Abstract: A packer for effecting steam treatment of a production formation of a subterranean well comprises an insulated mandrel which is slidably inserted within the bore of an inner tubular body assembly. An outer operative tubular assembly surrounds the inner assembly and mounts a plurality of drag blocks, upper and lower cone elements, a plurality of radially displaceable slips cooperating with the upper and lower cone elements, and an outer packing element fabricated by an assemblage of high temperature resistant, non-resilient seal elements formed primarily of graphite. An inner packing element is provided in the inner tubular body assembly, utilizing additional high temperature resistant, non-resilient seal elements formed primarily of graphite, which sealingly engages the insulated mandrel.

Abstract: A blow-out protector and fire control system is located in a rotating Kelly flange assembly and flange housing. The blow-out protector is based upon compressing a rubber Kelly bushing and seal positioned around a rotating Kelly by upward movement of a catch ring on the rotating Kelly. The catch ring forces a compressor ring positioned below the rubber bushing upward causing the rubber bushing to form a seal between the Kelly and the rotating Kelly flange assembly. The fire control system involves injecting an inert gas through an opening in the Kelly flange housing into the well casing, and removing high pressure fluid sequentially through the same opening. As an alternative, high pressure fluid can be removed from the well pipe simultaneously. The high pressure fluid is piped to a location remote from the well for storage or flaring.

Abstract: An expanding nipple, externally mounted packer has a body which mounts onto a casing head by way of a tubing spool or the like. The body contains the upper ends of a pair of concentric mandrels which are lowered into the well casing. The outer mandrel has a deformable seal on its lower end and the inner mandrel has an expander on its lower end. Means in the body, responsive to hydraulic pressure, raises the inner mandrel with respect to the outer mandrel so that the expander forces the seal outwards against the casing wall.

Abstract: A packer for effecting steam treatment of a production formation of a subterranean well comprises an insulated mandrel which is slidably inserted within the bore of an inner tubular body assembly. An outer operative tubular assembly surrounds the inner assembly and mounts a plurality of drag blocks, upper and lower cone elements, a plurality of radially displaceable slips cooperating with the upper and lower cone elements, and an outer packing element fabricated by an assemblage of high temperature resistant, non-resilient seal elements formed primarily of graphite. An inner packing element is provided in the inner tubular body assembly, utilizing additional high temperature resistant, non-resilient seal elements formed primarily of graphite, which sealingly engages the insulated mandrel.

Abstract: A concentric mandrel assembly for use in a wellhead isolation tool is operable from outside the wellhead and casing. An outer mandrel of the assembly carries a packoff nipple, including a resilient seal member, on its lower end and the inner mandrel of the assembly carrier carries an expander on its lower end. Means are provided for axially moving the mandrels relative to one another so that the expander can apply outward force on the resilient seal against the wall of a well casing.

Abstract: A packoff having a metal energizing ring, mounted around a packoff mandrel. A pair of elastomeric packing elements are also mounted around the packoff mandrel, one on each side of the energizing ring. When the packoff is set, the packing elements are forced toward the energizing ring, and tapered surfaces on the energizing ring force the packing elements into sealing engagement with a well conduit.

Abstract: A retrievable well packer and gravel packing system employing a multi-component packing element system is disclosed. The packing element system is expandable under axial compression to seal the annulus between a production or treatment tubing string and the well casing. The packing element system includes outer elastically deformable anti-extrusion backup rings and a central primary seal. A resilient member conformable to the surrounding countour, such as wire mesh, is employed between the central primary seal and each backup ring to allow retraction of the backup rings for retrieval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a well casing, when a length of production tubing is disposed within the well casing, utilizes a sealing means having a first diameter less than the diameter of the production tubing, and the sealing means is compressible to a second diameter which sealingly conforms to the diameter of the well casing, to prevent fluids disposed in the well casing below the sealing means from flowing through the well casing to above the sealing means.

Abstract: A reinforcing element for an elastomeric sealing element for use within a well casing and passable through production tubing is formed of two metallic plate members having a plurality of radially extending projections, and the radially extending projections are bent and joined to one another to allow the reinforcing element to be passed through production tubing. A demand sensitive pressure intensifier for use with a hydraulic fluid pump and passable through production tubing has a means for compressing hydraulic fluid to a pressure which exceeds the maximum output pressure of the pump, and the compression means is selectively actuated when the output pressure of the pump reaches a predetermined pressure value.

Abstract: A tubular member is provided with expandable seals which are expanded into sealing engagement with a surrounding surface by a sleeve actuating member on the tubular member. A releasable retaining member is secured to the tubular member and has shoulder means adjacent one end interlocked with shoulder means adjacent an end of the sleeve actuating member to retain the sleeve actuating member in nonexpanding seal position as the tubular member is lowered into position in the well bore. The shoulder means on the releasable retaining member is on a longitudinally extending, radially flexible portion of the retaining member. An annular shoulder intermediate the ends of the flexible portion engages the upper end of a liner in the well bore, and moves the flexible portion radially inwardly to disengage the interlocked shoulder means, thus releasing the sleeve actuating means to expand the expandable seals.

Abstract: A tool (20) for washing the perforated zone of a well casing in an oil or gas well includes a tubular mandrel (24) having a flow passage (26) with means for connecting one end of the mandrel to a drill string (160) and the second end to a flow blocking valve (162). The mandrel (24) has a plurality of apertures (42) through its sidewall. A first and second radially expandable packer (64, 132) completely encircles and is carried on the mandrel at spaced positions. An outer sleeve (100) surrounds the mandrel between the packers and defines an annular chamber (116) between the sleeve and mandrel. The sleeve has apertures (104) therethrough having a combined area less than the combined area of the apertures (42) through the mandrel. First and second annular pistons (74, 100) are carried within the annular chamber (116) having one face communicating with the annular chamber and an opposite face engaging, respectively, the first and second packers.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for a packer includes a generally cylindrical elastomeric sealing element telescoped onto a mandrel between upper and lower expander heads. A sealing ring is disposed between each expander head and the sealing element at each end thereof for expanding radially outward toward engagement with the inside wall of a casing to keep the element from extruding between the expander heads and casing when setting the packer. A substantially non-expandable retaining ring surrounds the mandrel adjacent each of said sealing rings and an annular receptacle surrounds the mandrel and is located between each of the expander heads and the opposite ends of the sealing element. The receptacle has inner and outer malleable annular walls which are normally spaced radially outward from the mandrel and an end wall is integrally connected between these inner and outer walls so as to define an annular trough opening toward the sealing element.

Abstract: A packer assembly and its method of use are provided, the packer assembly being carried on a first conduit for use in wells exposed to corrosive injection fluids, the well being encased by a second conduit having a locking recess defined therein, such as by having first and second conduit members, the conduit members being interengaged by coupling whereby the locking recess is defined by the coupling element and between the conduit members. The assembly comprises a body member communicating to the first conduit and having a slotted configuration thereon. An inwardly flexible, outwadly urged collet assembly is exterior of the body, with control means on the collet assembly being carryable within the slotted configuration. Means on said body define a pocket for selective receipt of the collet assembly for locking the collet assembly relative to the locking recess.

Abstract: A packer and a method of setting a packer is disclosed that combines features of both compression-set packing elements and inflatable packing elements. The packing element of the packer includes elongated strips of reinforcing material that are bent away from the packer mandrel, when the packer is set, to move an annular body of elastomeric material into sealing engagement with an adjacent surface. Upstream pressure is supplied to the space between the mandrel and the packing element to help hold the packing element in such sealing engagement.

Abstract: A packer assembly and its method of use are provided, the packer assembly being carried on a first conduit for use in wells exposed to corrosive injection fluids, the well being encased by a second conduit having a locking recess defined therein, such as by having first and second conduit members, the conduit members being interengaged by coupling whereby the locking recess is defined by the coupling element and between the conduit members. The assembly comprises a body member communicating to the first conduit and having a slotted configuration thereon. An inwardly flexible, outwardly urged collet assembly is exterior of the body, with control means on the collet assembly being carryable within the slotted configuration. Means on said body define a pocket for selective receipt of the collet assembly for locking the collet assembly relative to the locking recess.

Abstract: A blowout preventer assembly for sealing off a well blowout within the confines of the drill stem is disclosed. The blowout preventer assembly comprises an elongated collar member which is located around and is slidable along a section of the drill pipe. Each end of the collar member has an expandable portion made of rubber or the like, which is capable of being expanded to the width of the drill pipe casing. Fixedly attached to the section of drill pipe at a location above the slidable collar member is a rigid metal collar section having around its circumference a plurality of equally-spaced wing flanges tapering down from a right angle at the top of the fixed collar to a slope at the lower end thereof.

Abstract: A well packer for use in geothermal wells or stem injection wells. The packer can be anchored to the inner wall of a casing string to resist differential pressure in either direction. The anchoring means includes a single set of slip elements which are hydraulically or mechanically set. The packer includes a sealing unit with packing elements especially adapted for high temperature wells. The packer can be simply released from the casing by upward tension on the tubing.

Abstract: A well bore packer which is run into a well casing on a tubing has actuator means responsive to applied fluid pressure to set anchor slips and to force a packing into engagement with the casing. The setting force is locked into the packing by a pressure balanced piston element having locking engagement with an inner body mandrel by a shear ring. A releasing tool is insertable within the bore of the body mandrel and incorporates an atmospheric pressure chamber. An operating mandrel for the releasing tool is shiftable through an increase in tubing pressure to establish communication between one side of the locking piston of the packer and the atmospheric chamber of the releasing tool, thus permitting the locking piston to shear the locking ring and free the setting forces operating on the packing elements of the packer.

Abstract: A well packer has a mandrel assembly with a tubular packing element supported thereon between upper and lower support members that are arranged to telescopically compress the packing element upon setting of the packer. The packer is constructed to retain the mandrel assembly in a telescopically retracted position compressing the packing element longitudinally until released. The tubular packing element has a quantity of loosely packed, heat resistant, compressible material of a substantially inorganic composition. Upon setting of the packer, the packing material is compressed to a tightly compacted configuration in order to establish a fluid tight seal between the mandrel assembly and the well bore. Because of the configuration of the tubular packing element, this packer is suited for operation in wells where substantially high temperatures are prevalent.

Abstract: A seal system is provided with a series of annular seal assemblies separated by relatively rigid spacing members and may be preferably adapted to selectively sealing engage a packer apparatus within a well bore conduit, during the completion or workover of a subterranean oil or gas well. Preferably, each seal assembly comprises four annular seal members in sequence. The outermost seal members are formed from a thermoplastic polymer having a coefficient of expansion greater than that of the rigid spacing members and the conduit, with physical resistance to corrosive chemicals and high temperature and pressure environments. The outermost member has a physical hardness sufficient to withstand extrusion into a gap defined between the rigid spacing member and the conduit by pressure transmitted from the rigid spacing member. One of the inner seal members is a flexible perfluoro polymer with enhanced permanent set and cold flow.

Abstract: A tubing hanger assembly adapted to carry a tubing string suspended therefrom and to be connected to a landing tool for lowering of the tubing hanger assembly and tubing string into a well casing means, and landing said tubing hanger assembly on said casing means and simultaneously locking said assembly to said casing means without relative rotation of said landing tool and tubing hanger assembly. A tubing hanger assembly adapted to be releasably connected to a landing tool under conditions where the weight of the landing string is imposed upon the tubing hanger assembly whereby the connection between the landing tool and the tubing hanger assembly is releasable by relative rotation of the landing tool with respect to the tubing hanger assembly in one direction only.

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 well packer for connection in a well tubing in a well in which the body has an internal diameter as great as the tubing in which it is to be inserted and has a tensile strength greater than the tubing. Packing surrounds the body and a longitudinally movable expander is positioned about the body and below the packing and is movable towards the packing for expanding the packing outwardly. Slips are positioned about the body and adjacent the lower end of the expander means and move outwardly upon movement of the slips towards the expander. An annular piston positioned about the body is longitudinally movable and on upward movement expands the slips and the packing. An annular spring is positioned above the piston and yieldably urges the piston in a downward direction whereby the packer may be set, released from a set position, and reset in the well.

Abstract: The invention disclosed includes a method of and apparatus for reducing the differential pressure holding a section of a drill string by lowering the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid in the well bore adjacent the section being held. This is done by sealing the annulus between a fishing string and the well bore with a packer located above the section being held and lowering the level of drilling mud in the fishing string. In the embodiment described, the drilling mud level is lowered by swabbing drilling mud from the fishing string with a swab that is lowered and raised in the fishing string by a flexible swab line. A seal is provided between the swab line and the upper end of the fishing string to allow drilling mud to be pumped down the fishing string if necessary to for any reason, such as to circulate out a kick. The swab and the packer are provided with valves that can be opened to allow such circulation.

Abstract: A well packer for use in geothermal wells or .[.stem.]. .Iadd.steam .Iaddend.injection wells. The packer can be anchored to the inner wall of a casing string to resist differential pressure in either direction. The anchoring means includes a single set of slip elements which are hydraulically or mechanically set. The packer includes a sealing unit with packing elements especially adapted for high temperature wells. The packer can be simply released from the casing by upward tension on the tubing.