Abstract: A housing with a fluid flow bore is provided with an integral diaphragm forming a cavity within the housing to position the diaphragm adjacent the bore, for receiving sensors thereon to receive intelligence from the housing indicative of any one or all of a plurality of physical functions related to strain in the housing such as by way of example, pressure of fluid in the bore of the housing, axial load, torsion, shear or bending and communicate or transmit the intelligence of such functions to a predetermined location. Where desired, the cavity may be precharged with an inert gas to inhibit damage to the sensors and to serve as a reference pressure. The cavity and transducer therein are isolated from ambient conditions externally of the housing. A flow conduit may be connected at each end of the housing to conduct fluid to the housing bore. Where necessary the intelligence relating to the function or functions may be compensated for temperature or second order effects related to any or all of the functions.

Abstract: A device having a large fluid drag tendency is lowered into a well at a rate which gives no net drag against the fluid. The condition of no net drag is indicated by the tension in a line used to lower the tool into the well. When the spool-off rate is such that this tension force is equal to or slightly exceeds the weight of the tool plus the weight of the line in the borehole the tool is moving at a speed equal to the average flow velocity in the well. This velocity may be determined by measurement of the spool-off rate.

Abstract: A permanent magnet motor for operation at elevated temperatures wherein the magnets are clamped to the motor shaft by means of high temperature plastic bushings. The bushings have a coefficient of thermal expansion that exceeds the coefficient of thermal expansion of the motor shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the vapor flow only, or the vapor and liquid flows into various formations surrounding a thermal injection well. The apparatus utilizes a downhole tool having bristles on its outer surface for impeding the flow of fluid past the tool and an instrument at the surface for measuring the drag force produced on the tool as it is moved downward and upward through the well. The fluid flows at various depths in the well are calculated from the measured drag forces.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a continuous metal tube having a plurality of electrical conductors disposed therein, by using a spring member to depress the electrical conductors while a flat metal strip is formed into a tubular member and welded to enclose the electrical conductors. The spring member functions to protect the electrical conductors from heat damage. The welding occurs completely downstream of the spring member in order to avoid excessive heat buildup in the spring member.

Abstract: A bristle assembly and method for making the same. The bristle assembly is particularly useful for forming into a brush-like arrangement for use in separating the liquid and vapor phases for determining the steam quality in a thermal injection well as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,627.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring both the quality and flow rate of steam injected into a hydrocarbon formation in a thermal recovery process. The method measures both the quantity of water and the flow rate of the steam. Both measurements can be made at any location in the borehole to determine the quality and quantity of steam injected into a particular formation. The apparatus utilizes a propeller motor/generator combination to determine the vapor flow rate; the drag produced by a network of bristles extending across the borehole determines the vapor flow rate and the quantity of liquid present.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for venting purge fluid from an enclosed housing to maintain a positive known reference pressure differential between the housing and the variable pressure atmosphere surrounding the housing. The apparatus utilizes a specially designed fluidized bed to vent the purge fluid while maintaining a positive known reference back pressure. The fluidized bed automatically compensates for changes in the temperature or pressure of the atmosphere surrounding the housing.

Abstract: A bristle assembly for measuring steam quality in a well is made by slotting a metal sheet to form parallel bristles extending from a flange at one end of the sheet to the opposite end of the sheet, bending the flange to form a right angle with the bristles, and rolling the flange into a cylindrical shape with the bristles projecting radially outward.

Abstract: An apparatus for centralizing an elongated tool in a tubular member that provides a large centalizing force yet collapses easily when reaching an area of reduced diameter traveling in either direction. The apparatus has multiple pairs of arms, each arm having one end pivotally mounted on the tool with the opposite ends disposed adjacent to each other. The opposite ends of the arms are pivotally connected and a biasing means is provided for moving the opposite ends of the arms radially outward to provide the centralizing force. At least three pairs of arms are mounted on the tool at equal angular positions to accurately centralize the tool. The arms have rollers which contact the casing wall inside diameter which provide a very low friction for conveying the tool in this borehole even in high angle boreholes.

Abstract: A network of bristles extending across a steam injection well provides affirmative liquid/vapor separation and control. The orientation of the bristles is controlled to direct the liquid toward or away from the borehole wall as desired.

Abstract: A well bore barrier penetrator arrangement and method for a multiple conductor pump power cable includes a clamp for clamping each steel tube encased conductor and a seal arrangement for each conductor supported in a housing to enable each conductor to pass through the barrier and extend therebeyond on each side of the barrier. A member is movable longitudinally of the housing to secure the clamp arrangement and conductors against movement longitudinally relative to the housing and to compress the seal into sealing engagement with each of the conductors. The multiple conductors with the steel tubes thereon terminate at different longitudinal positions on each side of the barrier and coupling means engage each of the conductors on each side of the barrier with a power cable for supplying power to a pump connected to a production tubing in the well bore.

Abstract: Chemical treating liquids (e.g. scale inhibitors) are dispersed in the producing interval by (a) extending a slim tube along the production tube into connection with a more rigid tube extending below a dual packer and the production tube, and (b) inflowing a mixture of gas-saturated treating liquid and gas through the slim tube.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing supercritical carbon dioxide from a well along with minor amounts of kill water having formation salts dissolved therein. The salt water is the result of killing the well with fresh water during pump installation and/or removal operations at which time the water enters the CO.sub.2 producing formation and dissolves soluble salts which come into the well when the kill water returns to the well when it is put on production. Precipitation of salts carried by the kill water in the pump is prevented by continuously injecting water into the vicinity of the pump intake so as to dilute the returning kill water before it, or at least a portion of it, is vaporized into the water phase of the supercritical carbon dioxide. The volume of injected, substantially fresh water must be sufficient to handle the vaporization of water into the carbon dioxide in the pump as well as dilute the returning kill water so that the salts carried thereby remain in solution.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing supercritical carbon dioxide from a well along with minor amounts of water having formation salts dissolved therein. Precipitation of salts carried by the formation water in the pump is prevented by continuously injecting water into the vicinity of the pump intake so as to dilute the formation water before it, or at least a portion of it, is vaporized into the water phase of the supercritical carbon dioxide. The volume of injected, substantially fresh water must be sufficient to handle the vaporization of water into the carbon dioxide in the pump as well as dilute the formation water so that the salts carried thereby remain in solution.

Abstract: A well bore pump electric power cable connector for field application to connect between the noninsulated ends extending from individual, insulated electric conductors of a high voltage pump power cable includes male and female elastomer boots each having a central passage therethrough to receive an end of the conductor to connect the noninsulated ends thereof, respectively, with a male electric conductor contact pin and female electric conductor socket in the male and female boots. The central passage has spaced shoulder means to mate spaced shoulder means on the male contact pin and female socket to retain them in the boots. Annular, longitudinally extending seal surface sealingly engage when the boots are mated and cooperating stop surface means and locked surface means engage when the boots are mated.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in drilling a well from a floating vessel by means of a riser, which connects the vessel's drilling equipment to a wellhead assembly adjacent to the ocean floor. The riser moves substantially vertically in relation to the vessel, as the vessel responds to wave action. The present riser position indication apparatus is comprised of a load cell and a chain attached beneath the load cell. Movement of the riser relative to the vessel alters the length of chain suspended from the load cell, thereby altering the signal from the cell. The signal can be subsequently calibrated to represent riser position.

Abstract: A crush and abrasion resistant, sealed, impervious, flexible protective jacket assembly for oil and gas wells containing a plurality of electrical and/or fluid conductors that are oriented in linear, spaced, parallel relation. A pair of elongated protective metal sheets define elongated conductor grooves. The metal sheets are joined by welding to define a plurality of elongated chambers containing one or more of the conductors. The chambers are sealed from the atmosphere and may be filled with a non-gaseous dielectric material to prevent the development of corona discharge that might cause deterioration of the protective jacket assembly. The configuration of the sheets of protective material is such that the development of corona discharge is resisted. A pair of metal longitudinal structural elements are attached at opposed sides of the protective jacket assembly and prevent damage thereto by abrasion, crushing, bending, etc.

Abstract: A bundle of spoolable power supplying and heating cables and at least one weight-supporting strand for forming an assembly for electrically heating or heating and logging a long interval of subterranean earth formations is installed within a well by spooling superposed flat layers of those strands and an interspersed flexible band on a drum substantially as narrow as the layers, while interconnecting the power supplying and heating cables on the drum, and then unspooling the strands into the well while intermittently banding them into bundles and concurrently respooling the flexible band on a different drum.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the quality rate of the steam injected into a hydrocarbon formation in a thermal recovery process. The method measures the density and flow rate of the steam downhole using a mechanical/electrical apparatus. The quality of the steam is calculated from the measured density and flow rate. The apparatus comprises an electric motor-generator and turbine wheel combination, the no-load speed of the motor being related to velocity of the steam while the stall torque is related to density of the steam.