Abstract: A coplanar jetting head for well perforating. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a plurality of jetting openings therein. The jetting openings are substantially coplanar and are angularly disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the housing. Each of the jetting openings has a jetting nozzle disposed therein. In the preferred embodiment, the angle of the plane of the jetting openings is such that the plane may be positioned substantially perpendicular to an axis of least principal stress in a well formation adjacent to the well bore when the housing is disposed in the well bore. A method of fracturing a well is also disclosed and comprises the steps of positioning a jetting head in a well bore and directing a plurality of fluid jets from the jetting head at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the well bore.

Abstract: A well jetting apparatus for use in fracturing of a well. Fracture initiation is provided by forming openings through the well casing and then forming fan-shaped slots in the formation surrounding the casing. Those slots are formed by a the jetting apparatus which has at least one hydraulic jet directed through the opening. The apparatus may be pivoted generally about the point of the opening to form the slots, but preferrably a plurality of slots are formed substantially simultaneously. These fan-shaped slots circumscribe an angle about the axis of the casing substantially greater than the angle circumscribed by the opening itself through which the slot was formed. These techniques are particularly applicable to fracturing of horizontal wells, but the apparatus may be used in any well configuration.

Abstract: A slow rotating mole apparatus for use in hydrablasting wellbores and pipelines. The apparatus generally consists of a motor section with a rotor rotatable in response to fluid flow through the motor section, a speed reducer section connected to the motor section such that an output speed of the speed reducer section is less than an output speed of the rotor, and a jetting section attached to the speed reducer section and rotated thereby at the speed reducer output speed. The speed reducer section and jetting section define a flow passage therethrough in communication with jetting ports in the jetting section so that the fluid pumped through the apparatus is jetted therefrom. The speed reducer section may include one or more gear reductions to achieve the desired rotational speed of the jetting section.

Abstract: A packer apparatus with a circulating port. A housing of the packer has inflation passages, circulating passages, treating fluid passages, and equalizing passages defined therein. In a straddle packer embodiment, upper and lower packers are mounted on the housing on opposite sides of an outlet of the treating fluid passage. A circulation valve with a sliding differential pressure actuated valve sleeve is disposed below the packers. An inner mandrel is slidably received in the central opening of the housing. The mandrel has a mandrel bore and has upper inflation and circulating ports, lower inflation ports, upper and lower equalizing ports, a treating port and lower circulating ports, all of which communicate with the mandrel bore. The valve sleeve has a valve port. 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 reciprocation without rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing.

Abstract: A sub-surface release plug assembly for use in cementing an outer casing annulus around a well casing. The plug assembly comprises non-metallic materials, and in particular, high-strength engineered plastics. A method of drilling out the plug assembly using a drill bit with no moving parts is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hydraulic setting tool for setting a packer with a sliding valve therein in an operating position in a well bore. The setting tool comprises an outer housing portion slidably disposed with respect to an inner mandrel portion. A piston is connected to the outer housing portion and slidable with respect to the inner portion. The piston is responsive to tubing pressure for setting the packer. A locking dog is provided for locking said piston against further movement after setting of the packer. An actuating mandrel forms a part of the inner mandrel portion and is adapted for engaging a valve in the packer. Longitudinal movement of the tool string allows selective opening and closing of the valve in the packer.

Abstract: A casing inflation packer for use in a casing string in a well bore. The apparatus includes a housing connected in the casing string. An inflatable packer portion on the housing sealingly engages the well bore when inflated. An inflation passageway is defined between a housing central opening and the packer. A rupture disc is initially disposed between the central opening and the inflation passageway for preventing communication therebetween. The rupture disc ruptures in response to a first predetermined pressure, thereby placing the central opening in communication with the packer through the inflation passageway. A slidable control valve is disposed in the inflation passageway and is initially shearably held in an open position. Upon application of a second predetermined pressure across the valve, the valve is moved to a closed position, thus preventing overinflation of the packer and also preventing deflation thereof.

Abstract: A wireline set baffle for positioning in a well casing after the well casing has already been placed in a wellbore. The apparatus comprises a baffle and a setting or running tool engaged with the baffle and adapted for positioning the baffle at a predetermined location in the wellbore. In one embodiment, a lock ring may be used to lock the baffle to the casing at a predetermined location, and in another embodiment, collet fingers on the baffle may be used to engage the casing. The lock ring may be initially held in a non-engaging position by a lock ring retainer or shear pins. The collet fingers may be initially held in a non-engaging position by a cover which is disengaged from the collet fingers by a blasting cap. Engagement may be with an inner surface of the casing or a recess defined at a casing joint. A method of using the wireline set baffle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A positive circulating valve with a retrievable standing valve therein. The valve is used with a packer positioned therebelow. The circulating valve comprises a housing with a mandrel slidably disposed therebetween. A J-slot controls movement between open and closed positions. When in the open position, mandrel ports in the mandrel are aligned with body ports in the housing so that bypassing and circulating may be carried out. The standing valve prevents fluid flow downwardly through the tool string below the circulating valve when the circulating valve is in the open position. When the circulating valve is in a closed position, the mandrel ports are in communication with a central opening through the housing, allowing fluid to be pumped downwardly through the circulating valve. The standing valve may be removed so that the circulating valve has a substantially unrestricted flow path therethrough for high flow rate fracturing jobs and the like.

Abstract: Expandable casing portions are provided, such as casing slip joints or expansion joints, on opposite sides of a fracture initiation location to accommodate casing and formation movement during fracturing of a well. The fracture initiation location provided by forming openings through the well casing and then forming fan-shaped slots in the formation surrounding the casing. These fan-shaped slots circumscribe an angle about the axis of the casing substantially greater than the angle circumscribed by the opening itself through which the slot was formed. These techniques are particularly applicable to fracturing of horizontal wells, but are also useful on vertical wells. The expansion joints formed as tubular members having alternating inner and outer annular grooves. In another embodiment, the expansion joints formed by tubular members defining alternating inner and outer spiral grooves therein.

Abstract: A fracture oriented completion tool system for use in a casing string in a wellbore. The completion tool comprises a casing valve having a radioactive source therein, the orientation of which may be determined by use of a detector apparatus, such as a rotational gamma ray detector. The casing valve thus may be aligned with the fracture of a zone of interest in the well. A plurality of casing valves may be used, with at least one having a radioactive source. A swivel connection may be used to interconnect the casing valve so that housing ports therein may be aligned as the casing is run into the wellbore. In one preferred embodiment, the swivel connection is a locking swivel connection. A method of positioning a casing string in the well utilizing the completion tool is also disclosed.

Abstract: A downhole tool apparatus and methods of drilling the apparatus. The apparatus may include, but is not limited to, packers and bridge plugs utilizing non-metallic components. The non-metallic components may include but are not limited to the center mandrel having an unmachined, molded central opening therethrough. In a preferred embodiment, a sliding valve is disposed on an outer surface of the center mandrel for opening and closing a valve port. An overshot is used to selectively actuate the sliding valve. Methods of installation and drilling out of the apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A packer apparatus with a circulating port. A housing of the packer has inflation passages, circulating passages, treating fluid passages, and equalizing passages defined therein. In a straddle packer embodiment, upper and lower packers are mounted on the housing on opposite sides of an outlet of the treating fluid passage. A circulation valve with a sliding differential pressure actuated valve sleeve is disposed below the packers. An inner mandrel is slidably received in the central opening of the housing. The mandrel has a mandrel bore and has upper inflation and circulating ports, lower inflation ports, upper and lower equalizing ports, a treating port and lower circulating ports, all of which communicate with the mandrel bore. The valve sleeve has a valve port. 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 reciprocation without rotation of the mandrel relative to the housing.

Abstract: A coiled tubing operated full opening completion tool system for use in a well bore. The tool system comprises a completion tool, such as a casing valve, disposed in a well casing. The tool system further comprises a positioner tool for opening and closing a sliding sleeve in the casing valve. A hydraulically actuated operating cylinder section, including opening and closing cylinder sections, is used to actuate the positioner tool to open and close the casing valve sleeve. Hydraulic slips lock the tool in position in the well bore during actuation. The tool further comprises a jetting tool which is hydraulically actuated between an open position thereof in which fluid in the tool is communicated through a jetting nozzle aligned with a port in the casing tool and a closed position. A J-slot and lug are provided in the positioner tool for controlling the longitudinal position thereof during opening and closing of the casing valve sleeve.

Abstract: A manifold for a front-discharge fluid end reciprocating pump. The manifold comprises tubular portions which are connected to ports on the pump by threaded engagement of a plurality of nuts. The manifold has a center portion and at least one branch portion which intersects the center portion. Another tubular portion having a ported end is in communication with the center and branch portions and provides an outlet for the manifold. At least one nut on the manifold is a standard nut having lugs extending therefrom adjacent to an outer surface of the nut. A special nut is used on at least one of the connections and has lugs extending adjacent to the inner surface thereof. The lugs on the special nut have a longitudinal thickness less than the nuts on the standard nut. In this way, the nuts may be engaged with closely adjacent ports on the pump without interference of the lugs on the nuts with one another.

Abstract: A metal-to-metal annular seal for use in downhole tools which may include annular elastomeric backup seals. In each embodiment, a sealing member has a pair of annular frusto-conical lips adapted for sealing engagement with a cylindrical sealing surface on a member of a downhole tool. The sealing member may be a separate component or an integral part of another member of the downhole tool. A seal energizing member may be used.

Abstract: A well jetting apparatus for use in fracturing of a well. Fracture initiation is provided by forming openings through the well casing and then forming fan-shaped slots in the formation surrounding the casing. Those slots are formed by a the jetting apparatus which has at least one hydraulic jet directed through the opening. The apparatus may be pivoted generally about the point of the opening to form the slots, but preferrably a plurality of slots are formed substantially simultaneously. These fan-shaped slots circumscribe an angle about the axis of the casing substantially greater than the angle circumscribed by the opening itself through which the slot was formed. These techniques are particularly applicable to fracturing of horizontal wells, but the apparatus may be used in any well configuration.

Abstract: A differential pressure operated valve for use as a circulating and/or deflation valve in a well bore. The valve comprises a housing defining first and second bores therethrough and a passage providing communication between the interior and exterior of the housing. A valve sleeve is slidably disposed in the housing and has a first outer surface slidably disposed in the first bore and a second outer surface slidably disposed in the second bore. A valve port is defined in the valve sleeve providing communication between a central opening thereof and the passage in the housing when the valve sleeve is in an open position. When the valve sleeve is closed, the valve port and passage are isolated from one another. The first and second outer surfaces of the valve sleeve define a differential area, and the valve is closed by fluid flow creating a differential pressure acting across this area. A spring biases the valve toward the open position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of anchoring a work string to a packer set in a wellbore and releasing therefrom. The apparatus includes a stinger, a collet slidably disposed on the stinger and having a plurality of collet fingers adapted for engaging the packer, a shear ring member shearably attached to the stringer and adapted for holding the collet fingers into engagement with the packer. The packer may be normally released by applying torque to the work string such that the collet fingers are unthreaded from the packer. Torque is applied from the stinger to the collet fingers by a load ring attached to the stinger and having splines extending between the collet fingers so that torque may be applied to the collet without applying torque to the shear ring member.

Abstract: A pressure test and bypass valve for use in well testing. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a central opening therein and a mandrel slidably disposed in the central opening. A ball valve allows fluid flow through the central opening when in an open position and prevents fluid flow therethrough when in a closed position. A sleeve valve allows communication between the central opening and a well annulus when in an open position and prevents communication between the central opening and the well annulus when in a closed position. The ball valve and sleeve valve are actuated substantially simultaneously in response to well annulus pressure. A rupture disc is ruptured due to differential pressure thereacross. This allows well annulus pressure to act across a differential area on the mandrel such that the mandrel is moved relative to the housing, thereby actuating the valves.