Abstract: A process for producing solid, irregular shaped sulfur nuggets from molten sulfur. The process includes the steps of: gravity flowing molten sulfur at a temperature preferably in the range of about 240.degree.-270.degree. F. to a distributor head positioned closely above or below the surface of a cooling liquid; discharging the molten sulfur from the distributor head in ribbon-shaped streams into a cooling liquid, preferably water, having a temperature in the range of about 170.degree.-190.degree. F.; passing the molten sulfur streams through the cooling liquid until the streams are subdivided and thereafter solidified into nuggets of irregular shape and size; and removing the solid sulfur nuggets from the cooling liquid.

Abstract: A well testing tool system for isolating upper and lower portions of a well bore and communicating a well condition such as pressure, temperature, fluid velocity, and the like to a measuring device. The system includes a wireline supported tool train and a locking sub connectible on a removable lock mandrel adapted to be landed and locked in a landing nipple of a well tubing for releasably locking the tool train in operating position in a well bore. The tool train includes a locking probe releasably connectible at a lower end in the locking sub, an adjustable probe mandrel connected with the probe, an equalizing valve and shock absorber, and a gauge for measuring an operating condition in the well connected with the equalizing valve. The locking sub permits insertion of the probe at a relatively low force and requires a substantially larger force for withdrawal of the probe.

Abstract: A well system and method for completing petroleum oil and gas wells having special application to extreme environmental settings such as platform. sub sea, and floating vessel operations, and frozen regions such as the Arctic. The system effectively defines a downhole wellhead including weight supporting apparatus in which the tubing hanger is supported and a pack-off with the casing for minimizing the effects of structural damage at the surface end of the well system.

Abstract: A well system and method for completing petroleum oil and gas wells having special application to extreme environmental settings such as platform, sub sea, and floating vessel operations, and frozen regions such as the Arctic. The system effectively defines a downhole wellhead including weight supporting apparatus in which the tubing hanger is supported and a pack-off with the casing for minimizing the effects of structural damage at the surface end of the well system.

Abstract: A well system and method of installation and operation for two-way communication between a service facility and a remotely located well head such as associated with an offshore well for such well functions as production of well fluids by gas lift. The system includes a well having a string of production tubing in a casing defining an annulus around the tubing, a gas lift valve in the tubing to admit lift gas from the annulus to the bore of the tubing to assist in raising production fluids to the surface, a well head including fittings for fluid communication into the production tubing and into the annulus, a service facility spaced from the well head including facilities for receiving well production and for pumping injection gas for gas lift in the well, and conductors communicating the service facility with the well head.

Abstract: A universal clamping system connectible in various different configurations permitting a workman to improvise to perform a plurality of holding functions where a work piece is supported between at least two opposing faces by a force applied to the work piece at one of the faces toward the other face. The system includes junction blocks having non-intersecting smooth walled holes extending through the blocks in at least two different directions, threaded connecting rods insertable through the holes in the junction blocks, and nuts for securing the junction blocks on the rods when the rods are disposed through the blocks. One form of the invention also includes a pressure foot for applying the force to a work piece. The pressure foot has a leg portion having a smooth walled blind hole for slidable mounting on a threaded rod, and a transverse slot intersecting the holes to receive a flexible member for holding the pressure foot on the rod.

Abstract: A collar lock and seal assembly for releasably locking a well tool such as a pump in a well flow conductor, such as casing or tubing, and sealing with the flow conductor around the assembly to restrict flow to a path into the pump. The assembly has an annular support surface engageable with a no-go shoulder in the flow conductor, radially movable locking keys for expansion into a locking recess in the flow conductor above the no-go shoulder, a longitudinally operable bypass valve, and interference fit annular seals. First shear pins hold the assembly unlocked while running in and second shear pins are activated to lock the assembly at operating position. The seals and connected parts are coupled to resist rotation by the pump when locked in a well casing. In operation the assembly is coupled in a tool train including an electric well pump, valves, and related structure. The tool train is lowered on a cable in a well casing until the flow conductor no-go shoulder is engaged.

Abstract: A well tubing handling system for running and pulling well tubing including a flange assembly for coupling the system on a wellhead, a central telescoping stabilizer tube assembly mounted on the flange assembly and comprising meshing splined outer lower and concentric upper inner tubes, an upper traveling slip assembly secured on the upper end of the upper inner stabilizer tube for gripping well tubing for raising or lowering the tubing through the stabilizer tube assembly, two sets of diametrically opposed hydraulic cylinder assemblies having piston rods connected with the upper traveling slips for raising and lowering the slips, two sets of lower slips mounted in axial alignment below the stabilizer tube assembly for holding the tubing against upward or downward movement while resetting the upper traveling slips, and a work platform mounted on the upper end of the stabilizer tube assembly for operators and the necessary control panels and the like.

Abstract: A seal unit for movement through a flow conductor for pumpdown piston or well swab service, including a mandrel body, a seal element mounting sleeve disposed for limited travel on the body, and elastic annular seal means secured on the mounting sleeve to seal with the flow conductor wall in response to a first fluid differential across the unit and to permit controlled bypass and load transfer under a second higher differential. The seal means includes spaced annular lips or fins and an annular choke ring which is expanded by limited sleeve movement in response to a fluid pressure differential load applied across the fins. When the pressure differential across the fins exceeds a predetermined value, the sleeve expands the choke ring which assumes a major portion of the pressure differential load relieving the fins to reduce fin wear. As a pumpdown piston, the unit is pumped along a flow conductor to drive a tool train by fluid flow in a direction from the fins toward the choke ring.

Abstract: A well system and method for completing petroleum oil and gas wells having special application to extreme environmental settings such as platform, sub sea, and floating vessel operations, and wells in frozen regions such as the Arctic, and the like. The invention is characterized by structure effectively defining a downhole wellhead including weight supporting apparatus in which the tubing hanger is supported and a pack-off with the casing for minimizing the effects of structural damage at the surface end of the well system.

Abstract: A security door guard in the form of a foldable and telescoping brace connected between the inside face of a door and an adjacent supporting surface such as a wall. The brace includes two tubular sections hinged in the middle and connectible at opposite ends with the inside face of the door and the adjacent wall surface to provide a rigid prop or brace to prevent unauthorized opening of the door. The section of the brace connected with the door includes a telescoping portion which is shown in two forms for allowing partial opening of the door from the inside.

Abstract: A side-pocket mandrel for supporting a flow control device such as a gas lift valve along a well flow conductor and a method of operating same. The mandrel is connectible with pipe sections to form an integral length of a flow conductor and has a central bore communicating with the bore of the flow conductor, an orienting sleeve along an end portion of the mandrel, a side-pocket portion communicating with the main bore, a side-pocket landing nipple in the side pocket portion communicating with side ports in the mandrel along the landing nipple, a sliding sleeve valve disposed in the landing nipple for controlling communication through the side ports opening into the landing nipple, and a flow control device such as a gas lift valve releasably lockable in the sliding sleeve valve.

Abstract: A quick release security latch device for a radio antenna base particularly adapted to releasably lock a base for a citizen's band radio antenna on a supporting member such as a trunk lid lip of an automobile and the like. The latch device includes a clamping loop connectible with the antenna base, a tension lever engageable wtih the clamping loop, and a bracket for mounting the tension lever on the supporting structure. The tension lever is movable between a first release position at which the clamping loop is disengageable from the tension lever for release of the antenna base from the supporting structure and a second position at which the clamping loop is tightly held to lock the antenna base on the supporting structure.

Abstract: A load handling mast for lift trucks including an extensible assembly of three rail sections nested together and interconnected by load supporting chains and a hydraulic rising piston and cylinder ram mounted on the middle rail section. The chains are reeved over sheaves mounted on the ram piston rod and the rail sections to provide a four to one ratio of mast extension relative to piston rod extension. The full extension and retraction of the mast and the support of the load manipulated by the mast is effected entirely through the chains and hydraulic ram without the use of a latch system.

Abstract: Precompletion apparatus for use in air drilling and casing a problem formation in a well including a casing landing nipple at the lower end of a first string of solid well casing installed by suitable conventional techniques, an expendable plug for engagement in the casing landing nipple to plug a well bore after air drilling below the casing landing nipple to control the well during inserting of a slotted liner, an expending shoe for engaging and displacing the plug downwardly from the landing nipple, a slotted well bore casing for lining a well bore along a problem formation which has been air drilled, and a casing hanger for supporting the slotted liner along the air drilled portion of the well bore from the landing nipple. The plug and hanger each have locking keys engageable with a casing landing nipple and expandable seals for sealing with a seal surface along the casing landing nipple.

Abstract: Well tools comprising a go-devil actuated well safety valve, a locking assembly for releasably locking the safety valve at a desired depth in a well, running and pulling tools for installing and removing the safety valve, a go-devil ball for closing the safety valve, and apparatus for dropping the go-devil ball into a well under pressure and for retrieving the ball. The go-devil safety valve is mounted above the locking assembly and includes a trigger-type latch which is released from above by the impact of the go-devil ball. The valve may be reset for reopening the valve without removal of the valve from the well bore by means of special reset and pulling tools disclosed herein. The reset and pulling tools include locking structure for coupling with and release from the safety valve by application of only straight line longitudinal force moving locking surfaces laterally in the tools for locking and unlocking in the safety valve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for incrementally treating a section of an earth formation around a well to improve fluid flow into the well.

Abstract: A well system for selectively locking well tools along a flow conductor in a well bore and a tool string for use in the flow conductor including a locking mandrel, a sleeve shifting device, and a well safety valve. The selective locking system has a landing and locking recess profile including both upwardly and downwardly facing stop shoulders. One form of the locking system is in a sliding sleeve valve including a cam release shoulder to free a selector and locking key when the sleeve valve is moved between spaced longitudinal locations. Another form of the locking system may be along a landing nipple and require that the well tool locked therein be disabled for release of the selector and locking tools. The sleeve shifting device has means for opening and closing the sliding sleeve valve including keys having upwardly and downwardly facing stop shoulders and recess profiles which are compatible with the landing and locking recess profile of the sleeve valve or of a landing nipple.

Abstract: Well tools comprising a go-devil actuated well safety valve, a locking assembly for releasably locking the safety valve at a desired depth in a well, running and pulling tools for installing and removing the safety valve, a go-devil ball for closing the safety valve, and apparatus for dropping the go-devil ball in a well under pressure and for retrieving the ball. The go-devil safety valve is mounted above the locking assembly and includes a trigger type latch which is released from above by the impact of the go-devil ball. The valve may be reset for reopening the valve without removal of the valve from the well bore by means of a special reset and pulling tool disclosed herein. The go-devil valve is installed in a well, preferably above a storm choke, to shut the well in under emergency conditions which releases the go-devil ball at the surface in response to hazardous conditions such as fire. The go-devil ball drops to the go-devil valve which closes in response to the impact of the ball.

Abstract: A dead bolt type door lock including a combined dead bolt member and latch which engages a common locking recess in a door jamb around a door in which the lock is mounted. The door lock utilizes a standard keyed lock assembly in combination with a latch fitted in sliding relationship within a channel shaped dead bolt member so that when the dead bolt member is retracted into the door the latch functions in a conventional manner and when the dead bolt is extended over the latch into the door jamb opening the door is secured against the normal techniques of unauthorized entry commonly accomplished by the use of credit cards and the like. The lock includes linkage and latch assemblies for manipulating and holding the latch and dead bolt sleeve at the various operating positions at which the lock is locked and released. The dead bolt sleeve is selectively operable from both the interior and exterior sides of the door.