Abstract: A unique chassis arrangement for the mounting of equipment thereon and a unique equipment arrangement for a ground fed type blender means which is trailer mounted for use in well servicing operations.

Abstract: A mass flow rate meter is provided having two U-shaped tubular flow loops, means for vibrating the flow loops like the tines of a tuning fork. Opto-electrical sensors on opposite legs of the flow loops generate signals indicative of the times between the passing of the sides of the loop through the static plane of the loop. The times between the passing of the sides of the loops through the static plane may be combined to derive the mass flow rate of material flowing through the loops. Means are provided for varying the gain of the opto-electrical sensors to provide for a constant performance under conditions of changing temperature, voltage variations and aging characteristics.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for use in an oil well includes an improved circulation valve having a cylindrical housing with an open bore therethrough and a circulating port through a wall thereof. A valve mandrel is slidably received in the housing and movable from a closed position closing said circulating portion to an open position opening said circulating port. A shear pin is provided between the valve mandrel and the cylindrical housing and initially retains the valve mandrel in its closed position. The valve mandrel is arranged and constructed for engagement with a power mandrel of the testing apparatus upon movement of the power mandrel in a first direction so that said valve mandrel is forced in said first direction by engagement with said power mandrel and said shear pin is sheared to release the valve mandrel from its closed position. A biasing spring is provided for aiding movement of the valve mandrel to its open position upon shearing of the shear pin.

Abstract: An improved well packing device of the type having an inflatable bladder reinforced with a reinforcing material, and also having an annular end piece attached to the inflatable bladder. The reinforcing material is looped at one end about a toroidal member. This toroidal member is contained in an annular cavity of the end piece. A shoulder portion of the end piece forms a slot, narrower than the toroidal member, through which the reinforcing material extends, thus providing an improved connection between the inflatable bladder and the end piece.

Abstract: A pile wiper assembly for use on the jacket leg or pile sleeve of a marine platform, the pile wiper member comprising an elastomeric member having reinforcing means throughout and reinforcing member means in the periphery thereof and being retained on the jacket leg or pile sleeve by means of a pair of annular plates.

Abstract: A process for cementing adjacent a subterranean gas-containing zone, in which process a cement slurry containing a stabilized, dispersed gas is placed adjacent the zone. Sufficient gas is present in the cement slurry or is capable of being generated within the slurry to prevent the connate formation gas under pressure from passing into or around the cement prior to the time the cement has set up.

Abstract: Hydrofluoric acid compositions and methods for dissolving siliceous materials in subterranean formations to stimulate the production of fluids therefrom are provided. The presence of aluminum in the compositions retards the reaction rates thereof to thereby enable deeper penetration of formations by the acid compositions.

Abstract: Gelled aqueous fluids, solid blends for forming such fluids and methods of using the fluids for treating wells are provided. The gelled fluids are stable over a broad temperature range and are comprised of water, a first hydratable polymer for increasing the viscosity of the fluid to a desired level at temperatures within a first lower range and a second hydratable polymer for maintaining the viscosity of the fluid at temperature within a second higher range.

Abstract: Gelled aqueous fluids, solid blends for forming such fluids and methods of using the fluids for treating wells are provided. The gelled fluids are stable over a broad temperature range and are comprised of water, a first hydratable polymer for increasing the viscosity of the fluid to a desired level at temperatures within a first lower range and a second hydratable polymer for maintaining the viscosity of the fluid at temperatures within a second higher range.

Abstract: An inflatable packer assembly includes a cylindrical mandrel with a cylindrical valve body concentrically disposed about the mandrel. The valve body includes an inlet communicating with an interior of the mandrel and an outlet for directing fluid to an inflatable element of the packer assembly. First and second axial bores, containing first and second pistons, respectively, are disposed in said valve body and communicate with an end surface thereof. The first bore also communicates with said inlet. A first port connects the first and second bores. A second port connects the second bore and the outlet. The first piston is held in a first position blocking said first port until a pressure differential across the first piston reaches a first level at which the first portion is released and is moved to a second position allowing fluid communication between the inlet and the first port.

Abstract: An oil well logging apparatus is disclosed for detecting radiation emanating or returning from an oil well formation. The apparatus has a scintillation crystal adjacent a photomultiplier tube for detecting light flashes generated in the crystal by radiation. A low energy gamma source is included in the crystal for generating a known peak of pulse counts in the energy spectrum. A cadmium shield is placed over the crystal to block low energy radiation which would tend to mask the peak of gamma source pulses. This known peak is divided electrically downhole by window discriminators such that the peak is equally divided into two windows at a standard condition. If the frequency of pulses in one window varies from the frequency of pulses in the second window, a correction factor is generated downhole for varying the pulse height of the entire spectrum until the frequency of pulses in each window is again equal. Salinity compensation is also accomplished by samarium sleeves in the logging sonde.

Abstract: An improved rotational viscometer is provided, having a base, a housing, and one and only one adjustable support leg supporting the housing from the base. The support leg provides for adjustment of the length of the leg and provides for alignment of the housing relative to the base. A rotatable tubular sleeve extends downwardly from the housing, and an electric motor is provided in the housing for driving the rotatable sleeve. The electric motor is connected to the rotatable sleeve by a toothed pulley and belt assembly. A cylindrical non-metallic bob is concentrically positioned within the tubular sleeve and is attached to the lower end of a bob shaft. The upper end of the bob shaft has an indicator dial attached thereto and is connected to the housing by a torsional string.

Abstract: Apparatus for severing a conduit along a plane extending transversely through the conduit which includes an elongated housing forming a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart fuel chambers communicated by an impingement passage extending longitudinally between the fuel chambers. A plurality of fuel reaction products discharge nozzles are disposed transversely through the sides of the housing and means are attached to the housing for simultaneously igniting fuel contained in the fuel chambers whereby reaction products formed therefrom travel in opposite directions through the impingement passage and exit the housing by way of the discharge nozzles. Methods of severing conduits using the apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: A system for protecting a transducer connected thereto by damping, through a pressurized fluid, a signal to be converted by the transducer is disclosed. The system includes a transducer protector apparatus having a housing and an element for damping the signal to be converted by the transducer. The housing includes a first connector for coupling with the transducible signal source and a second connector for joining the transducer. The housing also has a fluid-containing cavity and a member for transferring to the fluid in the cavity the transducible signal received through the first connector. The damping element includes a bore defined in the housing to directly communicate the cavity with an aperture in the second connector and a pin, having a predetermined diameter less than the diameter of the bore, disposed within the bore.

Abstract: A crossover tool for use with concentric tubing strings. The apparatus disclosed provides the ability to treat and/or gravel pack a producing zone in a well, and is particularly suited for use in a multiple-zone well. The crossover tool may be locked in any one of three positions: a circulate mode, a closed test mode, or a closed bypass mode to facilitate movement of the tool within the well bore. All operation of the crossover tool is effected by reciprocation of the pipe string to which it is attached. Alternative embodiments are also disclosed which dispense with the closed test mode.

Abstract: An isolation packer extension doubles the distance between upper and lower packer assemblies of an isolation packer so that less accurate positioning thereof is required when performing cementing operations from a floating vessel.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously measuring the formation bulk density and the thickness of casing in a cased well borehole is disclosed. Low energy gamma rays are emitted into the casing and formation in a cased borehole. Two longitudinally spaced detectors detect gamma rays scattered back into the borehole by the casing and surrounding earth materials. The count rate signals from the two detectors are appropriately combined according to predetermined relationships to produce the formation bulk density and the casing thickness, which are recorded as a function of borehole depth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gravel packing a producing formation or zone in a well without inducing fluid movement across the zone being packed during reverse circulation. Packing and reverse circulation are effected without any movement of the tool string from the time packing is initiated. Bypass and dump valves are incorporated in the isolation gravel packer to facilitate movement of the tool string within the well bore before and after packing a zone.

Abstract: A drill pipe tester valve includes a housing having a first end adapted to be connected to a well test string, which housing has a flow passage therethrough. A spherical valve member having a valve bore therethrough is disposed in the flow passage of the housing. Lugs are attached to the housing for engaging the spherical valve member and rotating the spherical valve member between open and closed positions as the spherical valve member is moved axially relative to the housing. A resilient coil compression spring is located above the spherical valve member, between the housing and the spherical valve member for automatically closing the spherical valve member when the well test string is statically positioned within a well, and for automatically opening the spherical valve member and allowing well fluid within the well to fill the well test string above the spherical valve member as the well test string is lowered into the well.

Abstract: Energy level or temperature activated aqueous silicate compositions which gel into impermeable masses at preselected temperatures and processes of selectively forming such gels are provided using as temperature responsive gel activators certain halogenated hydrocarbons with solubilizing groups of hydrogen, carbinol, sulfonyl, aldehyde, ester and carboxyl radicals, the acid equivalents of such radicals or combinations of such radicals and acid equivalents.