Abstract: A stand-off device for tubulars comprising a sleeve adapted to fit around a tubular, the sleeve comprising an outer surface and a plurality of blades extending along the outer surface of the sleeve, the blades comprising a bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface of each blade is curved longitudinally. The device may be metallic or non-metallic. Non-metallic devices further comprise a protective coating to inhibit abrasion, corrosion, sparking, and electrolysis. The stand-off device is particularly suitable for use with casing in deviated wellbores.

Abstract: A maneuverable powerjaw apparatus for making and breaking joints of well bore tubular is provided for operation on a rig floor. Preferably a plurality of wheels are mounted to a mobile housing in a reverse tricycle orientation that permits high maneuverability of the mobile housing including rotation in position. Preferably, the two forward wheels are individually powered by hydraulic motors. Vertical orientation of the mobile housing is preferably provided by hydraulic struts that, once the mobile housing is positioned adjacent the pipes on the rig floor, permit the power jaws to be positioned at the correct vertical position on the joints for making, breaking, and spinning of the pipes. In one presently preferred embodiment, a pivotal connection is provided between the mobile housing and a frame to which torque arms are attached. In this embodiment, the frame rotates with respect to the well bore tubular as the joints are made or broken while the mobile housing may remain stationary.

Abstract: An improved tubular running tool and method is disclosed for use on a rotary or top drive drilling rig of the type for inserting and selectively, internally gripping a tubular which may be utilized to lift, lower, rotate, and torque tubulars, and which may be used to fill and/or circulate fluid in and through tubulars and to cement tubulars within a wellbore. The internal tubular running tool may be used as or in conjunction with fill-up and circulating tools and with cementing head wiper plug assemblies among other tools. The tubular running tool includes an improved moving mechanism having a cylindrical pneumatic chamber annularly positioned with respect to a barrel element that forms an axial fluid pathway therethrough. A cylindrical piston is moveable within the cylindrical chamber to thereby move a cylindrical piston rod connected to gripping slips such that the slips selectively engage an interior portion of a tubular member.

Abstract: A drillable, anti-rotation device for limiting the rotation of a downhole tool, such as a cement plug, when drilling out the down hole tool. The drillable, anti-rotation device comprises a drillable sleeve connected within a non-drillable outer tubular member connected within a pipe string. The sleeve has one or more grooves or other indentations, and/or one or more ribs or other protrusions extending inwardly within the interior of the device for gripping or otherwise retarding the rotation of such downhole tool.

Abstract: A combined casing mill and whipstock or other exit guide is positioned in a drill string assembly used to mill a section of steel casing, which as the section mill mills along the section of casing, allows the exit guide to be transported adjacent the milled-out casing and allows a drill bit and drill string to be run along the surface of the exit guide and into the earth formation. In an alternative embodiment, the combination of the section mill with the exit guide is used in open hole operations having no casing.

Abstract: A tool tie down system is provided which ties down a well tool inserted into the top end of a casing string being lowered into a well from upward movement caused by pressure forces from below the well tool inside the upper end of the casing string. The system includes a frictionally engageable clasp for supporting a tie down yoke on the bails connecting the traveling block and elevator slips assembly. A plurality of cords attached to the elevator on one end and the tie down yoke on the other end redirect forces from below to hold the well tool in place resisting these forces, the cords being fabricated, for example from an elastomer, a metal or metal alloy, a fiber, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: An improved float shoe/collar apparatus is provided for use during casing run in or floated in. The apparatus has an inner tubular member and outer tubular member, movable upon release of shear pins to cause longitudinal movement relative to each other. The movement of the inner tubular member closes a plurality of downward jets and opens a plurality of upward jets. The apparatus also is equipped with a set of check valves, held open on run in, and activated to close upon cementing to prevent “u-tubing” of fluid back into the casing.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for achieving single-sided girth welds which adapt to and compensate for inherent geometrically induced difficulties in single-side girth welding applications. The inherent geometrically induced difficulties include those caused by axial misalignment, angular misalignment, and mismatched ovality. The present invention's apparatus and method minimize root defects due to undercut, incomplete penetration, excess penetration, or lack of fusion. The present invention provides accordingly limits defects introduced during the welding process and thus limiting fatigue failures. The present invention does not require the use of backing strips. The present invention further utilizes an improved lineup clamp for use in single-sided girth welding which does not cause damage to the interior of the pipes being welded.

Abstract: A tubular body or mandrel incorporated into a string of tubular pipe, on which first and second swab cups and a casing scraper are mounted, is run into a cased earth borehole to displace a first fluid in the borehole, usually a drilling fluid, with a second fluid, usually either a completion fluid or a workover fluid. In a first embodiment, reverse circulation, in which the second fluid is pumped into the borehole annulus above the swab cups, and in which the first fluid is thereby pumped back towards the earth's surface through the interior of the string of tubular pipe, causes displacement of the first fluid merely by lowering the string of pipe while pumping the second fluid into the borehole annulus. In a second embodiment, using normal circulation, the first fluid is pumped from the earth's surface downwardly through the interior of the string of tubular pipe into the borehole annulus between the pair of swab cups.

Abstract: A packer joint is provided for mounting on a vessel or pipeline entry valve which includes a stinger guide and seal. Clamping collet are mounted within the packer to retain the stinger in the desired position. Different metals within the guide body from those of the stinger rod prevent gaulding and damage. A lock-up the rod may be released via a bore hole providing tapping access to the collets.

Abstract: An improved device and method for packaging, transportation, or handling in storage of products and materials, and especially materials such as painted or powder coated products and powder materials. The invention is understood to relate to a container in the form of a cardboard box having a liner of geotextile fabric. Optionally, the box has an inner box sandwiching the liner between itself and the outer box.

Abstract: A system for filing or discharging compressed gas or liquid cylinders mounted on the cylinder. An automatic system for filing or discharging a compressed gas cylinder, specifically chlorine, sulfur dioxide, or ammonia cylinders. The system includes an electric motor that rotates the cylinder valve system toward open or closed position without interfering with or requiring additional adapters for the filing or discharge hardware. The motor, gears, and controls are assembled as one unit to eliminate the necessity for a separate control panel or interconnecting control wires. The system has the capabilities for integral leak detection with automatic shutdown, battery backup in the event of power failure, remote control by leak detector, remote control panic button, remote low weight transmitter, remote vacuum switch for automatic switch-over systems and other remote digital signals.

Abstract: A cover lifting device with inwardly turned handles capable of forming a hand hold when engaged to manipulate and remove covers of various weights and sizes. The device comprises a pair of lever arms which are pivotally connected and having inwardly turned handles to form a hand hold when engaging and removing covers. The notched ends of the jaws of the device generally facilitate engaging covers that require unthreading before removing.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved power generation facility and method of construction. The improved power generation facility of the present invention provides a low impact implementation suitable for placement in or near a developed, populated area comprising ultimate consumers. The improved power generation facility comprises a foundation; a plurality of legs which form a support structure capable of supporting a plurality of condenser modules with cooling fans of predetermined size; and a housing for containing predetermined power generation equipment, the housing fitting inside the support structure and having a facade which can be made to blend into a surrounding environment's architecture. In a preferred mode, the legs are tricolumn legs that may be removably fastened to each other and to the foundation. Further, the housing may be suspended from the support structure and the plurality of cooling fans situated to minimize noise from the cooling fans.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is capable of detecting a selected gas in a liquid sample to a sensitivity in the range of 10 to 10,000 parts per trillion. Such sensitivity is achieved by concentrating the selected gas in a sample without concentrating sources of ionic interference that are also present in the sample. Selective concentration of the gas is achieved by vaporizing the sample, correcting for non-ideal vaporization, selectively condensing the selected gas from the vapor, and detecting the selected gas. Methods for using the apparatus and detecting the selected gas are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tubular running tool and method adapted for use on a rotary or top drive drilling rig of the type for inserting and selectively, internally gripping a tubular which may be utilized to lift, lower, rotate, and torque tubulars, and which may be used to fill and or circulate fluid in and through tubulars and to cement tubulars within a wellbore is provided. The internal tubular running tool may be used as or in conjunction with fill-up and circulating tools and with cementing heads wiper plug assemblies among other tools. The tubular running tool includes: a barrel forming an axial fluid pathway therethrough, the barrel having a top end and a bottom end, the barrel forming a lower connecting section; at least one slip movably connected to the connecting section for selectively engaging an interior portion of a tubular member; and a moving mechanism functionally connected between the slips and the barrel for moving the slips in engaging contact with and from the tubular member.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus are provided for improving a coupling to a substrate and orientation of seismic receivers such as a geophone to a substrate for the analysis and gathering of seismic data.

Abstract: A housing is attached to a tubular sub located within a tubing string suspended in an earth borehole, the connection being an angled ball channel connected between the housing and the tubular sub. A ball carrier is provided within the interior of the housing which can be moved in two opposite directions either using pneumatic or hydraulic pressure against one or two pistons. The ball carrier can have either two balls or three balls. The movement of the ball carrier by the applied pressure causes one of the pockets holding the balls to be aligned with the ball channel which allows the balls to be successively dropped into the ball channel and thus into the interior of the tubing string. The ball carrier includes a sequencing apparatus for providing and ensuring that the balls are dropped in the proper sequence.

Abstract: A connector for connecting rods, particularly fiberglass sucker rods for use in an oil well, end to end. The connector comprises a rod receptacle having an interior surface shaped to form at least one, but preferably a plurality, of annuluses between the rod and the interior surface of the rod receptacle. The annulus(es) are filled with an initially flowable adhesive which hardens in the annular space(s) to form a wedge or series of axially aligned wedges. The wedge or wedges comprise an annularly thin portion and an annularly thick portion distal to the thin portion. The thick portion of the wedge approaches the rod within the receptacle distal to the thin portion. In the present connector, the thick portion of the wedge or wedges approaches the rod asymptotically.

Abstract: A rodless pump is disclosed which is connected to a pressure source via a conduit. In a common oilfield application the pump would be connected to the bottom of a tubing string within the reservoir fluid to be produced. A pressure source such as a hydraulic pump would be connected at the surface to the tubing string so as to selectively apply pressure via fluid in the conduit to the pump, raising the plunger assembly in the pump drawing reservoir fluid into the pump. When pressure via the surface pressure source is released, a gas source in the pump urges the plunger assembly downward in the pump urging the reservoir fluid in the pump into the tubing and to the surface. Preferably, the pump includes dampening mechanisms at both the top and bottom of the plungers stroke so as to reduce metal to metal impact within the pump. This dampening mechanism may include but is not limited to elastomer barriers, springs, and other dampening mechanisms such as discussed further below.