Abstract: A metal face seal for an earth boring drill bit where the drill bit has a bit body, at least one bit leg, a bearing pin on each bit leg, and a cone rotatably mounted on each bearing pin. The metal face seal is located in the cavity formed between the interior surface of the cone and the bearing pin. The metal face seal consists of a rigid seal ring having a forward surface that engages a rotating seal surface of the cone. An energizer ring biases the rigid seal ring toward the rotating seal surface. A secondary seal engages the bearing pin surface, the energizer ring, and the rigid seal ring. The secondary seal ring has a protuberance on its forward side for filling void spaces between the energizer ring, the rigid seal ring, and the secondary seal ring.

Abstract: Window reaming and coring apparatus has a reamer connected in the middle of the tool by mechanical joints which permit the reamer to be displaced substantially parallel to the rest, of the tool body. The apparatus is lowered adjacent a pre-determined zone of interest and mills a parallel window along the edge of an existing wellbore into which the reamer is displaced. Once the reamer is fully displaced laterally into the window, the reamer and coring head can be rotated parallel to the wellbore, in the zone of interest for obtaining and retrieving a crescent-shaped core which has a significant cross section and length, enabling improved analysis of the wellbore lithography.

Abstract: A safety joint that allows disconnection from a downhole section of a drill string without rotating the drill string. In an example class of embodiments, the innovative safety joint includes a sleeve with a j-slot that fits to a lug attached to the mandrel. A piston is attached to the sleeve. The safety joint is disconnected by first pulling up on the string to shear a set of shear pins, the upward movement also lifting the sleeve and piston. As the piston lifts, a passage through a part of the piston allows fluid to move from an upper chamber to a lower chamber. A valve prevents fluid from moving back up into the upper chamber, so that the lower chamber acts as a stop to prevent the piston and sleeve from lowering again. Downward pressure on the drill string forces a lug against the j-slot, causing the sleeve to rotate until the lug is aligned with a vertical slot of the j-slot.

Abstract: Flow control apparatus, for placement in a downhole location in the tubing string of a well. The apparatus comprises a valve element and a lock element. Application and removal of annulus pressure (on the annulus between the tubing and the casing) permits the apparatus to be cycled between a sensitive-to-flow mode, in which it opens to permit fluids to be injected down the tubing into a subsurface formation, but closes to prevent fluid backflow from the subsurface formation into the tubing; and an insensitive-to-flow mode, in which the apparatus is open to permit unimpeded fluid flow in either direction.

Abstract: A release tool adapted to be connected between a perforating gun and a tubing for releasing the perforating gun from the tubing after detonation of the perforating gun, the tool including a housing in connection with the tubing, the housing having an axial bore; an axially shiftable member in connection between the housing and a perforating gun; a seal member positioned in the axial bore of the housing, the axially shiftable member positioned through the seal member; a frangible member maintaining the axially shiftable member in connection between the housing and the perforating gun until the frangible member is shatter disconnecting the shiftable member; and a mechanism for equalizing the pressure across the seal member after the axially shiftable member is disconnected allowing the perforating gun to separate from the housing.