Abstract: A flexible assembly is provided for a fill-up and circulation (FAC) tool. The flexible assembly preferably comprises a flexible hose portion and a rigid tubular housing portion. The flexible assembly is attached to the tool body of the FAC tool below the casing seal of the FAC tool. The casing seal is utilized for sealing with an interior surface of an upper joint of a casing string. Preferably a tapered guide is provided at a lower end of the flexible assembly and a fluid outlet may preferably be formed in the tapered guide. The flexible assembly preferably has an overall length such that the tapered guide is positioned within the interior of the upper joint of the casing string when the fill-up and circulation tool is attached to a standard traveling block assembly and the elevator casing gripping slips attached to the traveling block assembly are engaged with the upper joint of the casing string.

Abstract: A tool tie down system is provided which ties down a well tool inserted into the top end of a casing string being lowered into a well from upward movement caused by pressure forces from below the well tool inside the upper end of the casing string. The system includes a frictionally engageable clasp for supporting a tie down yoke on the bails connecting the traveling block and elevator slips assembly. A plurality of cords attached to the elevator on one end and the tie down yoke on the other end redirect forces from below to hold the well tool in place resisting these forces, the cords being fabricated, for example from an elastomer, a metal or metal alloy, a fiber, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is a mechanism for use in cementing a casing string in a well bore comprising a float collar connectable to the casing string, a cement plug engagable to the float collar, and a wiper plug engagable to the cement plug, each element utilizing inclined plane J-slots for engagability. When engaged, the J-slots disallow not only rotational movement between the elements, but also vertical movement between the elements.

Abstract: A method and apparths for filling and circulating drilling fluid in a wellbore during casing running operations is disclosed. A fill/circulate tool is placed partially within the upper end of a casing string so that fluid may be pumped into the interior of the casing string. The tool has a self energizing seal element which engages the interior wall of the casing string when the tool is fully lowered therein, said seal element being energized by the pressure of the fluid in the casing string so that fluid pumped into the casing string through the tool is circulated through the casing string and explled from the lower end of the casing string.

Abstract: There is disclosed an assembly of parts for use in cementing a casing string in a well bore comprising a float collar connectible as part of the string, a cement plug lowerable onto the collar, and a wiper plug lowerable onto the cement plug, the lower end of the cement plug having threads for limited make-up with threads on the upper end of the collar and the lower end of the wiper plug having threads for limited make-up with the cement plug, so as to limit rotation between them.

Abstract: There is disclosed a well packer for use in closing off the annulus between a casing string in which the packer is connected and a well bore into which the casing string is lowered. The packer includes a mandrel connected as part of the casing string, a sleeve of elastomeric material surrounding an intermediate portion of the mandrel and adapted to be inflated into engagement with the well bore, and relatively short, substantially rigid but flexible, overlapping strips disposed about only upper and lower portions of the sleeve for expansion therewith into engagement with the well bore.

Abstract: There is disclosed an oil or gas well having a well bore which penetrates a production zone and a casing string which is anchored in the well bore by a column of cement bonded to the casing string and well bore. Connectors are installed as part of the casing string to permit portions thereof opposite the production zone and above the production zone to be respectively contracted or extended in response to subsidence or other causes of axial loading of the string through the cement column.

Abstract: There is disclosed a through the tubing bridge plug adapted to close off a well bore beneath the lower end of a well tubing and which includes a tubular body connectable to a pipe string for lowering it through the well tubing, an elastomeric packing element surrounding the body, and upper and lower sets of thin, elongate metal strips surrounding the body respectively above and below the packing element. The upper strips are caused to move downwardly and the lower strips to move upwardly to cause their ends to slide over expander surfaces and outwardly against the well bore, on the body above and below the packing element, and the packing element is then inflated into engagement with the well bore intermediate the ends of the strip ends of the metal strips being forced outwardly against the well bore, and the packing element then being inflated to sealably engage the well bore intermediate the ends of the upper and lower metal strips.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for use in placing cement within the annulus between a casing string and a well bore in which the casing string is suspended, such apparatus including a stage collar connectible as part of the casing string and having a packing element mounted thereon and adapted to be inflated into engagement with the well bore, one or more side ports through which cement may be circulated into the annulus above the packer, tubular members or sleeves for opening and closing the ports following inflation of the packing element.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of an inflatable tool of the type comprising a mandrel adapted to be raised and lowered within a well bore and an inflatable element including a sleeve of elastomeric material surrounding a tubular section of the mandrel and anchored at its ends to upper and lower heads which are disposed about the tubular section and relatively movable longitudinally toward and away from one another, upon inflation of the sleeve, as well as substantially flat reinforcing strips of sheet metal or other relatively rigid but flexible material which are arranged about the sleeve with their side edges in overlapping relation and with their ends anchored to the heads so that the strips flex outwardly with the sleeve to cause the inflatable element to engage a wall of the well bore.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for setting inflatable packers underwater. The packers are used to seal the annulus between an anchor pile driven into the sea bed through a leg of the platform or through a skirt sleeve attached to a leg adjacent the sea bed to allow grout to be pumped into the annulus to connect the pile to the leg or skirt sleeve. The packer is inflated by fluid displaced from a pressure chamber located adjacent the packer by fluid under pressure located adjacent the packer, such as the ambient water.

Abstract: An inflatable packer is disclosed that includes inner and outer sleeves of elastomeric material. An annular sheath of overlapping reinforcing members is located between the sleeves. Each reinforcing member is bent adjacent each end to move a section adjacent each end into a plane that is parallel to and spaced from the center section of the reinforcing member. The members are bent at an angle that allows the members to overlap with their ends in alignment. The reinforcing members are mechanically clamped between inner and outer anchor members that form the packer heads.

Abstract: A packer and a method of setting a packer is disclosed that combines features of both compression-set packing elements and inflatable packing elements. The packing element of the packer includes elongated strips of reinforcing material that are bent away from the packer mandrel, when the packer is set, to move an annular body of elastomeric material into sealing engagement with an adjacent surface. Upstream pressure is supplied to the space between the mandrel and the packing element to help hold the packing element in such sealing engagement.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for coupling engagement of misalignable flanges disposed around the exterior of first and second tubular ends which may be initially rotatably or pivotally disposed with respect to one another, each of the flanges having at least one passage which is exteriorly conically tapered in a first direction therethrough. In one embodiment, the apparatus provides plug means which are exteriorly conically tapered in the first direction for companion tapered receipt within each of the conically tapered passages, the relative taper of the passage and the plug means preventing the plug means from freely passing through the respective passage. The plug means has a bore which is disposed therethrough with the center line of the bore being eccentrically defined away from the planar axis of the plug means. Means are provided which are companionly receivable through the bore of the plug means for securement with the plug means and for engaging the flanges.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wiper, grouting seal and diaphragm apparatus for use on a tubular sleeve of a structure wherein the sleeve receives a piling. The apparatus has a housing with a bore therethrough. A manifold seal extends interior of and circumferentially around the housing. Fluid receiving means are provided for communication with a pressure conduit extendable from the manifold to the structure. Fluid ejecting means are defined on the manifold for selective discharge of fluid injectable through the conduit and the manifold and interior of the sleeve. A longitudinally shiftable cage member initially defines the interior wall of the housing and has means engageable by the lower end of the piling for shifting of the cage member whereby the manifold is urged away from the housing and against the piling. Diaphragm seal means are initially held by the housing and across the bore, the seal means being rupturable by the cage member upon shifting of the cage member by the piling.

Abstract: The invention incorporates a combination tubular member seal enclosing and enclosure releasing apparatus having an elastomeric sealing means with interior and exterior edges. The exterior edge is disposed around one end of the tubular member for sealing across the interior of the tubular member. First and second flange members define a housing for securement of the interior edge of the sealing means and are circumferentially extendible within the tubular member. First and second seal extending means have an end secured to a respective flange member. Piston means which are telescopically operational include a piston housing having a port therein and a piston element slidably disposed with respect to the housing. One of the seal extending means has another end thereof which is engaged with one of the piston housing and the piston element while the other of the seal extending means has another end thereof engaged with the other of the piston housing and the piston element.

Abstract: Inflatable seal means are provided on the jacket or sleeve of a supporting leg of an offshore structure to seal off therebetween and a piling which the jacket surrounds. The seal means is expanded inwardly to sealingly engage the piling and water is then expelled from the space between the jacket and the piling and grouting material is introduced into the space. Pressure is maintained on the grouting material in the space until it takes a permanent set.

Abstract: An inflatable seal is first effected adjacent the lower end of the annular space between a piling and a jacket of a supporting leg of an offshore structure and thereafter grouting material is inserted into the annular space between the jacket and the piling. After the seal has been effected, means trap inflating fluid in the seal adjacent the lower end of the annular space while grouting material is discharged into the space.

Abstract: An inflatable securing arrangement includes support means having a longitudinally extending annular elastomer body bonded thereto. An annular reinforcing is also secured to the support means and extends longitudinally thereof, and gripping means are carried by the support means, such gripping means extending longitudinally within the elastomer body whereby movement of the elastomer body by fluid pressure inwardly relative to the support means urges the gripping means inwardly relative to the support means for engaging an object positioned in the support means.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided having particular use in conjunction with setting of longitudinally extendable piling units for anchoring an offshore platform for subsequent use in drilling, production, completion and workover of a subterranean well. The apparatus is designed to be selectively movable within the base of the piling, thereafter the unit is manipulated to urge a plurality of circumferentially extending segmented units to expandably engage within the piling base and, preferably, be locked therewithin, such that the piling may be positionably engaged along longitudinally extending legs of the platform. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus provides an inflatable element which expands the segments for engagement with the bore of the piling. Alternatively, a modified apparatus utilizes a unit which is inserted within the base of the piling by means of a wire line or related apparatus.