Abstract: A three cone earth boring bit having circumferential rows of earth disintegrating teeth of wear resistant inserts of selected projection from the cone surfaces, one cone having an inner row separated from a heel row by a narrow circumferential groove and second cone having a hell-catching row that intermeshes with the narrow groove by an amount to minimize balling. A nozzle directs a jet stream with a high velocity core past the cone and inserts of adjacent cutters to the bore hole bottom to break up the filter cake while the lower velocity skirt strikes the material packed between the inserts of adjacent cores. A row of small diameter, recessed reaming inserts replaces the conventional heel row on the cone having a hell-catching row, thus providing space for the lateral displacement of the material generated between adjacent inserts in the critical heel-catching row.

Abstract: A two-cone earth boring bit having non-opposite cones that minimize the tendency for off-center rotation or rough running. The bit is composed of two cones, each having a cantilevered bearing shaft with an axis extending inwardly and downwardly. A rotatable, generally conical cutter is mounted on each bearing shaft, each cutter having a conical gage surface to engage and define a borehole with a wall of select gage diameter. The axis of one cutter is skewed relative to the other to cause the conical gage surface of the two cones to engage the wall of the hole at points that are other than 180 degrees apart as compared to nonskewed cutters. These points are separated by a distance less than the selected gage diameter. A line between these points is separated from a line extending from one point through the rotatable axis on the bit by a selected angle. The body of the bit and/or stabilizers are separated from the wall of the hole by a distance less than the selected gage diameter.

Abstract: A one-piece drill bit is shown for use in drilling a borehole in an earthen formation. The bit includes a body having a face on one end and a shank on the opposite end. The face has a noise and a gage region. The gage region is bisected between an upper and lower stabilizing regions of full gage diameter cutter elements. An intermediate undercut region minimizes contact with the borehole wall while maintaining an effective gage length for the bit.

Abstract: An improved mechanical face seal for rock bits using rigid rings and energizers placed in recesses or grooves in the cutter and bearing shaft. The minimum diameter of the shaft groove is substantially equal to the relaxed inside diameter of the shaft energizer and the maximum diameter of the cutter recess is substantially equal to the relaxed outside diameter of the cutter energizer. The radii at the inner end of the shaft groove and the outer end of the cone groove conform to the relaxed cross-section of their respective energizers. The mean diameter of the shaft energizer is substantially equal to the cone journal diameter and the product of the mean diameter and cross-sectional diameter is the same for both energizers.

Abstract: An improved electrical transmission system for transmitting electrical power and data signals within a well bore having a string of tubular members suspended within it, each tubular member having a receiving end adapted for receiving data signals and a transmitting end for transmitting data signals, said receiving end and transmitting end being electrically coupled by a flexible printed planar conductor of the type having at least one substantially planar conductive band disposed between at least two layers of electrically insulating material.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond cutting element is shown which includes a mounting body having a leading face and a trailing face and a thin layer of super hard material carried on the leading face of the mounting body which defines a cutting face. The cutting face has a circular outer periphery which is interrupted to form a recess in the cutting face which continues through the mounting body. The recess mates in complementary fashion with the outer periphery of a second cutting element when the cutting elements are arranged side-by-side with the cutting faces thereof in a common plane.

Abstract: An earth boring bit having an improved two piece bearing and seal assembly containing a cantilevered bearing lug that is threaded to receive a mating bearing sleeve, the lug having a transverse shoulder intersected by a mouth on the sleeve to define a bearing shaft upon which is supported a rotatable cutter. A lubrication system includes a hydrostatic pressure compensator and seal means, the transverse shoulder being positioned inwardly of the seal means toward an inner end region of the lug to avoid exposure of the transverse shoulder of the lug and the mouth of the bearing sleeve to ambient drilling fluid. The seal means is a rigid face seal assembly which includes a rigid, sealing ring and a resilient energizer ring.

Abstract: An earth boring bit having a body and a cantilevered bearing shaft extending inwardly and downwardly from the body. A rotatable cutter with an open end is assembled over the shaft, which has a journal surface formed around a longitudinal axis. The cutter has a bearing surface sized to permit assembly over the journal surface of the shaft. At the open end of the cutter bearing surface is a seal recess which includes an intersecting wall that defines an annular, generally curved corner to oppose the journal surface of the shaft. The cutter bearing surface has a curved outer region that converges from the annular corner of the seal recess into an inner region to reduce the stress the corner induces upon the journal bearing surface of the shaft, including the stress induced by cutter cocking during drilling.

Abstract: An earth boring (rock) bit having a flexible diaphragm located inside the bearing shaft in a cavity between a threaded lug and a mating bearing sleeve. The diaphragm has an enlarged periphery, shaped somewhat like an o-ring, that is confined and sealed between opposed annular surfaces on the lug and the sleeve. The circular periphery of the diaphragm and cavity provide good compensation volume, from which excessive lubricant pressure is relieved by an enlarged portion which is punctured and contoured to discharge lubricant under excessive pressure while excluding drilling fluid. Simplicity and reliability are achieved by the elimination of multiple and complex manufacture and assembly operations.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved wellbore tool for coupling to a drill string at a threaded junction and adapted for use in a wellbore during drilling. A sensor is disposed in the wellbore tool for sensing a condition and producing a data signal corresponding to the condition. A self-contained power supply is disposed in the wellbore tool and coupled to the sensor for providing power to the sensor as required. The Hall Effect coupling transmitter means is carried by the sensor and for transmitting data from the Hall Effect coupling transmitter means to a Hall Effect coupling receiver carried by the drill string and disposed across the threaded junction from the wellbore tool, wherein data is transmitted across the threaded junction without requiring an electrical connection at the threaded junction.

Abstract: A torque reactor for a top drive drilling rig converts reactive torque on the top drive housing into a rotational torque on a torque shaft. The torque shaft extends vertically in the derrick parallel with the drive stem. A torque case carries two bushings, one of the bushings receiving the drive stem of the top drive and the other slidingly receiving the torque shaft. The drive unit bushing is rigidly connected to the housing of the top drive. The torque shaft bushing will transmit rotational force to the torque shaft. Linkages interconnect the bushings. Rotational torque imposed on the drive unit bushing creates a rotational torque in the torque shaft bushing. That torque is transmitted to the torque shaft which is held stationary to absorb the torque.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus of transmitting data signals within a well bore having a string of tubular members suspended within it, employing an electromagnetic field producing means to transmit the signal to a magnetic field sensor, which is capable of detecting constant and time-varying fields, the signal then being conditioned so as to regenerate the data signals before transmission across the subsequent threaded junction by another electromagnetic field producing means and magnetic sensor pair; the method and apparatus also having a battery saving switch that extends the life of the battery carried by the tubular member in a compartment that shields the battery from the well bore environment.

Abstract: A steam generator is located downhole in a well for generating steam to cause viscous crudes to flow out adjacent walls. A packer is mounted above the steam generator. A connector box is located between the packer and the steam generator. An electrical cable extends alongside tubing into the well and into a window in the tubing located just above the packer. The cable extends through a passage in the packer and into the connector box. Feedthrough connectors in the connector box connect the power cable with lead wires extending upward from the steam generator. Heat pipes extend from the connector box upward through the packer. The heat pipes contain gas which circulates to aid in dissipating heat from the connector box.

Abstract: A steam generator is located downhole in a well for generating steam to cause viscous crudes to flow out adjacent wells. A packer is mounted above the steam generator. A connector box is located between the packer and the steam generator. An electrical cable extends alongside tubing into the well and into a window in the tubing located just above the packer. The cable extends through a passage in the packer and into the connector box. Feedthrough connectors in the connector box connect the power cable with lead wires extending upward from the steam generator. Cooling fluid passages in the packer allow circulation of cooling fluid from the surface to cool the components. The packer is hydraulically set by water supplied to the cooling fluid passages. A disk ruptures after the packer has been set to enable circulation of the cooling fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring the temperature and pressure in a well bore is used in connection with a submersible pump disposed in the well bore and electrically energized by a power conductor suspended in the well bore. A plurality of resistors and a plurality of pressure sensitive switches are disposed in the well bore along with a temperature sensitive circuit element. A constant current source at the surface provides a dc sensing signal that is superimposed on the power cable. A single voltage reading taken at the surface provides a measure of both temperature and pressure in the well bore.

Abstract: A progressing cavity well pump has an overspeed brake to protect the gear box during reverse rotation. A power source rotates an input shaft of the gear box, which through a right angle drive, drives a string of rods extending into the well to the progressing cavity pump. A centrifugal brake is mounted to the input shaft. If the pump locks up, the power source will impart energy to the rods by twisting them until the power source reaches its limit. When the rods start to unwind, the centrifugal brake will engage to dissipate energy and slow the speed of the reverse rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for a top drive drill rig lifts a stand of the drill pipe into engagement with the drive stem in the derrick. The apparatus includes a set of elevators mounted between the drive head by a link assembly. The link assembly includes two link sections connected together by a swivel joint. An upper hydraulic cylinder is connected between the drive head and the upper link section. A lower hydraulic cylinder is connected between the upper and lower link sections. These cylinders may be retracted to pull the stand of drill pipe upward into contact with the drive stem.

Abstract: A cooling system for electrical components that includes a metal heat sink with parallel fins. An axial discharge fan is mounted across from the heat sink fins for discharging air against the fins. The fan has an axis that is perpendicular to the plane containing the fins so that the air strikes the fins at right angles.

Abstract: Ethylene propylene copolymer elastomers and ethylene propylene diene terpolymer elastomers are shown which, when cured, exhibit improved oil resistance and chemical aging properties at elevated temperatures and pressures. A previously polymerized liquid 1,2-polybutadiene is incorporated into the elastomer by chemical blending during the polymerization process. Such compositions are useful as electrical insulating materials for use under extreme environmental conditions, particularly in wire and cable constructions.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus of transmitting data signals within a well bore having a string of tubular members suspended within it, employing an electromagnetic field producing means to transmit the signal to a magnetic field sensor, which is capable of detecting constant and time-varying fields, the signal then being conditioned so as to regenerate the data signals before transmission across the subsequent threaded junction by another electromagnetic field producing means and magnetic sensor pair.