Abstract: A sliding sleeve opens with a deployed ball. The sleeve has a seat disposed in the housing, and the seat has segments biased outward from one another with a C-ring or other biasing element. Initially, the seat has an expanded state in the sliding sleeve so that the seats segments expand outward against the housing's bore. When an appropriately sized ball is deployed downhole, the ball engages the expanded seat. Fluid pressure applied against the seated ball moves the seat into the inner sleeve's bore. As this occurs, the seat contracts, which increases the engagement area of the seat with the ball. Eventually, the seat reaches the shoulder in the inner sleeve so that pressure applied against the seated ball now moves the inner sleeve in the housing to open the sliding sleeve's flow port.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve opens with a deployed ball. The sleeve has a seat disposed in the housing, and the seat has segments biased outward from one another with a C-ring or other biasing element. Initially, the seat has an expanded state in the sliding sleeve so that the seats segments expand outward against the housing's bore. When an appropriately sized ball is deployed downhole, the ball engages the expanded seat. Fluid pressure applied against the seated ball moves the seat into the inner sleeve's bore. As this occurs, the seat contracts, which increases the engagement area of the seat with the ball. Eventually, the seat reaches the shoulder in the inner sleeve so that pressure applied against the seated ball now moves the inner sleeve in the housing to open the sliding sleeve's flow port.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve has an inner sleeve that moves in a housing. For example, the inner sleeve can move open relative to a port in the housing when a deployed ball engages a seat in the inner sleeve. Because the seat and the ball (if remaining) are preferably milled out of the inner sleeve after use, the inner sleeve preferably does not rotate in the housing during milling operations. To accomplish this, an anti-rotation clutch assembly in the sliding sleeve helps prevent the inner sleeve from rotating. A wedged cone is formed on a distal end of the inner sleeve and press fits into a cupped shoulder on the inside of the sleeve's housing.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve opens with a deployed ball. The sleeve has a seat disposed in the housing, and the seat has segments biased outward from one another with a C-ring or other biasing element. Initially, the seat has an expanded state in the sliding sleeve so that the seats segments expand outward against the housing's bore. When an appropriately sized ball is deployed downhole, the ball engages the expanded seat. Fluid pressure applied against the seated ball moves the seat into the inner sleeve's bore. As this occurs, the seat contracts, which increases the engagement area of the seat with the ball. Eventually, the seat reaches the shoulder in the inner sleeve so that pressure applied against the seated ball now moves the inner sleeve in the housing to open the sliding sleeve's flow port.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve opens with a deployed ball. The sleeve has a seat disposed in the housing, and the seat has segments biased outward from one another with a C-ring or other biasing element. Initially, the seat has an expanded state in the sliding sleeve so that the seats segments expand outward against the housing's bore. When an appropriately sized ball is deployed downhole, the ball engages the expanded seat. Fluid pressure applied against the seated ball moves the seat into the inner sleeve's bore. As this occurs, the seat contracts, which increases the engagement area of the seat with the ball. Eventually, the seat reaches the shoulder in the inner sleeve so that pressure applied against the seated ball now moves the inner sleeve in the housing to open the sliding sleeve's flow port.

Abstract: A packer seals a wellbore annulus. The packer has a body defining a bore therethrough and has a swellable element disposed on the body. An expander movably disposed on the body adjacent the swellable element is actuated by fluid pressure communicated through a port in the body's bore. When actuated, the expander fits between the swellable element and the body to expand the swellable element radially outward an initial expansion amount. While downhole, the swellable element swells in the presence of an agent downhole and expands radially outward a subsequent expansion amount to produce a seal with a surrounding surface. With further fluid pressure, the expander can also compress the swellable element to further increase the expansion amount of the swellable element.

Abstract: A tandem packer seals a wellbore annulus with first and second seals. The packer has a body defining a bore therethrough and has a shoulder disposed on the body. A compressible element is disposed on the body adjacent the shoulder. A piston is movably disposed on the body adjacent the compressible element and is activated by fluid pressure communicated through a port in the packer's bore. When actuated, the piston fits between the compressible element and the body to initially expand it outward. With further fluid pressure, the piston compresses the compressible element against the shoulder to expand the element radially outward and produce a first seal with a surrounding surface. A swellable element also disposed on the body is swellable in the presence of an agent and expands radially outward to produce a second seal with the surrounding surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening and closing downhole tools, such as sliding sleeves, includes a first (opening) shifting tool connected to an end of a continuous rod, an intermediate rod connected below the first shifting tool, and a second (closing) shifting tool connected to the end of the intermediate rod. The first tool has a profile for selectively opening sleeves when moved downhole, and the second tool has a profile for selectively closing sleeves when moved uphole. Alternatively, a single tool can couple to the end of the continuous rod and can have the profiles for opening and closing sleeves. When used, the continuous rod and shifting tools are deployed downhole to a series of sliding sleeves on a tool string. Manipulated by the continuous rod and a rig at the surface, the shifting tools are used to successively open and close the sliding sleeves so that successive isolated zones of a formation can be treated with frac fluid.

Abstract: A liner hanger having a mechanical coupling between a liner hanger body and one or more cones is disclosed. The cones are coupled to the liner hanger body to resist axial and relative rotational movement without welding the cones to the hanger body, and without the need to use integral cones. In general, the mechanical coupling includes a hanger body or casing mandrel, a cone assembly journaled on the casing mandrel, at least one slot or groove in an outer wall of the casing mandrel, and at least one partially or fully annular slot on the inside surface of the cone assembly oriented to correspond with the groove(s) in the outer wall of the hanger body. At least one wire, or one or more bearings, is situated in the corresponding slot and the groove. The wire engages the flanks of the slot and groove sufficiently to resist axial or rotational movement of the cones relative to the hanger body.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and storing a boat above water and particularly for shallow water, is made up of a pair of laterally spaced floats fixedly secured to inner ends of a pair of beams whose outer ends are pivotally secured to a dock, a set of fixed posts, a bulkhead or other fixed structure. The floats and beams form a well having an entrance away from which is mounted a rear bar and further away from the rear bar and on the beams is mounted a front bar. A boat mounting frame onto which a boat can be driven under its own power is pivotally mounted on the rear bar such that after a boat is loaded on the boat mounting frame, the frame can be tilted such that its leading end engages the front bar and maintains the boat above the water in a position suited for storage. A method of forming the apparatus and a kit containing the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A two-stage packer and method for sealing an annulus in a wellbore is provided. The packer may be set by a force which will not cause a sealing element to buckle, collapse, or otherwise fail. In one aspect, the packer comprises a body having a sealing element and shoulder disposed there-around, and a slideable member slideably arranged on the body, the slideable member having a first surface disposable beneath the element to increase the inner diameter thereof and a second surface disposable against an end of the element to increase the outer diameter thereof. The method comprises running a body into the wellbore, the body comprising a sealing element and a slideable member slideably disposed there-around, wherein the slideable member comprises a first surface and a second surface; forcing the first surface beneath the element to increase the inner diameter thereof; and forcing the second surface against an end of the element to increase the outer diameter thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and storing a boat above the water in the well of a floating dry dock is made up of a frame onto which the boat can be driven under its own power and which pivots on a rear bar mounted across and away from the entrance of the well. After being loaded on the frame, the boat and frame are tilted such that the frame is made to bear on a second bar located further away from the well entrance. A method of forming the apparatus and a kit containing the apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a port collar assembly comprising a housing and a sleeve disposed therein. The sleeve is moveable between a first or opened and a second or closed position relative to the housing. In the closed position, the port collar prevents communication of the fluid between the exterior and interior of the port collar. In the open position, the port collar permits communication of the fluid between the exterior and interior of the port collar. The assembly includes a locking mechanism for the opened and closed positions comprising ratchet teeth formed on the exterior surface of the sleeve and mating ratchet teeth formed on the interior surface of the housing. The mating ratchet teeth are designed to secure the sleeve in a first position within the housing. A second set of mating ratchet teeth secures the sleeve in a second position.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a port collar assembly comprising a housing and a sleeve disposed therein. The sleeve is moveable between a first or opened and a second or closed position relative to the housing. In the closed position, the port collar prevents communication of the fluid between the exterior and interior of the port collar. In the open position, the port collar permits communication of the fluid between the exterior and interior of the port collar. The assembly includes a locking mechanism for the opened and closed positions comprising ratchet teeth formed on the exterior surface of the sleeve and mating ratchet teeth formed on the interior surface of the housing. The mating ratchet teeth are designed to secure the sleeve in a first position within the housing. A second set of mating ratchet teeth secures the sleeve in a second position.

Abstract: A device to be connected to the lower end of a tubing string for removing sand or other debris from oil producing formations below a surface, the device comprising a combination of a thrust and rotational bearing assembly, a rotationally driven downhole pump comprising a rotor and a stator to provide hydraulic energy to lift fluid to the surface, a transfer chamber secured to the pump providing fluid communication between the pump and the tubing string to direct fluid from the pump to enter the string, a nose section secured to the pump rotor and constructed so that sand is mixed with wellbore fluid, a guide to take the mixture to the pump and an anti-rotation device secured to the pump constructed so as to prevent rotation of the pump stator while allowing axial movement of the pump.

Abstract: Apparatus engageable with a well casing for suspending a perforating gun in the casing. The apparatus includes toothed slips forced into engagement with the well casing. A spring maintains an engaging force on the slips with the casing. In response to detonation of the perforating gun, a first release mechanism is operated to allow the perforating gun to drop a short distance. After initial dropping of the perforating gun, a second release mechanism is operated to release the engagement of the toothed slips with the casing, thereby allowing the entire unit to fall to the bottom of the well. A retrieval tool attached to a tubing string can be utilized to operate the second release mechanism, disengage the unit from the casing, and retrieve it from the well.

Abstract: An apparatus including an inverted dome overlying a base member, with the dome in operative communication with fluid and air supply, with the dome including a plant support stand positioned therewithin. A modification of the invention includes a dome with spaced openings to permit aquarium-type fish to be able to access the dome.