Abstract: The invention concerns a self-penetrating drilling method and a thrust-generating tool: the tool comprises N blades. Each blade comprised K drill cutters. The shapes, positions and orientations of said drill cutters are determined in the following manner: the kth drill cutter of the last blade drills, at the (q?1)th of the tool rotational cycle, a cut in the rock downstream of the one produced by the (k+1)th drill cutter of the first blade at the qth rotational cycle of the tool; the kth drill cutter of the nth blade drills, at the qth rotational cycle of the tool, a cut in the rock downstream of the one produced by the kth drill cutter of the (n+1)th blade at the qth rotational cycle of the tool; the normal to the leading edge of the drill cutter has a component along the axis of rotation oriented towards upstream.

Abstract: A U-shaped elevator having no doors is provided with first and second latching mechanisms which when contacted by the tubular to be entrapped within the elevator move from a closed position to an open position and which then return to a closed position as soon as the tubular is entrapped within the elevator. The latching mechanisms have a safety catch which prevents the tubular from being inadvertently removed from the elevator. The safety latch mechanism can only be activated by a handle which is manipulated by hand by personnel working on the derrick utilizing the elevator. The elevator has an open throat to receive tubulars that have couplers or other features with a lower flange surface for lifting a pipe string. The throat access has blocking members that are movable to allow tubulars to move out of the gap unless the blocking members are locked to prevent such movement. The blocking members have latches biased toward a position to immobilize the members.

Abstract: A continuous feed injection unit used for example for injection and removal of continuous well string from wells operates in a dual speed configuration. The unit comprises a first hydraulic motor, a second hydraulic motor, cooperating continuous well string gripping chains connected to be driven by the first and second hydraulic motors, a hydraulic power supply connected to provide pressurized fluid to the first and second hydraulic motors and a control system for the hydraulic power supply. The control system for the hydraulic power supply has a motor speed control valve with at least a first and second operating configuration, the first operating configuration providing power fluid to the first and second hydraulic motors in parallel and the second operating configuration providing power fluid to the first and second hydraulic motors in series. The hydraulic power supply may be a conventional power tong hydraulic supply.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus and methods used in the production of petroleum. The apparatus and methods maintain an amount of oil on oil well casing perforations for improved petroleum production. The apparatus for the production of petroleum includes: a pump intake tube having an opening, an oil anchor generally encircling the pump intake tube, the oil anchor having an open base and vent holes in the oil anchor above the opening of the pump intake tube, a casing generally encircling the oil anchor, and perforations in the casing that are below the opening of the pump intake tube and are above the open base of the oil anchor.

Abstract: A core bit for abrasive cutting including a cylindrical tube (3) provided at its end surface with cutting or abrasive bodies (2) and a cover (4) provided at an opposite end surface of the cylindrical tube (3) and secured thereto and having, along its central axis (A), a shank (5) to be received in a rotary power tool, with the cover (4) being dimensioned, with respect to a set excitation frequency, for forming a whole number of maximum amplitude oscillations of a concentric flexural oscillation, and the cylindrical tube (3) being dimensioned, with respect to a set excitation frequency, for forming a whole number of maximum amplitude oscillations of axial longitudinal oscillations.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved pump (5, 5?) particularly suitable for use in a method of “artificial lift” in an oil/gas well. Known pumps used in artificial lift methods suffer from a number of problems/disadvantages—e.g. low efficiency (hydraulic efficiency). The disclosed embodiments of the invention provide a pump (5, 5?) which provides a positive displacement of a predetermined volume of well production fluid for each operative cycle of the pump-in contra-distinction known to pumps which provide axial flow of well production fluid. The inventive pump (5, 5?) provides a chamber (10, 10?) having a volume (V, V?), an inlet (15) to the chamber (10, 10?), an outlet (20) from the chamber (10, 10?), and means for varying the volume (V, V?) of the chamber (10, 10?). The means for varying the volume (V, V?) of the chamber (10, 10?) is controlled by relative rotation of first and second bodies (30, 35, 30?, 35?).

Abstract: An inverted motor with a drilling utensil attached to or integrated as part of an outer motor housing that rotates around a fixed non-rotating shaft or tube. The non-rotating shaft or tube is attached to a fixed base and can extend to the end or past the end of the drilling utensil. A rotary motor is positioned between the outer rotating housing and center fixed shaft and imparts force and motion to the housing and drilling utensil. A channel traverses through the length of the shaft or tube to allow fluids or wires to fully or partially bypass the motor.

Abstract: A closed-loop drilling system utilizes a bottom hole assembly (“BHA”) having a steering assembly having a rotating member and a non-rotating sleeve disposed thereon. The sleeve has a plurality of expandable force application members that engage a borehole wall. A power source and associated electronics for energizing the force application members are located outside of the non-rotating sleeve. A preferred drilling system includes a surface control unit and a BHA processor cooperate to guide the drill bit along a selected well trajectory in response to parameters detected by one or more sensors. In a preferred closed-loop mode of operation, the BHA processor automatically adjusts the force application members in response to data provided by one or more sensors. In a preferred embodiment, the non-rotating sleeve and rotating member include a sensor that determines the orientation of the sleeve relative to the rotating member.

Abstract: An alignment device for squarely aligning a conduit within a conduit port of a housing. The alignment device includes a connecting block having a conduit passage therethrough and into which the conduit is trapped. The connecting block has a fastener passage therethrough that is laterally offset from the conduit passage. A fastener is threaded into the housing and is offset from the conduit port. The fastener includes an alignment sleeve that mounts to a portion thereof. The connecting block mounts to the housing and the conduit fits into the conduit port, whereby the alignment sleeve pilots the fastener passage of the connecting block to squarely align the conduit within the conduit port.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for drilling a well bore in a hydrocarbon formation using concentric drill string having an inner pipe and an outer pipe defining an annulus there between. A drilling means such as an air hammer or a rotary drill bit and driving system is provide at the lower end of the concentric drill string and drilling medium is delivered through the annulus or inner pipe for operating the drilling means to form a borehole. Drilling medium, drilling cutting and hydrocarbon are removed from the well bore by extracting the drilling medium, drilling cutting and hydrocarbon through the other of the annulus or inner pipe.

Abstract: Fluid roof bits for mining typically supply high pressure water to a location immediately adjacent the cutting insert of the roof bit to flush debris and cool the cutting insert. The present invention is a drill steel assembly for a wet roof bit that reduces the fluid pressure loss supplied to the roof bit. A drill head body is connected to the drill steel by an intermediate adaptor. The adaptor has a spring loaded button thereon that mates with an opening in the drill head body so that the drill head body can be conveniently snapped onto the drill head assembly. A bushing seal made from a flexible material is clamped between said drill steel adaptor and the drill head body to limit fluid pressure losses.

Abstract: The present invention relates to straddle packer systems and methods of using them for downhole isolation of zones for fracturing treatment. More specifically, the system includes upper and lower seal systems having resiliently flexible sealing elements hydraulically and operatively connected to one another which are responsive to an increase in hydraulic pressure for setting the sealing elements at a first hydraulic pressure threshold. Additionally, the system includes a control system hydraulically and operatively connected between the upper and lower packer systems which is responsive to an increase in hydraulic pressure at a second hydraulic pressure threshold higher for activating a pressure switch system within the control system for opening at least one frac valve in the control system.

Abstract: A rotary drill bit for drilling subterranean formations configured with at least one protective structure proximate to the rotationally leading and trailing edges of a gage trimmer, wherein the at least one protective structure is positioned at substantially the same exposure as its associated gage trimmer. Particularly, the apparatus of the present invention may provide protection for gage trimmers during drilling, tripping, and/or rotation within a casing; i.e., when changing a drilling fluid. Protective structures may be configured and located according to anticipated drilling conditions including helix angles. In addition, a protective structure may be proximate to more than one gage trimmer while having a substantially equal exposure to each associated gage trimmer. Methods of use and a method of rotary bit design are also disclosed.

Abstract: A well pump device, especially for use in connection with the recovery of hydrocarbons, wherein the pump is carried to a predetermined position within a well pipe. The pump is provided with an external seal which is arranged to prevent fluid from flowing from the pressure side of the pump past the pump to the suction side thereof.

Abstract: The method of providing in excess of 60 kilowatts of electrical power to the electrical motor of a subterranean electric drilling machine through a substantially neutrally buoyant composite umbilical containing electrical conductors to reduce the frictional drag on the neutrally buoyant umbilical. Drilling and casing subterranean monobore wells are contemplated to distances of 20 miles from a wellsite. For drilling applications, the umbilical possesses a drilling fluid conduit. The umbilical also possesses high speed data communications such as a fiber optic cable or a coaxial cable that is used in the feedback control of the downhole electric drilling motor. Such umbilicals are also useful to provide power to remotely operated vehicles for subsea well servicing applications.

Abstract: A system for perforating a well includes a perforating gun 10 and a swivel 12 suspended from a wireline 50. An orientation sub 14 is provided above the gun 10 and a rotational latching mechanism 90 rotationally connects the wireline to the perforating gun in one direction, while allowing the swivel to rotationally disconnect the gun from the wireline in an opposing direction. According to the method of the invention, the gun may be lowered in the well from the wireline to a depth greater than the desired firing depth until the gun is rotated to its desired azimuthal position, and the gun then raised by the wireline to the desired firing depth with a rotational latching and swivel mechanisms maintaining the gun at its desired azimuthal position.

Abstract: A quick release system for mounting a backrest to a motorcycle includes a side bracket plate with a pair of notches which are configured to receive and hold bolt heads attached to the motorcycle. Disposed adjacent one of the notches is a retaining mechanism to prevent the bolt head from being withdrawn from the notch unless the retaining mechanism is moved by the user.

Abstract: A novel corer and grinder apparatus suitable for interplanetary travel and extraplanetary operation is disclosed. The corer grinder composes a claw element attached to a shaft coupled to a motor. A second motor compresses a spring forcing against a hammer unit that constitute the majority of the unit's mass. On release the energy stored in the compressed spring converts into momentum of the hammer unit that strikes against the claw element releasing the impact energy directly to the cutting end for cutting. The direction of the energy released is modified by an impact platform to produce a horizontal chipping action to aid cutting. The claw element further comprises a pair of semi-cylindrical claw elements that separate upon rotation of the shaft in a first direction, easing collection of core samples. The semi-cylindrical claw elements join upon rotation of the shaft in the opposite direction, thereby grasping the core sample during removal from the material being sampled.

Abstract: Improved methods and apparatus for completing a subterranean zone penetrated by a wellbore are provided. The improved methods basically comprise the steps of placing a sand control screen (e.g., screens, screened pipes, perforated liners, prepacked screens, etc.) and an outer shroud assembly mounted over the sand screen in the wellbore adjacent the zone to be completed, the shroud having perforated and blank (non-perforated) segments with the blank segments corresponding to selected intervals of the wellbore, for example problem zones such as shale streaks or isolated zones where flows are restricted by mechanical seals or packers, and injecting particulate material into the wellbore, whereby gravel packing takes place in the remaining length of the wellbore/shroud annulus without voids. The inner annulus between the shroud and screen provides an alternate flow path for the slurry to bypass the blocked intervals and continue with its placement.

Abstract: A tool is used for installing a string of casing in a well. The casing is supported by a casing hanger that lands on a landing shoulder of the wellhead assembly. A running mechanism is releasably secured to the casing hanger for landing the casing hanger and setting a casing hanger seal. A profile is formed in the wellhead assembly above the landing shoulder. The tool includes a body having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being secured to the running mechanism. A mandrel is mounted to the body for axial movement relative to the body, the mandrel having a threaded upper end for securing to a running string of conduit. A cam surface is formed on the mandrel. A plurality of dogs are mounted to the upper portion of the body in sliding engagement with the cam surface for movement in response to axial movement of the mandrel into engagement with the profile. While in the engaged position, the dogs resist upward movement of the casing hanger during cementing of the string of casing.