Abstract: A hydraulic actuator for controlling the operation of a safety valve actuates automatically upon loss of control pressure. The hydraulic chamber of the actuator is sealed by static annular seals which bear against polished external surfaces of an indicator stem and a cylindrical piston, respectively. The piston is connected by a threaded coupling to the valve stem to accommodate assembly and drift alignment of the gate bore with the safety valve bore. A threaded rod is pinned to the valve stem and is received within an axial pocket of the piston. The piston is movably coupled to the threaded rod by a collar which has inside diameter threads and outside diameter threads. The valve stem static seal is retained within a smooth counterbore formed on the coupling bonnet by a packing collar.

Abstract: A sleeve type valve useful in a well tubing string for controlling flow between the valve interior and exterior. An internal pressure balanced sleeve is releasably positioned to the valve body closing a flow port in the valve body wall to flow. The valve has an external pressure unbalanced sleeve also releasably positioned to close the port to flow. When the internal sleeve is moved to a position opening the port to flow, pressure may be increased in the valve interior to act through the port on the unbalanced sleeve, moving this sleeve to a position also opening the port to flow and permitting flow between the valve interior and exterior. The body has profiled grooving and a seal bore above the port and a seal bore below the port in which a locking mandrel may lock and seal, reclosing the port to flow.

Abstract: A surface controlled subsurface safety valve for use in a well tubing string including a valve closure member, an operator tube for opening the valve closure member, an annular piston on the operator tube responsive to control fluid pressure conducted from the well surface, and a spring biasing the operator tube to a position closing the valve. A lockout sleeve mounted in tandem with the operator tube for movement to a position in which the lockout sleeve holds the valve open. The operator tube having multiple flow paths and barriers to prevent accumulation of debris from well fluids within the safety valve. One flow path including a plurality of small ports extending through the upper portion of the operator tube. Another flow path defined in part by a reduced outside diameter portion of the operator tube near its lower end and multiple channels in the valve housing adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A hydraulic well packer for releasable setting within a well casing is disclosed. The packer includes a hydraulic actuator assembly mounted between annular packing seal elements and anchor slips, with the seal elements, hydraulic actuator assembly and anchor slips being mounted for sliding movement along the packer mandrel. Premature retraction of the setting cylinder relative to the piston is prevented by interlocking action of a shear screw lock and a transfer lug against the piston, setting cylinder and a tubular setting wedge. The piston is locked against the anchor slips and the slip housing so that seals mounted on the piston head which engage the mandrel and the setting cylinder cannot be dragged and worn out prematurely in response to hydraulic pressure fluctuations imposed after the packer has been set and sealed. The setting piston and setting cylinder are locked together during run-in by the shear screw and by interlocking engagement of the transfer lug.

Abstract: A packer is locked onto a service tool by separation shear pins during a run-in operation. The separation shear pins are decoupled with respect to run-in handling forces by a set of transfer support lugs. The transfer support lugs carry the weight of the packer and the hang weight of equipment supported by the packer so that no weight is applied to the shear pins during a run-in operation. The packer is set and its hang load is transferred to the separation shear pins after the packer is set by the application of hydraulic pressure against an annular piston carried on the service tool. The piston is locked during run-in by a group of transit shear pins. Movement of the annular piston shears the transit pins and unsupports a collet latch to permit retraction of the transfer support lugs and disengagement of the service tool mandrel from the packer.

Abstract: A well test tool including a valve lowerable into a well on a flexible line and locked and sealed in a downhole landing receptacle, the valve being openable and closable to permit or prevent flow therethrough, well pressures below the test tool being sensed and recorded by a recording pressure gage both during periods of flow and during shut-in periods, the recording pressure gage being either carried by the test tool as a part thereof or being supported in the well independent of the test tool, the valve of the test tool being shiftable between open and closed positions by suitable tools lowered into the well on the flexible line, the flexible line and tools being not required in the well during either of the shut-in or flow periods, excepting only during the shifting operation, thus permitting the flexible line to be slacked during such flow or shut-in periods, or removed from the well altogether.

Abstract: Apparatus including a side pocket mandrel for inclusion in a well tubing string for removably receiving an instrument in its offset receptacle bore for monitoring at least one parameter such as pressure, temperature or the like, at a downhole location, there being an electrical conductor wire extending from equipment at the surface downward to the side pocket mandrel and a plug in the lower end of the receptacle for electrically connecting the instrument in the receptacle with the conductor wire extending from the surface so that electrical energy may be transmitted downhole to power the instrument, that the instrument may generate electrical signals representing data sensed in the well and transmit them to the surface for processing and immediate display, printout, or storage. Suitable kickover tools and running tools are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wireline well servicing system for underwater wells utilizing a lubricator stack having upper and lower sections connected by a remotely operable connector. The lower lubricator section includes a remotely operable valve connectable to a wellhead and a stress joint connected on the valve. The valve may be closed to retain pressure control of the well if the stress joint is fractured in bending by side loading on the lubricator stack. The upper lubricator section includes a remotely operable wireline clamp and cutter unit on a stuffing box. The clamp and cutter are remotely operable by the same control conduit to quickly clamp and cut the wireline to permit emergency removal of the surface service vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus including a side pocket mandrel for inclusion in a well tubing string for removably receiving an instrument in its offset receptacle bore for monitoring at least one parameter such as pressure, temperature or the like, at a downhole location, there being an electrical conductor wire extending from equipment at the surface downward to the side pocket mandrel and a plug in the lower end of the receptacle for electrically connecting the instrument in the receptacle with the conductor wire extending from the surface so that electrical energy may be transmitted downhole to power the instrument, that the instrument may generate electrical signals representing data sensed in the well and transmit them to the surface for processing and immediate display, printout, or storage. Suitable kickover tools and runing tools are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for sealing around a wireline run into or pulled from wells includes a grease control head with a line wiper mounted on the well head and a grease injection control system. The grease injection control system supplies grease continuously at a constant pressure for injection into the grease control head. The control system utilizes a piston pump to supply grease to a grease chamber in a pressurizing accumulator. The accumulator has another chamber connected to a remote pressure source, which is separated from the grease chamber by a moveable partition. Constant pressure from the remote source is transmitted through the moveable partition to grease in the grease chamber maintaining a constant pressure on grease injected into the grease control head. The sealing system is provided with a conduit to return injected grease pumped through the grease head to a waste grease reservoir for disposal. This conduit includes a valve which may be closed to aid in reestablishing a blownout grease seal.

Abstract: A flapper valve assembly includes a frangible valve closure member which is supported by an elastomeric hinge. The frangible valve closure member is a tempered glass plate, and the hinge is a block of elastomer material which is secured to the glass plate by a molecular bond. In one embodiment, the hinge includes an integrally formed elastomeric jacket which partially encapsulates the glass sealing element and is bonded thereto. In one arrangement, a fluid seal is provided by a resilient, elastomeric seal which is received within a valve pocket, and which is engaged directly by the glass plate. In another arrangement, an annular valve seat is formed in a valve housing sub, with the fluid seal being provided by the elastomeric jacket which is fitted about the glass closure plate.

Abstract: A seal assembly for use on a downhole well tool such as a wireline locking mandrel. The seal assembly includes a center element, multiple v-rings, wire mesh backup rings, and minimum clearance metal backup rings. The v-rings are manufactured from asbestos yarn impregnated with an elastomer and wrapped with tetrafluorethylene-propylene copolymer or terpolymer.

Abstract: An improved sealing device, which when positioned inside a flow conductor and operated, compresses and expands an improved resilient element into fluid sealing engagement between the sealing device and the inside of the flow conductor. The sealing device is provided with centralizing lugs, which automatically extend to centralize the improved resilient element on sealing engagement in the flow conductor, assuring an increased pressure resistant seal. The improved resilient element has end supports including a reinforced coil spring in each end to prevent pressure extrusion of the resilient material and when sealingly engaged, functions as a cup type sealing element. Two forms of wire reinforcement for the coil spring are disclosed, both of which provide further increased resistance to pressure sealed. The improved sealing element may be provided with an outer layer of softer resilient material to assure sealing in rough flow conductors.

Abstract: A hydraulic release tubing seal divider for connecting lower and upper tubing strings together in a wellbore, including an inner housing assembly connected with one of the tubing string and middle and outer housing assemblies connected with the other of the tubing strings, including hydraulically operable locking structure carried by the middle and outer housing assemblies for locking the tubing strings together while the strings are run into a well, and for hydraulically releasing the middle and outer housing assemblies from the inner housing assembly to permit relative telescopic movement in the well between the upper and lower tubing strings at the tubing seal divider.

Abstract: Apparatus for pressurized cleaning of flow conductors. The apparatus has a first mandrel and a second mandrel telescoped therein. A cleaning tool can be attached to the second mandrel. Changes in fluid pressure flowing through the mandrels will cause the second mandrel to rotate relative to the first mandrel. Rotation is used to direct fluid jets in the cleaning tool towards different portions of the interior of the flow conductor. Rotation of the cleaning tool can also be used for hydraulic drilling of deposits within the flow conductor.

Abstract: A power supply and control arrangement for a submersible pump and solenoid operated safety valve system. A surface control unit is connected to a downhole control unit by a three conductor cable. A single phase 400 Hz signal from the surface unit is rectified downhole and operates the solenoid to open the safety valve but is too high a frequency to affect the pump motor. A downhole detector senses full open condition of the safety valve and sends a signal to the surface where it is received by a monitor. The monitor interrupts the 400 Hz signal and applies a three phase 60 Hz signal to all three conductors of the cable to operate the pump motor and be rectified downhole to hold the solenoid and safety valve open. Loss of the valve open signal by the monitor interrupts the 60 Hz signal and disables the system until it is reset.

Abstract: A drilling template for multiple wells has a dummy post on the template associated with each wellhead position and a wellhead connector is transferable between the dummy post and wellhead during completion and workover operations. A subsea wellhead is provided with a guide frame on which a dummy post is supported permitting the wellhead connector to be transferred between the dummy post and the wellhead. The wellhead includes a landing nipple and tubing hanger which permit the tubing hanger to tilt relative to the casing head without breaking the seal between the hanger and nipple. The wellhead connector is latched and released from the tubing hanger by reciprocation of a control sleeve and the connector is held in the unlatched position by a releasable lock. The wellhead connector includes a plug having a metal seal held in compression together with a resilient seal.

Abstract: A system for cleaning perforations in a well bore by surging formation fluid through the perforations. A wireline retrievable well tool is installed in the well bore above the perforations to establish a fluid barrier which will divide the well bore into a first fluid pressure zone and a second fluid pressure zone. The well tool includes a flow path closure device which will suddenly open when the difference in pressure between the first zone and the second zone exceeds a preselected value. The sudden opening of the closure device results in a surge of fluid flow from the downhole formation which cleans the perforations.

Abstract: Well testing apparatus for running on a single-conductor electric cable for gathering reservoir information, the apparatus utilizing two pressure gages and a valve, the valve being landable in a downhole receptacle and being operable to shut in the well or to open it for flow by tensioning or relaxing the electric cable, one of the gages sensing well pressures below the valve and the other gage sensing pressures above the valve, both pressure gages sending signals to the surface corresponding to the pressures sensed thereby both while the well is shut in and while it is flowing, the pressure signals being processed by surface readout equipment for real-time display, recording and/or printout, the apparatus including, if desired, a temperature sensor which sends appropriate signals to the surface which not only indicate the well temperatures sensed but the temperatures are used by a computer and its software to automatically correct the pressure readings for temperature affects.

Abstract: A pilot valve system including an electrical connector assembly for a subsurface safety valve operated by control fluid pressure from the surface including a pilot valve connected with the control fluid line to the subsurface safety valve and into the well production string immediately above the safety valve to bypass the control fluid pressure directly into the tubing string and dump the control fluid pressure from the subsurface safety valve into the tubing string directly above the valve to minimize the time delay between control fluid pressure reduction and the safety valve closure.