Abstract: Various means of identifying individual joints of drill pipe or other drill tools have been suggested but have found only narrow utility. Such means include low frequency radio frequency identification systems that are inherently limited by short read ranges and require the reader antenna be placed directly over and very close to an embedded identification tag. With the development of mid-frequency and high frequency systems for radio frequency identification, read distances become much longer and a Gigahertz identification tag has recently been specifically developed for automatic drill string component identification. This invention provides a means for configuring, assembling and providing in-hole protection to a Gigahertz or other radio frequency identification tags.

Abstract: A two-position, three-way pilot valve having a hollow spool valve element connected to a valve stem having first and second ends of equal diameter for pressure balancing the valve. A biasing piston engages one end of the valve stem and a pilot piston engages the other end of the valve stem. The pistons may include two piston rings of different diameter for holding the pistons in alignment. The ends of the spool valve element are structurally designed to maximize valve seating without overstressing.

Abstract: A system for the automatic tallying of uniquely serialized drill string components from which well depth is determined, in hole component inventories are maintained, individual components are tracked through the well bore, component diameters are identified with respect to blowout preventer seal elevations and the determination and measurement of individual component down hole service factors with cumulative totalization in a computerized data base management system for these service factors for the purpose of better equalizing wear in order to obtain optimum life from drill strings.

Abstract: A housing has a cage with supply fluid ports, vent ports and an outlet port. A pilot actuated hollow spool valve element is telescopically movable in the cage and engages poppet seats at opposite ends of the cage. Elongated supply and vent slots directed transversely to the axis of the cage and valve element provide maximum flow passages. The ends of the spool are in contact with the cage at all times and the axial extent of the contact between the spool and the cage is greater than fifty percent. The spool engages the interior of the cage at the fluid ports and vent ports for reducing flow restrictions. A recess coaxially positioned at each end of the cage receives one of the valve seats. The housing abuts the cage for properly loading the valve seats. A dash pot cushions the valve element. A pilot control stem is connected to the valve element exteriorly of the valve element. A seal carrier provides a seal between mating surfaces of an underwater control pod.

Abstract: A fail-safe system for use on a hydraulic piloted pressure reducing and regulating valve for holding the valve at the last selected operating pressure in the event of loss of control signals. A pressure regulating valve having a body and a control piston therein is provided with a pilot piston in the body which is adapted to be connected to and responsive to a hydraulic signal pilot pressure. A segmented locking ring surrounds the assembly and coacting concentric V-shaped locking grooves are provided between the locking ring and the assembly for locking the assembly. The segmented ring is biased towards an unlocked position. An annular cam ring engages the exterior of the locking ring. Coacting wedge surfaces between the cam ring and the locking ring are provided for locking and releasing the locking ring. The cam ring is biased for urging the coacting wedge surfaces into engagement.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blowout preventer used in the drilling and completion of oil and gas wells and having rams which are moved within chambers in a housing which intersect a bore therethrough between positions opening and closing the bore. The zones of the bore above and below the closed rams are respectively connected by first and second passageway means with the outer side of the rams, with one of the passageway means extending through each ram. Each ram is moved by operating means which includes a rod having a lost motion therewith and a packing assembly on its inner end which sealably engages an end surface of the ram which surrounds the opening of the one passageway means to the chamber, as the rod moves inwardly to close the rams, and disengages therefrom, as the rod moves outwardly to open the rams.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ram type blowout preventer in which the chambers in which the rams are received and for movement between opened and closed positions are automatically vented to the bore of the preventer housing above the closed rams, as the rams are moved to open position, in order to equalize pressure across the ram and thus facilitate its opening. When the rams are moved to closed position, this vent is closed so that well pressure beneath the closed rams has access through a groove between the ram and the ram chamber to the chamber behind the closed rams so as to assist operating fluid in maintaining them closed. The stem which connects a piston of a hydraulic system for operating the rams is hollow and so arranged as to be pressure balanced whereby there is substantially no force due to well fluid pressure resisting closing movement of the rams due to the extension of the rod sealably through an opening in a wall separating the ram chamber from the cylinder of the hydraulic system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ram type blowout preventer in which the chambers in which the rams are received and for movement between opened and closed positions are automatically vented to the bore of the preventer housing above the closed rams, as the rams are moved to open position, in order to equalize pressure across the ram and thus facilitate its opening. When the rams are moved to closed position, this vent is closed so that well pressure beneath the closed rams has access through a groove between the ram and the ram chamber to the chamber behind the closed rams so as to assist operating fluid in maintaining them closed. The stem which connects a piston of a hydraulic system for operating the rams is hollow and so arranged as to be pressure balanced whereby there is substantially no force due to well fluid pressure resisting closing movement of the rams due to the extension of the rod sealably through an opening in a wall separating the ram chamber from the cylinder of the hydraulic system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blowout preventer having rams with cutting edges for shearing a pipe within the vertical bore through the preventer housing which rams carry means for gripping opposite sides of the pipe above the cutting edges of the rams, as the rams move toward one another to shear the pipe, and lifting the upper sheared end of the gripped pipe out of the path of means for sealing between the inner ends of the rams, as the rams continue to move toward one another.

Abstract: A hydraulic piloted pressure reducing and regulating valve which is fail safe for holding the valve at the last selected operating pressure in the event of the loss of control signals. A pressure regulating valve having a body and a control piston therein is provided with a pilot piston in the body which is adapted to be connected to a hydraulic pilot pressure. A spring is provided between the pilot piston and the control piston whereby the control piston can move in response to flow demands in the valve. A rod is connected to the pilot piston with a locking sleeve engaging the rod and releasably locking the rod and pilot piston against movement. A hydraulic pressure port is in communication with the space between the rod and the sleeve for releasing the rod upon application of pressure to the port. The port and the pilot piston are separately connected to a hydraulic fluid supply and a control system whereby upon failure the valve will maintain the last selected operating pressure.

Abstract: A pressure reducing and regulating valve which is operated to move a seal container between an inlet, outlet and vent port in response to fluid pressure. One feature allows the valve to be mounted on a subplate in which both the inlet pressure and the outlet pressure pass through a porting plate which provides a hold down force to compensate for the forces acting to separate the porting plate from the subplate mounting and thus prevent seal extrusion. Another feature of the present invention is the provision of force flow compensating holes which reduce hammering or chattering of the regulating valve.

Abstract: There is disclosed a ram-type blowout preventer having shear rams and fluid operated actuators for the shear rams which are of such construction as to move the rams inwardly to shear a pipe with a first, relatively large force, and then further inwardly to close the rams with a second, relatively small force, and which also includes locking elements adapted to be moved into positions locking the rams in closed positions automatically in response to inward movement of the rams to closed positions following shearing of the pipe.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blowout preventer having rams with cutting edges for shearing a pipe within the vertical bore through the preventer housing which rams carry means for gripping opposite sides of the pipe above the cutting edges of the rams, as the rams move toward one another to shear the pipe, and lifting the upper sheared end of the gripped pipe out of the path of means for sealing between the inner ends of the rams, as the rams continue to move toward one another.

Abstract: A seal for use in an underwater connector having first and second mating members each of which has a coacting mating surface with a plurality of fluid passageways for mating with the passageways of the other member. The seal is a resilient tubular member having threads on a portion of its outer diameter for connection to a passageway on one of the members. The seal includes a fluid sealing surface on its outer end for mating with the other member and the seal includes a fluid sealing surface on its inner end for sealing with the one member. The sealing point of the sealing surface on the outer end has a diameter at least as great as the diameter of the sealing point of the sealing surface on the inner end. The sealing surface on the inner end is formed by an O-ring seal in a groove in the annular resilient seal. The sealing surface on the outer end includes a ridge.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blowout preventer having rams each of which is moved between opened and closed positions by a fluid-operated actuator having a rod adapted to be axially reciprocated by piston means within a cylinder and extending from the cylinder for connection to the ram, means for locking the rams in closed position including locking elements carried by the rod for movement into locking position within the cylinder automatically in response to movement of the ram with the rod into closed position.

Abstract: A gas-liquid spherical accumulator which includes a spherical integral cast metal housing having top and bottom ports. The top port is adapted to receive a gas valve and the bottom port releasably supports a circular valve seat. A vertical guide rod is connected to the valve seat and extends upwardly in the housing. A generally cylindrical solid float is slidably mounted on the rod. The float has a rounded valve element on the bottom for seating on the valve seat closing off the bottom port. The diameter of the float is less than the diameter of the bottom port whereby the float may be removed through the port. A resilient coating is bonded on the valve seat or the valve element and preferably includes a circular ring projecting outwardly. The valve seat tapers downwardly and inwardly. A seal is positioned on the guide rod for engaging the bottom of the float for preventing gas escape. The rod, float and valve seat may be replaced with a bladder and poppet valve.

Abstract: There is disclosed a blowout preventer having rams with cutting edges for shearing a pipe within which carry means for gripping opposite sides of the pipe above the cutting edges of the rams, as the rams move toward one another to shear the pipe, and lifting the upper sheared end of the gripped pipe out of the path of means for sealing between the inner ends of the rams, as the rams continue to move toward one another.

Abstract: A pressure reducing and regulating valve having a body with a body cavity and a seal container movable in the cavity. The container includes primary and vent seals. At least one flow plate is positioned in the body adjacent the container and includes primary, secondary and vent ports. The improved seal container has the primary and vent seals positioned in the container on opposite sides of the central axis of the container, allowing the container and thus the body to be of a smaller size, thereby reducing the pressure forces applied against the interior of the body. The primary and vent seals are spaced on opposite sides of the central axis at locations for reducing the side loading forces acting around the central axis as the container is moved.

Abstract: In a hydraulic subsea control system having two separate redundant subsea control pods in which each pod is supplied with a hydraulic power supply line and a plurality of fluid control lines by surface controls. The improvement in means for alternately connecting and disconnecting the fluid control lines to each pod. Coacting quick disconnect couplings having first and second portions are positioned between the surface controls and each of the sets of fluid control lines to each pod. Each coupling portion includes a valve whereby when the first and second portions are engaged the valves permit fluid flow and when they are disengaged shut off fluid flow. First and second junction plates are connected between the surface controls and the connected fluid control lines and a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly is connected between the first and second plates for alternately connecting and disconnecting the couplings to each pod whereby the two pods are controlled separately, but redundantly.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for preventing the traveling block of a drilling rig from being drawn into the top of the rig and also for preventing the traveling block from falling downwardly below a predetermined bottom position. A high position limiting valve has an air inlet and an air outlet with a valve stem providing communication between the inlet and the outlet when a predetermined amount of cable is spooled onto the drum. A low position limiting valve has an air inlet and an air outlet with a stem yieldably urged at all times into engagement with the cable for actuation and providing communication between the inlet and the outlet when a predetermined amount of cable is spooled off of the drum. An air supply is connected to the inlets of the valve and the outlets of the valves supply air to stop the actuation of the cable drum. The longitudinal axis of the valves are positioned generally perpendicular to the surface of the cable drum and their stems are longitudinally movable.