Abstract: There is provided a circulating sub apparatus (50) having a tubular outer body member (51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) and a tubular inner body member (52, 65). The outer body member (51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) and the inner body member (52, 65) each have one or more holes (66, 68) substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the outer (51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) and inner (52, 65) body members. A displacement mechanism produces relative movement between the outer (51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) and inner (52, 65) body members such that the outer (51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57) and inner (52, 65) body members may be repeatably moved between an aligned position, in which the one or more holes (66, 68) on the inner body member (52, 65) are aligned with the one or more holes (66, 68) on the outer body member (51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57), and an obturated position, in which the one or more holes (66, 68) on the inner body member (52, 65) are obturated by the outer body member (51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57).

Abstract: A one-trip system for placement and setting a downhole packer or plug is disclosed. The packer is settable in a variety of ways, including hydraulically, acoustically by pressure pulse signals, or some combination. Use of hydraulic pressure triggers a pressure-creating reaction to initiate the setting of the packer. The setting mechanism for the packer breaks clear of the packer upon setting and allows the tubing-conveyed perforating gun, which is already preassembled as part of the string, to be accurately positioned and fired.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for perforating in deviated and horizontal wells. A firing pin and charge housing is integrally secured to a generally tubular body. The firing pin and charge housing has a structure defining at least one recess extending through the firing pin and charge housing and communicating with at least one tubular bore within the tubular body. The recess comprises at least one charge recess communicating with the at least one tubular bore. A firing pin is biasingly disposed in the recess and an explosive member is disposed in the charge recess. A detonator is positioned in the recess and is engaged to the explosive member for detonating the latter. A sleeve member is slidably disposed in the tubular bore and has at least one sleeve opening and a shear pin bound thereto and extending through the recess for engaging the firing pin.

Abstract: A casing hanger seal assembly utilizes a deformable metal body and elastomeric seal rings which are O-rings. The seal rings are located in grooves in unbonded condition in the metal body. The inner wall of the metal body is tapered, matching the taper on the exterior of the casing hanger. The inner wall is sized so that it will be deformed outward as the body of the seal assembly is moved further downward. This causes the seal rings on the outer diameter of the body to engage the wellhead housing inner cylindrical wall. In a second version, the seal ring on the outer wall of the body is initially fully recessed. A deformable rib is located inward from the base of the groove. The rib presses the base of the groove outward.

Abstract: A casing or tubing hanger has a metal seal which also incorporates a locking device which locks the seal to the wellhead housing. An annular recess is formed in the bore of the wellhead housing. The seal has an energizing ring that moves downward to set the seal. A split lock ring is carried by the assembly and moves between a contracted position to an expanded position located in the wellhead housing recess. A wedge ring is carried above the lock ring by the energizing ring. The wedge ring moves with the energizing ring and has a tapered surface that engages the lock ring to push it to the expanded position when the energizing ring moves to the lower position. The lower portion of the wedge ring has a thickness that is selected so as to allow the lower portion to deflect once the lock ring is in an expanded position. This allows the energizing ring to continue downward movement if necessary to fully set the seal.

Abstract: An arrangement to conduct electrical power from a non-hazardous area through plural electrical conductors to the electrical conductor of a power cable which extend through a sealed barrier in a wellhead in a hazardous area including a rigid conduit with a power source electrical conductor therein extending into the hazardous area from an adjacent non-hazardous area for conducting electrical power to a downhole electrical conductor in the hazardous area, said rigid conduit including a seal fitting, splice fitting connected with said seal fitting and positioned adjacent the wellhead for receiving the ends of the power source electrical conductor and the ends of the downhole electrical conductor extend through the sealed barrier in the wellhead for splicing them together.

Abstract: A method of receiving returns from a well being drilled in which the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid cannot contain the formation pressure and controlling the flow and pressure of the returns and separating the oil, gas, and drilling fluids on the surface and returning the drilling fluids to the well while disposing of the oil and gas.

Abstract: A novel apparatus for a method of subsurface sampling which includes a sampling probe having a sample inlet in fluid communication with a sample outlet connected to a tube through which a subsurface medium can be conducted from a desired subsurface point below the earth's surface to a second point thereabove, one of a number of impact sleeves covers the sample inlet, while the sample inlet is covered by the lowermost of the impact sleeves, the probe is driven to a desired subsurface point and during the latter or when the subsurface point is reached, the sample inlet is uncovered thereby creating an uncontaminated flow path for a liquid or vapor sample medium at the desired subsurface point which can be transferred above surface for monitoring/analyzing. The sample inlets can be selectively uncovered during vertical descent for progressive sensing/analyzing, or alternatively the sample inlets can be themselves surrounded by a slotted impact sleeve to achieve vertical sampling without impact sleeve retraction.

Abstract: A diverter assembly is provided for preferential use with a line-shaft powered roller conveyor. The diverter assembly includes a diverter mechanism having a plurality of transfer loops thereon which may be recessed between rollers of the main conveyor or raised thereabove during diversion. The transfer loops are oriented for diversion generally transversely of a path of conveyance of the main conveyor. The diverter mechanism, including the transfer loops, is mounted upon a frame lift portion of the assembly which moves during selected actuation through a vertical, arcuate pathway relative to a line-shaft in the main conveyor. Rotational power for the transfer loops is derived from the line-shaft of the main conveyor. This is achieved by means of a powered drive wheel mounted on the line-shaft and a power transfer wheel mounted in the frame lift portion.