Abstract: An in-hole fluid motor has a clutch engageable between the motor housing and the motor shaft to connect the housing and shaft for mutual rotation upon rotation of a running-in pipe string, and a circulation valve is installed above the motor to be opened to allow circulation from the pipe string into the bore hole annulus. Circulation is maintained through the bore hole annulus during efforts to release a stuck drill bit.

Abstract: A column of drill collars have holes or jets extending radially from the collar bore through the collar wall. A wash pipe extends full length through the bore of the perforated collars, so sized as to leave an annular flow space between the wash pipe and the collar bore wall. A remote control selector valve is situated such as to receive drilling fluid from the upwardly continuing drill string and direct the fluid through the wash pipe to the drill bit for regular drilling, or on cue from the earth surface, direct fluid to the annulus to be expelled through the drill collar perforations to help free stuck pipe or to prevent such sticking.

Abstract: Directional drilling apparatus for incorporation in a drill string, wherein a lower apparatus section is angularly deviated from vertical by cam action and wherein rotational displacement of the angularly deviated apparatus section is overcome by additional cam action, the apparatus being operated by successive increases and decreases of internal drill string pressure.

Abstract: A dump valve for use in a downhole motor having a spring-based piston responsive to fluid flow to close a fluid flow port and to a ball actuated force to reopen the port.

Abstract: A wireline supported mechanically operable packer device (10) for use in a drill string (DS) casing (C) and attached core drill bit (B) raised off the bottom of a borehole and testing the formation below has a housing (12) adapted to engage an arresting internal shoulder (S) of the core drill bit (B). A hollow inner mandrel (40) slideable in the housing has attached thereto a packer seal cup (P) an O-ring seal (P) expander (50) weight means (60) and wireline means (70) (80) moveable between stops (16) (18) determining the extended and contracted positions thereof relative to the housing.

Abstract: Special circulation subs mostly consist of an outer barrel which is provided in a cross-sectional plane with three circulation ports, which ports are closed during normal operation of the sub by means of a movable sleeve. The movement of such a sleeve is operated by steel or hard rubber balls which are pumped down the drill string.In many cases it is desirable to be able not only to open the sub, but also to close it again. This is achieved by providing a spring loaded inner sleeve. That inner sleeve has a groove at its outer periphery to receive a plurality, preferably three balls which are adapted to cooperate via openings in the sleeve with two grooves in the outer barrel. Closing of the sub can be caused by a return sleeve, also controlled by a plurality of balls and a spring, located underneath the sleeve.A special embodiment is characterized by a helical groove in the inner surface of a port sleeve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for actuating downhole flow control valves in a borehole mining tool to change the tool function from drilling to mining while still in the borehole. Self-activating actuators employing only system pump pressure control the flow of fluid to the drill bit, the mining jet, the discharge eductor or eductors and are located within the discharge conduit or in a compartment in the tool to change the function of the operative components. The valve actuator can actuate more than one valve simultaneously.

Abstract: This invention relates to a valve assembly (drawing) which will hereafter be referred to as drill pipe freer, comprising a metal ball, hollow in the center, and of such design that it will float in liquid, or a floating solid plastic ball of such design and hardness to withstand the pressures to be encountered during operation of the invention, and a specially designed valve body with seat for the metal or plastic ball. The said valve body will be pumped down inside the string of drill pipe and collars within the well bore to anchor at drilling bit at lower end of drill pipe string. The said metal or plastic ball is then pumped down to seat itself within the said valve body seat, closing off the mud circulation (drilling fluid) which normally flows through drill pipe and out drilling bit and back up annulus of well bore. This sudden cessation of downward flow of drilling fluid will provide a water hammer blow to dislodge drill pipe lodged in off-bottom positions within well bore.

Abstract: There is disclosed a control system for a hydraulic down-hole earth drilling motor of the helical gear pair type to control the pressure drop of the fluid through the motor so that it does not become excessive. A housing is provided defining a chamber, one end of the housing being secured to the outer member housing of the motor. Valve means and pressure controlling means are positioned in the chamber. Linkage means positioned within the chamber joins the valve means pressure controlling means and the upper end of the inner member of the motor. In operation the inner member of the motor may be caused to operate the valve means to control the fluid flow and therefore the pressure drop through the motor in order to protect the motor from overload. A further embodiment of the invention corrects an additional problem in down-hole motors resulting from the back flow when the drilling is stopped for any reason.

Abstract: This device, positioned above the drill bit, comprises a body provided with an axial bore communicating with the drill string and distribution means, controlling the direction of flow of the flushing fluid, slidably mounted in said bore and having two positions. This distribution means can be shifted from a first to a second position and vice-versa by a succession of fluid supply periods separated by periods of interruption of the fluid supply.

Abstract: A method of removing fluids entering into a well bore from a well formation while the well is being drilled, such as gas, in which the gas bubble is chopped into small bubbles by mixing the gas with drilling mud and pumping the mixed gas and drilling mud upwardly through the drill string-bore hole annulus and removing it from the well.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for removing fluids entering into a well bore from a well formation while the well is being drilled, such as gas, in which the gas bubble is chopped into small bubbles by mixing the gas with drilling mud and pumping the mixed gas and drilling mud upwardly through the drill string-bore hole annulus and removing it from the well.

Abstract: A drill string in a well bore has a mandrel extending longitudinally thereof adjacent the lower end of the drill string with a drill bit connected to the mandrel. Longitudinally extending helical groove means are provided in the mandrel and roller means are supported on the drill string and engaged with the helical groove means. Spring means is supported by the drill string and abuts the mandrel to tend to urge the mandrel longitudinally out of the drill string whereby the bit is urged into substantially continuous contact with the well bore bottom as the drill string is rotated during drilling operations. Valve means are provided for selectively circulating fluids from the drill string to the well bore above the drill bit, and when desired jar means may be incorporated in the drill string to impart an up or down jar thereto should the drill string become stuck or tend to become stuck during drilling operations.

Abstract: An in-hole fluid motor has a stator connected with a fluid conduit and a rotor connected with a drive shaft for a bit to drill a bore hole as drilling fluid is circulated through the conduit and the stator, the fluid returning through the bore hole annulus to the top of the bore hole. A circulation valve between the stator and the fluid conduit is opened by the flow of fluid through the valve to by-pass the stator and allow flow of fluid into the annulus. The circulation valve is incorporated in a structure which allows the conduit to fill and dump during lowering in and removal from the fluid in the bore hole.

Abstract: A drill string in a well bore has a mandrel extending longitudinally thereof adjacent the lower end of the drill string with a drill bit connected to the mandrel. Longitudinally extending helical groove means are provided in the mandrel and roller means are supported on the drill string and engaged with the helical groove means. Spring means is supported by the drill string and abuts the mandrel to tend to urge the mandrel longitudinally out of the drill string whereby the bit is urged into substantially continuous contact with the well bore bottom as the drill string is rotated during drilling operations. Valve means are provided for selectively circulating fluids from the drill string to the well bore above the drill bit, and when desired jar means may be incorporated in the drill string to impart an up or down jar thereto should the drill string become stuck or tend to become stuck during drilling operations.

Abstract: A core breaker carrier for inserting and removing a core breaker from a drill bit. The carrier of the present invention eliminates the need for using wireline tools to install a core breaker within a drill bit. The core breaker carrier with core breaker attached can be inserted into the bore of the drill pipe at the well surface and pumped into the drill bit. Fluid pressure is used to anchor the carrier at a preselected location within the drill bit.

Abstract: A dump valve having a valve seat and a valve member is located in a string of drill pipe above a downhole motor. The dump valve connects the inside of the drill string with the annulus and allows drilling mud to flow freely therebetween when drilling mud is not being pumped through the drill string to operate the downhole motor. The valve member is made of a deformable resilient material such as rubber. It is held away from the valve seat by spacers until the pressure drop across the valve member is sufficient to deform the valve member and move it past the spacers into engagement with the valve seat. When the pressure differential is relieved, the valve member will return to its normal, unstressed shape opening the valve.

Abstract: An improved impact tool being attached to a drill stem about ten (10) or more feet above the drill bit, and in drilling mud flows through the impact tool to the drill bit when the well is being drilled. When the drill becomes stuck, plunger means is inserted through the drilling mud passage way from the ground level and is forced down to the impact tool by pressure of the drilling mud, and on reaching the impact tool, it engages a lip forming surface at the upper end of the impact tool and seals off the flow of drilling mud. The pressure placed on the drilling mud flowing from ground level forces a set of sleeves to move downward against the force of a helical spring, causing the drilling mud to flow through a jet contoured nozzle for directing the drilling mud toward the stuck drilling bit for thereby dislodging the drilling bit.

Abstract: A check valve for a rock drill comprises a valve plate carrying a cylindrical strainer. An insert is carried by the valve plate and is movable between valve-open and valve-closed positions. A spring biases the insert to a valve-closed position. The insert unit includes a lid which engages and covers the top of the strainer in a valve-open position, and a bottom plate which covers the valve plate in a valve-closed position to prevent cuttings from fouling the valve mechanism.

Abstract: In rock drilling utilizing mechanical destruction of the rock and circulation of drilling fluid for removing debris from the cutting face, the drilling fluid is directed on to the cutting face in the form of two opposed pulsed jets, the cycles of which are 180.degree. out of phase. In order to achieve the phased opposition of the pulsed jets a ball is disposed in the distribution chamber of the drilling fluid and is subjected to a combination of hydraulic and mechanical forces which cause the ball to oscillate between two end positions in which the ball respectively closes off one of two outlet ducts leading to nozzles which direct the drilling fluid towards opposite points on the bottom of the drill hole.

Abstract: A hydraulic borehole mining device is provided of the type wherein a pair of high pressure water jets located along the length of the device are used to cut the mineral to be mined and a slurry pick-up system used to transport the particles cut away by the jets back to the ground surface. The slurry pick-up may include a slurry jet pump which is also supplied with water under pressure. The jet pump includes a jet nozzle which is directed so as to draw particles through screens that cover inlets for the particles located about the circumference of the device, and which thus entrains the particles in a slurry with the water, this slurry of water and mineral particles being pumped back to the surface.

Abstract: An underreaming tool with cutter arm position indication. An elongated body portion has a coupling for coupling one end thereof to a lower end of a lower drill string. A pair of arms are pivotally mounted on the body portion. Means is provided for relatively positioning the cutter arms apart in a cutting position and closer together in a non-cutting position and having an overridable condition wherein either of the cutter arms may be either in a cutting or a non-cutting position. A fluid passage is provided in the body portion comprising an input port at one end of the body portion and first and second output ports. One output port is adjacent to each of the cutter arms.

Abstract: A bit packer for use with a string of dual concentric drill pipe, having inner and outer tubular members concentrically arranged to mate with the inner and outer pipes of the drill string to provide an annular conduit for fluid from surface to bit and a central conduit for fluid and cuttings from bit to surface, is particularly characterized by flexible packing means mounted slidably and rotatably on the outer tubular member. The packing means deform against the hole wall to seal the annular space between the outer member and the hole wall. Upper and lower ports provide fluid communication between the annular conduit and the annular space; when the packer is moved downwardly in the hole the packing means slides upwardly to close the upper port and open the lower port; when the packer is moved upwardly in the hole, the converse occurs. A milling collar is provided above the packing means.

Abstract: A down hole forward and back scuttling tool capable of being removably connected to a power driven drill string and to an expandable reamer to transmit torque from the drill string to the reamer as the latter is transversely expanded and rotated to form an elongate cavity in the lower portion of the bore hole. The reamer is of a conventional type that permits fluid under pressure to discharge therefrom. The tool during the reaming operation permits fluid under pressure to flow downwardly in a first path through the drill string, tool and reamer to exit from the latter into the cavity and then upwardly through an annulus shaped space defined between the side wall of the bore hole and drill string to the ground surface. Cuttings from the reaming operation drop downwardly due to gravity to the bottom of the cavity. It is desirable that such cuttings be removed from the cavity prior to the latter being packed with gravel. The tool permits these cuttings to be retrieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to circulation subs used in connection with hydraulic in-hole motors with means for selectively interrupting circulation through the circulation sub.

Abstract: A tool for running on a well string such as a drill string in a well bore carries inflatable packer means to close off the well bore adjacent the tool. The tool includes a body having a longitudinal bore therethrough with seating means and shock absorbing means for absorbing the shock of seating a bore close off means to close off the bore in the drill string. The bore close off means includes latch means for latching the bore close off means in seated position in the well string.The tool may be positioned in the drill string near the drilling bit and when pressure is applied in the well string at the earth's surface such pressure is conducted through the bore close off means to inflate the inflatable packer means and seal off the well bore beneath the inflated packer means.