Abstract: A union for joining pipes, tubing, or other fluid conduits in a fluidtight manner includes male and female parts having respective inner fluid passages. The male part has a contoured lead end that slidably engages the female lead end which has a complementary contour with respect to the male lead end. The male lead end has a circumferential recess which retains a resilient sealing member which is radially compressed between the mated, contoured lead ends when the male and female parts are joined together. Clamping means is provided to hold the male and female parts together, but the fluidtight seal is independent of the clamping means. The mated contoured lead ends substantially eliminate transverse movement at the sealing interface and permit a camming action when the male and female parts are joined so as to self-align the respective inner passages.

Abstract: The invention disclosed herein includes a reducer coupling, a positioner tool for connecting the coupling to a conduit section, and a nut for securing the positioner tool to the coupling. The reducer coupling is useful in various operations, such as some oil field operations in which it is used to connect a smaller conduit (delivery line) into a larger conduit (production casing). In practice, the positioner tool is secured to the reducer coupling and the coupling is moved into its hook-up position above the production casing, by attaching a rig to the positioner tool. The coupling can then be threaded into the casing by turning the positioner tool with a wrench, or similar tool.

Abstract: A crosslinker composition that can produce delayed crosslinking of an aqueous solution of a crosslinkable organic polymer. The composition comprises an organic titanium complex. The composition further contains an organic hydroxycarboxylic acid, preferably hydroxyacetic acid. The pH of the composition is preferably less than 5. The pH of the composition is further preferably such that when sufficient amount of composition is added to an aqueous polymer solution to result in delayed crosslinking of the polymer, the composition produces a pH in the resulting gel solution, preferably of between about 3 and about 4.5. Gel solutions produced using the composition are particularly useful in fracturing subterranean formations, and in particular in fracturing subterranean formations penetrated by an oil well in which fracturing process carbon dioxide and a proppant are added to the fracturing fluid.

Abstract: A crosslinker composition that can produce delayed crosslinking of an aqueous solution of a crosslinkable organic polymer. The composition comprises a metal compound, preferably an organic metal complex, and most preferably an organic zirconium complex. The composition further contains an organic hydroxymonocarboxylic acid, preferably hydroxyacetic acid. The pH of the composition is preferably no more than 4.8. The pH of the composition is further preferably such that when sufficient amount of composition is added to an aqueous polymer solution to result in delayed crosslinking of the polymer, the composition produces a pH in the resulting gel solution, preferably of between about 3 and about 4.5. Gel solutions produced using the composition are particularly useful in fracturing subterranean formations, and in particular in fracturing subterranean formations penetrated by an oil well in which fracturing process carbon dioxide and a proppant are added to the fracturing fluid.

Abstract: A composition designed for dissolution or dispersion in water to give an aqueous treatment fluid having a yield point of zero, at a temperature between about 85.degree. and about 160.degree. F., which is compatible with cement slurries and with drilling muds and a method of using same to displace a drilling mud from a borehole which penetrates a subterranean formation, particularly immediately preceding the injection of a fluid such as a cement slurry, and which also exhibits good fluid loss control and may be adapted for use with either water-based or oil-based drilling muds.

Abstract: A choke flow bean is described which is unusually effective in reducing the pressure of fluids flowing through it. The choke flow bean has a well rounded circular or eliptical throat which opens smoothly and directly into a divergent truncated exit cone having a divergent angle of from about 4.degree. to about 8.degree.. The length of the truncated exit cone can be up to about 9 times the throat diameter. The outer surface of the choke flow bean is usually cylindrical in shape with external threads at the discharge end and a wrench fitting (e.g., hex-nut type) at the inlet end. The choke flow bean is usually embodied within the casing of a choke nipple with the assistance of choke adaptor.

Abstract: A modular skid frame for supporting cement pumping equipment includes three interlockable sections which, when assembled, define two longitudinal support members and a plurality of transverse support members. One end of the skid formed by one of the interlockable sections is adapted to break down into two lateral subsections. A sleeve-like interfit is provided between joined members and bolt and bracket means are provided to disengageably secure adjacent endwise aligned support members together. The pumping equipment is arranged to maximize maintainability and transportability by positioning one engine on each lateral subsection at one end of the skid and having one pump on each of the other two interlockable sections. A displacement tank is supported on the skid above the pumps. The skid and equipment can be particularly adapted to operate with numerous kinds of off-skid mixing equipment.

Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor composition comprising:(1) at least one of an aliphatic pyridinium salt or an aliphatic quinolinium salt; and(2) a sulfur-containing compound. The compositions are useful in inhibiting the corrosion of metals during the cleaning of process equipment using industrial aqueous cleaning solutions.

Abstract: In a hydrocarbon recovery system including CO.sub.2 pressurization of an underground formation, a sealing cement comprised of Portland cement and Class C fly ash.

Abstract: Aqueous acid compositions are described which comprise (a) hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid, and (b) a compatible acid corrosion inhibitor. The compositions are useful in removing iron oxide scale from metal surfaces.

Abstract: An improved method of acidizing sour gas wells involving the injection of an aqueous acidizing solution comprising: water, an acid, an effective amount of an iron complexing agent (e.g., EDTA) capable of stabilizing the ferrous, Fe(II), ion in solution in the presence of H.sub.2 S and an effective amount of an iron reducing agent (e.g., erythorbic acid, ascorbic acid and mixtures thereof) capable of reducing the ferric, Fe(III), ion in solution to ferrous Fe(II), ion at a pH of about 6.0 or less. Such a process is effective in reducing and inhibiting the precipitation of Fe(OH).sub.3, FeS and S in sour wells.

Abstract: The non-damaging use of relatively high density calcium halide-containing brine compositions as kill weight workover fluids in high pressure water injection wells is rendered practicable via the use of an aqueous preflush composition containing an effective amount of a scale inhibitor material. In those instances where the scale inhibitor material is relatively strongly acidic in character (such as, for example, in the case of phosphonic acid materials, and the like), remarkable improvements in the injectivity of wells treated with said acidic aqueous preflush composition has also been obtained.

Abstract: A process is described for removing dissolved iron from an aqueous liquid containing iron in the form of a soluble complex with alkylenepolyamine polyacetic acids or salts thereof. The process comprises the steps of (a) adjusting the pH of said aqueous liquid to at least about 12.5, (b) adding sufficient quantities of a soluble calcium salt to facilitate the growth of insoluble iron hydroxide particles, and (c) separating the resulting insoluble mass containing iron hydroxide from the liquid effluent.

Abstract: Liquid and foam formulations useful for removing iron oxide deposits, for example from heat transfer equipment, comprising an organic solution or foam of N-hydroxylethyl ethylenediamine triacetic acid and an organic acid (for example, formic acid); and a method of removing iron oxide deposits from encrusted equipment surfaces by injecting the liquid or foam formulation, preferably also containing a corrosion inhibitor, into equipment to be cleaned, and circulating the liquid or foam formulation.

Abstract: The machine disclosed herein is useful for blending solids with fluids. In a typical operation, sand is mixed with a gel composition to obtain a fluid mixture suitable for stimulation treatments of oil and gas wells. The machine includes a slinger member, of a toroidal shape, and an impeller, of a vortex configuration, that is fastened underneath the slinger. In this machine entrained air is carried into the fluid phase by the sand, but the air is then "exhausted" from the sand-gel mixture through interior and exterior air exhaust channels and spaces that are built into the machine.

Abstract: The instrument disclosed herein is designed for measuring flow rates and densities of moving fluid streams, including liquids, gases, slurries, and fluids which contain solid materials. In one embodiment of this instrument, a conduit section, which has a 90 degree bend therein, is placed in a transfer line which carries the fluid stream to its use point. Defined within the conduit section is a chamber, which is located at the bend in the conduit. Installed within the chamber is a force measuring transducer and a piston, which is in contact with the diaphragm assembly of the transducer. In operation, part of the moving fluid is diverted into the chamber, to equalize fluid pressure across the diaphragm assembly of the transducer and the piston. This removes the effect of fluid pressure on the flow rate and density measurement, and allows the moving fluid to displace the piston by the force exerted by the fluid.

Abstract: A salt water hydraulic cement slurry and method of use in oil and gas well cement jobs involving a novel fluid loss additive comprising an admixture of sulfonated aromatic polymers. An effective amount of an admixture of water soluble salts of a sulfonated styrene/maleic anhydride copolymer, sulfonated polystyrene, sulfonated polyvinyltoluene and sulfonated polynaphthalene/formaldehyde condensate when added to a salt water/Portland cement slurry provides fluid loss control to the Portland cement slurry at bottomhole circulating temperature between 80.degree. and 210.degree. F. Further, addition of and/or the replacement of the sulfonated polystyrene by a water soluble lignosulfonate further enhances the high temperature properties of the salt water cement slurry.One exception to this appears in British Pat. No.

Abstract: A novel buffered gelling/foaming agent and resulting gelled aqueous inorganic acid solution involving a N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) fatty amine acetic acid salt (e.g., N,N-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) tallow ammonium acetate); alkali metal acetate; and acetic acid buffered system. The buffered gelling/foaming agent compositions exhibit pragmatic advantages in preparation, handling and use particularly at low temperatures because of low pour points (e.g., 5.degree.-10.degree. F.). Furthermore, the buffered gelling agent more efficiently utilizes the active ingredients in terms of desired viscosity rise as a function of concentration. The resulting gelled aqueous inorganic acid solutions using the buffered gelling agent exhibit a novel viscosity rise and calcium ion viscosity contribution as the concentrated acid is partially spent (i.e., approaches 12%), yet the totally spent acid returns to a nominal viscosity and is a foaming medium.

Abstract: The formation and subsequent precipitation of undesirable ferric compounds during the acid treatment of wells is substantially eliminated by incorporating in said treating acid an inhibiting amount of a monobasic alkanoic and/or alkenoic acid having at least four carbon atoms and bearing at least two alcoholic hydroxyl groups per molecule, and/or a soluble salt or .gamma.-lactone of said acid. E.g. ascorbic acid or erythorbic acid.

Abstract: In plunger-type pumps a packing assembly is installed around the plunger to prevent fluid from leaking past the moving plunger. The packing assembly includes male and female adaptor rings, which are in face-to-face contact with the packing rings, but provide only a "sloppy" fit. The practice of this invention involves shaping the adaptor ring faces to conform precisely to the shape of the packing ring faces against which they are seated.