Abstract: A centralizer (1) is used for passing assemblies and tools through bores and tubular ducts in a centralized condition, especially in downhole operations in oil work. The centralizer comprises a body (2) including carrying means (3) pivotally supporting swinging arms (4) for effecting centralization. Each arm (4) is pivotally located (14) at one end while a roller (15) or other implement is carried at or adjacent the other free end. Actuating means (6,5) including force means (7), such as a spring, load the swung-out arms (4) so that the arms (4) act against the force means (7) when pushed inwardly. The arms (4) are preferably located tangentially on the carrying means (3) and an adjuster (8) for the force means (7) can be provided.

Abstract: A pipe body is provided having an upset portion and connecting to a tool joint to form a relatively rigid region. A stress relief groove is provided in this relatively rigid region of the tubular member to limit stress applied in the pipe body adjacent the upset portion by rotation of the pipe while the pipe is in an arcuate portion of a well bore. The stress relief groove is designed to increase flexibility of this relatively rigid region while providing that the anticipated stress to be applied in the relatively rigid section is less than the endurance limit in the locus of the stress relief groove.

Abstract: A wireline assembly suspended from a cable is lowered down an oil well for temporary latching to a downhole assembly. Latching is provided by keys mounted in the wireline assembly to engage in a complementary recess formed in the downhole assembly and cooperating therewith via surfaces that are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the device. Unlocking is obtained by pulling on the cable after an electrically controlled valve has been excited. The valve then communicates two chambers delimited by a control piston inside a cylinder formed in a tubular housing supporting the keys. The tension exerted on the cable is transmitted to the control piston by a rod which actuates an unlocking collar that causes the keys to be retracted.

Abstract: An improved sonic wave generating device and method transmits variable wave energy to a fluid medium that is transmitted to objects such as subsurface petroliforous formations to be treated. Reverberative pressures and wave energy are reduced by improvements to and from a positive pressure supplied feed pump which pumps the medium to the primary wave generating pump(s) includes means to maintain an increased hydrostatic or positive head to the suction inlet of the feed pump which prevents or neutralizes feed back energy waves from the wave generating device to the feed pump, along with a check valve located at the inlet to the primary pump(s) and a buffer system of conduits located between and in the outlet from the feed pump and the check valve to prevent and dampen recoiling energy waves produced by the pumps and augmenting cavitation valve system.

Abstract: A process for the treatment or processing and transportation of a natural gas from a gas well to a reception and treatment or processing terminal comprises, in a zone in the producing well, contacting the natural gas and a recycled liquid phase containing water and at least one anti-hydrate additive and/or at least one anti-corrosion additive, both of which being at least partly miscible with water and which vaporize in the pure state or as an azeotrope. The resultant additive-containing gaseous phase is cooled to form an uncondensed and a condensate. The condensate containing substantially all of the additive is separated from the uncondensed gas and is recycled to the contact zone in the producing well.

Abstract: A well treating tool string run on coiled tubing and having packers to isolate a zone to be treated in response to operation of a selector valve, pressure and temperature transducers in the tool string and a telemetry system which samples the measurements made by the transducers, an electrical conductor cable extending from the telemetry system up to the surface through the coiled tubing and to the inner end thereof on its storage reel, and a surface telemetry, data processing and display system that sends and receives encoded signals to and from the downhole telemetry system from which temperature and pressure values can be read out on the surface display in real time as the treating operation proceeds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cementing tool for cementing multiple stages within a well. The assembly includes a housing assembly which defines one or more cementing ports. A first sleeve assembly is retained within the housing and is movable from a first position, where the sleeve covers the port, and thereby precludes fluid flow therethrough, to a second position wherein the sleeve opens the cementing port. The apparatus also includes a second sleeve assembly which is movable from a first position away from the cementing port to a second position wherein the sleeve assembly covers the port. The first sleeve is cooperatively configured with the housing assembly to provide engaging surfaces which resist rotation of the first sleeve relative to the housing. Additionally, the first sleeve and the second sleeve assembly are configured to limit relative rotation when the two pieces are longitudinally adjacent one another.

Abstract: A round baler having a frame with opposing side walls, conveying apparatus including a series of inwardly facing moving surfaces defining a baling chamber for forming cylindrical bales of crop material and a feeder for feeding crop material into the chamber. Rotatable transverse rollers are mounted between the opposing side walls of the frame for operatively supporting the conveying apparatus, and a journal assembly having a bearing arrangement for mounting the rollers. The bearing arrangement includes a generally cylindrical stationary first race and a concentrically disposed generally cylindrical rotatable second race between which races a bearing cavity is formed for seating a series of bearings housed between said first and second races. A unique shield assembly encloses the cavity and prevents the intrusion of unwanted debris.

Abstract: A process for determining suitable parameters of temperature and/or pressure to use in a cementing operation in a wellbore to obtain a positive seal of cement in an annulus between a liner and a borehole wall after the cement has set up and where the process utilizes the parameters of differential temperature in a well bore, pressure on the cement to obtain a positive borehole wall stress (and positive seal) in a cementing operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing or completely stopping the influxes of water of a deposit in at least a portion of a borehole for the extraction of oil and/or hydrocarbon gas, which traverses a deposit, a solution of a polymer being introduced, starting from the borehole, into that portion of the deposit in which the influxes of water are to be reduced or stopped, and the bore subsequently being put into service for the extraction of oil and/or hydrocarbon gas, the fluids present in the deposit coming into contact with said portion of the deposit containing the polymer and the oil and/or hydrocarbon gas flowing through said portion of the deposit and reaching the borehole, wherein the non-aqueous solution of a hydrophobic, water-insoluble polymer is introduced into the deposit and the polymer precipitates in the presence of the connate water of the deposit.

Abstract: A process is provided for promoting oil production from a producing interval of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by reducing undesirable gas production therefrom due to gas override or gas channeling in the upper portion of the interval. A polymer enhanced foam containing a polymer, an aqueous solvent, a surfactant, and a gas is placed in the upper portion of the producing interval, thereby substantially inhibiting or blocking the flow of gas therethrough to an oil production wellbore in fluid communication with the producing interval and enabling oil to more readily enter the wellbore for production to the surface.

Abstract: In a preferred method, a spilled fluid, lighter than and immiscible with water, is removed from the subsurface by first penetrating through the fluid zone and at least partially through the groundwater zone to provide a bore in communication therewith. Then, at suitable intervals, an amount of fluid is extracted from the fluid zone through the bore at a selected rate. In addition, at suitable intervals, an amount of water from the groundwater zone is extracted through the bore at a selected rate. Meanwhile, a vacuum is applied to one or more selected portions of the subsurface to draw air therethrough, to volatilize volatilizable components of the fluid, and to induce movement of the volatile (vapor) and liquid and heavy components of the fluid into the bore for extraction.

Abstract: Oil wells productivity is increased by cyclically treating a shaft-adjacent zone of the well with a seam-forming liquid which contains additional activating components.

Abstract: A layer of diamond formed by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is brazed to a drill bit body to form a cutting element thereon. The ability to withstand high temperatures permits the cutting elements to be brazed using alloys requiring much higher temperatures than those used in connection with brazing convention PDC cutting elements. In an infiltrated bit, a CVD cutting element formed by chemical vapor deposition is placed in a bit mold which is thereafter filled with infiltration powder and placed in a furnace with temperature in excess of 1100.degree. Centigrade. The CVD cutting element may also be mounted on a slug or stud via brazing and the slug or stud in turn mounted on or infiltrated into the bit body or brazed thereto.

Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation having a well bore extending thereinto. The method comprises the steps of: (a) placing a jetting tool in the well bore such that the jetting tool is positioned within the subterranean formation, the jetting tool including a jetting nozzle; (b) orienting, by rotating the jetting tool about a longitudinal axis, the jetting tool such that the directional orientation of the jetting nozzle substantially corresponds to a predetermined fracturing direction; and (c) cutting a slot in the subterranean formation (and/or casing) by substantially maintaining the jetting nozzle orientation established in step (b) while both (1) spraying a jetting fluid out of the first jetting nozzle and (2) moving the jetting tool longitudinally within the well bore along the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method for cementing a wellbore wherein a slurry comprising at least five percent by weight of particles having a particle size greater than about 0.04 inches is placed in the wellbore. The slurry has a density which exceeds the hydraulic fracture gradient of the formation but the slurry is not lost to fractures because the larger particles enable the solids in the slurry to bridge and prevent excessive slurry loss. The cement slurry of the present invention is preferably placed in the wellbore by a direct placement method such as a coil tubing placement to minimize the pressure placed on the formation by any particular cement slurry.

Abstract: An improved system connects subsea coupling components mounted to a movable junction plate assembly and a fixed junction plate assembly of a subsea petroleum recovery tree. The connecting handle on a movable junction plate assembly is biased for locking engagement with a movable plate to manipulate the movable junction plate assembly, but may be unlocked upon engagement with the fixed junction plate assembly to permit rotation of the connecting handle and thereby threadedly connect the junction plate assemblies. An extension arm assembly for supporting the movable junction plate assembly may be pivotably mounted to a control pod assembly, with the extension arm being extendible and contractible to allow an ROV or diver to move the junction plate assembly within a preselected zone of control.

Abstract: A downhole shut-in tool includes in one aspect a pilot valve which when opened places a differential pressure across a piston which in turn operably engages a shut-in valve element to close the shut-in tool. An electronic timer assembly and electric drive motor are provided for controlling the action of the pilot valve. The drive motor is controlled by a load sensor which senses that the motor has stalled when an actuator engages a movement limiting abutment. In another aspect a pilot valve is provided which can selectively communicate the pressure differential across the piston so as to repeatedly open and close the shut-in valve element. Efficient methods of drawdown and buildup testing using such an automated multiple operating shut-in tool are provided. Associated automated sampling tools are also disclosed.

Abstract: A plurality of cutting tools are attached to a pair of axles on a frame for chopping crop residue in a direction parallel to the direction of travel. A plurality of transverse knives are attached to the cutting tools for simultaneously chopping the crop residue in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel. The transverse knives are attached to the circumferential edges of the cutting tools and extend away from the cutting tool edges. The outer edges of the transverse knives are sharp and are angled radially outward from the cutting tools.

Abstract: A template and process for drilling and completing multiple wells in a subterranean formation. A template having a plurality of axially extending, divergent bores therethrough is secured to surface or intermediate casing and a like plurality of subterranean wells are drilled through the bores and into the subterranean formation. Each well is separately cased to the well head at the surface and separate production tubing is inserted into each well. Thus, remedial operations can be carded out in one well or fluid injected into a subterranean formation via one well while fluid, such as hydrocarbons, are simultaneously produced from a subterranean formation via the other well(s).