Abstract: A well pipe string joint locator for attachment to the end of a length of coiled tubing and moved within the pipe string as the coiled tubing is lowered or raised therein is provided as well as methods of using the joint locator. The joint locator is comprised of an elongated tubular housing having a longitudinal fluid flow passageway therethrough and having at least one lateral port extending through a side thereof. Electronic means are disposed within the housing for detecting the increased mass of a pipe joint as said locator is moved through the joint and generating a momentary electric output signal in response thereto. Valve means are disposed within the housing responsive to the electric signal for momentarily opening or closing the lateral port of the housing to thereby create a surface detectible pressure drop or rise.

Abstract: Automated objective crosslink time and crosslink temperature determinations are provided in a method of testing for chemical crosslinking of a fluid. A fluid having a crosslinking agent is placed in a vessel and a paddle is rotated through the fluid in the vessel at substantially a constant rotational speed. A paddle torque parameter is sensed at sequential times and digital signals are encoded to define digital torque data representing values of the sensed torque parameter. In response to stored digital torque data and digital time data, a baseline torque parameter value and a change in the digital torque data representing increasing torque of the paddle are determined. In response to the baseline torque parameter value and the change in the digital torque data, a crosslink time for the fluid is determined. A crosslink temperature can also be determined. This is determined in response to the crosslink time and stored digital temperature data that has been obtained at sequential times.

Abstract: A twin carriage coiled tubing injector apparatus for use in inserting coiled tubing into a well, temporarily suspending the coiled tubing, and removing the tubing from the well. The apparatus includes a superstructure with a pair of spaced carriages disposed therein. The carriages each have a gripper chain drive system rotatably mounted thereon and movable therewith. An actuation and linkage system allows the carriage to be moved toward and away from one another in a transverse direction with respect to the superstructure. This movement allows gripper chain systems to be engaged or disengaged from tubing extending through the apparatus. A roller chain system is disposed in each of the carriages and is adapted for engagement and support of the gripper chain systems as the gripper chain systems are engaged with the tubing. A timing gear system may optionally be provided to insure that the rotational speed of the gripper chain systems are substantially constant.

Abstract: A flameless nitrogen vaporizing unit includes a first internal combustion engine driving a nitrogen pump through a transmission. A second internal combustion engine drives three hydraulic oil pumps against a variable back pressure so that a variable load may be imposed upon the second engine. Liquid nitrogen is pumped from the nitrogen pump driven by the first engine into a first heat exchanger where heat is transferred from exhaust gases from the first and second internal combustion engines to the liquid nitrogen to cause the nitrogen to be transformed into a gaseous state. The gaseous nitrogen then flows into a second heat exchanger where it is superheated by an engine coolant fluid to heat the gaseous nitrogen to essentially an ambient temperature. The superheated nitrogen is then injected into the well. The engine coolant fluid flows in a coolant circulation system. Heat is transferred to the coolant fluid directly from the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A whipstock for use in sidetrack drilling operations in a well bore. The whipstock has a whipstock case with a whipstock body disposed therein. The whipstock is to be comprised of a drillable material so that after the whipstock has been set, the well bore can be re-opened simply by drilling through the whipstock. The whipstock body is preferably comprised of high compressive strength cement. The whipstock: also includes an offset mandrel attached to the whipstock: case. The whipstock mandrel has a whipstock bore and may have an inflation packer attached to a lower end thereof. The inflation packer is actuated through the whipstock bore to seal against the well bore and anchor the whipstock in place.

Abstract: An improved downhole tool apparatus including, but not limited to, packers and bridge plugs which more fully utilize highly stressed non-metallic components, including slips, slip wedges, and packer element retaining shoes than prior tools. The non-metallic packer element retaining shoes of the present invention are preferably made of separate shoe segments initially held in place by at least one retaining band. Such non-metallic packer element shoes do away with troublesome prior art metallic shoes and backups which tended to spin upon each other or about the mandrel while milling or drilling the tool out of a wellbore. Therefore, the subject invention increases the ability to drill or mill downhole tools out of a well bore in less time than it would take with using conventional or non-conventional drilling or milling techniques or equipment.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention includes a mixing tube and inlets for conveying substances into the mixing tube such that the components intersect at a common point. A replaceable insert directs a dry component into the mixing tube. A liquid inlet bi-directionally sprays a liquid component between a wall of the mixing tube and the insert and toward the common point. A recirculation inlet directs a recirculated component toward the common point. Mixing is enhanced by a flow deflector and a flow interceptor which converge and turn the substances. The method of the present invention includes conveying substances into a mixing tube and intersecting the substances at a common point in the mixing tube to form a mixture.

Abstract: A bulk material transport apparatus, such as a truck or trailer, having at least one bulk material pressure vessel mounted thereon. The pressure vessel is provided with at least one sealable hatch opening, a first port and a second port all of which are offset from the apex of a torispherical top portion of the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel is provided with at least one discharge port located in a toriconical bottom portion thereof and is also provided with air inlet means for introducing pressurized air into the vessel. An operator platform being positioned at a preselected distance from the offset hatch opening and being within such proximity of the offset hatch opening so as to enable an operator positioned on the operator platform to gain access to the interior of the pressure vessel through the hatch opening is provided.

Abstract: An apparatus that connects to a standard PCMCIA interface of a microprocessor-based computer which typically communicates with only a single external device through the interface enables the computer to communicate with multiple external devices through the one PCMCIA interface. The apparatus operates to implement a method which transfers data from multiple devices to a personal computer through a single PCMCIA interface.

Abstract: An apparatus for downhole injection and mixing of fluids into a cement slurry. The apparatus includes embodiments which either carry a fluid to the proper injection point in a wellbore or maintain it at the proper injection point until activated. In a first embodiment, the apparatus is characterized as a cementing plug having a fluid holding chamber therein. When the plug is pumped downwardly in the wellbore, the fluid in the chamber is flowed out of the chamber and mixed with the cement slurry by a venturi effect. In a second embodiment, the apparatus is characterized by a casing portion having a fluid holding chamber therein. A solenoid valve controls communication of the chamber with the well annulus, and fluid flow through the well annulus causes the fluid in the chamber to be flowed outwardly by a venturi effect. The second embodiment includes a casing shoe disposed below the fluid holding chamber.

Abstract: A surface switchable down-jet/side-jet apparatus. The apparatus comprises a housing with a valve sleeve slidably disposed therein. When the valve sleeve is in a first position, fluid pumped into the apparatus will be jetted out of at least one longitudinally directed port. An actuator, such as a ball, is dropped into the apparatus to seat on the valve sleeve, and when pressure is applied thereto, forces the valve sleeve downwardly, shearing a shear pin. The valve sleeve is moved downwardly to a second position in which at least one transverse port in the housing is uncovered and the longitudinal port is closed. Additional fluid pumped into the apparatus is jetted radially outwardly through the transverse port.

Abstract: A stage cementer with integral inflation packer. The apparatus comprises a mandrel with an external closing sleeve and an operating sleeve interlocked therewith. Below the operating sleeve is an opening sleeve. The opening sleeve is mechanically actuated by a pump-down plug to actuate the opening sleeve and thereby to allow inflation of a packer portion disposed around said mandrel. An anchor ring is disposed in said mandrel and engaged therewith by a retainer ring. The anchor ring limits movement of the opening sleeve, and a shallow portion of a groove prevents radially inward movement of the retainer ring so that the anchor ring remains lockingly engaged with the mandrel. A back check valve prevents the packer from deflating. When the packer portion is inflated, a packer shoe slidably moves about an outer surface of the closure sleeve. After the packer portion is inflated, additional pressure is applied which ruptures a rupture disc to open a port to the well annulus above the packer portion.

Abstract: A continuous multi-component slurrying process at an oil or gas well comprises flowing at least three separate streams of different essential materials directly into a predetermined mixing unit at the oil or gas well, wherein each of the essential materials is required to obtain a predetermined defining characteristic of the slurry.

Abstract: A high pressure well cementing plug assembly for use in a pipe during the cementing of the pipe in a well bore is provided by the present invention. The assembly basically comprises top and bottom cementing plugs which include high strength inner tubes for supporting high differential pressures exerted on the plugs. The bottom end of the inner tube of the bottom plug is adapted to supportingly engage a float shoe or the like upon landing. Also, the bottom end of the inner tube of the top plug and the top end of the inner tube of the bottom plug are adapted to supportingly engage each other when the top plug lands on the bottom plug. The high strength inner tubes support high pressure differentials exerted on the plugs and prevent the plugs from collapsing or otherwise being damaged.

Abstract: A burner apparatus comprising: a liquid fuel discharge means for discharging a liquid fuel; an ignition chamber wherein an ignitable gaseous composition can be ignited to yield an ignited composition; and a gas delivery means for delivering a gaseous, free oxygen source and a combustible gas to the ignition chamber such that the ignitable gaseous composition is provided in the combustion chamber. The ignition chamber is positioned with respect to the liquid fuel discharge means such that, upon leaving the ignition chamber, the ignited gaseous composition will ignite the liquid fuel as the liquid fuel is discharged from the discharge means. Preferably, the gas delivery means includes a conduit through which the free oxygen source is conducted into the ignition chamber. The gas delivery means also preferably includes a passageway, adjacent the exterior of the conduit, through which the combustible gas is conducted into the ignition chamber.

Abstract: A downhole coiled tubing latch for positive latching to a drill pipe while pumping fluids. The apparatus comprises a housing positioned in the drill pipe with a slidable mandrel positioned in the housing. The apparatus further comprises a latch stinger which can be lowered on a coiled tubing and sealingly engaged with the mandrel and the housing. When weight is set down, the stinger and mandrel are moved downwardly which actuates latch fingers on the mandrel which latchingly engage a groove on the stinger to positively hold the stinger in place while fluids are pumped therethrough. One or more pressure balance pistons are used to help hold the apparatus in a latched position when pressure is applied. When weight is picked up, a spring returns the mandrel to the unlatched position so that the stinger may be removed.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved casing filling and circulating apparatus for running a casing string into a well bore using a drilling rig casing elevator and related equipment. The casing filling and circulating apparatus includes a flow passage therethrough and a check valve disposed within the flow passage for preventing spillage and for preventing fluid back-flow through the apparatus when the casing string is being lowered into a well bore. Additionally, the filling and circulating apparatus includes a pressure relief seal means which relieves pressure from the casing prior to when the filling and circulating apparatus is disconnected therefrom by back-flow through the apparatus thereby preventing spillage of fluid. Methods of using the casing filling and circulating apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved methods of combating lost drilling fluid circulation in wells, particularly in wells penetrating vugular and naturally fractured formations such as geothermal wells. The methods basically comprise the steps of forming a quick set cementitious composition which when drilled after setting produces cuttings compatible with the drilling fluid being used, introducing the cementitious composition into the drilling fluid thief zone in the well, allowing the composition to set into a cementitious plug in the thief zone and then continuing the drilling of the well bore through and below the cementitious plug.

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.