Abstract: Cooperable female and male connectors are used to install and provide electrical connection to a downhole electrical unit such as an electrically driven pump. The female connector has a housing with a longitudinal passage, at a lower end portion of which longitudinally spaced circumferential contacts of a first set are exposed internally. A downhole assembly including the electrical unit is suspended from the female connector and is lowered into a well on a running tool. The downhole assembly is locked in position in the well, and the running tool is pulled from the well. Then a male connector is lowered into the well on an electric cable. The male connector has a second set of longitudinally spaced circumferential contacts, externally, adapted to engage corresponding contacts of the first set. The contacts of the male connector are connected to conductors of the electric cable.

Abstract: Apparatus for energizing submergible pumping equipment in an underwater well comprises a suspension head for the equipment and an adapter spool associated with wellhead apparatus and in which the suspension head seats. The apparatus includes internal electrical contacts within the adapter spool and contacts carried by radially expandable slips on the suspension head for establishing electrical connection between an external power source and the supply cable for the equipment which is carried by the suspension head. When the head is seated in the spool, radially expanding movement of the slips brings the respective contacts into engagement. The apparatus further includes complementary alignment formations on the head and spool for properly orienting the head and the spool so that the respective contacts are in mutual angular alignment.

Abstract: A packer assembly for a cable-suspended well pumping system comprises a cylindrical housing carrying an external sealing sleeve of resilient material and a series of axially movable radially expandable slips for gripping a well casing. The slips are operated by liquid pressure developed upon initiation of a downwell pumping operation, by movement of a tubular piston within the housing which is connected to the slips through openings in the housing wall. Further, the slips abut a collar attached to one end of the sealing sleeve so that axial movement of the slips also causes the sealing sleeve to be axially compressed and radially expanded into engagement with the well casing. After pumping is terminated, the slips and seal can be disengaged from the well casing simply by raising the assembly.

Abstract: Apparatus for tensioning wire, such as wire loops applied over a braided wire sleeve forming a sheath for an electrical cable splice. The tensioning apparatus comprises an jack rod and jacking mechanism of known construction, a first wire clamp fixed to the based end of the jack rod, and a second wire clamp assembly slidably mounted on the jack rod opposite the jacking mechanism from the first wire clamp whereby the jacking mechanism may be operated to spread the lapped ends of a wire loop to tighten the loop.

Abstract: A flexible, self-tightening mechanical splice between sections of cable or other elongated sections comprises an elongated braided wire sleeve receiving end portions of the elongated sections, and wire clamps securing the ends of the sleeve in circumferential grooves on two-piece grommets mounted on the elongated sections. The mechanical splice may be employed in conjunction with an electrical splice in electrical cable, such as armored electrical cable of the type used to support submergible pumping units in wells, for preventing application of tension to the electrical splice proper. An automobile jack of known construction is modified to provide a tool for forming the wire clamps.

Abstract: A flexible, self-tightening mechanical splice between sections of cable or other elongated sections comprises an elongated braided wire sleeve receiving end portions of the elongated sections, and wire clamps securing the ends of the sleeve in circumferential grooves on two-piece grommets mounted on the elongated sections. The mechanical splice may be employed in conjunction with an electrical splice in electrical cable, such as armored electrical cable of the type used to support submergible pumping units in wells, for preventing application of tension to the electrical splice proper. An automobile jack of known construction is modified to provide a tool for forming the wire clamps.

Abstract: A submergible electric pump has a discharge head provided with a locking device for locking the discharge head to a well liner. The locking device comprises a plurality of lugs that are projected into a groove in the well liner when the pump is lowered through the liner to an operative position, at which the discharge head is sealed in the liner. The discharge head has inner and outer tubular members, the outer member seating on the liner and being held against rotation relative to the liner. The inner member continues to move downwardly after the outer member is seated, camming the locking lugs outwardly through windows in the outer member and into the liner groove. The lugs provide support for the weight of the pump installation and prevent rotation between the inner and outer members of the discharge head.

Abstract: The end of an electric cable for energizing the motor of a submergible pump is attached to the motor head by a device comprising a compression block receiving the cable conductors and a shield embracing the block and compressively clamping the block to the motor head. An adaptor sleeve mates with an opening in the motor head and a recess at one end of the compression block and is sealed in the opening and the recess. Better sealing against intrusion of well fluid and better protection of the sealed area are achieved.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving flexible elongated members, such as cable, in which a wheel having a peripheral abutment surface against which the elongated member is to be clamped, carries a plurality of pivoting clamp elements spaced circumferentially. The position of the clamp elements relative to the peripheral surface of the wheel is controlled by a guide track followed by the clamp elements as the wheel rotates. When the clamp elements have been closed upon a flexible member carried by the periphery of the wheel, pressure is applied to the clamp elements from an arcuate surface of a block adjacent to a portion of the periphery of the wheel, the position of the block relative to the wheel being adjustable.

Abstract: A choke valve (safety valve) is provided in association with a submergible pump employed in oil wells or the like to prevent the flow of well fluid toward the well head when the pump is not operating. Differential pressure across the pump is employed to open the valve, and the valve closes automatically when the pump is de-energized. Bottom-hole pressure merely closes the valve more tightly. A reciprocating tapered valve member controls the opening and closing of a longitudinal passage through a tubular valve housing, the differential pump pressure being applied across an annular piston reciprocating in an annular chamber surrounding the longitudinal passage and connected to the valve member by a plurality of longitudinal piston rods, springs surrounding the piston rods biasing the valve member to a closed position. The storm choke can be operated by fluid pressure applied from the earth's surface in order to permit "killing the well" or flushing sand from the choke.

Abstract: Sub-surface water is pumped through a bore hole to an oil-bearing formation by a pump installation in the bore hole including a submergible pump and an adjustable control valve at the discharge side of the pump. The control valve closes automatically when the pump is not operating to prevent reverse flow and loss of flooding pressure and to insure a back pressure on the pump during starting, and is controlled hydraulically from the surface of the earth to vary the flow to the oil-bearing formation. A novel control valve structure provides accurate and reliable control without unduly restricting the flow volume.

Abstract: A submergible pump assembly is installed in an underwater wellhead and rendered operable without the use of divers. A hose is guided down a cable extending upwardly from the wellhead and is inserted in a wellhead entry horn. The pump assembly is then lowered through the hose and into an upright tube in the wellhead. The pump assembly is locked in position in the tube and is connected to electrical power lines by remotely controlled hydraulic actuators in a sealed housing adjacent to the tube, the locking of the pump assembly also sealing the assembly in the tube concurrently. After the pump assembly has been installed, the hose and a running and retrieving tool in the hose are removed from the wellhead.