Abstract: A method for milling an opening, slot, hole, or window in a tubular of a tubular string in a wellbore, has been invented which includes installing a mill system in the tubular at a desired milling location, and milling an opening in the tubular. In one aspect the method includes using a mill which has a weight member below the mill, above the mill, or both. In one aspect additional weight is added to the weight member once it has been introduced into the tubular string.

Abstract: A whipstock has been invented that has a whipstock body, a concave connected to or formed integrally of the whipstock body, and connection apparatus for releasably connecting the whipstock body to another member. In one aspect the another member is anchor apparatus and the connection apparatus has a shearable member shearable to release the whipstock from the anchor apparatus that initially anchors the whipstock in a wellbore (or in a tubular member).

Abstract: A one-trip assembly that includes the mill or mills for milling a window, the whipstock, the whipstock anchor or packer, and a valving assembly is disclosed which permits running in all the equipment needed for setting and orienting a whipstock and squeezing cement below the whipstock in one trip. Valving is provided which allows for the squeezing to go on after the whipstock packer is set. A feedback technique to determine that the milling assembly been pulled away from the cementing tube is incorporated into the assembly. In one embodiment, upon initiation of milling, pressure differential is used to shift a tube for valve actuation, effectively isolating the squeezed formation from pressures above the whipstock. In another embodiment, the whipstock is shifted to actuate an upper flapper. A second flapper valve is provided, preferably below the whipstock packer, which, responsive to pressure from below, is urged into a closed position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for pumping segregated fluids through a tubular member, such as is required when cementing a liner into a well bore. A liner wiper plug has an internal bore formed therethrough, with a flapper valve mounted in the liner wiper plug. The flapper valve can pivot to an open position to allow fluid flow through the wiper plug, and the flapper valve can pivot to a closed position to prevent fluid flow through the wiper plug. A work string, or a stinger attached to a work string, can be positioned within the internal bore of the wiper plug, holding the flapper valve in the open position. The wiper plug can be run into the well on the work string, with the flapper valve held open, and with flow of a first fluid in progress. The wiper plug can be releasably supported from the liner. The work string is withdrawn from the wiper plug to allow the flapper valve to close.

Abstract: An hydraulically driven percussive hammer for use with down-the-hole percussive hammer drilling, the hammer having a piston and liner combination which provides for multiple stages where there are successive effective piston drive areas of diminishing size for both return and impact directions which minimizes peak pressures from hydraulic hammer effects.

Abstract: A tubing injector apparatus for guiding coiled tubing and inserting the tubing into a well. The apparatus includes a tubing guide portion which has a curvilinear first frame and a curvilinear second frame spaced from the first frame. An elongated first guide track is attached to the first frame, and a second guide track is attached to the second frame. The guide tracks are adapted for sliding engagement by the tubing as the tubing is moved through the injector apparatus. The guide strips are preferably made of a self-lubricating material so that the tubing moves easily.

Abstract: A down hole hammer assembly for percussive drilling of ground holes has a drill bit slidably carried in a chuck housed within a barrel of the assembly. Drill bit travel is limited by a retainer sleeve in place about a reduced segment of the drill bit. The sleeve includes a ring portion limiting bit travel and a skirt portion for confinement within a component of the hammer assembly to prevent loss of the retainer sleeve and drill bit during barrel separation.

Abstract: A method for milling an opening in a tubular in a wellbore, the method comprising installing a mill guide in the tubular at a desired milling location, inserting milling apparatus through the tubular and through the mill guide so that the milling apparatus contacts the tubular at the desired milling location and contacts and is directed toward the tubular by the mill guide, and milling an opening in the tubular. In one aspect the method includes installing a whipstock in the tubular and disposing the mill guide adjacent the whipstock to protect a concave portion of the whipstock. In one aspect the method includes retrieving the mill guide from the wellbore and in another aspect includes retrieving the whipstock from the wellbore.

Abstract: A device for working the interior of pipes, with an outer casing, an inner casing which is axially displaceable therein, with a rotary head which carries a bracket for attaching a working apparatus, with respective gearing arrangements each actuated by a motor, one for rotating the rotary head and another for the axial motion of the inner casing, with media-bearing ducts and control and energy supply leads introduced into the outer casing, has the following particulars: The gearing arrangement for the axial motion of the inner casing, the motor actuating this gearing arrangement, the gearing arrangement for executing the rotation of the rotary head, as well as the motor actuating this gearing arrangement, form four subassemblies which can be preassembled separately from one another. A fifth preassemblable subassembly has facilities for forming interfaces for the passage of lines from the inner casing to the rotary head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the installation or removal of large multi-ton prefabricated deck packages includes the use of usually two barges defining a base that can support a large multi-ton load. A variable dimensional truss assembly is supported by the barge and forms a load transfer interface between the barge and deck package. Slings are suspended from a compression frame portion at the boom end portions of the truss assembly. The slings form attachments between the compression frame and the deck package at the upper elevational positions on the deck package. Tensile connections form attachments between the deck package and barge at a lower elevational position. The variable dimension truss includes at least one member of variable length, in the preferred embodiment being a winch powered cable that can be extended and retracted by winding and unwinding the winch.

Abstract: A tool for making holes in the ground comprises a ram tip and coupling for connecting to a drive device, such as a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated pile driving machine, or a vibrating pile driving machine. A method for making tubular foundations in the ground comprises coupling a ram tip to a drive device, selecting a location for making a hole, placing the ram tip thereat, setting the drive device into operation to drive the ram tip into the ground to form a hole, removing the ram tip out of the hole, partially filling the hole with concrete, re-inserting the ram tip into the hole before the concrete sets, setting the drive device into operation and then removing the ram tip, thereby obtaining a tubular foundation.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for laying a pipeline on a floor located under water, wherein a pipe string is lowered from the pipe-bedding installation to the floor, characterized in that the part of the pipe string situated between the water surface and the floor is at least partially supported by bearing mechanism which engage on the pipe string, wherein an axial displacement is realized between the bearing mechanism on the one hand and the pipe string on the other.A heavy pipeline can hereby be laid on a deep seabed, for instance at a depth in the order of magnitude of 1-3 km, and/or the capacity of the draw benches on board the pipe-bedding installation can be reduced.

Abstract: An impact boring head may comprise a main body having an internal cavity with a front end and a rear end. A striker having a head end and a tail end is slidably mounted in the internal cavity of the main body so that the striker can be reciprocated between a forward position and an aft position in response to hydraulic pressure. A compressible gas contained in the internal cavity between the head end of the striker and the front end of the internal cavity returns the striker to the aft position upon removal of the hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A method of assaying work of an earth boring bit of a given size and design comprises the steps of drilling a hole with the bit from an initial point to a terminal point and recording the distance between the initial and terminal points. A plurality of electrical incremental actual force signals are generated, each corresponding to a force of the bit over a respective increment of the distance between the initial and terminal points. A plurality of electrical incremental distance signals are also generated, each corresponding to the length of the increment for a respective one of the incremental actual force signals. The incremental actual force signals and the incremental distance signals are processed to produce a value corresponding to the total work done by the bit in drilling from the initial point to the terminal point. Using such a basic work assay, a number of other downhole occurrences and/or conditions can be assayed.

Abstract: An earth contamination site groundwater testing well having a borehole which passes though subsurface soil zones of interest is provided with a probe assembly that is installed in the borehole, that has a core stem which carries spaced-apart flexible disc seals that divide the borehole into different borehole zones that correspond to the subsurface soil zones of interest, and that includes microporous sampler points in the different borehole zones. The groundwater testing well borehole may be formed with a well casing that is afterwards removed while retaining the probe assembly in position.

Abstract: An apparatus for hanging a production tubing string and a guide string within a well casing having a wellhead. The apparatus includes a primary hanger shell for supporting the production tubing string and guide string in the well casing, a production mandrel received within the primary hanger shell and connected to the production tubing string to hang the production tubing string within the primary hanger shell, and a guide string hanger connected to and hanging the guide string within the primary hanger shell. The guide string hanger also allows the guide string to be removed from the well casing independently from the removal of the primary hanger shell, the production mandrel or the production tubing string.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drilling apparatus provided for drilling away an existing underground pipe and for replacing it with a new pipe. The apparatus comprises a tubular body; a percussive drill bit slidably connected to an end of the tubular body where the drill bit is capable of reciprocating movement with respect to the tubular body; a device for moving the percussive drill bit with respect to the tubular body to perform drilling operations at a drilling location; a guiding element fixedly connected to the tubular body and axially passing through the tubular body and the drill bit to connect, in a direction of travel of the drilling apparatus, to a device causing the advancing movement of the tubular body. The guiding element and the percussive drill bit are axially movable relative to each other to prevent impacting movements from the drill bit from being transmitted to the guiding element.

Abstract: A tubular mandrel is provided as a sleeve around the portion of the rod string polish rod extending through the stuffing box housing. The mandrel is coupled to the polish rod so that they rotate together. Bearings stabilize the mandrel within the housing. Stationary rotary seal means are provided in the housing to seal against the now-stabilized mandrel. Leakage and seal wear are improved when compared with the prior art approach of using compressed packing in direct contact with the polish rod to provide the rotary seal.

Abstract: A drill bit is proposed, in particular for the rotary-percussive drilling of preferably rock, concrete or the like, which includes a thin-walled cylindrical drilling body (106) open to the drilling side and a drill-bit base (20) extending essentially radially and having an axially arranged drill-bit shank (101) for fastening the drill bit. The drill-bit base (20) has an outer contour in the radial direction, which outer contour follows a curve shape which has at least one inflection point. Furthermore, a drill bit is proposed whose drill-bit base (20) has an outer contour which passes through a minimum in the radial direction, the drill-bit base being connected in the rising radially outer curve section of its outer contour to the cylindrical drilling body.

Abstract: A jar enhancer including a housing in which is telescopically mounted a mandrel, with the mandrel rotationally locked within the housing, and the housing and mandrel being spaced apart by an amount R at one location between them to form a chamber of width R. The upper end of the chamber is closed by a face, at least part of which is a shoulder extending inward from the housing, and the lower end of the chamber is closed by a face, at least part of which is a shoulder extending from the mandrel. The housing is sealed to the mandrel above and below the chamber and a port is provided for filling the chamber with compressible fluid. At least one of the shoulders has width W less than R, such that only a part of one of the faces bounding the chamber moves upon relative movement of the mandrel in relation to the housing.