Abstract: A ball valve with cooperative cranks for rotating the ball valve in which the cranks run in arcuate waffle plates having intersecting lands and grooves and wherein the ball valve is spherical and retainer rings cooperate with the ball valve to hold the cranks in engagement with the waffle plate even when pumping through the valve and moving the ball valve away from an upper seat while retaining the ball valve actuator in the closed position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for annulus flow systems in which a safety valve controls flow adjacent the packer and the safety valve is operated by control of tubing pressure exerting an upward force on the valve operator and an urging device such as a weight string of tubing exerting a downward force on the operator. In one form the control valve is a foot valve below the packer which is automatically closed by removal of the actuator. In other forms the control valve is removable with the tubing string and a separate foot valve may be provided below the packer, if desired. The system may be designed to close the safety valve in direct response to a reduction in pressure in the well annulus, or it may be designed to reduce or increase tubing pressure and close the safety valve in response to any well condition sensed at the surface which would include a reduction in annulus flow pressure.

Abstract: A well test apparatus in which a by-pass sleeve valve lands in a previously set packer. A lock mandrel assembly lands in the sleeve valve and carries a transducer fitting. A transducer is releasably carried in the fitting. Well conditions such as pressure may be sensed by the transducer and recorded or transmitted to the surface. By manipulation of casing pressure, the by-pass valve may be opened and closed to flow the well at high production rates with the transducer in place.

Abstract: An equalizing ball valve member and valve apparatus for use in a tubing string in a well bore of an oil or gas well to isolate a lower portion of the well bore below a packer including a body having a longitudinal bore therethrough connectible in a well tubing string, a lower annular valve seat supported in the body for limited sliding movement, fluid seal means between the lower valve seat and the body, an upper annular valve seat supported in longitudinal spaced relation from the lower valve seat within the body, an equalizing ball valve member supported for rotation between opened and closed positions between the valve seats, pivot members secured with the ball valve member for rotating the valve member, and a longitudinally movable operator member coupled with the pivot members for moving the pivot members longitudinally while permitting the members to traverse an arcuate path as the ball valve member rotates between an open and closed positions.

Abstract: A sleeve valve which may be made up as a part of a tubing string in which the valve member has two positions. Dogs carried by the valve member alternately cooperate with spaced grooves in the body in said positions. The dogs are alternately engageable by a shifting tool to shift the valve member in opposite directions and after the valve member has been shifted, the dogs are disengaged from the shifting tool. The valve is disclosed as a part of a testing system employing a circulating tool, a cushion valve, a seal unit, and a landing nipple with a transducer fitting.

Abstract: Apparatus and system for testing and producing a well in which the well is controlled adjacent the producing formation and may be shut-in or permitted to flow at the discretion of the operator. The well may be tested under flowing or shut-in conditions and after testing is completed the tubing may be hung off in the well with the well shut-in adjacent the producing formation.

Abstract: A well testing system and method in which a by-pass valve is positioned in the tubing and a probe run on a line from the surface opens and closes the valve with vertical movement of the probe. The probe when landed in the valve is exposed to formation fluids and may transmit back to the surface, or may record information about the formation. The probe may also collect a sample of fluid to return to the surface with the probe.

Abstract: A valve which may be made up as a part of a tubing string, preferably by removably landing the valve in a landing nipple. The valve is of the sleeve type and the gap through the valve member is held to very close spacing when the valve member gap passes over the seals in the body and is then permitted to expand when the valve member is in open position. The valve is disclosed as a part of a testing system employing a packer, a foot valve, a seal unit and a landing nipple in which the valve is supported.

Abstract: A well packer and depending foot valve are landed in a well. A landing nipple depends from the foot valve. A tubing string sealingly engages the packer and includes a circulating valve. A transducer-valve fitting may be run with the packer foot valve assembly or it may be run at a later time and landed in the landing nipple. The foot valve is operated by an actuator which is positioned above the packer and is exposed to the casing tubing annulus as well as tubing pressure. The circulating valve is also exposed to casing-tubing and tubing pressure. The foot valve is controlled by the differential in pressures as is the circulating valve. A transducer may be landed in the transducer fitting and by selectively opening and closing the foot valve data may be taken from the well during both flow and non-flow conditions.

Abstract: There is disclosed a testing system employing a circulating tool, a cushion valve, a seal unit packer with a foot sleeve, and a landing nipple with a transducer fitting. This system permits running a packer with a foot sleeve and transducer fitting and landing it in the well, and subsequently running a tubing with a circulating tool and cushion valve to land in the seal unit. Thereafter a transducer may be run on a wireline.

Abstract: An actuator for shifting a mandrel. The actuator is responsive to external ambient pressure and to internal ambient pressure and a differential in pressure shifts a mandrel carried by the actuator against the resilience of a spring. The actuator is disclosed as a part of a testing system. The system employs a packer, a foot valve, a landing nipple and a transducer fitting, all of which may be first run and landed in the well. The tubing is then run with a circulating tool and dump valve. The actuator of this invention may be run on the free end of the tubing, landed in and sealed with the bore wall through the packer and carry the actuator for opening and closing the foot valve.

Abstract: A well valve for use in a tubing string in a well bore of an oil or gas well to isolate a lower portion of the well bore below a packer including a body having a longitudinal bore therethrough connectible in a well tubing string, a lower annular valve seat supported in the body for limited sliding movement, fluid seal means between the lower valve seat and the body, an upper annular valve seat supported in longitudinal spaced relation from the lower valve seat within the body, a ball valve member supported for rotation between opened and closed positions between the valve seats, pivot members secured with the ball valve member for rotating the valve member, and a longitudinally movable operator member coupled with the pivot members for moving the pivot members longitudinally while permitting the members to traverse an arcuate path as the ball valve member rotates between open and closed positions.

Abstract: A subsurface valve for use in a well having a hinged flapper closure element and a moveable fluid pressure actuated operator element and a resilient member connecting the operator element to the closure element.

Abstract: A well tool for inclusion in a tubing string of a well adapted to perform multiple functions including controlling fluid flow through the tubing string and/or cutting coiled tubing or wire line used in the tubing string for performing well completion and workover functions.

Abstract: A thread chaser tool with cutting edge defined by two symetrical points. The tip radii of the two points are spaced apart slightly less than the pitch of a thread to be cut. The thread form is generated by the inside flanks of each point and a crestforming radius there between. Both points cooperate in forming the long flanks of either male or female tapered threads, and both points form straight threads having two roots.

Abstract: Well tools comprising a go-devil actuated well safety valve, a locking assembly for releasably locking the safety valve at a desired depth in a well, running and pulling tools for installing and removing the safety valve, a go-devil ball for closing the safety valve, and apparatus for dropping the go-devil ball into a well under pressure and for retrieving the ball. The go-devil safety valve is mounted above the locking assembly and includes a trigger-type latch which is released from above by the impact of the go-devil ball. The valve may be reset for reopening the valve without removal of the valve from the well bore by means of special reset and pulling tools disclosed herein. The reset and pulling tools include locking structure for coupling with and release from the safety valve by application of only straight line longitudinal force moving locking surfaces laterally in the tools for locking and unlocking in the safety valve.

Abstract: Well tools comprising a go-devil actuated well safety valve, a locking assembly for releasably locking the safety valve at a desired depth in a well, running and pulling tools for installing and removing the safety valve, a go-devil ball for closing the safety valve, and apparatus for dropping the go-devil ball in a well under pressure and for retrieving the ball. The go-devil safety valve is mounted above the locking assembly and includes a trigger type latch which is released from above by the impact of the go-devil ball. The valve may be reset for reopening the valve without removal of the valve from the well bore by means of a special reset and pulling tool disclosed herein. The go-devil valve is installed in a well, preferably above a storm choke, to shut the well in under emergency conditions which releases the go-devil ball at the surface in response to hazardous conditions such as fire. The go-devil ball drops to the go-devil valve which closes in response to the impact of the ball.

Abstract: A threaded interconnect structure incorporating respective matching internal and external threaded portions of members to be threadedly interconnected, with the thread geometry defining a profile having contiguous straight-thread and tapered-thread sections. Sealing integrity and make-up length and sealing predictability of the threaded interconnection are improved over standard tapered-thread joints. Tapered sections have a taper in excess of standard taper-threaded profiles and comprise comparatively fewer threads, with the sealing action in the tapered section being mechanically aided by the straight-thread sections during make-up of the joint, and thereafter mechanically reinforced by the straight-thread sections. A tool chaser of new and novel design permits cutting straight-tapered profile transitions with maintenance of pitch and thread matching.

Abstract: Well tools comprising a go-devil actuated well safety valve, a locking assembly for releasably locking the safety valve at a desired depth in a well, running and pulling tools for installing and removing the safety valve, a go-devil ball for closing the safety valve, and apparatus for dropping the go-devil ball into a well under pressure and for retrieving the ball. The go-devil safety valve is mounted above the locking assembly and includes a trigger type latch which is released from above by the impact of the go-devil ball. The valve may be reset for reopening the valve without removal of the valve from the well bore by means of a special reset and pulling tool disclosed herein. The go-devil valve is installed in a well, preferably above a storm choke, to shut the well in under emergency conditions which releases the go-devil ball at the surface in response to hazardous conditions such as fire. The go-devil ball drops to the go-devil valve which closes in response to the impact of the ball.

Abstract: A well testing system and method in which a by-pass valve is positioned in the tubing and a probe run on a line from the surface opens and closes the valve with vertical movement of the probe. The probe when landed in the valve is exposed to formation fluids and may transmit back to the surface, or may record information about the formation. The probe may also collect a sample of fluid to return to the surface with the probe.