Abstract: An annular seat structure, for use in subterranean well stimulation operations, is operative in conjunction with associated expansion control structure to permit a predetermined number of fracture plug members to axially pass therethrough. In an illustrated embodiment thereof, the annular seat structure is movable between a retracted position having a first interior diameter, and a resiliently expanded position having a second, larger interior diameter. The seat structure has an annular array of rigid ring segments interdigitated with annular gaps that receive radially outwardly projecting portions of an annular resilient liner secured to radially inner surfaces of the rigid ring segments, the outwardly projecting liner portions being secured to circumferentially facing surfaces of the rigid ring segments. An annular spring member coaxially circumscribes the rigid ring segment array, is received in notches formed in the rigid segments, and resiliently biases the seat structure toward its retracted position.

Abstract: A header ring for use in a stuffing box comprising an annular body portion of an elastomeric material, an annular radially inward projecting sealing lip portion formed on said body portion and an annular, axially facing pedestal portion formed on said body portion, said pedestal portion defining an annularly extending radially inwardly facing pedestal surface, the sealing lip portion defining an annularly extending, radially inward facing sealing surface, the sealing surface and the pedestal surface forming a juncture, at least a portion of the pedestal portion adjacent the juncture and forming the pedestal surface and at least a portion of the sealing lip portion adjacent the juncture and forming a portion of the sealing surface being comprised of a layer of reinforced elastomeric material bonded to the body portion.

Abstract: An expandable fracture ball seat assembly for use in wellbore zone fracturing operations functions to permit passage therethrough and exit therefrom of fracture ball plugs of only diameters less than a predetermined magnitude. In a representative form, the seat assembly includes a ring stack disposed within a tubular member and formed from a first expandable ring coaxially sandwiched between a setting ring and a second expandable ring. When an oversized fracture ball plug is forced into the seat assembly it axially compresses the ring stack and reduces the diameter of the first expandable ring and telescopes it into the second expandable ring, with the first expandable ring and the setting ring blocking passage through and exit from the seat. A reverse passage of a suitably large diameter fracture ball plug through the seat assembly axially returns the setting ring and first expandable ring to their original positions.

Abstract: A fracture plug seat assembly used in well stimulation for engaging and creating a seal when a plug, such as a ball, is dropped into a wellbore and landed on the fracture plug seat assembly for isolating fracture zones in a well. The fracture plug seat assembly has a fracture plug seat that includes elastomeric material and reinforcing material.

Abstract: A header ring for use in a stuffing box comprising an annular body portion of an elastomeric material, an annular radially inward projecting sealing lip portion formed on said body portion and an annular, axially facing pedestal portion formed on said body portion, said pedestal portion defining an annularly extending radially inwardly facing pedestal surface, the sealing lip portion defining an annularly extending, radially inward facing sealing surface, the sealing surface and the pedestal surface forming a juncture, at least a portion of the pedestal portion adjacent the juncture and forming the pedestal surface and at least a portion of the sealing lip portion adjacent the juncture and forming a portion of the sealing surface being comprised of a layer of reinforced elastomeric material bonded to the body portion.

Abstract: A composition for a ball that disintegrates, dissolves, delaminates or otherwise experiences a significant degradation of its physical properties over time in the presence of hydrocarbons and formation heat. The ball may be used in methods and apparatus for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean zone in a wellbore.

Abstract: A packing assembly for use with a rotary drilling swivel having a cylindrical wash pipe comprising a housing assembly including a packing gland forming a sealing assembly chamber around the wash pipe, the packing gland including an injection port in open communication with the chamber, a sealing assembly disposed in the chamber and including a first annular seal ring surrounding and in sealing engagement with the wash pipe, an annular containment member disposed in the chamber in surrounding relation to the wash pipe and axially spaced from the first seal ring and an injectable packing composition in sealing engagement with the wash pipe and disposed between the first seal ring and the containment member, one of the wash pipe and the packing assembly being rotatable relative to the other.

Abstract: Composite pump components, such as a connecting rod comprising an elongate body having a core portion made up of concentric laminations or layers, the layers having elements the majority of which extend longitudinally with respect to the connecting rod and that are supported in a polymeric matrix, the layers being bonded together.

Abstract: A split mechanical face seal having a rotating seal assembly comprising a rigid seal ring of split ring segments and a pair of attachable body ring segments holding the rotating seal ring segments together when the body ring segments are attached, a stationary seal ring assembly comprising a rigid seal ring of split ring segments and a pair of attachable housing segments holding the stationary seal ring segments together when the housing segments are attached, a single segment retainer ring having a split forming first and second opposing end faces, the retainer ring being made of a flexible material, the retainer ring being operatively engaged with the stationary seal ring segments and resilient members carried by the retainer ring and operatively engageable with axially facing abutments formed in the housing segments when the housing segments are attached such that the retainer ring exerts a biasing force against the stationary seal ring segments in a direction toward the rotating seal ring segments.

Abstract: A shaft extending from a housing is rotatably sealed with the housing using a split seal assembly. During installation of the assembly, an alignment pin on one half of the assembly engages an oblong recess with planar sides in the other half of the assembly to permit radial movement of the two halves toward each other while preventing relative axial movement between the two halves. The permitted radial movement facilitates the assembly of the seal to the shaft while the limitation on relative axial movement maintains the correct positions, of the two halves. The permitted radial movement allows the two halves to assume fill circular engagement with the shaft to optimize the seal and the mechanical engagement with the shaft.

Abstract: A pump liner comprising a tubular sleeve having an inner sleeve surface formed of a corrosion- and abrasion-resistant material and an outer sleeve surface and a shell having an outer shell surface and an inner shell surface, the inner shell surface being in surface-to-surface engagement with the outer sleeve surface, the shell comprising a reinforcing filler supported in a polymeric matrix selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic resins, thermosetting resins, and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A double gas pressure seal 10 is provided for sealing between a stationary housing 14 and a rotary housing 26. The gas pressure seal includes a stationary ring 42 and a rotary ring 40 each having a radially inner sealing face and a radially outer sealing face. A biasing spring 56 biases one of the rings toward the other ring. An annular groove 68 is provided in one of the rings, with the groove being spaced between the radially inner sealing faces and radially outer sealing faces. A supply port 84 supplies pressurized gas to the annular groove at a pressure higher than the process fluid in the stationary housing. A plurality of radially inner and radially outer recesses 94, 96, 122, 124 are provided on the one of the rings, and corresponding feed channels 98, 100, 126, 128 fluidly interconnect the annular groove with a rotary leading portion of each respective recess.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly having multiple compression spring assemblies that are used to bias a stationary seal into sealing engagement with a rotating seal, the springs in the spring assemblies being supported on their internal diameter and having their outside diameter visible for their entire length, each spring assembly further including a releasable, expendable clip that serves to preload the two seal faces against one another, limits relative axial movement between the stationary and rotating seal assemblies, and coaxially aligns the stationary and rotating seal assemblies.

Abstract: A mechanical seal assembly having multiple compression spring assemblies that are used to bias a stationary seal into sealing engagement with a rotating seal, the springs in the spring assemblies being supported on their internal diameter and having their outside diameter visible for their entire length, each spring assembly further including a releasable, expendable clip that serves to preload the two seal faces against one another, limits relative axial movement between the stationary and rotating seal assemblies, and coaxially aligns the stationary and rotating seal assemblies.

Abstract: An anti-extrusion lip seal device is disclosed for use that includes a flexible sealing lip portion supported by an annular braided anti-extrusion element. The braided anti-extrusion element is less resilient than the sealing lip portion to resist extrusion forces acting on the seal device. The braided anti-extrusion element includes fibers that are interconnected both laterally and radially. It is further impregnated with elastomeric or resinous material. Resiliency of the braided element may be adjusted during manufacture by varying the tightness of the braid as well as by variation of the resiliency of the impregnated material.

Abstract: A replaceable sealing member is disclosed which includes a body, lip seal and bonded reinforcement section having a skirt portion and a lip support surface. The skirt portion and lip support restrict elastomeric flow of the body and lip seal portion of the sealing member to prevent extrusion damage. A radially extending flange, from which the skirt portion axially projects, is bonded to the body and has an abutment surface on one side for abutment against a shoulder in a metallic support, such as in a mud pump piston hub, for limiting axial movement of the replaceable sealing member.

Abstract: A lightweight mud pump piston assembly for reciprocating inside of a cylinder. The piston has decreased weight because light weight materials are used to form the majority of the hub which is the heaviest part of the piston. The piston maintains its compressive strength because the critical stress portions of the hub are made with high strength material having higher tensile strength and density than the light weight material.

Abstract: A valve element is disclosed comprised of a body section, upper guide, lower guide, sealing section and reinforcement section. The reinforcement section is made of materials having a hardness greater than the lower guide and sealing section. The reinforcement section, as well as the sealing section, have a frustoconical outer surface to increase support of the sealing section due to bracing from a mating valve seat annular sealing surface. The frustoconical outer surfaces of the valve element combine to form a uniform frustoconical surface. Two sealing sections may be disposed above and below the reinforcement section. These two sealing sections have frustoconical outer surfaces that cooperate with the frustoconical surface of the reinforcement section to form a continuous, co-extensive frustoconical outer surface.

Abstract: A mechanical seal construction for use between a wall and a shaft extending through the wall and rotatable relative thereto, the seal construction comprising a seal assembly which includes a pair of seal elements having mutually engaging sealing faces, one seal element being fixed with respect to the wall and the other seal element being rotatable in response to rotation of the shaft, the seal assembly having an inner annular member operatively engaged with the stationary seal element and having a radially outwardly facing surface, at least three, generally equally spaced hemispherical recesses being formed in the surface, a fixed outer annular member in surrounding relationshp to the inner annular member, the outer annular member having at least three equally spaced, axially extending grooves, each of the receses having received therein a ball having a radius substantially equal to the radius of the recess, each of the balls projecting into a respective one of the grooves to prevent relative rotation between

Abstract: A stuffing box assembly comprising a body which has a bore defined by a generally cylindrical wall and a shaft extending concentrically through the bore. A sleeve is disposed in the bore in surrounding relationship to the shaft, the sleeve having a cylindrical portion and an annular flange, the sleeve defining an annulus between the cylindrical portion and the wall defining a bore. At least one and preferably several annular members formed of an elastomeric material are disposed in the annulus. A stop means limits movement of the annular member away from the flange portion of the sleeve, the annular members being disposed between the flange portion and the stop means. One or more seals or packings for sealing between the shaft and the wall are disposed between the shaft and the wall on the opposite side of the flange portion from the annular member.