Abstract: A cross-linking system is shown for use in a water based well fracturing fluid which includes a mixture of a titanate constituent and a boron constituent. The mixture is effective to produce a cross-linked water based fracturing fluid which is shear stable at normal fracturing pump rates and which is temperature stable at elevated well temperatures.

Abstract: A submersible pump motor has a bearing that resists rotation with the rotor shaft. The motor has a stator within which a rotor is rotated. The rotor has spaced-apart rotor sections mounted on a shaft. The bearing is stationary and has a cavity in its outer periphery. An elastomeric element is contained in the cavity. The element is of a material that swells upon operation of the motor for frictionally engaging the stator to prevent rotation of the bearing.

Abstract: A method for pneumatically transferring particluate solid materials into an earth formation penetrated by a well bore is shown. A gas is flowed into the well bore to establish the desired injection rate and pressure. A particulate solid material is then added to the established gas flow passing into the well bore by flowing a gas containing an entrained particulate solid material into the established gas flow to thereby transfer the solid particulate material pneumatically into the well bore.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming laminations from electric motors enables reclamation with epoxy filled stators. The stator is removed from the housing and placed on a support in clamps. One clamp is moved with respect to the other to separate a section of the stator from the remaining portions of the stator. This also pulls windings from the separated section. The stator is then reclamped and another section is pulled from the stator. When broken into individual sections free of windings, the epoxy filler can be loosened either chemically, or by heat, or by heat and quenching.

Abstract: A method and a clamping assembly for securing rock bit sections during welding. The assembly has a chuck jaw that is supported by metal rods, which give the assembly enough resiliency to conform to the shape of the rock bit and which keep the chuck jaw parallel to the base so that the point of engagement between the chuck jaw and the rock bit section remains constant.

Abstract: A method of connecting a joint of drill pipe for rotary earth drilling having tool joint members on each end with threaded connections for connecting the joint with other joints of drill pipe is shown. Nickel plating is applied to a portion of the threaded connection of at least one of the tool joint members. The threaded connection is then doped with a zinc base thread compound and the joint of drill pipe is made up by threadedly connecting the nickel plated threaded connection of one tool joint member with the threaded connection of a mating tool joint member. The nickel plated tool joint member when used with zinc base thread compound provides a connection with desirable frictional properties at elevated temperatures such as are encountered in geothermal wells.

Abstract: An improved seal assembly is shown for use in an oil well packer of the type having a packer body having a longitudinal bore, a packer carried on the body for sealing off the annular space between the body and a surrounding well conduit, a mandrel slidably disposed within the body longitudinal bore, the mandrel being spaced-apart from the body to define a fluid flow path between the mandrel exterior and the interior of the body, and wherein the mandrel is slidable between an open, running-in position in which the fluid flow path communicates the annular space above the packer with the mandrel longitudinal passageway and a closed, set-position in which the fluid flow path is sealed off. The improvement comprises a face seal housing as a part of the mandrel which has a weight loading shoulder and a deformable seal portion. The weight loading shoulder is engageable with the packer body when the mandrel is in the closed, set position to thereby support the weight of the mandrel from the body.

Abstract: A first control assembly is provided operative to supply gas from a supply of gas under pressure to the inlet of a centrifugal liquid pump at increasing and decreasing rates responsive to decreases and increases in the pressure of liquid discharge from the pump. The first control assembly includes spring structure for closing an associated air flow controlling valve member which is yieldingly biased toward the open position by the pressure of liquid discharged from the pump and a second control assembly is provided operative to increase and decrease the loading of the aforementioned spring structure responsive to increases and decreases in demand for liquid being discharged from the pump.

Abstract: A support and connection system for a riser run from a subsea well to a floating vessel has a female housing supported from the vessel that receives a male termination head secured to the riser string. The termination head fits within a tapered bore in the termination housing. Radial ports connect with radial passages in the termination head for transmitting fluids to and from the vessel and subsea well. A compound curved seat prevents jamming of the termination housing in the termination head due to the high tension placed on the termination housing. The seat is annular and also curves in a vertical direction.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for monitoring corrosive effects of fluids downhole in an oil or gas well. A side pocket mandrel is installed in the well tubing string at a depth at which monitoring is desired. Coupons of a selected material are mounted in a carrier, which is placed in the side pocket of the mandrel. Ports and passages allow casing fluid or tubing fluid to communicate with various coupons. The carrier is then removed from the well and the coupons are inspected.

Abstract: A sub-sea well assembly has features to eliminate side-to-side movement between a wellhead and a wellhead housing due to movement of the drilling vessel. The wellhead extends into the wellhead housing and is connected on its upper end to equipment extending to the vessel. Slips are located in an annular space between the wellhead housing passage and the exterior wall of the wellhead. The slips are mounted so that they will slide from the contracted position when the wellhead is being placed into the wellhead housing to an expanded position after the wellhead is locked into the wellhead housing. In the expanded position, the slips move downward to wedge, but are not weight bearing. The slips are self-actuating, with a spring to urge them downward into the expanded position.

Abstract: A universal liner hanger apparatus is shown for hanging a liner in a well bore which has a universal body having upper and lower connecting ends. A hanger mechanism including a plurality of gripping slips and slip expanders are carried on the tubular body for engaging the well bore casing. Interchangeable setting mechanisms can be connected to a selected one of the upper and lower connecting ends and are actuable to engage the gripping slips with the slip expanders responsive to each of mechanical manipulation and fluid pressure. A single universal body is used with each of the different setting mechanisms to make-up the universal liner hanger apparatus. The hanger mechanism shown includes a plurality of longitudinal bars of single piece construction with spaced slip elements integrally formed therein. The longitudinal bars include a guide portion adapted to be slidingly received within guide tracks formed in selected ones of the expanders on the exterior of the tubular body.

Abstract: A cutter bit wherein the dust collection openings are formed diametrically opposite each other, on an axis transverse to the longitudinal central axis of the bit body, and at least partly in the tapered dust control surfaces. The junctions of the heel surfaces and dust control surfaces define a pair of crown lines being parallel to one another and in planes which intersect the carbide insert in oblique fashion.

Abstract: A pressure compensator for a submersible pump has features to prevent damage while lowering the pump into the well. The pressure compensator includes a bellows located below the pump. A retainer will mechanically retain the bellows in a position other than its maximum lubricant volume position while lowering the pump assembly into the well. Once the motor begins operation, the retainer will release the bellows for normal movement. The retainer inlcudes a linkage member that is connected to the top of the bellows and extends upwardly to the drive shaft. A latching device latches the linkage member to the drive shaft. A reverse threaded portion in the latching device unscrews the latching device from the linkage member once the motor begins to rotate. A pressure sensing assembly is coupled between the pressure compensator and the motor. A toroidal inductor in the sensing assembly provides a passage for the linkage member.

Abstract: A marine conductor coupling is shown in use in a subsea well installation for connecting a blowout preventer stack to the subsea well head with the coupling including a one piece body of annular configuration having a mandrel receiving vertical bore aligned to a vertical through bore, a plurality of latching dogs received in a mating plurality of horizontally disposed dog receiving slots extending through the annular side wall of the body normal to and intersecting the mandrel receiving bore, mounting studs for connecting the body directly to the associated blowout preventer stack component, whereby forces tending to separate the connector body from the well head mandrel are transmitted directly through the one piece body of the connector, an actuating ring disposed about the inclined rear faces of the latching dogs for urging the dogs into latching engagement with the mandrel, a knock-out ring having a lost motion connection to and being suspended below the actuating ring to be raised by dog releasing motion

Abstract: A ball dropping assembly is shown of the type which is connected in a string of pipe for dropping a ball in the pipe string. A main body is mounted on the pipe. The main body has an interior bore which communicates with the interior of the pipe. A cam housing is received within the main body bore and has a ball receiving recess formed in the interior thereof. A ball dropping can is rotatably received within the cam housing. The can has partially cut-away sidewalls which form a camming surface for the ball. A retaining nut engages and seals the cam housing and can within the body whereby rotation of the can with respect to the cam housing houses the camming surface to contact the ball to thereby eject the ball from the ball receiving recess into the interior of the pipe without opening the assembly to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A seal assembly of the mechanical face seal type has features to reduce leakage across the faces. The seal assembly includes a stationary seal ring through which a rotating shaft passes. A rotating seal ring is mounted around the shaft for rotation therewith. A spring urges the rotating seal ring into contact with the stationary seal ring. A plurality of concentric, nonintersecting grooves are placed on the face of the stationary seal ring to enhance sealing.

Abstract: A speed control for an AC motor varies the frequency and amplitude. The speed control includes a rectifier which converts the AC power supplied to negative and positive DC. A switch connects each power conductor leading to the motor with one of the DC voltages. The switches are switched on and off to provide alternately positive and negative voltage. Controls for the switches include an oscillator which provides pulses of frequency that can be varied. A binary counter counts the pulses from the oscillator and provides binary outputs. A memory unit provides a programmed output to the switches for each binary output received. In one embodiment, the amplitude is varied by comparing a triangular wave from the oscillator with the DC input level. Enabling pulses equal to the excess of the triangular wave over the DC input enable the memory unit. In another embodiment, the enabling pulses are provided to an amplitude switch which is cycled to vary the DC rail voltage.

Abstract: A latch connects tendons run from a floating platform to a socket in a foundation on the sea floor. The latch includes a latch body having a plurality of dogs disposed within and urgible outward from the latch body. A piston is releasably disposed within the latch body above the dogs and moves downwardly when released to urge the dogs outwardly from the body into latching engagement with the socket. A trigger mechanism in the latch releases the piston when the latch body lands in the socket and contacts a trigger pin projecting upwardly from the bottom of the socket. A series of wedges are disposed exteriorally on the body and inhibit lateral movement of the body relative to the socket when the tendon is subjected to a cycle bending loads.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an earth boring bit of otherwise conventional construction except for the bearing and cutter retention. A snap ring is used to retain the cutter, the grooves that receive the ring and the ring construction being such that the ring is forced into the retainer groove when the cone is thrust inward. The ring cannot therefor accidentally return to its assembly position to permit cutter loss. This enables the use of exclusively frictional bearings and retainer means of exceptional strength and reliability.