Abstract: The present invention provides a latch assembly carriable on a tubing string extendible into a subterranean well, the latch assembly being selectively engageable between upper and lower sections of the tubing string. The latch assembly comprises an outer housing and an inner body, with latching means carried on one of the housing and the body for selectively securing the latch apparatus to the lower section. Latch engaging means are carried on the other of the housing and the body and the lower tubing section for selective co-engagement between the latching means, the lower tubing section, and one of the housing and the body. Piston means are on one of the housing and the body and have a piston head with first and second piston chambers between the piston head.

Abstract: An apparatus which is carriable on a tubing string extendible within a subterranean well, wherein the tubing string has an upper tubing section which is extendible from and above the apparatus to the top of the well, and a lower tubing section which is extendible from and below the apparatus. The apparatus is manipulatable to rotate the lower tubing section without rotating the upper tubing section and comprises first and second housings, one of the housings and the lower tubing section being rotatable relative to the other of the housings. Actuator means are insertable within at least one of the housings for applying rotation to one of the housings. Co-engaging means are provided on the actuator means and one of the housings for applying rotational force to one of the housings and the lower tubing section to rotate the one housing and the lower tubing section without rotating the other of the housings and the upper tubing section.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus for a vertical material feeder which feeds particulate material from a storage bin through a prefeeder agitator and a feeder bowl to an outlet pipe. The weighing apparatus includes a radiation source and detection means positioned on opposite sides of the path of travel of the material through the feeder bowl for generating a signal representing the mass of material in the path. The weighing apparatus also includes a speed sensor for generating a signal representing the speed of the material through the feeder bowl and means responsive to the mass signal and the speed signal for generating a signal representing the rate at which the material is being fed through the feeder bowl.

Abstract: A well liner for a subterranean well is provided comprising an elongated tubular member which may be a wire wrapped screen having a plurality of slots or passages which are disposed longitudinally and circumferentially of and extending from the outer surface to the inner surface of the tubular member, and an impermeable inorganic matrix substantially filling said slots or passages and coated upon said inner and outer surfaces, said matrix being the reaction product of a first reactant consisting essentially of magnesium oxide and a second reactant consisting essentially of magnesium chloride, in a solvent or solution therefor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for automatically and continuously balancing the unbalanced thrust resulting from the operation of a fluid pump which is driven by a fluid pressure motor. A hydrostatic-type thrust bearing is employed on the common shaft of the fluid pump and motor by applying pressures to opposite sides of the circular flange of such hydrostatic thrust bearing to compensate for any unbalance in thrust occuring during operation of the pump without requiring any axial movement of the hydrostatic thrust bearing flange. Because of the lack of flange movement, the thrust bearing operates with a constant fluid film thickness.

Abstract: An actuator is provided for converting linear to rotary motion to manipulate a valve. Preferably, the actuator has a rotor which is rotatable about an axis and is operably associatable with the valve member. A pair of motors, preferably actuated by pressure fluid, each includes a reciprocal push rod assembly. Flexible means are coupled between the push rod assemblies of the motors and spaced apart points on the rotor such that when one of the motors is actuated, the respective one of the push rod assemblies is moved linearly in a direction to transmit torque to the rotor, thus causing the rotor to rotate about its axis in one direction and manipulate the valve member to one of open and closed positions, and when the other of the motors is actuated, the other of the push rod assemblies is moved linearly in an opposing direction to transmit torque to the rotor whereby the rotor is rotated about its axis in an opposite direction to manipulate the valve to the other of open and closed positions.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for coupling engagement of misalignable flanges disposed around the exterior of first and second tubular ends which may be initially rotatably or pivotally disposed with respect to one another, each of the flanges having at least one passage which is exteriorly conically tapered in a first direction therethrough. In one embodiment, the apparatus provides plug means which are exteriorly conically tapered in the first direction for companion tapered receipt within each of the conically tapered passages, the relative taper of the passage and the plug means preventing the plug means from freely passing through the respective passage. The plug means has a bore which is disposed therethrough with the center line of the bore being eccentrically defined away from the planar axis of the plug means. Means are provided which are companionly receivable through the bore of the plug means for securement with the plug means and for engaging the flanges.

Abstract: The method of recovering petroleum from a subterranean reservoir preferably comprising the steps of: (1) introducing through an injection well a predeterminable amount of an acylated polyether polyol, the polyether polyol thereof having the formula: ##STR1## wherein: A is an alkylene oxide group, --C.sub.i H.sub.2i O--;O is oxygen;i is a positive integer no greater than about 10;j is a positive integer no greater than about 100;k is a positive integer no greater than about 100;N is nitrogen;R.sup.1 is one of hydrogen, a monovalent hydrocarbon group containing less than about C.sub.11, or [A.sub.

Abstract: The life of acrolein in an aqueous medium is increased by incorporation into the aqueous medium of an effective amount of a buffered acid preferably selected from the class consisting of: (1) H.sub.x A.sub.y, wherein H is hydrogen, A is an inorganic radical, and x and y each are positive integers whereby H and A are valence balanced; (2) RA, wherein R is one of hydrogen, an alkyl or an aryl group, and A is one of CO.sub.2 H, OPO.sub.3 H.sub.2, PO.sub.3 H.sub.2, OSO.sub.3 H, and SO.sub.3 H; and (3) ##STR1## wherein N is zero or a positive integer from one through three, M is a positive integer of at least one, and A is a member selected from the class consisting of CO.sub.2 H, OPO.sub.3 H.sub.2, PO.sub.3 H.sub.2, OSO.sub.3 H, and SO.sub.3 H.

Abstract: The life of acrolein in an aqueous medium is increased by incorporation into the aqueous medium of an effective amount of an acid preferably selected from the class consisting of: (1) H.sub.x A.sub.y, wherein H is hydrogen, A is an inorganic radical, and x and y each are positive integers whereby H and A are valence balanced; (2) RA, wherein R is one of hydrogen, an alkyl or an aryl group, and A is one of CO.sub.2 H, OPO.sub.3 H.sub.2, PO.sub.3 H.sub.2, OSO.sub.3 H, and SO.sub.3 H; and (3) ##STR1## wherein N is zero or a positive integer from one through three, M is a positive integer of at least one, and A is a member selected from the class consisting of CO.sub.2 H, OPO.sub.3 H.sub.2, PO.sub.3 H.sub.2, OSO.sub.3 H, and SO.sub.3 H.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for leveling a relatively massive template structure which is positionable on the ocean bottom in proximity to one or more sites of subterranean wells. Since the template is primarily utilized to mount or guide later applied drilling, completion or production equipment, it is essential that the template be positioned on its fixing piles in a precise horizontally level position. Accordingly, a plurality of sleeves are secured to the template which respectively loosely encircle the hollow fixing piles. Hydraulically operated clamp means are provided to lock the encircling sleeves at any selected vertical position to a respective fixing pile. A hydraulic elevating mechanism is lowered into the top open end of at least one such fixing pile and utilized to effect the lifting of the sleeve and adjacent portion of the template to which the sleeve is secured to a height approximating the desired level position.

Abstract: A test valve assembly is provided which is adapted to be lowered on a tubular string between upper and lower tubular sections into position within a blowout preventer stack at the upper end of a well bore of a subterranean oil or gas well. The apparatus has first and second fluid flow passageways within a housing. A valve member is disposed between the flow passageways and is shiftable to open position to communicate the flow passageways during selective incremental testing of the well and is manipulatable to closed position to isolate the flow passageways prior to and subsequent to selective incremental testing of the well. Means are provided which are responsive to mechanical manipulation of the tubular string for shifting of the valve member between closed and open positions. The apparatus and the tubular string may be selectively latched with respect to one another without manipulation of the valve member between closed and open positions.

Abstract: A pipe or a pipe and a coupling are threaded onto the end of a pipe string. The applied torque is monitored and, when a reference torque value is exceeded, the number of turns are counted. When either the actual torque or the actual turns exceeds a predetermined minimum value for that parameter and the value of the other parameter exceeds a predetermined minimum value, but is less than a predetermined maximum value, a good joint is indicated and the make-up is stopped. A bad joint is predicted and make-up is stopped when the value of the actual torque divided by the actual turns falls outside a range of values defined by the slopes of a pair of boundary lines and predetermined minimum torque and minimum turn values.

Abstract: A valve apparatus is provided for use in a subterranean well and is responsive to manipulation of a fluid transmission conduit to manipulate a valve head relative to a valve seat between open and closed positions, the valve head means comprising camway slot means defined exteriorly thereon. Camway ball means are secured to the valve seat means and carriable in the camway slot means to pivot the valve head means as the head is rotated relative to its seat.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for making threaded joints, such as pipe joints, within a range of predetermined applied torque and turns values. A pipe or a pipe and a coupling are threaded onto the end of a pipe string. The applied torque is monitored and, when a reference torque is exceeded, the number of turns made is counted. According to a representative aspect of the invention, when either the actual torque or the actual turns are within a predetermined percentage of a predetermined minimum value for that parameter and the other parameter has exceeded a predetermined minimum value, an indication is generated to the operator of the apparatus that he should be ready to stop the joint making operation.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for making threaded joints, such as pipe joints, including means for storing and indicating values of the actual torque applied to one of the members being rotated with respect to the other member and values of actual turns made by the one member and a d.c. power supply for powering the storage and indicating means. The power supply is connected to a first source of power such as an a.c.-to-d.c. converter for normal operation. The power supply generates a predetermined magnitude voltage and has means responsive to the predetermined magnitude value for switching to a second source of power, such as a battery, when the first source of power fails. The power supply also includes a d.c.-to-d.c. inverter having transistor switching means connected between a transformer and a power source. The transistor switching means are switched on and off to induce current flow in the transformer secondary to generate the power to the storage and indicating means.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for connection along a conduit for free flowing transmission of fluids in a first direction and for selective control of fluid flow in a second direction. The apparatus provides means whereby fluid flow in the second direction in excess of a predeterminable rate of the fluid flow permits a fixed volume displacement of fluid within the conduit without limitation upon the predeterminable rate of fluid flow. The apparatus also defines second means whereby fluid flow in the second direction and within the predeterminable rate of fluid flow permits an unrestricted volume displacement of the fluid through the conduit.

Abstract: A well liner for a subterranean well is provided comprising an elongated tubular member which may be a wire wrapped screen having a plurality of slots or passages which are disposed longitudinally and circumferentially of and extending from the outer surface to the inner surface of the tubular member, and an impermeable inorganic matrix substantially filling said slots or passages and coated upon said inner and outer surfaces, said matrix being the reaction product of a first reactant consisting essentialy of magnesium oxide and a second reactant consisting essentially of magnesium chloride, in a solvent or solution therefor.

Abstract: A gas separation apparatus is provided for removing moistened particles from a stream of air by subjecting the moistened particle laden air stream to centrifugal force to separate the moistened particles from the air stream and thence separating the water from the particles and finally causing the air stream to pass to an outlet through a mechanical separator assembly to remove any particles still remaining therein.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring and recording environmental conditions in a deep bore hole using a down hole gauge including pressure and temperature sensors and data processing elements is disclosed. A pressure transducer such as a Bourdon tube is provided for measuring the down hole pressure. An encoder coupled to the pressure transducer produces a plurality of data bits defining a coded word representative of the down hole pressure. A temperature transducer is also provided for measuring the down hole temperature. An oscillator is coupled to the temperature transducer for providing a timing signal having a frequency which is proportional to the down hole temperature. Serial shift registers are provided for recording data bits in separate groups of bits defining data words which are representative of the down hole pressure and temperature conditions.