Abstract: A drill pipe handling mechanism for a drilling rig includes spaced apart upper and lower arms mounted on a shaft which is mounted for pivotal and limited axial movement with respect to an axis which is spaced from and parallel to the drilling axis. The lower arm includes a receptacle for the lower end of a drill pipe section. The upper arm includes a drill pipe holder having a power actuated movable gate section. A drill pipe retainer is pivotally mounted on the shaft above the pipe holder and is operated by a separate power actuator. Opposed power actuated pipe gripping and holding wrenches are disposed on the lower part of the rig mast for gripping and holding a drill pipe section while threaded joints are broken loose by a rotary head connected to the upper end of the drill string. A power actuated wrench is mounted for pivotal movement into pipe gripping position for breaking loose threaded joints which cannot be loosened by the rotary head.

Abstract: A diamond drill coring bit having an annular crown and inner and outer concentric side surfaces. The crown is formed from a number of radially extending composite segments spaced apart circumferentially by a circumferential spacer material, all integrally bonded together. Each composite segment consists of a number of diamond impregnated segments spaced radially from each other by a radial spacer material. The diamond impregnated segments have greater abrasion resistance than that of the radial spacer material such that the radial spacer material will wear at a controlled rate greater than that of the diamond impregnated segments. The radial spacer material has greater abrasion resistance than that of the circumferential spacer material such that the circumferential spacer material will wear at a controlled rate greater than that of the radial spacer material but not so great as to prematurely expose the composite segments.

Abstract: An offshore well apparatus so constructed and arranged to minimize chances of pollution of sea water by production fluids which may be released as a result of damage to the well apparatus resulting from natural causes, such as, action of masses of ice at the seabed, earth slides in the seabed formation, and breakage of the production system above the seabed. The offshore well apparatus includes a platform means at the sea surface and a well template means on the seabed formation beneath the platform means, a well casing means supported from the template means and extending into a well hole, riser pipe means extending into the well casing means and having a riser connecting means at its lower end connected to a production fluid control means located at a selected depth within the well casing means, and fluid pressure actuating means for the production fluid control means including means for automatically shutting off production flow at a selected depth below the seabed.

Abstract: A three cone rock bit includes an improved circulation system for drilling fluid which increases the horizontal flow vector of the fluid adjacent the bottom surface of the hole being drilled. A pair of nozzles, located near the hole perimeter and between adjacent pairs of drilling cones, inject drilling fluid at one side of the hole. An extended pickup tube terminating between the remaining pair of drilling cones and close to the bottom of the hole being drilled channels fluid from the bottom of the hole to the annulus between the hole and the drill string.

Abstract: A cutter assembly for a rotary head of a drilling machine comprises a yoke having a base for attachment to the rotary head, a pair of legs depending from the base, and an asymmetrical mounting hole through each leg, the hole being aligned with each other. A load pin extends between the legs of the yoke with the load pin being disposed within the holes. To prevent wear of the yoke during drilling, a replaceable wear pad is provided for each end of the load pin. Each pad is disposed between the load pin and the portion of the periphery of a mounting hole closest to the base. Thus, each wear pad is positioned at the loaded portion of the periphery of a mounting hole. Each wear pad extends around from about 1/3 to about 1/2 the circumference of the load pin.

Abstract: A large diameter drill bit having a plurality of rolling cutters is provided with permanent magnets mounted on flexible flaps to collect magnetic debris on the bottom of a drill hole. A flap carrying a permanent magnet is mounted adjacent each cutter, or flaps carrying magnets are formed in a radially extending row to sweep the bottom of the hole as the bit rotates. In another form, magnets are included in wheels which roll on the bottom of the hole to collect the magnetic debris.

Abstract: The device has a hollow cylindrical housing pointed at the front end and accommodating a hammer piston, which defines with the housing a front end work chamber and, which has at a rear end portion a cylindrical space and an open-ended radial passage. The cylindrical space receives the large portion of a stepped pipe in order to define with the hammer piston a rear end work chamber. The small portion of the pipe is received in the rear end portion of the housing for rotation about its axis within limits defined by a locking member and is connected, by means of a flexible hose, to a source of compressed air for permanent supply to the rear end work chamber of compressed air. The large portion of the stepped pipe opens the radial passage of the hammer piston at regular intervals to establish communication between the front end work chamber and the rear end work chamber, thereby enabling forward movement of the device.

Abstract: A system for drilling and simultaneously installing a relatively large production casing along an invert underground arcuate path beneath an obstacle is disclosed. A plurality of production casing segments, each having preformed curvature corresponding to the radius of the curvature of the arcuate path, are joined end to end and advanced along the desired path. A drill head is located in front of the leading end of the casing. The drill head is mounted to the casing so that the angular orientation of the drill head relative to the axis of the leading end of the casing is at least partially adjustable. A drill bit is located in front of the drill head and a motor is located within the drill head to drive the drill bit. The drill bit excavates a passageway along the arcuate path in advance of the casing.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed that includes a housing through which extends a shaft, such as a drill string. A body of wire mesh is carried by the housing and located between the housing and the drill string. The wire mesh is compressed to cause it to expand laterally into engagement with the housing and drill string to hold the housing from movement relative to the drill string, to attach, for example, a stabilizer to the drill string, or to support at least a portion of the weight of the drill string.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed to indicate at the surface when a tool lowered into a well bore on an electric cable is properly positioned in a downhole housing. The tool has a key slot and a muleshoe is carried by the tool to engage a key located on the housing and to guide the key into the key slot to properly position the tool. A sensing coil is carried by the tool and positioned for its magnetic field to pass through the key slot. Circuit means monitor the magnetic field and indicate at the surface when the key has been properly positioned in the slot.

Abstract: Rock drilling method and apparatus utilizing high pressure water jets for drilling holes of relatively small diameter at speeds significantly greater than that attainable with existing drilling tools. Greatly increased drilling rates are attained due to jet nozzle geometry and speed of rotation. The jet nozzle design has two orifices, one pointing axially ahead in the direction of travel and the second inclined at an angle of approximately 30.degree. from the axis. The two orifices have diameters in the ratio of approximately 1:2. Liquid jet velocities in excess of 1,000 ft/sec are used, and the nozzle is rotated at speeds up to 1,000 rpm and higher.

Abstract: The invention concerns the handling of appliances on the seabed, particularly for handling and maintaining well-heads and corresponding installations. For handling the well-heads, trolleys are mounted for travel along a column which is articulated to a base constructed on the seabed over a number of drilling wells. The trolleys are movable between the upper structure of the columns and the lower body part of the column coupled to the base, and carry well-heads or other devices between the upper structure and the base and release the same upon reaching the lower part of the column at a position above corresponding well orifices. Elongate vertical members or posts of the column have lateral walls constituting guide rails for the trolleys.

Abstract: A drill bit comprising a body suspended in a well bore by an electrical cable which transmits power to a motor secured to the body and eccentric cam member rotated by the drive shaft of the motor and engagable with a plurality of reciprocal drill pins whereby the pins are sequentially impinged against the sidewalls and bottom of the well bore for producing a drilling operation.

Abstract: To allow the bit to drill in formations that behave plastically, while also protecting the bit against overloading when entering a relatively soft formation, ridge-shaped elements are provided having the ridges within the rotation alloy symmetric surface defined by the scraping edges of the scraping means (natural or artificial diamonds). The flanks of the elements are positioned at an acute angle to the said surface.

Abstract: This invention concerns the production of very deep boreholes. A rotary drilling tool is suspended at one end of a very long line of supporting elements such as a cable. During at least the entire duration of the drilling operation, the borehole is filled at least partly with at least one substance which remains in a liquid state and has a density greater than the mean density of the drilled ground strata. Thus any infiltrations in the borehole and the drilling debris move naturally upwards to the free surface of the liquid substance filling the borehole.

Abstract: A turbo drill which is connected to a string of drill pipe as a rotating shaft for driving a drill bit which may be a rotary bit or a high speed solid head diamond bit. The turbine section has rotor and stator blades which are crescent shaped in cross section with each blade having an exit angle of 14.degree.- 23.degree. from maximum turbine efficiency. The bearing shaft is provided with chevron rotary seals positioned below the rotary bearings carrying both radial and vertical thrust. Fluid lubricant fills the space from the rotary seals to a predetermined level above the bearings. A piston seals the lubricant chamber and is pressurized by drilling fluid (i.e., mud) flowing through the tool. A layer of lubricant fluid overlies the first piston and has a second piston covering said fluid and transmitting pressure from the drilling fluid to the lubricant fluid surrounding the bearings.

Abstract: A turbo drill which is connected to a string of drill pipe as a rotating shaft for driving a drill bit which may be a rotary bit or a high speed solid head diamond bit. The turbine section has rotor and stator blades which are cresent shaped in cross section with each blade having an exit angle of 14.degree. - 23.degree. for maximum turbine efficiency. The bearing shaft is provided with chevron rotary seals positioned below the rotary bearings carrying both radial and vertical thrust. Fluid lubricant fills the space from the rotary seals to a predetermined level above the bearings. A piston seals the lubricant chamber and is pressurized by drilling fluid (i.e. mud) flowing through the tool. A layer of lubricant fluid overlies the first piston and has a second piston covering said fluid and transmitting pressure from the drilling fluid to the lubricant fluid surrounding the bearings.

Abstract: A turbo drill which is connected to a string of drill pipe as a rotating shaft for driving a drill bit which may be a rotary bit or a high speed solid head diamond bit. The turbine section has rotor and stator blades which are cresent shaped in cross section with each blade having an exit angle of 14.degree. - 23.degree. for maximum turbine efficiency. The bearing shaft is provided with chevron rotary seals positioned below the rotary bearings carrying both radial and vertical thrust. Fluid lubricant fills the space from the rotary seals to a predetermine level above the bearings. A piston seals the lubricant chamber and is pressurized by drilling fluid (i.e. mud) flowing through the tool. A layer of lubricant fluid overlies the first piston and has a second piston covering said fluid and transmitting pressure from the drilling fluid to the lubricant fluid surrounding the bearings.

Abstract: In rock drilling utilizing mechanical destruction of the rock and circulation of drilling fluid for removing debris from the cutting face, the drilling fluid is directed on to the cutting face in the form of two opposed pulsed jets, the cycles of which are 180.degree. out of phase. In order to achieve the phased opposition of the pulsed jets a ball is disposed in the distribution chamber of the drilling fluid and is subjected to a combination of hydraulic and mechanical forces which cause the ball to oscillate between two end positions in which the ball respectively closes off one of two outlet ducts leading to nozzles which direct the drilling fluid towards opposite points on the bottom of the drill hole.

Abstract: Underground bores are drilled through a formation from a plurality of vertical bore holes by use of laser beams to form a subsurface, three-dimensional bore passage pattern for in situ preparation of fossil fuel deposits to be recovered. A laser beam is projected vertically through an angularly adjusted tubular housing inserted into each bore hole from which a reflected drilling beam is laterally directed by an angularly adjusted reflector to form a bore passage.