Abstract: A gas lift valve of the unloading type having a main valve for controlling fluid flow between a well casing and a well tubing, a volume of compressible liquid a spaced distance from said main valve and subject to casing pressure, and a pilot valve between the main valve and the compressible liquid for controlling opening and closing of the main valve by permitting casing pressure to act thereon or to isolate it therefrom as the volume of the compressible liquid changes in response to changes in casing pressure to which it is subjected. Gas lift well systems utilizing such gas lift valves and methods for operating such gas lift well systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A wet concern for latchingly connecting an electric cable between surface equipment and a previously installed electrically powered well tool at a remote, downhole location in a well for transmitting electrical energy or signals thereto or therefrom. One form of the wet connector is released electrically (reverse polarity being used), and another form of the connector is released by tensioning and slackening the electric cable a predetermined plurality of times. Systems using such wet connectors are disclosed, as are methods for their use. The wet connector can be used in conjunction with an electric cable for installing certain tools in a well, especially where it is desirable to deposit such tools gently with no jarring.

Abstract: A valve employing a coupling disk to rotate the valve member so that rotative force is applied to the valve member in a direction away from the seat during opening of the valve and/or in a direction toward the seat during closing of the valve. Closing force is provided by a spring in a dome chamber and a gas charge in the dome chamber. A float valve controls fluid entry into the dome chamber to trap the gas charge therein while permitting the introduction of liquid from a balance-closure assist line to increase the pressure of the gas charge and assist in closing the valve member.

Abstract: A single bore packer is modified by a dual flow seal unit for gas lift completion. This permits the operator to inject lift gas into the upper casing annulus at the well head, bypass the hanger packer and conduct the lift gas into the suspended production tubing below the fluid level. The dual flow seal assembly is sealed internally against the packer mandrel, with the lift gas being conducted through a bypass flow passage between the seal mandrel and the packer mandrel, and being discharged into the lower casing annulus through a discharge port formed through the packer mandrel below the packer seal element package. The hang weight load of the production tubing is decoupled with respect to the packer seal elements by a set of internal ratchet slips which transfers the hang weight load from the packer mandrel onto the anchor slips and well casing at a location below the seal element package.

Abstract: A subsurface slide valve and flapper valve controlled by a single actuator responsive to control pressure from the surface. A shifting tool landable in a landing nipple and in response to pressure in the tubing first extending dogs to contact the actuator and then shifting the dogs downwardly to move the actuator to valve open position.

Abstract: A pulling tool and method for pulling an operating tool from a downhole location in a wellbore in which an elongated tubular housing assembly is connectable to a section of reeled tubing and defines a longitudinal bore through which fluid passes from said reeled tubing. A passage extends through the housing assembly and communicates with the longitudinal bore of the housing assembly for discharging the fluid against the wall of the wellbore and the fishing neck of the operating tool to clean same. A latching assembly is disposed on the housing assembly for latching to the fishing neck of the operating tool as the housing assembly is inserted into the fishing neck to enable the fishing neck and the operating tool to be pulled from the wellbore.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the production of methane gas from coalbed methane wells. The apparatus includes a production string having spaced side pocket mandrels supporting gas lift valves and defining with a well casing an annulus in the well running continuously without a packer from a coalbed seam to the wellhead and a lift gas injection line extending through the annulus along the production tubing string and connected into the side pocket mandrel for injecting lift gas into the production tubing string to produce well fluids and lift gas in the tubing string while simultaneously producing coalbed methane gas up the annulus. The method of the invention includes the steps of injecting lift gas through a lift gas injection line to a gas lift valve in a well production tubing string and producing well fluids along with lift gas up the tubing string while producing coalbed methane gas up the annulus.

Abstract: An hydraulically operated slip assembly useful to grip pipe being run into or pulled from a well. This assembly has upper and lower plates, each having a passage for pipe. Wedges, carrying unique slip systems are positioned around the passages between the plates and are slidably mounted for guided radial movement inwardly to initially grip pipe in neutral position and outwardly to ungrip pipe as moved by an hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted aside on the lower plate. The unique slip systems automatically increase gripping force on initially gripped pipe on more than about 0.7 inches up or down movement from neutral position caused by loads on the pipe. Forces resulting from increased pipe gripping force on pipe develop frictional forces within the slip assembly, which effectively prevent outward movement of the wedges after inadvertent or on purpose operation of the cylinder to ungrip the pipe.

Abstract: A lift gas safety valve has a compound valve closure assembly which will close automatically upon loss of hydraulic control pressure, and which can be reopened and maintained in the open position by the application of hydraulic control pressure at a relatively low pressure level. A primary valve closure member is slideably mounted onto a valve stem for movement to a seated position on the valve body in which a lift gas flow passage is closed, to an unseated position in which the lift gas flow passage is opened. A bypass flow passage is formed between the stem and the primary valve closure member for establishing fluid flow communication between the lift gas flow passage and the outlet port when the primary valve closure member is in its seated position. The auxiliary valve closure member is mounted onto the valve stem for movement from a seated position on the primary valve closure member to an unseated position for selectively closing and opening the bypass flow passage.

Abstract: A fluid flow control system, assembly and method for wells in which a sliding sleeve valve is connected in a string of well tubing in a wellbore casing. The sliding sleeve valve functions to selectively control the lateral flow of fluid through the assembly into the annulus between the assembly and the wellbore casing. A straddle assembly is locked within the sleeve valve assembly for isolating a lateral flow path. A stinger assembly is provided which receives reeled tubing and is insertable to lock within the straddle assembly to create a flow path between the reeled tubing and exterior of the sleeve valve.

Abstract: A system for controlling flow in a well conduit including a landing nipple in the well conduit and a standing valve, which after landing in the landing nipple may be retrieved or expended from the landing nipple. The standing valve permits upward flow and prevents downward flow through the landing nipple and conduit and has a resilient seal which expands into a groove in the landing nipple to provide limited resistance to upward flow moving the standing valve upwardly out of the landing nipple. Sufficient weight on the standing valve or pumping down the conduit with sufficient pressure releases a landing ring on the standing valve to retract, permitting the standing valve to be moved downwardly and expended out of the landing nipple.

Abstract: A hydraulic jar for use in a well and a method of operating same in which an outer housing assembly extends around an inner mandrel assembly in a coaxial relation thereto to define two fluid chambers separated by a piston. The housing assembly is movable relative to the mandrel assembly to force the fluid from one of the chambers to the other. The fluid flow rate is varied between a relative low flow rate and a relative high flow rate in response to the relative position of the housing assembly causing corresponding movement at the latter assembly. A high impact load is transferred to a member connected to the jar in response to a movement at the relatively high flow rate. The jar can be used to create a high impact load in both an upward direction and a downward direction.

Abstract: A prepack sand screen assembly has resistance welded inner and outer screens concentrically mounted in radially spaced relation onto a perforated mandrel, thereby defining an annulus in which prepack gravel is loaded. The longitudinal spacing distance between adjacent turns of the inner and outer screens selectively exclude sand fines of a predetermined minimum size. The outer screen wire is substantially greater in size as compared to the corresponding dimension of the inner retention screen wire. The inner retention screen is radially spaced with respect to the perforated mandrel, thereby defining a bypass flow annulus. The effective inlet flow area through the inner retention screen is more than twice the effective inlet flow area through the outer screen. Accordingly, localized deposits of sand fines on the inner screen are effectively bypassed by the remaining flow passages formed across the inner retention screen.

Abstract: A packing assembly which is connectable to reeled tubing and which can be inserted in and pushed through a wellbore tube by the reeled tubing. The packing assembly is hydraulically set in a locking and sealing position in the wellbore by fluid introduced from the reeled tubing and, after use, is hydraulically released and removed from the wellbore. An actuating apparatus is provided for hydraulically actuating the packing assembly and can be converted in a manner to pull the packing assembly from the wellbore. Prior to the removal of the packing assembly from the wellbore, the wellbore fluid pressure is equalized across the packing assembly.

Abstract: A wet connector for latchingly connecting an electric cable between surface equipment and a previously installed electrically powered well tool at a remote, downhole location in a well for transmitting electrical energy or signals thereto or therefrom. This wet connector comprises a male connector on the downhole well tool and a female connector on the electric cable. The female connector carries a non-conductive liquid which is expelled therefrom during mating with the male connector to wash and cleanse the electrical contacts of both the male and the female connectors. One form of the wet connector is released electrically (reverse polarity being used), and another form of the connector is released by tensioning and slackening the electric cable a predetermined plurality of times. Systems using such wet connectors are disclosed, as are methods for their use.

Abstract: A well tool locking assembly comprising a lock mandrel having locking keys adapted to releasably engage a locking annulus within a well bore, and a latch assembly adapted to maintain the lock mandrel in a desired positional relation to the locking annulus until such time as the locking keys engage the locking annulus; the latch assembly further comprising at least one rotatably mounted, outwardly biased pawl adapted to engage the locking annulus, and a shear pin disposed below the pawl, the pawl being adapted to rotate downwardly into contact with the shear pin whenever the pawl is forced into contact with the upper portion of the locking annulus, the shear pin being further adapted to shear whenever the force exerted on it by the pawl exceeds a predetermined maximum.

Abstract: A fluid handling system with an injector in an enclosure and at least one stripper with upper and lower cup-shaped receptacles and resilient seals in the receptacles together with a fluid relief port between the receptacles for recovering fluid passing the seals.

Abstract: A system and a plug for plugging a well conduit. The plug includes a lock mandrel and a valve. There is a prong releasably connected in the plug. A running tool is adapted to releasably connect to the plug lock mandrel and prong. After the plug is lowered into a well conduit and installed in a landing nipple, upward releasing force on the running tool moves the prong upwardly closing the valve and plug to flow and the prong locks in valve closed position. Later, the prong may be disconnected and raised from the plug to surface, permitting pressure outside and inside the plug to equalize for retrival of the plug.

Abstract: A solenoid operated valve system for petroleum production wells including a solenoid operated valve securable in a well bore connected to the lower end of a tubing string extending to the surface. The valve of the system includes an outer housing, an inner wall defining a flow passageawy therethrough and an annular cavity therebetween for receiving the solenoid coil and associated electrical components. The spaces in the annular cavity surrounding the solenoid coil and components is filled with an electrically insulative filler material to protect the electrical elements from borehole fluids. The solenoid operated valve has an operator tube formed of tubular sections of different magnetic characteristics so that the valve is opened against a biasing spring by a high current flow and held open by a current flow of a lower value. The valve solenoid is operable by either AC or DC current.

Abstract: A connecting apparatus for two tubular members including an adapter sleeve extending over the end portion of one of the members in a coaxial relationship therewith and adapted to abutt the end of the other member. A threaded nut means extends over the adapter sleeve in engagement therewith, and is adapted to threadedly engage the outer surface of the corresponding end portion of the other member to connect the members together. The adapter sleeve increases in cross-section in a direction towards the end of the one member to decrease the stress on the latter member accordingly.