Abstract: There is disclosed a ram type blowout preventer with rams having ram front packings disposed within a recess extending across the front face of each ram body and including a seal strip of elastomeric material, metal plates above and below the strip of elastomeric material, and strips of non-elastomeric, relatively rigid material between the seal strip of elastomeric material and the top and bottom metal plates.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ram type blowout preventer whose rams have ram front packings which include seal strips of elastomeric material and top and bottom metal plates received in recesses across the front ends of the ram bodies, with the faces of the inner ends of the metal plates being slanted with respect to the vertical for sliding engagement with an oppositely slanting face of the inner end of the metal plate of an opposing ram.

Abstract: A rubber composition with small fluorocarbon micro-powder particles incorporated into the composition which reduces the coefficient of friction. The rubber with a lowered coefficient of friction allows for ease of movement of the rubber part against metal surfaces thereby reducing the wear of the rubber part.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for controlling the operation of a ram of a subsea blowout preventer connected to a piston shiftable between alternate positions within a cylinder. The system includes valve apparatus for so shifting the piston which includes an outlet connected to the cylinder, a first passageway through which hydraulic fluid may be supplied to the outlet, a second passageway through which hydraulic fluid may be vented from the outlet, and a valve member movable between positions alternately connecting the outlet with the first and second passageways, respectively, so as to selectively supply hydraulic fluid to or vent hydraulic fluid from the cylinder.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of a flow diverter each of which includes a housing installed beneath the floor of a drilling rig on the upper end of a conductor pipe through which a well is to be drilled, a thrust plate sealably supported within a bore through the housing above a side outlet in the housing through which well fluid may be diverted, and a sealing element carried within the bore of the thrust plate for sealably engaging about a pipe string extending into the conductor pipe.

Abstract: A tubular connection comprising a pin end and a box end of adjacent joints having a conical metal-to-metal seal located with respect to the pin end forward thread set and its nose, the improvement of a circumferential groove in the pin end forward of the metal-to-metal seal which carries an elastomeric sealing ring radially extending beyond the limits of the groove. The metal-to-metal makeup of the connection causes by conical deformation a slight wedge shape opening to form forward of the metal-to-metal seal. The elastomeric material extrudes to fill this wedge shape opening to thereby form a compound seal forward of the metal-to-metal seal.

Abstract: An improved threaded connection adapted to secure adjacent conduits in a continuous flow conduit forming relationship. The threaded connection employs a tapered or wedge shaped thread with angled or tapered thread load flanks to obtain superior mechanical strength by controlling stress levels in the connection. To insure proper make-up of the connection the dimension of the thread structure is controlled to prevent trapping of thread lubricant during rotational make-up which may produce false torque make-up values.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of a marine riser having means for disrupting smooth flow of seawater along its length of the riser and thus damping vertical oscillation of the riser when its lower end is released from a subsea wellhead.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which may alternatively be used as a diverter or as a blowout preventer for a drilling rig. The system comprises a blowout preventer attached above a spool having a hydraulically driven sleeve/piston. An outlet flow passage in the spool, which may be connected to a vent line, is closed off by the sleeve wall when the spool piston is at rest.Hydraulic ports are connected above and below the blowout preventer annular piston and above and below the spool annular piston. The ports below the blowout preventer piston and above the spool piston are in fluid communication with each other. A hydraulic circuit is provided having two valves between a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and a drain.

Abstract: A system is disclosed which may alternatively be used as a diverter or as a blowout preventer for a drilling rig. The system comprises a blowout preventer attached above a spool having a hydraulically driven sleeve/piston. An outlet flow passage in the spool, which may be connected to a vent line, is closed off by the sleeve wall when the spool piston is at rest.Hydraulic ports are connected above and below the blowout preventer annular piston and above and below the spool annular piston. The ports below the blowout preventer piston and above the spool piston are in fluid communication with each other. A hydraulic circuit is provided having two valves between a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid and a drain.

Abstract: The same size and weight of tubular products, but in different grades of material, are made for universal connection but with seal areas that differ appropriately for adequate sealing without overstressing the connection members for the pressures encountered where each tubular length is put in service. The angle of the conically tapered seal on all box members is made the same for all grades of the products. The pin member of medium grade is made with an equal length seal area and adjacent contracting area on its forward end. The pin member of lower grade is made with a shorter length seal area than its adjacent contacting area, thereby also placing the seal area further from the pin member distal end. This stiffens the pin member. The pin member of higher grade is made with a longer length seal area than its adjacent contacting area.

Abstract: A tubular connection having a nose extension on the pin member for stiffening the member and exhancing the conical seal area forward of the first thread, which seal is spaced at a distance from the time end by a non-sealing nose extension that is at least as long as the sealing area. The integrity of the seal is improved, the bearing surface is enlarged and the tendency of galling is reduced.

Abstract: A resilient seal ring for a tubular connection having an outside periphery that comes to a peak. The peak includes preferably two chamfered sides at respective angles to the axis of the ring that are greater than the adjacent conical surface angle. The crown of the peaked top is preferably flat. The connection includes a rectangular groove in a shallowly tapered conical surface of the pin member, preferably on a forward metal-to-metal sealing surface. The groove is slightly less deep than the seal ring.

Abstract: A tubular connection is disclosed having a small diameter thread set and a large diameter thread set, the small thread set having a lesser number of threads than the large set. A primary torque shoulder is located between the threads sets and a secondary torque shoulder is located behind the large thread set. In the preferred embodiment, the initial partial thread on the pin of both sets and the last partial thread of the small set on the box has a cylindrical root contour, whereas the remainder of the threads are tapered. The longitudinal taper angle of the pin thread sets are dissimilar to the box thread sets, there being a maximum separation of the sets near the center of the connection. Such dissimilar tapering tends to equalize the stress applied to the threads under tension loading. At the center, a seal is provided with hooked threads on either side thereof. The arrangement also provides a torque shoulder at either end of the large thread set.

Abstract: A method for enhanced mineral recovery from a subsurface earth formation is disclosed. An outer loop borehole is formed from a vertical shaft. A leaching fluid is injected from the surface to the outer loop borehole to leach away minerals in proximity with the loop.

Abstract: A tubular connection includes a shallowly tapered conical sealing surface. The areas on the pin member where make up and sealing respectively occur in the various embodiments comprise multiple angles and surface texturing for the purpose of lubricant retention, facilitate burnishing and reduce the propensity for galling in multiple make up and break out situations. The pin taper in each case is slightly less than the box taper. The area on the pin member is textured ahead of the very smooth seal area to retain some thread compound even after repeated makeups of the connection. The area ahead of the sealing area where stabbing contact is made is textured in the 125-250 R.sub.a range while the smooth seal area is textured about 63 R.sub.a to provide a gas tight seal under high pressure and severe conditions of combined loads and thermal shock.

Abstract: An improved pipe protector installation device using a hydraulic piston with capacity of 2000 psi to transfer rubber pipe protectors onto transfer sleeves. The improved device uses a spider plate of multiple cooperating wedge shaped shoes with separate springs to surround the shaft holding the pipe protector. The improved device is smaller and lighter weight.

Abstract: A marine riser anticollapse valve is disclosed for preventing a marine riser from collapsing under external sea water pressure in the event of a sudden loss of internal drilling fluid pressure. An external valve structure is provided for each of a plurality of openings in the wall of a riser pup joint. Each of the valve structures includes a cylinder having an opening in communication with a body wall opening. A piston in each cylinder is subject to sea water pressure but is prevented from opening when riser bore pressure of a sufficient magnitude is applied internally to the piston via the pup joint opening and cylinder opening. When the riser bore pressure falls, the piston is driven to an open position allowing sea water to enter the riser.

Abstract: A tubular connector for adjoining two adjacent joints comprising a first pin end on a first joint, a second pin end on a second joint and a tubular coupling member with suitable threads for mating with both pin ends. Each pin end is tapered and includes wedge threads. The wedge threads achieve a metal-to-metal seal upon makeup by providing a root-and-crest bearing surface prior to makeup. As an addition, a metal-to-metal conical seal can be provided in front of the most forward thread revolution on the pin ends. Further as an addition, an elastomeric seal can be provided in a circumferential groove just forward of the conical seal for making a compound seal therewith. A corrosion barrier ring can be included in the coupling member for filling the gap between the tip ends of the two pin ends being joined.

Abstract: An extended lift coupling for joining tubular members in an end-to-end relationship is disclosed. The coupling is of simple design having only three components: a pin, a box and a threaded lock ring. An external compressive axial preload places a torus on the pin in axial compression. Make-up of the lock ring maintains the compressive strain on the torus and the lock ring when the axial make-up force is removed. Thereafter, increased tensile loading on the pin and box is partially absorbed in benign compressive stress of the locking ring. By controlling the geometry of the coupling such that the stiffness of the torus is high compared to the stiffness of the box and the stiffness of the lock ring, the fatigue life of the coupling caused by applied cyclic tensile forces is enhanced.