Abstract: A system for producing a mixed gas-oil stream which contains solid particulates wherein gas is to be separated and compressed downhole in a turbine-driven compressor before the gas is injected into a subterranean formation. The stream is passed through an upstream separator to separate out the particulates which pass through a first and second set of slots into first and second passages, both of which empty into a bypass through the turbine whereby the separated particulates do not contact the rotary vanes of the turbine thereby alleviating the erosive effects of the solids in the produced stream.

Abstract: Using inserts which are welded in place allows the use of hardfacing in the immediate vicinity of the inserts. Areas of high wear, such as cutting structures and gage areas, can use a combination of ultra-hard inserts with hardfacing for protection against wear. The inserts slows wear, while the hardfacing prevents erosion around the inserts.

Abstract: A technique for deploying a liner within a wellbore. The technique utilizes a flush bore running tool that may be coupled to the interior of the liner during deployment of the liner. The mechanism for coupling the running tool and the liner permits the use of the full diameter of the liner after the running tool is released and removed from the liner.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for sawing or drilling concrete or like material comprises use of a water-powered pump for introducing a metered amount of a speed-enhancing compound into a stream of water as the water is applied to a masonry saw or core drill during a sawing or drilling operation.

Abstract: A cutter element for a drill bit has a non-rectilinear crest. The cutter element has a base portion and an extending portion and the extending portion has either a zero draft or a negative draft with respect to the base portion. The non-positive draft allows more of the borehole bottom to be scraped using fewer cutter elements. The cutter elements having non-positive draft can be either tungsten carbide inserts or steel teeth.

Abstract: A system for unloading fluids from a generally upright tubular member of a wellbore wherein a combustible fuel cell can be placed in the tubular member below the fluid and ignited to generate gasses. The gasses generated by the burning of the fuel cell can be used to force at least a portion of the fluid upward out of the tubular member.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit is shown which includes at least one roller cone rotatably mounted on a journal forming a part of a bit body. The at least one cone having cutting elements disposed at selected locations thereon. The at least one roller cone subtends a journal angle of less than about 35 degrees, and has an offset less than about 0.15 inches. In one embodiment, gage row cutting elements on the at least one roller cone define an oversize angle in a range of about −1.5 to +2 degrees.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for removing contaminates, in particular, volatile organic contaminates from groundwater by providing a well that combines air stripping and air sparging apparatus within a single well to provide in-ground treatment of contaminated groundwater.

Abstract: A wellhead isolation tool for use with a wellhead assembly from which a tubing string is suspended comprises a tubular mandrel which includes an axial passage that extends therethrough and lower end that is adapted to engage the tubing string, a pumping head which is connected over the wellhead assembly and which includes an internal chamber that is in fluid communication with the axial passage and a port that extends through the pumping head to the chamber, and an actuator which is connected over the pumping head for moving the mandrel axially through the pumping head and into engagement with the tubing string. When the mandrel is engaged with the tubing string, fluid may be communicated through the port, the chamber and the mandrel and into the tubing string.

Abstract: A downhole drilling apparatus for interconnection in a casing or liner string having a drill bit disposed thereon for enabling the drilling of intersecting wellbores without removal of the drill bit is disclosed. In a disclosed embodiment, the apparatus comprises a housing having a window. A whipstock is disposed within the housing. Between the window and the whipstock is a filler. The whipstock and the filler define a central bore providing a fluid path through the apparatus. A back pressure valve may be disposed within the central bore to prevent back flow of fluids through the apparatus. Once the total depth of an initial wellbore is reached, the casing or liner string, including the apparatus, may be cemented in place. Thereafter, an intersecting wellbore may be drilled by laterally deflecting a second drill bit with the whipstock through the window of the housing.

Abstract: A rotary steering apparatus including a drill string, a drill bit, a main body connected at one end to the drill string and at another end to the drill bit, a sleeve extending around the main body such that the main body is freely rotatable within the sleeve, and a locking member affixed to the main body and interactive with the sleeve. The sleeve has at least one protruding pad extending outwardly therefrom so as to bear against a well bore. The locking member serves to lock the sleeve relative to the main body such that the sleeve rotates correspondingly with a rotation of the main body. The locking member locks the sleeve onto the main body relative to an increased flow rate of fluid through the interior passageway of the main body. The locking member includes a flipper pivotally connected to the main body so as to extend into the longitudinal passageway and a spring resiliently connected to the flipper so as to urge the flipper into the interior passageway with a desired spring rate.

Abstract: Apparatus for boring a hole from an inside of a tube outwardly perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the tube comprises a drill shoe having a longitudinal axis and being positionable in the tube, the shoe having an inlet, an outlet perpendicular to the shoe longitudinal axis and a passageway connecting the inlet and outlet, a torsional load transmitting element having no torsional flexibility in relation to its bending flexibility, having a longitudinal axis and being disposed in the passageway, the torsional load transmitting element being movable relative to itself with no resistance about first and second perpendicular axes both of which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the torsional load transmitting element, a hole saw connected to one end of the torsional load transmitting element and a motor rotatably connected to the other end of the torsional load transmitting element.

Abstract: A plug is provided for use in conjunction with a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, a wellhead plug includes multiple outwardly extendable lugs for engagement with corresponding multiple oppositely facing shoulders formed internally on a bore extending in a wellhead. The lugs engage the shoulders to thereby resist pressure applied to the plug in the bore from above or below.

Abstract: The reference member provides a permanent reference for the depth and orientation of all well operations and includes a body with an engaging surface for an attaching engagement to the interior surface of an existing casing in a borehole and an orienting surface for orienting well tools within the cased borehole. No sealing engagement is required with the casing. The engaging surface on the body has a first non-engaged position where the engaging surface does not engage the casing and an engaged position where the engaging surface does engage the casing which causes adequate engagement between the body and the casing to permanently dispose the well reference member within the casing. The well reference member further includes an actuation member for actuating the engaging surface from the non-engaged position to the engaged position.

Abstract: There is provided an adjustable housing for use with a drill string for controlled directional drilling of a well hole. The housing includes an upper sub and a lower sub each having a first portion extending along a primary axis and a second portion extending along a secondary axis offset from the primary axis by a predetermined angle. The second portions are rotatably mounted together such that the secondary axes of the respective upper and lower subs are coincident. The upper sub is thus rotatable in relation to the lower sub between a bent position wherein the primary axes of the upper and lower subs are misaligned and a parallel position wherein the primary axes of the upper and lower subs are parallel to each other. A locking member is slidably mounted on splines extending radially from the second portion of the upper sub such that the locking member is slidable between an engaged position and disengaged position.

Abstract: A method for controlling entry from a main bore of a casing into a lateral bore of a producing well which incorporates (i) means for surface-actuated flow control in the lateral bore (ii) a flow control means located in the casing adjacent to the lateral bore, and said method comprising the steps of: a) removing the flow control means when entry to the lateral bore is required, said flow control means having an internal passage allowing upward flow of produced fluid from the main bore and through said passage; b) mounting a locating nipple on the casing adjacent to the lateral bore; c) engaging the flow control means with the nipple to locate the flow control means in the casing; and d) providing diverter means in the casing which engages with and is orientable relative to the nipple and operates to guide entry to the lateral bore from above the nipple following removal of said flow control means.

Abstract: A conventional thru tubing bridge plug is rendered in a more effective and useful downhole tool by incorporating a sensor module complete with preferably a plurality of downhole sensors to monitor downhole parameters such as but not limited to temperature and pressure both within the inflatable tool and in the annulus of the well created thereby.

Abstract: A method for detecting inflow of fluid in a well while drilling, wherein the drilling is carried out using an installation including a hollow cylindrical drill string (3) wherein is injected fresh mud, a tubing (5) defining with the drill string (3) an annular space (7) through which the loaded mud rises; it involves continuously measuring a heat flow; then continuously calculating on the basis of the quantity the value of a characteristic representing a thermal equilibrium obtained in the absence of a fluid occurrence formation; and detecting variations in the characteristic, the variations representing a thermal imbalance, resulting from inflow of fluid in the well (1). The invention is particular by applicable in operating oil drilling installations particularly deep at sea.

Abstract: Specific apparatus and associated methods are described for use in establishing the positions of locating field detectors and for path mapping within a region for the purpose of tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region.

Abstract: An earth boring bit for boring a hole having a predetermined depth into the earth. The earth boring bit includes a cylindrical drum for being mounted for rotation on the end of a boom of a mobile machine and connected to and rotated by a power supply mounted on the boom. The drum includes an exterior for defining the diameter of the hole being bored and an interior adapted for receiving upturned earth therein as the hole is being bored. A plate is mounted in the drum adjacent a lower end thereof for movement between a closed position for cooperating with the interior of the drum for retaining the upturned earth therein and an open position for dispensing the upturned earth out of the interior of the drum at a predetermined location away from the hole being bored. At least one cutting member is carried on the plate for cutting the earth in a progressive slice and directing the earth into the drum, thereby boring the hole into the earth.