Abstract: This invention relates to an expendable tool, such as a plug assembly, which may be locked within a tubular member, such as a packer assembly, located within a well casing, and a method of locating and releasing same. The plug assembly comprises a main housing adapted to support a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially retractable locking segments. A longitudinally extending mandrel is slidably mounted within the housing and is axially shiftable from an first position, wherein the mandrel maintains the locking segments outwardly within a cooperating groove formed in the packer assembly, to a second position, wherein the locking segments are permitted to move out of engagement with the well packer. A collet sleeve is secured to the mandrel by a shear pin and maintains the mandrel in the upper position. When it is desired to release the plug from the packer assembly, an actuating sleeve is attached to the lower end of a tubing string and run down the well casing to be engaged by the collet sleeve.

Abstract: A hanger assembly for use in a subterranean well incorporates a torque transmitting expansion joint providing a selectively adjustable extent of axial contraction. The expansion joint essentially comprises a telescopic inter-relationship of two sleeve assemblies. One sleeve assembly carries a fixedly mounted rectangular key which is engagable only with an axially extending slot provided in the other sleeve assembly. The first mentioned sleeve assembly also rotatably mounts a key which cooperates with a peripherally extending slot provided in the other sleeve assembly. The axial extending slot connects with a trough portion of the peripherally extending slot. Successive reciprocations of the two sleeve assemblies produce an incremental rotation of the round key around the peripherally extending slot and normally limits the extent of axial contraction of the two sleeve assemblies to the axial extent of such peripherally extending slot.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for gravel packing a plurality of zones within a subterranean well. Primary sealing means are adapted for setting in casing at a position above the zones. A plurality of sets of production screens and valve means are provided, the valve means being equal in number to the zones to be packed and being carriable in the well with the primary sealing means. Zone isolation means are connected between each said set and expansible into sealing engagement with the casing. A control mandrel includes a single cross-over means for diverting gravel carrying fluid. A plurality of vertically spaced sealing means are defined on the cross-over means for successively isolating each set from the others when the cross-over means is positioned in proximity to each valve means. Valve opening means are provided on the control mandrel and are operable by longitudinal movement of the mandrel to positions for opening and closing the valve means.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for controlling the speed of rotation of a joint member during the operation of making a threaded joint. At lower speeds of rotation, a counter means receives clock pulses generated at a predetermined frequency and counts down from a stored value representing the elapsed time for a maximum rate at which turn signal pulses generated during predetermined increments of rotation of the joint member should be generated. If the elapsed time between the turn signal pulses is less than or equal to the stored time, a signal is generated to slow down the joint making operation. At higher speeds of rotation, a counter means receives the turn signal pulses and counts down from a stored value representing the maximum number of turn signal pulses which should be generated in a predetermined time interval. If the turn signal pulse total exceeds the maximum number during the predetermined time interval, the slow down signal is generated.

Abstract: A hydrocyclone is provided with tapered surfaces at the perimeters of the accept head and the lower cone to effect a double taper seal when the head and cone sections are clamped together in assembled condition.

Abstract: A concentric insulating tubular conduit member for use in forming a conduit string, such as a tubing string in a subterranean well, is disclosed. Each individual concentric conduit comprises an outer tubing and an outwardly flared inner tubing welded to the outer tubing at the end of the flared section. The inner tubing member is formed from an initially straight cylindrical member having enlarged ends and, when outwardly flared, the flared ends, although stretched, have a thickness at least equal to the nominal thickness of the inner tubular member. Insulation may be contained within the annular cavity between the inner and outer tubing members and between inner and outer coupling members at the juncture between adjacent tubing sections.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method are provided for effecting a sealed connection to an upstanding end of a tubular member in a subterranean well where the upstanding end of the tubular member is of irregular configuration at one end. A connecting housing is lowered by a tubing string over the upstanding end of the tubular member and is provided internally with an annular elastomeric seal element and two pairs of cooperating slip elements respectively disposed above and below the annular seal. The actuation of the slip elements to engage the housing with the tubular member is such that a predetermined amount of compression force can be applied to the annular seal to insure that the seal will resist the normal fluid pressures encountered in the well operation, but forces in excess of such predetermined limit are not applied to the seal by the manipulative movements of the reconnected tubing string.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved apparatus for effecting the cementing of a liner at the bottom of a well bore. The liner sleeve assembly is inserted into the well bore on a hanger which is detachably connected to a running tool, which, in turn is connected to the work string by a torque transmitting expansion joint. The running tool may be fluid pressure actuated to set the hanger. In the event of failure of the fluid pressure setting operation, the hanger may be mechanically set by rotation of the work string transmitted to the running tool by the torque transmitting expansion joint.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for accomplishing pressure surging operations to remove particulates from the casing perforations and formation face of a subterranean well production zone. The apparatus includes two normally closed valve assemblies separated by a surge chamber maintained at atmospheric pressure. The uppermost valve assembly is connected to the end of a tubing string. A packer secures the lower valve assembly in sealing relationship to the casing bore. The lower valve assembly incorporates means for opening a flapper valve disposed between the atmospheric pressure surge chamber and the open bottom bore of the lower valve assembly. Such flapper valve is shiftable to an open position by movement of an actuator which responds to an increase in annulus fluid pressure. The opening of the flapper valve in the lower valve assembly produces a surge of production fluid from the formation and through the casing perforations into the atmospheric pressure surge chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the testing of a subterranean well by acquiring data from the well includes means for monitoring transducers positioned downhole, at the wellhead, at a separator or at other locations to obtain the values for a predetermined set of operating characteristics. The apparatus includes a microcomputer for calculating additional characteristics utilizing one or more of the transducer values and a visual display for onsite viewing of the values for the monitored and calculated characteristics. The apparatus further includes a printer and a tape recorder. The microcomputer controls the recording intervals of the printer and the tape recorder for recording the monitored and calculated values of the characteristics on a continuous basis. The values of the characteristics represent current production information for the well. The apparatus also includes means for monitoring the transducer power supply voltage and the microcomputer power supply voltage.

Abstract: A conduit gripping tool such as a packer or hanger is provided for use in subterranean wells, together with a running tool and a method for installing the gripping tool in the well. Threaded means are mounted on the running tool for axial movement. The hand of such threads is in the opposite direction to the hand of the threaded connections of the work string supporting the running tool. The running tool additionally incorporates dogs which are engagable with slots provided in the gripping tool. A slip mechanism is retained against radial expansion during run-in. The dogs carried by the running tool are aligned with the slots in the hanger body for release so that torque in the same direction as the hand of the threaded connections of the work string is transmitted directly to the body of the hanger. Subsequently, an axially downward force applied by the work string will effect the setting of the slips and the concurrent disengagement of the dogs of the running tool from the body portion of the hanger.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in injecting treatment solutions through the annulus between two concentric conduits, such as tubing and casing, and then circulating it upwards with produced hydrocarbons. The apparatus comprises an integral valve and seal, including a mandrel, a packoff valve and a casing bore receptacle. The mandrel is incorporated in the tubing, and the casing bore receptacle is incorporated in the casing. The packoff member is releasably carriable on the mandrel and comprises an integral check valve and a radially expandable latch which is cammed outward by the relatively movable mandrel. The annular packoff member has seals on the interior and exterior surfaces for providing sealing integrity between the mandrel and the casing bore receptacle. The integral check valve permits fluids injected from above to flow radially across the packoff member between longitudinally annular flow paths defined by the packoff member and the casing, and by the packoff member and the mandrel.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for producing a well from at least one productive zone penetrated by the well bore in which casing is set below the top of the well. Tubing hanger means support at least one production tubing string extending downwardly in the well bore and communicating with a production zone. Anchor means on the tubing hanger means are actuatable into anchoring engagement with the casing. The tubing hanger means receives at least one upper production tubing string section typically carrying safety valve means thereon extending to the top of the well and sealingly engageable with the tubing hanger means before, during and after the anchoring engagement of the tubing hanger means with the casing, whereby the upper production tubing string section is respectively communicable with the downwardly extending production tubing string when the tubing hanger is set.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying pressure to a fluid seal positioned between a reservoir of a first fluid, such as lubricating fluid, and a source of a second fluid under pressure, such as a drilling fluid in a downhole drilling apparatus. A piston is positioned in a cavity which is in fluid communication with the first fluid reservoir. The piston sealably and slidably engages the side walls of the cavity. A spring moves the piston in a direction to increase the pressure of the first fluid to a value which exceeds the pressure value of a second fluid. Thus, the second fluid is prevented from passing through the fluid seal and contaminating the first fluid.

Abstract: A sealing assembly comprising a casing bore receptacle, an annular packoff member, and a tubing carried mandrel for use in establishing sealing integrity between a fluid transmission conduit or tubing and an outer conduit or casing, is disclosed. The casing bore receptacle is incorporable in the casing and the annular packoff member is initially carriable on the mandrel. Seals on the interior and exterior of the packoff member establish a seal with the mandrel and the casing. Upon abutting engagement of the packoff member and the casing bore receptacle, a collet on the packoff member is released from the mandrel and cammed radially outward into engagement with the casing bore receptacle to anchor the packoff member to the casing bore receptacle. The mandrel can then move relative to the packoff member and the casing without destroying the seal.

Abstract: An improved lining sheet product for lining tanks, hoppers, chutes and the like includes a castable elastomeric sheet, an expanded-metal meshwork sheet cast within the elastomeric sheet, and bolt-type fastening members mounted at spaced-apart locations within the meshwork sheet. The fastening members, preferably flat countersunk elevator bolts, include head portions which fixedly seat within the meshes of the meshwork so that the strands of the meshwork act against the heads to prevent rotation and so that elastomer covers and protects the head from chemical attack or mechanical abrasion. Preferably, the fastening members include cap portions integral of the heads of area sufficient to span several of the strands of the meshwork to prevent the fastening members from being pulled through the sheet when tension is applied, as when nuts are tightened onto the shanks of the bolts.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed 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 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: An anchoring mechanism for a well packer includes plural bidirectional one piece slip members which are radially extendable into gripping engagement with a well conduit. The slip members are engaged by wedge surfaces on cooperating upper and lower slip cones. Only the lower slip cone is fitted with grooves which are adapted to receive laterally projecting tongues on the slip members for retaining the slip members in assembly with the remainder of the anchoring mechanism. The anchoring mechanism includes a plurality of longitudinally extending brackets having laterally projecting ears which are engageable with inclined slots cut in opposite longitudinal sides of the slip members. The bracket members are connected to the upper slip cone for movement therewith by shear screws.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for setting the temporary lock-open mechanism incorporated in a safety valve employed in the subterranean well, the apparatus including an annular mandrel having an external, axially movable, radially expandable collet operated by an axially movable prong concentrically arranged within the mandrel housing.The temporary lock-open mechanism of the valve includes latch fingers which are adapted to engage the end of a plunger which opens the valve, a spring biased lock-open sleeve and release keys for holding the sleeve in a passive position.The valve is temporarily locked in an open position by introducing control line pressure into the valve for opening it and moving its lock-open mechanism to a position where the expandable collet of the apparatus can release keys that restrain the lock-open sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for holding and selectively mechanically releasing at least one plug device utilized in cementing a subterranean well, preferably a subsea well. The apparatus is securable and carryable on a manipulatable conduit, such as a drill string, communicating with the well. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical housing control head means positioned within the housing, shiftable in response to manipulation of the conduit from closed position, whereby the plug device is prevented from passing through the control head means, to open position, whereby the plug device is permitted to pass through the control head means. Means are provided for transferring at least one of longitudinal and rotational manipulation of the conduit to the control head means to selectively shift the control head means between closed and open positions. Subsequent to shifting of the control head means to open position, the plug device may be pumped through the control head means.