Abstract: Assemblies and methods are provided for selectively opening and closing a side port in a flow conductor for a well. In general, the sliding side door assembly includes a housing and a door subassembly. The housing has a generally tubular shape defining a fluid conducting interior and central axis. A side port is formed in the housing, and a ball seat is positioned in the housing adjacent the side port. The door subassembly is operatively engaged with the housing adjacent the side port and includes a translating sleeve positioned within the housing and a ball sealing member adapted to engage the ball seat of the housing. A ball port is formed through the ball sealing member. A cooperatively engaged helical track and follower member are provided for translating a driving movement along the central axis through the translating sleeve to a rotational movement of the ball sealing member about the central axis. Driving movements acting on the door subassembly can be provided by a standard shifting tool.

Abstract: Pumpdown toolstring for performing operations requiring application of power downhole in horizontal or high-deviation oil or gas wells, comprising an elongate toolstring element (30), locomotive devices (31, 32A) on said toolstring element, with at least one locomotive device (32) provided at a trailing or top end of the toolstring element (30). The toolstring element (30) is tubular and has a closed leading or bottom end, whereas it is open at the opposite, top end. The leading locomotive device, (31) adapted to pull the toolstring element during pumping down, has a seal for co-operation with a seat at a no-go or nipple assembly at the bottom end of a tubing from which an extension tubing extend into the horizontal or high-deviation well. The leading locomotive device (31) sealingly surrounds the toolstring element (30) and allows sliding of the toolstring element there-through when engaging the seat.

Abstract: A subsurface slide valve and flapper valve controlled by a single actuator responsive to control pressure from the surface. A shifting tool landable in a landing nipple and in response to pressure in the tubing first extending dogs to contact the actuator and then shifting the dogs downwardly to move the actuator to valve open position.

Abstract: A lift gas safety valve has a compound valve closure assembly which will close automatically upon loss of hydraulic control pressure, and which can be reopened and maintained in the open position by the application of hydraulic control pressure at a relatively low pressure level. A primary valve closure member is slideably mounted onto a valve stem for movement to a seated position on the valve body in which a lift gas flow passage is closed, to an unseated position in which the lift gas flow passage is opened. A bypass flow passage is formed between the stem and the primary valve closure member for establishing fluid flow communication between the lift gas flow passage and the outlet port when the primary valve closure member is in its seated position. The auxiliary valve closure member is mounted onto the valve stem for movement from a seated position on the primary valve closure member to an unseated position for selectively closing and opening the bypass flow passage.

Abstract: A well safety system with two surface controlled subsurface safety valves. The invention allows various alternatives for controlling injection into and production from a gas storage well. For maximum production, gas can flow from the underground storage reservoir to the well surface via a tubing string and the annulus between the tubing and well casing. The invention provides at least two alternative flow paths for injecting kill fluids into the well bore.

Abstract: A surface controlled subsurface safety valve for use in a well tubing string including a valve closure member, an operator tube for opening the valve closure member and holding it open, an annular piston on the operator tube operative in response to control fluid pressure conducted from the well surface, a spring biasing the operator tube to a position at which the valve is closed, and a lockout sleeve mounted in tandem with the operator tube for movement simultaneously with the operator tube to a position at which the lockout sleeve holds the valve open. The operator tube and lockout sleeve are engageable by a shifting tool to operate the operator tube and lockout sleeve simultaneously. The lockout sleeve can be returned to an inoperative position by control fluid pressure moving the operator tube to a position which opens the valve closure member. The safety valve is also operable by a modified shifting tool engaging the operator tube.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tool for setting or retrieving well equipment. One section of the tool is movable between a running position and an actuated position for setting or retrieving well equipment. Actuation of that one tool section is controlled by another section which engages a single shoulder in the tubing and moves between multiple positions. Prior to actuation, the rotational orientation of the tool in the well is fixed. This abstract of the disclosure is neither intended to define the scope of the invention, which, of course, is measured by the claims nor is it intended to limit the invention in any way.

Abstract: A drill string safety and kill valve for a string of drill pipe used for drilling wells including a tubular valve body connectible in the drill pipe, a ball valve in the body mounted to rotate between open and closed positions for controlling flow through the body, a longitudinally movable tubular ball valve operator in the body connected with the ball valve, a spring biased flapper valve in the ball valve operator mounted to permit downward flow and to close responsive to upward flow for raising the ball valve operator to close the ball valve, a side port provided in the side of the ball valve positioned upwardly when the ball valve is closed for pumping drilling fluids downwardly into the bore of the closed ball valve, and a spring biased lower ball valve seat moved downwardly by downward flow of drilling fluid when the ball valve is closed to allow pumping into a well for killing the well after valve closure.

Abstract: A method of recovering viscous petroleum from tar sand formations utilizing a deviated steam injection well with pump-down (through the flow line) completion. The steam injection well may use side pocket mandrels with constant flow or orifice regulators to control steam injection rates into the surrounding viscous petroleum formation. A plurality of pumping wells are situated along the drill path of the steam injection well and substantially above injection points for recovery of the fluidized petroleum.

Abstract: A tool for pressure testing flow conductors. The tool can engage the inside wall of a flow conductor at any location and form a pressure barrier to allow hydrostatic testing of the flow conductor on one side of the tool for leaks. The tool can be used to test either vertical or horizontal flow conductors. The tool is particularly adapted for use with pumpdown or through the flowline (TFL) servicing equipment for hydrostatic testing of tubing in wells. The tool is initially inserted into the flow conductor in a retracted condition. The tool can be moved through the conductor as desired until activated at a selected position within the flow conductor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pumpdown tool for a well, the tool including a housing having a circumferentially extending seal on its outer surface and having a circumferential centralizer to protect the seal while the tool is being run in the well tubing.