Abstract: A well completion assembly is constructed to be run on a tubing string into a well. The well can be gravel packed and subsequently opened to production without removing the tubing string from the well. The well completion assembly includes a packer, and a screen located below the packer. A gravel packing and production control assembly is located between the packer and the screen for initially permitting flow of gravel packing slurry down the tubing string and into a lower well annulus surrounding the exterior of the screen, and for subsequently permitting production of well fluids through the screen into the interior thereof and up through the tubing string without tripping the tubing string out of the well.

Abstract: An inflatable grout packer includes a housing having an inner bore. An annular inflatable bladder is received in the inner bore of the housing. The bladder has an inflation cavity defined therein for containing an inflatation fluid. The bladder has first and second axial ends and has radially inner and outer walls. The bladder provides a seal between the housing and an elongated cylindrical member, typically a piling, received through the bladder. First and second end rings are sealingly bonded to the first and second ends of the bladder and also sealingly attach to the housing so that a backup seal is thereby provided against leakage of inflation fluid through the radially outer wall of the bladder. An inflation coupling is attached to the radially outer wall.

Abstract: A straddle packer apparatus includes a housing having a central opening. The housing has inflation passages, treating fluid passages, and equalizing passages defined therein. Upper and lower longitudinally spaced packers are mounted on the housing on opposite sides of an outlet of the treating fluid passage. An inner mandrel is slidably received in the central opening of the housing. The mandrel has a mandrel bore and has upper and lower inflation ports, upper and lower equalizing ports, and a treating port, all of which communicate with the mandrel bore. A lug and endless J-slot is operably associated with the housing and mandrel for controlling a telescoping position of the mandrel relative to the housing in response to telescoping reciprocation without rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing.

Abstract: A cup type formation packer shoe is provided to be used in well cementing operations for cementing either casing or tubing in existing casing in a well bore. This packer shoe includes packer cups which are forced into sealing engagement with the existing casing by the cement being displaced into the annulus between the existing casing and the new casing. Further, the packer cups support the column of cement in the annulus preventing flow downwardly past the packer shoe.

Abstract: An injection manifold for use in injecting fluid into a well and method of use. Several embodiments of the apparatus are shown. In each embodiment, a bypass valve is used to control the discharge pressure of a pump, and a throttling valve is used to control the fluid injection flow rate to the well in response to a flow rate measured by a flow meter. In a first embodiment, the throttling is carried out manually. In a second embodiment, the throttling is carried out automatically by a controller which compares a flow rate signal from the meter with a predetermined flow rate set point and sends a corresponding output signal to an actuator of the throttling valve. A third embodiment is a combination manifold which may also be used for flowback tests from the well. In this third embodiment, the electronic controller may also be used to control the flow rate during the flowback test in response to a flow rate signal from the flow meter. A method of injecting fluid into a well using the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A process control system includes a remote control computer located remotely from where the process is to be performed, and the system includes a monitor computer and a local control computer both located where the process is to be performed. The monitor computer and the local control computer are connected to the remote control computer by a common cable including at most two communication channels, each defined in a preferred embodiment by a respective pair of electrical conductors.

Abstract: A well is completed by cementing a casing string in place in the well. A jetting tool assembly is run into the casing string on a tubing string. The jetting tool assembly engages a sliding sleeve of a casing valve and slides the sliding sleeve to an open position uncovering a plurality of housing ports in the casing valve housing in which the sleeve is received. Then, disintegratable plugs are hydraulically jetted from the housing ports to communicate a subsurface formation adjacent the casing valve with an interior of the casing string. Preferably, prior to opening the sleeve and hydraulically jetting the plugs, residual cement is drilled from the casing string, then further residual cement is hydraulically jetted from the casing valve, and then the casing valve is backwashed by reverse circulation.

Abstract: An apparatus for mixing a fluid includes a mixing tub having a substantially circular horizontal cross-sectional shape, and an agitator assembly associated with the mixing tub. The agitator assembly includes a drive shaft having upper and lower agitators attached thereto. The drive shaft is located within the tub and has a substantially vertically oriented axis of rotation. The lower agitator moves fluid generally downward through a radially inner cross-sectional area defined within a first radius swept by the lower agitator. The upper agitator moves fluid within the first radius generally radially outward as that fluid is moved generally downward by the lower agitator, and moves fluid outside the first radius generally upward. A plurality of foraminous baffles are mounted within the tub for reducing rotational motion of the slurry within the tub about the generally vertical axis of the agitator shaft.

Abstract: Gravel packing systems are disclosed which permit sand fill to be reverse circulated out of a well without tripping the gravel packing system itself out of the well. The gravel packing system can be utilized with a sump packer. An outer seal assembly is constructed to be received in a bore of the sump packer. The seal assembly has a seal assembly bore therethrough which receives a lower end of a wash pipe. A wash pipe extension is partially received in the lower end of the seal assembly bore and extends downward below the seal assembly. The wash pipe extension is communicated with the wash pipe. A releasable retaining structure is operably associated with the wash pipe and the wash pipe extension and initially retains the wash pipe in the seal assembly bore. Subsequently, the wash pipe extension is released upon upward movement of the wash pipe. Methods of gravel packing are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of grouting a slipliner in a sewer or drain pipe using foam cements having a specific gravity less than 1.0 and have adequate compressure strength to maintain the slipliner in position within the sewer or drain pipe.

Abstract: An expanded range magnetic flowmeter is provided and includes an insertion device which can vary the velocity of a conductive fluid flowing therethrough. The insert expands the range of the flowmeter by maintaining a minimum fluid velocity through a flow tube. The flow tube includes diametrically opposed electrodes disposed therein which are connected to a voltage measuring device. A magnetic field is placed at a 90.degree. angle to the flow of the conductive fluid such that a voltage is generated and measured as the conductive fluid flows through the tube.

Abstract: A sensor apparatus includes a pressure sensor, a reference device and a temperature sensor collocated within a common environment. The reference device and the temperature sensor are constructed to have temperature response times matched to the temperature response time of the pressure sensor to compensate for temperature gradients produced either by external heating or by pressure-volume heating.

Abstract: A sub-surface release plug assembly for use in cementing an outer casing annulus around a well casing. The assembly includes a top plug releasably connected to a drill string by a collet mechanism and including a swivel connector and a vent thereabove. A sleeve assembly extends through the top plug, and a bottom plug is releasably attached thereto. A vent is provided in the sleeve assembly between the top and bottom plugs, and this vent may be closed prior to releasing the bottom plug. The construction of the inner sleeve assembly provides that no high pressure from the drill string is applied to inner portions of either the top or bottom plugs. Thus, the plugs may be made of relatively soft, easily drillable material, even including plastic. When the lower plug is released and pumped to the bottom of the well casing, additional pressure opens a valve so that a flow passageway is provided therethrough.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an eletronic temperature gauge is carried into a well bore within a pressure-sealed housing which can free fall through a drill string to impact upon a drill bit connected at the bottom of the drill string. A shock absorber is connected at the bottom of the housing to absorb the shock upon impact of the apparatus on the drill bit. The shock absorber has a relatively linearized shock absorbing response in the preferred embodiment. Additional structural features provide further cushioning of the gauge during transit and upon impact.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus is provided for mixing slurries, particularly high density, high viscosity fracturing fluid slurries containing a large proportion of proppant material. A mixing tub has a generally round horizontal cross-sectional shape. A relatively large, low-speed rotating agitator is utilized to mix the slurry. The design of the agitator is such that a radially inwardly rolling toroidal shaped slurry flow zone is created adjacent the upper surface of the slurry within the tub. A stream of clean fracturing fluid is introduced into the tub near the center of the toroidal shaped flow zone. Dry proppant material is introduced into the tub and carried by the radially inwardly rolling flow into contact with the clean fracturing fluid. Foraminous baffles, preferably constructed from expanded metal sheets, are radially oriented within the tub to reduce rotational motion of the slurry within the tub without causing dropout of proppant from the slurry.

Abstract: A retrievable bridge plug and packer apparatus. The tool includes a packer settable by right-hand rotation and vertical manipulation of the tool string and a bridge plug also settable by right-hand rotation and vertical manipulation of the tool string. A disabling tool is provided to disable the packer during setting of the bridge plug so that the packer is not prematurely set. After setting of the bridge plug below the formation, the packer and disabling tool may be disengaged from the bridge plug. At this point, the disabling tool is disengaged so that the packer may be set above the formation. The packer is unset by pulling on the tool string, and the packer and disabling tool may be reconnected to the bridge plug. Again lifting on the tool string unsets the bridge plug so that the apparatus may be retrieved or reused. A method of treating a well formation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A plug release indicator is provided which includes an elastomeric probe, with a wire embedded therein, which extends into the interior area of a plug housing or well casing. The wire has a lip at one end and an anchor at the other end, such that when a cementing plug contacts and deflects the probe, the lip moves thereby closing a micro-switch. The micro-switch closes an electrical indicating circuit including a power supply, indicator light, buzzer, or the like. In a second embodiment, a wire contacts the cementing plug and rotates a shaft containing a magnet therein. The magnet then activates a magnetic switch thereby closing the electrical indicating circuit. Another embodiment includes an electrically conductive surface embedded within an electrically insulating rotatable shaft. Upon rotation of the shaft, the conducting surface completes an electrical circiut through adjacent electrical contacts and the electrical indicating circuit is closed.

Abstract: A well clean-out tool comprising a ported nipple, thimble, packer cup, packer cup mandrel and an inner mandrel.

Abstract: A self-leveling mixer apparatus includes a base and a generally downwardly tapered movable mixing tub supported from the base in a manner such that the tub is movable between first and second positions relative to the base. A leveling valve is provided for controlling a level of fluid in the movable mixing tub. A connector linkage operably associated with the tub and the leveling valve is connected therebetween for adjusting the leveling valve in response to movement of the mixing tub relative to the base. The tub preferably has a generally oval shaped upper end and a generally circular shaped lower end and is constantly tapered therebetween. A tub orientation control linkage is provided to prevent tilting of the tub as it moves between its upper and lower positions.

Abstract: A cement head and casing assembly includes a cement head body having a cement passage defined therethrough. The body is mounted on the well casing and has a lower portion extending down into the casing, with an upper portion extending a relatively short distance above an upper end of the casing. A cement plug is closely received within a bore of the casing below the upper end thereof. The cement plug is releasably connected to the lower portion of the cement head body so that the plug is suspended from the lower portion of the cement head body within the casing. The cement plug has a plug passage defined therethrough which is communicated with a cement passage in the cement head body so that cement can be pumped down through the cement head body and the cement plug into the casing. The passage through the cement plug can be closed and the cement plug can be released from the cement plug body after the cement has been pumped into the casing.