Abstract: This invention relates to the installation of a vertically moored platform over a selected well site. The platform or structure is supported on a buoyant gravity base and floated to a position over the subsea wall site. The gravity base is attached or held to the platform by a plurality of short sections of riser pipes. The gravity base is then ballasted to give it a negative buoyancy. A joint of riser pipe is then added to each of the short riser pipe sections. The gravity base is then lowered by lowering all the riser pipes simultaneously until the top of the newly added joints is reached. Then a second group of riser joints is added and the process repeated until the gravity base has been lowered to the ocean floor. When the gravity base has reached bottom, heavy ballasting material, such as cement slurry, can be added if needed. The riser pipes which were used to lower the gravity base are the riser pipes which anchor the floating platform to the gravity base which serves as an anchor.

Abstract: This invention relates to a structure floating on a body of water, and particularly a structure for drilling or producing wells from below the water. Buoyant members support at least a part of the structure above the surface of the water. The structure is connected to anchors in the floor of the body of water by a series of parallel leg members. Each leg member is composed of a plurality of elongated members, such as large diameter pipe usually called risers. These risers are parallel. Vertically spaced spacers are provided along the risers of each leg to (1) maintain the risers a fixed distance apart and (2) change the natural or resonant frequency of the individual riser pipes to be greater than the flutter frequency caused by the motion of the water past the risers.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved method of cementing casing in a well where the casing string will subsequently be heated by the injection of steam or the flowing of other hot fluids through the casing. Long vertical anchor bars are positioned about the lower portion of the casing string. Lower holding means retains the lower ends against the casing string. Likewise, upper holding means holds the upper end against the casing. Means are provided for releasing the upper holding means and for forcing the upper ends of the anchor bars outwardly so that they engage and anchor against the borehole wall. Prior to the anchoring of the anchor bars, cement is circulated down through the casing string and up the annulus between the casing and the borehole wall, and during this time the casing can be rotated or moved up and down in accordance with good casing cementing practice.

Abstract: This invention relates to the installation of a Vertically Moored Platform and equipment and apparatus used in effecting such installation. The floating structure, anchored only by essentially parallel and vertical elongated members under tension, is positioned with a gravity base over the subsea well site. The gravity base is lowered from engagement with the floating structure with cables to the sea floor while maintaining the floating structure in a positive buoyancy state. A large-diameter drive pipe is inserted through each receiving passage in the gravity base and into the soil or rock beneath the gravity base where it is anchored. A conductor is inserted through the drive pipe and anchored or cemented to the soil or rock beneath the drive pipe. A riser pipe is then inserted into the drive pipe and secured to the conductor. The upper end of the riser pipe is secured to the floating structure. Up to 32 or more such risers are connected between the floating structure and the gravity base.

Abstract: A method of producing highly viscous oil from an underground formation penetrated by a well. Steam is injected through a first channel into the lower part of the formation. At the same time, previously recovered oil from the formation is injected through the well in a channel surrounding the steam channel to the upper part of the formation. This native oil insulates the formation from the steam and also serves to block the steam from rising in the formation. The heated oil can then be recovered from an adjacent well or injection can be stopped and the oil can be recovered from the well through which the fluid was injected.

Abstract: This describes a method for improved data signaling equipment for use with well-drilling tools for rapidly sending measurements made down the hole in the wellbore to the surface without the need of an electric cable. A special well tool is connected into a drill string having a drill bit coupled thereto for drilling a borehole. During normal drilling operations, the data-sending equipment is not in operation, and the main body of circulating or drilling fluid is passed through a main valve in the downhole tool and bypasses a pressure-changing unit. A sensing unit is incorporated in the downhole tool and measures downhole parameters. When it is desired to send these data to the surface, the main circulation of drilling fluid is stopped and the bypass valve closed. Then, a small amount of fluid is supplied to the "closed" drill string from a substantially constant-pressure source.

Abstract: This invention concerns means for protecting a marine wellhead (including the Christmas tree) on an offshore hydrocarbon-producing platform from damage due to fire. Special means are provided to place the wellhead a small depth, e.g., 25 to 50 feet, below the water surface under the deck of the offshore platform. These special means include a horizontal plate supported by the platform and sealed to the upper end of the casing. A cylindrical housing, called a "portable cellar," is lowered from the platform and seals with the horizontal plate. The cellar housing extends above the surface of the water. Water is then pumped out of the sealed cellar so that work on or through the wellhead can be done in a normal open-air environment. After the operation is performed on or through the wellhead, the cellar is removed, the water again surrounds the marine wellhead, so that, in case of fire, it cannot be damaged by heat.

Abstract: This invention concerns the drilling of boreholes in the earth. It concerns a rotary drilling system having a particular bottom hole assembly (BHA) for use in increasing or decreasing the angle of deviation from the vertical of a borehole. It also teaches a method whereby the angle of deviation can be calculated for each assembly. There is one assembly disclosed for increasing the angle of deviation and another assembly disclosed for decreasing the angle of deviation. Also disclosed is a novel "universal stabilizer" for use in the bottom hole assembly.

Abstract: This is a subsurface safety valve for insertion in a tubing string in a well drilled in the earth, normally for the production of oil and gas. This valve is lowered and retrieved by wireline and is seated in a special side-pocket mandrel which is a part of the tubing string. One suitable valve is a flapper-type, full-opening valve having a folding or collapsing flapper that permits it to retract completely into the side pocket, thereby leaving a full opening through the valve and tubing string when open. The valve may be controlled either by hydraulic pressure transmitted to it from the surface or by subsurface pressure sensing means.

Abstract: This invention relates to water pollution control and concerns a system for removing dispersed oil from water by contacting the oily water with sulfur to cause the oil to coalesce or agglomerate. In a preferred embodiment, the water containing the dispersed oil is passed through a bed of granular media presenting a surface area of solid phase sulfur to coalesce the dispersed oil. The coalesced oil is then separated from the water.

Abstract: This is a subsurface safety valve for insertion in a tubing string centered in a well drilled in the earth normally for the production of oil or gas. Under normal flow conditions, a spring holds a flapper valve in an open position out of the flow path of the fluid. An increase in the temperature of the fluids flowing through the valve supplies the force to push the flapper into the flow stream where the fluid flow will cause it to close. A heat-sensitive fluid is contained in an annular reservoir surrounding the flow path of the fluid through the valve and an annular piston is in one end of the cylinder. Expansion of the fluid causes movement of the piston which has a rod which forces the flapper valve into the main fluid flow stream.

Abstract: This invention concerns means for protecting a marine wellhead (including the Christmas tree) on an offshore hydrocarbon-producing platform from damage due to fire. Special means are provided to protect a wellhead placed a small depth, e.g., 25 to 50 feet, below the water surface under the deck of the offshore platform. These special means include a horizontal support frame supported by the platform. The wellhead is supported at about the same level as the support frame. A heavy shield comprising a heavy framework somewhat bell- shaped with an open bottom is lowered over the wellhead and comes to rest on the fixed frame or shelf. This shield is removable, but is ordinarily kept in position. In event of a fire on the production platform above the submerged wellhead, debris that may fall from the platform is diverted by the shield. Ocean water continually surrounds the marine wellhead, so that, in case of fire, it cannot be damaged by heat.