Abstract: An electrically-driven downhole coring method and apparatus which is powered by and conveyed to and from the bottom of the corehole by means of a heavy-duty electromechanical cable. The downhole core-sampling apparatus is equipped with a combination reamer, stabilizer, and external-reforcing component which also functions as an external axial-thrust weight, drilling-fluid circulation pump, and helical inertial-displacement elevator or excavated rock particles. During the high-speed rotation of the core-sampling apparatus by the downhole electric motor, drilling fluid with its load of excavated rock particles is displaced upward from the bottom of the corehole into the interior of a combination centrifuge/storage-chamber component where the excavated rock particles are separated from the lower-density drilling fluid and the clarified drilling fluid is circulated downward along a decreasing pressure gradient to the core bit, thus completing its circulation loop.

Abstract: A simple low-cost and highly passive bitless nonrotational nondeviating jam-proof thin-kerf Newtonian hydraulics retrievable core-sampling method and apparatus that advances its circular core kerf through the rock by a combination of high-pressure droplet-impact and abrasive particle-jet effects, and which is independent of the weight of any drillpipe, drill collars, or any other heavy cylindrical conduit or tubular conduit associated with the coring operation. The Newtonian hydraulics features high-pressure solids-free fresh water or solution-weighted brine as the drilling fluid, which excavates rock along the inner periphery of the circular core kerf by droplet-impact effects of the high-pressure and high-velocity circular sheet of drilling fluid and by the abrasive particle-jet effects of the deflected drilling fluid and excavated rock particles along the outer periphery of the circular core kerf.

Abstract: A low-cost retrievable light-weight high-speed thin-kerf reversible electrically-driven core-sampling method and apparatus that is independent of the weight of any drill pipe, drill collars, or any other heavy cylindrical or tubular conduit associated with the coring operation. The flow direction of electric current to the direct-current electric motor of the core-sampling assembly is automatically reversed at frequent intervals so as to cause corresponding reversals in the direction of rotation of its core bit, resulting in the cancellation of any lateral forces on the core bit produced by reactive torque created during the coring operation, since such forces are alternately applied in opposite directions, thus, eliminating any corehole deviation that, otherwise, might occur from the lateral force created by the reactive torque of a down-hole motor that is rotated in just one direction.

Abstract: A positive-displacement single-acting down-hole reciprocating pump for excavating and conveying to the surface accumulations of sand and other detritus that collects at the bottom of producing oil, gas, geothermal, and water-supply wells. The down-hole sand pump is activated by the axial oscillation of a steel cylindrical weighted momentum unit, which, in turn, is axially oscillated by a string of light-weight composite pipe, which in turn is axially oscillated at the surface. The sand and other detritus, along with the circulation fluid, is drawn into suction ports in the down-hole sand pump, and is conveyed upward through the pump, through the weighted momentum unit, and through the light-weight string of composite pipe to the surface.

Abstract: A threadless nonrotating steel coupling system that is quickly connected and disconnected in an axial manner by simple hand tools, is sealed by a compressible gasket, and is locked together by a pin system to prevent rotation of the male half-coupling relative to the female half-coupling. The coupling is held together by means of matching circular saw-toothed ridges and grooves at right angles to the axis of the coupling, which substitute for the pitched threads used in standard threaded coupling systems. The steel male half-coupling is rigid whereas the steel female half-coupling, which contains a series of spring-loaded and parallel longitudinal fingers, is flexible, since each steel finger is free to move in a radial direction with respect to the axis of the coupling system.

Abstract: A borehole excavation apparatus and method which employs a down-hole positive displacement pump to circulate the drilling fluid and lift the excavated rock to the surface through nonmetallic composite pipe. The excavation of rock occurs by use of apparatus which produces a combination of percussion impact, cavitation, and hydrostatic depressuring which utilizes the pore pressure and elastic energy stored within the rock to fracture the rock into small pieces. The down-hole positive displacement pump and the excavation tool are actuated by the axial oscillation of a weighted momentum unit which in turn is actuated by the axial oscillation of the nonmetallic composite pipe, which in turn is actuated by the oscillating motion of a rocker beam at the surface where the drilling fluid and excavated rock particles are discharged.

Abstract: A free-floating neutrally-bouyant, stemless, externally-guided, and abrasion-resistant valve for reciprocating pumps that quickly responds to pressure-gradient reversals across its sealing surfaces. The neutral buoyency is attained by means of a hollow air-tight or nitrogen pressurized valve shaft and lead ballast, whereas the valve is guided directly into its valve seat by means of radial guide fins affixed to the exterior of the valve shaft that centralize the free-floating valve within the valve throat downstream from the valve's sealing surfaces. The sealing surface at the valve is protected against erosion from abrasive fluids by a hardfaced fluid deflector just upstream from its sealing surface, whereas the valve seat is protected from erosion by a hardfaced fluid deflector just upstream from the valve seat.

Abstract: A steel coupling system that is joined together by standard oil-well tubing threads, but is prevented from backing out by a set screw system, and is sealed by a compressible gasket, which creates an internally flush, or straight transition across the inside surface of the coupling system. Both the male and female halves of the coupling system are affixed to unidirectional, or longitudinally-reinforced nonmetallic composite pipe by a friction-grip technique that radially compresses the composite pipe wall at right angles to the longitudinal reinforcing fibers. The coupling system is designed in such a way that the greater the axial tensile stress across the coupling the greater is the gripping action, or the compression of the nonmetallic composite pipe wall.