Abstract: A method and apparatus for securing prestressed or pressure-containing connections, such as in a pipe clamp, in remote or hazardous locations. A connection, having bolts that are heated and pretensioned, can easily be uniformly tightened with a robotic device.

Abstract: An elastomeric seal having an antiextrusion device molded integrally into or onto the low pressure side of the seal. The antiextrusion of a corrugated strip into an elastomeric seal. One embodiment of the invention has the strip positioned with the midplane of its corrugations normal to the mating seal surfaces and parallel to the midplane of the seal groove. Another embodiment of the invention has the midplane of the corrugations canted within the seal. The antiextrusion device is applicable to annular seal rings, linear seals, or seals of more complex configuration.

Abstract: An elastomeric gripping element is supported and mounted by a housing and is configured to have an interference fit under normal conditions with the surface of the object to be gripped. The housing and the surface to be gripped are separated by a gap. For gripping mating with the surface, the elastomeric gripping element is initially stretched by operative means in the housing element in an axial direction parallel to the generating element of the comating surface to be gripped, with an attendant reduction in its cross-sectional thickness perpendicular to the direction of stretch. In this manner, the gripping element interference with the comating surface of the object to be gripped is minimized or eliminated for installation. When positioning for the installation mating is accomplished, the gripping element tension is selectively released, permitting the gripping element to attempt to return to an unstretched position and thereby to assume a preloaded position against the comating surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing seals in an interference fit with a comating sealing surface by initially stretching the seal installed in a groove to reduce its cross-sectional thickness perpendicular to a comating sealing surface. The stretched seal is mated with a comating surface and then relaxed, permitting the seal to return to an unstretched position and to passively assume a preloaded position against the comating sealing surface. The seal may be repeatedly disengaged and reengaged by selectably restretching the seal and then selectably releasing it upon completion of repositioning.

Abstract: A mudsaver valve with bi-directional snap action in opening and closing the valve. The mudsaver valve is adjustable for different mud weights and is easily assembled and disassembled in the field. Furthermore, elevated pressure from below is readily transmitted past the valve seat, so that the standpipe pressure of the well can be determined through the valve when the pumps are stopped and still connected to the drillstring. One embodiment of the mudsaver valve also contains a mechanism whereby the valve may be locked open by an accessory tube whenever a pipe gets stuck and becomes inaccessible, thereby permitting wireline operations through the valve so that the pipe may be freed.

Abstract: An actuating means for a valve that is both opened and closed with a snap-action. The bidirectional, bi-stable snap acting valve has adjustable resistive forces governing the snap action of the valve. The bi-stable snap action mechanism can be incorporated into the operation of the valving element or the valving actuators.

Abstract: An automatic control system for providing pneumatic purging protection for a sealed enclosure containing electrical equipment in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association standards. The system supplies a purge gas under a pre-ordained pressure to an enclosure residing in a hazardous location. The system monitors the gas pressure to maintain the pressure within desired limits. In the event that the integrity of the sealed enclosure is disrupted, the control system disables the electrical equipment and executes a rapid-response purge cycle to re-enable the electrical equipment as quickly as possible.

Abstract: The deck or superstructure for an offshore production platform is shifted from a loading facility onto a cargo vessel that includes a large-area lifting assembly. The vessel transports the superstructure to a previously-installed substructure. On site, the elevator assembly raises the superstructure above the top of the substructure jacket, aligns the superstructure with the substructure and then mates the two together by lowering the elevator assembly. The elevator assembly is designed to break away very rapidly from the superstructure to compensate for vessel rebound when the mass of the superstructure is accepted by the substructure.

Abstract: This invention provides a hydraulically-actuated pipe clamp for sealing leaks in pipe lines located in remote or hazardous places. The pipe clamp consists of a split block having hinged jaws that may be clamped around a pipe by a hydraulic actuator. The jaws are then mechanically latched in place so that the clamp will remain closed after the hydraulic source has been disconnected.

Abstract: A drill pipe protector which surrounds and embraces a section of drill pipe. The protector includes at least an outer portion and surface made of an elastomeric material in which a quantity of small, hard particles are interspersed. During drilling operations when the protector is placed in sliding contact with the interior surface of casing in a wellbore, the particles exposed on the protectors surface abrade away rust and other protrusions from the inner surface of the casing to rapidly reduce frictional torque and drag experienced in running the drill string. As particles and elastomer are abraded away, additional particles are exposed. In the preferred embodiment the protector is a sleeve consisting of a pair of semi-cylindrical sections, each having an outer elastomeric layer containing approximately 27% by volume and 43% of the combined weight of substantially spherical glass particles sized in the range of 0.15-0.25 millimeters and having a hardness on the MOH scale of approximately 5.5.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for operating multiple tools connected serially in a pipe string in a well, each tool being operated by cyclic pressuring and depressuring of fluid in the pipe string from the surface, each tool having a part movable downward and upward by movements of a piston in response to said pressure cycles, said part movements being controlled by barrel cams which direct the part through a series of positions in response to a series of pressure cycles, the barrel cams of the tools being the same or different depending on the part position combinations desired, a series of pressure cycles moving the tool parts through the desired part position combinations for the multiple tools. Tool modifications making the multiple tool operations possible are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for pressure charging pressure accumulators in apparatus downhole in a well, wherein a first valve system admits pressured fluid into an accumulator from a well tubing such as a drill string in response to well tubing-accumulator differential pressure and a second valve system releases pressured fluid from the accumulator to the well tubing in response to accumulator-well tubing differential pressure. The apparatus utilizes valve assemblies called "fuses", which can be used for accumulator pressure adjustments in lower well tubing pressure ranges and which close in response to higher fluid pressures in the well tubing so that well tubing pressure can be used to do work in the well such as to operate a piston actuator, or the like.

Abstract: Directional drilling apparatus for incorporation in a drill string, wherein a lower apparatus section is angularly deviated from vertical by cam action and wherein rotational displacement of the angularly deviated apparatus section is overcome by additional cam action, the apparatus being operated by successive increases and decreases of internal drill string pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing damage to the mechanical components of a borehole inclinometer is disclosed. The inclinometer uses a freely suspended pendulum to align with the vertical at a selected position in the borehole. A compass connected to the pendulum rotates to an orientation defined by the earth's magnetic field. To protect the components which suspend the pendulum, the pendulum is clamped between a timer and a lens as the inclinometer is lowered into the borehole. At a selected time, the pendulum is unclamped and is permitted to reach an equilibrium, measuring position. After a selected interval, the timer urges the pendulum against the lens to clamp the pendulum. The inclinometer is raised from the wellbore, and the orientation of the pendulum relative to the lens is observed to determine the azimuth and inclination of the borehole.

Abstract: Surface controlled blade stabilizer apparatus, for which surface control is achieved by alteration of internal drill string pressure to move a piston which carries an actuator for expanding the stabilizer blades, the blades being spring biased inwardly when not forced outwardly by the actuator. A barrel cam controls and guides the actuator to downward, upward and intermediate positions, so that the blades may be expanded, retracted, or held expanded when drill string pressure is reduced. The apparatus has a full open passage therethrough which is not interfered with by operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: Clamp-on drill collar stabilizers, wherein a stabilizer body in sleeve form is adapted to receive a drill collar therethrough. The stabilizer sleeve is connected to the drill collar by releasable connection means, and positive release means for releasing the connection is provided. Six embodiments of apparatus are provided, with diverse forms of connection means and release means, each adapted for quick connection and quick release, so that the stabilizer sleeve may readily be removed or moved to another location along the drill collar.

Abstract: Accumulator recharging valve wherein a valve is opened to drain the accumulator, and then the accumulator is recharged through another valve, the valves being operated by pipe string pressure after blanking off the flow passage therethrough by a wireline tool, the valve operations being controlled by a barrel cam whereby the drain valve and recharging valve are alternately opened by pressure cycles in the pipe string.

Abstract: Drill string stabilizer apparatus, controllable to expand and retract entirely from the surface by control of drill string pressure, wherein increase of drill string pressure from the surface closes a valve to create a piston means which is moved down by drill string pressure to expand the stabilizer blades, said valve being opened and the piston moving upward upon reduction of drill string pressure to retract the stabilizer blades. Upward and downward movements of the piston and an actuator sleeve therebelow are controlled by a barrel cam acting between the housing and the actuator sleeve.

Abstract: Well apparatus, in which a pressured fluid accumulator is used to perform a function when the apparatus is disposed downhole in a well, such as to operate a valve to control fluid flow through a tubing string in which the apparatus is disposed. The accumulator is pressure-charged after the apparatus is run into the well by exposing the accumulator to casing pressure, so that the accumulator will thereafter be at a constant pressure. Performance of functions is accomplished by varying the casing pressure to above or below accumulator pressure, and using the pressure differential between the casing and accumulator to operate an actuator, such as a piston, to perform the function. The accumulator pressure may be made as desired by adjustment of the casing pressure at the time the accumulator is charged with pressure after the apparatus has been run into the well.