Abstract: An improved elastomeric seal for preventing both low or high pressure fluid from escaping past a rotatable valve stem or similar shaft. The annular seal comprises an outer generally envelope-shaped first plastic member for sealing engagement with the rotatable stem and valve bonnet, and an inner second plastic member substantially encapsulated by the first member. The annular legs of the envelope-shaped member are positioned downstream from fluid pressure, thereby sealing the inner second member from fluid attack. Novel techniques are employed for forming the elastomeric seal outside the valve bonnet by applying a substantial radially-directed force for deforming the first plastic member into the envelope configuration, while deforming the inner plastic member into an elliptical configuration. The seal in the substantially deformed configuration is then assembled within the bonnet cavity while preventing radial expansion of the envelope-shaped member.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling the operation of drilling or completion fluid pumps and a choke is disclosed. Control over the drilling or completion fluid pump can be independent of control of the choke. Control over the drilling fluid pump can be transferred to the choke control location. Pneumatic and electrical networks suitable for use with engine driven and electrically powered rigs are disclosed.

Abstract: An athletic shoe comprises a conventional rubber-like sole which is secured to a conventional fabric or leather upper defining a lengthwise extending slot overlying a tongue secured to the rear end of the toe portion of the upper. A plurality of pliant retaining bands are employed to effect the securement of the shoe to the foot of the user. Each retaining band passes beneath a flexible, resilient cushion insole and then upwardly along the inner wall of the upper and outwardly through one of a plurality of apertures provided along the edges of the slot which overlies the tongue of the shoe. The tightening of the pliant bands effects not only the pulling of the upper portion of the shoe into snug engagement with the top portions of the foot of the user but also elevates the cushion insole into snug engagement with the bottom portions of the foot of the user.

Abstract: An improved power tong is provided of the type having a open throat portion for laterally moving the tong on and off a string of tubing. A ring member is rotatably guided by upper, lower, and intermediate bearings, and a cage plate assembly is partially disposed within the ring member. The rotatable cage plate is adapted for gripping engagement with a first string of tubing. An opening is provided between an outermost surface of the cage plate and ring assembly and an inner surface of a door for receiving a second string of tubing. According to the method of the invention, the first string of tubing is made up by rotating the ring member and cage plate assembly while the second string of tubing is housed within the body of the tong.

Abstract: A device is provided for enabling the signal generated by a sensing device to be presented which is representative of the property sensed of a flowing material over a conveyor, or the like. The output is presented for observation and/or as a usable input to control means responsive to the sensed property. A pair of signals, one with a slow time constant, the other with a fast time constant, is derived from the sensing device signal. An output signal is in turn derived from one of the two signals, normally the slow. From the event rate in the sensing device, the expected statistical deviation is computed and utilized as the threshold of divergence of the pair of signals. When the divergence exceeds the threshold, the fast signal is switched to be the same value as the slow signal so that no perceptible perturbation appears in the output and the output signal is derived from the fast signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for extracting heat and mechanical energy from a pressured gas utilizes a plurality of peripherally spaced cylinders fixedly mounted in generally tangential relationship about a rotatable power output shaft. A unidirectional clutch is mounted on the shaft and the pistons provided for each cylinder are respectively provided with pivoted connecting rod connections to the outer housing of the unidirectional clutch so that movement of the pistons from the outer ends of the cylinders toward the inner ends will effect rotation of the output shaft, while reverse movement of the pistons in the cylinders will have no effect on the rotation of the output shaft. The cylinders are preferably mounted in a cylindrical wall of a hollow housing defining a sealed internal fluid pressure chamber communicating with the inner ends of each of the cylinders.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a reciprocating oscillation of a power output shaft comprises a plurality of peripherally spaced cylinders disposed in generally tangential relationship to the periphery of a cylindrical fluid pressure chamber and connected at their inner ends to such fluid pressure chamber. The gas pressure in such chamber is regulated to maintain a selected value above ambient. Cooperating pistons in each of the cylinders are interconnected by connecting rods to a spoke-like rocker element which is freely oscillatable about the output shaft to which the housing defining the cylindrical fluid pressure chamber is secured for co-rotation. A flywheel mass is connected to the spokes of the rocker element. Inlet and exhaust valves are provided in a cylinder head mounted in the outer end of each cylinder and are operable by contact with the outer face of the respective piston.

Abstract: A retrievable well tool for use in a subterranean well conduit utilizes plural valving elements to establish a fluid bypass around at least one annular elastomeric sealing element in response to movement of a control mandrel. The annular elastomeric sealing element actuates slips carried on the tool to engage the conduit wall in response to a differential pressure across the sealing element. The fluid bypass established by movement of the control mandrel is accomplished prior to an effective disengaging movement being imparted to the actuated slip elements.

Abstract: A locking apparatus for positioning a well tool within a subterranean well bore and comprising a primary locking member attached to the well tool; a nipple incorporable in a subterranean well conduit; and running and retrieving tools for positioning the lock member is disclosed. The lock has a no-go shoulder for initially positioning the lock adjacent the nipple and radially expandable locking dogs for carrying both upwardly and downwardly directed forces upon full expansion thereof after the no-go shoulder has been disengaged. At least two interlocking members disengageable only by separate manipulations maintain the locking dogs in a radially expanded fully engaged position. A retrieving tool having a rotational alignment means to position the tool relative to the lock is used to separately manipulate the interlocking members and to pull the disengaged lock from the well.

Abstract: A metal-to-metal fluid tight seal configuration formed between two abutting tubular members for use in subterranean oil and gas wells is disclosed. A metal-to-metal fluid tight seal is utilized in a shear release expansion joint assembly mounted by means of an anchor seal assembly in a conventional downhole packer. Sealing engagement is provided by plastic deformation of an annular seal ring between two abutting tubular members which are less ductile than the seal ring. In the preferred embodiment the metal-to-metal fluid tight seal is formed between abutting box and pin tubular members and the plastic deformation of the circular ring occurs as the ring is received within a groove in one of the abutting tubular members which has a dissimilar profile in comparison to the cross-section of the circular ring. Plastic deformation occurs as the box and pin members are rotationally threaded together and a continuous fluid tight seal is maintained along surfaces of both tubular members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for permanently locking a shiftable valve member in a well conduit in an open position is provided by permitting a spring metal band to expand from a contracted, run-in position to a radially enlarged locking position holding the shiftable valve member in an open position. Positioning lugs are additionally provided which are operable by upward movement of a mandrel to determine whether an actuating sleeve for the shiftable valve member is properly located in its position corresponding to the closed position of the valve so that it will not interfere with the operation of the expanding lock open band member. The tool can be used with a flow tube actuated flapper valve or with other conventional valves.

Abstract: A tubing trip tool for use in determining the extent of defects in tubular elements comprising a continuous string used in a subterranean oil or gas well during removal of the string from the well is disclosed. Local defects and axially extending defects, as well as the average wall thickness of the tubular elements, are measured. The position of the defects is determined by measuring the variable velocity of the tubular elements as they are removed from the well. A noncontact axial velocity detector comprises detector elements generating a first signal dependent upon an applied magnetic field and the axial velocity of the tubular elements. The first signal is compared to a signal dependent only upon the magnetic field generated in a second element. A pickup coil and Hall effect probes can be used.

Abstract: A valving apparatus for use in controlling the fluid pressure in a subterranean well conduit and in the annulus surrounding the conduit is disclosed. The valving apparatus is of the shuttle type and is shiftable between a closed position and an open position allowing flow within the tubing by the application of fluid pressure in the tubing above the valve. Pressure equalization below the valve is provided when the valve is in the closed position thus permitting the apparatus to be used with well tools in which annulus and tubing pressure must be equalized. A plug selectively inserted within the valve apparatus prevents the flow of fluids through the conduit in one direction and permits the build up of said fluid pressure. An annular fluid bypass does permit flow around the plug when the valve is shifted to the open position. An annular elastomeric sealing mass cooperates with a relatively movable annular ridge to provide sealing action for the valving apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting the sealing of a well conduit comprises the positioning of a sealing plug unit within a special nipple provided in the well conduit and defining first and second surfaces and a seal bore. The sealing plug unit is provided with external seal elements cooperable with the seal bore and a first and second latching elements respectively cooperable with the first and second surfaces provided on the nipple. The sealing plug is actuated by first passing it downwardly through the nipple and then retracting it upwardly, whereupon the first of the latching elements engages with one of the surfaces on the nipple, thus preventing further upward movement on the assembly and permitting the application of a tensile force to release the plugging unit from the remainder of the unit to bring a camming sleeve into engagement with the second latching element to cam such element outwardly into engagement with an upper recess of the nipple.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surfactant for use in invert emulsion drilling fluids, the invert emulsion drilling fluid produced therefrom, and a method of drilling, completing and working over a subterranean well utilizing said drilling fluid. The drilling fluid comprises an emulsion formed by producing a diamide having from between about 20 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a polyamine, and from between about 30 mole percent and about 70 mole percent of a fatty acid having from between about 6 to about 20 carbon atoms therein, the diamide thereafter being further reacted with from between about 15 mole percent and about 35 mole percent of a tricarboxylic acid. The total amine value of said oligamide being from between about 10 to about 30, and the acid value of said oligamide being from between about 26 to about 46. When the surfactant is diluted to about 70 w/w percent concentration with a suitable solvent, the ES.sub.

Abstract: An anchor for a tubing string for use with a sucker rod pump is provided which defines a large fluid passage area for the passage of treatment fluids through the anchor. The anchor comprises a tubular body or body extensions having two vertically spaced sets of radial ports. A flow sleeve is positioned in straddling relationship across the bore of the anchor body and has its external surface recessed to provide an annular passage connecting the two sets of radial flow ports. The upper set of flow ports are connected to a tubular flow line extending to the well surface while the lower set of flow ports are connected tubular flow line extending to the production zone or to the location where corrosion, scale or other treatment becomes necessary. The flow sleeve is run into the well with a sucker rod pump on the sucker rod string and can be detachably latched to the tubing string in overlapping sealing relationship to the radial flow ports.

Abstract: The disclosure provides an actuating mechanism for a rotatable ball valve unit wherein several axially extending pistons and cylinder units or bellows elements are mounted in the wall of the outer housing of the ball valve in angularly spaced relationship. Two diametrically opposed piston or bellows elements actuate the mechanism for axially shifting and then rotating the ball valve, while the remaining piston or bellows elements effect a displacement of the flow tube to maintain a seal carried by the flow tube in sealing engagement with the ball after its rotational movement has been accomplished. The desired delay of movement of the flow tube is accomplished through either varying the size of the bellows element or the spring constants of the springs opposing the actuating movement of the pistons, bellows elements or a combination of these.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for effecting the fail-safe perforating of a well casing and gravel packing of the perforated areas of the well casing and the screen with one trip into the well of a combined perforating and gravel packing apparatus which includes packer means and a screen. The gravel packing apparatus provides, in its run-in position in the casing, a continuous annular passage along its entire length, thus permitting fluid pressure to be applied through the casing annulus to a crossover tool and then to the firing mechanism of a perforating gun. The firing mechanism for the perforating gun incorporates a hammer mechanism responsive to fluid pressure supplied from the casing annulus but which will not release until a predetermined level of fluid pressure is applied thereto.

Abstract: A concentric walled conduit for incorporation within a tubular conduit string, and particularly for use in a subterranean well, is provided with one of the walls corrugated for substantially its entire length, preferably the inner tubular member. The annular space defined between the concentric tubular member contains a high heat resistant insulating material disposed around the outer surface of the inner tubular member. Each end of the annular space containing the insulating material is effectively sealed, and secured, such as by welds. The inner wall may be prestressed in tension for counteracting the forces which may be produced by a temperature differential between the tubular member walls of concentric conduit.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for detecting the level of gases entrained within a circulating drilling fluid used in subterranean well operations are disclosed. Detection of incipient gas kicks during drilling operations is accomplished by detecting the level of entrained gases. A gas-air sample is gathered at the surface of the well, and a gas-air sample having a constant relative humidity is delivered at a constant volumetric flow rate to gas sensors. Dilution air is automatically added to the sample when the gas concentration exceeds a known limit. Automatic periodic calibration of the sensors is provided. Stable signals from the gas sensor are obtained at two distinct flow rates.