Abstract: Apparatus and method for inducing directed water movements for treatment of large water bodies subject to surface freezing, stagnation, bottom oxygen deficiency, or other non-uniform conditions. The apparatus consists of an open axial-flow impeller, driven by a motor, supported from below by a streamlined structure, totally submerged in a water body to avoid proximity to the surface, and resting on the bottom of the water body. The rotation of the impeller produces a water movement directed as aimed. A method is disclosed whereby dissolved oxygen is renewed in ice-bound water bodies by raising warm bottom water to melt surface ice, thereby creating an area of open water exposed to direct atmospheric oxygen diffusion and photosynthesis, and simultaneously circulating oxygen enriched water to remote parts of the water body.

Abstract: A wellhead for use with a surface mounted pumping unit operating a rod string extend to a downhole pump in a well. The wellhead includes a body having a bore for a rod string, a support rod assembly moveable across the bore for coupling with a rod string having a coupling flange to provide a rod string hanger and a releaseable lock operable with the rod string. The wellhead also comprises a hydraulic seal in the body around the bore to seal with a rod string through the bore. Blowout preventer rams in the body for closing off around the rod string through the body and closing off the bore through the body when no rod string is present. A securing structure at the opposite ends of the body secures the wellhead with a rod string operator above the wellhead and to secure the wellhead with a casing flange on a well.

Abstract: A ball drop tool, for dropping a ball to a ball seat located in a tool, or tool string therebelow. The ball drop tool has an upper end adapted to be connected to the lower end of the coiled tubing string. The ball drop tool includes a housing with a ball drop cage positioned therein. The ball drop cage has a rocker arm pivotally attached thereto. The rocker arm can be pivoted so that a lower end thereof extends radially inwardly into an opening and will hold a ball in the cage. The cage will move downwardly in the housing until the lower end of the rocker arm is retracted from the opening, which will allow the ball to pass downwardly through the ball drop housing so that it can be received in a ball seat in a tool therebelow.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the rate at which a given acid should be injected into a carbonate-containing rock formation during an acid injection process. The first step of the method calculates the Damkohler numbers for regimes in which kinematic force, diffusion rate and reaction rate control. The Damkohler numbers are then used to calculate the rate of growth of wormholes as a function of flux, taking into account compact dissolution, wormholing, and uniform dissolution. The calculated function is used to calculate an optimum flux for the formation. The optimum flux is then used to calculate an optimum injection rate at a given point in the acid injection process.

Abstract: A water pressure operated post-hole digging tool. The tool includes a vertically elongate pipe with an enlarged mandrel member having a generally circular cross section mounted on its lower end, and an attachment for connecting the upper end of the conduit to a source of water pressure. The water pressure is discharged through an open end at the bottom of the mandrel member, so that soil is dislodged at the bottom of the post-hole bore. The flow of water then passes upwardly through the annular cavity around the sides of the mandrel member so as to scour out of the sides of the bore. The lower end of the mandrel member is tapered so as to accelerate the flow of water as this passes into the annular cavity around the body, and upper taper slows the flow as it exits the cavity and flows up the excavated bore. The mandrel member may be formed of solid plastic material.

Abstract: Two sliding sleeves are carried in a tubular pipe assembly for controlling the opening and closing of flow passages extending through the pipe wall. The pipe assembly is placed at the lower end of a tubing string disposed in a well to regulate the flow of fluid from the string into a subsurface well formation. The first sleeve extends between upper and lower seals disposed above and below the flow passage to close the flow passages to flow. A shifting tool operated from the well surface moves the sleeve axially down through the pipe assembly to open the flow passages, leaving the upper seal exposed. The shifting tool then moves the second sleeve axially down through the pipe to cover the exposed seal. Fluid pumped through the pipe exits freely through the flow passages without first having to flow through radial flow passages in the sliding sleeve to prevent erosion of the flow passages and the sleeve structure.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is used for severing a metal conduit disposed in a borehole extending downward into the earth. The apparatus includes a body adapted to be lowered into the metal conduit to be severed. The body is formed by a surrounding wall defining an elongated chamber with a central axis and having a lower portion, an intermediate portion, and an upper portion. The lower portion defines a cavity with a plurality of apertures extending through the wall in a given plane at angularly spaced apart positions located 360° around the axis for providing passages from said cavity to the outside of the wall. A combustible charge is located in the intermediate portion, and a movable seal member is located in the cavity above the apertures and below the combustible charge.

Abstract: A downhole cleaning tool (20) is suspended within a well tubular member (10) by coiled tubing (12) for the removal of deposits (29) within the tubular member (10). Tool (20) includes a hydraulic fluid motor (26) for rotating a combined fluid jetting and milling head (28). Fluid jetting and milling head (28) has a tapered body with a lower rounded nose (60). Embedded milling inserts or elements (62, 64) project outwardly from the tapered body and nose (60) to contact the deposit and are randomly spaced on head (28). A plurality of upper radial jets (70) extend above milling elements (62). Lower fluid jets or ports (78) extend from the lower rounded nose (60) of head (28). Power fluid from the coiled tubing (12) is divided at port (38) to the rotor bore (34) into a bypass fluid stream flowing through central bore (34) and a fluid power stream in annular passage (39) outside rotor (32) for rotation of rotor (32) and shaft (27) to rotate the fluid jetting and milling head (28).

Abstract: A perforating gun for use in underground wells where the gun includes a forward guiding element and a rearward conveyancing element. These two elements are interconnected by way of a series of bow springs. In the preferred embodiment, the springs are spirally configured around the central axis of the gun. The spring function in applying pressure to the internal surface of the well shaft and in centering the gun. Additionally, the springs serve in removably carrying a series of explosive charges. The spiral configuration allows perforations to be created in a 360 degree pattern around the central axis of the gun.

Abstract: An improved ball seat is described for downhole use. The ball seat can be held in place by one or more shear pins or other fixation devices or by the nature of assembly. A breakable device, such as a rupture disc, is in communication above the ball and with an enlarged piston area below. When the breakable member or rupture disc breaks, the applied pressure is translated to a far larger piston area, and the shear rating of the shear pin or pins is almost instantaneously overcome. Thus, the pressure at which the ball seat releases is determined by the design and rating of the breakable member or rupture disc. The cavity behind the breakable member is preferably grease-filled with a small weep hole to avoid trapping pressure during assembly.