Abstract: The disclosure provides an actuating mechanism for a rotatable ball valve unit wherein several axially extending pistons and cylinder units or bellows elements are mounted in the wall of the outer housing of the ball valve in angularly spaced relationship. Two diametrically opposed piston or bellows elements actuate the mechanism for axially shifting and then rotating the ball valve, while the remaining piston or bellows elements effect a displacement of the flow tube to maintain a seal carried by the flow tube in sealing engagement with the ball after its rotational movement has been accomplished. The desired delay of movement of the flow tube is accomplished through either varying the size of the bellows element or the spring constants of the springs opposing the actuating movement of the pistons, bellows elements or a combination of these.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for effecting the fail-safe perforating of a well casing and gravel packing of the perforated areas of the well casing and the screen with one trip into the well of a combined perforating and gravel packing apparatus which includes packer means and a screen. The gravel packing apparatus provides, in its run-in position in the casing, a continuous annular passage along its entire length, thus permitting fluid pressure to be applied through the casing annulus to a crossover tool and then to the firing mechanism of a perforating gun. The firing mechanism for the perforating gun incorporates a hammer mechanism responsive to fluid pressure supplied from the casing annulus but which will not release until a predetermined level of fluid pressure is applied thereto.

Abstract: A concentric walled conduit for incorporation within a tubular conduit string, and particularly for use in a subterranean well, is provided with one of the walls corrugated for substantially its entire length, preferably the inner tubular member. The annular space defined between the concentric tubular member contains a high heat resistant insulating material disposed around the outer surface of the inner tubular member. Each end of the annular space containing the insulating material is effectively sealed, and secured, such as by welds. The inner wall may be prestressed in tension for counteracting the forces which may be produced by a temperature differential between the tubular member walls of concentric conduit.

Abstract: A pre-cured proppant charge useful, for example, for propping a fracture in a subterranean formation is disclosed. The charge is made up of a large number of particles composed of a single substrate particle which can be silica sand, glass beads, or the like, coated with a thermoset resin. The thermoset resin is one which, when it is the resin coating on particles of a proppant charge, produces such a charge when the Conductivity Ratio, as defined herein, throughout a given closure stress range is greater than that of a charge of the uncoated particles. The proppant is produced by coating the particulate substrate with a suitable thermosettable resin, controlling the coating step to produce substrate particles coated with a fusible, thermosetting resin, and curing the resin by heating the coated particles, so that substantially all of the resin coated particles are composed of a single substrate particle with a thermoset resin coating thereon, prior to introduction into a subterranean well.

Abstract: Apparatus for effecting a minute change in the direction of a downhole rotary tool comprises an eccentric cylindrical surface formed on the housing of a downhole motor or a member connected between the motor and the tool, which is received within an eccentric bore of a stabilizer housing, the periphery of which snugly engages the walls of, for example, the newly drilled well bore. Selective angular adjustment of the eccentric stabilizer housing relative to the eccentric surface provided on or adjacent to the motor housing effects a desired shift in angular position of the rotary tool to effect a desired change in the direction of the selected activity, such as drilling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting the perforation of a well casing and the adjoining production formation comprises a tubular housing communicating between a perforating gun housing and the lower end of a tubular string. The perforating gun housing which is adapted to be carriable by the tubular string contains an impact actuated firing head and the tubular housing contains a port normally closed by sleeve valve. The valve is biased towards an open position but is selectively secured in its closed position by a frangible restraining mechanism which extends into the free fall path of a detonating bar dropped through the tubular tool string and is removed by the detonating bar to initiate the opening of the port sleeve valve prior to impacting the firing head. In a modification, the sleeve valve is shifted to its open position by fluid pressure produced in the casing annulus subsequent to the firing of the perforating gun.

Abstract: A valving apparatus for use in controlling the fluid pressure in a subterranean well conduit and in the annulus surrounding the conduit is disclosed. The valving apparatus is shiftable between a closed position and an open position allowing flow within the tubing by the application of fluid pressure in the tubing above the valve. Pressure equalization below the valve is provided when the valve is in the closed position thus permitting the tool to be used with well tools in which annulus and tubing pressure must be equalized. A plug located within the valve prevents the flow of fluids through the conduit in either direction. An annular fluid bypass does permit flow around the plug when the valve is in the open position.

Abstract: A steam or thermal packer for use in subterranean wells having an integral expansion joint is disclosed. The packer has a multi-component, nonresilient, nonenergizing packing element, as well as a multi-component, nonenergizing, nonresilient sealing element engaging the expansion joint. Energy is stored in elements of the packer housing and in the dynamic seal assembly to maintain the sealing integrity establishing by the nonresilient sealing elements.

Abstract: The invention provides a subterranean well casing perforating gun device which employs shaped explosive charges to perforate the well casing. The device generally defines an outer tubular housing assembly concentrically insertable in the well and defining a vertical axis, cylindrical chamber. A tubular carrier of polygonal cross sectional configuration is insertable in the chamber in concentric relationship to the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical chamber. Each of the faces of the carrier have a plurality of spaced passages therethrough, each passage having a configuration substantially corresponding to the configuration of the polygonal face. A shaped charge container has its cylindrical body insertable in any selected one of the passages and a radial flange on the outer end for abutting the polygonal face portion adjacent the respective passage, thereby limiting the insertion of each of the containers into the selected passage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus effecting the perforating of a well casing and the gravel packing of the perforated areas of the well casing of a combined perforating and gravel packing apparatus. This desirable objective is accomplished by a perforating gun construction permitting complete flexiblility to adjust in the field the number of horizontally and veritcally spaced shaped charges through the provision of a polygonal carrier having vertically spaced holes provided in each of its planar sides to accommodate vertically spaced horizontal groups of shaped charges with the charges in one horizontal group being angularly displaced relative to the charges in a vertically adjacent horizontal group. Additionally, the crossover mandrel employed in the gravel packing operation provides, in its run-in position, a continuous axial passage through its entire length, permitting a detonating device to be placed therethrough to actuate the perforating gun.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing and treating a well with a viscosity-enhanced treatment liquid which will not clog perforations, gravel packs, filters and the like. A selected viscosity-enhancing agent in particle size is mixed in a selected well treatment liquid to produce a dispersion and the mixing continued at least until hydration is initiated to form an interface between the particles and the liquid. The liquid containing the interface is then subjected to a simultaneous mechanical and hydraulic shearing action by passage through axial apertures in a relatively rotatable rotor and stator units which are disposed in axial juxtaposition with a spacing between the adjacent rotor and stator surfaces selected to be less than the minor dimensions of the interface produced by the dispersion of the selected well treatment liquid and viscosity-enhancing agent.

Abstract: A method and removable auxiliary lock open apparatus are provided for permanently locking open a flow control device, mounted in a conduit in a subterranean well, having a valve head reciprocally movable between open and closed positions relative to a valve seat, and a driving means mechanism which includes a locking sleeve for manipulating the flow control device into the open and closed positions. The removable apparatus includes a locking wedge, carried by and disengageable from a locking wedge carrier, and piston member which are extendable relative to the locking wedge carrier for forcing the locking wedge from the locking wedge carrier into a lock urging position on the sleeve of the flow control device.

Abstract: An apparatus for gravel packing a screen positioned adjacent the casing perforations of a subterranean well incorporates an annular sealing surface immediately above the gravel pack screen. A flapper valve is mounted for movement about a horizontal pivot axis into engagement with the annular valve seat. The flapper valve and the cooperating valve seat are both provided with spherical segment sealing surfaces so as to prevent leakage through the valve due to any misalignment of the pivot axis of the flapper valve with respect to the annular valve seat. With this apparatus, the withdrawal of the gravel packing apparatus at the completion of the gravel packing operations prevents the entry of undesired fluids and contaminates into the producing formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus effecting the perforating of a well casing and the gravel packing of the perforated areas of the well casing with one trip into the well of a combined perforating and gravel packing apparatus. This desirable objective is accomplished by a perforating gun construction permitting complete flexibility to adjust in the field the number of horizontally and vertically spaced shaped charges through the provision of a polygonal carrier having vertically spaced holes provided in each of its planar sides to accommodate vertically spaced horizontal groups of shaped charges with the charges in one horizontal group being angularly displaced relative to the charges in a vertically adjacent horizontal group. Additionally, the crossover mandrel employed in the gravel packing operation provides, in its run-in position, a continuous axial passage through its entire length, permitting a detonating device to be placed therethrough to actuate the perforating gun.

Abstract: A tool for actuating a subsurface well tool located within a well bore by metering the force applied by hydrostatic pressure within the well bore is disclosed. The tool is actuated in response to an external signal whereby hydrostatic pressure is applied to a hydraulic fluid contained within the tool. The hydraulic fluid is metered to apply a prescribed actuating force to a piston with a metering orifice determining the rate at which force is applied to the actuating piston and to the well tool.

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 ends. Insulation may be contained within the sealed annular cavity between the inner and outer tubing members and between inner and outer coupling members at the juncture between adjacent tubing sections. Centralizers are positioned in the annular cavity between the inner and outer tubular members at one or more points between the ends of each conduit section. Each centralizer has an axially extending cylindrical section and a radial support section in contact with one of the tubular members.

Abstract: A well perforating gun assembly includes a perforating gun secured to the bottom of a tubular actuating housing containing a fluid pressure actuated hammer and a fixedly mounted primer against which the firing means is impacted. A latch normally maintains the firing means in an elevated position with respect to the primer but such latch may be released through the application of sufficient fluid pressure force to the firing means to drive it into engagement with the primer. If the primer fails to ignite, a second fluid pressure force is employed to move the firing means to its original latched position, ready for a second application of fluid pressure to release the firing means and again impact the primer.

Abstract: A conduit centralizer comprises segmented, sliding means connected by a plurality of axially extending, outwardly bowed leaf springs. Each sliding means is formed by the hinged connection of a plurality of double walled segments. The ends of the leaf springs are respectively inserted within the double walled segments and welded to both the inner and outer walls of the segments, thus providing an extremely rigid structure which is fabricated without machining operations.

Abstract: A flapper valve has integral, oppositely projecting hinge pins mounted in a recess provided between two abutting tubular housing members. The flapper valve is of cylindrical segment configuration so as to maximize the opening within a conduit in which it is mounted when the flapper valve is pivoted to its open position. The spring bias urging the flapper valve to the closed position is provided by helical springs mounted in surrounding relationship to the axis of the conduit and in an annular recess provided between two abutting tubular housing members. The bottom surface of the actuating sleeve for the flapper is contoured so as to exert a minimum unbalanced torque on the flapper valve during opening with the mechanical opening force being balanced by an opposing force exerted by fluid pressure.

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.