Abstract: A downhole separator sub for separating drilling mud into a more dense portion and a less dense portion. The apparatus includes a barrel having a central opening therethrough and a cyclone separator cartridge positioned in the central opening. The barrel is attachable to the drill string and the drill bit. The cyclone separator cartridge includes an upper insert, an intermediate cyclone separator housing and a lower insert. An annular flow passage is defined between the cyclone separator housing and an inner surface of the barrel. The upper insert includes an inlet passage providing communication between an upper portion of the barrel central opening and the annular flow passage. The lower insert includes a cyclone inlet providing communication between the annular flow passage and a cyclone chamber in the cyclone separator housing.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the cyclone separator includes an adjustable sidearm conduit which selectively receives different strata of particles passing through the radially outer sectors of the cylindrical region defined within the cyclone body. The cyclone separator may further include a traveling cone valve to restrict the size of the lower outlet. The vortex finder of the cyclone may include a vortex side port to extract the heavier particles entrained in the forced vortex received by the intake of the vortex finder. An inner vortex finder tube is further disposed in the passage through the vortex finder. In another embodiment, the traveling cone is replaced by a lower outlet head spaced from the lower outlet and the lower portion of the housing defining the apex of the frustoconical region.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of inhibiting corrosion of well tubing. A corrosion monitor detects the concentration of a corrosive element in fluid produced from well tubing. Corrosion inhibitor is injected into the tubing by a pump at the depth at which water vapor condenses. A computer is programmed with a formula which generates an optimum concentration of corrosion inhibitor for a given concentration of the corrosive element. The computer is operatively connected to the monitor and receives data therefrom to generate a signal which is used to control the pump speed.

Abstract: A fluid agitating apparatus includes a housing having an inlet at an open lower end thereof, and an outlet at an open upper end thereof, with a flow passage disposed through the housing communicating the inlet and the outlet. The flow passage is preferably circular in cross-section and has a minimum diameter at a throat thereof. The diameter of the flow passage increases continuously from the throat toward both the inlet and the outlet. A vertically upward directed nozzle is located in the flow passage below the throat for inducing flow of fluid from a body of fluid in which the housing is submerged into the inlet and upward through the flow passage. A tangentially directed nozzle is disposed in the flow passage above the throat for inducing a swirling flow in the fluid flowing upward through the flow passage. This creates a swirling vortex type flow exiting the outlet of the housing which provides agitation of the fluid in which the apparatus is submerged.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the cyclone separator includes an adjustable sidearm conduit which selectively receives different strata of particles passing through the radially outer sectors of the cylindrical region defined within the cyclone body. The cyclone separator may further include a traveling cone valve to restrict the size of the lower outlet. The vortex finder of the cyclone may include a vortex side port to extract the heavier particles entrained in the forced vortex received by the intake of the vortex finder. A control system may be combined with the cyclone separator to analyze the particles extracted from the various outlets from the cyclone and effect a change of the controllable features of the cyclone such as the position of the sidearm conduit and affecting the size of the lower outlet.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for extending the effective length of a jet of fluid exiting a nozzle. An elongated jet extension member extends substantially axially outward from a nozzle outlet, and the jet of fluid flowing along and around the extension member tends to cling to the extension member thus decreasing the angle of divergence of the fluid jet.

Abstract: A drilling sub is provided in a drill string above a drill bit. The drilling sub includes a nozzle oriented to eject drilling fluid from said drill string into an annulus between the drill string and a well bore hole at an elevation above the drill bit with a horizontal velocity component tangential to said annulus to thereby impart a swirling motion to drilling fluid in the annulus. This creates a vortex extending down to the drill bit to enhance the cleaning of cuttings from the bore hole and to reduce a pressure differential thereby increasing a penetration rate of the drill bit.

Abstract: A fluid agitating apparatus is disposed in a vessel containing a body of fluid to be agitated. The fluid agitating apparatus includes a housing having an inlet at an open lower end thereof, and an outlet at an open upper end thereof, with a flow passage disposed through the housing communicating the inlet and the outlet. The flow passage is preferably circular in cross-section and has a minimum diameter at a throat thereof. The diameter of the flow passage increases continuously from the throat toward both the inlet and the outlet. A vertically upward directed nozzle is located in the flow passage below the throat for inducing flow of fluid from the body of fluid in which the housing is submerged into the inlet and upward through the flow passage. A tangentially directed nozzle is disposed in the flow passage above the throat for inducing a swirling flow in the fluid flowing upward through the flow passage.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for drilling a well. A separator sub includes a cyclone separator which separates a stream of drilling mud into a less dense first portion and more dense second portion. The stream of drilling mud flows downward in an annular stream around the cyclone separator and then flows into a lower end of the cyclone separator. The less dense first portion of the stream of drilling mud is directed from the cyclone separator downward to a drill bit so that the drilling mud adjacent the drill bit has a density less than an initial density of the stream of drilling mud. The more dense second portion of the stream of drilling mud is directed upward from the cyclone separator and is ejected into a well annulus with an upward component of velocity and thereby reduces a hydrostatic drilling mud pressure adjacent the drill bit.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for drilling a well. A separator sub is used to separate a stream of drilling mud into a less dense first portion and more dense second portion. The less dense first portion of the stream of drilling mud is directed downward to a drill bit so that the drilling mud adjacent the drill bit has a density less than an initial density of the stream of drilling mud. The more dense second portion of the stream of drilling mud is ejected into a well annulus with an upward component of velocity and thereby reduces a hydrostatic drilling mud pressure adjacent the drill bit.

Abstract: A drilling sub is provided in a drill string above a drill bit. The drilling sub includes a nozzle oriented to eject drilling fluid from said drill string into an annulus between the drill string and a well bore hole at an elevation above the drill bit with a horizontal velocity component tangential to said annulus to thereby impart a swirling motion to drilling fluid in the annulus. This creates a vortex extending down to the drill bit to enhance the cleaning of cuttings from the bore hole and to reduce a pressure differential thereby increasing a penetration rate of the drill bit.

Abstract: A coal pellet which disintegrates in the presence of excess heat and comprises coal particles, water soluble binder and water. The binder is first dissolved in water and then coal particles are blended with the aqueous binder solution. The blend is agitated until pellets are formed and then the pellets are coated with a water resistant film. The coal pellets have water entrained therein which is converted to a gaseous form when the pellets are subjected to heat thereby facilitating the heat induced bursting of the pellets to free the coal particles for more efficient burning.