Abstract: Downhole mechanical or electrical equipment that possess, induce or supply large electromagnetic interference or magnetic fields are sometimes placed in subterranean wells, usually as part of or attached to wellbore tubulars. These magnetic fields can interfere with the efficient operation of some electronic, gyroscopic or magnetic well tools that pass by, through, near or adjacent to such downhole equipment. In general, a subterranean magnetic field protective shield apparatus is provided which reduces or substantially eliminates this magnetic field interference or enhances the operation of, or minimizes damage to, sensitive electronic or magnetic well tools. Such a subterranean magnetic field protective shield enhances the operation of other tools and protects other devices from adverse effects of magnetic fields stronger than the earth's magnetic field intensity.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system and associated methods provides selective control of operation of multiple well tool assemblies. In a described embodiment, a hydraulic control system includes a control module which has a member that is displaceable to multiple predetermined positions to thereby select from among multiple well tool assemblies for operation thereof. When the member is in a selected position, an actuator of a corresponding one of the well tool assemblies is placed in fluid communication with a flowpath connected to the control module. When the member is in another selected position, the flowpath is placed in fluid communication with an actuator of another one of the well tool assemblies.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system and associated methods provides selective control of operation of multiple well tool assemblies. In a described embodiment, a hydraulic control system includes multiple control modules, each of which has a member that is displaceable to multiple predetermined positions to thereby select a corresponding one of multiple well tool assemblies for operation thereof. When the member of a certain control module is in a selected position, an actuator of a corresponding one of the well tool assemblies is placed in fluid communication with a flowpath connected to the control module. The members of the multiple control modules are displaced simultaneously in response to pressure on a line connected to each of the control modules.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system for downhole tools enables convenient selection and actuation of a well tool assembly from among multiple well tool assemblies installed in a well. Each well tool assembly includes a control module having a selecting device and a fluid metering device. A predetermined range of pressure levels on one of multiple hydraulic lines causes the well tool assembly to be selected for actuation, a differential between pressure on that hydraulic line and pressure on another hydraulic line determines a manner of actuating the selected well tool assembly, and pressure fluctuations on one of the hydraulic lines causes fluid to be transferred from another hydraulic line to an actuator of the well tool assembly.

Abstract: A locking system which includes landing nipples connectable in a well flow conduit and a lock mandrel to which well flow control devices are connectable. The landing nipples have an unrestricted full bore flow passage with a locking groove and profiled locating recesses with one square shoulder in the flow passage. The lock mandrel may be lowered through full bore landing nipples to automatically locate in the full bore landing nipple in which the lock mandrel is to be operated to lock and expand a seal system to sealingly engage the landing nipple. The lock mandrel utilizes locking lugs engageable in the landing nipple locking grooves. The automatic locator device has locating keys with one or two square shoulders, which locate the lock mandrel in a landing nipple. After operating, the lock mandrel is releasably retained locked and sealed in the landing nipple. The lock mandrel may be operated to disengage the landing nipple and permit the seal system to retract for retrieval from the landing nipple.

Abstract: A locking system which includes landing nipples connectable in a well flow conduit and a lock mandrel to which well flow control devices are connectable. The landing nipples have an unrestricted full bore flow passage with profiled locking and locating recesses having no square shoulders in the flow passage The lock mandrel may be lowered through full bore landing nipples and operated to automatically locate in the full bore landing nipple in which the lock mandrel is to be operated to lock and expand a seal system to sealingly engage the landing nipple. The lock mandrel employs locking keys having no square shoulders. The automatic locator device has locating keys having no square shoulders, which position the lock mandrel in the landing nipple. After operating, the lock mandrel is releasably retained locked and sealed in the landing nipple.

Abstract: A safety valve landing nipple selectively provides a pin for closing communication in the bore between the first control line and the safety valve control line so that communication between the first control line and an insert safety valve in the landing nipple housing is achieved by use of a rotary member. A rotary shifting tool is used to rotate the rotary member so that a cam sleeve pushes a poppet pin to form a metal to metal seal with a fitting adaptor connecting the first control line and the safety valve control line so as to provide communication between the surface control line and the internal bore of the landing nipple.

Abstract: A downhole, inline well safety shutoff valve has a spring-loaded, normally closed flapper shutoff valve element that may be opened by a downwardly driven movement of an operator tube coaxially and slidably disposed within the tubing string bore. The operator tube is vertically driven by a rod structure disposed in an offset passageway in the safety valve housing and operated by fluid control pressure transmitted thereto from the surface. To substantially preclude undesirable communication in the passageway between pressurized production fluid and pressurized rod control fluid, the rod structure is slidably carried within a specially designed seal structure including a cylindrical sleeve coaxially received in the offset passageway, and a sealing ring captively retained between the top end of the sleeve and an annular ledge formed in the passageway. The sealing ring functions to create a dynamic seal around the rod side surface and a static seal between the ring and the interior passageway surface.

Abstract: A downhole, inline well safety shutoff valve has a spring-loaded, normally closed flapper shutoff valve element that may be opened by a downwardly driven movement of an operator tube coaxially and slidably disposed within the tubing string bore. The operator tube is vertically driven by a rod structure disposed in an offset passageway in the safety valve housing and operated by fluid control pressure transmitted thereto from the surface. To substantially preclude undesirable communication in the passageway between pressurized production fluid and pressurized rod control fluid, the rod structure is slidably carried within a specially designed seal structure including a cylindrical sleeve coaxially received in the offset passageway, and a sealing ring captively retained between the top end of the sleeve and an annular ledge formed in the passageway. The sealing ring functions to create a dynamic seal around the rod side surface and a static seal between the ring and the interior passageway surface.

Abstract: A safety valve landing nipple selectively provides communication between a surface control line and the internal bore of said landing nipple by use of a rotary member. A rotary shifting tool is used to rotate the rotary member so that a cutting means shears the end of a shearable plug in the wall of the landing nipple, so as to provide communication between the surface control line and the internal bore of the landing nipple. A method of providing communication within a landing nipple between the surface control line and the internal bore of the landing nipple by use of the rotary shifting tool and a rotary shifting tool having a rotatable outer mandrel means, an inner mandrel means, a travel means and a diametrically retractable means.

Abstract: A downhole, inline well safety shutoff valve has a spring-loaded, normally closed flapper shutoff valve element that may be opened by a downwardly driven movement of an operator tube coaxially and slidably disposed within the tubing string bore. The operator tube is vertically driven by a rod structure disposed in an offset passageway in the safety valve housing and operated by fluid control pressure transmitted thereto from the surface. To substantially preclude undesirable communication in the passageway between pressurized production fluid and pressurized rod control fluid, the rod structure is slidably carried within a specially designed seal structure including a cylindrical sleeve coaxially received in the offset passageway, and a sealing ring captively retained between the top end of the sleeve and an annular ledge formed in the passageway. The sealing ring functions to create a dynamic seal around the rod side surface and a static seal between the ring and the interior passageway surface.

Abstract: Standing valves which may be operated as injection valves without removal from a well conduit are disclosed. All disclosed valves permit upward production flow and prevent downward injection flow. One valve form utilizes a ball valve to control production and injection flow, and two valve forms utilize annular valves to control flow. In one annular valve form, production and injection flow is controlled by the annular valve. In the other annular valve form, production flow is controlled by check valve means and injection flow is controlled by the annular valve. These standing valves are opened for injection flow by increasing valve interior fluid pressure to a predetermined pressure to open control check valves permitting the pressured fluid to flow to pressure responsive operators in the valve housings. Opening pressure of the control check valves is variable.

Abstract: Two forms of a valve, both useful as a standing valve in a well conduit, permitting upward production flow and preventing downward injection flow. Both forms of this valve may also be operated as injection valves, permitting downward injection flow and preventing upward production flow. One form of the valve utilizes a ball valve for flow control and can be converted to injection only valve operation. The other form of the control valve utilizes an annular valve for flow control and cannot be converted to injection valve only operation. The annular valve and ball valve are biased closed, and both are opened for downward injection flow by increasing valve interior pressure to a pressure which will open a control check valve to permit opening flow to a pressure responsive operator. Opening pressure of the check valve is variable and may be predetermined.

Abstract: Disclosed is a well system, particularly adapted to pumpdown operation in which lowering an easily retrievable tool string, including an improved standing valve, into an improved foot valve opens the foot valve for production flow. The standing valve prevents flow into the producing formation when the foot valve is open. Lifting the tool string from the foot valve closes the foot valve to protect the producing formation when the tool string is retrieved. Means are provided retaining the foot valve in open or closed positions. Provisions are made for pumping into the formation around both the standing valve and foot valve when closed.

Abstract: A ported sliding sleeve valve for use in a well tubing to provide a lateral flow path for transfer of fluids between the tubing and the annulus exterior thereof, the lateral ports of the device being initially closed by a port closure sleeve which is movable to port-opening position by increasing the annulus pressure to a level exceeding tubing pressure by a predetermined value, the port closure sleeve moving to fully open position upon being released and afterwards remaining in this position while the lateral ports of the device are thereafter opened and closed by shifting a built-in sliding sleeve valve through use of a shifting tool run and operated via wireline or pumpdown tools in a manner well known in the industry.

Abstract: In a locking mandrel for releasably locking a well tool in a well flow conductor of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,531 which includes a tubular body mandrel adapted for securing with a running tool and with a well tool, a locking dog retainer sleeve on the body mandrel, expandible and contractible locking dogs carried by the retainer sleeve, and a locking sleeve movable on the body mandrel within the retainer sleeve between a first position at which the locking dogs are expanded and release positions at which the locking dogs are movable inwardly to release positions, the improvement for releasably latching the locking sleeve at the first locking position on the body mandrel which includes an annular latching boss on the body mandrel and an annular latching flange and recess within the locking sleeve.