Abstract: A device and method to allow a sucker rod to be disconnected at a particular point in a sucker rod string. Typically the disconnect device is located just above the barrel pump where the disconnect device is able to provide tensile and compressive strength similar to the sucker rod string thereby eliminating at least one failure mode for the sucker rod string.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve for frac operations or the like has a housing, a sleeve, and a shock absorber. The sleeve is movable within the housing's internal passage relative to flow ports. The shock absorber, which can have a cylindrical body, positions partially in the sleeve's internal passage and has a distal end that extends beyond the sleeve. A lip on the sleeve's end is engageable with the internal shoulder. When a ball is dropped on the sleeve's ball seat and pumped fluid forces the sleeve to an open position, the shock absorber absorbs the movement of the sleeve. To absorber the movement, the shock absorber breaks one or more shear pin connections with the sleeve, interposes its lip between the sleeve's distal end and the internal shoulder, and fractures at least a portion of its distal end from the impact with the sleeve.

Abstract: Sliding sleeve mechanisms including protective sheaths for debris protection are disclosed. Protective sheaths can be formed from materials such as composites, metal, foil, rubber, plastic, glass, ceramic, wire mesh, tape, etc. The protective sheaths can be substantially cylindrical shells (having one or more pieces), plugs in the flow ports, and/or tape or wire wrappings. The protective sheaths can be retained by recesses in the sliding sleeve or mechanical fasteners such as screws, pins, rivets, snap rings, bands, and buckles. The protective sheath can be outside or inside the sliding sleeve. The protective sheath can protect the sliding sleeve from debris by retaining grease that has been packed into the sliding sleeve for that purpose or positively preventing entry of debris into the sliding sleeve. The protective sheath can be cleared by permitting fluid flow through the sliding sleeve, which can act to destroy and/or wash away the protective sheath.

Abstract: Sliding sleeve mechanisms including protective sheaths for debris protection are disclosed. Protective sheaths can be formed from materials such as composites, metal, foil, rubber, plastic, glass, ceramic, wire mesh, tape, etc. The protective sheaths can be substantially cylindrical shells (having one or more pieces), plugs in the flow ports, and/or tape or wire wrappings. The protective sheaths can be retained by recesses in the sliding sleeve or mechanical fasteners such as screws, pins, rivets, snap rings, bands, and buckles. The protective sheath can be outside or inside the sliding sleeve. The protective sheath can protect the sliding sleeve from debris by retaining grease that has been packed into the sliding sleeve for that purpose or positively preventing entry of debris into the sliding sleeve. The protective sheath can be cleared by permitting fluid flow through the sliding sleeve, which can act to destroy and/or wash away the protective sheath.

Abstract: Sliding sleeve mechanisms including protective sheaths for debris protection are disclosed. Protective sheaths can be formed from materials such as composites, metal, foil, rubber, plastic, glass, ceramic, wire mesh, tape, etc. The protective sheaths can be substantially cylindrical shells (having one or more pieces), plugs in the flow ports, and/or tape or wire wrappings. The protective sheaths can be retained by recesses in the sliding sleeve or mechanical fasteners such as screws, pins, rivets, snap rings, bands, and buckles. The protective sheath can be outside or inside the sliding sleeve. The protective sheath can protect the sliding sleeve from debris by retaining grease that has been packed into the sliding sleeve for that purpose or positively preventing entry of debris into the sliding sleeve. The protective sheath can be cleared by permitting fluid flow through the sliding sleeve, which can act to destroy and/or wash away the protective sheath.

Abstract: A single bidirectional slip for a downhole tool reduces the volume of metal and allows an increased drill up speed. A dual sealing element system, with one sealing element above and one below the bi-directional slip, provides boost forces going through the sealing elements to the slip. The wickers of the slip can be separated by a substantially flat circumference section for placing a band around the slip to improve fracturing uniformity. The wickers can have any of a variety of configurations, including orientations axially away from the central portion of the slip and orientations axially toward the central portion of the slip.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve for frac operations or the like has a housing, a sleeve, and a shock absorber. The sleeve is movable within the housing's internal passage relative to flow ports. The shock absorber, which can have a cylindrical body, positions partially in the sleeve's internal passage and has a distal end that extends beyond the sleeve. A lip on the sleeve's end is engageable with the internal shoulder. When a ball is dropped on the sleeve's ball seat and pumped fluid forces the sleeve to an open position, the shock absorber absorbs the movement of the sleeve. To absorber the movement, the shock absorber breaks one or more shear pin connections with the sleeve, interposes its lip between the sleeve's distal end and the internal shoulder, and fractures at least a portion of its distal end from the impact with the sleeve.

Abstract: A fluid conditioning system designed to be installed between the well perforation and the intake of a pump used to effect artificial lift is used to filter and chemically treat production fluids. The fluid conditioning system is an apparatus that provides scale inhibitors and/or other chemical treatments into the production stream. In some embodiments, the fluid conditioning system may be a part of the production stream filter wherein the filtering material is comprised of a porous medium that contains and supports the treatment chemical. In other embodiments, the chemical treatment may be accomplished by the gradual dissolution of a solid phase chemical. The treating chemical may be recharged or replenished by various downhole reservoirs or feeding means. In yet other embodiments, the treating chemical may be replenished from the surface by means of a capillary tube.

Abstract: A fluid conditioning system designed to be installed between the well perforation and the intake of a pump used to effect artificial lift is used to filter and chemically treat production fluids. The fluid conditioning system is an apparatus that provides scale inhibitors and/or other chemical treatments into the production stream. In some embodiments, the fluid conditioning system may be a part of the production stream filter wherein the filtering material is comprised of a porous medium that contains and supports the treatment chemical. In other embodiments, the chemical treatment may be accomplished by the gradual dissolution of a solid phase chemical. The treating chemical may be recharged or replenished by various downhole reservoirs or feeding means. In yet other embodiments, the treating chemical may be replenished from the surface by means of a capillary tube.

Abstract: Sliding sleeve mechanisms including protective sheaths for debris protection are disclosed. Protective sheaths can be formed from materials such as composites, metal, foil, rubber, plastic, glass, ceramic, wire mesh, tape, etc. The protective sheaths can be substantially cylindrical shells (having one or more pieces), plugs in the flow ports, and/or tape or wire wrappings. The protective sheaths can be retained by recesses in the sliding sleeve or mechanical fasteners such as screws, pins, rivets, snap rings, bands, and buckles. The protective sheath can be outside or inside the sliding sleeve. The protective sheath can protect the sliding sleeve from debris by retaining grease that has been packed into the sliding sleeve for that purpose or positively preventing entry of debris into the sliding sleeve. The protective sheath can be cleared by permitting fluid flow through the sliding sleeve, which can act to destroy and/or wash away the protective sheath.

Abstract: Stuffing box employing a mechanical seal where the static seal body is laterally decoupled from the stuffing box housing. The static seal body is connected to the housing through a ringed-shaped flexible member. The flexible member flexes with shaft movement transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, so as to absorb the lateral movement of the shaft. Thus, the mechanical seal is maintained while reducing the stresses on the shaft and the internal seals resulting from runout.

Abstract: A fluid conditioning system designed to be installed between the well perforation and the intake of a pump used to effect artificial lift is used to filter and chemically treat production fluids. The fluid conditioning system is an apparatus that provides scale inhibitors and/or other chemical treatments into the production stream. In some embodiments, the fluid conditioning system may be a part of the production stream filter wherein the filtering material is comprised of a porous medium that contains and supports the treatment chemical. In other embodiments, the chemical treatment may be accomplished by the gradual dissolution of a solid phase chemical. The treating chemical may be recharged or replenished by various downhole reservoirs or feeding means. In yet other embodiments, the treating chemical may be replenished from the surface by means of a capillary tube.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to controlling the flow of fluids in a wellbore. In one aspect, a valve for selectively closing a flow path through a wellbore in a first direction is provided. The valve includes a body and a piston surface formable across the flow path in the first direction. The piston surface is formed at an end of a shiftable member annularly disposed in the body. The valve further includes a flapper member, the flapper member closable to seal the flow path when the shiftable member moves from a first position to a second position due to fluid flow acting on the piston surface. In another aspect, a valve for selectively closing a flow path through a wellbore in a single direction is provided. In yet another aspect, a method for selectively closing a flow path through a wellbore in a first direction is provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to controlling the flow of fluids in a wellbore. In one aspect, a valve for selectively closing a flow path through a wellbore in a first direction is provided. The valve includes a body and a piston surface formable across the flow path in the first direction. The piston surface is formed at an end of a shiftable member annularly disposed in the body. The valve further includes a flapper member, the flapper member closable to seal the flow path when the shiftable member moves from a first position to a second position due to fluid flow acting on the piston surface. In another aspect, a valve for selectively closing a flow path through a wellbore in a single direction is provided. In yet another aspect, a method for selectively closing a flow path through a wellbore in a first direction is provided.

Abstract: A fluid conditioning system designed to be installed between the well perforation and the intake of a pump used to effect artificial lift is used to filter and chemically treat production fluids. The fluid conditioning system is an apparatus that provides scale inhibitors and/or other chemical treatments into the production stream. In some embodiments, the fluid conditioning system may be a part of the production stream filter wherein the filtering material is comprised of a porous medium that contains and supports the treatment chemical. In other embodiments, the chemical treatment may be accomplished by the gradual dissolution of a solid phase chemical. The treating chemical may be recharged or replenished by various downhole reservoirs or feeding means. In yet other embodiments, the treating chemical may be replenished from the surface by means of a capillary tube.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in a wellbore to meter and choke certain components from being produced, based upon their density relative to the density of oil are disclosed. The device includes an inner tubular body portion having apertures in the wall thereof for passing oil, an outer tubular body and at least one metering orifice therebetween to meter production. Disposed around the inner body is an axially movable member to selectively cover and expose the apertures of the inner body, thereby permitting fluid to flow therethrough.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbon includes introducing the hydrocarbons into a tubular for transport to a surface and introducing a gas into the tubular, wherein the gas is introduced as miniature bubbles for mixing with the hydrocarbon. The method also includes mixing the bubbles with the hydrocarbons, thereby reducing a hydrostatic pressure in the tubular and flowing the hydrocarbons toward the surface. In one embodiment, the gas is introduced at one or more gas lift entry points along the tubular.

Abstract: A fluid conditioning system designed to be installed between the well perforation and the intake of a pump used to effect artificial lift is used to filter and chemically treat production fluids. The fluid conditioning system is an apparatus that provides scale inhibitors and/or other chemical treatments into the production stream. In some embodiments, the fluid conditioning system may be a part of the production stream filter wherein the filtering material is comprised of a porous medium that contains and supports the treatment chemical. In other embodiments, the chemical treatment may be accomplished by the gradual dissolution of a solid phase chemical. The treating chemical may be recharged or replenished by various downhole reservoirs or feeding means. In yet other embodiments, the treating chemical may be replenished from the surface by means of a capillary tube.