Abstract: A reinforcing slat for use in an inflatable packer which is elongate and curved about its longitudinal axis and comprises perforations in the part thereof which enters the end portion and which bends around the end portion on inflation of the packer. The perforations serve to reduce the bending stiffness of the slat in the portion likely to suffer permantent deformation on inflation of the packer.

Abstract: A tubular connector for connecting a drilling tool assembly to a drill string for use in CTD operations. The connector has a fluid flow passage therethrough, and comprises: a first part connected to the drill string and a second part connected to the drilling tool assembly; inter engaging formations such as splines provided on the first and second parts such that, when engaged, the formations do not prevent relative axial movement of the first and second parts but prevent relative rotation thereof; a threaded collar provided around adjacent end portions of the first and second parts for axial location thereof when connected. The connector can also include a non-return valve assembly located in the fluid flow passage; a pressure actuated piston device in the fluid flow passage for disconnecting the drilling tool assembly from the chill string; and a pressure actuated valve which, when operated, allows fluid communication between the fluid flow passage and an exterior region of the connector.

Abstract: Improved fluid loss control in gravel pack placement fluids is achieved when a fluid loss control additive is provided comprising a selectively soluble particulate having a size of less than 1000 microns and having a linear size distribution when cumulative weight percent is plotted against the logarithm of the particle size. The preferred selectively soluble particulate comprises calcium carbonate.

Abstract: An inflatable packer apparatus for use in a well bore has pre-formed metal stress rings surrounding the respective opposite end portions of the packer element. The stress rings are machined to initially have conical outer surfaces, and then are outwardly stressed beyond their yield strengths to obtain plastic deformation such that such outer surfaces are generally cylindrical so that the packer element can be inflated to higher pressures.

Abstract: An inflatable packer for use in a well includes a tubular mandrel, an inner elastomer sleeve on the mandrel, armor surrounding the inner sleeve, and an outer elastomer sleeve member that covers at least a portion of the armor. Stress rings are mounted on end portions of the armor are made from a metal plate which has been highly cold-worked in both its longitudinal and transverse directions to provide optimum strength characteristics against stresses imposed thereon when the packer is inflated.

Abstract: The strength of slats attached to an inflatable packer assembly by welding is increased by forming the slats of an age-hardening materials, welding the slats to the inflatable packer assembly in an annealed condition followed by age-hardening of the welded slats. A slat structure having much greater strength than welded cold-worked material is realized. Final assembly includes the steps of sliding an overlying sleeve over the end fitting, the weld and a portion of the slats and engaging threads on the interior of the sleeve with external threads on the end fitting. The sleeve can thereby be unaffected by the heat treatment steps.

Abstract: The strength of slats attached to an inflatable packer assembly by welding is increased by forming the slats of an age-hardening materials, welding the slats to the inflatable packer assembly in an annealed condition followed by age-hardening of the welded slats. A slat structure having much greater strength than welded cold-worked material is realized.

Abstract: A straddle inflatable packer system includes upper and lower packer assemblies each having an inner elastomer sleeve surrounded by expansible armor members. For well treating operations, the upper packer includes an external elastomer sleeve which covers a lower portion of its armor members, and the lower packer has an external elastomer sleeve that covers an upper portion of its armor members, so that the external sleeves are located adjacent to the higher pressures of injected fluids. For well testing operations, the locations of the external packer sleeves are reversed so that again these sleeves are adjacent the higher well bore pressures during the test.

Abstract: An inflatable packer apparatus having an inner elastomer sleeve covered by armor such as overlapped, longitudinal slats that extend between upper and lower collars. The end portions of such slats pass through stress rings having outwardly flared nose portions, and thin protector rings mounted inside the nose portions are employed to distribute very localized contact loads form the edge of the slats to the stress rings to prevent the formation of cracks in such rings. The apparatus further includes an elastomeric sleeve member which is expanded into sealing contact with a well bore wall by fluid pressure applied to the inside of the inner elastomeric sleeve member.

Abstract: A well treating tool string run on coiled tubing and having packers to isolate a zone to be treated in response to operation of a selector valve, pressure and temperature transducers in the tool string and a telemetry system which samples the measurements made by the transducers, an electrical conductor cable extending from the telemetry system up to the surface through the coiled tubing and to the inner end thereof on its storage reel, and a surface telemetry, data processing and display system that sends and receives encoded signals to and from the downhole telemetry system from which temperature and pressure values can be read out on the surface display in real time as the treating operation proceeds.

Abstract: The addition of fibrous materials in intimate mixture with particulates for fracturing and gravel packing decreases or eliminates the flowback of proppant and/or formation fines while stabilizing the sand pack and lowering the demand for high polymer loadings in the placement fluids. Preferred fibers include glass, aramide, nylon and other natural and synthetic organic and inorganic fibers and metal filaments.

Abstract: Preferential disconnection of a valve-actuating subassembly from a temporary abandonment safety valve and packer assembly is provided by stops which limit relative rotation between the valve-actuating subassembly within the valve along with a locking collar associated with the interconnection between the safety valve and the packer assembly so that high torque associated with rotational movement of a drill string in a highly deviated hole effects the release of the proper portion of the assembly without danger of undesirable release of other interconnections.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a circulating valve for use in sand control and related well operations includes a mandrel that can be rotated in a housing after a weight-responsive clutch is released. As the mandrel is rotated to the right, a reverse lead groove system engaged by a pawl causes a valve sleeve element to shuttle down and up between positions closing and opening a flow path between the annulus above a packer and a zone in the well below the packer.

Abstract: The outer, sealing cover of an inflatable packer comprises an alternating series of thick and thin annular portions which act to effect greater sealing stresses and to inhibit the propagation of cracks or tears in the elastomeric cover. Bonding with only portions of the underlying slats as well as a tapered contour and spacing from an end fitting act to help to retain the cover in its proper position during running and retrieval as well as decreasing the likelihood of the development of cracks and/or tears.

Abstract: The present invention extends the temporary temperature range for the use of magnesium oxide-delayed borate-cross linking of a galactomannan gum fracturing fluid by adding fluoride ion which precipitates insoluble magnesium fluoride. Alternatively, a chelant for the magnesium ion may be added. With the precipitation of magnesium fluoride, or the chelation of the magnesium ion, insoluble magnesium hydroxide cannot form at elevated temperatures which would otherwise lower the pH and reverse the boron-crosslinking reacting. The addition effectively extends the use of such fracturing fluids to temperatures of about 275.degree. to 300.degree. F.

Abstract: Where on the valve seating surfaces due to the high pressure pumping of abrasive slurry through an in-line valve is greatly reduced by providing first and second valve seating surfaces which are engaged, respectively by first metal and first elastomeric closure surfaces and second metal and elastomeric closure surfaces located on an annular valve closure means. Pumping efficiency is maintained by providing for high velocity sweep in an annular space between the annular valve closure means and the cylinder in which it rides.

Abstract: Dewatering of coal seams for facilitating the production of gas therefrom through a well is effected by treating the coal seam utilizing a well treatment fluid containing a dewatering aid which both enhances the permeability of the formation to water production and binds tenaciously to the coal surface so that the permeability enhancement benefits are realized over a long production term. The preferred dewatering surfactants used in the treatment fluid and the process of treating the well are selected from a group consisting of:(a) organic surfactant compounds having the formulaR.sub.1 --O([EO].sub.x --[PO]Y--[BO].sub.z)Hwherein R.sub.1 is an alcohol, phenol or phenol derivative or a fatty acid having 1 to 16 carbon atoms; EO is an ethylene oxide radical and x is 1 to 20; PO is a propylene oxide radical and y is 0 to 15 and BO is a butylene oxide radical and z is 1-15;(b) an organic polyethylene carbonate having the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.

Abstract: The invention relates to the treatment by a fluid, or more generally by an acid fluid, of subterranean formations located in particular around an oil, gas, water or geothermal well.Acid is diverted towards the zone to be treated by a surfactant flush, the injection of a foam and then the injection of an acid/surfactant composition. These operations are repeated as often as required, increasing at each stage representing approximately 80 cm (20 to 25 inches) of treatment in terms of height the quantity of foam injected.

Abstract: Gas channeling to the surface in the setting of surface casing can be avoided by employing a cementing process in which a right-angle setting cement is positioned within a wellbore annulus between the wellbore and the casing above a gas-bearing zone with a low fluid loss cement slurry being placed below the right-angle setting cement. Pumping of the cement slurry is stopped for a period of time to allow the setting of the right-angle setting cement at which point pressurized pumping is resumed to displace remaining portions of the low fluid loss cement slurry into the wellbore annulus against the plug created by the set right-angle setting cement to block off gas migration and squeeze the low fluid loss cement into the gas-bearing zone.

Abstract: A method of producing a gel of an organic liquid, using a metal phosphate ester in which all of the reagents are substantially free of water and pH-affecting substances. The gel is particularly useful in fracturing subterranean formations by entraining a solid particulate proppant therein and pumping the resultant mixture into the subterranean rock formation at sufficient pressure to fracture the formation. The organic liquid is preferably a hydrocarbon such as diesel or crude oil, and the metal phosphate ester is preferably an aluminum phosphate diester. The metal phosphate diester may be prepared by the reaction of a triester with P.sub.2 O.sub.5 to produce a polyphosphate, which is then reacted with an alcohol to produce a phosphate diester. The latter diester is then added to the organic liquid along with a non-aqueous source of aluminum, such as aluminum isopropoxide in diesel, to produce the metal phosphate diester.