Abstract: A set point pressure control circuit is disclosed for controlling pressure in a high pressure environment. The circuit includes a high pressure communicating, low pressure actuated valve. The valve includes a housing in which a valve member is disposed. The valve member has an axial passageway defined therethrough for communicating a high pressure port across a piston of the valve member to an opposite high pressure chamber which is placed in communication with a low pressure port when the valve member is in an open position.

Abstract: A complete additive transport and mixing system is carried on a single vehicle. A collection of liquid additive containers, a collection of metering devices, and a mixing system are all mounted on the vehicle, as is a dry additive metering device. A selected liquid additive container can be selectively and changeably connected to a selected liquid additive metering device, and a selected liquid additive metering device can be selectably and changeably connected to a selected input into the mixing system. The metering of the liquid additives is monitored and a concentration display given so that the metering devices can be manually controlled to obtain an actual concentration equal to a desired concentration. A display indicating a desired setting for the dry additive metering device is also given so that the dry additive metering device can be manually controlled to allow a suitable amount of the dry additive to be added into the mixing system to obtain a desired concentration of the dry additive.

Abstract: An above packer perforate, test and sample tool. The tool includes a tester valve which is positioned above a well packer and which has a bypass which provides communication between a well annulus above the packer and a firing mechanism for guns positioned below the packer. When the well annulus pressure is raised, the firing mechanism is triggered. The bypass may be closed prior to firing of the guns, and after perforation, a valve in the tester valve may be opened to flow a sample of well fluid into a sampling chamber located above the tester valve. A method of testing a well formation utilizing the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus includes a load support device for engaging and supporting a load as the load support device and the load are moved between a lowered position and a raised position relative to a base. A pair of spaced lifting arms are connected at first pivotal connections to the base and at second pivotal connections to the load support device for moving the load support device between its lowered and raised positions. A stabilizer arm is connected at a third pivotal connection to the load support device, and at a fourth pivotal connection to the base, for controlling a rotational orientation of the load support device about an axis of the second pivotal connection relative to the base. A sprocket is rigidly attached to each of the lifting arms substantially coaxial with the first pivotal connection, and a chain is operably engaged with each sprocket.

Abstract: A well surging system having pressure actuated ball valves and a mechanical actuating backup for the upper of said ball valves. The apparatus comprises a valve assembly portion containing the upper and lower ball valves which may be independently pressure actuated. The valve assembly portion also includes an extension portion having an extension mandrel therein connected to an upper ball valve actuator. The lower ball valve is opened by increasing the pressure in the well annulus around the valve assembly portion with respect to a flow bore therethrough. The upper ball valve is similarly pressure actuated. In the event that the upper ball valve pressure actuation is fully or partially unsuccessful, a probe assembly portion may be lowered on a wireline into the extension portion adjacent to the valve assembly portion. The probe assembly portion is adapted for releasable engagement with a lug extending inwardly from the extension mandrel.

Abstract: An improved grouting method and arrangement using particulate material and aqueous solutions of alkali silicate materials confined between pile seal assembly and top of an offshore platform in sealing the annular space formed between either a jacket leg or pile sleeve and a pile driven therethrough or similar annular space of an offshore platform to support a column of grout thereon so that the annular space may ultimately be filled with grouting material.

Abstract: A blender system includes a blender tub for blending a solid particulate material in a liquid. The tub has a tub outlet defined therein. The system also includes a pump having a pump suction inlet and a pump discharge. A suction conduit is provided for conducting a tub outlet stream from the tub outlet and a liquid supply stream from a liquid supply to the pump suction inlet. A solids concentrator device is provided for separating a pump discharge stream from the pump discharge into a lower density recirculating stream and a higher density concentrator discharge stream. The concentrator device has a concentrator inlet for receiving the pump discharge stream, a low density outlet for directing the recirculating stream back to the tub, and a high density outlet for discharging the concentrator discharge stream.

Abstract: A blender system includes a blender tub for blending a solid particulate material in a liquid. The tub has a tub outlet defined therein. The system also includes a pump having a pump suction inlet and a pump discharge. A suction conduit is provided for conducting a tub outlet stream from the tub outlet and a liquid supply stream from a liquid supply to the pump suction inlet. A solids concentrator device is provided for separating a pump discharge stream from the pump discharge into a lower density recirculating stream and a higher density concentrator discharge stream. The concentrator device has a concentrator inlet for receiving the pump discharge stream, a low density outlet for directing the recirculating stream back to the tub, and a high density outlet for discharging the concentrator discharge stream.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the control of the movement of slip liners in grouting operations through the use of inflatable grouting bags and to the control of bulkhead sealing in slip liner grouting operations.

Abstract: A complete additive transport and mixing system is carried on a single vehicle. A collection of liquid additive containers, a collection of metering devices, and a mixing system are all mounted on the vehicle, as is a dry additive metering device. A selected liquid additive container can be selectably and changeably connected to a selected liquid additive metering device, and a selected liquid additive metering device can be selectably and changeably connected to a selected input into the mixing system. The metering of the liquid additives is monitored and a concentration display given so that the metering devices can be manually controlled to obtain an actual concentration equal to a desired concentration. A display indicating a desired setting for the dry additive metering device is also given so that the dry additive metering device can be manually controlled to allow a suitable amount of the dry additive to be added into the mixing system to obtain a desired concentration of the dry additive.

Abstract: An above packer perforate, test and sample tool for use in obtaining a sample of fluid from a formation reservoir in a well. The apparatus includes a sampler and an actuator cylinder positioned above a packer and a valve body below the packer. An operating mandrel opens a valve below the packer to flow the fluid from a well annulus defined below the packer to a sampling chamber in the sampler above the packer. The operating mandrel is moved in response to a pressure differential between the pressure in the well annulus above the packer and a pressure in the tool. In another embodiment, a second packer may be positioned below the first packer to sealingly engage the well bore below the well formation. A method of sampling fluid from a well formation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for controlling a retainer valve in an underwater well test system. The control system is contained in a housing in the test string above the retainer valve. The control system and valve are operated by a surface control manifold via control conduits extending between the manifold and control system housing. The system provides opening and closing and very quick closure of the retainer valve by eliminating the requirement for closing pressure to be conducted through a long conduit from surface and by utilizing well pressure to close the valve and lock the valve closed. One embodiment of the control system requires a pressure pulse from surface to start quick retainer valve closure. Another embodiment of the control system monitors control conduits for loss of pressure while the retainer valve is open and automatically closes the valve on loss of control pressure.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve casing tool installed in a casing string comprising a housing, sliding sleeve, seal members and releasable retaining means to retain the sliding sleeve within the desired locations with the housing.

Abstract: A perforate, test and sample tool for obtaining fluid samples from a formation reservoir in a well. The tool comprises a retrievable packer, perforating guns and a sampler disposed between the packer and guns which is adapted for entrapping a fluid sample without flowing well fluids into the tool string. An operating position is slidably disposed in a cylinder above the packer and is used to actuate a sampler valve in the sampler. A seal insures that all portions of a sampling chamber in the sampler are disposed below the packer. In one embodiment, the operating piston is actuated in response to a pressure differential between a well annulus above the packer and an internal pressure in the tool. The sampler includes a plurality of sampler modules disposed in the sampling chamber. Each of the sampler modules includes a valve which automatically closes after a predetermined volume of fluid fills a sampler module chamber defined in the sampler module.

Abstract: A semi-rigid floating spring type centralizer for use in deviated, highly deviated or horizontal well bores, the centralizer comprising a cylindrical tubular housing having a plurality of floating centralizer springs retained thereon.

Abstract: A watercut monitor device has an oscillator circuit which generates an analog input signal in response to the capacitance of a capacitance probe through which an oil and water emulsion flows. The frequency of the analog input signal is non-linearly related to the watercut of the emulsion. The analog input signal is effectively gated through a digital gating circuit, and a count related to the frequency of the gated signal is digitally made. The digital count addresses a digital memory having digital values, which are linearly related to the watercut of the emulsion, stored therein. Upon being addressed, the digital memory outputs the digital value stored in the addressed location. The digital value is optically coupled to a digital-to-analog converter which converts the digital value into an analog output signal linearly related to the watercut of the emulsion.

Abstract: A tank mounting apparatus includes a mounting rack having a full-size tank base location defined thereon, and including a plurality of mounting brackets for mounting either one full-size tank base, two half-size tank bases, four quarter-size tank bases, or one half-size and two quarter-size tank bases within the full-size tank base location. Releasable connecting pins are provided for connecting the tank bases to the mounting brackets.

Abstract: A plugging apparatus for a gravel packer. The apparatus includes a plug comprising an operating mandrel slidably received in an outer mandrel. A collet is positioned on the outer mandrel. Actuation of the operating mandrel allows engagement of the collet with a threaded portion in the packer for locking the collet into such engagement. The plug is positioned in the packer and actuated to a locking position by use of a setting tool which has a portion press fit on a ring spring mounted on the operating mandrel. Once the collet is in the locked position, the setting tool may be removed from the ring spring. The plug may be retrieved by a retrieving tool which has a collet which engages the ring spring. The retrieving tool is used to actuate the operating mandrel to disengage the collet from the threaded portion of the packer and then to retrieve the plug from the packer.

Abstract: The plug set of the present invention comprises an upper plug having a non-rotation insert retained therein and a lower plug having two non-rotation inserts retained therein. The present invention further includes the use of a non-rotation insert in the floating equipment with which the plug set of the present invention is used.

Abstract: A blender vehicle apparatus includes a vehicle having a vehicle frame. An internal combustion engine driven hydraulic power package is mounted on the vehicle frame. A plurality of liquid additive storage tanks are mounted on the frame adjacent the power package. An operator's work platform, including a control station, is mounted on the vehicle frame adjacent the storage tanks on a side thereof opposite the power package. A hydraulically powered blender assembly is also included, and a hydraulically powered lifting apparatus is mounted on the vehicle frame for moving the blender assembly between a lowered position and a raised position. The raised position of the blender assembly is located above the vehicle frame and adjacent the work platform on a side thereof opposite the storage tanks.