Abstract: A threaded pipe connection is disclosed of the wedge-shaped thread type that avoids high stress concentrations in the box between the first thread and the end of the box by making the length of the box between the first thread and the end of the box equal to or greater than 5% of the pipe diameter and by providing clearance between the crest of the first full thread on the box and the root of the last thread on the pin and between the crest of the last full thread on the pin and the root of the first full thread on the box.

Abstract: A safety valve and method is disclosed having a housing in which a rotatable valve is disposed between upper and lower passages and lateral outlets. The ball has a removable insert such that in one position of the ball, the insert can be removed to provide full bore access in line with the well. The housing may be incorporated with the tubing head or may be attached to the top of the tubing head. During insertion of or workover of tubing, a blowout preventer may be attached to the top of the valve housing. The ball may be rotated for closing off the flow path from the well below. A Christmas tree may be installed after the blowout preventer is removed.Diverter valves may be connected to the lateral outlets. Passages in the ball insert may be aligned with the lateral outlets and the tubing to divert well fluid when desired via the diverter valves.The valve may be used as a master valve of a Christmas tree with a control valve attached to the lateral outlet.

Abstract: A threaded pipe connection is disclosed that has threads the flanks, roots, and crests thereof form thread seals when the connection is made up and that has a seal ring of resilient material that is trapped in a cavity between a groove in either the box or the pin and the thread seals to provide a secondary seal.

Abstract: A pipe joint for use with oil country tubular goods, such as tubing, casing, and drill pipe, a threaded member adapted to be connected to another threaded member to form such a pipe joint, and a method of making the threaded member are disclosed wherein selected mating threads of the joint and selected threads on the member that are adapted to mate with the threads of another threaded member have less clearance between the load flanks of the selected threads and the mating threads than do the other mating threads of the joint and the other threads of the member, when connected to another threaded member, to cause the selected threads to be stressed initially and to more uniformly stress all of the threads of the joint, when the joint is made-up and when additional external loads are applied.

Abstract: A composition for use in piping and pump systems for elevated temperature, steam and certain chemical resistant applications of ethylene-propylene copolymer with peroxide generated carbon to carbon crosslinkage. Effective amounts of antioxidants, carbon black, lubricant, thermal stabilizer and aid to peroxide crosslinkage is added. An antioxidant and thermal stabilizer system is used to produce a product with unusual thermal stability characteristics. The composition may also have a mixture of high and low particle size carbon black which acts as an antioxidant and reinforcing system. The composition may also use very fine particle carbon black for a highly elastic application. The composition can be used for rubber components which are exposed to a high temperature or to certain chemical environments, or where unusually high elasticity is required.

Abstract: A safety valve and method is disclosed having a housing in which a rotatable valve is disposed between upper and lower passages and lateral outlets. The ball has a removable insert such that in one position of the ball, the insert can be removed to provide full bore access in line with the wall. The housing may be incorporated with the tubing head or may be attached to the top of the tubing head. During insertion of or workover of tubing, a blowout preventer may be attached to the top of the valve housing. The ball may be rotated for closing off the flow path from the well below. A Christmas tree may be installed after the blowout preventer is removed. Diverter valves may be connected to the lateral outlets. "T" shaped passages in the ball insert may be aligned with the lateral outlets and the tubing to divert well fluid when desired via the diverter valves. The valve may be used as a master valve of a Christmas tree with a control valve attached to the lateral outlet.

Abstract: A hawser chain assembly and method for installation of its sealing element is disclosed. The assembly includes a housing adapted for connection in series with a hawser pipe of a marine vessel such as a semi-submersible drilling rig. The housing may be moved to an open position for installation or replacement of the sealing element, and a closed position to longitudinally surround and secure the sealing element. The sealing element has at least two semi-cylindrical elastomeric parts, each of which is adapted for placement partially about the hawser chain when the housing is in the open position. Each semi-cylindrical part has at least one inflatable bladder. A manifold is provided by which fluid pressure may be introduced to the bladders of the sealing element causing them to expand. The sealing element is restricted on its outer diameter by the closed housing causing the elastomeric material to move inwardly forming a sealing engagement with the chain.

Abstract: A pipe joint of the free-running thread type is provided with engaging shoulders on the pin and box that are positioned for the metal adjacent the shoulders to be stressed by make-up torque beyond its yield joint and extruded laterally of the shoulders into grooves to mechanically lock the joint in its made-up position.

Abstract: A threaded pipe connection is disclosed having tapered sealing surfaces between the ends of the threads on the box and pin that engage and a resilient seal member located in a groove about midway between the ends of one of the surfaces to form a seal with the other surface when the joint is made up with the two surfaces forming independent metal-to-metal seals on both sides of the resilient seal member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for remotely connecting or disconnecting upper flexible choke/kill lines (including auxiliary lines) to choke/kill lines of a floating drilling rig riser which has been lowered toward the sea floor. Remote stab assemblies are mounted to a stowable tension ring releasably secured to a housing secured to rig beams. In the stowed position, hydraulic stab connectors secured to travelling yoke assemblies are disconnected from each line. The travelling yoke assemblies are moved to an outer position so that the flexible drape hoses clear the space beneath the housing in order that a blowout preventer stack may be trolleyed in from the side of the rig moon pool during running or retrieval. The stack is lowered toward the sea floor by the riser. A telescopic joint is connected to the top of the riser and lowered through the housing and the tension ring.

Abstract: A joint and male and female tubular elements are disclosed where the threads of the female and male members have negative load flanks and have two or more radial steps axially separated one from another by a reverse angle torque shoulder having one or two adjacent conical sealing surfaces. The reverse angle torque shoulder serves as a positive assembly stop. The negative load flank angle of the threads and the reverse torque shoulder angle combine to interlock the male and female members and to prevent differential radial separation of the conical sealing surfaces when the joint is exposed to internal pressure, external pressure or both. Tapered threads and sealing surfaces and interference threads may advantageously be used in joint construction.

Abstract: A packer unit and packer insert adapted for use in an annular blowout preventer. The packer insert includes a generally longitudinal web with its leading edge facing the axial bore of the packing unit sloping from top to bottom in a generally radially outward direction.

Abstract: A stabbing protector assembly including a replaceable elastomeric insert capable of accommodating to a range of ends of tubular goods. The internal surface of the elongate portion includes flexible internally projecting fingers that bend over and maintain holding and positioning contact for a range of outside diameter dimensions of box ends. The conical entry is made with a flexible internal bulbous portion that flexes while maintaining centering of a range of outside diameter dimensions of pin ends.

Abstract: A top seal, ram assembly, blowout preventer, and housing for a blowout preventer are disclosed according to the invention in which outer anti-extrusion plates are provided at the ends of the top seal which are adapted for bearing against a surface of the blowout preventer housing. The housing of the blowout preventer is provided with a horizontal bore having a generally rectangular cross-section with thickened vertical wall sections in the proximity of the vertical bore through the housing. The thickened wall sections are adapted to cooperate with the outer anti-extrusion plates of the top seal in order to support the pressure created in the packer and the top seal when the rams are closed.

Abstract: A system adapted for alternative use as a diverter or a blowout preventer for a bottom supported rig and adapted for positioning beneath a rotary table of the drilling rig is disclosed. The system comprises a fluid flow controller and at least two bases adapted for being alternatively removably secured to the controller. When the first base is in combination with the fluid flow controller, the system may be used only as a diverter and when the second base is used in combination with the fluid flow controller the system may be used only as a blowout preventer. A method according to the invention includes steps for installing the system adapted for alternative connection as a diverter or a blowout preventer for a bottom supported drilling rig after structural casing has been set in a borehole.

Abstract: A method for enhanced oil recovery from a subsurface earth formation is disclosed. At least one essentially upward deviated hole from a vertical shaft in the formation is formed. An outer loop borehole is formed in proximity with the deviated hole. A heating fluid is injected from the surface to the outer loop borehole to heat the formation in proximity with the upward deviated hole to facilitate drainage of oil and the like.

Abstract: A measuring and telemetry system is disclosed adapted to measure the ambient pressure and temperature in a downhole environment, and to telemeter signals representative of such measurements to the wellhead for demodulation and display. Only two wires are used in the system between the wellhead and the measuring location downhole. The two wires are used for both the power applied downhole and measurement signals transmitted uphole. A current balance circuit is provided for a downhole iron core transformer through which the DC power is provided through one winding. The current balance circuit senses a signal representative of the DC current flowing through the one winding and applies an equal in magnitude but opposite in direction current through the other winding of the transformer to prevent magnetic saturation of the transformer.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus having a valve body forming a longitudinal axis with an inlet and an outlet connected by flow passage that are all substantially disposed on the longitudinal axis to provide a straight flow path is disclosed. A moveable flow control sleeve is concentrically disposed about a cylindrical seat member fixed in the valve body. Radially opposed ports are disposed in the seat member. A quick acting 90 degree rotatable stem is operably connected to the flow control sleeve to reciprocate the sleeve axially along the cylindrical seat to and from the open and closed position to regulate the fluid flowing through the opposed ports and valve apparatus. A flowmeter sensor is mounted with the valve body for providing a signal in response to the rate of flow through the flow passage. The signal is usable by a flow rate determining system which may be connected to a valve actuator for automatically operating the valve in response to certain prearranged flow conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for controlling a well drilled from a floating drilling vessel during the time that the marine riser is removed and conductor casing is being lowered and cemented into the well. An annular blowout preventer having a bore substantially equal to that of the structural casing is provided in a stack above the structural casing wellhead housing. A kill line is provided to the drilling vessel and is connected to the wellbore conduit below the blowout preventer. A marine riser is attached to the top of the blowout preventer through which the hole to be lined with conductor casing is drilled. The well is established to a depth of about one thousand (1000) feet below the seabed.The annular blowout preventer is closed, the marine riser is removed, and a stripper and guidance assembly is landed on the top of the blowout preventer in preparation for lowering the conductor casing in the well.

Abstract: A tubular joint or connector of box and pin members is disclosed having two-step tapered threads. Two metal-to-metal seals of complementary engaging sealing surfaces are provided, one adjacent the end of the pin member, the other axially disposed between the two steps. Reverse angle torque shoulders at the end of the pin member and the interior termination of the box member and hooked threads further characterize the joint and box and pin members.