Abstract: A running tool (RT) comprising a stem (10) with a torque ring (44), a running nut (36), an engagement sleeve (40), and a lock ring (42) to releasably connect and support a casing hanger (C), a two piece (16,20) wear bushing (WB) and packoff assembly (P) thereon. The lock ring (42) is wedged into engagement with one piece (16) of the wear bushing (WB) by downward axial movement of the running nut (36). The casing hanger (C) is threaded on the packoff assembly (P) and supported thereby and arranged so that rotation of the torque ring (44) and stem (10) rotates another piece (20) of the wear bushing (24) and the packoff assembly (P) to set the packoff.The casing hanger (C) and one piece of the wear bushing (WB) are lowered on the running tool (RT) into final position within the wellhead (W). The running tool (RT) is released by rotation of the stem (10) which raises the running nut (36), disengages the engagement sleeve (40), allowing the lock ring (44) to disengage the wear bushing (WB).

Abstract: A method employing tool (10) for taking an impression of an area of the internal bore of a tubular member (16) or a joint between two such members comprising means for directing a casting compound between two flexible membranes (20, 22) which are then forced outwardly so that the outer membrane (22) engages the area to be inspected within a bore where the compound forms a resilient mold (cast). When the force against the membranes and mold is removed, the membranes and mold collapse allowing the mold and tool (10) to be retrieved out the bore.

Abstract: An easy break-out tool joint (10) (two embodiments) comprising a drive spindle (stem), or sub (12, 12a) having a shoulder ring (32, 32a) whose shoulder (34) is axially movable but rotatable with the sub (12, 12a) to form a conventionally shouldered (34, 58) drill pipe joint so that, upon rotation in one direction, torque is applied in the conventional manner for drilling or back reaming. The shoulder (34) is initially axially moved relative to the drive sub to disconnect the shoulder (34, 58) when the drive stem is rotated in the opposite, or break-out direction, thereby reducing the torque required for break-out to only that torque necessary to unthread the joint. In the practice of the method of triple back reaming utilizing this easy break-out tool joint, a drilling unit (140, 160) is lowered to the platform and the drive spindle or sub (12, 12a) is connected to the top drill pipe of the string, while the string is held by a spider (156) at the platform level.

Abstract: A method and apparatus comprising a mudline casing hanger tieback adaptor with an adjustable load ring for connecting an installed subsea wellhead on the mudline suspension system.The mudline casing hanger tieback adaptor (180) includes a mudline hanger adaptor body (182) with an adjustable load ring 184, a packoff nut (104) and packoff (102), casing pup (186), and a tieback tool (190), all of which are lowered on a running tool to be connected to an already installed subsea wellhead (80) and sealably connected to an already installed casing hanger (64) on the innermost casing of a mudline supsension system. The adjustability of the load ring compensates for any tolerance buildup in the already installed casing (32) and adjustably shouldering the load ring (184) on the wellhead (80) transfers the load imposed on the innermost tieback tool (190) and casing hanger (70) back to the wellhead (80) during the high pressure testing of the packoff seal (202) between the tieback tool (190) and casing hanger.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus comprising a lockdown connector 20 which connects a subsea wellhead 74 to an outer conductor pipe 10 of the mudline suspension system 12 to convert a mudline suspension system to a subsea well system while providing adjustability in both the longitudinal and radial directions and providing a means by which loads imposed on the wellhead are transferred to the outermost conductor pipe.

Abstract: A running tool (20) comprising a stem (22) with a plug (40), a running nut (30), a wedge (32), a cam ring (34), and a bottom nut (36) together releasably connect and support a casing hanger (12), wear bushing (14) and packoff assembly (16) thereon. The bottom nut (36) supports the cam ring (34) and is wedged into engagement with the casing hanger (12) by downward axial movement of the running nut (30). A packoff assembly (16) is threaded on the casing hanger (12) and arranged so that rotation of the plug (40) and stem (22) rotates the wear bushing (14) and the packoff assembly (16) to set the packoff.The casing hanger (12), wear bushing (14) and packoff assembly (16) are lowered on the running tool (20) into final position within the wellhead. The running tool (20) is released by rotation of the stem (22) which raises the running nut (30), disengages the wedge (32) and allowing the cam ring (34) to disengage the casing hanger (12).

Abstract: A tool (10) for taking an impression of an area of the internal bore of a tubular member (16) or a joint between two such members comprising means for directing a casting compound between two flexible membranes (20, 22) which are then forced outwardly so that the outer membrane (22) engages the area to be inspected within a bore where the compound forms a resilient mold (cast). When the force against the membranes and mold is removed, the membranes and mold collapse allowing the mold and tool (10) to be retrieved out the bore.The tool (10) carries casting compound in two parts unmixed to the area to be inspected where a selected amount of working fluid (60) under preselected pressure from a fluid source (18) of a selected volume will open a valve (42) then force the two parts to be mixed and directed between two flexible membranes (20, 22).

Abstract: A tieback tool (10) and method for connecting tieback conductors (12) to a well system (14) where misalignment occurs between the tool and the well system including a body (40) having an externally threaded dog ring (44) which engages the throats of J-slots (34) in the well system and which initially serves to align the tieback tool to the well system. Rotation of the tieback tool after initial alignment actuates the threaded dog ring (44) in the tieback tool to lock and seal the tieback tool into the well system.

Abstract: A tieback tool 10 and method for connecting conductors 12 to the well system 14 including a body member 36 having dogs 46 for engagement with J-slots 30 in the well system. Entry of some of the dogs 46 in the J-slots 30 during initial stabbing directs and aligns the remaining dogs into the respective J-slots 30. The body 36 is provided with an externally threaded ring rotatable by a running tool 80 after full engagement of the J-slots 30 by the dogs 46 to lock the dogs 46 in the J-slots 30 to clamp the tieback tool in alignment with the well system 14 and to compress a seal ring 60 between the tieback tool 10 and the well system 14.

Abstract: A bottom anchor connector for securing the tension legs of a tension leg platform (10) having a flexible joint (26) between a first body member (22) and a second body member (24) including a latch carrier (44) having latch segments (46) thereon which react with an anchor receptacle recess (18) to provide the connection between the connector (10) and the anchor receptacle (R) when the bottom connector (10) is lowered into the anchor receptacle (R). The latch carrier forms part of a self-actuating installation and release mechanism and includes, in one embodiment, keys (46) which cooperate with the receptacle recess (18) to position the dogheads (50) of the latch segments (46) to be free of the receptacle recess (18) so that the dogheads may move within the inner wall of the receptacle without reacting to the recess (18) to release the bottom connector from the receptacle.

Abstract: A tieback tool (10) for connecting tieback conductors (12) to a well system (14) where there is misalignment between the tool and the well system including a body (40) rigidly connected to the tieback conductor (12), a stab connector (12) swivel mounted on said body and free to align with the well system during initial contact between the tieback tool and the well system, and an internal straightening stab (60) which is extended by rotation into the well system to finally align the tieback tool with the well system. In one embodiment, the tieback conductor (12) is not rotated to make up the final connection of the tool and the well system, the straightening stab (60) is extended into the well system by a rotatable torquing tool (66), and the stab connector (16) locks on to the well system by a lock ring (32).

Abstract: A system for connecting an exploratory well into a producing well by retrieving a permanent guide base (P) and replacing the same with a completion guide base (C) containing the necessary equipment for producing from the well. To do this, the permanent guide base comprises two parts; a gimbal part (32) and a platform part (34)--the platform part (34) can be detached from the low pressure wellhead housing (W) and retrieved leaving the wellhead housing (W) and the permanent guide base gimbal part (32) subsea. The wellhead housing (W), provided with a latching profile (154), though not used during exploratory drilling, is now used to latch the completion guide base (C) thereto for production from the well. The two parts of the retrievable permanent guide base are latched together by a latching mechanism (74) which is easily releasable to unlatch one part from the other, and both guide bases (P & C) are provided with wire line guide posts (82) which are easily detachable for replacement if necessary.

Abstract: Disclosed is a casing hanger 10 and running apparatus 16 wherein the casing hanger 10 is mechanically supported by a running thread ring 70 onto a running tool 20 for lowering into a wellhead 12, and wherein the packoff assembly 14 is held above the casing hanger 10 for circulating and cementing operations for improved flowby capabilities and wherein the packoff assembly 14 is mechanically lowered and energized to seal the annular seal area 32 comprising threading the packoff apparatus from the running apparatus 16 onto the casing hanger by rotation of the running tool 20, which concurrently also releases the casing hanger 10 from the running tool 20 by unthreading the primary thread ring 70 therefrom.

Abstract: Disclosed is a manifold control system 80 for a completion tree 10 comprising a manifold plate 92 having a plurality of single port or multi-port two position spring biased piston type valve cartridges 82 mounted thereon, which individually route hydraulic control signals to the various valve and connector operators 14,18 and 30. The two position spring biased piston type valve cartridge thus performs the function of a tree cap and eliminating the need for the latter, and thus eliminating running/retrieval operations required for tree closure and control hook up during installation workover and retrieval. These valve cartridges are detachably connected to the plate and may be replaced, whole or in part, subsea; their number and type selectable according to the needs of the tree; in a workover mode cooperate with a running tool and in a production mode automatically close the cartridges and control lines to seawater, debris and the like.

Abstract: A tieback connector 10 for connecting tieback conductors 14 between a platform and a casing hanger 22 in a subsea well system 20 comprising a split ring 44 on a connector body member 12 having external threads 32 capable of mating with internal threads 24 on the casing hanger 22 and capable of ratcheting over said internal threads 24 as the connector is stabbed into the casing hanger 22. Rotation of the connector 10 will actuate a locking means 54-66 (and 54A-66A) by the combined action of the threads and relative axial movement of said split ring and body member 12 to thread and lock said connector in said casing hanger. An anti-rotation key 50 permits axial relative movement of the split ring 44 and body 12 but prevents relative rotational movement therebetween.

Abstract: A CML compatible EFL type latch with a data input transistor differentially coupled as a current switch to one emitter of a second multi-emitter transistor. The second emitter of the second transistor is differentially coupled as a current switch to a third transistor. The true output of the latch is connected to the collector of the second transistor, and to the base of the third transistor. Second, clamping Schottky barrier disposed between the collector and base of the third transistor. A third current switch responsive to a system clock source is connected between the two current switches to complete the latch circuitry. Utilizing this arrangement, the EFL type latch is connected directly to a combination decoder-multiplexer circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an article formed thereby which includes a part which is subjected to heat during fabrication of an IC package, and a fixture for holding such a part, having an arrangement for accommodating the expansion and contraction of the part during heating and cooling while holding the part in alignment. In one embodiment, the expansion and contraction arrangement comprises slots arranged as apices of a triangle in the part which receives pins in the fixture with the major axes of the slots in alignment with the point of minimum expansion and contraction of the part. Utilizing the triangulation principle, the location of the datum hole (or locating criteria), if not at the point of minimum expansion and contraction of the part, can be effectively translated to the center of minimum expansion and contraction.

Abstract: A high speed, low component count, exclusive NOR gate in one embodiment comprising two input transistors whose emitters are connected to the bases of a pair of cross-coupled transistors with the collectors of the latter being connected in common and forming the output of the gate so that the current flow through the emitter cross-coupled transistors is controlled by the base voltages of the two input transistors such that an exclusive NOR gate arrangement is provided. In another embodiment, a pair of Schottky diodes are disposed between the emitters of the input transistors and the cross-coupled emitter transistors to bias the bases of the latter and to change the input signal levels required.

Abstract: A bubble (domain) generator comprising a pair of relatively long elements of suitable magnetic material, such as permalloy, separated by a narrow gap, near which bubbles will be generated in the bubble film by the combined effect of local in-plane and perpendicular magnetic field components to assist in nucleation. In one embodiment, the gap is formed straight by spaced apart edges between the elements and, in another embodiment, the gap is formed to define an apex by V-shaped by complementary tapered spaced apart edges between the elements. Both embodiments may have their gap edges brought close to the bubble film and may have a current carrying hairpin loop conductor substantially surrounding the gap to assist in nucleation.

Abstract: A passive annihilator comprising an annihilator element in the form of a spiral located at the end of a path of propagate elements whereby bubbles, entering the spiral element in response to the rotating in-plane magnetic field, will follow the spiral path to its center, and any subsequent bubbles, in a stream of bubbles, entering the spiral will help hold the prior bubble captive in the spiral. The final bubble in a bubble stream under high magnetic bias conditions will be annihilated near the spiral center while the final bubble under low magnetic bias conditions will circulate in response to the in-plane rotating field indefinitely in the spiral, but is not free to escape, and will be annihilated by the entry of new bubbles from a subsequent bubble stream.