Abstract: A hydrant includes one or more novel and improved features, namely: (1) a nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle and a retainer ring mounted from within the upper standpipe section of the hydrant; (2) an operating assembly defining an excess reservoir volume to receive valve stem lubricating fluid to prevent blocking movement of the valve stem; (3) a coupling assembly including a collar, a retainer ring for engaging one end of the collar against one standpipe section, and a retainer bar inserted through the collar and bent around an adjoining standpipe section; (4) a coupling assembly including a floating seal band carrying two seals, one of which seals against one standpipe section and the other of which seals against an adjoining standpipe section; (5) an otherwise conventional valve body but for a double-D valve body cavity in which a complemental boss of a valve member retainer disk is nested to prevent rotation therebetween, and also including a flat sealing gasket disposed between the valve stem and an ann

Abstract: A simple, easily manipulated remote fluid transfer system comprising a pump, grout pipe string, a manipulation device, guide sleeve, and a remote video display device.

Abstract: A well fluid sampling apparatus for sampling fluids from a formation reservoir in a wall. The sampling apparatus comprises a body portion defining a large sampling chamber therein and at least one sampler module disposed in the sampling chamber. The sampler module is adapted for separately entrapping a volume of fluid as the sampling chamber fills. A sliding sampler valve is moved to open a sampler port allowing formation fluid to enter the sampling chamber. The sampler module has a metering piston therein which automatically closes after a predetermined volume of fluid has entered a sampler module chamber defined in the sampler module. The metering is accomplished by a chamber filled with a viscous liquid which must be discharged through a small orifice as the piston moves in response to fluid pressure in the sampling chamber. The viscous fluid is discharged into an air chamber.

Abstract: A container for holding a radioactive substance to be injected directly into a flow stream includes a cartridge portion, defined by a receptacle member having a cavity in which the substance is to be carried and a channel through which the substance is to be injected into the flow stream, and an injector portion, defined by a plunger member retained within the cavity of the receptacle member. One or more end closure members can be connected, such as by clamps, to one or more respective ends of the receptacle body. In certain embodiments a valve is disposed in the channel of the receptacle member.

Abstract: A housing which is connectible to a pressure sensitive tool has a filter cartridge mounted within it to communicate a pressure from an external fluid to a clean fluid contained within the filter cartridge and the tool. The filter cartridge includes one or more filters having a plurality of passageways small enough to hold the clean fluid under pressure equilibrium conditions, but large enough to communicate pressure from the external fluid to the clean fluid. There are enough of such passageways so that it is unlikely that all will become clogged by an contaminants within the external fluid should a portion of the external fluid be sucked in through the filter in response to expansion and contraction phenomena of the clean fluid.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel, improved connector mechanism for connecting a probe and a pipe string portion of a wireline based data transmission system. The connector mechanism includes cooperating pin and channel means, one of said means associated with the probe and the other with the pipe string portion. The connector mechanism is especially suited for use in conjunction with a combined tubing conveyed perforating and drill stem testing operations due to the present invention's resistance to unwanted disengagement responsive to jarring or shock waves such as are generated by perforating guns.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for producing a proppant carrying foamed fracturing fluid or the like having very high ratios of proppant material to the liquid phase of the foam, which can be substantially higher than even the theoretical maximum ratio available when the proppant is introduced into a foaming apparatus as a proppant/liquid slurry. This is accomplished by a dry sand foam generation process wherein the sand or other particulate material is introduced into a foam generator apparatus as a dry particulate material in a stream of gas which is subsequently mixed with a second liquid stream.

Abstract: A control system is provided which can be retrofit to existing conventional blender devices, such as a blender trailer used for combining a pregelled liquid with a solid particulate additive at a well site. The control is provided either manually or automatically from a remote location where a display unit and a computer unit of the invention are located, such as in a frac van. The display unit and the computer unit are connected together by a multi-conductor cable, and the display unit is connected by a multi-conductor cable to a terminal unit mounted on the blender. Control signals are output from the display unit, under automatic control by the computer unit or under manual control by potentiometers attached to the display unit, to control electrohydraulic valves associated with screw conveyors mounted on the blender.

Abstract: The hydraulic setting tool of the present invention comprises an adapter, housing, piston, piston sleeve and shear sleeve rod.

Abstract: A perforating gun is designed to have explosive charges spirally disposed around its circumference in accordance with a displacement angle defined as (m/p) (360.degree.), where p is a whole number greater than 4 and m is a whole number greater than 1 but less than (p-1) and where m/p is an irreducible fraction. A U, or horseshoe, shaped retainer clip holds individual charges in respective holes and cavities of an outer carrier tube and an inner carrier tube to prevent horizontal or transverse movement of each charge and thereby hold it in contact with an axially extending detonator cord.

Abstract: A protective cover assembly for a fluid end of a plunger-type pump or other positive displacement pump. The protective cover assembly includes a cover adapted to fit in an open end of the fluid end of the pump. The cover comprises a convex or domed center portion adapted for buckling away from a plunger of the pump when pressure in the pump exceeds a predetermined level and further comprises an outer portion. A cover retainer is engageable with the open end of the fluid end of the pump and is adapted for clamping the outer portion of the cover to the fluid end. A seal is provided between the outer portion of the cover and the fluid end. The convex center portion of the cover has a convex surface generally facing the plunger, and the convex surface is preferably hemispherical.

Abstract: A power supply has two energy sources, one of which has a relatively low energy density but provides a relatively high current and the other of which has a relatively high energy density but provides a relatively low current. One end of each of the energy sources is connected to an output terminal through a respective diode. The other ends of the energy sources are connected together to another output terminal. The power supply operates so that when the relatively low current is required by a load connected across the output terminals, the high energy density source provides the current; but when the relatively high current is required by the load, the current is provided from the low energy density source.

Abstract: A flow controller apparatus having few moving parts that may be inserted directly into a flow line to be responsive to flow pressure and maintain the flow rate constant. The flow controller consists of a tubular frame section having an internal bore that is a revolutional chamber having a maximum cross-sectional diameter at the inlet end and tapering, either linearly or non-linearly, toward a minimum cross-sectional area across a throat portion. A control rod and differential pressure plate supported axially movably in said chamber is spring biased toward the inlet end of the chamber, and is movable in response to upstream flow pressure to adjust the cross-sectional fluid flow area to maintain a constant flow rate.

Abstract: A hydrant includes one or more novel and improved features, namely: (1) a nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle and a retainer ring mounted from within the upper standpipe section of the hydrant; (2) an operating assembly defining an excess reservoir volume to receive valve stem lubricating fluid to prevent blocking movement of the valve stem; (3) a coupling assembly including a collar, a retainer ring for engaging one end of the collar against one standpipe section, and a retainer bar inserted through the collar and bent around an adjoining standpipe section; (4) a coupling assembly including a floating seal band carrying two seals, one of which seals against one standpipe section and the other of which seals against an adjoining standpipe section; (5) an otherwise conventional valve body but for a double-D valve body cavity in which a complemental boss of a valve member retainer disk is nested to prevent rotation therebetween, and also including a flat sealing gasket disposed between the valve stem and an ann

Abstract: A pig for a fluid conducting system includes a support member, a first rim extending substantially longitudinally from an end of the support member, and a second rim extending substantially longitudinally from an opposite end of the support member. In a preferred embodiment, the pig also includes an axially located actuator, disposed beyond the first rim, for actuating a first location signal signifying the pig has reached a first predetermined location. This embodiment also includes another actuator, disposed beyond the second rim, for actuating a second location signal signifying the pig has reached a second predetermined location.

Abstract: A hydrant includes one or more novel and improved features, namely: (1) a nozzle assembly comprising a nozzle and a retainer ring mounted within the upper standpipe section of the hydrant; (2) an operating assembly defining an excess reservoir volume to receive valve stem lubricating fluid to prevent blocking movement of the valve stem; (3) a coupling assembly including a collar, a retainer ring for engaging one end of the collar against one standpipe section, and a retainer bar inserted through the collar and bent around an adjoining standpipe section; (4) a coupling assembly including a floating seal band carrying two seals, one of which seals against one standpipe section and the other of which seals against an adjoining standpipe section; (5) an otherwise conventional valve body but for a double-D valve body cavity in which a complemental boss of a valve member retainer disk is nested to prevent rotation therebetween, and also including a flat sealing gasket disposed between the valve stem and an annular

Abstract: A detonator bar has an outer housing, an inner housing connected to the outer housing by at least one first frangible member, an explosive charge disposed in the inner housing, and a firing piston with firing pin held in the inner housing by at least one retaining dog and at least one second frangible member. Operation occurs in response to a relatively small impact force between the detonator bar and a perforator or other explosive object located in a subterranean well. This relatively small impact breaks the at least one first frangible member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of operation for the release of concentric tubing strings used in well operations. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a tubing release assembly and an air chamber assembly as an actuating tool. The tubing release assembly comprises a housing, release sleeve, adjustment nut, pull tube mandrel, pull tube adapter, pull tube latch and retainer ring. The air chamber assembly as an actuating tool comprises a lower end plug, a housing, a housing retainer, seal element assembly, upper and lower shear pin retainers, upper element cone, release ring, setting mandrel, upper end plug, retrieving mandrel, and match drill assembly. Alternately, the tubing release assembly may be actuated by a ball and increased fluid pressure level within the interior of the tubing release assembly.

Abstract: A packer bypass for use between a pump and packer in a testing string for venting said pump and packer to a well annulus after completion of a testing operation. The packer bypass comprises a case with an inner flow tube disposed therein such that an annular passageway is defined therebetween. A piston having a lower portion is reciprocably disposed in the annular passageway. A plurality of latching fingers are pivotally mounted to the lower end of the piston and biased towards a latching position. A bypassing mandrel is reciprocably disposed in the annular passageway below the piston and has an open position for bypassing pump pressure thereabove and packer pressure therebelow to the well annulus and also has a closed position in which bypassing is prevented. The mandrel may be raised from the closed position to the open position by lowering the piston and engaging the latching fingers with a flange on the mandrel.

Abstract: A gauge protector comprising a body, connector, cap assembly, piston with inter-relief valve assembly, valve extension assembly, and tattletale tube assembly with plug and plug level indicator assembly.