Abstract: A filter screen assembly is shown for filtering drilling mud used during oil and gas well drilling operations. The filter screen assembly is installed at the surface of a well on the discharge side of the mud pump at ground level. The filter screen assembly is installed upstream of the rig swivel, rotary hose and Kelly and downstream of the discharge from the mud pump. Since it is located at ground level, it does not pose the safely hazard associated with elevated components. It does not need to be removed and reinstalled when additional segments are added to the drill string and is always easily accessible for routine maintenance or replacement.

Abstract: A one piece forged fluidic displacement pipe is shown which can be used for horizontal directional drilling operations. The pipe has a metallic outer tube formed into a one piece forged pipe having opposing upset pin and box ends. The pipe also has an internal surface defined by an internal diameter and an external surface and an initially void interior space. A non-metallic inner tube is inserted within the tube void space so that it is enclosed within and generally coaxially aligned with the outer tube. The inner tube is made up of a plurality of lengths of synthetic plastic type material which pass through the internal diameter of the outer pipe and form a semi-solid circular ring of material which occupies the space along the internal diameter of the outer tube between the upset pin and box ends, effectively decreasing the internal diameter and flow path of the outer metal tube.

Abstract: Upper and/or lower seal plates of a sub plate mounted, pilot actuated spool valve are reinforced with one or more metal rings. In a number of preferred embodiments, the metal ring is comprised of steel. Portions of the seal plates may comprise an engineering thermoplastic such as polyoxymethylene (POM) sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours under the DELRIN® trademark. The plastic material may be molded to the metal ring. In other embodiments, the plastic material and metal ring(s) are mechanically connected together.

Abstract: Upper and/or lower seal plates of a sub plate mounted, pilot actuated spool valve are reinforced with one or more metal rings. In a number of preferred embodiments, the metal ring is comprised of steel. Portions of the seal plates may comprise an engineering thermoplastic such as polyoxymethylene (POM) sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours under the DELRIN® trademark. The plastic material may be molded to the metal ring. In other embodiments, the plastic material and metal ring(s) are mechanically connected together.

Abstract: A torque-less threaded connection is shown for connecting a drill tool to a drill string for use in horizontal directional drilling operations. An up-hole end portion has a female, box end opening with a non-threaded, slightly tapered first circumferential surface having a first median inner diameter; a non-threaded, slightly tapered second circumferential surface having a second inner diameter that is larger than the first diameter. A threaded tapered section extends between the first and second circumferential surfaces. The threaded tapered section has threads thereon which make up a multi-lead thread form. The downhole end portion of the coupling has mating external pin surfaces for engaging the internal surfaces of the up-hole end portion. A torque collar slides over portions of the up-hole and downhole end portions and prevents relative rotation between the downhole and up-hole portions and prevents toque from being transmitted to the threaded portions of the connection.

Abstract: Upper and/or lower seal plates of a sub plate mounted, pilot actuated spool valve are reinforced with one or more metal rings. In a number of preferred embodiments, the metal ring is comprised of steel. Portions of the seal plates may comprise an engineering thermoplastic such as polyoxymethylene (POM) sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours under the DELRIN® trademark. The plastic material may be molded to the metal ring. In other embodiments, the plastic material and metal ring(s) are mechanically connected together.

Abstract: Shown is a method for manufacturing horizontal directional drilling pipe having internally and externally upset pipe ends. The forging is done by heating the green tube ends and applying pressure using a closed die hydraulic forging press to form the upsets. One end of a steel tube is worked by upsetting and pressing to form an external upset portion having an outer taper being shaped by upset forging. That portion is then pressed by an internal upset die so as to displace the outer taper to an internal upset portion having an inner taper. Internal upset forging is then carried out by an internal upset die to produce the finished part. The process allows the manufacturer to produce a thicker upset horizontal directional drilling pipe, where the ratio of the outside diameter to the inside diameter of the upset can be on the order of 3.5, or even greater.

Abstract: A method for reconditioning a rotary connection of a rotor on a drilling mud rotor. A new rotary connection is machined from a metal blank and is provided with an externally threaded pin end which is subsequently screwed into a mating female threaded opening provided on the rotor body. The new metal connection is welded to the rotor body at an intersection of the connection and selected end of the rotor body. The threaded end of the new connection is threaded a predetermined depth which is selected to bottom out at a selected depth within the mating female threaded opening provided on the rotor body prior to the welding step.

Abstract: The lower end assembly of a measurement while drilling tool is secured against shock and vibration while drilling through the use of a locking cuff, an abrasion ring and a locking nut. A mule shoe at a lower end of the assembly has a diameter sized to allow a pulser helix to pass. The locking cuff is installed on one end of the mule shoe. A poppet housing is attached to an end of the pulser helix opposite the mule shoe. An abrasion ring is received about the external diameter of the pulser helix and is received on a shoulder located between the pulser helix and the poppet housing. An externally threaded lower end of the locking nut is received within a mating threaded bore in the extended locking cuff so that a portion of the locking nut is located between the locking cuff and the poppet housing. Tightening the locking nut within the bore of the locking cuff acts to lock the lower end assembly with respect to the mule shoe.

Abstract: A method is shown by which threaded pipe sections are connected to form a tubular joint having proper sealing positioning at proper make-up torque. A make-up stencil plate is manufactured for each specific size of pipe to be coupled at the specific taper and make-up loss of a given connection with very tight tolerance. The plate is placed on the pin pipe end of the connection. A dial indicator is placed on the outer surface of the pipe pin end with the indicator flush with the end of the stencil plate. Once the indicator is set to zero, the stencil plate is removed. Then a bucking unit or power tong is applied to the coupling. When the face of the coupling hits the tip of the indicator and the indicator is within the given tolerance, the operator stops the make-up process.

Abstract: The lower end assembly of a measurement while drilling tool is secured against shock and vibration while drilling through the use of a locking cuff, an abrasion ring and a locking nut. A mule shoe at a lower end of the assembly has a diameter sized to allow a pulser helix to pass. The locking cuff is installed on one end of the mule shoe. A poppet housing is attached to an end of the pulser helix opposite the mule shoe. An abrasion ring is received about the external diameter of the pulser helix and is received on a shoulder located between the pulser helix and the poppet housing. An externally threaded lower end of the locking nut is received within a mating threaded bore in the extended locking cuff so that a portion of the locking nut is located between the locking cuff and the poppet housing. Tightening the locking nut within the bore of the locking cuff acts to lock the lower end assembly with respect to the mule shoe.

Abstract: A modified casing coupling houses a pressure relief valve body having a through bore with opposing end openings. The through bore communicates with the interior of the modified casing coupling at one end opening thereof and with an area surrounding the modified casing coupling at an opposite end opening. The through bore includes a ball seat adjacent one end opening thereof which receives a sealing ball. The ball is urged in the direction of the ball seat by a tensioning element. The ball is exposed to annular pressure trapped between successive lengths of well casing located in the well borehole. The amount of tension exerted on the ball by the tensioning element is selected to allow the ball to move off the ball seat to release trapped annular pressure between the selected casing strings once a certain annulus pressure is reached.

Abstract: Upper and/or lower seal plates of a sub plate mounted, pilot actuated spool valve are reinforced with one or more metal rings. In a number of preferred embodiments, the metal ring is comprised of steel. Portions of the seal plates may comprise an engineering thermoplastic such as polyoxymethylene (POM) sold by E. I. DuPont de Nemours under the DELRIN® trademark. The plastic material may be molded to the metal ring. In other embodiments, the plastic material and metal ring(s) are mechanically connected together.

Abstract: The dual stripper device of the invention has a hollow body formed for coaxial connection to the wellhead which provides for unobstructed passage of a slick cable, such as a data transmitting cable which transmits data in real time to the well surface. Disposed coaxially within the hollow body is a resilient wiper element with an internal bore formed along its longitudinal axis for passage of the slick cable. A hydraulically actuated piston applies a compressive force to the wiper element so that a pressure seal is formed between the wiper element and the cable when the wiper element is sufficiently compressed by the piston. The seal can be maintained during dynamic movement of the slick cable through the wiper element. A mirror image backup wiper assembly can be actuated in the case of failure of the first wiper assembly.

Abstract: A threaded pipe coupling is shown for a drill pipe used in horizontal boring operations utilizing a special form of a threaded connection with an internal stiffener ring which eliminates the need for hot forging operations. The pipe coupling is used for joining an upset region of a first tubular member to a further tubular member of lesser external diameter. The internal stiffener ring is received within the internal bore of the pin end of the coupling and underlies and extends along a portion of its length. The stiffener ring having an innermost extent terminating in an exposed end which is received upon an internal shoulder provided in the mating internally threaded box end. The stiffener ring also has an external shoulder formed at the innermost extent thereof which traps the pin face between the ring exterior and the box threaded interior.

Abstract: A tilted drive sub is disclosed with a center line of the internal diameter (ID) offset at an angle from the center line of the outer diameter (OD) starting at a point near to a top end of the tilted drive sub. This results in the ID being at an angle to the OD, with the OD of the tilted drive sub remaining straight. The offset ID has the same threads of a mud motor without a tilted drive sub. The tilted drive sub replaces the outer bearing housing of a normal performance mud motor.

Abstract: The dual stripper device of the invention has a hollow body formed for coaxial connection to the wellhead which provides for unobstructed passage of a slick cable, such as a data transmitting cable which transmits data in real time to the well surface. Disposed coaxially within the hollow body is a resilient wiper element with an internal bore formed along its longitudinal axis for passage of the slick cable. A hydraulically actuated piston applies a compressive force to the wiper element so that a pressure seal is formed between the wiper element and the cable when the wiper element is sufficiently compressed by the piston. The seal can be maintained during dynamic movement of the slick cable through the wiper element. A mirror image backup wiper assembly can be actuated in the case of failure of the first wiper assembly.

Abstract: A method and system are shown for protecting the threaded ends of tubular goods such as oil field tubulars from physical damage and corrosion due to environmental factors. A thread protector is formed of a polymeric body having cylindrical wall portions which engage the threaded ends of the tubular goods. Instead of relying upon a separate thread compound or corrosion inhibitor applied to the exposed threads, the polymeric body has incorporated therein a corrosion inhibiting compound, which is blended within the polymeric body as a part of the manufacturing process used to mold the polymeric body. The thread protector of the present disclosure includes a weather barrier to minimize exposure of the threaded ends of the tubular goods to moisture and other contaminants. The weather barrier includes a weather barrier ring and an air vent.