Abstract: A downhole tool, comprising one or more separate packers and sliding sleeves in the preferred embodiment, is actuable from a nonelectrical signal transmitted from the surface to the tool. The signal is received at the tool by a control system located within the tool. The control system operates in conjunction with a power supply in the tool to accomplish tool actuation. In the preferred embodiment, the valve member is temporarily retained in a sealing position, isolating pressure in one chamber from a different pressure in an adjacent chamber. The valve member or piston is temporarily retained by a high-strength fiber, such as Kevlar.RTM., in the preferred embodiment. The control system actuates the power source to heat a resistance heating wire, which causes failure in the fiber. Other mechanisms to trigger pressure-equalization can be used. The fiber can be cut by a cutter actuated electrically. The piston can be retained by solder which is melted electrically.

Abstract: In a retrievable packer adapted for service under high temperature and high pressure operating conditions, improved sealing is provided by a seal element prop surface which is radially offset with respect to the seal element support surface of the packer body mandrel. At least one seal element is supported on the elevated prop surface and is subjected to a radial squeeze in the set configuration, even though the lowermost outside seal element may be subject to longitudinal separation. The split level seal element support arrangement provides an annular pocket into which the seal elements can be retracted upon release and retrieval of the packer, thereby providing clearance for unobstructed retrieval. Upon release of the packer, a retainer collar is shifted away from a metal backup shoe, thereby providing an annular pocket into which the metal backup shoe is deflected, so that it does not obstruct the drift clearance as the packer is retrieved.

Abstract: An improved catcher sub has a longitudinal flow passage and a collet slidably mounted around the flow passage in the sub housing. The collet has a number of fingers and each finger has a resilient seal segment. The collet is held and supported in up fingers contracted position where the resilient seal segments seal on each other forming an annular seal ring smaller than the longitudinal flow passage. When high pressure is applied on a ball sealingly engaging the annular seal ring, the collet is supported in the up contracted position while the pressure moves an annular piston to a position which permits the collet to be moved to a lower expanded position larger than the longitudinal flow passage by a later application of lower pressure on the ball and the ball to be expended downwardly through the collet and sub flow passage.

Abstract: A straight bore metal-to-metal seal for connecting a tubing string to the mandrel of a well packer has a radially deflectable sealing member compressed between the internal bore surface of a tubular seal receptacle and the tubular body portion of a seal mandrel. The seal receptacle has a radially stepped sealing surface which is engaged by the deflectable sealing member in the operative sealing position. The inside bore of the deflectable sealing member is positively sealed against the outside surface of the seal mandrel by a pair of metal V-rings. A positive seal is also produced by engagement of the deflectable sealing member against the radially stepped bore of the seal receptacle. The deflectable sealing member is loaded by radial compression forces produced as a result of interference engagement of the deflectable sealing member against the radially stepped bore.

Abstract: A needle cover is disclosed which includes an elongate rigid tubular housing having a generally cylindrical central bore. A hollow frusto-conical shaped needle guide, which gradually reduces in diameter toward the distal end of the cover is located within the housing and effectively separates the fore into a proximal chamber and a cylindrical distal chamber. The distal chamber receives and retains a resilient plug which functions as a sealing member to seal the distal lumen opening of a needle cannula. The needle guide includes a distal opening which defines the boundary between the proximal and distal chambers. The guide functions to direct the tip of the needle through the proximal chamber and into the central portion of the resilient plug located in the distal chamber. During manufacture, the resilient plug functions to seal the tip of the needle cannula in a fluid tight seal. The needle cover housing, including the needle guide, is formed as an integral unit.

Abstract: A hydraulic release tubing seal divider for connecting lower and upper tubing strings together in a wellbore, including an inner housing assembly connected with one of the tubing string and middle and outer housing assemblies connected with the other of the tubing strings, including hydraulically operable locking structure carried by the middle and outer housing assemblies for locking the tubing strings together while the strings are run into a well, and for hydraulically releasing the middle and outer housing assemblies from the inner housing assembly to permit relative telescopic movement in the well between the upper and lower tubing strings at the tubing seal divider.

Abstract: A well packer adapted to be set and reset in a well bore without removal of the packer from the well bore including a packer mandrel adapted to be connected with a tubing string, an interlocking segment assembly on the packer mandrel for releasable connection with the mandrel, a drag spring assembly connected with the interlocking segment assembly for frictional engagement with a well bore wall, a locking slip assembly coupled with the drag spring assembly for locking the packer with the well bore wall, a seal element package assembly connected with slip assembly for sealing around the packer mandrel with the well bore wall, and a detent ring between the slip assembly and the seal element package permitting initial setting of the upper ends of the slips and preloading of the seal element package preliminary to final setting of the slips and expansion of the seal element package.

Abstract: A hydraulically set well packer. The setting sleeve is releasably locked to the packer mandrel to prevent premature setting while the packer is being lowered to its desired downhole location. The setting sleeve is unlocked by increasing fluid pressure within the packer mandrel above a preselected value. The length of the setting sleeve can be easily adjusted to accommodate additional piston units, changes in mandrel length, and various packing elements.

Abstract: A well packer for high pressure and temperature use having a tubular mandrel, upper and lower slip assemblies in spaced relation on the mandrel and a high temperature and pressure seal assembly including a plurality of annular elements of different elasticities mounted on the mandrel between the slip assemblies. The slip assemblies are arranged so that the lower slip assembly sets first and the upper slip assembly last while the upper slip assembly releases first and the lower slip assembly releases last when pulling the packer. The upper slip assembly includes a collet expander wedge and a support ring for holding the collet wedge expanded and releasing the collet wedge in running and pulling the packer. The packer is designed for temperatures at least as high as 600.degree. F. and pressures of at least 5000 psi.

Abstract: Well tubing coupling apparatus of the tubing seal divider type adapted for remote hydraulic release control to permit a tubing string including well tools above a packer to be removed for servicing from a lower tubing string extending through a packer while temporarily plugging the lower tubing string, such apparatus including a lower tubular housing section connectible on a lower tubing string and having a hydraulic lock and an upper housing section connectible on an upper tubing string adapted to mate with the lower housing section and having a latch operable with the hydraulic lock to releasably couple the housing sections together. Both annulus responsive and tubing responsive forms of the coupling apparatus are shown. An upper tubing string and the upper housing section is released from and reconnected with the lower tubing string and lower housing section by hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A device for the accurate measuring and for holding a discharge of liquid quantities is described as well as apparatus for charging liquid into the device from bulk storage. The measuring and dispensing device includes a liquid compartment, a dispensing nozzle, a carrying handle and a nozzle operating means adjacent the carrying handle. The compartment includes a vent which is open and closed by the nozzle operating means with a float included in the vent to shut the vent when filling the device and when liquid in the device reaches a chosen level. A coupling nozzle is engageable with the first-mentioned nozzle for charging liquid into the device and includes a stem and a sliding sleeve which cooperate with the first nozzle to allow liquid flow from the coupling nozzle through the first nozzle and into the compartment for charging the compartment.