Abstract: A flexible linear shaped charge for discharging a high speed jet to penetrate a target comprising an outer housing which includes a sheath and the high speed jet, the high speed jet being integral with the sheath, and an explosive core disposed within the outer housing between the sheath and the high speed jet, the outer housing comprising a low density matrix mixed with a high density heavy metal powder to increase the confinement of the explosive core, thereby improving the performance of the shaped charge.

Abstract: A downhole tool for early formation evaluation is disclosed. The tool comprising a housing having a fluid passageway and a mandrel having an interior volume. The mandrel is slidably disposed within the housing and has a plurality of axial positions relative to the housing. The mandrel is slidably operated responsive to the fluid pressure within the interior volume such that the mandrel cycles through said plurality of positions. A retractor sleeve is operably associated with the housing and the mandrel for engaging the mandrel and slidably urging the mandrel relative to the housing. The retractor sleeve is slidably operated responsive to the fluid pressure within the interior volume. A seal assembly is slidably disposed around the housing. The seal assembly includes a floating piston.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods of using the apparatus provide ease forming an opening from a first wellbore to a second wellbore, the first wellbore having a portion thereof which intersects the second wellbore. In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus has a cutting device disposed within a housing and a series of spaced apart nozzles directed radially outward from the housing. In another preferred embodiment, the apparatus is axially, rotationally, and radially alignable relative to the liner of the first wellbore. The cutting device is connected to the nozzles. The nozzles direct a discharge from the cutting device radially outward to cut into the tubular structure.

Abstract: A gravel pack apparatus and associated method of completing subterranean wells provides convenient and economical gravel packing operations, permitting a sand control screen to be run into the well attached to the apparatus which is, in turn, attached to production tubing, and further permitting the tubing to be detached from the screen. In a preferred embodiment, a gravel pack apparatus has interoperable valve and tubing release portions. The valve portion may be closed after the gravel packing operation is completed. Closure of the valve portion activates the release portion, permitting the apparatus to be separated.

Abstract: An annular safety valve system provides a retrievable annular safety valve and packer. In a preferred embodiment, an annular safety valve system has an annular safety valve connected to an upper tubing string extending to the earth's surface. The annular safety valve is initially connected to the hydraulically set packer which has no openings through an inner mandrel thereof. The safety valve is retrievable separate from the packer after the packer has been set. The safety valve is rotated relative to the packer in order to release the safety valve from the packer. As the safety valve is rotated, a setting line of the packer is severed. Other transmission lines, electrical wires, etc. may be severed as well. The safety valve may then be raised to the earth's surface with the tubing above it. A replacement safety valve is also provided for installing in the packer after the prior safety valve is retrieved.

Abstract: An automatic downhole pump assembly comprising a housing, a sleeve slidably disposed within the housing, a piston defining an interior volume, the piston slidably disposed within the sleeve and within the housing such that a fluid pressure within the interior volume causes the sleeve to oscillate relative to the housing and causes the piston to oscillate relative to the sleeve and the housing, and a pump which is operably associated with the piston such that fluid is pumped through the pump assembly as the piston oscillates relative to the housing.

Abstract: A drainage pipe section for a horizontal subterranean well has a base pipe coaxially circumscribed by a tubular structure having a longitudinally intermediate portion defined by a sand screen assembly. An annular flow passage is formed between the base pipe and the tubular structure and communicates with the interior of the base pipe via base pipe sidewall openings positioned inwardly adjacent opposite end portions of the tubular structure. Annular adjustable flow control members having variable length labyrinth passages recessed into their outer sides are coaxially interposed in the annular flow passage between the opposite ends of the sand screen assembly and the base pipe sidewall openings. The flow control members are sealed within the annular flow passage by means of a rubber coating adhered to their outer side surfaces, and an adhesive type sealant material injected into annular spaces between the flow control members and facing portions of the base pipe.

Abstract: Installed in the tubing string portion of an offshore well rig are a vertically spaced pair of tubular well line protective devices. The upper device extends vertically through the openings in the rig floor and the rotary table thereon, and the lower device is positioned between a pair of sealing rams within an open upper end portion of the riser through which the tubing downwardly extends. Each protective device has a main body portion which is radially enlarged relative to the balance of the tubing string, and a removable side insert portion. Well lines, such as control, chemical and balancing lines, are extended through axial openings combinatively defined by each body and associated insert, with the insert shielding the lines from damage at the protective device location. The removable insert is illustrated in an all metal construction, used in the upper device, and an all elastomeric material construction or an elastomer-faced metal construction used in the lower device.

Abstract: An early evaluation system with pump for servicing a well and taking fluid samples and measurements. In each of the embodiments, a formation pump is actuated to flow fluid from the well formation below a packer element engaged with the borehole into a sampling tube. Fluid samplers and recording instruments may be in communication with the sampling tube. In one embodiment, the pump is mechanically actuated by rotation of the tool string. In another embodiment, the pump is hydraulically actuated and has a hydraulic motor connected thereto. In this hydraulically acutated embodiment, fluid pumped down the tool string actuates the hydraulic motor and thereby further actuates the pump. Other pump embodiments are also disclosed. In still another embodiment, the apparatus may be incorporated into a drill string so that a drilling operation may be carried out and immediately followed by a fluid evaluation operation.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods are provided for selectively opening and closing a side port in a flow conductor for a well. In general, the sliding side door assembly includes a housing and a door subassembly. The housing has a generally tubular shape defining a fluid conducting interior and central axis. A side port is formed in the housing, and a ball seat is positioned in the housing adjacent the side port. The door subassembly is operatively engaged with the housing adjacent the side port and includes a translating sleeve positioned within the housing and a ball sealing member adapted to engage the ball seat of the housing. A ball port is formed through the ball sealing member. A cooperatively engaged helical track and follower member are provided for translating a driving movement along the central axis through the translating sleeve to a rotational movement of the ball sealing member about the central axis. Driving movements acting on the door subassembly can be provided by a standard shifting tool.

Abstract: A formation testing system provides the ability to reliably and repeatedly perform tests, such as drawdown tests, on closely spaced apart formations intersected by subterranean wellbores without relying on absolute fluid pressure for actuation thereof. In a preferred embodiment, a formation testing system is alternately configured for normal drilling operations or for fluid sampling operations by applying preselected differential pressures to the system. In a representatively illustrated preferred embodiment, a formation testing system has opposing pistons which cooperate with uniquely configured ratchet mechanisms to change the system's configuration in response to changes in differential pressure applied thereto.

Abstract: A proppant containment apparatus and associated method of using the apparatus permit continued delivery of a proppant slurry to a subterranean wellbore after failure of a crossover portion of the apparatus during a fracturing operation, eliminating the need to stop the fracturing operation and remove and replace expensive items of equipment after such crossover failure. In a preferred embodiment, the proppant containment apparatus has a tubular crossover member with an internal flow passage, circulation port, and side wall outlet openings, first and second coaxial tubular structures, the first tubular structure being perforated, a tubular screen positioned between the first and second tubular structures, a ball, and a ball seat having a spaced series of grooves formed thereon.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading fluid into subterranean formations includes a housing, a sleeve slidably disposed within the housing, a piston defining an interior volume, the piston slidably disposed within the sleeve and within the housing such that a fluid pressure within the interior volume causes the sleeve to oscillate relative to the housing and causes the piston to oscillate relative to the sleeve and the housing, and a pump which is operably associated with the piston such that the fluid pressure from the interior volume is intensified in the pump and injected into the formation as the piston oscillates relative to the housing.

Abstract: A retainer valve provides increased safety in wellsite operations. In a preferred embodiment, operation of the retainer valve may be responsive to control line pressure or to tubing pressure. The retainer valve response is controlled by several factors, among which are relative tubing and balance line pressures, and axial positions of a number of pistons relative to a tubular J-slot member. If the control and balance lines are disconnected, or otherwise unavailable for operation of the valve, it may still be operated by manipulation of the tubing pressure at the earth's surface. Thus, the valve may be opened in emergency situations in which the control and balance lines are unavailable, but operation of the valve is still needed in order to safely relieve trapped pressure in the tubing string and/or to kill the well, unlatch a subsea test tree, etc. The retainer valve is also useful as a lubricator valve.

Abstract: A perforating gun connector is provided for downhole use in oil and gas fields. The perforating gun connector includes a stinger and a stinger receptacle. The stinger is adapted to be stabbed into the stinger receptacle. A loaded engaging member movable between a running position before the stinger is stabbed into the stinger receptacle and a latched position when the stinger is stabbed into the stinger receptacle to latch the stinger and the stinger receptacle together. A release member retains the loaded engaging member in the running position. When the stinger is stabbed into the stinger receptacle and a set force is applied to the stinger and stinger receptacle, the release member releases the loaded engaging member to move to the latched position and latch the stinger and the stinger receptacle together. According to a second aspect of the invention, the perforating gun connector is releasable, further including a releasable stop member to stop the engaging member in the latched position.

Abstract: A bidirectional disappearing plug member and plug assembly is capable of blocking pressurized fluid flow from opposing axial directions in a flowbore. In a preferred embodiment, the plug member, which blocks flow through the flowbore, may be readily and at least partially dissolved through the application of at least one pressurization and depressurization within a tubing string above the plug assembly. Construction of the plug assembly permits the plug member to be conveniently emplaced in a fluid-filled wellbore by permitting fluid flow around the plug member during the emplacement process. The plug member may then be secured within the plug assembly to block fluid flow from either axial direction.

Abstract: A retrievable screen apparatus provides increased filtration in a retrievable screen disposed within a receptacle, the receptacle being positioned in a subterranean well. The receptacle has a lower filtration screen attached thereto for filtering larger particles, such as gravel and proppant, from fluid flow within the well. Thus, the retrievable screen may be retrieved and replaced, leaving the receptacle operatively positioned in the well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the length of a fluid conduit using acoustics is disclosed. The inventive method for determining the length L.sub.FC of an unblocked section of fluid conduit, the unblocked section of the fluid conduit having a proximal and distal end, comprises the steps of:(1) constructing a pressure containment system, the system comprising:(a) the unblocked section of the fluid conduit; and,(b) an extension conduit;(2) connecting a pressure change sensing device to the system, the pressure change sensing device being capable of sensing changes in the pressure inside the system;(3) filling the system with a fluid;(4) generating at least one pressure wave in the system;(5) timing the pressure wave from a timing starting point a known distance L.sub.3 from the pressure change sensing device;(6) measuring the time T.sub.

Abstract: Improved methods and systems for creating a multilateral well and improved multilateral well structures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a subterranean structure for controlling tool access to a lateral wellbore extending from a wellbore. The subterranean structure comprises a bushing that is located in the wellbore and proximate an opening to the lateral wellbore and that has an access window therethrough for allowing access by a tool to the lateral well through the opening. The bushing further has a slidable access control device coaxially coupled thereto. Also included is a shifter that is engagable with the slidable access control device to cause the slidable access control device to slide between an open position wherein a tool is allowed to pass through the window and the opening and into the lateral wellbore and a closed position wherein the tool is prevented from passing through the window and the opening and into the lateral wellbore. The present invention also provides a method of controlling tool access to a lateral wellbore extending from a wellbore.