Abstract: A borehole drilling apparatus adapted for connection to a drilling string, wherein the cuttings pass through the center of the drill bit and are adapted for conveyance to the surface through a central pipe of the drilling string, a labyrinth seal being located between the outer perimeter of the apparatus and the wall of the borehole to provide an annular region of relatively immobile or stagnant fluid around the apparatus to forestall movement of fluid upwardly and downwardly past the labyrinth seal, part of the drilling fluid being conducted in a downward direction below the seal to force cuttings toward and through the center of the drill bit for upward conveyance through the central pipe, another portion of the drilling fluid being discharged above the seal for upward conveyance through the annulus between the drilling string and wall of the borehole to the top of the latter, whereby any formation material which may drop into the borehole annulus will be forced upwardly through such annulus to the top of t

Abstract: A process of producing an ammonium zeolite of the faujasite type in which a zeolite of the faujasite type whose exchange sites are substantially entirely occupied by Na cations, is treated with an ammonium salt solution to exchange substantially all of the Na cations with NH.sub.4 cations with substantially no impairment of crystallinity by a control of the relation of the equivalents of NH.sub.4 in the solution to equivalents of Na in the zeolite.

Abstract: Pipe connectors particularly useful in securing sections of an underwater marine riser together, including a pin received in a box which are secured to one another by a plurality of lock dogs mounted in the box and movable radially inwardly against a portion of the pin by fluid actuated pistons to force the pin and box firmly together, the dogs being retained in position by fluid operated lock pistons. The lock pistons are operated by fluid pressure to shift them to an unlocking position, the fluid actuated pistons being operated by fluid pressure to shift the dogs outwardly and disconnect the pin and box from each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a high-activity catalyst of improved thermal stability employing a zeolite of the faujasite type, pseudoboehmite alumina gel and a synthetic mica-montmorillonite and may also include a clay.

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 subsurface safety valve for wells has a ball valve supported for rotation between open and closed positions in response to control fluid pressure supplied from the top of the well and a spring which overcomes the hydrostatic pressure of the control fluid. The ball is split and has a pressure equalizing flow passage through a ball cap initially opened before the ball is rotated, the ball valve base including a screen to preclude entry of large particles. An adjustable connection in the valve support and housing structure enables adjustment to compensate for tolerances and effect snug engagement of the ball cap with its seat. Control fluid pressure enters the pressure responsive region through a balanced sleeve. An internal spring guide has a seat adjustable relative to the valve housing to provide a smooth continuous bore when the valve is open.

Abstract: A dual concentric pipe string for bore hole coring having inner and outer concentric pipe sections, the outer pipe sections being secured together by the usual threaded connection, the inner pipe sections being connected through coupling devices containing elastomeric bodies that make a friction fit with the end portions of adjacent inner pipe sections, the inner pipe sections being frictionally secured to longitudinally spaced elastomeric centralizers having circumferentially spaced longitudinal ribs engaging the inner wall of the outer pipe sections to maintain the inner sections coaxial of the outer sections, with some of the centralizers engaging transverse shoulders in the outer sections to secure the inner sections in the outer sections against substantial longitudinal movement with respect thereto.

Abstract: A liner provided with by-pass ports and a perforated portion or screen below the ports is secured to a suitable well packer and lowered on an outer tubing string in well casing to a location at which the screen straddles casing perforations within a producing formation, the packer being packed-off against the casing above its perforations and anchored against movement in both directions to secure the liner and its screen in place. An inner tubing string is lowered through the outer string into the liner, the inner string and liner having upper and lower seal devices, either of which is selectively engaged while the other is disengaged, or both of which are disengaged, by longitudinal movement of the inner string in the outer string and liner, to control the flow of circulating, washing, or acidizing fluids in both directions between the inner string, liner-casing annulus, and inner string-outer string annulus, and also the placement of gravel in the liner-casing annulus.

Abstract: An air hammer embodying an outer housing structure connectible to a rotatable drill pipe string through which compressed air is conducted. A hammer piston reciprocates in the housing structure along flexible inlet and outlet tubes, compressed air being directed alternately to the upper and lower ends of the piston to effect its reciprocation in the structure, each downward stroke inflicting an impact blow upon the anvil portion of an anvil bit extending upwardly within the lower portion of the housing structure. The piston contacts the housing structure at the upper and lower portions of the piston only, so that the piston can deviate upon flexing of the housing structure under load, and not bind in the housing structure, as permitted by the flexible inlet and outlet tubes.

Abstract: Stabilizer apparatus for a drill string or other running string, including a body structure forming part of a rotary drill string and a stabilizer positioned on an end portion of said body structure, the stabilizer comprising a stabilizer sleeve having a conical interior surface which is shrink-fitted onto a mating external conical surface of such body structure by fluid pressure actuated or hydraulic means, permitting a safe, strong interconnection between the stabilizer and the drill string body structure, which stabilizer can be readily removed when necessary and replaced with another stabilizer similarly shrink-fitted onto the drill string body structure.

Abstract: A retrieving tool has resilient fingers engageable with a pulling collar of the actuator ring of a wedge locked underwater wellhead packing to release the lock and the packing for retrieval from the wellhead. The retrieving tool has a body connected to a running pipe string and provided with washing ports. In one form the resilient fingers are releasable from the pulling collar in response to fluid pressure supplied through the running string.

Abstract: An airhammer and core bit apparatus including a housing and a hammer piston reciprocable in the housing for delivering repeated impact blows to an anvil secured to or forming part of a core bit which produces a core in a bore hole being drilled. A central core receiving tube extends through the housing and hammer piston, through which the core formed by the bit is conducted upwardly and through the hammer piston to the top of the bore hole, part of the compressed air supplied to the airhammer being diverted to the central tube for elevating the core therewithin toward the top of the bore hole.

Abstract: Sleeve apparatus for mounting on a cylindrical periphery of a drill string, or other running string, including an inner sleeve having cylindrical interior and a conical exterior disposable at any selected location along a drill string member, an outer sleeve being mounted on the inner sleeve and having an inner conical surface companion to the outer conical surface of the inner sleeve, the outer sleeve being shrink-fitted on the inner sleeve, and the latter on the cylindrical periphery of the drill string member by fluid pressure actuated hydraulic means, permitting a safe, strong interconnection between the outer sleeve, inner sleeve and the drill string member, the inner and outer sleeves being readily removable, when necessary, for relocation on the drill string or for replacement by another inner and outer sleeve combination similarly shrink-fitted onto the drill string. The outer sleeve, positioned on the drill string, may be a stabilizer sleeve, a wear protection sleeve, a reamer, and the like.

Abstract: Emergency shutoff valve apparatus, including a gate valve assembly actuated to a closed position by fluid pressure acting on an actuator piston, such actuation causing the piston to exert a force through a liquid medium on a power piston to store energy in a spring device or other energy storing means. Relieving of the fluid pressure acting on the piston causes the energy storing means to act through the power piston and liquid medium to shift the actuator piston to a position closing the gate valve assembly. The gate valve assembly can also be shifted to a closed position by supplemental fluid pressure acting on the power piston or on an override piston.

Abstract: The traveling block of the derrick mounted on a floating barge is connected in off-center relation with a load supporting motion compensator cylinder, the sheaves being located and strung asymmetrically with respect to the center line of the motion compensator cylinder. The crown block sheaves are rotatable on axes which are skewed to reduce fleet angle of the line. Different size sheaves are strung differently and different numbers of line runs are strung differently to equalize the forces about the center of gravity of the mass of the traveling block.

Abstract: An impact type of anvil core bit includes a body having a central opening through its bottom drilling face, a plurality of spaced cutters, such as sintered tungsten carbide buttons, being secured to the body and extending downwardly from the face to drill against the bottom of the bore hole outwardly of the central opening, the cutters including inner cutters for forming the core in the bottom of the hole, a cutter ring being secured to the body and circumscribing the opening above the bottom of the hole to shape the core for movement into the central opening.

Abstract: Running apparatus is releasably connected to a packing assembly, the combination being lowered on a tubular running string until the packing assembly is disposed between a hanger body and a surrounding wellhead underlying a body of water. The apparatus is responsive to weight to effect setting of the packing in the annular space between the hanger body and wellhead. Test pressure is applied to the packing and more firmly sets it. The apparatus is rotated relative to the packing to shift a locking nut to lock the packing in place, the apparatus then being retrieved to the drilling rig at the water surface.

Abstract: A high voltage magnetic relay assembly has a double pole, double throw contact assembly enclosed within a housing containing gas, such as sulfur hexafluoride. Terminals surrounded by insulators project from the housing, the terminals and insulators being sealed with respect to the housing to prevent gas leakage therefrom. The contact mechanism includes an operating yoke acting on pivoted contact arms electrically connected to some of the terminals and shiftable to and from contact with other of the terminals.