Abstract: A system and method for excavating a formation according to which at least one vessel that is selectively pressurized from a first pressure to second pressure to inject a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors into a formation to remove at least a portion of the formation.

Abstract: A system and method according to which at least one vessel injects a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors into a formation to remove at least a portion of the formation.

Abstract: A system and method according to which at least one vessel injects a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors into a formation to remove at least a portion of the formation.

Abstract: A system and method according to which at least one vessel injects a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors into a formation to remove at least a portion of the formation.

Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors are introduced into at least one cavity formed in a body member and are discharging from the cavity so that the impactors remove a portion of the formation. The impactors are separated from at least a portion of the fluid, and are passed to a conduit so that the impactors accumulate in the conduit before being removed from the conduit.

Abstract: A system and method according to which at least one vessel injects a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors into a formation to remove at least a portion of the formation.

Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation according to which a fluid is introduced into a vessel to draw a plurality of impactors into the vessel to form a suspension. The suspension is discharged from the vessel and into another vessel, and fluid is introduced into the other vessel to draw the suspension into the other vessel. A suspension is formed in the other vessel that is discharged towards the formation to remove a portion of the formation.

Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a slurry of liquid and a plurality of impactors are introduced into at least one cavity formed in a body member and are discharged from the cavity so that the impactors remove a portion of the formation. The impactors are separated from at least a portion of the fluid and the materials removed from the formation, so that the impactors can be reused.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a well bore using solid material impactors comprising a nozzle and a cavity for accelerating the velocity of the solid material impactors and directing flow of the solid material impactors through the nozzle. The drill bit may also comprise a junk slot for return flow of the drilling fluid and solid material impactors.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus includes a mixing tube, a liquid inlet, a dry substance inlet and a recirculation mixture inlet. The mixing apparatus is utilized with a tub. A liquid and a dry substance may be mixed in the mixing tube and the mixture may be recirculated so that a liquid, a dry substance and a recirculated mixture may all be mixed in a mixing tube and subsequently utilized in a wellbore. The mixing apparatus includes a valve connected to the liquid inlet. The valve comprises a cylindrical outer housing, a jetting sleeve and a rotatable plug therein. The jetting sleeve is disposed in the outer housing and has a plurality of ports which will direct liquid downwardly and inwardly so that it mixes with the dry substance as the dry substance passes downwardly in the mixing tube. The plug may be rotated in the jetting sleeve to completely cover all the jetting ports to prevent flow into the mixing tube and is rotatable to an open position in which liquid may be allowed to flow through the jetting ports.

Abstract: A continuous multi-component slurrying process at an oil or gas well comprises flowing at least three separate streams of different essential materials directly into a predetermined mixing unit at the oil or gas well, wherein each of the essential materials is required to obtain a predetermined defining characteristic of the slurry.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention includes a mixing tube and inlets for conveying substances into the mixing tube such that the components intersect at a common point. A replaceable insert directs a dry component into the mixing tube. A liquid inlet bi-directionally sprays a liquid component between a wall of the mixing tube and the insert and toward the common point. A recirculation inlet directs a recirculated component toward the common point. Mixing is enhanced by a flow deflector and a flow interceptor which converge and turn the substances. The method of the present invention includes conveying substances into a mixing tube and intersecting the substances at a common point in the mixing tube to form a mixture.

Abstract: A continuous multi-component slurrying process at an oil or gas well comprises flowing at least three separate streams of different essential materials directly into a predetermined mixing unit at the oil or gas well, wherein each of the essential materials is required to obtain a predetermined defining characteristic of the slurry.

Abstract: A method of controlling a continuous multi-component slurrying process at an oil or gas well comprises continuously flowing substances for creating a slurry in response to a slurry flow rate factor and continuously flowing another substance for the slurry in response to a flow rate of at least a predetermined one of the other substances or the slurry itself. The method can include density control, slurry (tub) level control, and a combination of such controls. The method can operate in either closed loop or open loop manner, and control can be effected with either of two types of control signals depending on whether the controlled device is an integrating or non-integrating type. The method can also provide for bumpless transition between manual and automatic control.

Abstract: A system and method for mixing cement slurries at an oil or gas well site and for pumping such slurries into the well provide automatic combined and interrelated density and pumping control and selectable sequential control of predetermined mixing and pumping stages. Specific conditions automatically controlled include water rate, water pressure, slurry density, recirculating slurry pressure and downhole pump rate. Each of these conditions is the subject of a respective control loop that operates independently, but under control from a central controller. The central controller generates interrelated inlet water, inlet dry cement and outlet downhole pumping control signals responsive to operated-entered desired operating characteristics.