Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation with a stabilized foamed fracturing fluid comprising from about 30 percent to in excess of about 95 percent by volume of carbon dioxide with the remainder comprising a substantially anhydrous liquid and a selected surfactant. The foam is formed in situ by injection of a stabilized liquid-liquid emulsion containing liquid carbon dioxide into a well bore penetrating the formation. The temperature and pressure of the emulsion is controlled to maintain the carbon dioxide in the liquid phase during injection into the well bore. Thereafter, the carbon dioxide is heated by the subterranean formation to a temperature above about 88.degree. F. at which time the stabilized emulsion spontaneously forms a high quality stabilized foam.

Abstract: An environmentally compatible high density drilling or blow-out control fluid is provided wherein densities between twenty-four (24) and forty (40) pounds per gallon can be achieved. Such preferred fluid is aqueous based, uses a non-toxic gelling agent such as fine iron oxide powder, a coarser first weighting material such as fine iron powder, and a second still coarser weighting material such as iron shot, steel shot or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a high-density perforating gun in which the shaped charges carried thereby are oriented so that the jets emanating therefrom substantially intersect the axis of the gun. The shaped charges may be vertically spaced by a distance less than the diameter of the charges, but sufficient for each charge jet to pass unobstructed by other jets emanating from the charges immediately above and below.

Abstract: A method for fracturing a subterranean formation whereby undesirable fines are removed from the fracture face and/or proppant pack. The method is carried out by introducing hydrogen ions and fluoride ions into the formation being fractured and allowing hydrofluoric acid to be formed which dissolves the undesirable fines.

Abstract: Thixotropic cement composition comprising water, hydraulic cement, titanium chelates, and crosslinkable agents and methods of using same for sealing or cementing subterranean zones penetrated by a borehole are provided.

Abstract: An annulus pressure responsive downhole tool includes a housing having a power piston slidably disposed therein. First and second pressure conducting passages communicate a well annulus with first and second sides of the power piston. A retarding device is disposed in the second pressure conducting passage for delaying communication of a sufficient portion of an increase in well annulus pressure to the second side of the power piston for a sufficient time to allow a pressure differential across the power piston to move the power piston from a first position to a second position relative to the housing. The retarding device is an annular floating shoe having a large number of O-rings frictionally engaging inner and outer tubular members of said housing.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a pressure balanced tubular spring slip-joint and jar including a generally tubular outer housing having longitudinal slot means in the wall thereof, and a hammer area of increased wall thickness at one end thereof, within which housing slidably extends a jar mandrel means having first and second longitudinally spaced enlarged diameter anvil areas, at least one fastener tapped into one of those anvil areas, the heads of said fastener protruding into said slot means. Both said housing and said mandrel means possesses axial bores therethrough, which are placed in communication via the bore of a tubular spring within the housing, whereby during extension and contraction of the slip-joint and jar means of the present invention the area within said axial bores and said spring bore is of a constant volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of viscosifying aqueous fluids and a viscosifying composition which when admixed with an aqueous fluid produces a viscosity increase in the fluid in excess of the additive viscosity of the individual composition components. The viscosifying composition comprises xanthan gum and at least one member selected from the group consisting of the ammonium, hydrogen or alkali metal salts of polystyrene sulfonate, polyvinyl sulfonate and hydrolyzed copolymers of styrene sulfonate and maleic anhydride.

Abstract: A protective cover comprises a substantially circular cover including a center shear disc surrounded by an annular outer portion, mounted in the fluid end of a plunger-type high pressure pump. The cover is held in place by the retainer assembly of the present invention, which is secured to the fluid end. When subjected to a compressive load by the plunger in excess of a predetermined limit, the shear disc shears from the outer portion along an arcuate boundary of reduced wall thickness between the shear disc and outer portions and the sheared disc is propelled by the pressure into the retainer assembly, striking a plug which in turn forces an impact disc into the end of the retainer, which includes a substantially circular recess therein of lesser diameter than the impact disc. The impact disc is thus sheared as the inner portion thereof enters the retainer recess, the energy from the shear disc being thereby substantially dissipated without harm to the retainer.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a pipe string portion which is disposed in a pipe string of a well and a probe portion which can be lowered by wireline or other suitable means into the well for engagement with the pipe string portion. The pipe string portion includes a sliding sleeve valve which is biased in a closed, or unactuated position, by a spring contained within the pipe string portion. The probe portion includes a connector mechanism which engages lugs of the pipe string portion for imparting an opposing force to the sliding sleeve valve which overcomes the biasing force of the spring so that the valve can be opened to permit reservoir pressure to enter a cavity of the probe portion containing a sensor mechanism. The coupling and decoupling of the connector mechanism with the lugs is effected through two downward and two upward movements of the probe portion.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an apparatus for placement and retrieval of gauges employed to measure temperature, pressure and other parameters in a well bore. The apparatus comprises a gauge receptacle means incorporated in a pipe string including a substantially tubular outer housing having a substantially tubular inner housing substantially coaxially therein, the inner housing being supported in the outer housing by a plurality of support rings having longitudinally extending apertures therethrough. The inner housing has a landing nipple profile cut therein, whereby a locking mandrel having a gauge holder secured thereto may be run into the pipe string on a wireline, and locked into the inner housing after which the wireline may be retracted. The locking mandrel may also be subsequently unlocked and retrieved with the gauge holder by wireline.

Abstract: A cartridge loaded stud gun and a complementary anode attachment fitting provide a system for explosively attaching a sacrificial anode to a subsea structure. The system is capable of being operated by a remote-controlled vehicle, and contains a means for orienting the gun and sensing its alignment in order to prevent firing the gun with the barrel canted relative to the subsea structure, a position which might permit ricocheting of the fired stud.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a battery housing suitable for holding a battery which may generate a dangerously high level of internal pressure. The housing includes a receptacle having a vent passage covered by a rupture disc, the rupture disc in turn covered by a diffuser head having a longitudinal bore therein extending from the rupture disc to a blind end, the bore being traversed by at least one lateral passage leading to the exterior of the housing. Upon reaching a predetermined internal pressure level, the rupture disc ruptures and vents the interior of the housing safely to the exterior through the lateral passage.

Abstract: An annulus pressure responsive sampler valve comprising a power section and a sampler section having an annular sample chamber therein; the sampler valve having a full bore therethrough.

Abstract: An aqueous gel containing a retarded crosslinking composition comprising an organotitanate chelate, polyhydroxyl-containing compound and an aqueous fluid. The gel is useful for fracturing and placing propping agents within a subterranean formation. The gel has a high viscosity in the formation and has pumping characteristics in turbulent flow similar to those of the base gel.

Abstract: An additive for use with a water-in-oil emulsion type fluid to reduce the viscosity of the fluid to a desired range comprising a fatty acid polyester containing at least 300 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Cementing compositions and methods of using same in high temperature oil and gas well cementing operations are disclosed. Such compositions are comprised of fresh or salt water cement slurries, a water-soluble borate and particular terpolymers comprised of a strong acid monomer, a weak acid monomer and a nonionic monomer.

Abstract: An enclosure for electronic equipment includes an outer housing having an inner housing mounted therein. The inner housing has a fan and air deflector members mounted therein for maintaining a controlled circulation of air flow within the interior region of the inner housing so that air within the interior region is moved in heat exchange relationship with a heat sink member extending into the inner housing. The heat sink member in the inner housing is connected by thermal diodes with another heat sink member attached to a side wall of the outer housing. Another fan directs an air flow over the heat sink member attached to the side wall of the outer housing. A third fan is mounted within the interior region of the outer housing, but externally of the inner housing, for providing air circulation within the interior region of the outer housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of acidizing a subterranean formation or well bore employing an acidic solution containing a corrosion inhibitor composition comprising an inhibiting effective amount of an acetylenic alcohol, a quaternary ammonium compound, an aromatic hydrocarbon and an antimony compound.

Abstract: A fluid lancing apparatus is provided for cleaning sludge from between tubes of a tube bundle of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger tubes are arranged in a plurality of parallel equally spaced rows. The lancing apparatus includes an elongated lance arm and a jet head attached to the lance arm. The jet head includes at least first and second longitudinally spaced transversely directed nozzles, a longitudinal distance between the first and second nozzles being equal to a spacing between the parallel equally spaced rows of the tube bundle. An alignment rod is provided for initially positioning the lancing apparatus. Methods of utilizing such an apparatus are also disclosed.