Abstract: A drill pipe tester valve includes a spherical valve member supported from an upward facing surface of a housing so that downward forces exerted on the valve member in its closed position, due to fluid pressure in a string of pipe above the valve member, are transmitted substantially entirely to said housing. A latching device is provided for latching the spherical valve member in its closed position as the string of pipe and tester valve are lowered into a well and for subsequently releasing the spherical valve member and allowing it to move to its open position when the string of pipe and tester valve are finally positioned within the well.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cementing an oil well borehole from a floating vessel. A sliding sleeve cementing valve is adapted to be interconnected with a casing string. A drill string to be lowered into the casing string includes a drill pipe, an opening positioner connected to the drill pipe for opening the cementing valve, an anchor connected to the opening positioner to provide sufficient resistance between the drill string and casing string to operate a motion compensator on the floating vessel, and an isolation packer connected to the anchor.

Abstract: A well testing assembly includes a pressure limiter located between a downhole pump and an inflatable packer. The pressure limiter includes a housing having first and second housing parts and having an inflation passage disposed therein for communicating a discharge of the downhole pump with the inflatable packer. A clutch is connected between the first and second housing parts. A biasing spring biases the clutch toward an engaged position. A piston is operatively associated with the clutch and communicated with the inflation passage for overcoming the biasing spring and moving the clutch to a disengaged position at a predetermined fluid pressure level within the inflation passage.

Abstract: A testing apparatus for use in an oil well includes an improved circulation valve having a cylindrical housing with an open bore therethrough and a circulating port through a wall thereof. A valve mandrel is slidably received in the housing and movable from a closed position closing said circulating portion to an open position opening said circulating port. A shear pin is provided between the valve mandrel and the cylindrical housing and initially retains the valve mandrel in its closed position. The valve mandrel is arranged and constructed for engagement with a power mandrel of the testing apparatus upon movement of the power mandrel in a first direction so that said valve mandrel is forced in said first direction by engagement with said power mandrel and said shear pin is sheared to release the valve mandrel from its closed position. A biasing spring is provided for aiding movement of the valve mandrel to its open position upon shearing of the shear pin.

Abstract: An improved well packing device of the type having an inflatable bladder reinforced with a reinforcing material, and also having an annular end piece attached to the inflatable bladder. The reinforcing material is looped at one end about a toroidal member. This toroidal member is contained in an annular cavity of the end piece. A shoulder portion of the end piece forms a slot, narrower than the toroidal member, through which the reinforcing material extends, thus providing an improved connection between the inflatable bladder and the end piece.

Abstract: An improved rotational viscometer is provided, having a base, a housing, and one and only one adjustable support leg supporting the housing from the base. The support leg provides for adjustment of the length of the leg and provides for alignment of the housing relative to the base. A rotatable tubular sleeve extends downwardly from the housing, and an electric motor is provided in the housing for driving the rotatable sleeve. The electric motor is connected to the rotatable sleeve by a toothed pulley and belt assembly. A cylindrical non-metallic bob is concentrically positioned within the tubular sleeve and is attached to the lower end of a bob shaft. The upper end of the bob shaft has an indicator dial attached thereto and is connected to the housing by a torsional string.

Abstract: An inflatable packer assembly includes a cylindrical mandrel with a cylindrical valve body concentrically disposed about the mandrel. The valve body includes an inlet communicating with an interior of the mandrel and an outlet for directing fluid to an inflatable element of the packer assembly. First and second axial bores, containing first and second pistons, respectively, are disposed in said valve body and communicate with an end surface thereof. The first bore also communicates with said inlet. A first port connects the first and second bores. A second port connects the second bore and the outlet. The first piston is held in a first position blocking said first port until a pressure differential across the first piston reaches a first level at which the first portion is released and is moved to a second position allowing fluid communication between the inlet and the first port.

Abstract: A system for protecting a transducer connected thereto by damping, through a pressurized fluid, a signal to be converted by the transducer is disclosed. The system includes a transducer protector apparatus having a housing and an element for damping the signal to be converted by the transducer. The housing includes a first connector for coupling with the transducible signal source and a second connector for joining the transducer. The housing also has a fluid-containing cavity and a member for transferring to the fluid in the cavity the transducible signal received through the first connector. The damping element includes a bore defined in the housing to directly communicate the cavity with an aperture in the second connector and a pin, having a predetermined diameter less than the diameter of the bore, disposed within the bore.

Abstract: An isolation packer extension doubles the distance between upper and lower packer assemblies of an isolation packer so that less accurate positioning thereof is required when performing cementing operations from a floating vessel.

Abstract: A pulsed neutron well logging system using a sealed off neutron generator tube is provided with a programmable digital neutron output control system. The control system monitors the target beam current and compares a function of this current with a preprogrammed control function to develop a control signal for the neutron generator. The control signal is used in a series regulator to control the average replenisher current of the neutron generator tube. The programmable digital control system of the invention also provides digital control signals as a function of time to provide ion source voltages. This arrangement may be utilized to control neutron pulses durations and repetition rates or to produce other modulated wave forms for intensity modulating the output of the neutron generator as a function of time.

Abstract: An improved adjustable relief valve is provided having a valve body with a valve body inlet and outlet disposed therein. A reciprocating plunger is disposed in said valve body, and is movable between a first closed position isolating said valve body inlet and outlet, and a second open position communicating said valve body inlet and outlet. A pilot valve means is operatively associated with said plunger to control the flow of fluid from said valve body inlet to said plunger. Both said plunger and said pilot valve means have adjustable spring means for urging them toward their respective closed positions. An auxiliary means is provided for opening said relief valve without varying the adjustments of said spring means, so that said relief valve may be purged with a cleansing fluid.

Abstract: An improved centralizer includes upper and lower collars with a plurality of spring members attached at upper and lower ends to said collars. Each of said collars includes a first and second arcuate collar portion. A first peripheral end portion of said first collar portion includes a radially outward projecting channel. A second peripheral end portion of said second arcuate collar portion includes a radially inward projecting channel which overlaps with said outward projecting channel to define an axially extending hole which receives a latch pin. A novel connection between the collars and spring members is also provided. The collars include a continuous integrally formed peripherally extending bar spaced radially outward from a radially outer surface of the collars, upper and lower peripheral slots adjacent upper and lower edges of the bar, and an upper compression bearing surface.