealably connected to the extension spool. In the event of damage to the hanger threads, a housing is mounted on the lower end of a string of riser pipe or a wellhead extension. A substantially tubular nut is threadably engaged with the housing and includes a set of downwardly-projecting lugs on the lower end of the nut. On the lower portion of the housing, a set of slips and an annular seal are mounted. The housing is lowered until the lugs are engaged with flow-by ports in the wellhead hanger. Rotation of the pipe effects longitudinal housing movement relative to the nut which sets the slips thereby joining the housing to the hanger, and energizes the seal between the wellhead and the housing.

Abstract: A remotely releasable pipe connector is described and comprises a first tubular connector or "pin connector" having at least one laterally extending locking member, and a slotted second tubular connector or "box connector" cooperatively disposable over the first tubular connector with the slots thereof removably engaging the first tubulars connector's locking members. One or more shear plates are attachable to the second tubular connector and are positioned to prevent the release of the locking members from the slots in the second tubular connector until the shear plates are subjected to a force greater than or equal to a predetermined force.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for introducing a mixture of dry catalyst and a hydrocarbon liquid into a polymerization reactor vessel. The apparatus comprises a enclosed mixing tank with rotating mixing blades and a rotatable shot valve spaced below the mixing tank. The shot valve can be rotated from a first position in communication with an opening in the lower portion of the mixing tank to a second position in communication with a hydrocarbon feed conduit that provides hydrocarbon liquid to the polymerization reactor vessel. A bypass conduit is provided for introducing hydrocarbon liquid from the hydrocarbon feed conduit into the mixing tank wherein the interior of the mixing tank is maintained at the same pressure as the hydrocarbon feed conduit.

Abstract: A system for testing seismic signal recording equipment wherein a test signal is generated which simulates the output of at least one seismic sensing device, and, thereafter, the test signal is applied to the seismic signal recording equipment. The test signal is recorded by the seismic signal recording equipment and the recorded signal is compared with the generated test signal to evaluate the performance characteristics of the seismic signal recording equipment. The system can include circuitry to vary component elements of the test signal to test different performance characteristics of the seismic signal recording equipment, as well as ability to generate a random noise signal for addition to the test signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Jacquard control system for controlling fluid flow within an apparatus such as a downhole tool. Such Jacquard control system includes at least one control member having a plurality of holes therethrough, the holes being arranged in a plurality of patterns cooperable with fluid passageways within the downhole tool. Each pattern of holes permits fluid flow within the downhole tool to carry out a desired function. Also included is a device to selectively adjust the position of the at least one control member relative to the fluid passageways to permit the fluid flow to carry out the desired functions. A downhole fluid sampler and tester is disclosed which includes a Jacquard control system, for withdrawing fluid from a subterranean formation; determining at least one property of the withdrawn fluid, such as EH, pH, temperature, pressure and resistivity, and, if desired, obtaining a sample of the withdrawn fluid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the displacing reservoir fluids, such as a rich gas, through a subterranean reservoir, such as a gas-condensate reservoir, wherein a displacement fluid is introduced into a reservoir and it is displaced along with the reservoir fluids through the reservoir. The displacement fluid develops in situ miscibility with the reservoir fluids at the temperature and pressure of the reservoir and comprises a nonoxidizing gas and fluids produced from the reservoir. The nonoxidizing fluid can be selected from a group consisting of carbon dioxide, flue gas, nitrogen, and combinations of these, and the fluids produced from the reservoir are in the form of dry hydrocarbon gas.

Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor composition useful for preventing corrosion by solvents used in treating sour gas streams, comprising a quaternary pyridine salt, a surface-active agent and/or a thio compound and an effective amount of a water soluble nickel compound. The composition can also contain a demulsifier to prevent foaming of the resultant solution.

Abstract: Sulfur oxides are removed from a gas by an absorbent comprising at least one inorganic oxide selected from the group consisting of the oxides of aluminum, magnesium, zinc, titanium, and calcium in association with yttrium or yttrium combined with at least one free or combined rare earth metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, samarium, and dysprosium, wherein the ratio by weight of inorganic oxide or oxides to yttrium or yttrium combined with a rare earth metal or metals is from about 0.1 to about 30,000. Absorbed sulfur oxides are recovered as a sulfur-containing gas by contacting the spent absorbent with a hydrocarbon in the presence of a hydrocarbon cracking catalyst at a temperture from about 375.degree. to about 900.degree. C. The absorbent can be circulated through a fluidized catalytic cracking process together with the hydrocarbon cracking catalyst to reduce sulfur oxide emissions from the regeneration zone thereof.

Abstract: A method of converting coal and other solid carbonaceous material to gaseous and liquid products by heating the coal in the presence of the gaseous effluent to a sufficient temperature for pyrolyzing the coal to produce liquid and gaseous products. Thereafter, further gasifying the coal to produce a gaseous effluent to be used in subsequent steps to produce liquid and gaseous products.