Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying lateral thrust for moving a member, especially for applying lateral thrust to an earth penetrating device. A tubular mandrel of fixed length has four generally toroidal force cells disposed thereon, two laterally expandable force cells having a substantially constant radial dimension, the sum of the lateral dimensions of the lateral force cells always being the same, and two radially expandable force cells having a substantially constant lateral dimension. By alternately expanding and contracting the cells the mandrel is moved laterally. The radial cells engage the walls of a borehole during earth penetration to anchor themselves thereto when expanded. Any type of earth penetrating device may be placed in front of the lateral thrust applying unit, such as a drill bit or a compacting device.

Abstract: A drilling tool which comprises: a cylindrical structure having a spiral groove provided on the outer surface thereof and at least one elongated rectangular through-hole provided in the lower portion thereof; a tip which is loosely fitted into said through-hole in such a manner that a cutting edge of said tip faces outside, the number of said tips being equal to the number of said through-holes; a tip guide bar having a head portion and a taper slit which is tapered downwardly starting from a part of the lower surface of said head portion so as to accommodate said tip therein, said part being in the vicinity of the axial line thereof, said tip guide bar being inserted into the lower end portion of said cylindrical structure in such a manner that said tip is pushed outwardly by the tip guide bar, said tip guide bar being engaged with the upper and inner portion of said tip so that said tip guide bar is slidably connected to said cylindrical structure; and a taper shank inserted into the upper end portion of sa

Abstract: An improved offshore drilling method and apparatus are disclosed which are particularly useful in preventing formation fracture caused by excessive hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid in a drilling riser. One or more flow lines are used to withdraw drilling fluid from the upper portion of the riser pipe. Gas injected into the flow lines substantially reduces the density of the drilling fluid and provides the lift necessary to return the drilling fluid to the surface. The rate of gas injection and drilling fluid withdrawal can be controlled to maintain the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid remaining in the riser and wellbore below the fracture pressure of the formation.

Abstract: A rotary air percussion bit has a cylindrically shaped sidewall, a body portion with a flat or recessed face on one end and a shank attached to the remaining end. A plurality of inserts of wear resistant material is mounted in the face and extending outwardly therefrom. A plurality of chip cutting grooves is formed in the face and extending radially from the axis of the body outwardly to the sidewalls. In order to improve the chip removal from the bit a plurality of chip clearance grooves is formed in the sidewall of the body extending from the terminus of the face chip cutting grooves and spiraling from the face to the shank end. The angle of the spiral with respect to the face is less than 45.degree..

Abstract: A wellhead assembly is provided comprising an upper wellhead assembly, a lower wellhead assembly, a sleeve, and a seal between the sleeve and the lower wellhead assembly. The upper wellhead assembly includes a tubing string section, and a control line, and the control line mounted exterior of the tubing string section. The lower wellhead assembly includes a bore therethrough, through which the tubing string section and the control line pass into the well. The sleeve is operatively connected to the upper wellhead assembly and extends into the bore, surrounding the control line and the tubing string section, the seal being formed between the exterior of the sleeve and the lower wellhead assembly bore.

Abstract: A large hole earth boring bit with a clevis-type coupling for mounting the rolling cutters to the bit. The mounting apparatus includes a first member having two ends with aligned holes and a second member having its end inserted between the two ends. The end of the second member has an aperture that is spaced slightly out of alignment with the apertures in the first member, providing a generally elliptical passage. Bearing surfaces prevent them from coming into alignment. A pair of wedges are inserted into the elliptical passage and drawn together to exert a force in the direction toward alignment of the apertures. The force exerted is transmitted into the base, positively locking the two members together.

Abstract: A centering device is provided which is adapted to be mounted on a running-in string for subsequent disposal in a well bore. Upper and lower companion supporting members having a plurality of circumferentially spaced openings therein and shoulders circumferentially extending around the uppermost interior of each of the supporting members are provided for receipt of circumferentially spaced and outwardly bowed springs having upper and lower ends overlying the lower portion of the exterior of the supporting members and extending inwardly through the openings. The springs have portions disposed in the openings with the upper and lower ends of the springs respectively engaging the upper and lower shoulder of the support members.

Abstract: An asymmetric insert has a formation contacting crest thereby decreasing the loading on the insert and increasing the lifetime of the cutter. The insert has a shape prior to assembly in the cutter that includes a base integrally joined to an asymmetric head. The base is mounted in a socket in the cutter body. The head projects from the surface of the cutter and includes a crest positioned to contact the formations with substantially its entire length.

Abstract: A reconditionable drill bit assembly comprising a drill bit body having a thrust face at one end and a head section separably connected to the drill bit body, the head section including a working face and an opposite rear face engaging the thrust face of the drill bit body, a plurality of bores extending through the head section and opening on the working face, the bores including a tapered seat portion adjacent the working face and a generally cylindrical section extending from the seat portion to the rear face, a tapered carbide cutting insert seated in the seat portion and a back-up pin located in the cylindrical section engaging the inner end of the cutting insert and the thrust face to hold the cutting insert in place whereby the cutting inserts are replaceable by separating the head section the drill bit body and removing the back-up pins and the cutting inserts through the cylindrical sections of the bores.

Abstract: Rock bit for drilling holes in the earth's crust which can be connected to driving means and being provided with supports or rock bit legs in which rotatable cutting elements or cutter cones are journalled, wherein a rock bit support comprises a removable part to which the bearing outer race ring is connected, the support part being a regularly shaped spatial body having edges which, in the assembled position, are situated in boundary planes of the support or rock bit leg.

Abstract: Shear rams shearing drill pipe passing through with blowout preventers encountering hydrogen sulfide are disclosed. The ram bodies are formed of an alloy having an upper hardness level of about Rc22 and the shearing blade and drill string engaging surfaces of the rams are hardfaced with a layer of nickel-based alloys, cobalt-based alloys, and tungsten-based alloys hard enough to shear the drill pipe. The layer of alloy is thin enough to avoid peeling off in use and warping the ram bodies when being welded to them. A number of embodiments and examples of the invention is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for drilling boreholes utilizing a plurality of simultaneously operated boring tools. During a drilling operation the loading forces on the tools are measured and constantly compared with a predetermined limiting value representative of a limiting loading value and the variation of a limiting loading value with respect to time. If these limiting values are exceeded at least one working parameter of the tools is adjusted such as feed force, feed speed or track speed of the tools. Apparatus for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A machining and augering bit, particularly adapted for earth cutting, has a dual-headed tool holder. Each head receives a work piece which carries a rotatable tool bit. The head includes spaced apart first and second portions, the interior surfaces of which are opposed and which define a work-piece receiving area. A work-piece is received in the area and is utilized to mount to the tool a carbided throw-away cutting bit. With the cutting bit mounted on the work-piece which is seated in the area one of the portions shields a portion of the cutting bit to prevent its exposure to flying debris, as well as the area to be drilled.

Abstract: A perforating gun apparatus is suspended downhole in a relatively cool zone of a borehole by connecting the gun to a tubing string. The tubing string includes a wireline operated, releasable coupling interposed therein. A packer device is attached to the tubing string uphole of the releasable coupling.An abutment means is positioned downhole within a relatively high temperature zone and in close proximity to a hydrocarbon bearing formation. The abutment means includes a latch means by which the gun and abutment means are attached to one another.The releasable coupling is actuated, whereupon the gun is released and falls downhole, where it is arrested by the abutment means. The gun is latched to the abutment means, while the force of the impact detonates the gun, thereby perforating a high temperature zone of the wellbore.A wireline fishing tool is run through the tubing and downhole into engagement with the released part of the coupling member.

Abstract: The apparatus consists of a hollow body wherein there is contained a striker which divides the space inside the body into a forward operating chamber and a rear exit chamber. The striker is provided with ports for admitting compressed air into the forward operating chamber and for allowing the emission of spent air from the chamber. The striker is also provided with an interior space, the rear end face of said striker being left open. Said hollow body includes passages and a pipe for placing said interior space of said striker in communication with a source of compressed, the pipe being positioned for longitudinal travel relative to the body.

Abstract: Down-hole information from rotary well drilling operations is transmitted to a surface or remote location by the venting of drilling fluid from the interior of the drill stem into the bore hole annulus in a binary coded decimal format. A valve is caused to operate by the digital output of one or more down-hole transducers thus releasing and restoring the drilling fluid pressure in the desired sequence. A "sub" contains the necessary electronics, power supply and a motorized valve assembly. Commands from the surface to transmit information from any one of the transducers are transmitted by means of sequential pulses in a binary coded decimal format, in the drilling fluid pressure are provided by the operator by deliberately decreasing and then increasing the surface pump pressure in a sequence to which the applicable down-hole actuating means is responsive.

Abstract: A three cone rock bit comprises legs and freely rotating cutters mounted on the same. The angle .alpha. between the projections of the rotational axes of two adjacent cutters on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the bit is more than 120.degree. but less than 170.degree.. A flow nipple to supply drilling fluid is provided in the bit, the outlet thereof being positioned between said two cutters.

Abstract: A thermal drilling device which operates in a rotary or circumferentially oscillatory motion and which is particularly adapted for drilling geological formations comprises a drill body which has an interior combustion chamber with a bottom having an outlet defining a discharge nozzle. Means are provided for adding fuel components into the combustion chamber and for igniting them to generate hot gaseous products of combustion which are discharged through a nozzle slot arranged at the bottom of the combustion chamber. The nozzle slot extends diametrically of the drilling area at the bottom and slot outline or a plurality of slots arranged symmetrically relative to the longitudinal axis of the drilling body. In one embodiment the nozzle slot has a radially extending portion with the circumferential width of the slot increasing in a radial outward direction.

Abstract: A hole reamer according to the invention includes a main body or support with roller cutters rigidly connected to a drill stem, and an additional support with roller cutters arranged co-axially with the main body or support. A additional support device can move along the axis of the main body and is provided with a means to effect this longitudinal movement. The main body and additional support device are adapted to drill holes of one diameter with consequent reaming thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing offshore wells where variations in well annulus pressure are utilized to control the valving operation of a testing tool and entrap a formation sample.A confined body of pressurized fluid positoned in a testing string is utilized to predetermine the annulus pressure changes which will effect said valving and sample entrapping operations.