Abstract: The pipeline packer described herein typically includes a main body adapted for propulsion through the pipeline is an axial direction. A brake shoe support assembly is located on the main body and a plurality of circumferentially spaced brake shoes capable of gripping the interior wall of the pipeline are mounted to the support assembly. Fluid pressure activated devices are associated with the brake shoe support assembly for urging the brake shoes radially outwardly into gripping engagement with the pipeline to secure the main body in a desired location in the pipeline against the pipeline pressure forces acting thereon. A pair of annular wedges are also mounted to the main body for axial movement toward each other as the fluid pressure activated device acts on the brake shoe support assembly to urge the brake shoes into gripping engagement.

Abstract: A hydraulic packer with seals and slips is actuated by first and second cylinders which move in a first direction to actuate the seals or the slips into setting position with primary and secondary pistons carried within the cylindrical members and tandemly arranged for movement in a second direction to activate the other of the seals and slips. The pistons are selectively secured against longitudinal movement relative to the housing and to each other and the primary piston is released from the housing before release of the secondary piston.

Abstract: There are disclosed several embodiments of an inflatable tool of the type comprising a mandrel adapted to be raised and lowered within a well bore and an inflatable element including a sleeve of elastomeric material surrounding a tubular section of the mandrel and anchored at its ends to upper and lower heads which are disposed about the tubular section and relatively movable longitudinally toward and away from one another, upon inflation of the sleeve, as well as substantially flat reinforcing strips of sheet metal or other relatively rigid but flexible material which are arranged about the sleeve with their side edges in overlapping relation and with their ends anchored to the heads so that the strips flex outwardly with the sleeve to cause the inflatable element to engage a wall of the well bore.

Abstract: The pipeline packer described herein typically includes a main body adapted for propulsion through the pipeline in an axial direction. A brake shoe support assembly is located on the main body and a plurality of circumferentially spaced brake shoes capable of gripping the interior wall of the pipeline are mounted to the support assembly. Fluid pressure activated means are associated with the brake shoe support assembly for urging the brake shoes radially outwardly into gripping engagement with the pipeline to secure the main body in a desired location in the pipeline against the pipeline pressure forces acting thereon. A pair of annular wedging means are also mounted to the main body for axial movement toward each other as the fluid pressure activated means acts on the brake shoe support assembly to urge the brake shoes into gripping engagement.

Abstract: A hydraulic setting tool for packers. The setting tool comprises a case with a ball valve therein, a bypass passageway for bypassing around the ball valve when the ball valve is in a closed position, a fill valve for closing the bypass passageway when desired, and a packer setting sleeve for hydraulically setting a packer attached below the setting tool. The fill valve is preferably characterized by a sliding sleeve valve annularly disposed on a stationary mandrel in the case and is movable in response to a pressure in the tool. The packer setting sleeve is attached to a setting piston which may be actuated in response to a first differential pressure between the tool string and a well annulus. A slidable mandrel is provided in operative association with the ball valve and is movable in response to a second differential pressure between the well annulus and the tool string.

Abstract: An annular safety assembly comprising, between an upper cylindrical body and a lower cylindrical body, through which connecting tubes of production tubes pass, a packer and a low-bulk anchorage system consisting of a radial spacing ring, a resilient anchorage ring split along a generatrix and provided with peripheral anchorage teeth and a thrust ring which can be moved upwardly by thruster-plungers extending from the lower cylindrical body to apply the anchorage ring to the casing, and a safety valve arranged separately from the connecting tubes, which extend between the said cylindrical bodies, and below the lower cylindrical body.

Abstract: Remote control of hydraulically set packers is achieved by incorporating a hydraulic energy accumulator into a well tubing string. A hydraulic line connecting the accumulator with the packers setting mechanism is blocked by a shearable plug connected between the accumulator body and a movable control sleeve. In one embodiment, upward force exerted on the cable of a shifting tool latched into the control sleeve causes the plug to shear and pressure from the accumulator to set the packers. In another, the plug is sheared by movement of the sleeve through contact with a pressure differential sensitive piston that shifts in response to an increase in annular pressure.

Abstract: A horizontal earth boring machine is disclosed of the type in which a carriage supports an engine rotatably connected to an auger, and a push ring. The carriage is movable along a set of tracks between a forward position and a rearward position. Hydraulic means power the carriage between its forward and rearward positions. In one version, the auger and push ring are connected by a universal joint to the engine so that a pair of hydraulic cylinders can raise the push ring and planetary gear reduction unit to an adjusted position above the track in order to accommodate any vertical misalignment of the push ring as it is pushing pipe through a horizontal hole drilled by the auger.In another version, the carriage is pivotal right to left to accommodate misalignment of the push ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating, isolating and treating a section of a formation located downhole in a well bore by analyzing the formation for location of the section to be treated and isolating the section to be treated, and subjecting the isolated section with treating fluid with a single-type or straddle-type expandable packer assembly. The treating fluid is fed downhole to the packer assembly through a flexible conduit which is paid-off from a reel located above ground from a mobile unit. The radially expandable packer elements of the straddle packer assembly are independently expanded and contracted with the application of positive expanding and contracting forces applied thereto through remotely located controls above ground. The packer assembly may also include a formation sensing unit for sensing downhole fluid-bearing strata while the packer assembly is being lowered.

Abstract: A valve system for use in inflating packers mounted on mandrels. The valve system uses one or more valves to permit, through the use of seals, the flow of fluid from the interior of a tubular mandrel to the interior of the inflatable packer when pressure applied in the mandrel exceeds at least a minimum pressure. The differential pressure across reciprocating seals is minimized through exposure of one or both sides, directly or indirectly, to the external pressure of the mandrel and packer, the exposure including the use of a check valve to permit flow from the exterior of the mandrel.

Abstract: The inflatable bladder means of the inflatable packer of the present invention includes an integral support means for bridging an annular space between the packer and a well casing, to increase the ability of the inflatable packer to withstand differential pressures within said annular space. The integral support means includes a plurality of reinforcing layers with each of said layers having a first end securely fastened to an annular anchor shoe means and a free second terminating between the anchor shoe means and a sliding shoe means. The integral support means further includes a second plurality of reinforcing layers which are radially alternated with the reinforcing layers of the first plurality. Each of the reinforcing layers of the second plurality includes a first free end terminating adjacent the anchor shoe means and a second free end terminating between the anchor shoe means and the sliding shoe means.

Abstract: The conventional expansion packer includes upper and lower elements joined to a central element with the junctions being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and with the upper and lower elements being formed of a resilient material such as rubber, having a higher durometer reading than the center section which is also made of a resilient material such as rubber. When compressed lengthwise to pack off a well drilling, severe strain occurs at the junctions of the center section and the end sections often causing tearing or fracturing. The present device is provided with junctions between the outer and center sections which taper or incline outwardly and towards the transverse axis of the center section. Furthermore, cylindrical flexible webs span the junctions axially and formed from a flexible material such as canvas or the like to preserve the integrity of the bonding between the sections.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in controlling a well during drilling operations is disclosed. The method includes actuating a downhole packer and providing for flow in a controlled manner past the packer. The apparatus includes a packer and means for controlling flow past the packer. This abstract is neither intended to define the scope of the invention which, of course, is defined in the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting in anyway.

Abstract: A valve system for use in inflating packers mounted on mandrels. The valve system uses one or more valves to permit, through the use of seals, the flow of fluid from the interior of a tubular mandrel to the interior of the inflatable packer when pressure applied in the mandrel exceeds at least a minimum pressure. The differential pressure across reciprocating seals is minimized through exposure of one or both sides, directly or indirectly, to the external pressure of the mandrel and packer, the exposure including the use of a check valve to permit flow from the exterior of the mandrel.