Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for use in controlling flow through a tubing string suspended and packed off within a well bore and within the annulus between the string and well bore above and below the packer by tools adapted to be lowered into and raised from landed positions within a pocket to one side of a bore through a mandrel connected as part of the tubing string for releasing the packer to be set and opening a bypass therein and for opening and closing a flapper in the bore, as well as the bypass responsive to the supply of control fluid from a remote source to the pocket.

Abstract: A pull release apparatus is provided for use in a wellbore when coupled between a fluid-actuated wellbore tool and a retrievable source of pressurized fluid. The pull release, fluid-actuated tool, and source of pressurized fluid are positioned in the wellbore by a positioning member, such as a wireline or a work string. A central fluid conduit is defined within the pull release device, and is adapted for receiving pressurized fluid from the source of pressurized fluid, and for directing the pressurized fluid to the fluid-actuated wellbore tool. A first latch is provided, which is operable in latched and unlatched positions. The first latch mechanically links the source of pressurized fluid to the fluid-actuated wellbore tool which unlatches the source of pressurized fluid from the fluid-actuated wellbore tool in response to axial force of a first preselected magnitude. A lock is provided which is operable in locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: A chemical injection assembly and apparatus for treating production fluids in a bore-hole. The system includes a fixed packer having an opening passing therethrough for receiving a production tubing string, a closable orifice in the packer that is actuated by the tubing string and appropriate seals for preventing fluid transfer within the packer. When the tubing string is inserted into the packer, a collar on the tubing string engages a shiftable sleeve that places an orifice in the shifting sleeve in alignment with the orifice in the injection sleeve so that chemical treatment fluid from the surface can be forced down the bore-hole casing through the closable orifice in the packer and into the production fluid at the perforations near the producing formations. The treated fluids then enter the tail pipe of the packer and up the tubing string to the surface. When it is desired to plug the well, a plug is inserted into the tail pipe and the tubing string is withdrawn.

Abstract: A single bore packer is modified by a dual flow seal unit for gas lift completion. This permits the operator to inject lift gas into the upper casing annulus at the well head, bypass the hanger packer and conduct the lift gas into the suspended production tubing below the fluid level. The dual flow seal assembly is sealed internally against the packer mandrel, with the lift gas being conducted through a bypass flow passage between the seal mandrel and the packer mandrel, and being discharged into the lower casing annulus through a discharge port formed through the packer mandrel below the packer seal element package. The hang weight load of the production tubing is decoupled with respect to the packer seal elements by a set of internal ratchet slips which transfers the hang weight load from the packer mandrel onto the anchor slips and well casing at a location below the seal element package.

Abstract: A long stroke packer for use in a well bore. The packer has a housing assembly with an operating mandrel assembly disposed therein. A packer mandrel assembly is slidably connected to the housing assembly. During operation, the operating mandrel assembly may be actuated to cycle a tool below the packer without setting the packer. After the operating mandrel assembly and housing assembly are moved a predetemined amount with respect to the packer mandrel assembly, the housing assembly is brought into contact with a sliding shoe on the packer mandrel assembly which in turn engages and deforms packer elements into sealing engagement with the well bore.

Abstract: A side entry sub logging system has features for preventing a blowout should a kick in the casing annulus occur. A packer is mounted to the side entry sub below the sidewall passage. The packer has an elastomeric element for expansion of the element into sealing engagement with the casing. An actuating assembly is mounted in the sub for actuating the packer into sealing engagement with the casing. The actuating assembly acts to set slips in response to hydraulic pressure applied to the interior of the drill pipe from the surface. Then the drill pipe is picked up to move the elastomeric element into compression against the casing. The packer is released by removing the hydraulic pressure and lowering the drill pipe.

Abstract: In the representative embodiment of the invention described herein, formation-treating apparatus is adapted to be dependently supported in a well bore from a pipe string and which includes upper and lower telescoped body members adapted to be selectively moved between upper and lower operating positions for controlling the injection of treating fluids into one or more earth formations traversed by the well bore. A pair of spaced packer elements are mounted on the lower member above and below a discharge port and cooperatively arranged for isolating a well bore interval that is to be treated by discharging one or more treating fluids in the pipe string from the port. To control the injection of treating fluids, retrievable valve means are also cooperatively arranged within the body members and adapted to be alternatively seated on upper and lower full-bore valve seats in the upper and lower bodies in response to movement of the bodies to their operating positions.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a retrievable gravel packer for circulation and squeeze type gravel packing. The gravel packer includes a compression-set packer element, a J-slot assembly to releasably maintain the gravel packer in an unset mode, a ratchet assembly to releasably lock the gravel packer in a set mode, an intake passage to receive fluid from a tubing string, a return passage to receive fluid from a gravel screen below the gravel packer, a circulation passage extending from the exterior of the gravel packer to intake passage, a closeable assembly crossover to receive fluid from the return passage, relief ports between the intake passage and the return passage, a first valve for closing said intake passage from said circulation passage, a second valve for opening communication through said relief ports, a check ball at the lower end of the gravel packer, and a check ball release assembly for selectively releasing the check ball from the gravel packer.

Abstract: A packer portion and actuating portion for a tubing conveyed well perforating system used for the completion of formations for both testing and production which system may be actuated either mechanically by a sinker drop bar or hydraulically by pressure in the annulus between the well bore and tubing string above the packer portion located in tubing string.

Abstract: An injection tool for use in injecting fluids through perforations in the well bore of an oil or gas well is mechanically set and mechanically releasable. Fluid can be injected between upper and lower packing elements into a selected perforation. The upper and lower packing elements on opposite sides of the perforation into which fluid is injected are retractable, and any pressure differential across the upper packing elements or across the lower packing elements can be separately equalized.

Abstract: A retrievable well tool for use in a subterranean well conduit utilizes plural valving elements to establish a fluid bypass around at least one annular elastomeric sealing element in response to movement of a control mandrel. The annular elastomeric sealing element actuates slips carried on the tool to engage the conduit wall in response to a differential pressure across the sealing element. The fluid bypass established by movement of the control mandrel is accomplished prior to an effective disengaging movement being imparted to the actuated slip elements.

Abstract: An anchor for a tubing string for use with a sucker rod pump is provided which defines a large fluid passage area for the passage of treatment fluids through the anchor. The anchor comprises a tubular body or body extensions having two vertically spaced sets of radial ports. A flow sleeve is positioned in straddling relationship across the bore of the anchor body and has its external surface recessed to provide an annular passage connecting the two sets of radial flow ports. The upper set of flow ports are connected to a tubular flow line extending to the well surface while the lower set of flow ports are connected tubular flow line extending to the production zone or to the location where corrosion, scale or other treatment becomes necessary. The flow sleeve is run into the well with a sucker rod pump on the sucker rod string and can be detachably latched to the tubing string in overlapping sealing relationship to the radial flow ports.

Abstract: An improved seal assembly is shown for use in an oil well packer of the type having a packer body having a longitudinal bore, a packer carried on the body for sealing off the annular space between the body and a surrounding well conduit, a mandrel slidably disposed within the body longitudinal bore, the mandrel being spaced-apart from the body to define a fluid flow path between the mandrel exterior and the interior of the body, and wherein the mandrel is slidable between an open, running-in position in which the fluid flow path communicates the annular space above the packer with the mandrel longitudinal passageway and a closed, set-position in which the fluid flow path is sealed off. The improvement comprises a face seal housing as a part of the mandrel which has a weight loading shoulder and a deformable seal portion. The weight loading shoulder is engageable with the packer body when the mandrel is in the closed, set position to thereby support the weight of the mandrel from the body.

Abstract: An equalizing annulus valve for use in controlling flow in the annulus between two tubular conduits in a subterranean oil or gas well has a control pressure responsive main valve piston and a booster piston for closing radial flow ports. The booster piston is spring loaded relative to the main piston and excess annulus pressure below the valve acts on the booster piston rather than on the main piston. The main piston can be partially opened before abutting the booster piston to permit pressure below the valve to meter through an equalizing port in the main piston and through the main flow ports. When the pressure is equalized, the main piston and booster piston can be shifted to a fully open position. An auxiliary piston responsive to an increase in annulus pressure can also be used to shift the main piston.

Abstract: A hanger and valve assembly which can be employed as a safety valve assembly to close both the production tubing and the tubing-casing annulus in a subterranean well is disclosed. The assembly includes a hydraulically activated, mechanically locked hanger which has slip anchoring members engaging the casing or, exterior conduit for preventing movement in both longitudinal directions. The hanger also has annular packing elements to seal the tubing-casing annulus. An annulus safety valve member employing a longitudinally recessed resilient seal member can be mounted in a landing nipple mounted in the hanger. By recessing the seal it is protected from the turbulent flow through the valve. A second shuttle located in the landing nipple is employed in conjunction with the first annulus safety valve to permit flow in one direction while metering flow in the opposite direction.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for cementing an oil well borehole from a floating vessel. A sliding sleeve cementing valve is adapted to be interconnected with a casing string. A drill string to be lowered into the casing string includes a drill pipe, an opening positioner connected to the drill pipe for opening the cementing valve, an anchor connected to the opening positioner to provide sufficient resistance between the drill string and casing string to operate a motion compensator on the floating vessel, and an isolation packer connected to the anchor.

Abstract: A flow control and safety valve for oil wells where control of flow in the casing annulus is accomplished with a wire-line retrievable device. A basic valve structure provides for control of flow in the casing annulus by means of a control line to the surface. A number of additional functions can be added to the basic valve structure to accomplish control of flow through the tubing string and can accommodate control of dual and triple zone recovery. These additional functions are accomplished by landing additional wire-line retrievable valves within the basic structure whereby independent control of the annulus and tubing string flows is possible, at the same time affording increased flow diameters for a greater volume of production in a given casing size.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a bypass valve in a well tool such as a packer has a tubular seal carrier with a pair of annular seal elements mounted in a longitudinally spaced relation about the outer periphery thereof. The annular seal elements are anchored in separate grooves around the exterior of the seal carrier such that they are prevented from being dislodged by fluid pressure. Another seal can be provided around the interior of the seal carrier to seal between this seal carrier and a well tool or packer mandrel.

Abstract: A seal assembly for a bypass valve in a well packer has a tubular seal carrier with a pair of annular seal elements mounted in a longitudinally spaced relation about the inner periphery thereof. The annular seal elements are anchored in separate inwardly flared grooves around the interior of the seal carrier in such that they are prevented from being dislodged by fluid pressure. An outer seal element is mounted around the outer periphery of the seal carrier to seal between the seal carrier and a bypass valve housing of the well packer.

Abstract: A well packer and service seal unit for setting the packer in a well bore and depositing a gravel or slurry pack within the well bore. The packer includes a tubular mandrel connectible with a tubing handling string and adapted to support a gravel pack sand screen below the packer, a setting sleeve, top slips, bottom slips, internal slips, and seal elements supported on the mandrel for holding the packer in a well casing against a pressure differential in either direction and sealing with the casing to isolate a producing zone in the well bore. The service seal unit is insertable into the packer for supporting the packer as it is lowered in the well bore, setting the packer, and directing fluid flow to place the gravel or slurry pack in the well bore around the screen below the packer seal elements.

Abstract: A collar lock and seal assembly for releasably locking a well tool such as a pump in a well flow conductor, such as casing or tubing, and sealing with the flow conductor around the assembly to restrict flow to a path into the pump. The assembly has an annular support surface engageable with a no-go shoulder in the flow conductor, radially movable locking keys for expansion into a locking recess in the flow conductor above the no-go shoulder, a longitudinally operable bypass valve, and interference fit annular seals. First shear pins hold the assembly unlocked while running in and second shear pins are activated to lock the assembly at operating position. The seals and connected parts are coupled to resist rotation by the pump when locked in a well casing. In operation the assembly is coupled in a tool train including an electric well pump, valves, and related structure. The tool train is lowered on a cable in a well casing until the flow conductor no-go shoulder is engaged.

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: The method and apparatus for drilling a well bore and setting a liner therein in which the drill string with a bit and underreamers thereon also includes a liner supported thereon which has a gripping assembly with two sets of gripping elements and a pair of external tapers on the liner each of which coacts with one of the sets of gripping elements, one of which wedges one set of gripping elements into set position responsive to the liner weight and the other of which is spaced from said one a sufficient distance that said one is removed from wedging engagement when said other wedges the other set of gripping elements into set position responsive to upward forces on said liner, and a normally closed bypass around the sealing means on the liner which may be opened responsive to manipulation of the liner to allow cementing of the liner in position within the well bore and the steps of lowering the liner on the drill string as the well bore is being formed, setting the liner, gripping assembly and sealing means,

Abstract: Disclosed is pressure responsive holding apparatus for maintaining a first cylindrical element fixed against fluid pressure induced longitudinal movement relative to a second element generally circumscribing the first element. The apparatus includes a gripping device, carried by the first element, and reponsive to fluid pressure between the two elements by moving into anchoring engagement with the second element to hold the first element fixed relative to the second element with force which increases as the fluid pressure increases. In the embodiment shown, the holding apparatus is used to retain a bypass passage through a well packer set in a well conduit closed by preventing fluid pressure from raising a mandrel assembly within the packer body to open the bypass passage.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retrievable, weight set well packer which may be tightened in set configuration by rotation of the tubing string, and which may be released from set configuration by longitudinal movement of the tubing string. Locking means maintain the packer set when the tubing string is raised slightly to open a bypass between the tubing string and the set packer. Continued raising of the tubing string releases the locking means to permit the packer to be retrieved. Dual opposed spreader cones keep the packer set against well pressure differentials acting from either above or below the packer. Pressure responsive means are also employed to increase the forces anchoring the tubing string against movement to open the bypass as differential well pressures tend to so move the tubing string.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling flow from a producing zone through a tubing string and through a bypass into the annulus between the tubing string and casing, the apparatus including a production flow tube and bypass tube extending through a packer which is set by fluid pressure supplied through the tubing string. A safety valve and sleeve assembly is positioned by wire line after the packer is set, the sleeve including a bypass control valve. The tubing string may carry a pump and electric motor and the bypass may receive encased conductors for the motor. The safety valve sleeve assembly includes fluid pressure responsive means for holding the safety valve in its open position, and a small pressure fluid line extends to the well mouth. Drop in pressure in the fluid line, either by control at the well mouth or by damage to the pressure fluid line, permits a spring to close the safety valve against upward flow of well fluid, and also to close the bypass control valve.

Abstract: A blowout preventer test plug for use in pressure testing a blowout preventer, the plug comprising a first body having fluid passage ports positioned therethrough and a second body having fluid passage ports positioned therethrough positioned on a tubular extension below the first body so that when the first and second bodies are moved into mating contact the fluid passage ports are closed and a seal is urged into sealing contact between a tubular extension of the first body and the inner diameter of a wellhead bore in which the plug is positioned.

Abstract: Disclosed is a retrievable, weight set well packer which is set and released by longitudinal movement of the tubing string. Locking means are provided for keeping the packer set when the tubing is raised slightly to open a bypass between the tubing and set packer. Continued raising of the tubing releases the lock means to permit the packer to be retrieved. Dual opposed spreader cones keep the packer set against pressure induced forces in either direction. Differential sealing areas are also employed to prevent such forces from opening the bypass.