Abstract: There is disclosed a side pocket mandrel having upper and lower sections which are adapted to be connected to a well tubing string and which have lower and upper ends, respectively, which are coaxial with one another but with respect to the axes of their upper and lower ends, and an intermediate section adapted to be threadedly connected at its opposite ends to the lower and upper ends, respectively, of the upper and lower sections. The intermediate section is a one-piece body having a first bore formed therein which is substantially axially aligned with the lower and upper ends of the upper and lower sections, respectively, and a second bore formed therein which is parallel to the first bore and open on at least one end to provide a pocket into which a flow-controlling tool may be inserted or from which a flow-controlling tool may be removed.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dual well string, hydraulically operated, retrievable packer in which one mandrel connectible with one well string is releasably connected to the body means of the packer to permit it to be lowered therewith, and the other mandrel connectible to the other well string is vertically reciprocable with respect to the body means and thus with respect to the first-mentioned mandrel. The packing element and slip assembly of the packer are supported on and carried about a first body section, and a second body section includes an expander plate which is movable relative to the first body section to expand the packing element and the slip assembly into engagement with the well bore by means of a hydraulically actuated mechanism including pistons reciprocable within cylinders formed in the first body section and connected to the expander plate by means of a pair of rods.

Abstract: An apparatus for locking a tool into an annular groove formed on the interior of a subterranean well includes a segmented lock ring expandable into the groove by axially shiftable tapered keys wedged between segments of the ring. A latch collet between the keys and an associated running tool transmits an axial force from the running tool to the keys for wedging the keys between the segments of the segmented locking rings. After a predetermined axial travel of the running tool, the latch collet springs into the latch position, releasing the running tool and holding the keys in wedged position between the segments of the locking ring.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of a well tool having a slip assembly which is adapted to grippingly engage a cylindrical surface within a well conduit, and which includes a sleeve carried by a body adapted to be lowered into the well conduit so as to dispose a relatively high friction surface about one side of the sleeve opposite the cylindrical surface. The sleeve is split about its circumference and has end edges which extend at an angle with respect to the axis of the sleeve and are arranged to slide over one another as the sleeve is caused to move between expanded and contracted positions into and out of gripping engagement with the cylindrical surfaces.

Abstract: There are disclosed two embodiments of an apparatus for releasably latching the lower end of a tubing string within the bore of an upstanding well conduit by means of latching parts adapted to be received in latching position beneath a shoulder in the bore of the well conduit. The latching parts are locked in latching position by locking means which is engageable and releasable in response to manipulation of the well string. The latching parts are moved into unlatching position, upon release of the locking means, without necessity of sliding contact between the latching parts and the shoulder. There are also disclosed two embodiments of a seal ring clamped within a groove about a stinger portion of the apparatus for sealably engaging the bore of the well conduit.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved subterranean well safety valve wherein an annular actuator is moved downwardly by applied fluid pressure to effect the opening movement of a valve head of a valve relative to an annular valve seat. The initial downward movement of the actuator effects the displacement of a valve stem which extends through a restricted aperture in the valve head, moving a ball valve segment on the valve stem from a seat in the aperture, thus permitting the bleeding of any fluid pressure differential existing on the lower side of the valve head relative to the upper side and reducing the amount of force required to move the valve to its open position. Additionally, in one embodiment, a locking sleeve is slidably mounted within the shiftable annular actuator and such sleeve is operable by an auxiliary tool to effect the radial shifting of locking elements carried by the actuator into locking engagement with the valve housing to achieve a temporary locking of the valve in an open position.

Abstract: An automatic mechanism is provided for locking the piston rod of a multi-position fluid operated linear actuator in its existing extreme axial position and to maintain such piston rod's position against unbiased forces acting on the piston rod, in the event of a failure of, or significant decrease in, the fluid pressure applied on the piston. A lost motion connection is provided between a piston head and the piston rod opposite the locking mechanism, permitting a limited amount of axial movement of the piston head relative to the piston rod. A locking mechanism is provided to automatically engage the piston rod whenever it reaches one of its two extreme axial positions and to lock the piston rod at that position. The locking mechanism is releasable by a cam structure provided on the piston head. The initial movement of the piston head relative to the piston rod in a direction toward the other axial position of the piston rod effects the camming of the locking mechanism to an unlocked position.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for use in controlling flow within a well bore wherein each of two or more well tubing strings are suspended from the head of the well, and a mandrel connected as a part of each string, in a position spaced vertically of the other mandrel connected to the other string, has a side pocket to one side of its bore to receive a fluid pressure responsive, flow controlling tool which is run into and out of the pocket on a wireline, as well as a second bore which receives a section of the other string for vertical movement with respect to the one string.

Abstract: A valve apparatus for use in an intermittent gas lift subterranean well, having a reservoir with insufficient pressure for continuous delivery of produced fluids to the top surface of the well is disclosed. A valve apparatus carriable on a fluid transmission conduit has a flow passage for permitting produced fluids to flow through the transmission conduit from the reservoir. The valve is responsive to pressure to open the valve in the presence of a greater pressure exerted by the reservoir below the valve, and to close the valve in response to an even greater pressure generated by intermittent gas injection. A second flow passage selectively communicating with a radially extending port permits the flow of injected fluids from the tubing into the reservoir. A second valve, for selectively opening and closing the second flow passage, is spring biased in the closed position so that it remains closed when subjected to reservoir pressure, intermittent gas pressure, or their sum.

Abstract: There is disclosed an hydraulically set well packer wherein sleeves carried about a tubular member which is connected as part of a tubing string are adapted to be moved from axially extended to axially retracted position in order to expand packing and slip elements carried about one of the sleeves into engagement with the well bore in which the string is disposed. The packer also includes means which forms an atmospheric chamber including a piston on one of the sleeves, and a means for locking the sleeves in retracted position is disposed within such chamber. The slip assembly carried by the packer includes upper and lower bowls and upper and lower sets of interconnected slips which are carried by the bowls for sliding thereover between radially contracted and expanded positions in response to movement of the slip bowls toward and away from one another as the sleeves move between extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for controlling flow through both a tubing string suspended within a well bore and the space within the well bore about the tubing string. The illustrated embodiment of the apparatus comprises a body made up of a pair of mandrels and having a first bore therethrough adapted to be connected as part of the tubing string, whereby it may be lowered with the string into the well bore, a second bore therethrough parallel to the first bore for connection at its upper and lower ends with the space about the tubing string, and closure members mounted on the body for opening and closing the first and second bores. The body has first and second pockets therein each having one end opening to the first bore, a first tool is adapted to be run on a wire line through the tubing string and first bore into and out of the first pocket, and a second tool is adapted to be run on a wire line through the tubing string and first bore into and out of the second pocket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a two position flow valve disposed in a subterranean well, for example a safety valve located near the bottom of a subterranean well, through the application of cyclic pressure applied to fluid confined in the annulus between conduits, such as well casing and a production string. Valving apparatus is provided adjacent to the flow valve to be controlled which derives a pressure signal from the cyclic pressure of the fluid annulus which is effective to maintain the valve in one of its two positions so long as the cyclic pressure exists, but permits the valve to shift to its other position upon termination or significant reduction of the cyclic pressure. In this manner, reliable operation of a flow valve, such as a safety valve, may be achieved without the necessity of running any auxiliary hydraulic control lines to such valve.

Abstract: There is disclosed a subsurface well completion system comprising body means having a bore therethrough adapted to be connected in axial alignment with a tubing string suspended within a well bore, and a packer carried by the body means for closing off the annulus above a production zone of the well. Flow through each of the bore of the body means and a passageway within the body means which bypasses the packer to connect the annulus above and below the packer is controlled by safety valves having pressure responsive operators for moving such valves from normally closed to open positions by means of control fluid which is supplied thereto through a control line from a remote source. Upon loss of control fluid, as, for example, due to loss of the control line, the valves automatically close.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method are provided for effecting a sealed connection to an upstanding end of a tubular member in a subterranean well where the upstanding end of the tubular member is of irregular configuration at one end. A connecting housing is lowered by a tubing string over the upstanding end of the tubular member and is provided internally with an annular elastomeric seal element and two pairs of cooperating slip elements respectively disposed above and below the annular seal. The actuation of the slip elements to engage the housing with the tubular member is such that a predetermined amount of compression force can be applied to the annular seal to insure that the seal will resist the normal fluid pressures encountered in the well operation, but forces in excess of such predetermined limit are not applied to the seal by the manipulative movements of the reconnected tubing string.

Abstract: There is disclosed an hydraulically set well packer wherein sleeves carried about a tubular member which is connected as part of a tubing string are adapted to be moved from axially extended to axially retracted position in order to expand packing and slip elements carried about one of the sleeves into engagement with the well bore in which the string is disposed. The packer also includes means which forms an atmospheric chamber including a piston on one of the sleeves, and a means for locking the sleeves in retracted position is disposed within such chamber. The slip assembly carried by the packer includes upper and lower bowls and upper and lower sets of interconnected slips which are carried by the bowls for sliding thereover between radially contracted and expanded positions in response to movement of the slip bowls toward and away from one another as the sleeves move between extended and retracted positions.

Abstract: A fluid actuated pilot assembly employing a cantilevered spring member which is mounted to apply a force to a sensing piston in opposition to the force applied by the sensed fluid pressure. Upon the occurrence of the pressure of the fluid being sensed exceeding the force of the cantilevered spring member, the sensing piston is moved to initiate a control function.

Abstract: An actuator is provided which is respondable to control fluid pressure for moving an operative means of a valve between open and closed positions. Valve means are movable between open and closed positions and communicate between the accumulator means and the fluid passage means to permit fluid control pressure charging of the accumulator chamber when the valve is in the open position and for preventing discharge of fluid pressure within the accumulator chamber when the valve is in the closed position. The valve is responsive to pressure differential between the accumulator chamber and the fluid passage means.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for holding and selectively mechanically releasing at least one plug device utilized in cementing a subterranean well, preferably a subsea well. The apparatus is securable and carryable on a manipulatable conduit, such as a drill string, communicating with the well. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical housing control head means positioned within the housing, shiftable in response to manipulation of the conduit from closed position, whereby the plug device is prevented from passing through the control head means, to open position, whereby the plug device is permitted to pass through the control head means. Means are provided for transferring at least one of longitudinal and rotational manipulation of the conduit to the control head means to selectively shift the control head means between closed and open positions. Subsequent to shifting of the control head means to open position, the plug device may be pumped through the control head means.

Abstract: A bimodal, non-venting pneumatic relay senses the presence or absence of a first pressurized fluid and controls the supply or temination of a second pressurized fluid to associated equipment. The relay includes a segmented housing defining plural grooves which accept annular seals, a valve stem against which the seals seat and a reversible piston. The reversible piston can be selectively oriented and installed to provide either, manual rest operation to interrupt the supply of the second fluid if the first fluid supply is interrupted, the relay requiring manual resetting to reestablish supply of the second fluid, or automatic reset operation, wherein restoration of the second fluid supply is achieved automatically if the first fluid pressure is re-established subsequent to an interruption.

Abstract: There is disclosed a subsurface safety valve having a closure member which is yieldably urged to a position closing a bore through a mandrel connected as a part of a well tubing string, but adapted to be opened by means of a piston carried by a wire line retrievable tool landed within a pocket to one side of the bore and movable in a direction to open the closure member in response to the supply of control fluid to one side thereof from a remote source. The pocket and an intermediate portion of the bore are formed within a thickened wall of an inner body of the mandrel which fits within the inner diameter of an outer body of the mandrel whose opposite ends are connected to the tubing, so that the axis of the inner body is eccentric with respect to the axes of the bore and pocket, and means are provided for threadedly connecting the inner body in a fixed vertical position within the outer body.