Abstract: A surface drilling apparatus for drilling large diameter holes in soft to medium-hard earth formations includes a cylindrical casing defined by a stationary upper section and a lower section rotatable relative to the upper section; a plurality of circular rows of cutting discs rotatably mounted on the base of the lower section for cutting material beneath the apparatus; a transfer pipe in the center of the base of the lower section for receiving cut material from the cutting discs and feeding the cut material upwardly through a discharge pipe for carrying the material upwardly to the surface; and an annular, upwardly inclined slot in the discharge pipe at the top of the upper section through which air is fed under pressure into the discharge pipe to induce the cut material upwardly from the transfer pipe and blow the material upwardly.

Abstract: A drill string in a well bore has a mandrel extending longitudinally thereof adjacent the lower end of the drill string with a drill bit connected to the mandrel. Longitudinally extending helical groove means are provided in the mandrel and roller means are supported on the drill string and engaged with the helical groove means. Spring means is supported by the drill string and abuts the mandrel to tend to urge the mandrel longitudinally out of the drill string whereby the bit is urged into substantially continuous contact with the well bore bottom as the drill string is rotated during drilling operations. Valve means are provided for selectively circulating fluids from the drill string to the well bore above the drill bit, and when desired jar means may be incorporated in the drill string to impart an up or down jar thereto should the drill string become stuck or tend to become stuck during drilling operations.

Abstract: The invention concerns down-the-hole drilling, where there is a persistent problem in providing an adequately controlled flow of flushing fluid to the face of the drill bit. In known down-the-hole drills turbulence and closed circuits of the flushing fluid tend to erode the bit and reduce its lifespan. The invention seeks to lessen these drawbacks by providing for the flow of flushing fluid to be divided into a component directed along a first cavity which terminates at the face of the bit and another component directed along a second cavity which terminates above the face and is deflected up the drill hole. Weakening of the bit is avoided if there is at most one bore through the bit for flushing fluid.

Abstract: An inside blowout preventer well tool includes an elongated body threaded at both ends and including an axial opening. A flapper is pivotally mounted on a side of the opening and movable between a lower-open position and an upper-closed position. A downwardly-facing valve seat is formed around the opening, the flapper engaging the seat in the upper-closed position. A spring urges the flapper toward the seat and a piston is movable in the opening between an upper position, where the lower end of the piston is above the valve seat, and a lower position, where the piston encases the flapper and holds it in the lower-open position. The piston is normally urged toward its upper position, the piston being shaped so that when the internal pressure of drilling mud normally circulating through the opening is greater by a predetermined amount than pressure outside the body, the pressure differential will overcome the force urging the piston upwardly and move the piston to the lower position.

Abstract: There is disclosed an ablatible drill comprising a soft or frangible matrix having embedded therein a multiplicity of hard inclusions which act as cutting teeth. During drilling, the matrix gradually wears away so that worn inclusions are circulated out of the hole and fresh inclusions are exposed as new cutting teeth. A plurality of joints of the ablatible drill are interconnected on the bottom of a drill string. The comminuted material of each joint of the ablatible drill provides a characteristic distinguishable from the comminuted material of adjacent joints so that in examination of the circulated returns provides an indication of which joint is then being drilled.

Abstract: A wiper for wiping liquids from the interior walls of various tubular members, such as drill pipe, tubing, casing or internal upset pipe is disclosed which is particularly useful in drilling and workover as the tubular members are withdrawn from a well bore. Features of the wiper include the ability to readily and easily pass through and wipe liquids from restricted passages or bores such as internal upset pipe, means for centralizing the wiper in the passages or bore for efficient wiping, pressure equalization for equalizing pressures within the wiper with outside pressures encountered within the well bore, made from materials which will not create an explosive condition in use, and ease of manufacture, assembly and disassembly, so that the wiper can be manufactured easily, readily and inexpensively, and repairs and replacement of wear prone parts can be readily and inexpensively made. Other features and advantages are disclosed.

Abstract: The extended length isolation packer of the present invention comprises upper and lower tubular body assemblies which are interconnected by a middle body. The upper tubular body assembly has an upper packer assembly and a closing positioner attached to its outer surface. The lower tubular body assembly has a lower packer assembly attached to its outer surface. An upper inner mandrel is concentrically disposed within said upper tubular body assembly and has a port disposed therein for communicating an inner cavity of said upper inner mandrel with the annular cavity between the isolation packer and an oil well casing. A lower inner mandrel is concentrically disposed within said lower tubular body assembly and communicates with said upper inner mandrel through said middle body. A fluid bypass is provided through annular cavities between the inner mandrels and the tubular body assemblies.

Abstract: A duct-forming device is disclosed for use in a well completion apparatus of the kind, wherein a bore hole casing is positioned in a bore hole and duct-forming devices of alkali- and acid-resistant metal--such as steel--are secured at spaced levels to the casing in alignment with holes machined in the casing wall. In accordance with the invention, a closure device is arranged within the duct-forming device which permits flow of predetermined amounts of liquid, such as acid, from the interior of the casing through the duct-forming device and into the producing formation, while gradually being moved by the liquid into a position in which such fluid flow is prevented.

Abstract: System for the remote control, the maintenance or the fluid injection for a submerged satellite well head comprising a platform equipped with equipment usable for the remote control, maintenance or fluid injection for the well head and located substantially perpendicular to the well head, at least one pipeline connecting the platform to the well head, a control device located on the well head or in the immediate vicinity of the latter, and at least one remote control line connecting the platform to the remote control device, wherein the platform is on the surface and the pipeline is connected to the platform by a connector and to the well head by a spherical articulation equipped with a flexible joint.

Abstract: A well drilling tool is disclosed as having a reservoir for supplying lubricant to a bearing chamber to replace that which is lost during operation of the tool, and a means for indicating to an operator at surface level when a predetermined volume of such lubricant has been lost.

Abstract: A device for lubricating rotary drill bits of the type comprising a roller cutter (14) which is rotatably carried by means of a bearing system (15, 16, 17, 18). Fluid is supplied to the bearing system for cooling thereof through a cooling passage (31, 32, 33; 51, 61), and a lubricant is delivered to the cooling passage from a lubricant reservoir (36; 46) through a lubricating passage (40; 54). For purposes of controlling the supply of lubricant the outlet of the lubricating passage into the cooling passage is arranged axially behind the inlet of the lubricating passage in the lubricant reservoir.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the flow rate of drilling fluid flowing from a subaqueous well. The invention may also be used to determine the presence of an abnormal drilling condition during heaving motion of an offshore vessel from which the drilling operation is conducted. The invention measures the volume of fluid passing predetermined locations in the drilling system at particular points in time so as to eliminate the influence that the expansion and contraction of a telescoping section has on the total volume of drilling fluid within the system.

Abstract: A system for perforating the subsurface formation located in the area of an oil or gas bore hole in which a high powered coherent light beam axially is directed along the bore hole to a predetermined depth therein from a surface location, the beam is deflected at said depth along a deflected beam axis. The beam is focused at said depth to concentrate the beam at each of a plurality of spaced focal points along the deflected beam axis. There is provided (1) a significant increase in the distance (length) to which the calculated oil or gas bearing formations can be perforated (from a present nominal 18 inches to 200 feet or more), thus providing the opportunity for increased yield; and (2) an accurate determination of the exact near horizontal plan orientation of such perforations so that each can be aimed in the direction of the most promising formation pay zone.

Abstract: This describes a method of performing operations in a well selected from a group or cluster of subsea wells which are produced through a production riser means to production facilities on a floating platform. There is provided a flexible workover riser on the platform which extends through a passage on the platform at a location remote from the moon pool for the production riser means. The flexible workover riser is run through said passage and guided into connection with the production tubing in the subsea well. Wireline or other well operations are then conducted through the connected flexible workover riser from the floating platform.

Abstract: A rock-breaking tool for preferable use in self-propelled percussive machines for boring wells, comprising a casing with a pointed portion and an end face. The casing has an annular cutting edge formed by the pointed portion and inner tapered surface thereof. The casing is formed with a cone-shaped chamber open at the end face thereof, oriented toward the bottom of a well being drilled, the internal surface of the chamber intersecting with the conical surface of the annular cutting edge. The casing is also provided with ducts communicating the chamber with the surrounding space.

Abstract: A percussive tool, particularly a chisel for percussive working in rock, has a body portion, and a nozzle arrangement in the body portion, which is operative for forming a high-speed flow of a high-pressure fluid, particularly liquid, and directing the same to a working region of the body portion. The nozzle arrangement may include a plurality of nozzle holes which are open into the working region. It may also include at least one nozzle hole and at least one nozzle directing the flow of fluid into the nozzle hole. The nozzle may be supported by a supporting member which has an inner passage and extends from an inner chamber of a head section of the body portion into a receiving recess of a shaft section of the latter. The supporting member may be adjustable in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the chisel.

Abstract: A down-the-hole rock drill including a drill bit provided at the lower end of a drill rod, which is rotatably driven by an above-the-ground motor. To increase the drilling efficiency and facilitate drilling of large-diameter holes a machine casing is positioned between the drill rod and the drill bit, said casing enclosing a hydraulic pump which is rotatably driven by the drill rod. The hydraulic pump delivers pressurized liquid to and drives the percussion unit including a hammer, the latter delivering blows against the drill bit at regular intervals. The machine casing also encloses at least one hydraulic motor driven by the pressurized liquid and arranged to rotate the drill bit. Hydraulically controllable blocking means prevent the machine casing from rotating relative to the drill hole wall while the drill bit is in operation.

Abstract: A drilling bit for blast furnace tap holes and the like which facilitates rapid drilling of clay within the tap hole and which can be readily and easily machined to accommodate tap holes of different diameters. The bit is characterized in having inclined cutting edges which converge into a point and are separated by flutes into which compressed air is forced to rapidly dislodge the drilled clay from between the cutting edges. By virtue of the convergence of the cutting edges into a point, the bit becomes self-centering during the drilling operation.

Abstract: A locking pin for sintered metal carbide inserts in tools adapted to work against hard mineral substances to minimize dislodgment of the inserts. The pin is generally cylindrical having a flat along a part of one side and circumferentially disposed ribs projecting therefrom. The pin is seated in a small bore alongside the socket in which the insert is press fitted, and is adapted to be deformed into locking engagement with the insert and with the sidewall of the bore which may be trepanned or undercut.

Abstract: A mooring station and transfer terminal for offshore hydrocarbon production comprises a watertight caisson topped by a rotatable arm which supports a pipe for loading oil tankers. The caisson houses manifolds and a T F L (Through Flow Line) switching device connected to the different underwater producing wellheads. A T F L - servicing pipe supported by the rotatable arm and connected to the switching device through a rotary coupling at the top of the caisson permits introduction of T F L tools or instruments from the water surface into a selected well through the switching device.