Abstract: An oil filled sliding sleeve type valve comprising a valve body housing, sleeve assembly and actuation assembly.

Abstract: A screw operated emergency release and safety valve includes a valve housing having a flow passage therethrough and adapted to be connected to a lower portion of a tubing string. A full opening ball valve is disposed in the valve housing for opening and closing the flow passage. A stinger assembly is adapted to be connected to an upper portion of the tubing string, and includes a stinger mandrel releasably telescopingly received within the valve housing. An actuating mandrel assembly is operably associated with the stinger mandrel and connected to the ball valve and is movable between first and second positions for opening and closing the ball valve in response to manipulation of the upper portion of the tubing string. A threaded connecting collar releasably interconnects the valve housing and the stinger assembly.

Abstract: A full opening emergency release and safety valve includes a valve housing having a flow passage therethrough and adapted to be connected to a lower portion of a tubing string. A full opening ball valve is disposed in the valve housing for opening and closing the flow passage. A stinger assembly is adapted to be connected to an upper portion of the tubing string, and includes a stinger mandrel releasably telescopingly received within the valve housing and operably associated with the ball valve for opening and closing the ball valve in response to manipulation of the upper portion of the tubing string. A threaded connecting collar releasably interconnects the valve housing and the stinger assembly.

Abstract: A hydraulic connector apparatus includes a first cylindrical tubular member having a first hydraulic port disposed in a radially outer surface thereof, and a second cylindrical tubular member having a second hydraulic port disposed in a radially inner surface thereof. A first cylindrical sliding sleeve valve is disposed about said first tubular member and movable relative to said first tubular member between open and closed positions wherein said first port is open and closed, respectively. A second cylindrical sliding sleeve valve is disposed within said radially inner surface of said second cylindrical tubular member and movable relative to said second tubular member between open and closed positions wherein said second port is open and closed, respectively.

Abstract: A drill pipe tester valve includes a spherical valve member supported from an upward facing surface of a housing so that downward forces exerted on the valve member in its closed position, due to fluid pressure in a string of pipe above the valve member, are transmitted substantially entirely to said housing. A latching device is provided for latching the spherical valve member in its closed position as the string of pipe and tester valve are lowered into a well and for subsequently releasing the spherical valve member and allowing it to move to its open position when the string of pipe and tester valve are finally positioned within the well.

Abstract: A drill pipe tester valve includes a spherical valve member supported from an upward facing surface of a housing so that downward forces exerted on the valve member in its closed position, due to fluid pressure in a string of pipe above the valve member, are transmitted substantially entirely to said housing.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for use in an oil well includes an improved power mandrel and power mandrel restraining portion. The power mandrel is disposed in a cylindrical housing having an open bore therethrough and a power port and a circulating port through the walls thereof. The power mandrel includes an annular piston for moving the power mandrel in the first direction in response to fluid pressure exterior of the cylindrical housing communicated to the annular piston through the power port. A plurality of shear pins are disposed in a carrying structure arranged for forced transmitting engagement with a radially extending surface of the power mandrel upon movement of the power mandrel in said first direction. The carrying structure includes inner and outer concentric sleeves through which the shear pins are disposed, with the inner sleeve being arranged for engagement with said radially extending surface of the power mandrel.

Abstract: A hydraulically operated subsea test tree is disclosed for placement in a blowout preventer stack position on a sea floor above an oil well wherein fluid pressure from one side a set of rams is directed to a first side of a ball valve operating piston, and fluid pressure on the second side of said operating piston is directed to an area on the other side of the set of rams. By closing the rams and applying fluid pressure to the one side of the rams, the ball valve is moved from the closed to the opened position. Tandem ball valves are disclosed, each of which are hydraulic pressure operated to open, and spring operated to close such that the ball valves close when pressure on either side of the blowout preventer rams is equalized. A quick release is also disclosed which operates to release a stinger from a conduit leading to the surface when pressure is applied to one side of a second set of closed rams above the pressure which exists in the annulus exterior of the quick release mechanism.

Abstract: A valve for use in conjunction with a testing string in an oil well is disclosed in which the valve is maintained in the open position until the valve is placed in sufficient compression to collapse any slip joint which also appears in the testing string. A pressure piston is present in the valve having one surface exposed to the well annulus and a second surface exposed to a pressure in a flow passage through the testing string. The valve includes a rotatable ball valve and a bypass around the ball for equalizing the pressure above the ball with the pressure below the ball for use in opening the valve from the closed position. A spring means in the valve biases the closed ball toward the open position for opening the ball when a pressure difference across the ball is reduced sufficiently to allow the ball to rotate to the open position.

Abstract: A testing valve and its method of operation is disclosed for use in testing an oil well formation wherein the valve includes a liquid spring and operating means for operating the valve responsive to changes in the well annulus pressure. Volume adjusting mechanisms are also disclosed for compensation for a change in the volume of liquid as the valve is subjected to pressure and temperature gradients of the well as the tool is lowered in a well to testing depth.

Abstract: A full flow bypass valve comprising mutually telescoping inner mandrel and outer housing members with hydraulic impedance means therebetween to provide a predetermined time delay when the members are relatively telescoped in a first direction and to provide substantially unrestricted relative telescoping movement between the members in the opposite direction. A valve mechanism provides simultaneous closure of bypass ports through the wall of the housing member when the mandrel and housing members reach full telescopic contraction. Pressure responsive means are provided for maintaining the bypass valve in a closed position regardless of internal or external pressures applied thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented which are particularly useful in testing the production capabilities of offshore oil wells. The apparatus includes a normally closed, weight operated valve which opens a preset delay after the weight operated valve is subjected to sufficient weight such as when a test string is set down upon, and supported by, a packer isolating an underground formation; and a normally open, weight and pressure operated valve which closes immediately when the test string is set down upon the packer. The weight and pressure operated valve expands a sealed chamber when subjected to sufficient weight to close its associated valve. The weight and pressure operated valve also includes a pressure responsive piston which opens and closes the valve, and which is responsive to the pressure in the sealed chamber, and to fluid pressure in the well annulus.

Abstract: A closure valve for use in oil well testing is presented which provides a full opening flow passage therethrough, and which includes a reverse circulation valve. The closure valve is operated by a power mandrel which is responsive to well annulus pressure, and which is frangibly held in the open position until a predetermined pressure is applied to the fluid in the well annulus. The power mandrel is then frangibly released and moves the closure valve to the closed position. The power mandrel is then disconnected from the closure valve operating mechanism and continues to move to activate a circulation valve opening mechanism. The closure valve includes two normally open ball valves which are spaced apart to trap a sample of formation fluid therebetween when the ball valves are closed.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for preventing buildup of cuttings or debris in underwater oil wells. The apparatus includes a drilling tool in the form of a primary tubular member having an internal diameter a predetermined amount greater than the external diameter of a drill string which is run downwardly through a conventional riser pipe string and underwater wellhead assembly. The drilling tool preferably includes an external shoulder formed on the lower end portion thereof for engagement with a corresponding internal shoulder at the juncture of the riser pipe string and the wellhead assembly for supporting the tool independently of the drill string. An annular resilient seal can be included on the lower end portion of the tool for providing a fluid-tight seal between the lower end portion of the tool and the juncture of the riser pipe string and the wellhead assembly. The tool can include a second tubular member connected at its lower end to the lower end of the primary tubular member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented which are particularly useful in testing the production capabilities of offshore oil wells. The apparatus includes a normally closed, weight operated valve which opens a preset delay after the weight operated valve is subjected to sufficient weight such as when a test string is set down upon, and supported by, a packer isolating an underground formation; and a normally open, weight and pressure operated valve which closes immediately when the test string is set down upon the packer. The weight and pressure operated valve expands a sealed chamber when subjected to sufficient weight to close its associated valve. The weight and pressure operated valve also includes a pressure responsive piston which opens and closes the valve, and which is responsive to the pressure in the sealed chamber, and to fluid pressure in the well annulus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented which are particularly useful in testing the production capabilities of offshore oil wells. The apparatus includes a normally closed, weight operated valve which opens a preset delay after the weight operated valve is subjected to sufficient weight such as when a test string is set down upon, and supported by, a packer isolating an underground formation; and a normally open, weight and pressure operated valve which closes immediately when the test string is set down upon the packer. The weight and pressure operated valve expands a sealed chamber when subjected to sufficient weight to close its associated valve. The weight and pressure operated valve also includes a pressure responsive piston which opens and closes the valve, and which is responsive to the pressure in the sealed chamber, and to fluid pressure in the well annulus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing wells where extremely high temperatures and pressures are to be encountered in the zone under test. The apparatus provides means for testing and trapping samples of well fluid from the formation in the zone under test for removal from the well bore with substantial reduction in sample pressure at the ground surface. The method permits confining the well fluid under test within the well bore near the zone under test to minimize the possibility of hazardous well fluids reaching the ground surface other than as trapped samples in expandable sampler chambers or otherwise safely controlled.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for testing wells where extremely high temperatures and pressures are to be encountered in the zone under test. The apparatus provides means for testing and trapping samples of well fluid from the formation in the zone under test for removal from the well bore with substantial reduction in sample pressure at the ground surface. The method permits confining the well fluid under test within the well bore near the zone under test to minimize the possibility of hazardous well fluids reaching the ground surface other than as trapped samples in expandable sampler chambers or otherwise safely controlled.

Abstract: In a well testing tool having a spring whose biasing force is supplemented by the hydrostatic pressure in the well annulus at the testing depth, a method and apparatus for isolating the spring from the pressure in the well annulus utilizing the pressure differential between the well annulus and the testing tool bore which exists after the formation is isolated and for maintaining the isolation of the spring force during subsequent interior bore pressure increases such as during formation treating operations. An isolation valve is provided whose closing force is generated by isolating the testing tool bore from the well annulus, and then increasing the well annulus pressure above the hydrostatic pressure. The pressure differential thus created is utilized to close the valve.