Abstract: A packer assembly and its method of use are provided, the packer assembly being carried on a first conduit for use in wells exposed to corrosive injection fluids, the well being encased by a second conduit having a locking recess defined therein, such as by having first and second conduit members, the conduit members being interengaged by coupling whereby the locking recess is defined by the coupling element and between the conduit members. The assembly comprises a body member communicating to the first conduit and having a slotted configuration thereon. An inwardly flexible, outwardly urged collet assembly is exterior of the body, with control means on the collet assembly being carryable within the slotted configuration. Means on said body define a pocket for selective receipt of the collet assembly for locking the collet assembly relative to the locking recess.

Abstract: A rotary gas/liquid separator includes a housing having a free running rotor mounted to rotate about a vertical axis in the housing. The rotor has an inverted conical inside surface, and a plurality of turbine blades adjacent an upper end of the conical inside surface. A gas/liquid inlet mixture is forced under pressure through stator vanes for directing flow of the inlet mixture tangentially into the turbine blades for rotating the rotor. The turbine blades divert the inlet mixture radially outwardly and then axially downwardly toward the conical inside surface of the rotor, and centrifugal force exerted on the inlet mixture by the rotating turbine blades separates liquid from the gas in the inlet mixture. The separated liquid flows downwardly in a thin film along the inside surface of the rotor and drips from a free lip at the bottom of the rotor for collection. A plurality of fan blades on the rotor discharge separated gas from a first chamber below the rotor to a second chamber above the rotor.

Abstract: A retrieving tool is provided for effecting the retrieval of a packer from a well and includes a locking member, such as a conventional locking collet having expandable fingers for sliding over a downwardly facing shoulder on a seal nipple secured to the top end of the packer. The locking collet is surrounded by a housing sleeve which has an upwardly facing surface therein normally positioned below the finger portions of the locking collet but being engageable therewith by upward movement applied to the housing by the pulling of the tubing string, hence retrieving the packer.

Abstract: An improved mounting and sealing assembly is provided for a rotating ball valve required to open under increased differential pressures and close against high flow rates. The valve assembly includes a trunnion-mounted ball and two pressure biased sealing assemblies. The primary seal constitutes an elastomeric seal element which is axially shiftable into engagement with the ball, and the secondary seal comprises a metallic element which is also axially shiftable relative to the ball. To open the valve, the seals are moved in sequence axially away from the ball and the hydraulic seal is fully broken before the ball is rotated. In closing, the ball is rotated to its closed position and the seals then moved axially in sequence into contact with the ball.

Abstract: A well tool, such as a packer apparatus, is adaptable for insertion on a conduit within a subterranean well having casing therein. The well tool comprises a cylindrical mandrel which is communicable to the conduit. Slip means are carried exteriorly around the mandrel and are movable into expanded position for anchoring the apparatus to the casing whereby subsequent longitudinal movement of the apparatus in at least one direction is prevented. Seal means are circumferentially extending exteriorly around the mandrel and are urgable into sealing relation with the casing to prevent fluid communication thereacross, the seal means comprising at least one section of transversely compressible seamless, knitted elements generally defined by a continuous series of interlocking ductile metal-containing loop members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus as provided for periodically supplying a quantity of fluid containing a corrosion inhibitor or other treating fluid to both the internal and external surfaces of downhole components of a subterranean well. The corrosion inhibitor is introduced in the fluid that normally fills the annulus defined between the well casing and the production string. This fluid is periodically subjected to a cyclic pressure and the cyclic pressure is employed to operate valving apparatus disposed in the vicinity of the packer to periodically inject a quantity of the annulus fluid containing the corrosion inhibitor into a bypass passage extending through the packer and, hence, into the production fluid, which the carries the corrosion inhibitor to internally disposed downhole components in the well bore.

Abstract: A subsea test valve system for well completed at the floor of the sea includes a safety valve and disconnect mechanism mounted in a blowout preventer at the bottom of the sea and having hydraulic fluid pressure operated means for opening the safety valve and controlling a latch in the disconnect mechanism. A tubing test string shut off valve is releasably latched in the disconnect mechanism and has a hydraulic fluid operated shut off valve and a valve for venting the test string to the riser pipe which extends from the blowout preventer to the vessel or platform at the surface of the sea. The subsea hydraulic pressure operated devices are supplied with pressure fluid from a subsea accumulator under the control of subsea pilot valves which are operated by small pressure differences, to accomplish rapid operation at great depth from a control console on the vessel or platform.

Abstract: A subsea test valve system for wells completed at the floor of the sea includes a safety valve and disconnect mechanism mounted in a blowout preventer at the bottom of the sea and having hydraulic fluid pressure operated means for opening the safety valve and controlling a latch in the disconnect mechanism. A tubing test string shut off valve is releasably latched in the disconnect mechanism and has a hydraulic fluid operated shut off valve and a valve for venting the test string to the riser pipe which extends from the blowout preventer to the vessel or platform at the surface of the sea. The subsea hydraulic pressure operated devices are supplied with pressure fluid from a subsea accumulator under the control of subsea pilot valves which are operated by small pressure differences, to accomplish rapid operation at great depth from a control console on the vessel or platform.

Abstract: Latching means are provided for use in a test valve assembly and preferably comprise a first rocker section carryable with an upper conduit portion. A second rocker section is carryable with a second conduit portion. Lock means have a recess contoured for securement over the rocker sections and are manipulatable over the first and second rocker sections to locked and unlocked positions. Shiftable means are carried across the locked means to a first position whereby the lock means are engaged over the rocker sections and the conduit portions are secured together. The shiftable means are moved to a second position whereby the lock means are disengaged from the second rocker section and the conduit portions are in disengaged position. Second lock means also are provided for additional securement.

Abstract: A pump catcher apparatus is provided for supporting within a subterranean well a portion of a tubular conduit and a pump depending from the conduit. The apparatus comprises a control mandrel and a main body extending from the control body. Slip elements are provided on the main body for anchoring the pump catcher to the well conduit and are selectively shiftable to anchoring engagement with the casing by axial manipulation of the tubular conduit. A telescoping connection is provided between the control mandrel and the tubular conduit so that limited longitudinal movement of the tubular conduit will be permitted without disturbing the anchored engagement of the slip elements. Shearable members are provided between the control mandrel and the main body for selectively securing the main body to the mandrel and are severable by a predetermined force.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in an apparatus which is adaptable to be run within a subterranean well for the setting and locking of a locking module within the profile of a complimentary landing nipple carried on a conduit within the subterranean well. The improvement comprises a longitudinally extending probe means carried by the apparatus at one end. First receiving means are exteriorly defined on said probe means for selective receipt of a lock control member of a lock control means and for shifting of the lock control member to one of two positions. Second receiving means are provided on a locking module for selective receipt of the lock control means. Means on the apparatus are provided for shifting the lock control member to the other of the two positions while the lock control means is maintained in the receiving means. Use of the apparatus assures proper engagement of the locking module within the landing nipple profile prior to retrieval of the apparatus from within the well.

Abstract: An improved slip assembly is provided for grasping the interior wall of a well conduit to secure a tool against longitudinal movement. Interengaging means, such as upper and lower slip rings surround the tool and have T-shaped ears projecting from the opposed lower and upper ends of the upper and lower slip rings, respectively. Each ear cooperates with a T-shaped slot formed in a wider end of a wedge-shaped slip element to retain a plurality of such slip elements in side-by-side relationship about the periphery of the tool. At least one of the slip elements has wickers or teeth formed on the outwardly facing surface thereof. Movement of a setting means forces the upper slip elements in a direction with respect to the lower slip elements such that the slip elements are forced outwardly until the wickers engage the interior wall of the well conduit to secure the tool on the well conduit. When all of the slip elements are provided with wickers the slip assembly will provide 360.degree.

Abstract: A double grip well bore packer which is run into a well casing on a tubular conduit string has actuator means responsive to applied fluid pressure to set slips and to force a packing into engagement with the casing, and the setting force is locked into the packing. The applied setting force results from relative axial movement between an inner body mandrel, a setting mandrel and a housing surrounding the lower end of the inner body mandrel to define a pressure chamber housing a releasing piston. A bottom member defines the lower end of the housing and provides a mounting for a removable plug which closes the tubing bore to permit build-up of tubing pressure to set the packer, including limited pressure induced upward movement of the inner mandrel body relative to the bottom member to facilitate the application of the setting forces.

Abstract: A retrievable, constantly energized, no-load packer is securable within a well and removable by application of tension. Upper and lower slip means are expandable into gripping engagement with the casing. A control body extends to the upper and lower slips and is encircled by packing means. A release housing extends from the lower expansion means with latch means being provided for securing the control body with the release housing, the latch means being shiftable to disengage the control body from the release housing for retrieval of the apparatus. Lock sleeve means are connected to the release housing for securing the latch means and one of the control body and release housing and are shearably releasable therefrom for disengagement of the control body and the release housing, the application of tension through the control string being carried by the control body without being transmitted through the lock sleeve means to set the apparatus.

Abstract: A compass card is provided for use in achieving the angular alignment of a whipstock relative to a whipstock anchor having a keyway therein for subsequent insertion in a packer apparatus for use in a subterranean well. The compass card comprises an annular card having polar coordinates in mirror image reverse relationship on one face thereof and may have a plurality of sheet-like magnetic elements secured to the other face adjacent a central opening therein.

Abstract: A valve assembly is provided having particular utility in a test assembly securable in a blowout preventer stack above a subterranean well. The valve assembly is carriable between upper and lower portions of a tubular conduit extendible to at least one production zone in the well. The valve assembly comprises first and second ball valve elements interior of the assembly and is shiftable between fully open and fully closed positions, with one of the valve elements being manipulated from the fully closed position to the fully open position prior to the other of the valve elements being manipulated from the fully closed position. The ball valve elements are circumferentially off-set from one another, and may be provided in a cartridge-type assembly.

Abstract: A method is provided for the angular orientation of a whipstock having an arcuate tool directing face and a whipstock anchor in a packer which is installed in a well, the packer and the anchor having longitudinally extending cooperable key elements engageable when the anchor is assembled in the packer. The angular disposition of the key element in the packer relative to polar coordinates is determined by a downhole survey. The whipstock is assembled on the whipstock anchor outside the well with the whipstock being angularly adjustable relative to the whipstock anchor about an axis that will be coincident with the conduit axis. The angular position of the whipstock in the whipstock anchor is adjusted to the desired angular displacement relative to the whipstock anchor key element.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for pumping fluid from a subterranean well through a tubing string. A pressure actuated subsurface pump and a surface unit are in fluid communication with opposite ends of the tubing string. The surface unit cyclically applies pressure to the fluid in the tubing string to actuate the subsurface pump and cause a radial expansion of the tubing such that potential energy is stored in the tubing string. Each time the surface unit removes the applied pressure, the stored potential energy is released to the surface unit which converts the potential energy into kinetic energy for use in the next pumping cycle.

Abstract: A pressure actuated, rodless pump for pumping fluid preferably from a well through a tubing string comprises a chamber and a check valved movable piston which define a pump cavity, the chamber having a check valved outlet to the tubing string on the cavity side of the piston and a fluid inlet on the other side of the piston. The piston is connected to a spring assembly by a pull rod. The spring assembly includes a cylinder having an elastomeric bladder separating a gas filled chamber from an upper fluid chamber which is separated from a lower fluid chamber by a wall having a fluid passageway formed therein. The lower fluid chamber encloses a stationary piston and both the lower and upper fluid chambers are in fluid communication with the tubing string through a charge valve.

Abstract: A locking device and a method and apparatus are provided for emplacing the locking device within a selected one of a plurality of landing nipples positioned along a well conduit. Each nipple typically includes a seal bore portion having a bore diameter less than the conduit bore diameter and a recessed portion located above the seal bore having a diameter greater than the conduit bore diameter. The locking device includes a housing for retaining a plurality of circumferentially spaced expandable locking dogs. A camming sleeve is axially slidably within the housing and is utilized to support the dogs in one of three selected positions: a retracted position, a partially expanded no-go position, or a fully expanded locked position. The locking device is lowered down the well conduit on a running tool with the dogs in the retracted position until the running tool has passed through the seal bore of the nipple located directly above the selected landing nipple.