Abstract: Methods of performing down hole operations in a wellbore. A vibrational source is positioned within a tubular member such that an annulus is formed between the vibrational source and an interior surface of the tubular member. A fluid medium, such as high bulk modulus drilling mud, is disposed within the annulus. The vibrational source forms a fluid coupling with the tubular member through the fluid medium to transfer vibrational energy to the tubular member. The vibrational energy may be used, for example, to free a stuck tubular, consolidate a cement slurry and/or detect voids within a cement slurry prior to the curing thereof.

Abstract: Methods of performing down hole operations in a wellbore. A vibrational source is positioned within a tubular member such that an annulus is formed between the vibrational source and an interior surface of the tubular member. A fluid medium, such as high bulk modulus drilling mud, is disposed within the annulus. The vibrational source forms a fluid coupling with the tubular member through the fluid medium to transfer vibrational energy to the tubular member. The vibrational energy may be used, for example, to free a stuck tubular, consolidate a cement slurry and/or detect voids within a cement slurry prior to the curing thereof.

Abstract: The pump has a fixed gear axis eccentricity and varies displacement by moving controlling elements linearly along the drive shaft. A pressure compensator may be employed to displace the controlling elements. The pump includes a housing penetrated by a drive shaft rotating internal elements. The internal components slide along the longitudinal axis established by the drive shaft to vary the fluid displacement of the pump. The axially-moving elements include the drive shaft, inner gerotor element, port plug, thrust bearing and retainer sleeve. The drive shaft includes an internal flanged forming a piston. The outward face of the piston is in contact with fluid at system pressure. The internal gerotor element and port plug are retained against the piston by a thrust bearing that slides over the drive shaft and is held in place by a retainer sleeve. The port plug has a rear face that also functions as a piston and this face is the same size as the flanged piston.

Abstract: A system for centralizing casing pipe in a wellbore includes lateral pistons in the side wall of the casing string which are movable by forces applied to their inner end, from a retracted position within the maximum exterior profile of the casing pipe string to a predetermined extended position which will move the casing pipe string toward a central position in the borehole. Various well operations can be performed using the pistons in addition to the centralizing function.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved downhole seismic source with an epicyclic eccentric weight system for the simultaneous generation of elliptically polarized shear wave seismic energy and compression wave seismic energy coupled into a borehole. The apparatus includes a cylindrical housing and a drive means or electric motor disposed in the housing which provides rotational output to an epicyclic eccentric weight system also disposed in the housing. Expandable tapered wedging collars are used to firmly secure the motor and the epicyclic eccentric weight systems within the housing. A flexible shaft interconnects the centerline of the epicyclic cylindrical roller and the motor whereby the roller receives the rotational output from the motor. The shaft rotates in one direction and the roller rotates in the opposite direction thereby producing an epicyclic motion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved downhole seismic source for the simultaneous generation of elliptically polarized shear wave seismic energy and compression wave seismic energy coupled into a borehole. The source of the present invention is capable of receiving several kilowatts of energy downhole to depths of several thousand feet. An orbital vibrator, energized by a hydraulic power means is disposed within a housing. The orbital vibrator imparts an orbital motion which generates seismic wave energy in the borehole. A cable supports the hydraulic power means and the orbital vibrator at selected positions along the borehole for coupling of the seismic wave energy into the borehole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus by which elastic properties of rock formations are determined includes a downhole logging device which has two internal accelerometers mounted within to measure the acceleration of the device. A reference displacement of the device is determined by measuring the acceleration outside the borehole while the device is suspended in air. The output of the accelerometers is measured in the borehole. Integrating the acceleration outputs of these accelerometers twice yields the displacement in the borehole. Changes in the displacement of the device are indicative of various elastic properties of formations surrounding the borehole. Using two accelerometers to determine displacement allows the continuous logging of Young's modulus and other elastic properties of rocks surrounding a well bore. In an alternate embodiment, geophones are used to measure the velocity of the device and their outputs are integrated once to yield displacement.

Abstract: A downhole electro-hydraulic vertical shear wave seismic source places the reaction mass internal to the source cylindrical housing and isolates the actuator from the wellbore fluid and pressure. The clamping system of this source uses two serrated pads radiused to match the inside diameter of the casing. Hydraulic cylinders which are retracted by internal compact stacks of spring washers are used for actuating the serrated pads. A device for keeping the reaction mass in a "floating" position with actuator piston centered within the actuator cylinder is provided by suspending the reaction mass from a compact and soft urethane spring. A threaded guide rod passing vertically through this spring allows spring compression to be adjusted until the actuator piston is precisely centered with no differential hydraulic pressure across the piston.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for grouting holes in the ground to prevent a contaminated zone within the ground from contaminating other zones in the ground. In particular, the grouting apparatus is adapted to follow the hole previously formed in the ground and not detour therefrom forming a separate hole which will be grouted in lieu of the previously formed hole. When the grouting apparatus reaches the bottom of the hole, grouting material is expelled from the lower end thereof. The apparatus is thereafter withdrawn as the grouting material fills the vacated hole. The apparatus comprises a plurality of tubular segments connected together to form a pipestring. At the bottom end of the string, there is attached a tip assembly. The tip assembly comprises an outer tubular sleeve and an internal telescoping tubular sleeve.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for cleaning and decontaminating rods, shafts or other long tubular materials. In particular, the device cleans and decontaminates rods that are used in downhole remediation tasks that might otherwise transfer contaminants out of the ground. The device scrubs, washes, rinses and dries the outer surface of the rod while recovering the wash and rinse fluids and any soil or other debris scrubbed from the surface of the rods. In one variation, the rinse fluid is recycled for use as wash fluid to conserve fluids used in the field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of seismic exploration utilizing vibrationally generated, elliptically polarized shear waves in an earth medium for subsequent detection of one or more dimensions of orthogonal particle motion. The invention relies upon a shear wave source of a type which couples a continually rotating longitudinal force into an earth medium thereby to propagate an elliptically polarized shear wave for refraction, reflection or subsurface detection, various forms of exploration being well within the capabilities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing shear waves in a marine environment in which a shear wave source penetrates the surface sediment of a water bottom. The shear wave generating source includes an actuator/reaction mass system mounted inside a structural ring of a housing section. A cross-shaped structure at the top of the apparatus serves as a passive reaction mass and as a moment arm support for reversibly motor driven propellers enclosed in shrouds at the outer ends of the structure. A thruster system provides dynamic positioning. The cross-shaped structure and housing section are connected by a structurally stiff member, such as a vertical tube. Pistons provide actuation against a reaction mass located within the housing structure, and motion of the housing structure generates shear waves which propagate in the subsurface formations.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for providing elliptical polarized shear waves in a marine environment in which a shear wave source penetrates the surface sediment of a water bottom includes dual actuator/reaction mass system mounted inside a structural ring of a conical housing section. A cross shaped structure at the top of the apparatus serves as a passive reaction mass and as a moment arm support for reversibly motor driven propellers enclosed in shrouds at the outer ends of the cross shaped structure. A thruster system provides dynamic positioning. The cross shaped structure and housing section are connected by a structurally stiff member, such as a vertical tube. Pistons provide actuation of two reaction masses located within the housing structure, and the motions of the reaction masses generate shear waves which propagate in the subsurface formations.

Abstract: A downhole seismic shear wave source is used to generate seismic shear waves a downhole environment. At least one double headed piston rod with a third piston on the center of the rod slides laterally in the downhole tool. Each end piston head is connected to a rolling diaphragm that is secured at its edges around the periphery of the piston receiving cavity. The cavity is filled with a low viscosity non-conducting oil. A servovalve is connected to opposite sides of the center piston head to produce low frequency vibration of the source generator. A veed target rod extends between the end piston heads, past a pair of eddy current transducers (ECTs) to monitor movement of the generator and provide feedback control to the servovalve. A second downhole seismic shear wave source contains a continuous vibrator ring replaces the diaphragm/oil system and a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) replaces the eddy current transducers as the feedback signal generator.

Abstract: Apparatus for carrying and positioning seismic detector equipment down a cased borehole and which includes a three component signal detector, azimuth sensing equipment and a particular type of borehole clamping arrangement that includes a combination of serrated locking pads, a contact rod and an inflatable bladder functioning in three point contact. An apparatus results that assures an improved form of three component geophone array that is lighter, easier handled and more reliably clamped within a borehole while having the additional azimuth sensing capability.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating a controlled parameter elliptically polarized shear wave into an earth medium. The apparatus consists of a baseplate for engagement with the earth medium in omni-directionally resistant manner and a reaction mass and actuator assembly affixed thereto and energizable to impart reciprocal lateral forces to the baseplate that exert a predetermined resultant force at a controlled rate of rotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for generation of elliptically polarized shear waves in an earth medium using two shear wave vibrators engaged to the earth medium in cross-polarized attitude and driven at sweep rates having variable phase displacement.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a seismic transducer under water adjacent a towing vessel includes an elongated substantially rigid towing arm. A lower connector assembly is operably associated with the towing arm for connecting a lower end thereof to the transducer. An upper connector assembly is operably associated with the towing arm for connecting an upper end thereof to the vessel. The upper connector assembly includes a first pivot arrangement for permitting the lower end of the towing arm and the connected transducer to be lowered into the body of water. The upper connector assembly further includes a torsional support structure for resisting rotation of the towing arm about a longitudinal axis thereof. Preferably the upper connector assembly also includes a second pivot arrangement for permitting the lower end of the towing arm and the connected transducer to move laterally relative to the towing vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously generating elliptically polarized seismic shear waves and compression waves downhole for coupling energy through the fluid into the borehole wall. The apparatus includes an elongate frame for support in the borehole and the frame includes a drive means energizable to impart an orbital motion to at least a portion of the frame thereby to generate an orbital shear wave.

Abstract: A device for generating elliptically polarized shear waves for introduction into a soft earth medium including marshy and water-covered earth surfaces. The device consists of a shear wave generator coupled to a coupling tube having a conical lower end that is maintained in energy-coupling relationship within the earth medium. Shear waves such as elliptically generated shear waves are introduced into the tube member for travel along the tube and further earth coupling about the bottom cone member as it is progressively driven into the earth medium. Suitable hold-down weight is utilized to maintain most effective coupling pressure on the cone member, and, support equipment, either land or marine vehicle, may include crane and alignment structure for continually maintaining the tubular vibrator member in proper vertical attitude during operation.