Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting the direction of a deviated borehole having a self-aligning sleeve slideable over flexible members of the drill string assembly, which is non-rotating and substantially the same length as a flexible member of the drill string assembly, having two elliptical protrusions. There further is included a first protrusion means for centering and stabilizing the tool in the borehole. Also, a second pad-like protrusion means is included for guiding the drill bit and drill string assembly in the desired direction.

Abstract: A replaceable insulating sleeve is disposed around the lower end of a drill string used in drilling a well. The sleeve is restrained from rotating relative to the drill string, but can be released and quickly slipped off the drill string in the field to permit rapid replacement if damaged, or if alternate equipment is required. The sleeve carries sensing means for measuring a characteristic of formations penetrated by the well. Anchor means on the sensing means prevents it from rotating relative to the sleeve.

Abstract: A reamer used in earth boring by the rotary method includes a body having a plurality of sockets in its outer periphery. Upper and lower blocks are disposed in the socket for supporting a shaft. A roller is rotatably mounted on the shaft with the inner periphery of the roller and the outer periphery of the shaft providing bearings for the roller. The shaft has an upper annular shoulder with a downwardly facing sealing surface disposed above the bearings. Upper and lower seals are disposed above and below the bearings with the upper seals having a facing seal sealingly engaging the roller and the downwardly facing sealing surface on the shoulder of the shaft.

Abstract: The invention provides a subterranean well casing perforating gun device which employs shaped explosive charges to perforate the well casing. The device generally defines an outer tubular housing assembly concentrically insertable in the well and defining a vertical axis, cylindrical chamber. A tubular carrier of polygonal cross sectional configuration is insertable in the chamber in concentric relationship to the cylindrical wall of the cylindrical chamber. Each of the faces of the carrier have a plurality of spaced passages therethrough, each passage having a configuration substantially corresponding to the configuration of the polygonal face. A shaped charge container has its cylindrical body insertable in any selected one of the passages and a radial flange on the outer end for abutting the polygonal face portion adjacent the respective passage, thereby limiting the insertion of each of the containers into the selected passage.

Abstract: A retrievable inside blowout preventer valve apparatus for use in blocking undesired upwardly flow in the bore of a rotary drill string during well drilling operations is disclosed. The valve apparatus is installed and retrieved from a subsurface receiver sub connected in the drill string by movement through the bore of the drill string. When shutting off upwardly flow through the bore of the drill string, the valve automatically operably secures and seals itself in the receiver sub. A wireline retrieving tool is used to release the valve apparatus from the receiver sub and to establish a connection therebetween for retrieving the valve apparatus with the wireline.

Abstract: A longwall mining machine and method for its use, the machine traveling over a face conveyor having a first toothed rack extending therealong. A gantry-like frame is movable along the face conveyor and has upstanding supports at its opposite ends which carry an upper track and a second toothed rack. A first mining machine frame is carried on the face conveyor and has drive pinion means engageable with the first toothed rack. A second mining machine frame is carried on the upper track of the gantry-like frame and has drive pinion means engageable with the second toothed rack. The first and second mining machine frames each having a shearer drum mounted thereon for cutting and removing a mineral seam.

Abstract: A method of extracting bitumen from a subsurface tar sand bed wherein a shell of frozen earth is formed around the periphery of at least a portion of the tar sand bed, followed by recovering bitumen from such portion of the tar sand bed within the shell of frozen earth by suitable means such as, for example, solvent extraction. Also disclosed is apparatus for freezing the earth surrounding one of a plurality of boreholes drilled in the earth within earth freezing distance of each other around the periphery of such portion of the tar sand bed.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an upwardly directed drill hole with feed cylinders and a clamping cylinders contains a pressure medium system with a pump, a supply duct and a control valve. In order to attain a particularly favorable and simple design, a second pump is provided, for feeding a second supply duct, from which at least one branch duct containing a choke or the like leads to the drilling head or its tools. The control valve is provided between the first pump and the first supply duct for one set of sides of the clamping and feed cylinders.

Abstract: The fluid flow profile in an underground reservoir having a well borehole is determined by placing in the well borehole an instrument capable of detecting the velocity of an interface moving in the well borehole. The well is shut-in to allow oil and water to separate and form an interface. A fluid miscible with the oil and less dense than the water is injected into the well borehole and forces the interface to move down the well borehole. The fluid flow profile is determined by analyzing the data obtained from the instrument.

Abstract: A device for containing and removing drilling slurry includes a pair of concentric, annular, parallel side walls joined at like edges to an annular end wall to form an annular cavity therein. The opposed edges of the side walls are provided with annular sealing gaskets, the gasket on the inner wall being provided with radially extending intake slots. A vacuum fitting extends through the outer side wall to partially evacuate the cavity and to cause the device to adhere to a floor or wall surface. The end wall includes a central opening therethrough to receive a drilling bit or the like, the opening being slightly eccentric with respect to the axis and defining a shallow recess which retains liquid slurry. A pair of drain holes extend through the inner side wall at the shallow recess to remove accumulated slurry.

Abstract: A gravel packing method and apparatus for oil and gas wells having high angled portions, i.e. angled a substantial degree from the vertical, wherein slow rotation of the drill pipe is maintained throughout the pumping of the gravel ladened fluid to inhibit the accummulation of the gravel along the drill pipe in the high-angled portions. Each of several different embodiments of a selective rotation and releasing tool comprises tubular members that are relatively movable by vertical movement of the drill pipe to engage or disengage keys in keyways to selectively rotate or not rotate, respectively, a threaded releasing screw for releasing the liner at the completion of the gravel pack. The tool includes members for impacting one another upon rapid lowering of the drill pipe to jar the liner.

Abstract: An expendable plug assembly of the type adapted to be received within the bore of a well packer is shown having a shear sleeve and a plug body initially received within the shear sleeve interior. The plug body has a closed end for preventing flow of well fluid through the well packer when the plug body is in place within the shear sleeve. A lock ring is provided for releasably supporting the plug body within the shear sleeve interior. A collet body mounted about the plug body has a collet extension at one end thereof and a plurality of collet fingers at the opposite end thereof. The collet fingers are selectively engagable within the well packer bore to fix the plug assembly within the bore. Shear screws are provided for releasably connecting the collet extension to the shear sleeve. The shear screws are severable by downward movement of the shear sleeve relative to the collet extension.

Abstract: A well casing is magnetized by traversing an internal magnetizer along and within the well casing while periodically reversing the direction of the magnetic field of the magnetizer to create a plurality of magnetic flux leakage points along the well casing.

Abstract: An equalizing annulus valve for use in controlling flow in the annulus between two tubular conduits in a subterranean oil or gas well has a control pressure responsive main valve piston and a booster piston for closing radial flow ports. The booster piston is spring loaded relative to the main piston and excess annulus pressure below the valve acts on the booster piston rather than on the main piston. The main piston can be partially opened before abutting the booster piston to permit pressure below the valve to meter through an equalizing port in the main piston and through the main flow ports. When the pressure is equalized, the main piston and booster piston can be shifted to a fully open position. An auxiliary piston responsive to an increase in annulus pressure can also be used to shift the main piston.

Abstract: A method or system for raising gas and liquid from a well used in in situ heating of a formation. Such heating may be done by radio frequency having an appropriate wave length in the earth e.g. about fifteen meters. The well has a production tube suspended from the well head. And, the method steps include sweeping the annulus with dry gas to drive the products up the production tube, at low flow. Also, another step is that of measuring the pressure differential between the annulus and the outlet of the production tube. And, another step is that of increasing the flow of the dry gas whenever the pressure differential exceeds a predetermined minimum. The increased flow is continued for an interval long enough to clear the liquid product that has risen in the tube and caused the differential pressure increase.

Abstract: A flowline pull-in apparatus is operable from an overhead vessel and transports flowlines to a subsea wellhead. The apparatus includes a sled disposed on the sea floor and connected to the flowlines. A two-part pull-in frame, removably positioned within the sled, is connected to the overhead vessel. The overhead vessel removes the pull-in frame and lands the frame on a wellhead. The frame is connected to the sled by means of cables. After the frame has been landed upon the wellhead, winches on the frame are hydraulically activated from the vessel and reel in the cables, thereby drawing the sled into engagement with the lower portion of frame and positioning flowline mandrels, which project from the sled, adjacent the lower portion of the frame. The cables are thereafter cut and the upper portion of the frame is released and removed by the vessel from the lower portion.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting ruptures in a drill pipe above and below the drill collar comprising a nose cone, a lower body threadably engaged to the nose cone. The lower body has a structure defined by a plurality of circulation by-pass apertures and shear pin apertures. A cylinder actuator having actuator apertures is installed within the lower body juxtaposed to the shear pin apertures. Shear pins slideably lodge through the shear pin apertures of the lower body into the actuator apertures of the cylinder actuator. A steel ball seats on top of the cylinder actuator. An upper body threadably engages the lower body and a retrieval cap threadably engages the upper body. The apparatus seats into a seating sub in operation of the invention.

Abstract: A packer utilizing a C-slip in which, during release of the packer, the upper expander pulls the C-slip off of the lower expander. If a packer is stuck in the well, the upper expander is keyed to the slip to prevent rotation of the upper expander during milling.

Abstract: A mandrel is provided for insertion in a well pipestring. First and second semi-cylindrical sections, in turn, are arranged to be brought together from opposite sides of the mandrel to surround the mandrel in coaxial relationship. Each of these semi-cylindrical sections has holes supporting wire brushes, the brushes being held secure when the semi-cylindrical sections are fitted about the mandrel. End ring members are received over the opposite ends of the mandrel to engage about the ends of the semi-cylindrical sections and hold them securely together. Appropriate collar members threaded on the ends of the mandrel in turn will hold the ring members axially in place and also serve to connect the mandrel to the pipe string. The mandrel itself has a central bore sufficient to maintain the normal circulation or reverse circulation during a brushing operation and the semi-cylindrical sections holding the brushes can be easily removed and replaced as required.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the recovery of liquid products from a wellbore having at least one laterally extending drain hole wellbore extending therefrom, wherein a portion of the primary wellbore near the drain hole wellbore and a portion of the drain hole wellbore itself are completely filled with a hardenable material and the hardened material is then re-drilled leaving an outer layer of hardened material to line the primary wellbore and part of the drain hole wellbore so that gas cannot prematurely cone into the primary wellbore, thereby enhancing liquid recovery by way of the unlined portion of the drain hole wellbore before any gas reaches the drain hole wellbore.