Abstract: The gas well includes a plurality of generally tubular gas extracting means which extend from the ground surface downwardly, a lower interval of which means have longitudinally extending slots in the body wall through which gas may enter while the means lower end is closed. The slotted interval resides in the gas producing ground region. The extracting means two major parts are a lower part including the perforated interval which is of relatively larger diameter, and an upper part that extends outwardly of the ground plane and which is of smaller diameter. A transition joint interrelates the two diameter extracting means parts enabling the two parts to move longitudinally with respect to each other for accommodating ground subsidence in the gas producing region.

Abstract: Apparatus to advance a multi-unit mining machine along a face conveyor in an underground mine includes a hydraulic unit with an advancing mechanism that extends around a toothed rack. The rack extends over the length of machine movement. The hydraulic unit is an independent unit on a machine body of the mining machine and is used for increasing the advancing force provided by other existing advancing units for the mining machine. The hydraulic unit is narrower than the other units on the machine body and is attached by vertical flanges to adjacent units on the machine body. The hydraulic unit receives a winch casing between oppositely-disposed flanges for guided vertical movement of the casing. The casing has pins extending in the direction of machine movement from opposite top portions thereof to engage with members that slide vertically between guide bars on the flanges for vertical mobility. Clearances between the parts provide limited horizontal mobility.

Abstract: Fluid, such as liquid water, is injected into the rock surrounding an in situ oil shale retort at sufficient pressure and flow rate so that the injected fluid flows toward the retort to block the path of hot liquid and gaseous kerogen decomposition products escaping from the retort and to return heat to the retort. The successful conduct of an oil shale retorting operation usually requires that the retort temperature be maintained at a temperature sufficient to decompose efficiently the kerogen contained in the oil shale. By reducing the heat loss from an active retort, the amount of energy required to maintain a desired temperature therein is reduced. The fluid injection method also maintains pressure in an in-situ oil shale retort, allowing in-situ oil shale retorting to be efficiently conducted at a desired pressure. The method also reduces the danger to mineworkers who may be engaged in adjacent mining operations due to the escape of hazardous gases from an active retort.

Abstract: A gas lift mandrel is provided for installation in a string of production tubing extending into a well casing for gas energized production of petroleum products. The mandrel incorporates a tubular body having offset extremities for connection to tubing sections and defining a well aperture in its side wall. An inner tubular sleeve is located within the tubular body and defines an elongated opening within which is received a valve receptacle and valve guard in coextensive relation. The valve receptacle incorporates an external weld boss which is located within the weld aperture of the body and connected to the body by welding. The inner sleeve varies in thickness from a maximum thickness on the side of the aperture to a minimum thickness on the side opposite the weld aperture.

Abstract: In the drilling of a relief well to kill a blowout well, the relative trajectory of the relief well with respect to the blowout well is determined by selecting correlation points at which the relief well and the blowout well intersect the same subsurface formation. A resistivity log of the relief well indicates the correlation points with the blowout well. The location of the relative trajectories is obtained from the differences in depths of the formations and the correlation points.

Abstract: A dual-operating mode stage collar adapted to form part of a conduit string positionable in a well bore. Included is a tubular body having a side port with inner and outer openings. A first sleeve is axially shiftable relative to the body during one operating mode inside the body from one position closing the inner opening toward another position exposing it. A second internal sleeve is connected to an outer-port-closing slide through an aperture in the body and is axially shiftable as a unit relative to the body in a second operating mode from a position in which the slide and second sleeve are remote from the port toward another position in which the slide covers the outer port opening. In the preferred embodiment, the second sleeve covers the inner port opening as the slide covers the outer port opening.

Abstract: A drill bit for connection on a drill string has a hollow tubular body with an end cutting face and an exterior peripheral stabilizer surface with cylindrical sintered carbide inserts positioned therein having polycrystalline diamond cutting elements mounted on said inserts. Said inserts each having a longitudinal recess therein filled with a soft, heat conducting metal operable to facilitate the transfer of heat away from said cutting elements. The drill bit is also provided with removable and replacable nozzles.

Abstract: Harmonic resonation of cutting elements against the earth formation is impeded in a rotary drag-type drill bit by providing connection means which yieldably and resiliently support the cutting elements from the drill bit but which deflects or vibrates with different natural resonant harmonic frequencies. The different natural harmonic frequencies tend to cancel or nullify resonance of any one of the connection means. The connection means can also be externally damped against vibrational movement.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond compact is a polycrystalline diamond wafer attached to a tungsten carbide substrate forming a disc. In this form, it is attached to a stud which is attached within a drill bit. The compact is attached to the stud with the aid of a positioning ring. When the stud is made of impact resistant material, a full pedestal may be formed on the stud to facilitate the use of the positioning ring. When the stud is made of brittle material, the positioning ring is attached to the flat face of the stud without a pedestal. The ring is positioned on a stud and the disc inserted in the ring so that the disc is positioned against the bonding surface. The disc remains in position against the bonding surface during the handling before and during the bonding process. As a second embodiment, the polycrystalline diamond compact is smaller than the disc itself and the remainder of the disc is formed of metal having the same thickness as the polycrystalline diamond compact or its tungsten carbide substrate.

Abstract: Drilling equipment for steering relatively long boreholes in rock strata comprises an adaptor for installation adjacent to the drill bit, the adaptor having an inner rotary component drivably connected between the drill rod assembly and the drill bit and a relatively outer component. Releasable latch means are provided having two operational modes in the first of which the inner and outer components are fixedly engaged for rotary motion and in the second mode of which the inner component can rotate relative to the outer component. Also actuatable means are provided for controlling the operational mode of the releasable latch means.

Abstract: A turbodrill comprising turbine sections, a spindle and a pipe assembly. According to the invention, the pipe assembly is formed by two coaxially arranged pipes provided between the spindle and the adjacent turbine section and coupled to components of the turbodrill.

Abstract: A design for a drill bit (10) is provided. The design permits placement of a plurality of cutters (14) in a pattern approaching an ideal equal volume cutting arrangement while minimizing the mathematical steps necessary to calculate the desired positions. The design positions the cutters so that the annular area between radially adjacent cutters is a constant. Certain groups of cutters can also be positioned to prevent a central core in the material drilled and to provide a desired kerf overlap.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for drilling a well. A separator sub is used to separate a stream of drilling mud into a less dense first portion and more dense second portion. The less dense first portion of the stream of drilling mud is directed downward to a drill bit so that the drilling mud adjacent the drill bit has a density less than an initial density of the stream of drilling mud. The more dense second portion of the stream of drilling mud is ejected into a well annulus with an upward component of velocity and thereby reduces a hydrostatic drilling mud pressure adjacent the drill bit.

Abstract: This invention concerns an impact wrench for breaking a threaded connection between a first section of pipe and a second section of pipe. It includes an arcuate gripping member having an exterior gripping means for gripping the inside of the first section of pipe and an impact tool for directing multiple sudden distinct forces of torque through said gripping means to the first section. It also includes a second arcuate gripping member for gripping the interior of the second section of pipe which is connected to the first and means for the second arcuate gripping member to receive the reaction torque from the impact tool.

Abstract: Sand placement apparatus includes a well screen assembly and a sand placement tool. The sand placement tool comprises a tubing extension or stinger and a slurry conduit which includes a barrel concentrically disposed around the stinger and a tail pipe extending down therefrom with a valve controlled seal sub at the lower end of the tail pipe. The well screen assembly comprises a production liner including a valve controlled seal socket, a lower or main well screen, a short length of pipe, an upper or tell-tale well screen, and the tubular mandrel of a hook wall packer. By means of this packer the liner is suspended within a well casing. The liner is positioned with its screens inside a perforated section of a well casing. The tool is positioned inside the liner by means of a sleeve anchored to the packer mandrel and adjustably positioned relative to the barrel to deliver sand-water slurry to the liner-casing annulus and build up the sand from the top of the annulus and then downwardly.

Abstract: In accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a pressure controlled reversing valve includes a housing defining a reversing port, a spring-loaded sleeve valve normally closing the reversing port, means for locking the sleeve valve in the closed position, an operator mandrel mounted for reciprocating movement within the housing, clutch means for shifting the locking means with the operator mandrel as it moves in one axial direction, means for urging the operator mandrel in the opposite axial direction, and means responsive to a series of excess annulus pressure changes for reciprocating the operator mandrel to causing shifting of the locking means by an amount sufficient to disable the same and permit the valve sleeve to open.

Abstract: A wire line core barrel for retrieving a core sample within a drill string. The wire line core barrel includes a conventional inner tube and also includes a generally cylindrically shaped retrieving assembly disposed above a generally cylindrical elongate body having a fluted periphery comprising a plurality of longitudinal ribs and longitudinal channels. Means for attaching the inner tube assembly to the drill string are mounted on the ribs of the elongate body. The channels of the elongate body provide a straight, longitudinal passageway for fluids flowing through the drill string.

Abstract: A tool stopping device for use in a well flow conductor having a preferably full open bore and an abrupt stop shoulder surrounding the bore and engageable by corresponding stop shoulders of spring biased keys carried on a well tool for stopping the well tool as it moves through the flow conductor to indicate the tool's arrival at the device, the device having lugs remotely actuable from the surface for releasing the keys from engagement with the stop shoulder in the device for movement of the well tool therebeyond. One form of the device is suitable for stopping tools entering from one direction only. Another form of the device is suitable for stopping tools both moving into and out of a well. Either or both types of devices may be used in any quantity to provide known checkpoints in a well system for monitoring the progress of well tools moving therethrough.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and means for controlling the course of a bore hole during drilling thereof. The means comprises a down-hole motor and two eccentric stabilizers mounted on the housing of the down-hole motor near the ends thereof. Controlling the course of a bore hole that is being drilled with the down-hole motor driving the drill bit is done by successively not rotating the drill string and rotating the drill string.

Abstract: A retrievable well safety valve in a cased well system including a tubing string, a dual packer downhole around the tubing sealing with the casing and submersible pump in the tubing string below the packer.The safety valve controls flow of pumped fluids through the tubing to surface and directs gas flow into the casing annulus above the packer. When the safety valve is landed in cooperating tubing nipples above the packer, separated central annular flow passages are formed for pumped fluids and gas respectively.A ball valve in the central flow passage controls pumped fluid flow therethrough and an annular valve coupled to the ball valve controls gas flow from below the packer through the annular flow passage around and by the ball valve.When the ball valve is in the down and open position, the valve ball member engages a lower seat, which maintains the central and annular flow passages separate and prevents comingling flow of fluids and gas.