Abstract: This invention relates to exchanged mordenite and catalysts employing the same.

Abstract: An adjustable bearing assembly has radial and thrust bearings adjustable on a bearing shaft to eliminate clearance in the bearings and in springs in the bearing assembly. The bearing assembly is shown in combination with an in-hole motor of the fluid driven type. Components driven by the shaft are locked on the shaft by an eccentric surface or a combination of an eccentric and a concentric surface.

Abstract: A subsea test valve system for wells completed at the floor of the sea includes a safety valve and disconnect mechanism mounted in a blowout preventer at the bottom of the sea and having hydraulic fluid pressure operated means for opening the safety valve and controlling a latch in the disconnect mechanism. A tubing test string shut off valve is releasably latched in the disconnect mechanism and has a hydraulic fluid operated shut off valve and a valve for venting the test string to the riser pipe which extends from the blowout preventer to the vessel or platform at the surface of the sea. The subsea hydraulic pressure operated devices are supplied with pressure fluid from a subsea accumulator under the control of subsea pilot valves which are operated by small pressure differences, to accomplish rapid operation at great depth from a control console on the vessel or platform.

Abstract: A diamond drill bit for drilling bore holes in earth formations having a body connectible to a drilling string, and provided with a matrix portion of hard metals in which diamonds are surface set at the outer gage portion and adjacent to the bit axis, the hard metal matrix having preformed grooves in which preformed diamond impregnated segments are inserted, which are a mixture of diamonds and hard metals, and secured to the matrix portion by brazing material. During bit rotation in the bore hole, the segments cut the major portion of the hole, the diamonds being dispersed throughout the mass of each segment for selective release from the segment as the diamonds become damaged and lost, thereby exposing new diamonds in the segment at a controlled rate, and thereby producing continual resharpening of the segments. As a result, the drilling rate of the bit is increased, as well as the length of hole drilled.

Abstract: A wireline releasable sealing connector is connected in a tubular pipe string together with a packer which is adapted to be set in the well casing. The connector is releasable and connectable without rotation of the pipestring. Tension is transmitted through the connector by a latching collet which is locked against release in response to relative longitudinal movement between an outer body and an inner sealing mandrel, unless, while the connector is in compression, a wireline tool is seated within the connector and engages a connector collet and thereby prevents locking of the latching collet.

Abstract: An upper stabilizer and a lower reamer are mounted on an integral or one-piece body adapter to be connected in a tubular drilling string for drilling well bores.

Abstract: A manifold unit is connected to a running tool and pipe and run into position in a receptacle on a subsea template or platform to establish a flow path between fluid passages in the receptacle. Fluid supplied through the running pipe forces locking elements into locking engagement with the receptacle and the unit is forced into seating engagement in the receptacle to make a seal between the unit and the flow passages. The unit is retrievable by engaging another pipe in the unit and supplying pressure to release the locking elements.

Abstract: A shoe embodying a multiple chambered pneumatically inflated insert encapsulated in a yieldable foam which acts as a bridging moderator filling in irregularities of the insert and providing a substantially smooth and contoured surface for supporting the foot in a comfortable manner. The encapsulated insert can be used as an inner sole slipped into an existing shoe, or it can be used as an integral, composite midsole or outsole portion of a shoe.

Abstract: The method is disclosed for drilling a pilot hole and subsequently enlarging the pilot hole in earth formation. A dual concentric pipe string is used for circulating air downwardly through the outer pipe, through a pilot bit and upwardly through the bore hole outside the pipe string to bail cuttings, during drilling of the pilot hole. The air pressure expands the cutters of an expansible bit while a milited portion of the air supplied cools the cutters. After the cutters are fully expanded, additional air is utilized to clean and cool the cutters. Air is returned through the inner pipe of the dual concentric pipe string. A venturi device is utilized to induce return flow through the inner pipe during enlargement of the hole and to vacuum residue when enlargement is completed. The dual concentric pipe string is made up of lengths of pipe providing threaded, sealed joints.

Abstract: A double grip well bore packer run into a well casing on a pipe string has actuator means responsive to hydrostatic or applied fluid pressure to set anchor slips and deform a packing into engagement with the casing, and the setting force is locked into the packing. Pressure differential from below the packer actuates hold-down elements into engagement with the casing. A shearable member is sheared by a shear piston which is normally pressure balanced but rendered unbalanced when a releasing tool is seated in the packer and operated so that fluid pressure can act on the shear piston and release the packer for retrieval from the well casing.

Abstract: A plurality of valve structures are incorporated in a drill pipe string for drilling a well into the earth utilizing air as the drilling fluid. A first valve is located in the drill pipe string just above the drilling bit, and an additional valve or valves are located in upwardly spaced relation within the drill collar string. Each of the valves has a valve member held in a position allowing the flow of air through the valve by a fusible support, and when the support melts, the valve member will shift to a position closing the valve. The valve just above the bit is combined with a float valve to prevent the upward flow of fluid into the drill string, while the valve or valves spaced upwardly in the drill collar string are full opening valves which allow the running of instruments through the drill string to selected locations above the bit. The additional upwardly spaced valve or valves include a flap held in a position to one side of the bore through the valve body by a fusible retainer.

Abstract: A stab type connector for large diameter pipe has a pin structure and a box structure held in interconnected relation by a locking and loading ring between a circumferential shoulder in the pin structure and a circumferential shoulder on a threaded locking and loading sleeve of the box structure with confronting circumferential pin structure and box structure seating surfaces loaded into engagement. The coengaged and loaded sleeve shoulder and ring and coengaged pin and box structure surfaces transmit axial forces through the connector and resist bending. The connector is useful as a conductor pipe or pile connector.

Abstract: Tool for drilling bore holes and earth formations in which a bit body matrix, including tungsten carbide, has a plurality of carriers secured thereto, to each of which a cutting element is secured by soldering, after the body matrix has been produced, to avoid subjecting the diamond material embodied in the cutting element to the high temperatures required to produce the matrix body, which would have deleterious effects on the diamond. Each carrier has great rigidity and is provided with a plane surface confronted by the plane back surface of the cutting element to provide a desired narrow solder gap between the cutting element and carrier of uniform width, into which the solder is deposited to adhere the cutting element and carrier together, with the load being transmitted directly from the cutter element to the rigid carrier.

Abstract: A telescopic shock absorber for incorporation in a drill string connected to a rotary bit for drilling a bore hole in earth formations, the shock absorber including a single spring assembly which is compressed downwardly when sufficient downwardly directed drilling weight is transmitted from the drill string through the shock absorber to the drill bit, and which is compressed upwardly when the internal drilling fluid pressure in the shock absorber fully overcomes the downwardly directed drilling weight, assuring that the spring assembly is in its compressed condition when the shock absorber is telescoped or extended, enabling it to absorb shocks and vibrations incident to the drilling operation and under both conditions.

Abstract: Well bore apparatus is installed in a well casing on a tubular string having a packer anchored in and forming a seal within the casing. In the tubing string above the packer is a safety valve structure held open by the pressure of fluid supplied through control fluid tubing extending to the top of the well between the exterior of the tubing string and the casing. A long tubing seal structure has a lock releasable by the pressure of fluid supplied through the tubing string. The tubing seal structure is released to enable the tubing string to move freely in either direction, in response to pressure and/or temperature changes, whereby tension and compression reversals are eliminated. The tubing string above the sealing receptacle can be pulled from above the packer and other downhole structures. The hydraulic release is operable by fluid pressure to release the receptacle for longitudinal movement relative to a long sealing slick joint.

Abstract: A pilot hole of a preselected diameter is drilled with a suitable bit in an earth formation to a desired depth. The bit is withdrawn from the hole, and an expandable hole opener or underreamer run in the pilot hole with its cutters fully retracted and closely adjacent to each other. When the depth is reached at which enlargement of the pilot hole is to commence to produce a blast chamber, the cutters are forced laterally outwardly by fluid pressure while the hole opener is rotated, without moving the hole opener axially of the pilot hole, to cut the wall of the pilot hole and increase its diameter to the extent determined by maximum expansion of the cutters, thereby forming the upper end of the enlarged blast chamber.

Abstract: Well bore apparatus is installed in a well casing on a tubular string having a packer anchored in and forming a seal within the casing. In the tubing string above the packer is a safety valve structure held open by the pressure of fluid supplied through control fluid tubing extending to the top of the well between the exterior of the tubing string and the casing. A long tubing seal structure has a lock releasable by the pressure of fluid supplied through the annulus, or alternatively by rotation of the tubing in an emergency.The tubing seal structure is released to enable the tubing string to move freely in either direction, in response to pressure and/or temperature changes, whereby tension and compression reversals are eliminated. The tubing string above the sealing receptacle can be pulled from above the packer and other downhole structures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are disclosed for drilling a pilot hole and subsequently enlarging the pilot hole in earth formation. A dual concentric pipe string is used for circulating air downwardly through the outer pipe, through a pilot bit and upwardly through the bore hole outside the pipe string to bail cuttings, during drilling of the pilot hole. The air pressure expands the cutters of an expansible bit while a limited portion of the air supplied cools the cutters. After the cutters are fully expanded, additional air is utilized to clean and cool the cutters. Air is returned through the inner pipe of the dual concentric pipe string. A venturi device is utilized to induce return flow through the inner pipe during enlargement of the hole and to vacuum residue when enlargement is completed. The dual concentric pipe string is made up of lengths of pipe providing threaded, sealed joints.

Abstract: A drill string shock absorber has a dual spring system for absorbing vibrations and shock loads during rotary well bore drilling operations. A first spring acts in compression when sufficient weight is set down on the drill bit through the shock absorber to overcome the fluid pressure forces tending to extend the shock absorber, and a second spring acts in compression when the weight applied to the bit through the shock absorber does not overcome the fluid pressure forces. A splined connection transmits torque to the shock absorber during drilling operations, and seals are provided between the telescopic shock absorber components for confining therein a body of lubricant, the pressure of which is equalized with the pressure of drilling fluid flowing through the shock absorber.

Abstract: An air ventilation and washing system for extracting noxious or other impure air, such as is present above the cooking surface of a stove having automatically activated electrical and mechanical fire control apparatus selectively responsive to changes in temperature is disclosed. The air ventilation system has a hood structure providing a make-up air distribution plenum through which air is distributed and pressurized for equal distribution of make-up air along the length of the hood structure. A vortex baffle is provided in the hood between a make-up air cavity and an exhaust cavity to cause efficient mixing of room air and make-up air from the exterior, while protecting personnel from exposure to the exterior make-up air, and a vortex chamber causes the mixing of the make-up air and room air with contaminated air from the stove.