Abstract: A machine has a support (3) which receives and supports a button shank (6) at a support station (4); a winding device (12) rotates thread (21) through an outlet (25) to wind it around the shank supported in the support under the control of tensioner (17); hooks (56, 57) catch the thread at both ends after bonding the winded thread, the hooks moving as a unit (77) snap the thread to release the shank from the support.

Abstract: Apparatus and processes for water impurity analysis and for impurity analysis of various other liquids as well. Apparatus and processes are provided for physical characterization of liquid drops as a liquid sample builds up and then drops from a sample needle or other source. Liquid drop characterization is through utilization of infrared liquid drop measuring and computer modeling to measure a liquid drop as it builds up and then measures the falling liquid drop. By optically measuring an infrared radiated falling drop, and/or by characterizing the manner by which a sample drop is formed, a very precise way of determining the exact volume of a liquid sample is accomplished. Sample volume is typically directly proportional to concentration levels of the chemical constituent to be measured. By computer modeling, a falling drop can be quantified as to volume, rather than depending on the otherwise standard way of injecting a “known” volume.

Abstract: A combined well casing spider and elevator has a body defining a bowl inner wall tapered to reduced diameter from the top to bottom end and defining first external guide surfaces being inclined upwardly and outwardly and having a kicker element defining a second coextensive external guide surface being inclined upwardly and outwardly to a greater extent than the first external guide surface. A gate member is pivoted to the body for movement of a well casing to and from the bowl. A circumferential array of casing gripping slips is located within the bowl and form a circular hole to receive a well casing. The slips are vertically movable along the bowl inner wall to effect radial enlargement and contraction of the circular hole to release and grip the casing.

Abstract: A laterally translatable pressure staged rotary shaft sealing mechanism having a seal housing with a shaft passage therein being exposed to a fluid pressure P1 and with a rotary shaft being located within the shaft passage. At least one annular laterally translatable seal carrier is provided. First and second annular resilient sealing elements are supported in axially spaced relation by the annular seal carriers and have sealing relation with the rotary shaft. The seal housing and at least one seal carrier define a first pressure staging chamber exposed to the first annular resilient sealing element and a second pressure staging chamber located between and exposed to the first and second annular resilient sealing elements. A first fluid is circulated to the first pressure chamber at a pressure P1, and a second staging pressure fluid is circulated to the second pressure chamber at a fraction of pressure P1 to achieve pressure staging, cooling of the seals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predictable downhole milling of a casing window having predetermined location, orientation, dimension and contour geometry. An elongate substantially rigid milling shaft has at least one casing window milling element in fixed relation therewith and has a pilot mill in articulated and rotary driven connection with the milling shaft. The milling shaft is in articulated and rotary driven connection with a rotary drive mechanism. The articulated connection of the pilot mill and milling shaft may incorporate an articulation control system to permit the pilot mill to be maintained substantially coaxial with the milling shaft so that its trajectory at a predetermined stage of window milling can be controlled by the milling shaft when positive guiding by a deflecting tool can no longer be ensured.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for establishing connectivity of lateral branch liners to main well casings to achieve predictable and stable mechanical connectivity at the lateral junction of branch well bores to the main well bore to counter the problems of formation instability at the junction. After construction of a well having one or more lateral branches, a retrievable lateral branch template is located in the casing of a main well bore in positioned and oriented registry with a casing window that opens to a lined lateral branch. A retrievable lateral branch connector is then installed in assembly with the template to cooperatively define a production flow path having maximized mechanical integrity and optimized production flow in both the lateral bore and the main bore.

Abstract: An air-conditioning condensate drainage system for mounting to the roof membrane of the roof structure of buildings or for constructing directly onto the roof membrane of a building structure. The air-conditioning condensate drainage system has an isolation membrane having a bottom surface for assembly to a roof membrane. A pair of ridge structures are disposed in fixed relation with the isolation membrane and are disposed in spaced relation with one another and cooperate with the isolation membrane to define an air-conditioning condensate drainage channel between the spaced ridge structures. Each of the ridge structures has one or more ridge defining elements which is fixed to the isolation membrane and projects above the isolation membrane sufficiently to define a condensate drain channel therebetween.

Abstract: An actively controlled rotary steerable drilling system for directional drilling of wells having a tool collar rotated by a drill string during well drilling. A bit shaft has an upper portion within the tool collar and a lower end extending from the collar and supporting a drill bit. The bit shaft is omni-directionally pivotally supported intermediate its upper and lower ends by a universal joint within the collar and is rotatably driven by the collar. To achieve controlled steering of the rotating drill bit, orientation of the bit shaft relative to the tool collar is sensed and the bit shaft is maintained geostationary and selectively axially inclined relative to the tool collar during drill string rotation by rotating it about the universal joint by an offsetting mandrel that is rotated counter to collar rotation and at the same frequency of rotation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for acquiring data representing formation parameters while drilling a wellbore is disclosed. A well is drilled with a drill string having a drill collar that is located above a drill bit. The drill collar includes a sonde section having transmitter/receiver electronics for transmitting a controlling signal having a frequency F and receiving data signals at a frequency 2F. The drill collar is adapted to embed one or more intelligent sensors into the formation laterally beyond the wall of the wellbore. The intelligent sensors have electronically dormant and active modes as commanded by the transmitter/receiver circuitry of the sonde and in the active mode have the capability for acquiring and storing selected formation data such as pressure, temperature, rock permeability, and the capability to transmit the stored data to the transmitter/receiver of the sonde for transmission thereby to surface equipment for processing and display to drilling personnel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for landing and orienting selected tools to selected depths within a well casing. The well casing is provided with a plurality of casing nipples located at selected depths with each of the landing and orienting joints defining a differing internal landing profile and having a mule shoe therein defining an upwardly facing point and an orientation slot and having helical guide ramp surfaces extending from the point to the orientation slot. A landing-orientation tool is adapted to be run into the casing and has an outer tubular body mandrel positioning a plurality of landing dogs for landing engagement with a matching landing profile of one of the casing nipples and positioning an orientation key for guided engagement with the helical guide ramp surfaces and for tool orienting engagement within the orientation slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning and accurately orienting well service equipment within a well casing having an indexing coupling therein to permit the conduct of selected well service operations. A well logging sonde including an ultrasonic scanner system is run into the well casing and, in addition to conducting a conventional well survey, provides accurate measurement of the internal geometry of the indexing couplings and produces an acoustic image specifically identifying internal features such as landing profile and orienting slot orientation relative to earth frame references such as vertical, horizontal, and magnetic north. The present invention also provides for location and characterization of casing imperfections, such as internal and external corrosion, and variations in casing wall thickness, and also permits location of marker devices such as magnetic and radioactive markers.

Abstract: A multi-lateral well completion system segregates and prevents commingling of the production fluids flowing from a plurality of lateral wellbores which extend outward from a main wellbore. The system includes a segregator body member that is positioned and oriented in the main wellbore adjacent the inner ends of the lateral wellbores in a manner such that the inlets of separate, longitudinal flow passages in the segregator body member are aligned to receive the production fluid flow from respective lateral wellbores. Various structures are disclosed which provide isolated, pressure-sealed communication between the inner ends of each lateral wellbore and the flow passage inlet that is aligned therewith. Each flow passage in the body member can be equipped with a remotely operated valve to control production fluid flow therethrough, as well as with sensors to monitor various characteristics of the production fluids. Gas lift of the production fluids also can be provided.

Abstract: A lid retainer is provided for a "paint can" type container having a lid that is secured to the top wall thereof by multi-friction fit. The lid retainer is composed of a high tensile strength, impact resistant polymer material having limited flexible and defines a circular body section with a circular lid retainer flange and a circular locking flange projection downwardly from respective inner and outer radial extents of the circular body section. The locking flange has a radially inwardly extending locking projection having a downwardly and radially inwardly facing can surface disposed for camming engagement with the circular bead that interconnects the side and top walls of the container and induces yielding of the retainer flange as the locking projection passes over the circular bead.

Abstract: An acoustic wave transducer useful in sonic logging while drilling a borehole through an adjacent earth formation includes an array of transducer elements mounted circumferentially around a drill collar. The elements are bonded in an elastomer ring that is received in an external groove in the collar and are protected by a shield having windows. The elements are electrically connected in parallel so that when excited by an electrical pulse, the elements generate a monopole acoustic wave that propagates out into the formation. When used as a receiver, the electrically connected array of elements detect averaged acoustic waves from the formation around the circumference of the drill collar and have minimum sensitivity to acoustic multipole waves traveling through the drill collar.

Abstract: A gravel packed water-flood fluid injection mandrel is provided for a water-flood well which includes a side pocket having flow control device therein for injection of pumped water-flood fluid from the mandrel into a subsurface formation of interest. A gravel pack screen system is supported by the mandrel and is positioned so that injected water-flood fluid being discharged by the flow control device will flow through a perforate tubular member having a surrounding particulate exclusion screen. The gravel pack screen system is also arranged so that backflowing fluid flowing from the formation after termination of water-flood operations will be screened to exclude harmful particulate matter that might be entrained in the backflowing fluid. Thus, the flow control device of the mandrel will be protected against erosion or other damage by the gravel pack screen system which excludes predetermined particulate matter from the backflowing fluid.

Abstract: A dove-tail end mill having a cutter shank with a milling head supporting a plurality of replaceable standard 60.degree. triangular cutter inserts. The cutter inserts are designed and oriented with respect to the cutter head to position cutter edges for generating the inclined undercut surface of a dove-tail slot. Simultaneously, the cutter configuration is designed to establish a clearance angle between the lower cutting edge of each of the cutters and the planar surface being generated by the cutter inserts. The milling head defines a plurality of cutter stations each having planar support surfaces for stabilization of the respective cutter inserts and cutter orientation shoulders for accurate positioning of each of the cutter inserts with respect to the cutting head. The cutting head supports each of the cutter inserts to define a cutting rake of about plus 15.degree. and axial rake of about plus 10.degree. and a radial rake of about minus 14.degree..

Abstract: A production logging tool for use in deviated wellbores is provided having an elongate tool body and an elongate sensor probe that is capable of lateral movement relative to the tool body. The sensor probe is connected to the tool body by a mechanism serving to deploy the sensor probe such that it is oriented across the wellbore. The tool body has a defined weight and the probe has a weight less than the defined weight, thus causing gravity induced orientation of the sensor probe so as to extend from top to bottom of the fluid passage for sensing all phases of the fluid present therein. The sensor probe is typically of elongate configuration and may support a single elongate sensor or a plurality of independent similar or dissimilar sensors arranged in spaced relation along the length of the probe. Orientation of the sensor probe across the borehole is accomplished mechanically by coil or leaf springs or by a hydraulically or pneumatically powered mechanism or by an electric motor driven mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conducting in situ tests on a subsurface earth formation of interest which is traversed by a wellbore. A wireline formation testing instrument is positioned at formation depth and a sampling probe thereof is extended into fluid communication with the formation and isolated from wellbore pressure. Utilizing a hydraulically energized double-acting bi-directional piston pump and by valve controlled selection of pumping direction testing fluid such as completion fluid may be pumped into the formation through the sampling probe either from fluid reservoirs of the instrument or from the wellbore. After reversing the operating and control valving of the pump and instrument, the piston pump is utilized to extract formation fluid from the formation and pump it to sample tanks of the instrument, pump it into the wellbore or subject it to controlled pressure for real time formation testing and for formation characterization.

Abstract: A mounted, elevatable, lightweight pivotal boom is provided which defines an elongate internal track defining a downwardly facing slot. An electromechanical winch mechanism is provided for lifting and handling objects such as the windshield of an automotive vehicle and which includes roller supports having rollers that are received by the internal track of the boom. The winch mechanism includes a DC motor which is provided with a detachable control circuit to provide for its selective operation. The horizontal, pivotal boom is supported by fixed and movable telescoping standards and may be elevated manually or by means of a jack mechanism such as a manual or powered operable mechanical, hydraulic or electrical jack. The lightweight nature of the lift components enable the lift to be easily positioned by a single worker for optimum lifting and handling of lightweight loads.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for elimination of space debris from Earth orbit to thus minimize the hazards to space personnel and equipment that are now present as increasing as space exploration and use continues. As a first aspect space debris is collected and deorbited where it is completely burned by the heat developed by the kinetic energy of its reentry through the Earth's atmosphere. As a second aspect, valuable space debris is collected and deorbited in a recovery reentry vehicle and which lands at a designated site on the Earth's surface. A third method includes parking collected space debris in a designated parking orbit at a location well away from traveled orbit zones, including a high, relatively unused orbit sector. A fourth method includes solar and laser energy destruction of the non-valuable space debris while in orbit.