Abstract: A pressure activated valve and associated methods of using same provide increased functionality and convenience in actuating a tool operatively positioned within a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, a switch valve is utilized to control actuation of a downhole power unit. The switch valve is configured to cause actuation of a switch within the downhole power unit in response to a differential fluid pressure. The differential fluid pressure is created by applying pressure to the interior of a tubing string to which the valve is attached.

Abstract: A retrievable well lock for use within a subterranean member is used in cooperation with a tool for setting the lock. The lock will include an actuation assembly which is operable in response to longitudinal movement between portions of the lock. The setting tool will preferably include a power source within a housing assembly which can be selectively coupled to or decoupled from the lock assembly. The power source is associated with the setting tool through an activation assembly which will cause movement of a movable mandrel within the setting tool facilitating the selective actuation of the lock.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pressurizing the top of the valve member of a subsurface safety to equalized pressure thereacross and assist in opening the valve. The apparatus includes a chamber filled with fluid under pressure which is admitted in to the space between the apparatus and a valve when landed in the valve to pressurized the valve. A spring loaded prong on the apparatus urges the valve member of the safety valve to open position. A latch is included which will bypass a top landing nipple and land in a second landing nipple. The subsurface safety valve is provided with means for filling its spring chamber with liquid with the valve closed. When the safety valve is open the spring chamber is isolated to protect the chamber from flow of fluids and solids.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for pressurizing the top of the valve member of a subsurface safety to equalized pressure thereacross and assist in opening the valve. The apparatus includes a chamber filled with fluid under pressure which is admitted in to the space between the apparatus and a valve when landed in the valve to pressurized the valve. A spring loaded prong on the apparatus urges the valve member of the safety valve to open position. A latch is included which will bypass a top landing nipple and land in a second landing nipple. The subsurface safety valve is provided with means for filling its spring chamber with liquid with the valve closed. When the safety valve is open the spring chamber is isolated to protect the chamber from flow of fluids and solids.

Abstract: A plugging device for installation as by wireline tools in a receptacle in a wall flow conductor for plugging the flow conductor against flow from below as well as from above, the plugging device including a tubular housing having seals for sealing with the receptacle, lock members for anchoring it therein, a mandrel reciprocable in the housing between lower and upper positions for moving the lock members to locking position and for allowing them to move to unlocking position, a plug member closing the housing and being movable relative thereto between lower and upper positions, and a locking mechanism for locking the plug member to the mandrel whenever the mandrel is in its lower position and the plug member is moved to its upper position to prevent the mandrel from being moved to its unlocking position. A running tool is provided for installing the plugging device which will not release the device unless it is properly installed in the receptacle.

Abstract: A well production system utilizing a submersible pump in which a parking mandrel is slidable around a flexible line and connected to the top of a string of test tools carried by the line. When the tools and mandrel are lowered into the well, the mandrel locks in a landing nipple in tubing below the pump. Pull on the line operates the mandrel and disconnects the tools to be lowered on the line through the mandrel to a deeper depth at which the well may be tested. The parking mandrel includes a pressure operated grease injector section. The well pump may be operated while testing the well increasing pressure sufficiently to operate the grease injector and seal the parking mandrel around the line. After well testing is completed, the line and tools are raised back to the parking mandrel and reconnected to the mandrel by pulling on the line. The parking mandrel may now be unlocked from the landing nipple for return to surface by lowering the line and then pulling the line again.

Abstract: Well testing apparatus including a landing receptacle for placing in a well tubing, preferably near the well packer, and a well test tool lowerable with instrumentations into the tubing on a flexible line and anchorable in the landing receptacle, the test tool then being actuable between open and closed positions by tensioning and relaxing the flexible line to open and close the well at the downhole location so that well conditions therebelow can be determined, the test tool having a mechanism for propping the raisable portion of the test tool in its upper position automatically in response to raising it from its lower position, the prop mechanism being releasable only after the flexible line has been tensioned and relaxed a plurality of times to permit the raisable portion of the test tool to return to its lower position. Methods of testing wells through use of the claimed well testing apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A device for releasably connecting well tools together for disconnection thereof downhole in a well without jarring but in response to a series of upward pulls on the cable or flexible line by which the well tools are lowered into the well.

Abstract: A well test tool for closing a well at a downhole location below the well packer and near the formation to be tested, the apparatus being openable and closable from the surface by tensioning and relaxing the cable or wire line on which it is lowered into the well, the test tool having a lock mechanism which locks automatically upon entering its landing receptacle in the well and is further provided with a releasing mechanism for unlocking the test tool automatically after a present number of open/close cycles have been performed. A bypass landing receptacle is provided which permits high rates of flow during testing. A modified bypass landing receptacle is provided to permit use of the apparatus above the well packer, as in wells having an existing packer therein. Methods of testing wells are also disclosed.

Abstract: An improved device for releasably anchoring a well tool, or the like, in a well conduit, the device having locking keys thereon which are spring-pressed outwardly, each key having a pair of oppositely facing abrupt lock shoulders which are engageable with a corresponding pair of oppositely facing lock shoulders in a landing receptacle in the well conduit, the locking device including a key retractor sleeve with cam surfaces thereon which coact with corresponding cam surfaces on the locking keys to retract the keys responsive to upward movement of the retractor sleeve.

Abstract: A well completion and testing system and method. The system includes a tubing string having an integral locking sub and a testing probe assembly for use with well testing instruments and having an equalizing and bypass valve, the probe assembly being releasably lockable in the locking sub and adapted to be manipulated from the surface to open and close the valve for testing a well under both shut in conditions and flowing conditions. The method includes running a tubing string including an integral locking sub into a well bore, running a tool train including well testing instruments connected with a locking probe having an equalizing and bypass valve, releasably locking the probe in the locking sub of the tubing string, and selectively manipulating the probe from the surface to open and close the valve of the probe while taking measurements with the well alternately shut in and flowing.

Abstract: A well testing tool system for isolating vertically spaced portions of a well bore and measuring well conditions such as pressure, and temperature. The system includes a wireline supported tool train and a locking sub connectible on a removable lock mandrel for releasably locking the tool train in a well bore. The tool train has a locking probe releasably connectible in the locking sub, a probe mandrel connected with the probe, an equalizing valve and shock absorber, and a gauge for measuring an operating condition in the well. The locking sub permits insertion of the probe at a low force and requires a larger force for withdrawal. The locking sub grips the probe with a force directly proportional to the pressure differential across the locking sub. The equalizing valve and shock absorber provides for pressure equalization across the tool train during handling and absorbs shock to protect the measuring device. Two forms of the valve and shock absorber are spring biased open.

Abstract: Disclosed is a running tool for running sensitive well equipment into a well. Once the well equipment has been landed in the well, the running tool releases therefrom upon the application of a steady force. This abstract of the disclosure is neither intended to define the scope of the invention which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to limit the invention in any way.

Abstract: A well testing tool system for isolating upper and lower portions of a well bore and communicating a well condition such as pressure, temperature, fluid velocity, and the like to a measuring device. The system includes a wireline supported tool train and a locking sub connectible on a removable lock mandrel adapted to be landed and locked in a landing nipple of a well tubing for releasably locking the tool train in operating position in a well bore. The tool train includes a locking probe releasably connectible at a lower end in the locking sub, an adjustable probe mandrel connected with the probe, an equalizing valve and shock absorber, and a gauge for measuring an operating condition in the well connected with the equalizing valve. The locking sub permits insertion of the probe at a relatively low force and requires a substantially larger force for withdrawal of the probe.

Abstract: A well bottom hole fluid pressure measuring structure including external to internal pressure transducer fluid passage communicating structure with pressure balancing on engaged probe members to prevent undesired pressure lift separation of one probe section from another. A locking mandrel, landing nipple and probe structure is provided with positioning of the probe to the lock set state holding the mandrel in a locked state such that fluid pressure differential across the mandrel cannot unlock the probe from the mandrel.

Abstract: A well system for selectively locking well tools along a flow conductor in a well bore and a tool string for use in the flow conductor including a locking mandrel, a sleeve shifting device, and a well safety valve. The selective locking system has a landing and locking recess profile including both upwardly and downwardly facing stop shoulders. One form of the locking system is in a sliding sleeve valve including a cam release shoulder to free a selector and locking key when the sleeve valve is moved between spaced longitudinal locations. Another form of the locking system may be along a landing nipple and require that the well tool locked therein be disabled for release of the selector and locking tools. The sleeve shifting device has means for opening and closing the sliding sleeve valve including keys having upwardly and downwardly facing stop shoulders and recess profiles which are compatible with the landing and locking recess profile of the sleeve valve or of a landing nipple.

Abstract: A well running tool used for lowering and setting well bomb hangers and various tool string hangers in a well and then disengagement for removal from the well, leaving the hanger set in place in the well. It is a soft set running tool designed to disengage from a bomb hanger, or other well tool hanger, with an upward pulling force substantially greater than the weight of the bomb hanger or other tool hanger, being positioned in the well after the hanger is key lock set in place down the well.

Abstract: A well tubing hanger for suspending a pressure bomb and/or temperature recording device, or other equipment in the tubing from a tubing no-go nipple, through a test period. It is a bomb hanger such that when the suspended equipment is being used for test surveys, the wire line used to run the tools is not left in the well. This results in considerable savings; particularly when a plurality of wells in a field are being surveyed. Tubing hanger locking lugs are shifted radially outwardly into a nipple recess by a longitudinal, movable camming and lug-locking tubular sleeve extension from the tool fishing neck, with the sleeve lockable by a ball recess lock interference fit. A resiliently displaceable plunger structure permits a recess relief unlock for the balls, from the ball recess lock interference fit and thereby permits unlock release movement of said tubular sleeve, with the tool fishing neck, for unlocking the locking lugs from the extended state.

Abstract: A well tubing hanger for suspending a pressure bomb, and/or temperature recording device or other equipment, in the tubing, from a selected tubing nipple, through a test period. It is a bomb hanger such that when the suspended equipment is in use for test surveys, the wire line used to run the tools is not left in the well, thereby achieving considerable savings, particularly when a plurality of wells in a field are surveyed. Hanger locking lugs are shifted radially outwardly into a position-selected matching nipple recess when brought into operational alignment therewith, after lug latch members have been released by unlocking upward movement engagement with a tubing nipple shoulder. A lug-locking sleeve is movable into lug locking position with the sleeve lockable by a ball recess lock interference fit.

Abstract: Hydraulic jar comprising a housing, a piston axially movable within the housing, an anvil disposed within the housing, a hammer associated with the housing and means for maintaining the housing in a position with the hammer spaced from the anvil and then releasing the housing when the piston moves to a select, extended position.