Abstract: To deploy a capillary string through a wellhead to a downhole safety valve, a control port and a retention port are drilled in an adapter between a casing hanger and a gate valve or elsewhere. The capillary string is connected to a first port of a capillary hanger and installed through the wellhead. The capillary hanger is landed on a tubing hanger, and a side port on the capillary hanger communicates with the control port. Because the side port's location may not align with the control port, operators may need to measure how long the capillary hanger should be. A control line connects to the control port in the wellhead's side to communicate with the capillary line, and a retention rod inserts in the retention port to support the capillary hanger.

Abstract: To deploy a capillary string through a wellhead to a downhole safety valve, a control port and a retention port are drilled in an adapter between a casing hanger and a gate valve or elsewhere. The capillary string is connected to a first port of a capillary hanger and installed through the wellhead. The capillary hanger is landed on a tubing hanger, and a side port on the capillary hanger communicates with the control port. Because the side port's location may not align with the control port, operators may need to measure how long the capillary hanger should be. A control line connects to the control port in the wellhead's side to communicate with the capillary line, and a retention rod inserts in the retention port to support the capillary hanger.

Abstract: A safety valve apparatus has a housing with a bore and a projection in the bore. A flapper rotatably disposed on the housing is movable relative to the bore between opened and closed positions, and a packing element disposed on the housing is compressible to engage an inner conduit wall surrounding the housing. An upper sleeve disposed within the bore above the projection is hydraulically movable from a first position to a second position via the hydraulic communication with a port in the projection. The first sleeve when moved to the second position compresses the packing element. A piston disposed in the housing hydraulically communicates with the port and couples to a second sleeve disposed within the bore below the projection. The second sleeve conceals the piston and is hydraulically movable via the hydraulic communication of the port with the piston to open and close the flapper.

Abstract: A control system for a surface controlled sub-surface safety valve has first and second control lines. The first control line communicates control fluid to the sub-surface safety valve and preferably has a sump and in-line filters. Hydraulic pressure applied to the safety valve with this first control line can open the safety valve. The second control line also communicates control fluid to the sub-surface safety valve and preferably has a sump. A connecting valve is connected between the first and second control lines. The connecting valve allows control fluid to communicate from the first control line to the safety valve but prevents fluid communication from the second control line to the first control line. To open the valve, the second control line is exhausted to a reservoir. The dual control lines provide redundant control of the safety valve and can also be cycled to remove debris from the system.

Abstract: A fiber optic harness testing apparatus and method of forming termini for a harness testing apparatus, are provided. The apparatus can include an analyzer to determine an attenuation value between an electrical form transmit test signal and an electrical form return test signal to determine an attenuation across one or more optical fibers of a fiber-optic harness under test, and a plurality of electrical test leads each including a test lead connector adapted to mechanically and optically interface the electrically conductive test leads and the analyzer with the fiber-optic harness under test. Each test lead connector can include a set of test lead connector termini. Each test lead connector terminus can include an optically active element to optically interface with a corresponding fiber-optic harness connector terminus positioned in one or more of the connectors of the fiber-optic harness under test.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector uses an expanded light beam design in a universal receptacle that couples to a single style of plug on the ends of all harnesses. A single, mirror image socket design is used on bulkhead receptacles or box connections, with which two harness plugs mate. The receptacle uses optical lenses for expanding, collimating, and focusing the beam from the plug terminii. The optical lens may comprise rod lenses, ball lenses, or any other optical component that accomplishes the desired beam manipulation with the required diameters and lengths. The optical components are captured in a sleeve that holds the components, establishes the distance between the plug terminii and the lenses, and provides the alignment needed between the plug ferrules and the optical components.

Abstract: A fiber optic harness testing apparatus and method of forming termini for a harness testing apparatus, are provided. The apparatus can include an analyzer to determine an attenuation value between an electrical form transmit test signal and an electrical form return test signal to determine an attenuation across one or more optical fibers of a fiber-optic harness under test, and a plurality of electrical test leads each including a test lead connector adapted to mechanically and optically interface the electrically conductive test leads and the analyzer with the fiber-optic harness under test. Each test lead connector can include a set of test lead connector termini. Each test lead connector terminus can include an optically active element to optically interface with a corresponding fiber-optic harness connector terminus positioned in one or more of the connectors of the fiber-optic harness under test.

Abstract: A safety valve apparatus has a housing with a bore and a projection disposed in the bore. A locking dog disposed on the housing is movable to engage an inner conduit wall surrounding the housing, and a flapper rotatably disposed on the housing is movable between opened and closed positions. A first sleeve disposed within the bore above the projection is mechanically movable between locked positions. In one locked position, the sleeve moves the locking dog to engage the wall. A piston disposed in the housing hydraulically communicates with a port in the projection and couples to a second sleeve disposed within the bore below the projection. The second sleeve conceals the piston and is hydraulically movable to open and close the flapper.

Abstract: A safety valve apparatus has a housing with a bore and a projection in the bore. A flapper rotatably disposed on the housing is movable relative to the bore between opened and closed positions, and a packing element disposed on the housing is compressible to engage an inner conduit wall surrounding the housing. An upper sleeve disposed within the bore above the projection is hydraulically movable from a first position to a second position via the hydraulic communication with a port in the projection. The first sleeve when moved to the second position compresses the packing element. A piston disposed in the housing hydraulically communicates with the port and couples to a second sleeve disposed within the bore below the projection. The second sleeve conceals the piston and is hydraulically movable via the hydraulic communication of the port with the piston to open and close the flapper.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector uses an expanded light beam design in a universal receptacle that couples to a single style of plug on the ends of all harnesses. A single, mirror image socket design is used on bulkhead receptacles or box connections, with which two harness plugs mate. The receptacle uses optical lenses for expanding, collimating, and focusing the beam from the plug terminii. The optical lens may comprise rod lenses, ball lenses, or any other optical component that accomplishes the desired beam manipulation with the required diameters and lengths. The optical components are captured in a sleeve that holds the components, establishes the distance between the plug terminii and the lenses, and provides the alignment needed between the plug ferrules and the optical components.

Abstract: A method for splicing fiber optic cables to each other utilizes a splice tube of a glass material having a passage extending through it. A technician inserts ends of each optical fiber into the glass tube and abuts the ends of the fibers against each other. The technician applies a vacuum to the passage and heat to the glass tube. The heat softens the glass tube, and the reduced pressure in the passage draws the side walls of the glass tube tightly around the optical fiber ends.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for interpreting faults from a fault-enhanced 3-D seismic attribute cube. The method includes the steps of extracting faults from a 3-D seismic attribute cube, and of calculating a minimum path value for each voxel of the 3-D seismic attribute cube. A fault network skeleton is extracted from the 3-D seismic attribute cube by utilizing the minimum path values which correspond to voxels within the 3-D seismic attribute cube. The individual fault networks are then labeled, and a vector description of the fault network skeleton is created. The fault network skeleton is subdivided into individual fault patches wherein the individual fault patches are the smallest, non-intersecting, non-bifurcating patches that lie on only one geologic fault. The individual fault patches are then correlated into a representation of geologic faults.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for interpreting faults from a fault-enhanced 3-D seismic attribute cube. The method includes the steps of extracting faults from a 3-D seismic attribute cube, and of calculating a minimum path value for each voxel of the 3-D seismic attribute cube. A fault network skeleton is extracted from the 3-D seismic attribute cube by utilizing the minimum path values which correspond to voxels within the 3-D seismic attribute cube. The individual fault networks are then labeled, and a vector description of the fault network skeleton is created. The fault network skeleton is subdivided into individual fault patches wherein the individual fault patches are the smallest, non-intersecting, non-bifurcating patches that lie on only one geologic fault. The individual fault patches are then correlated into a representation of geologic faults.

Abstract: The present invention provides universal well cement additives and methods. The universal well cement additives improve the properties of a well cement slurry and are basically comprised of iron chloride, an alkali or alkaline-earth metal halide, an organic acid and a hydratable polymer.

Abstract: In a system for displaying geophysical information on a video screen, data representative of spaced subsurface strata are stored in a computer memory. The data are extracted, plane by plane, and data bytes representative of the planes are stored in pairs in memories in an image processor. The data representative of one plane is displayed and recorded on a medium such as video tape. An image is then formed using a large fraction of the value of the data representative of one plane and a smaller fraction of the data representative of the next plane, and that image is stored. Successive images are formed using decreasing fractional amounts of the data representative of the first plane and increasing fractional amounts of the data in the next plane. Each image is stored and displayed, the display presenting a sequence of images which appear to merge or dissolve smoothly from one to the next. The process is repeated through all stored strata.

Abstract: This invention relates to a roof-gravel removal apparatus including a trailer-mounted foldable frame which cooperates with the trailer on which it is mounted to define a drive-through archway when fully unfolded, said archway supporting a hopper or the like in position to deposit the contents thereof into the bed of a truck waiting therebeneath. Vertically adjustable stanchions disposed at the rear end of the trailer behind its wheels cooperate with the front section of the frame to produce the front legs of the arch when the latter is fully unfolded. The vacuuming apparatus and associated equipment are located on the trailer bed so as to cooperate therewith and counterbalance the foldable frame and hopper subassembly supported thereon. The midsection of the frame carrying the hopper is hingedly connected to the front section in offset relation such that a gap is left therebetween in folded position sized to receive and house the rear section.