Abstract: A rock drill for rotary blow drilling with a drilling head arranged at the free end of the drill shaft, which at least partially consists of hard metal. The drilling head the end face of which is circular disc shaped or circular ring shaped includes a formed piece of solid hard metal. Cutting bodies are machined out of the end of this piece of hard metal which cutting bodies have the shape of pyramids or truncated pyramids and taper with increasing distance from the drill shank.

Abstract: A method of perforating the sub-surface formation located in the area of an oil or gas well bore hole comprising directing a high powered coherent light beam axially along the bore hole to a predetermined depth therein from a surface location, deflecting the beam at said depth along a deflected beam axis, and successively focusing the beam at said depth to concentrate the beam at each of a plurality of spaced focal points along the deflected beam axis. The method (1) provides 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) provides an accurate determination of the exact near horizontal plane orientation of such perforations so that each can be aimed in the direction of the most promising formation pay zone.

Abstract: Boring apparatus comprising a tubular casing containing a cylindrical body adapted for being driven by a boring rod and a filter body adjacent the cylindrical body. A boring tool is mounted outside the tubular casing at the end of the filter body. The filter body has a cross-section of polygon shape with axially extending edges in contact with the inner surface of the tubular casing to define clearance spaces between the inner surface of the tubular casing and the outer surface of the filter body. The cylindrical body has axial grooves extending to the clearance spaces for passage of boring particles. The cylindrical body can also be provided with annular grooves. Preferably, the cylindrical body and filter body are constituted as a single unit.

Abstract: A searching method for optimizing the rate of penetration of a drill into a given medium based upon the two drilling parameters of thrust and speed of revolution. Preset base values of both parameters are input into the drilling control mechanism at the start of the process. Thereafter, based upon readings from an automatic penetration rate calculator, incremental changes are automatically made to one of the parameters, the other being held constant, until a maximized rate of penetration is established. Subsequently, the other parameter, previously held constant, is changed until a new maximized penetration rate is found. This optimized penetration rate searching is continuously and automatically effected until the drilling process is completed. The method additionally provides for the allowance of a wait period between successive incremental changes for accommodating response times of the system as well as instabilities which may occur as the result of nonlinear process dynamics.

Abstract: This specification discloses a technique of providing a wellbore that extends from a surface location to a subsurface location in a mineral bearing formation which subsurface location is spaced a great lateral distance from the surface location. The wellbore is provided to have a first portion that extends essentially vertically from the surface location into the earth's crust and into a formation having good drilling characteristics, a second portion that extends for a great distance within and essentially parallel to the bedding plane of the formation having good drilling characteristics, and a third portion that extends essentially vertically from the farthest extension of the second portion to the subsurface location in the mineral bearing formation.

Abstract: A riser column particularly for use in deep water comprises a central tube connectable by its lower end to a submerged installation, for example a well, and including means permitting the central tube to oscillate relative to the installation, and connected at its upper end to a suspension table associated with a surface support, for example a platform, and bearing support means intermediate its ends at a level below that at which waves are effective, and a plurality of satellite tubes arranged around the central tube, each satellite tube having a bottom part extending from the intermediate support means to the submerged installation and a removable top part extending from the support means to suspension table and releasably connected to the bottom part thereof for withdrawal from the column following disconnection of the column from the installation, for example, in the event of a storm.

Abstract: A raise boring system is provided that allows the raise boring head to be easily and efficiently lowered back through the completed raise hole. The raise head includes a multiplicity of rolling cutters positioned in saddles that are firmly affixed to the body of the raise head. These fixed saddles and rolling cutters comprise the primary cutting stage of the raise head. A multiplicity of retractable gage cutters are located radially outside of the primary cutting stage. The retractable gage cutters comprise rolling cutters positioned in moveable saddles. The moveable saddles and rolling cutters can be selectively withdrawn inside the primary cutting stage. A hydraulic-pneumatic system is provided for withdrawing the retractable gage cutters.

Abstract: A removable shirttail of an earth boring tool, such as a hole opener, protects the seals and bearings of an associated cutter. In one embodiment, the shirttail attaches to a journal or mounting shaft of the cutter by threaded fasteners. In an alternate embodiment, different threaded fasteners that attach the journal to an associated leg of the tool cooperate with the cutter and the leg to clamp the shirttail between the journal and the leg. A wedge-shaped boss of the shirttail faces the wall of the bore being opened. A V-shaped saddle in the boss receives a complementary lug of the journal. The lug of the journal also mates with a complementary notch of the leg to prevent journal rotation. The removal of the theaded fasteners that attach the journal to the leg allows spacers or shims to be withdrawn, which in turn permits the cutter, journal, and shirttail to be moved along the journal axis to clear a nose of the journal from a bore in a central body of the tool.

Abstract: A blowout prevention system for an offshore structure positioned on the underwater bottom in a body of water which contains moving ice masses that could force the structure off location wherein a surface blowout preventer stack for conventional well control is connected to the upper end of a riser with the lower end of the riser being disconnectably connected to a subsurface blowout preventer stack which provides the necessary well control should the structure be forced off location. The subsurface stack is positioned on a wellhead located in a chamber in the subsea bottom and is disconnectably connected to the riser so that the riser may be quickly removed from the subsea bottom should the structure be forced off location.

Abstract: A hole is formed in soil by penetrating it with a tool comprising a shaft having a tapered point or auger of relatively small cross section attached to its lower end, and a series of outwardly pressing rams mounted on the shaft above the tapered point. The rams are effective successively to enlarge incrementally by outward compaction or displacement of the soil, the hole initially formed by the tapered point or auger. Full hole dimension above the tool is maintained by reason of the fact that the soil is incrementally compacted and compressed to resist collapse. If desired, the integrity of the hole may be preserved with the aid of a following shield, or the hole may be filled with soil stabilizing fluid such as drilling mud. After formation of the hole, the tool is withdrawn and the hole may be filled with concrete to form a load supporting column or it may be left as an open shaft.The method and apparatus may also be used to enlarge the diameter of an existing hole.

Abstract: A subsea production chamber including a vessel having a cylindrical shell with a head secured to each end of said shell, a plurality of tubular members secured vertically through said shell with each end of each of said members being open on the exterior of the shell and positioned to receive subsea guide posts, a flange secured to said shell, a spool for connecting to a production well, said flange being secured to said spool for connecting said production well into said vessel, a hatch opening into said vessel, and a connector extending through said vessel to conduct production flow to external production flow lines.

Abstract: An improved gravel-packing tool assembly with a baffled stinger pipe for gravel-packing a perforate liner having substantially the same internal diameter as the casing string extending from the perforate liner to the earth surface. A perforate nipple and a swab cup are provided between the check valve and the baffled stinger pipe of the tool assembly to allow drainage of the annulus above the tool assembly through the stinger pipe to thereby avoid swabbing the well as the tool is retrieved from the well.

Abstract: Process for drilling a hole in the earth's crust in which the bottom of the drill hole is frozen in front of or near the drill bit by a cold driling liquid in which liquid particles that have been frozen to solid parts or have been solidified have been taken up whether or not by addition. In this way the bottom of the drill hole is always so hard -- also upon drilling in soft or plastic formations, such as clays, -- that use can be made of diamond drill bits or other drill bits normally used for hard formations, in order that the number of times a drill bit is to be replaced can be strongly reduced. The purpose of adding ice is to make it possible for a sufficient amount of frigories per unit of time to be introduced into the drill hole, so that at greater depths the temperatures at the drill bit are decreased to such a degree that here, too, use can be made of drill bits for hard formations here described.

Abstract: A subsea flowline connector for connecting a flowline through a port in a subsea atmospheric chamber vessel to a subsea christmas tree within the chamber including an actuator assembly within the chamber with at least one arm extending through the vessel adjacent the port, a carriage supported on the end of a flowline, a piston secured to the flowline and supported on the carriage, a receptacle on the piston to engage the arm, a flowline passage through the piston, actuation of said actuator moving said arm into engagement with said receptacle and pulling said piston into engagement with the port, a valve controlled bleed line to bleed pressure from said port as the piston has moved therein and a lock for retaining the piston within the port.

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.

Abstract: A subsea wellhead apparatus adapted to provide a connection from the wellhead to a subsea flowline, such apparatus including a christmas tree connected to the subsea wellhead near the sea floor, a pressure actuated connector having means for engaging a hub on the subsea flowline and by moving axially completing a connection from a flowline loop extending from the christmas tree to the connector to the subsea flowline, the loop being in a plane which is at a substantial angle to the axis of movement of the connector.

Abstract: An improved drill bit for the mining field for use as a roof drill, tunnel drill, rock boring and highway construction, both as a rotary and a rotary percussion drill, which includes a drill head with a diametrical slot positioning a brazed cutting blade, the head having a male drive shank to interfit with a female driver tube and having a maximum axial passage in the driver shank which opens to large fluid passages leading to chip slash openings in opposed quadrants of the drill bit. The drill head position has a hexagonal base portion above the drive shank with circular guiding portions in opposed quadrants adjacent the chip slash quadrant pockets.

Abstract: A stabilizer for use in conjunction with a rotating drill string of a rotary drilling rig. The cutting blades of the stabilizer are received in close tolerance relationship within a longitudinally extending slot formed in a main body portion of the stabilizer. The slot outwardly opens and includes opposed sidewalls and opposed ends. The blades have opposed sidewalls and opposed ends and are made complementary respective to the geometrical configuration of the slot. A groove is formed in each sidewall of the slot and in each sidewall of the cutting blade such that when the blade is positioned within the slot, the grooves jointly form spaced cylindrical passageways. A plurality of holding balls fill the passageways and are removably captured therewithin, thereby releaseably securing the blade to the stabilizer body with great force so that the blade cannot inadvertently become lost downhole in a borehole.

Abstract: .[.A method and at least one mechanism for carrying out the method is disclosed. A method of (1) generating time modulated torque pulses by engaging and disengaging a mud turbine driven rotating torque generator in the bottom of a wellbore, and (2) monitoring the top of the drill string for the torque pulses therein may be practiced by a mud driven turbine inertial wheel for being momentarily and precisely braked or decelerated relative to a drill collar on the lower end of a drill string in a wellbore while drilling for generating the time modulated torque pulses in the drill string for being monitored at the surface. Mechanical, electrical, and fluid operated brakes and a mud turbine driven motor are disclosed for providing power to a motor at the bottom of the drill string or for being intermittently braked rapidly for generating the torque pulses..]. .Iadd.Methods and apparatuses for driving a means, as a power generator in a drill string while drilling, in a well are disclosed.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of a well tool which is adapted to be connected as part of a pipe string through which drilling fluid is circulated, and which comprises inner and outer members which are rotated with respect to one another by a motor between them.