Abstract: A double grip well bore packer which is run into a well casing on a tubular conduit string has actuator means responsive to applied fluid pressure to set slips and to force a packing into engagement with the casing, and the setting force is locked into the packing. The applied setting force results from relative axial movement between an inner body mandrel, a setting mandrel and a housing surrounding the lower end of the inner body mandrel to define a pressure chamber housing a releasing piston. A bottom member defines the lower end of the housing and provides a mounting for a removable plug which closes the tubing bore to permit build-up of tubing pressure to set the packer, including limited pressure induced upward movement of the inner mandrel body relative to the bottom member to facilitate the application of the setting forces.

Abstract: To improve the erosion resistance of the mixing chamber of a jet pump employed to pump particulate containing fluids, this invention contemplates directing a pressurized source of clean fluid through an annular jet-type orifice, thus providing an annular jet of high velocity clean fluid at the inlet end of the mixing chamber which surrounds an orifice connected to the source of particulate containing fluid and effects the pressurizing and pumping of the particulate containing fluid by the well known jet diffusion technique. Additionally, this invention contemplates the provision of a second annular nozzle surrounding the first mentioned annular nozzle through which a relatively clean fluid is discharged, thereby interposing a clean fluid barrier between the momentumly transferred particulate containing fluid and the surface of the mixing chamber to protect such surface from the abrading effects of the particulate material.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for maintaining the lance portion of a coating device accurately centered within the bore of a tubular conduit to be coated as the lance is moved axially through such bore. The tubular element of such coating lance is supported by a saddle which in turn is supported between two elongated skids which are respectively engageable with opposed top and bottom surfaces of the conduit bore. Radially projecting pins are respectively provided on each side of the saddle. Two pairs of expanding links are respectively pivotally mounted on each end of the saddle pins in an X configuration and one end of each link is pivotally connected to a pivot mounting bracket formed on one of the skids.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous solution of a filtration control agent for utilization in said aqueous drilling fluid, useful in a method of forming a filter cake on the wall of a well for the reduction of filtrate from said drilling fluid, which is effective at high temperatures and pressures, the terpolymer consisting essentially of: (1) an alkali metal acrylate units; (2) hydroxyalkyl acrylate units; and (3) acrylamide.

Abstract: The invention provides a homogeneous, micellar solution of a water-insoluble thin film spreading agent, comprising: (a) from between about 5% and about 75% by weight of resinous polyalkylene oxide adducts; (b) from between about 2% and about 30% by weight of a hydrotropic agent; (c) from between about 2% and about 30% by weight of an amphipathic agent; and (d) from between about 15% and about 90% by weight of water.

Abstract: A retrievable, constantly energized, no-load packer is securable within a well and removable by application of tension. Upper and lower slip means are expandable into gripping engagement with the casing. A control body extends to the upper and lower slips and is encircled by packing means. A release housing extends from the lower expansion means with latch means being provided for securing the control body with the release housing, the latch means being shiftable to disengage the control body from the release housing for retrieval of the apparatus. Lock sleeve means are connected to the release housing for securing the latch means and one of the control body and release housing and are shearably releasable therefrom for disengagement of the control body and the release housing, the application of tension through the control string being carried by the control body without being transmitted through the lock sleeve means to set the apparatus.

Abstract: A compass card is provided for use in achieving the angular alignment of a whipstock relative to a whipstock anchor having a keyway therein for subsequent insertion in a packer apparatus for use in a subterranean well. The compass card comprises an annular card having polar coordinates in mirror image reverse relationship on one face thereof and may have a plurality of sheet-like magnetic elements secured to the other face adjacent a central opening therein.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided having particular utility in a test assembly securable in a blowout preventer stack above a subterranean well. The valve assembly is carriable between upper and lower portions of a tubular conduit extendible to at least one production zone in the well. The valve assembly comprises first and second ball valve elements interior of the assembly and is shiftable between fully open and fully closed positions, with one of the valve elements being manipulated from the fully closed position to the fully open position prior to the other of the valve elements being manipulated from the fully closed position. The ball valve elements are circumferentially off-set from one another, and may be provided in a cartridge-type assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of breaking petroleum emulsions by utilization of a micellar solution of a water-insoluble thin film spreading agent, comprising: (a) from between about 5% and about 75% by weight of resinous polyalkylene oxide adducts; (b) from between about 2% and about 30% by weight of a hydrotropic agent; (c) from between about 2% and about 30% by weight of an amphipathic agent; and (d) from between about 15% and about 90% by weight of water.

Abstract: This invention effects a significant reduction in leakage along a piston reciprocating in a cylinder and having a high fluid pressure differential existing between one end of the piston and the other. A large number of closely spaced, annular grooves are provided on the periphery of the piston and the clearance between the non-grooved piston diameter and the interior wall of the cylinder is maintained at a value significantly larger than that commonly employed between a smooth cylindrical shaft and a cylindrical interior sealing surface. The employment of such unexpectedly large clearance not only provides reduced fluid leakage for lighter density fluids when the equipment is relatively new, but the leakage becomes substantially less than that encountered in a smooth surface bearing construction as the piston and cylinder surfaces wear and increase the clearance.

Abstract: A method is provided for the angular orientation of a whipstock having an arcuate tool directing face and a whipstock anchor in a packer which is installed in a well, the packer and the anchor having longitudinally extending cooperable key elements engageable when the anchor is assembled in the packer. The angular disposition of the key element in the packer relative to polar coordinates is determined by a downhole survey. The whipstock is assembled on the whipstock anchor outside the well with the whipstock being angularly adjustable relative to the whipstock anchor about an axis that will be coincident with the conduit axis. The angular position of the whipstock in the whipstock anchor is adjusted to the desired angular displacement relative to the whipstock anchor key element.

Abstract: An automatic cleaning system is provided for a mud separator apparatus. Water and mud inputs to a mud pump feeding the separator are respectively controlled by two butterfly valves ganged for cooperation, and operated by a single valve actuator motor. When the mud separator is shut off, a time delay relay is actuated which keeps the mud separator rotor motor on line during a predetermined flush cycle. The valve actuator opens the water valve, and closes the mud valve, permitting the separator to be flushed with water. Activating the start button returns the valve actuator to the position in which the mud valve is open and the water valve is closed, thereby returning the apparatus to the mud separation cycle.

Abstract: A centrifuge apparatus for separating materials of different densities having means for the removal of the more dense materials utilizing a jet of pressure fluid to assist in moving the more dense materials to an appropriate outlet from the apparatus.

Abstract: A pressure actuated, rodless pump for pumping fluid preferably from a well through a tubing string comprises a chamber and a check valved movable piston which define a pump cavity, the chamber having a check valved outlet to the tubing string on the cavity side of the piston and a fluid inlet on the other side of the piston. The piston is connected to a spring assembly by a pull rod. The spring assembly includes a cylinder having an elastomeric bladder separating a gas filled chamber from an upper fluid chamber which is separated from a lower fluid chamber by a wall having a fluid passageway formed therein. The lower fluid chamber encloses a stationary piston and both the lower and upper fluid chambers are in fluid communication with the tubing string through a charge valve.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for pumping fluid from a subterranean well through a tubing string. A pressure actuated subsurface pump and a surface unit are in fluid communication with opposite ends of the tubing string. The surface unit cyclically applies pressure to the fluid in the tubing string to actuate the subsurface pump and cause a radial expansion of the tubing such that potential energy is stored in the tubing string. Each time the surface unit removes the applied pressure, the stored potential energy is released to the surface unit which converts the potential energy into kinetic energy for use in the next pumping cycle.

Abstract: A locking device and a method and apparatus are provided for emplacing the locking device within a selected one of a plurality of landing nipples positioned along a well conduit. Each nipple typically includes a seal bore portion having a bore diameter less than the conduit bore diameter and a recessed portion located above the seal bore having a diameter greater than the conduit bore diameter. The locking device includes a housing for retaining a plurality of circumferentially spaced expandable locking dogs. A camming sleeve is axially slidably within the housing and is utilized to support the dogs in one of three selected positions: a retracted position, a partially expanded no-go position, or a fully expanded locked position. The locking device is lowered down the well conduit on a running tool with the dogs in the retracted position until the running tool has passed through the seal bore of the nipple located directly above the selected landing nipple.

Abstract: A cylindrical housing is adapted to receive and discharge fluid in a subterranean well. In a preferred form, a plate is positioned in the cylinder separating it into first and second chambers. Filter adapter receiving means are disposed across the plate, with a filter adapter securable therein, the adapter having a passageway extending to the chambers. The adapter has a cylindrical housing having an enlarged cartridge positioning portion. A grooveway is defined on the adapter extending exteriorly therearound for securing one end of a cartridge filter. A cartridge filter is positionable on the adapter and provides a seal having an interiorly facing circumferentially extending lip for contact with the exterior of the cylindrical housing when the filter is located on the adapter, for sealingly securing the filter to the adapter.

Abstract: A method of placement of transducers on a pipe in positions where their beam axes intersect a point on the locus of points where the incremental flow is equal to the average flow is shown and described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aqueous drilling fluid composition, a filtration control agent for utilization in said aqueous drilling fluid, and a method of forming a filter cake on the wall of a well for the reduction of filtrate from said drilling fluid, by utilization of a copolymer of: (1) a (meth) acrylamido alkyl sulfonic acid or alkali metal salt thereof; and (2) a (meth) acrylamide or N-alkyl (meth) acrylamide. The copolymer may be cross-linked with a quaternary ammonium salt cross-linking agent.

Abstract: An improved mounting and sealing assembly is provided for a rotating ball valve required to open under increased differential pressures and close against high flow rates. The valve assembly includes a trunnion-mounted ball and two pressure biased sealing assemblies. The primary seal constitutes an elastomeric seal element which is axially shiftable into engagement with the ball, and the secondary seal comprises a metallic element which is also axially shiftable relative to the ball. To open the valve, the seals are moved in sequence axially away from the ball and the hydraulic seal is fully broken before the ball is rotated. In closing, the ball is rotated to its closed position and the seals then moved axially in sequence into contact with the ball.