Abstract: An anti-surge/reverse thrusting tool for reducing the forces on a drill bit used in subterranean well drilling operations along with methods for drilling wells using a drill string employing the tool. The tool utilizes the pressure differential between drilling fluid flowing through the tool and the fluid located in the well bore annulus proximate the tool to reduce the likelihood of drill bit stall. The tool generally comprises an outer housing and a piston assembly that is axially shiftable relative to the housing.

Abstract: An anti-surge/reverse thrusting tool for reducing the forces on a drill bit used in subterranean well drilling operations is provided along with methods for drilling wells using a drill string employing the tool. The tool utilizes the pressure differential between drilling fluid flowing through the tool and the fluid located in the well bore annulus proximate the tool to reduce the likelihood of drill bit stall. The tool generally comprises an outer housing and a piston assembly that is axially shiftable relative to the housing.

Abstract: Slips slidably disposed on a mandrel for lowering into a well inside a tubular to be removed from the well move outwardly to engage the tubular upon withdrawing the mandrel carrying the slips from the well. In one implementation there is a conical surface such that movement between the slips and the conical surface expands the slips outwardly. These inner and outer bodies are relatively moved in the well such that the outer body expands against an inner surface of the tubular in the well preparatory to removing the tubular from the well. After removing the tool string and at least part of the tubular engaged by the slips out of the well, inner structure of the removal tool can be pulled, in a direction opposite to which the lifting force was applied, to disengage the slips from the removed portion of the tubular.

Abstract: Slips slidably disposed on a mandrel for lowering into a well inside a tubular to be removed from the well move outwardly to engage the tubular upon withdrawing the mandrel carrying the slips from the well. In one implementation there is a conical surface such that movement between the slips and the conical surface expands the slips outwardly. These inner and outer bodies are relatively moved in the well such that the outer body expands against an inner surface of the tubular in the well preparatory to removing the tubular from the well. After removing the tool string and at least part of the tubular engaged by the slips out of the well, inner structure of the removal tool can be pulled, in a direction opposite to which the lifting force was applied, to disengage the slips from the removed portion of the tubular.

Abstract: A method of removing lining from a tubing in a well includes: reaming at least a portion of the lining material; cutting at least a segment of the lining along a spiral path; engaging the lining for applying a pulling force to the lining; and applying a pulling force to lift the engaged lining out of the tubing. Individual aspects of this also form parts of the present invention, such as a lining reamer, a method of excavating material of a lining in tubing in a well, a spiral-cut cutting tool, a method of spiral cutting lining in a tubing in a well, various inner engagement members to navigate through a bent lining segment in a lining in tubing in a well, a lining removal tool in which the components are rotationally fixed so that all rotate together, a lining removal tool in which an inner engagement member (such as a flat cutting blade or a plurality of resilient but stiff wires) is connected to an inner surface of the outer engagement member, and lining removal methods.

Abstract: A lubricant ejector used downhole has a reservoir holding replenishment lubricant, and it includes a driver to eject at least a portion of the lubricant. A flow coupler connected to the ejector channels lubricant to a connected apparatus. One specific ejector includes a hollow rotor of a downhole motor, and a specific flow coupler includes a cross-channel diverter that directs lubricant from the hollow interior of the rotor to a bearing pack and that directs drilling fluid, used to drive the motor and create pressure that moves a piston in the rotor, from outside the rotor to inside a passageway through the bearing pack. A method includes injecting lubricant from a reservoir in the downhole motor into the bearing pack as the downhole motor operates.

Abstract: A cutting tool and a rotatable removal tool can be used together in a system and method for removing lining from tubing in a well. A particular cutting tool includes a mandrel, a sleeve mounted on the mandrel, and a cutting member connected to the sleeve. The cutting member has a width and a cutting edge of angular disposition to form a beveled cut through the lining. Setoff members can be used to space the sleeve from the lining and to engage the lining to enable relative rotation between the mandrel and the sleeve when the cutting tool is in the lining. A particular removal tool includes an inner engagement member and an outer engagement member. The two engagement members are connected such that lining is drawn into and held between them in response to rotating at least the inner engagement member within the lining. A particular engagement member includes a bulbous body adapted to twist into lining in response to rotating the bulbous body in the lining.

Abstract: A cutting tool and a rotatable removal tool can be used together in a system and method for removing lining from tubing in a well. A particular cutting tool includes a mandrel, a sleeve mounted on the mandrel, and a cutting member connected to the sleeve. The cutting member has a width and a cutting edge of angular disposition to form a beveled cut through the lining. Setoff members can be used to space the sleeve from the lining and to engage the lining to enable relative rotation between the mandrel and the sleeve when the cutting tool is in the lining. A particular removal tool includes an inner engagement member and an outer engagement member. The two engagement members are connected such that lining is drawn into and held between them in response to rotating at least the inner engagement member within the lining. A particular engagement member includes a bulbous body adapted to twist into lining in response to rotating the bulbous body in the lining.

Abstract: An actuator for effecting bottom hole rotation consisting of an upper wash pipe having a spiral groove mandrel that is in operative association with a ball clutch assembly that is secured to the upper wash pipe. The weight placed on the actuator at the wash pipe connection is effective to drive the mandrel and ball clutch assembly through a given amount of rotation, e.g., five rotations per actuation can be applied to a selected working tool.

Abstract: An overshot cutter for suspension from coiled tubing that includes an elongate housing which includes a drive piston at the upper end with adjustable axial passage, an inner barrel there-below, and a cutter piston extending a collet cutter next below and finally a restrictor block; whereby the housing lower end is positioned down over a fish for hydraulic release of the drive piston to drive the inner barrel and cutter piston downward thereby to close the collet cutter within the restrictor block to cut the tubing below the fish.

Abstract: A hydraulic jar device for use in connection to coil tubing which consists of an elongate tube having an upper hammer sub, a kelly cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder with central restrictor. A lower sub connects to the bottom end of the hydraulic cylinder. The sliding interior components are an upper mandrel secured to an anvil sub which, in turn, is fastened to an axial plunger, all of which are slidable down within the elongate tube. A guide means prevents relative rotation between the mandrel and the elongate tube consisting of hammer sub, kelly cylinder, hydraulic cylinder and lower sub. A metering ring retained on the plunger interacts with the central restrictor of the hydraulic cylinder to control force effected up and down jars that occur when the mandrel strikes the hammer sub on the down stroke, and when the anvil sub strikes the hammer sub bottom on the up stroke.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a window in well casing. First, using coiled tubing, a two stage whipstock is set in the well casing through the production tubing. Next, a jointed milling assembly is inserted through the production tubing, also using the coiled tubing. The travel of the mill is guided by the two stage guide surface of the whipstock, and the joint in the milling tool allows the direction of the mill to change. Thus, the mill impinges on the well casing at a relatively acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing reducing the likelihood that the mill will bite into the guide surface of the whipstock instead of the well casing.

Abstract: A hydraulic jar device for use in through-tubing drilling and fishing operations which consists of an elongate tube having an upper hammer sub, a kelly cylinder and a hydraulic cylinder with central restrictor secured therebelow. A lower sub connects to the bottom end of the hydraulic cylinder. The sliding interior components are an upper mandrel secured to an anvil sub which, in turn, is fastened to an axial plunger, all of which are slidable down within the elongate tube. A metering ring retained on the plunger interacts with the central restrictor of the hydraulic cylinder to control force effected up and down jars that occur when the mandrel strikes the hammer sub on the down stroke, and when the anvil sub strikes the hammer sub bottom on the up stroke.

Abstract: A downhole rotary cutting tool having an elongated cylindrical body with radially expanded cutting blades that are controlled by application of selected fluid as controlled from a surface source. The cutting blades have a combined abrading/jetting capability as hardened cutting surfaces are disposed at critical points of each blade and each cutting blade is ported to provide lateral jet emissions for entry into the surrounding earth medium.

Abstract: A whipstock and method of using same wherein first and second opposing ends of the whipstock are joined by opposing back and guide surfaces and the second or upper end of the whipstock is composed of at least two surfaces, the first surface being angled so as to direct a well tool impinging thereon toward the guide surface and the second surface being angled so as to provide support for the whipstock when placed in a wellbore at an angle to the long axis of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for setting a whipstock in a wellbore on a packer-anchor which employs a wireline that carries a setting assembly which severs a shear member carried by the setting assembly after the whipstock is set onto the packer-anchor.

Abstract: A downhole rotary cutting tool used with a rotational motor sub and powered by fluid pressure consisting of an elongate body housing having an axial piston cavity and plural, equi-spaced cutter blades mounted in plural equi-spaced longitudinal slots which communicate with the axial piston cavity. A piston in the piston cavity is subject to moving upward with application of fluid pressure to urge the cutter blades outboard into contact with surrounding tubular goods, and further increase of fluid pressure effects rotation of the cutting tool at relatively high speeds to cut the tubular goods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting a whipstock onto a packer in a wellbore wherein the whipstock is laterally and rotatably movable after it is fixed to the packer, whereby the whipstock can move laterally while rotating so that opposite ends of the whipstock can be made to contact opposing inner walls of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting a whipstock in a subsurface well conduit using a combination of an accelerator tool, jar tool, and setting tool, and a whipstock being shearingly carried by the setting tool, and using the jar tool to shear and separate the whipstock from the setting tool.