Abstract: A rotary bi-directional valve actuator having a new and improved dual ratchet mechanism. The linkage maintains the pawl disengaged or uncoupled from the drive bushing until operated to protect the ratchet mechanism and to prevent its binding or jamming. The disengagement of the mechanism compensates for inadvertent rotational movement of the valve stem which could result in malfunction or damage to the actuator when actuated. The actuator is extremely rugged and durable in construction for a long operating life. The simplified construction of the actuator is also easy to maintain and easy access to the working parts is provided by the sealed housing.

Abstract: A system and method for installing a fluid flow controller and telescoping spools beneath an offshore bottom supported drilling rig rotary table is disclosed. Upper and lower telescoping spools are provided for initially connecting a Diverter/BOP convertible fluid flow controller between structural casing in the well and a permanent housing beneath the drilling rig rotary table. Clamp means are provided for clamping the rig vent line to an opening in the housing wall of the fluid flow controller during drilling of the borehole through the structural casing in preparation for setting and cementing the conductor casing. In that mode, the system is adapted as a diverter system. After the well is drilled for the conductor casing and the conductor casing is cemented and cut off at its top, a mandrel is fitted at the top of the conductor casing to which the lower end of the lower spool may be connected.

Abstract: A pipe joint and threaded pin and box members adapted for use therein are disclosed in which two-stepped thread surfaces are axially separated by dissimilar angled positive angle torque and sealing surfaces and internal and external sealing surfaces are provided on both ends of the threaded surfaces. Protective non-engaging shoulders are provided adjacent the external sealing surfaces. Cooperating end shoulders are provided on the end of the pin member and the interior end of the counterbore of the box member. Preferably the end shoulders are provided approximately perpendicularly to the internal sealing surfaces, the box end shoulder acting to trap the pin end shoulder under conditions of high joint interior pressure.

Abstract: A single point mooring apparatus for tanker loading and discharging is disclosed having a fixed mooring tower and a yoke connected to the fixed tower by a triaxial articulation element for allowing the yoke to move while connected to a vessel in yaw, pitch and roll with respect to the mooring base. The yoke is shaped to straddle the bow of the moored vessel and is suspended above the water line with weighted pendants on port and starboard sides of the vessel, providing a resilient position restoring force to the vessel. Fluid transfer swivels and flexible hose connections in the cargo transfer conduits are all located above the water line.

Abstract: A safety valve is disclosed which may be installed on an offshore wellhead above the tubing head and below the Christmas tree. The valve has a housing with upper and lower vertical passages and a lateral housing passage. A cylindrical gate is disposed within the lateral passage and includes a "T" shaped passage therein. The gate may be moved laterally and angularly within the lateral passage. During completion or workover of the well, the gate is moved laterally until the upper and lower vertical passages are in full open communication to run drills, hangers or other large diameter devices into the well via a BOP which may be attached to the top of the housing. During normal production, the gate may be laterally moved into the intersection of the vertical and lateral passages and the small through head part of the "T" passage serves to provide a vertical flow path through the production bore which is sealed off from the larger upper and lower vertical passages.

Abstract: Bonnet securing and retracting apparatus for a ram blowout preventer is disclosed. The ram blowout preventer bonnet is retained by two bonnet studs and nuts and by bonnet bolts. Bearings in the bonnet are provided to slide on bonnet studs. To retract the bonnet from the ram blowout preventer housing, the bonnet nuts and bolts are removed, and the bonnet may be slid on the bonnet studs outwardly from the housing. Removable stop pins in the bonnet studs prevent the bonnet from sliding off the studs. After the pins are removed, the bonnet may be completely removed from the housing.This abstract of the disclosure is neither intended to define the scope of the invention, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to limit the invention in any way.

Abstract: Apparatus adapted for connection to a drilling conduit beneath a drilling rig floor for diverting pressurized well bore fluid in the conduit from the rig and sealing the annulus between a pipe or other object and the conduit or closing the vertical flow path of the conduit in the absence of any object in the conduit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a housing, an annular packing element and two pistons. The housing is provided with at least one outlet passage in the wall of its body, and one of the two pistons acts as a sliding sleeve valve in cooperation with the housing wall for preventing fluid communication between the outlet passage and the interior of the housing when it is in a nonactuated or normal position and for allowing fluid communication when it is in an actuated or diverting position.

Abstract: A coupling for first and second pipe sections where end portions on the first and second pipe sections are shaped and dimensioned so that the end portion of the first pipe section can be inserted in the end portion of the second pipe section. Penetration of the first section is limited relative to the second section. The outer surface of the end of the second pipe section adjacent to the other section includes at least a first set of continuous helical spin-up threads. A female union box is connected to the first section, the inner surface of the box including at least a first set of continuous helical spin-up threads interengaged with the set of threads on the second pipe section, the union box further including an additional set of helical power threads. A power ring is located around the first section and includes a set of helical power threads interengaged with the helical power threads on the union box.

Abstract: A coupling for underwater upper and lower riser pipe sections and associated parallel choke and kill line pipe sections, where one riser pipe section is inserted in a second one. One of the riser pipe sections includes a threaded male end which has at least two sets of continuous threads. A female union box carried on the other riser section includes at least two sets of continuous threads interengaged with the sets of threads on the male end, the respective sets of threads being axially and radially spaced from each other, the union box engaging the other riser pipe section for preventing the sections from moving axially relaltive to each other. The sections are provided with a fluid tight seal and choke and kill line sections are also penetratingly joined and supported by the raiser pipe sections.

Abstract: A vehicle primarily intended for use as a recreational vehicle is disclosed having a pair of laterally spaced drive wheels and a pair of longitudinally spaced wheels mounted on the frame. A gasoline engine provides power to the drive wheels. Control levers are provided, one for each drive wheel, to simultaneously brake and disengage the drive power to one drive wheel. Two kinds of rotating vehicle motion is achieved. Rotation about a braked disengaged wheel occurs where the other wheel is not braked and fully engaged. Rotation about the vertical center-line of the vehicle occurs when one wheel is first braked, its power disengaged, and then its brake is released but its power remains disengaged where the other wheel is not braked and is fully engaged.

Abstract: A connector for releasably securing end pin and box portions of adjacent pipe sections in a telescopic relationship along aligned longitudinal axis to provide an internal fluid flow passageway. One of the end portions is provided with a plurality of threaded openings disposed in a radial relationship about the longitudinal axis and adjacent the other end portion, the other end portion having a similar plurality of openings that align with the threaded openings when the end portions are positioned for connection, each of said thread openings having a threaded latch screw operably positioned therein for movement to extend from said threaded opening into the aligned opening on the other end portion for securing the end portion together.

Abstract: A retrievable inside blowout preventer valve apparatus for use in blocking undesired upwardly flow in the bore of a rotary drill string during well drilling operations is disclosed. The valve apparatus is installed and retrieved from a subsurface receiver sub connected in the drill string by movement through the bore of the drill string. When shutting off upwardly flow through the bore of the drill string, the valve automatically operably secures and seals itself in the receiver sub. A wireline retrieving tool is used to release the valve apparatus from the receiver sub and to establish a connection therebetween for retrieving the valve apparatus with the wireline.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling a well drilled from a floating drilling vessel during the time that the marine riser is removed and conductor casing is being lowered and cemented into the well. An annular blowout preventer having a bore substantially equal to that of the structural casing is provided in a stack above the structural casing wellhead. A kill line is provided to the drilling vessel and is connected to the wellbore conduit below the blowout preventer. A spool is attached to the top of the blowout preventer. A casing stripper is attached to the top of the spool and has a mandrel extending from its top about which a wellhead connector attached to the marine riser system is connected. The marine riser system includes a flow diverter at its top disposed on the drilling vessel.The hole to be lined with conductor casing is drilled through the marine riser to a depth of about one thousand (1000) feet below the sea bed.

Abstract: A safety valve for controlling flow in a flow line is disclosed which is especially adapted for use in emergency control of a producing well. The apparatus includes means for securing a punch out tube in series with the flow line and ramming means for ramming the punch out tube and displacing at least a portion of it from the flow path of the flow line and sealing the flow line. The punch out tube comprises top, bottom and middle cylindrical members stacked end to end with an elastomeric seal provided in channels resulting from cooperating grooves formed in the end surfaces of the members. When the middle member is rammed, while the bottom and top members are fixed within the valve body, the middle member is displaced to a valve recess and the ram covers and seals the outlet flow path of the valve.The valve is adapted to be attached between production casing of a production wellhead and a production tree. The production tubing is supported within the valve body.

Abstract: A new and improved valve apparatus having an operating mechanism sealed in such a manner that the fluid pressure urging thereon produces offsetting or balancing forces to enhance ease of valve operation. To accomplish the force balancing, the flow closure means is continuously sealed to the valve housing and seat to produce the desired pressure responsive surfaces. By balancing the pressure forces, movement of the valve closure element between the open and closed positions with a minimum of operating force is accomplished. In addition the operating mechanism tubular flow closure element and valve seat having a plurality of opposed radially disposed flow opening are arranged so that the controlled flow through the openings into the seat impinges on itself to prevent flow cutting or erosion of the valve seat. When the flow closure element moves to the closed position, it activates a protected second seal on the seat to block flow throuh the flow openings.

Abstract: A flexible conductor adapted for use as a "marine riser" in offshore drilling and production operations. The conductor includes a central flexible elastomer portion connected at each end with a rigid tubular portion. Disposed in the elastomer portion are inner and outer reinforcing members for containing the pressure differential across the central portion and for carrying the compressive loads. A plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending metal wires are disposed in the central portion between the inner and outer reinforcing members for enabling flexing of the central portion while carrying the tension load on the flexible conductor. The longitudinally extending wires are secured to the end portions by threaded retainers for ease of assembly.

Abstract: A surface controlled subsurface safety valve having rotatable ball-type closure elements and disclosed the tubular operator assembly is sealed to be substantially pressure balanced with respect to well fluid pressures when the ball-type closure is in either the open or closed position. Such arrangement enables the valve to be opened at a moderate control fluid pressure level with a substantial well pressure differential across the closed ball. In the disclosed tubing retrieval embodiment, an enclosed hydraulic system is used to balance the tubular operation and offset the hydrostatic head of the control fluid to enable greater setting depth.

Abstract: A single point mooring apparatus especially adapted for securing large marine tanker vessels or subsea hydrocarbon well collection and storage barges in relatively shallow water is disclosed. The floating mooring buoy structure is connected to a mooring base secured to the ocean floor by a plurality of tension leg attachment members of predetermined length. The buoyancy of the floating buoy structure is controlled to produce sufficient tension in the attachment member to provide a position restoring force to the moored marine vessel. The floating buoy structure is formed by an open frame work having a conical shape to minimize impact with ice floes on the floating buoy structure and have fully submerged buoyancy tanks to minimize the effect of wave forces and tied level variations on the position restoring force.

Abstract: A fluid flow control valve especially adapted for use during well drilling operations as a drilling choke is disclosed. A replaceable ported seat and movable tubular flow control element cooperate to control flow through the angled body valve housing. The flow closure mechanism is operating fluid pressure balanced for ease of valve operation during extreme pressure working conditions. Internal flow control working parts of the valve are rugged in construction and assemblage. The portions of the valve subject to wear or flow erosion are also easily replaced when required. An indicator is arranged to signal incipient failure of the replaceable parts of the valve in order that they may be replaced prior to the occurrence of a major failure.

Abstract: Tubular length in a borehole is determined by attaching a wire or flat metallic strip to the elevator or traveling block hook of a drilling rig and accurately measuring the travel of the wire by means of a remote precision measuring wheel. The wire is maintained substantially parallel to the tubular string by causing the wire to pass around a pulley near the crown block of the drilling rig. Substantially constant tension is maintained in the wire by means of different embodiments for the invention.The measuring wheel preferably comprises a precision wheel, the circumference of which rolls tangentially to the moving wire. The wheel drives an encoder generating electrical pulses, the count of which is proportional to the travel of the rig elevator or traveling block hook. Means are provided to count pulses only when the motion of the tubular goods are undergoing movement into or, alternatively, out of the borehole.