Abstract: A landing nipple and safety system for installation in wells having a submersible pump for pumping well fluids to the surface plus a subsurface safety valve for maintaining the well under control during installation and removal of the pump from the well. The subsurface safety valve is hydraulically actuated by the discharge pressure of the pump. The landing nipple on which the pump is mounted and in which the safety valve is installed can be retrieved from the flow conductor by conventional wireline techniques.

Abstract: A hydraulically set well packer. The setting sleeve is releasably locked to the packer mandrel to prevent premature setting while the packer is being lowered to its desired downhole location. The setting sleeve is unlocked by increasing fluid pressure within the packer mandrel above a preselected value. The length of the setting sleeve can be easily adjusted to accommodate additional piston units, changes in mandrel length, and various packing elements.

Abstract: A system for releasably anchoring well tools within a tubing string at a preselected downhole location. The system includes a running tool, locking mandrel, and landing nipple. Control fluid pressure is used to ensure positive engagement of the locking mandrel within the landing nipple prior to releasing the running tool from the locking mandrel. The locking mandrel and running tool are particularly useful for installation of surface controlled subsurface safety valves. However, the system can be used to install a wide variety of flow control devices and/or well tools.

Abstract: A safety valve which prevents undesired fluid flow while conducting hydraulic workover or snubbing operations on a well. The safety valve includes three separate valve portions for blocking fluid flow. A poppet valve can be opened and closed from the well surface. Elastomeric sealing elements form a fluid barrier with the exterior of the work string. The work string itself opens and closes a flapper valve. The poppet valve allows fluid flow to bypass the elastomeric sealing elements.

Abstract: A pipe joint with premium threads having both metal-to-metal and polymeric seals to block fluid leakage through the joint. A polymeric seal ring is preferably carried within an annular groove in the box end. Metal sealing surfaces, each having a different inside diameter, are provided on opposite sides of the annular groove to form metal-to-metal seals with two compatible metal sealing surfaces on the exterior of the pin member. The joint is thus characterized by two metal-to-metal seals formed on opposite sides of the annular groove to trap the seal ring therebetween. The metal-to-metal seals cooperate to prevent undesired extrusion of the seal ring.

Abstract: Lock-open mechanism for surface controlled subsurface safety valves. A lock-open sleeve can be positioned by wireline techniques to hold open the valve closure means for a subsurface safety valve. The operating tube of the safety valve can be used to return the valve closure means to normal operations. One embodiment of the present invention is particularly useful as a well tool which can readily be attached to the lower portion of presently available flapper type safety valves. Alternative embodiments of the present invention can be built into both ball type and flapper type safety valves as an integral part of the complete safety valve assembly.

Abstract: A surface controlled subsurface safety valve having a ball type valve closure. The ball member and its associated components are protected from damage by preventing excessive control fluid pressure from applying force to the ball member. Also, rotation of the ball member is prevented until any difference in pressure across the ball member and its seating surface has decreased below a preselected safe value.

Abstract: A valve which controls either the injection of fluid from an exterior source into the interior of the valve housing or the exhausting of fluid pressure from the valve housing. The valve is especially adapted for controlling the injection of fluid into a wireline lubricator assembly. Alternative means are provided for opening and closing the valve. Preferably a metal-to-metal seal is used to control fluid flow.

Abstract: A surface controlled subsurface safety valve for deep well service. Communication of control fluid to the subsurface safety valve is controlled by a pilot valve at a subsurface location in close proximity to the safety valve. Responsiveness of the subsurface safety valve to decrease in control fluid pressure is thereby increased and the safety valve's closure speed is also increased. The pilot valve controllably communicates pressurized control fluid to open the safety valve and allows control fluid to be displaced into the flow path through the safety valve during valve closure.

Abstract: A submersible pump and safety system for installation in wells having a submersible pump adapted to land within a well flow conductor for pumping well fluids to the surface plus a subsurface safety valve or valves for maintaining the well under control as the pump is run into and removed from the well. The subsurface safety valve is hydraulically actuated by the discharge pressure of the pump. The landing nipple in which the pump and safety valve are mounted has longitudinal flow passageways to communicate pump discharge pressure to the safety valve. The landing nipple and longitudinal flow passageways are designed for improved reliability and minimize the possibility of mechanical damage interrupting control fluid flow to the safety valve.

Abstract: A mooring system for controlling an aerostat. The mooring system can be easily aligned with the prevailing wind direction while the aerostat is flying or when moored. The mooring system can either be a fixed, permanent ground installation or a mobile installation. All winches required to control the aerostat during flight and to secure the aerostat to the mooring system are powered from the same source. A nose receptacle is included as part of the mooring system to allow the aerostat to carry a heavier payload. The mooring system includes a main winch system to control flight of the aerostat and close haul and nose line winches to aid in securing the aerostat.

Abstract: A manually operated valve. The valve has a housing with a uniform outside diameter compatible with the outside diameter of flow conductors attached to the valve. An operating sleeve is movable longitudinally within the housing by engagement with a shifting tool from the exterior of the housing. The operating sleeve shifts the valve between its open and closed positions. A detent spring is provided to give an indication when the shifting tool has moved the operating sleeve sufficient to fully open or close the valve. The valve is particularly adapted for using in a drill string or workover string in an oil or gas well.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a temperature sensor which has a very rapid response to changes in fluid temperature. The configuration of the sensor is especially adapted for use in oil and gas wells to protect electrical components from mechanical damage. The electrical circuit provides a wide range of temperature readings with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: A well packer which is anchored downhole within the bore of a casing string by opposing slips. The well packer is hydraulically set. One embodiment of the invention allows the packer to be released from its downhole location by cutting the packer mandrels below the packing elements. The invention is particularly adapted for use with a dual string well packer. However, the anchoring and releasing mechanism of the present invention can be readily adapted for use with a single string well packer. Use of the present invention with a dual string packer is particularly desirable because it allows combining the features of hydraulic setting downhole, opposing slips for better resistance to differential pressure in either direction, and selective releasing of the packer from the downhole location.

Abstract: A standing valve for controlling fluid flow through a well flow conductor. The standing valve allows formation fluids to enter the flow conductor downhole and to flow in one directin to the well surface. The standing valve functions as a check valve to prevent fluids injected into the flow conductor at the well surface from flowing out the other end of the well flow conductor. The standing valve is operated by changes in the velocity of fluids flowing through the valve. When the pressure of fluid injected into the flow conductor from the well surface exceeds a preselected value, an alternative flow path is opened within the standing valve to allow the injected fluid to flow in the other direction through the valve.

Abstract: A differential pressure operated subsurface safety valve (20). A latch mechanism, having ball detents (63), holds the safety valve (20) open until the difference in pressure between fluid in chamber (40) within the safety valve (20) and fluid flowing through the safety valve (20) exceeds a preselected value. The difference in pressure acts upon a piston (37) which is attached to an actuator sleeve (31) causing the actuator sleeve (31) to shift the safety valve (20) from its open to its closed position. The chamber (40) is charged by and equalized with fluid pressure around the exterior of the safety valve (20).

Abstract: A system for washing chips from the inside diameter of a workpiece. The chip washing system significantly improves the efficiency of a lathe used to machine the inside diameter of a workpiece having a longitudinal flow passage therethrough. The system injects a large volume of fluid into the end of the longitudinal flow passage opposite the end into which a machining tool or boring bar is inserted. The fluid flow removes metal chip cut from the inside diameter of the workpiece. The time that the machining tool or boring bar can be used without damage is increased by both increased cooling at the point of contact with the workpiece and preventing metal chips from becoming fouled around the boring bar.

Abstract: A mechanical safety switch for closing electrical contacts in a well tool. The mechanical switch has several safety requirements which must be satisfied before the electrical contacts will close including upward pull on a wireline and a preselected value of fluid pressure exterior to the switch. The safety switch can be incorporated into a well perforating gun to provide safe, reliable operation of an electrically powered perforating gun by a conventional wireline. Preferably, the electrical circuits of the well perforating gun should include a motion sensor and a timer for increased safety.

Abstract: A well packer for use in geothermal wells or .[.stem.]. .Iadd.steam .Iaddend.injection wells. The packer can be anchored to the inner wall of a casing string to resist differential pressure in either direction. The anchoring means includes a single set of slip elements which are hydraulically or mechanically set. The packer includes a sealing unit with packing elements especially adapted for high temperature wells. The packer can be simply released from the casing by upward tension on the tubing.