Abstract: Seal elements for use on well packers having multiple mandrels for sealing between the packer and the inner wall of a well pipe. The seal elements (center elements and/or end elements) are provided with voids therein for controlling the stresses created in the elements during setting of the packers while minimizing the strains resulting from such stresses. The voids are preferably cavities and are readily formed in the elements as they are molded.

Abstract: An improved gripper unit for use in an injector for handling coil tubing, pipe, rod, cable, or similar elongate objects, this gripper unit being provided with gripping surfaces which contact the coil tubing in V-block fashion and thus will grip such tubing of differing diameters. This gripper unit will enable the injector to support a given load while applying less squeeze. In the case of handling coil tubing or pipe, the stresses induced by these improved gripper blocks are very considerably reduced as compared with conventional gripper blocks.

Abstract: A hydraulic well tool for running into a flow conduit of a well on a handling string, such as reeled tubing or jointed pipe, for generating and applying an axial force to an object in the well, the well tool including an anchoring mechanism actuatable by fluid pressure in the handling string for anchoring the well tool in the flow conduit, this well tool further including a piston/cylinder arrangement also actuatable by fluid pressure in the flow conduit for moving the aforementioned object. The object may be a well tool, a sliding sleeve, a fish, or other well tool. The hydraulic well tool may be provided with a suitable device to permit increasing the pressure in the handling string for actuation of the anchoring mechanism and the piston/cylinder arrangement. Devices suitable for such purpose include a flow restrictor, ball and seat, velocity check valves, plugs, or the like devices.

Abstract: A pilot operated gas lift valve utilizing a diaphragm formed of polymeric or elastomeric material and exposed to lift gas pressure on one side and atmospheric pressure on the other side, the diaphragm being able to withstand very high differential pressures and endure an extremely great number of operating cycles. The gas lift valve may be provided with an extension on the pilot valve member and this extension is exposed at all times to production fluid pressure, in which case, production fluid pressure will affect the operation of the gas lift valve. Thus, the gas lift valve may be 100 percent sensitive to production fluid pressure and totally insensitive to lift gas pressure, or its sensitivity to production fluid pressure may be as little as about four percent, depending upon the cross sectional area of the extension. Use of the diaphragm in the pilot valve mechanism provides essentially friction free operaton.

Abstract: A gas lift valve of the unloading type having a main valve for controlling fluid flow between a well casing and a well tubing, a volume of compressible liquid a spaced distance from said main valve and subject to casing pressure, and a pilot valve between the main valve and the compressible liquid for controlling opening and closing of the main valve by permitting casing pressure to act thereon or to isolate it therefrom as the volume of the compressible liquid changes in response to changes in casing pressure to which it is subjected. Gas lift well systems utilizing such gas lift valves and methods for operating such gas lift well systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wet concern for latchingly connecting an electric cable between surface equipment and a previously installed electrically powered well tool at a remote, downhole location in a well for transmitting electrical energy or signals thereto or therefrom. One form of the wet connector is released electrically (reverse polarity being used), and another form of the connector is released by tensioning and slackening the electric cable a predetermined plurality of times. Systems using such wet connectors are disclosed, as are methods for their use. The wet connector can be used in conjunction with an electric cable for installing certain tools in a well, especially where it is desirable to deposit such tools gently with no jarring.

Abstract: A wet connector for latchingly connecting an electric cable between surface equipment and a previously installed electrically powered well tool at a remote, downhole location in a well for transmitting electrical energy or signals thereto or therefrom. This wet connector comprises a male connector on the downhole well tool and a female connector on the electric cable. The female connector carries a non-conductive liquid which is expelled therefrom during mating with the male connector to wash and cleanse the electrical contacts of both the male and the female connectors. One form of the wet connector is released electrically (reverse polarity being used), and another form of the connector is released by tensioning and slackening the electric cable a predetermined plurality of times. Systems using such wet connectors are disclosed, as are methods for their use.

Abstract: A large diameter reel having a large diameter hollow drum with a flange at each end about which a flexible elongate member, such as coil tubing, electrical conductor cable, or the like, may be wound, the reel having no shaft, but instead, having a large central opening extending therethrough, and having a gear located in the opening or on at least one or both of the reel's flanges. A carrier, such as a skid, trailer or semi-trailer, is provided with rollers for supporting the reel upon edge and with a driving gear meshable with the reel gear for rotating the reel. The trailer or semi-trailer may be provided with a hole in the bed thereof to accommodate the reel in an inset position to permit such vehicles with a reel thereon to freely pass beneath highway overpasses, and other overhangs. Methods of supporting such reels on such carriers are also provided.

Abstract: A plugging device for installation as by wireline tools in a receptacle in a wall flow conductor for plugging the flow conductor against flow from below as well as from above, the plugging device including a tubular housing having seals for sealing with the receptacle, lock members for anchoring it therein, a mandrel reciprocable in the housing between lower and upper positions for moving the lock members to locking position and for allowing them to move to unlocking position, a plug member closing the housing and being movable relative thereto between lower and upper positions, and a locking mechanism for locking the plug member to the mandrel whenever the mandrel is in its lower position and the plug member is moved to its upper position to prevent the mandrel from being moved to its unlocking position. A running tool is provided for installing the plugging device which will not release the device unless it is properly installed in the receptacle.

Abstract: A wet connector for latchingly connecting an electric cable between surface equipment and a previously installed electrically powered well tool at a remote, downhole location in a well for transmitting electrical energy or signals thereto or therefrom. One form of the wet connector is released electricaly (reverse polarity being used), and another form of the connector is released by tensioning and slackening the electric cable a predetermined plurality of times. Systems using such wet connectors are disclosed, as are methods for their use. The wet connector can be used in conjunction with an electric cable for installing certain tools in a well, especially where it is desirable to deposit such tools gently with no jarring.

Abstract: A fluid flow regulator in which the fluid flow therethrough is restricted twice, first through a fixed orifice in a slidable piston and then through a variable flow restrictor which is a spring. This spring is axially aligned with and bears against the piston, and fluids issuing from the orifice empties into the interior of the spring, the end of the spring opposite the piston being closed. Fluids thus flow from within the spring through the gaps between its coils and into a chamber surrounding the spring, and from there exits through the outlet of the regulator. The gaps between the spring coils are quite narrow and cause the flow of fluids to be restricted this second time. This restriction is variable since the piston moves as the differential pressure thereacross varies which causes the length of the spring to vary accordingly. This in turn varies the size of the gaps. In this manner, the regulator compensates automatically to provide a fluid flow rate which is substantially constant.

Abstract: An improved seal element especially for well packers having multiple mandrels, the improvement providing slits therein of various configurations which allow the seal element to be expanded to sealing condition in response to longitudinal compression such that the resultant stresses created within the element body are minimized in that they are substantially evenly distributed therethrough, thus enabling the multiple packer to seal more readily and to withstand greater pressure differentials.

Abstract: Apparatus including a side pocket mandrel for inclusion in a well tubing string for removably receiving an instrument in its offset receptacle bore for monitoring at least one parameter such as pressure, temperature or the like, at a downhole location, there being an electrical conductor wire extending from equipment at the surface downward to the side pocket mandrel and a plug in the lower end of the receptacle for electrically connecting the instrument in the receptacle with the conductor wire extending from the surface so that electrical energy may be transmitted downhole to power the instrument, that the instrument may generate electrical signals representing data sensed in the well and transmit them to the surface for processing and immediate display, printout, or storage. Suitable kickover tools and running tools are also disclosed.

Abstract: A connector for connecting a tube such as a coil tubing, or the like, to well tools, pipe, or another tube. The connector will withstand high pressures and is capable of transmitting high tensile and torque loads, and can be applied to tubes by crimping through use of conventional swaging devices.

Abstract: Well testing apparatus including a landing receptacle for placing in a well tubing, preferably near the well packer, and a well test tool lowerable with instrumentations into the tubing on a flexible line and anchorable in the landing receptacle, the test tool then being actuable between open and closed positions by tensioning and relaxing the flexible line to open and close the well at the downhole location so that well conditions therebelow can be determined, the test tool having a mechanism for propping the raisable portion of the test tool in its upper position automatically in response to raising it from its lower position, the prop mechanism being releasable only after the flexible line has been tensioned and relaxed a plurality of times to permit the raisable portion of the test tool to return to its lower position. Methods of testing wells through use of the claimed well testing apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A well test tool including a valve lowerable into a well on a flexible line and locked and sealed in a downhole landing receptacle, the valve being openable and closable to permit or prevent flow therethrough, well pressures below the test tool being sensed and recorded by a recording pressure gage both during periods of flow and during shut-in periods, the recording pressure gage being either carried by the test tool as a part thereof or being supported in the well independent of the test tool, the valve of the test tool being shiftable between open and closed positions by suitable tools lowered into the well on the flexible line, the flexible line and tools being not required in the well during either of the shut-in or flow periods, excepting only during the shifting operation, thus permitting the flexible line to be slacked during such flow or shut-in periods, or removed from the well altogether.

Abstract: Apparatus including a side pocket mandrel for inclusion in a well tubing string for removably receiving an instrument in its offset receptacle bore for monitoring at least one parameter such as pressure, temperature or the like, at a downhole location, there being an electrical conductor wire extending from equipment at the surface downward to the side pocket mandrel and a plug in the lower end of the receptacle for electrically connecting the instrument in the receptacle with the conductor wire extending from the surface so that electrical energy may be transmitted downhole to power the instrument, that the instrument may generate electrical signals representing data sensed in the well and transmit them to the surface for processing and immediate display, printout, or storage. Suitable kickover tools and running tools are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus including a side pocket mandrel for inclusion in a well tubing string for removably receiving an instrument in its offset receptacle bore for monitoring at least one parameter such as pressure, temperature or the like, at a downhole location, there being an electrical conductor wire extending from equipment at the surface downward to the side pocket mandrel and a plug in the lower end of the receptacle for electrically connecting the instrument in the receptacle with the conductor wire extending from the surface so that electrical energy may be transmitted downhole to power the instrument, that the instrument may generate electrical signals representing data sensed in the well and transmit them to the surface for processing and immediate display, printout, or storage. Suitable kickover tools and runing tools are also disclosed.

Abstract: Well testing apparatus for running on a single-conductor electric cable for gathering reservoir information, the apparatus utilizing two pressure gages and a valve, the valve being landable in a downhole receptacle and being operable to shut in the well or to open it for flow by tensioning or relaxing the electric cable, one of the gages sensing well pressures below the valve and the other gage sensing pressures above the valve, both pressure gages sending signals to the surface corresponding to the pressures sensed thereby both while the well is shut in and while it is flowing, the pressure signals being processed by surface readout equipment for real-time display, recording and/or printout, the apparatus including, if desired, a temperature sensor which sends appropriate signals to the surface which not only indicate the well temperatures sensed but the temperatures are used by a computer and its software to automatically correct the pressure readings for temperature affects.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for plugging a well below a rod pump to permit bleeding off the pressure thereabove so that the pump can be removed from the well for replacement or repairs and reinstalled for further pumping operations, the pump being connected to a valve mechanism in the well in a manner which permits the valve to be closed as a result of lifting the pump, this connection being releasable to permit the pump to be pulled free of the valve and withdrawn from the well after the well pressure has been bled from above the closed valve. When the pump is installed again, the pump automatically reconnects to the valve. This invention is particularly useful in wells which are stimulated by the injection of steam.