Abstract: Subsurface wellbore conditions are measured directly in the wellbore while the fluid circulation system is not pumping. The measured values are recorded at the subsurface location and subsequently transmitted to the well surface when circulation is resumed using fluid pulse telemetry (FPT). Real-time measurements made when the fluids are circulating are transmitted real time using FPT. Axially spaced measurements are used to obtain differential values. The apparatus of the invention comprises an assembly carried by a drill string that is used to selectively isolate the area within the well that is to be evaluated. The apparatus includes an assembly having axially spaced inflatable well packers that are used to isolate an uncased section of the wellbore. The apparatus is equipped with self-contained measuring and recording equipment, a fluid receiving reservoir, circulation valving, measurement while drilling equipment, and automated controls.

Abstract: An free water measurement apparatus and device for measuring the free water that separates from the cement slurry as a matter of time during curing. There is also provided an apparatus and method for measuring the free water that separates from the cement slurry under the temperature and pressure conditions the cement slurry will encounter in the well-bore of an oil and gas well. The apparatus and method provided may further measure the compressive strength measurement of the cement slurry as it is cured.

Abstract: A slip die with a substantially smooth pipe contact surface is employed in a conventional slip assembly as a primary mechanism for gripping pipe. A second conventional slip assembly with conventional dies having penetrating die teeth on their contact surfaces is employed as a secondary gripping mechanism to automatically grip the pipe in the event the primary mechanism loses its grip. The smooth slip elements are constructed of a malleable material which tends to conform to surface irregularities on the outer surface of the pipe to increase the gripping force on the pipe. In the method, the pipe is initially gripped by the primary slip mechanism before the secondary mechanism is actuated to contact the pipe. The slips are set by downward pipe forces acting on the dies so that the die teeth of the secondary mechanism do not grip the pipe unless the primary slip mechanism fails.

Abstract: A gauge to evaluate the flatness, planar disposition, and location of the sealing surface of a rotary shouldered threaded connection, the gauge being adjustable and convertible to gauge either pin or box ends of different size connections, with multiple contact shoes engaging the connection threads to hold the gauge fixed relative to the thread pitch diameter and a device to measure distances from the pitch diameter to the shoulder face. In the method, the gauge is moved around the connection to obtain measurements from different circumferential locations to evaluate shoulder flatness and axial location and to examine the angular disposition of the plane of the shoulder face relative to the thread axis.

Abstract: Hydraulic tongs, used to screw oilfield tubulars together, are equipped with torque control means which enable the tongs to rotate the tubulars and then gradually apply torque until a preselected torque value is reached, hold the torque at this value a desired period of time and then release the torque. In one form of the invention, a tong control restricts the power of the tong motor to enable low torque rotation while limiting the maximum torque which can be produced by the tong motor. A hydraulic cylinder placed in the tongs' restraining line is controlled to shorten, hold or extend the line. When the line is shortened, the tongs are pulled in a direction which increases the torque to a value above the maximum torque produced by the tong motor. The system allows heavy, powerful tongs to be used to accurately apply and hold a wide variety of selected torque values.

Abstract: A quadrature analog-to-digital sampler, operating at a minimum sampling rate equal to the bandwidth of the input signal provides a pair of quadrature related digital signals which are input to first and second digital computers. The first computer calculates the instantaneous amplitude of the input signal and the second computer computes the instantaneous phase of the input signal. A third digital computer acts on the output of the second computer and differentiates the instantaneous phase of the signal with respect to time to provide frequency modulation output.

Abstract: A drilling machine and relatively small mast are mounted on a pivotal support which permits the drilling machine, mast and drill pipe employed in the assembly to be inclined as required to drill a non-vertical bore hole. The drilling machine is preferably a fluid pressure-operated snubber device which includes a stationary lower gripping head and a vertically reciprocable, upper gripping head operable for rotating drill pipe and for running the drill pipe into and out of the well bore. An internal drill string anchor carried by a traveling block suspended in the mast engages and supports the upper end of the drill string extending from the snubber and also provides drilling fluids to the string. A rotatable seal and support assembly in the anchor maintains a fluid seal and permits the drill pipe to rotate relative to the non-rotating traveling block.

Abstract: Disclosed is an anchoring assembly for anchoring well equipment within a surrounding well conduit. In one form of the invention, the anchoring assembly is specifically described for use as an hydraulically set, retrievable liner hanger. A modified form of the invention describes the anchoring assembly employed with a seal to function as an hydraulically set, retrievable well packer.

Abstract: A subsea well installation is equipped with means for performing required control functions as directed by electrical command signals transmitted over a primary cable from a remote surface location. The subsea installation includes a logic system which effects desired normal or emergency control functions according to self-contained programs or in accordance with instructions received from the surface. Multiplexing means at both locations substantially reduce cable dependency and reduce the number of electrical conductors required in the cable. Cable dependency and signal traffic are further reduced by the provision of self-contained means in the subsea logic system which verify that correct instructions have been received without need for retransmitting the received instructions to the surface. When the primary cable is damaged or communications are otherwise interrupted, a special subsea logic is initiated to control operation of the well installation and a submerged buoy is automatically released.

Abstract: The assembly is supported and operated by a tubing string and includes an hydraulically set packer carrying a production screen and a removable gravel pack apparatus. The packer is set, gravel is packed about the screen and the gravel pack apparatus is then removed from the set packer by disengaging a pin and slot connection. The gravel pack apparatus and attached screen may be subsequently re-engaged with the packer for regraveling. The packer is equipped with resilient seal means and a plurality of radially movable anchoring slips which are set in sealing and anchoring engagement, respectively, with a surrounding well conduit by an hydraulic setting mechanism. The gravel pack apparatus cooperates with the set packer to form a series of separate, axially extending, flow passages which may be selectively opened or closed.

Abstract: A check valve assembly for use in a drill string to prevent reverse flow of drilling fluid through the string while permitting such fluid to be pumped downwardly through the well under normal conditions. The assembly includes: a valve body; a ball valve member, normally located out of the flow path in a side recess; a valve seat located above the valve member and means for controlling the rate of reverse flow of fluid required to move the valve member out of the side recess and against the valve seat.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for determining the actual, standardized volume of fluid flowing in a flowline. A flow meter in the line measures volume and provides the measured value in the form of a pulse train. Compensating means change the member of pulses in the pulse train as required to compensate for the difference between the actual fluid temperature and a standard reference temperature. The pulse train is also compensated to correct for meter error. Digital verification means are provided for verifying that the compensating means are working properly. In the methods, an input counter connected to the input of a circuit in the system is gated to start counting pulses applied into the circuit while an output counter is simultaneously gated to start counting the pulses out of the circuit. At the end of the test period, the input and output counts and other known input values are employed as the variables in a mathematical equation representing the circuit function.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the invention disclosed herein, an apparatus for electrocuting insects, particularly flies, includes an open-topped but otherwise enclosed structure, a grid horizontally disposed near the top of said structure, said grid has a plurality of closely spaced pairs of conductor wires charged to a moderately high potential difference, means for producing over a prolonged period a dry odor that is highly attractive to flies and the like, and means for supplying the odor to, and releasing the odor in, a region within the structure below the grid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a swivel assembly with multiple fluid bearings. The embodiment shown is a rotatable liner swivel assembly to be used, in conjunction with a liner hanger, cam dog assembly, and setting tool, for placing and cementing a liner in a well. Fluid-filled annular bearing chambers in the swivel assembly support the load of the liner pipe string, and permit the rotation of the liner pipe string with respect to the liner hanger during the cementing process. The bearing chambers are interconnected to equalize the fluid pressure and distribute the load uniformly over the bearing chambers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retrievable, weight set well packer which is set and released by longitudinal movement of the tubing string. Locking means are provided for keeping the packer set when the tubing is raised slightly to open a bypass between the tubing and set packer. Continued raising of the tubing releases the lock means to permit the packer to be retrieved. Dual opposed spreader cones keep the packer set against pressure induced forces in either direction. Differential sealing areas are also employed to prevent such forces from opening the bypass.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retrievable, hydraulically set well packer which is locked in set position without need for tubing rotation and may be released from set position by shearing a retrieving link with either a straight pull on the production tubing or by the application of high pressure through the tubing. Dual, opposed cones are employed for retaining the packer slips anchored irrespective of the direction of the pressure differential acting on the packer and without need for an extra sleeve to transmit pressure induced forces to the cones. Compression seals are employed to hold the slips firmly anchored against longitudinal displacement in both directions without reliance on the presence of a pressure differential across the set packer. The seals are employed as two separate assemblies which are positioned above and below the slips to isolate a portion of the pressure induced forces from the retrieving link.

Abstract: Disclosed is a well packer which is set by pressure applied through a tubing string which supports the packer within a surrounding well conduit. Once set, the packer is retrievable by either longitudinal or rotary movement of the supporting tubing string. Setting pressure drives opposed cone assemblies longitudinally toward each other to cause slip segments to move radially outwardly into anchoring engagement with the surrounding well conduit. The lowermost cone assembly is constructed in the form of a split ring and is equipped with friction teeth along its internal surface to retain the packer in its set position. A helical retrieving component secures the packer assembly to the central mandrel of the packer. Righthand rotation of the tubing string causes the outer body of the packer to unthread from the helical retrieving component secured to the mandrel which in turn unsets the packer.

Abstract: A tubular drill pipe section to be used in a well bore is disclosed. The drill pipe section includes upper and lower tool joints, a main steel tubular portion extending upwardly from the lower joint and terminating near the upper tool joint, and an elongated steel protector tube extending downwardly from the upper tool joint and secured to the upper end of the main portion. The main portion has a much lesser wall thickness throughout substantially its entire length than the protector tube. The protector tube is made of AISI 4100 series chrome-molly steel that is quenched and tempered to give it high strength and high hardness (30-38 HRc) with a Martensite small, close knit, grain size. This hard material reduces the penetration of the slip teeth into the wall of the pipe section and increases the fatigue life of the protector to beyond that of the main steel tubular portion.