Abstract: Disclosed are packers for use with a gravel pack system in an oil or gas well. The packers are of both the releasable and non-releasable, or sump type. The packers are designed so that after they are set or actuated and they seal against the casing wall or the well bore, fluid pressure in either axial direction on the packer seal will increase the energizing force on the seals. This self-energizing feature is accomplished with selectively disposed and sized annular seals on telescoping members.

Abstract: A convoluted foam pad for supporting a reclining human body on a bed including an area for supporting the shoulders of a body, an area for supporting the tail portion of a body and a general support area surrounding the shoulder and tail support areas for supporting the remainder of the body. Each support area is formed by peaks arranged in rows, wherein each peak has a flat top and is spaced from any adjacent peak in the same row by a valley. The average valley thickness of the valleys in both the shoulder support area and the tail support area are less than the average valley thickness of the valleys in the general support area.

Abstract: The gravel pack system includes a crossover assembly disposed within a screen assembly which has been adapted for disposal adjacent a producing formation within a well. The screen assembly includes a packet for sealing the annulus between the screen assembly and a well casing and a production screen disposed below the packer. The crossover assembly includes a wash pipe and a crossover tool adapted for suspension within the well on a pipe string for disposal within the screen assembly. Upon the disposal of the crossover assembly within the screen assembly, the assemblies together form an upper crossover valve, a lower crossover valve, a circulation valve, and a screen valve. These valves are selectively opened and closed for the various gravel pack operations by raising the crossover assembly within the screen assembly.

Abstract: Sand placement apparatus includes a well screen assembly and a sand placement tool. The sand placement tool comprises a tubing extension or stinger and a slurry conduit which includes a barrel concentrically disposed around the stinger and a tail pipe extending down therefrom with a valve controlled seal sub at the lower end of the tail pipe. The well screen assembly comprises a production liner including a valve controlled seal socket, a lower or main well screen, a short length of pipe, an upper or tell-tale well screen, and the tubular mandrel of a hook wall packer. By means of this packer the liner is suspended within a well casing. The liner is positioned with its screens inside a perforated section of a well casing. The tool is positioned inside the liner by means of a sleeve anchored to the packer mandrel and adjustably positioned relative to the barrel to deliver sand-water slurry to the liner-casing annulus and build up the sand from the top of the annulus and then downwardly.

Abstract: A sand or gravel placement or packing apparatus for positioning particulates outside well screen includes pipe to conduct slurry to below the screen and receive clear liquid returning from outside the screen as the particulates accumulate upwardly, the apparatus including valving to provide for initial injection of clear fluid, for circulation slurry, for squeezing the slurry, for flusing the tubing and parts of the tool by reverse circulation, and for closing the slurry injection part below the screen and the lower end of the slurry pipe when the latter is withdrawn.

Abstract: A bypass valve for use with an oil well testing string is disclosed which includes a spring loaded check valve which is normally in the closed position. If pressure in the interior of the test string is higher than the pressure in the well annulus, the check valve means opens until the interior pressure is equalized with the well annulus pressure. When the interior string pressure is reduced to that pressure present in the well annulus, the check valve means returns to the closed condition. The check valve means contains frangible shear means which shear when the well annulus pressure exceeds the interior string pressure by a predetermined amount. The check valve means then moves to the locked closed condition. The bypass valve disclosed is intended for use in a testing string for an oil well, and is to be placed in the testing string below a normally closed tester valve and above a seal assembly for insertion into sealing engagement with a preset production type packer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a circulation valve for use in the testing of an oil well wherein the circulation valve may be reclosed by application of well annulus pressure to allow a subsequent treating or testing program. A spring means is subjected to well annulus pressure on two ends of a volume of fluid. The volume of fluid is divided by a dividing means which includes pressure relief means such that fluid on one side of the dividing means is either higher or lower than the well annulus pressure. This different pressure is applied to one set of a piston means, and the other side of the piston means is subject to well annulus pressure such that movement of the piston means may be controlled by changing the well annulus pressure. An indexing means is additionally disclosed which controls opening of the circulation valve after a selected number of piston means movements, and which closes the circulation valve upon a selected movement of said piston means when the circulation valve is in the open condition.

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: 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: 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. An insolation 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. The opening force is generated by compressing a spring as the valve is closed. Thus, an isolation valve is provided which is normally open and which closes only after the well annulus pressure exceeds a reference pressure trapped in the bore of the testing tool by a predetermined amount.

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.