Abstract: A sealing assembly for a packer includes a generally cylindrical elastomeric sealing element telescoped onto a mandrel between upper and lower expander heads. A sealing ring is disposed between each expander head and the sealing element at each end thereof for expanding radially outward toward engagement with the inside wall of a casing to keep the element from extruding between the expander heads and casing when setting the packer. A substantially non-expandable retaining ring surrounds the mandrel adjacent each of said sealing rings and an annular receptacle surrounds the mandrel and is located between each of the expander heads and the opposite ends of the sealing element. The receptacle has inner and outer malleable annular walls which are normally spaced radially outward from the mandrel and an end wall is integrally connected between these inner and outer walls so as to define an annular trough opening toward the sealing element.

Abstract: A gravel packing tool includes a differential piston sleeve normally covering an auxiliary return port through the wash pipe located above an annular seal of a sand screen liner. The seal engages the wash pipe sealing against pressure communication between upper and lower sand screen sections in the liner. A shear pin connecting between the sleeve and the wash pipe holds the sleeve in its port closing position until the pressure differential between the inside and outside of the wash pipe causes the sleeve to shift into a second position breaking the pin and exposing the port to establish an auxiliary path for liquid to return through the wash pipe. A spring acting between the sleeve and the wash pipe urges the sleeve back into its closing position when the pressures inside and outside the wash pipe begin to equalize.

Abstract: An expansion joint for use with a retrievable packer includes a stop to limit the extent to which the joint may be extended and for providing vertical support for packer retrieval and further includes and interfitting key and slot acting between a housing and a mandrel telescoped into the housing in order to transmit torque through the joint.

Abstract: A stinger assembly for use in releasably connecting an upper section of a tubing string to a tool in a well includes a mandrel with a master cam slot formed therein to define upper and lower support shoulders. An indexable collar telescoped on the mandrel includes a follower which fits within the slot so that as the mandrel is moved vertically, the follower rides within the slot indexing the collar between upper and lower positions relative to the mandrel. A collet is journaled on and carried by the collar and includes a plurality of radially flexible spring-fingers which in the lower position are blocked against deflecting radially inwardly and in the upper position are free to deflect inwardly into an annular recess on the mandrel. The upper shoulder in the master cam slot supports the follower so that the spring-fingers are in registry with the recess to allow the collet to be disconnected from the well tool.

Abstract: A well production apparatus for fluid production through a pair of downhole safety valves to both well tubing and the tubing annulus includes a packer with a dual bore head connected to the lower end of the tubing. Primary and secondary packer mandrels depending from connections with said head serve as conduits for directing production fluid to the safety valves with the secondary mandrel also serving as a conduit through which a power conductor extends for connecting with a motor beneath the packer. A set of hydraulically movable slips slidable between retracted and deployed positions are carried on the mandrels on opposite sides of a packing element and a setting cylinder secured to one of said packer mandrels defines a pressure chamber containing a setting piston which is movable from a retracted position to an extended position to compress said packing element and deploy said slips for anchoring said packer in the casing.

Abstract: A blowout preventer comprises a housing with a pair of opposed rams carrying sealing blocks for sealing against tubing extending through the housing. Openings in the front side of the housing provide access to the sealing blocks for changing the blocks and a door closes the openings during normal in-service use of the preventer. A door guide permits the door to be slid in either of two opposing edgewise directions for exposing the openings one at a time but keeps the door from being movable substantially in a broadwise direction. Sealing inserts disposed within the openings between the door and the sealing blocks serve to seal against leakage and a rack and pinion mechanism provides the means for sliding the door from a centered position closing both openings to opposite edgewise positions exposing one or the other of the openings.

Abstract: A hanger and stinger assembly includes an expandable joint therebetween for the stinger to be telescoped with the hanger between extended and collapsed positions. An actuating spool for use in conjunction with a wireline tool mechanism is provided for hydraulically actuating the slips on the hanger and a releasable catch is connected between the stinger and a tubular receptacle mounted on the hanger to normally limit upward movement of the stinger to its extended position. A latch at the upper end of the stinger is utilized to hold the catch in a release position enabling the stinger to be withdrawn from the receptacle by a straight pull and a locking mechanism normally positions the latch to keep from holding the catch in its release position and the locking mechanism is hydraulically actuated.

Abstract: A bowl and slips assembly for supporting tubing in a well includes a plurality of gripping inserts supported on slip bodies by means of a cantilever connection with the inserts hang-supported from the top surfaces of the bodies so the bodies are in compression when supporting tubing in the well. In comparing adjacent slip bodies, one includes a shoulder formed in the top surface thereof so adjacent inserts are supported in vertically spaced positions. A safety ledge integrally formed with each body prevents broken inserts from falling into the well.

Abstract: A downhole oil well hydraulic pump has a reciprocating piston assembly with a piston ring mounted in a groove around the piston. This piston ring groove has a main portion which loosely mounts a piston ring and an auxiliary portion joining the main portion which accumulates well fluid to lubricate the piston ring during operation of the pump.

Abstract: A well tool assembly comprising a drillable cement retainer and setting tool includes a connection between a setting-tool mandrel and a retainer mandrel allowing for opening and closing of a cement valve in the retainer without disconnecting the setting tool from the retainer. A releasable locking mechanism in the connection keeps a tubular connector between the setting-tool mandrel and the retainer mandrel locked against sliding relative to one of the mandrels prior to deploying an upper slip set of the cement retainer. Additionally, a carrier in the setting tool includes radially resilient lugs connected between the setting-tool mandrel and a retaining sleeve for the upper slip set for sliding upwardly on the setting-tool mandrel to carry the sleeve into an upper position releasing the upper slip set for deployment. A set lock in the retainer holds the retainer mandrel against movement downwardly once the retainer is anchored in the well.

Abstract: A slip deployment mechanism for use in conjunction with a packer in a tubing string includes a cylindrical retainer telescoped over the upper ends of a plurality of slip segments and interfitting means on the segments and a mandrel coact with the retainer to keep the slips locked in place. A longitudinally acting spring reacting against a lateral reaction surface on the mandrel urges against the slip segments to advance them into an initially set position between an expander head of the packer and the interior wall of the casing when the retainer is moved from a locked position into a release position to free the slip segments. A stop acting between the mandrel and the retainer prevents the lower end of the retainer from binding against the slip segments in service use.

Abstract: A well swab cup has an annular bushing for supporting a plurality of longitudinally extending wire reinforcing members within an elastomeric cup-like body. The reinforcing members are supported by a base cup around the lower portion of the bushing and extending upward within the body. An internal elongated hollow reinforcing member extends upward from the base cup within the pattern of the wire reinforcing members and within the elastomeric, cup-like body.

Abstract: A crankshaft and its method of manufacture involves a straight, one piece shaft, with eccentric journals and circular gear base pressed onto the shaft and secured thereto in proper angular orientation.

Abstract: A hanger and stinger assembly includes an expandable joint therebetween for the stinger to be telescoped with the hanger between extended and collapsed positions. An actuating spool for use in conjunction with a wireline tool mechanism is provided for hydraulically actuating the slips on the hanger and a releasable catch is connected between the stinger and a tubular receptacle mounted on the hanger to normally limit upward movement of the stinger to its extended position. A latch at the upper end of the stinger is utilized to hold the catch in a release position enabling the stinger to be withdrawn from the receptacle by a straight pull and a locking mechanism normally positions the latch to keep from holding the catch in its release position and the locking mechanism is hydraulically actuated.

Abstract: A reversing control valve for a fluid operated downhole oil well pump having reciprocating pistons that is constructed to control the velocity and reversing of the pistons. The control valve functions to control the piston velocity and prevent damage to the pump components due to shock stresses induced by pressure impulses typically associated with pumped well fluids. The reversing control valve is constructed to regulate the piston velocity in response to the sensing of several pressure conditions in the well and in the pump.

Abstract: A jet pump has a nozzle assembly within a pump body to direct power fluid into a venturi assembly for mixing with well fluid to be pumped. The nozzle assembly has a nozzle shell removably mounted in the pump body and a nozzle tip mounted securely to the nozzle shell. The nozzle tip has one end portion mounted within an opening of the nozzle shell and is secured to the nozzle shell by a bonding material.

Abstract: A well swab cup has an annular bushing for supporting a plurality of longitudinally extending reinforcing members within an elastomeric cup like body. The reinforcing members are supported around the periphery of the bushing and extend upward to a mid-portion of the body. A reinforcing member position support assembly is located above the bushing within the body to locate and position the reinforcing members in a spaced relation to each other around the swab cup.

Abstract: A well packer has a mandrel assembly with a tubular packing element supported thereon between upper and lower support members that are arranged to telescopically compress the packing element upon setting of the packer. The packer is constructed to retain the mandrel assembly in a telescopically retracted position compressing the packing element longitudinally until released. The tubular packing element has a quantity of loosely packed, heat resistant, compressible material of a substantially inorganic composition. Upon setting of the packer, the packing material is compressed to a tightly compacted configuration in order to establish a fluid tight seal between the mandrel assembly and the well bore. Because of the configuration of the tubular packing element, this packer is suited for operation in wells where substantially high temperatures are prevalent.

Abstract: A well swab cup has an annular bushing for supporting a plurality of longitudinally extending wire reinforcing members within an elastomeric cup like body. The reinforcing members are supported in a base cup around the lower portion of the bushing and extend upward to a mid-portion of the body. Approximately one half of the reinforcing wire members extend the full length of the swab cup and the others terminate at a mid-point of the swab cup's length within its elastomeric body.

Abstract: A valve assembly is mounted with the setting tool for a hydraulically actuated well packer. The valve is located at a fluid passage in the setting tool and movable to control fluid flow from inside the setting tool to the well packer setting mechanism. In using this equipment, the valve is open when the setting tool is positioned within the well packer for setting of the well packer so fluid can pass through the setting tool and into the packer hydraulic setting mechanism. The valve is closed when the setting tool is removed from the well packer in order that fluid can flow through the setting tool and also through the bore of the well packer mandrel for fluid communication through the well tubing to a location below the packer without leakage into the annular cavity above or below the packer.