Abstract: A device for the transfer of plugging and grouting materials to, and their processing at, a pre-set level in a well comprises a pipe container which is rigidly mechanically connected by means of series installed limiter and cylinder to a drilling string. In the lower part of the pipe container, which is stopped by a plug, is installed a splitter and in the upper part, above waterproofing envelopes, is installed for axial movement along the pipe container a main piston having a rod to which is rigidly secured a retainer engageable with the limiter, and an auxiliary piston installed in the cylinder for axial movement therein, which is hydraulically coupled to the drilling string. The retainer is provided on the rod at a distance from the main piston to retain the main piston in its lowermost position immediately above the splitter.

Abstract: An improved process is provided for blasting in situ oil shale retorts, and oil and gas wells. In the process, a specially formed concrete plug is installed at a desired depth in a bottomless blast hole and an explosive charge is placed upon the plug and detonated to blast the underground formation. The plug is accurately and reliably set by lowering a canister, which releasably houses a bag support assembly supporting a bag of concrete slurry, to a desired depth into the blast hole. The bag support assembly and bag of wet concrete are subsequently dropped a fixed distance below the canister. The bag of concrete expands, dries, and hardens against the walls of the blast hole to form a permanent stationary plug across the blast hole. In the preferred process, the bag support assembly is formed by casting a concrete disc around a drainpipe, and the bag support assembly is lowered and released from the canister with the aid of an electrically powered sequencer.

Abstract: An underreamer having an adjustable arm extension includes a cam for urging the arm outwardly in an opened position, and a stop pin which engages a slot in the arm for limiting the maximum arm extension. An insert for the arm has a surface which overlaps a portion of the slot to establish an effective length for the slot. By changing the configuration of the surface on the insert, the arm extension can be adjusted.

Abstract: A method of recompleting or controlling the flow of a formation which is inaccessible through the original wellbore and which is losing valuable hydrocarbons to another formation. A second borehole is formed in close proximity to the first wellbore, and at least the bottom end of the new borehole is slanted until it penetrates the hydrocarbon bearing formation within shooting distance of the bottom end of the first wellbore. A large casing gun is run downhole through the new borehole. All of the shaped charges of the gun are oriented in the same direction. Indexing means are included by which all of the shaped charges of the gun are oriented to fire towards the casing of the first wellbore. After the gun is discharged, cement is pumped down the borehole, through the tunnels formed by the shaped charges, and into the perforations of the wellbore casing, thereby killing the flow of hydrocarbons from the damaged wellbore.

Abstract: A method for preventing annular fluid flow following primary cementing of oil and gas well casings is disclosed. Pursuant to said method the casing is vibrated so as to maintain the hydrostatic pressure of the cement column surrounding the casing at or above the pressure of the fluids in the various formations penetrated by the well until the cement has acquired its initial set. The vibration may be either continuous or intermittent. Preferably, the vibration has a low frequency. The method may include the additional step of applying pressure to the surface of the cemented annulus while the cement is curing. The vibration may be induced in several ways. For example, the casing may be vibrated by simultaneous or sequential explosions of a slow-burning black powder. Alternatively, hydraulic jars may be used to strike blows on the casing causing the casing to vibrate.

Abstract: An arrangement for full hole drilling, wherein a drilling bit having a passage for drilling fluid is attached to a drill pipe string. A hole wall former is provided above the bit for closing the space between the hole walls and the drill pipe string. A container containing a plugging material is provided in the interior of the drill pipe string immediately above the bit, which is adapted to let drilling fluid between the walls of said container and said drill pipe string. The bit has an axial bore of a diameter which is greater than the inside diameter of the container and which is adapted to receive the lower end of said container.

Abstract: A well, such as an oil well, may be plugged, on command, from the well head, by activating a plurality of preplaced motor-driven, foam generating capsules causing a foam to be generated and forced into the well hole where it hardens.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of filling voids in a ground stratum in the vicinity of a well bore are enclosed. The apparatus is a self-contained device and, for example, it can be placed in the well bore in the vicinity of the voids to be plugged by dropping the apparatus down a drill string. Once in place it will automatically respond to the well pressure to provide the required plugging. To accomplish this the apparatus includes precursors of polymers such as precursors of polyurethanes, epoxy type polymers, polyesters or other polymers which are released from the apparatus and flow into the voids.

Abstract: A well tool system including a device for downhole suspension by means of conduit for engaging and penetrating the casing wall of a wellbore and introducing a fluid into the adjacent penetration. The downhole device includes an expansion piston that extends with sufficient force to seal at least one end of the device against a wellbore casing of relatively large diameter. A projectile is subsequently fired from the device to penetrate the engaged casing and provide a selected path of egress for squeeze cementing or the like therethrough. Thereafter, the device is released from its fixed position in the wellbore by retraction of the piston and retrieved therefrom. The device is disclosed with the expansion piston and method of operation therefor shown and described in several embodiments including explosive and hydraulic actuated mechanisms.

Abstract: Method of completing a hydrocarbon containing formation located downhole in a cased borehole by running a jet perforating gun downhole on the end of a tubing string. The tool string includes a vent assembly underlying a packer and located above the gun. The gun includes a special flexible linkage and biasing means which urges the shaped charge chambers of the gun into close proximity of the borehole wall. Pairs of shaped charges are positioned within spaced chambers to intersect one another out in the formation, to thereby enable a cavity to be subsequently formed therebetween. Treatment fluid is pumped into the cavity and used to consolidate the formation. Another form of the invention provides a wireline actuated apparatus wherein pairs of shaped charges are oriented to penetrate the formation and form spaced apart parallel tunnels which subsequently collapse to jointly form an enlarged cavity located back up in the formation.

Abstract: Methods of use of cementitious material within sub-surface formations are considerably enhanced by the use of sonic or energy carrying waves therewith; and by the further use of fluids containing a gas, foam, emulsion or solvent in combination therewith a cleansing and better penetration into the formation is achieved; thus effecting further benefits of the use of sonic or energy carrying waves with cementitious materials.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for permanently sealing the lower end of a drill casing to a liquid impermeable layer such as bedrock to prevent contaminating fluid seepage between the casing and the liquid impermeable layer from strata disposed above the impermeable layer. Selected quantities of aggregate, resin monomer and catalyst are introduced into the lower end of the well casing and are caused to mix and polymerize whereafter the resinous mixture is ejected through one or more openings in the casing wall adjacent the bedrock layer to form a plug seal which is chemically and mechanically secured to the well casing and the bedrock layer.

Abstract: Various methods are shown as to the use of sonic wave generators, or sonic wave generators and modulators as to treating in the fracturing of, the acidizing of or the driving of fluids such as oil, gas or other fluids from subsurface fluid containing strata or formations. The use is shown of gaseous fluids being contained or injected within these subsurface fluid containing strata or formations for the reception of or localizing of these sonic waves of controllable or variable characteristics in this treating of or driving of fluids from these fluid containing subsurface strata or formations. The transporting of heat by these sonic waves into these fluid containing subsurface formations may be a contributing factor in the total effectiveness of these methods of treating or the driving and the subsequent recovery of fluids therefrom.

Abstract: A method of completing a sandy production zone located downhole in a borehole by spotting a polymeric agent adjacent to the production zone, perforating the casing adjacent to the zone, and simultaneously increasing the pressure on the agent to a value which exceeds the formation pressure so that the polymeric agent is forced back up into the perforations as they are formed by the hot jets issuing from the gun.The polymeric agent is allowed to "set up" into a porous self-supporting mass, the pressure on the agent is reduced, and the well produced with flow of the production occurring through the porous mass.