Abstract: An adaptive seat is run in with an isolating object to beyond a landing location for the adaptive seat. The adaptive seat is released to expand and engage the surrounding tubular. Pressure from below acts on the object and propels the object against the adaptive seat. The object and the adaptive seat move in the tubular to a nearby landing location such as a groove or recess in a sub that is part of the string or another location such as a tubular joint where the adaptive seat finds support. An upper portion of the borehole is isolated for a time from formation pressure to allow running in an ESP from the surface. The object is removed by degradation or from being structurally undermined and the ESP is operated to produce the formation. One or more removable barriers are contemplated.

Abstract: A float valve is used in a tubular having a through-bore for flow. The tubular can be a casing joint, a casing pup joint, a housing or a shell of a float collar/shoe, or other tubular element. A sleeve of drillable material is expanded inside the tubular. Sealing and/or anchor elements on the exterior of the sleeve can engage inside the tubular. Caps composed of drillable material are disposed on ends of the sleeve and have passages connected to ends of a flow tube. The flow tub is also composed of drillable material and has a bore therethrough for flow. A valve composed of drillable material is disposed in the passage of one of the caps and is configured to control the flow in the tubing through the flow tube.

Abstract: An object seat including a seat host having a seal bore therein, a seat body dimensioned to be receivable in the seal bore, the seat body having an object receptor. A method for carrying out a pressure operation in a borehole including seating an object on an object receptor of a seat body, the seat body disposed in a seat host, the seat host disposed in the borehole, pressuring against the object, and moving the seat body along an interface between the seat body and the seat host to create a fluid flow pathway through the seat body and seat host interface. A borehole system including a borehole in a formation, an object seat as in any prior embodiment disposed in the borehole.

Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore comprising inserting a first tubing member into the wellbore, wherein a manipulatable fracturing tool is coupled to the first tubing member and comprises one or more ports configured to alter a flow of fluid through the manipulatable fracturing tool, positioning the manipulatable fracturing tool proximate to a formation zone, manipulating the manipulatable fracturing tool to establish fluid communication between the flowbore of the first tubing member and the wellbore, introducing a first component of a composite fluid into the wellbore via the flowbore of the first tubing member, introducing a second component of the composite fluid into the wellbore via an annular space formed by the first tubing member and the wellbore, mixing the first component with the second component within the wellbore, and causing a fracture to form or be extended within the formation zone.

Abstract: A downhole tool comprising a housing having at least one flow port disposed providing a communication path between the interior and exterior of the sleeve. A sleeve assembly has an expandable seat and an inner sleeve, and is moveable within the housing between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the sleeve assembly is radially positioned between the flow ports and the flowpath to substantially prevent fluid communication. Shearable port inserts are positioned within the flow ports, with each port insert having a shearable portion extending into the interior of the housing and engaging the sleeve assembly when the inner sleeve is in said first position.

Abstract: A series of ball seat assemblies preferably used to open a series of sliding sleeves for formation access to a zone that is to be fractured allows sequential shifting of the sleeves with a single ball. The ball is guided by a tapered member with a lower outlet larger than the ball. The ball lands on the segments that are initially supported. Some leakage occurs between the segments but not enough to prevent pressure buildup to shift the sleeves. The tapered member closely fits to the segments to minimize leakage. Shifting the segments axially allows them to retract so the ball passes to eventually land on a non-leaking seat so that the zone can be fractured. The ball is recovered at the surface after passing the retracted segments and going through the undistorted opening in the tapered member.

Abstract: A formation saver sub or pump out sub incorporating an anti-surge feature. The sub includes a body, a mandrel, a piston (or an annulus fluid pressure chamber and a tubular pressure chamber), a sleeve, a spring, a releasable seat, and a plug. The plug and seat are released from the sub when one or more dogs releasably positioning the seat in the mandrel bore disengages from the seat due to a bleed off of fluid pressure in the well bore.

Abstract: Methods and systems for stimulating a wellbore. A coil tubing bottom hole assembly is disclosed which includes a jetting tool. A non-caged ball sub is coupled to the jetting tool and a ported sub is coupled to the non-caged ball sub. Additionally, a caged ball sub is coupled to the ported sub.

Abstract: A formation saver sub or pump out sub incorporating an anti-surge feature. The sub includes a body, a mandrel, a piston (or an annulus fluid pressure chamber and a tubular pressure chamber), a sleeve, a spring, a releasable seat, and a plug. The plug and seat are released from the sub when one or more dogs releasably positioning the seat in the mandrel bore disengages from the seat due to a bleed off of fluid pressure in the well bore.

Abstract: Ball seats comprising at least one sealing material facilitate restricting fluid flow through the ball seat when a plug, such as a ball, is landed on the seat. The plug is forced into the sealing material causing the sealing material to be deformed and to at least partially deform to a shape reciprocal to the shape of the plug, thereby reducing leakage around the plug and through the seat. In one particular embodiment, the ball seat is an extrudable ball seat. Suitable sealing materials include polymers and elastomers.

Abstract: A valve for a well pipe, the valve having the following parts: a valve collar connectable to the well pipe; an index piston coaxially positioned within the valve collar for longitudinal translation within the valve collar between closed, flow-open, and locked-open configurations; a detent in the index piston, wherein the detent restricts fluid flow in a circulation direction through a flow path through the index piston; a spring that biases the index piston toward the closed and locked-open configurations; and a plug of the valve collar that mechanically communicates with the index piston to be in corresponding closed, flow-open, and locked-open configurations.

Abstract: A passive collection and pneumatic lifting system located in a well comprising a pneumatic tube, a fluid tube mounted within the pneumatic tube creating an annulus and a jet barrel chamber formed between the pneumatic tube and fluid tube in fluid communication at the zone to be recovered. A valve in the jet barrel in communication with the jet barrel and the zone to be recovered for allowing passive flow of product to be recovered into the jet barrel for collection therein and for closing upon the introduction of pneumatic fluid pressure by a pneumatic pressure generator to generate pneumatic fluid pressure sufficient to drive the product collected in the jet barrel up hole for recovery. A seal is located below the valve for sealing the product zone in the well from flow except through the valve.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for holding and releasing an object, such device having a body with a cavity in which the object is accommodatable, an elastic retaining member for retaining the object in the cavity, and, a pushing member for pushing the object out of the body past the retaining member. The pushing member has a first stimuli responsive gel, which has a volume that varies in response to variation of a selected physical stimulating parameter and a controller capable of activating the pushing member by stimulating the first gel.

Abstract: The insert for a ball and seat valve comprises a tubular cylindrical body formed by vertically spaced apart top and bottom rings joined by helically inclined and circumferentially spaced apart ribs defining side openings. The ribs support inwardly arching ball guide flanges which thin in cross-section as they extend inwardly and upwardly from the ribs. The inner upper ends of the flanges are connected with and tied together by an elongate, upwardly extending reinforcing member protruding above the top ring. The reinforcement member provides structural strength to the thinned flanges. Thinning of the flanges leads to increasing the open area of the top outlets, thereby promoting the volumetric fluid capacity of the valve.

Abstract: A disclosure is provided describing a filling and circulating tool and method of use. The filling and circulating tool comprises a tubular housing having a first fluid passage and a longitudinal axis, a movable seal coupled to an exterior of the housing, the seal adapted to substantially block a flow of fluid through the first fluid passage when the seal is in a closed position and to allow the flow of fluid when the seal is in an open position, and an actuating device coupled to the movable seal such that in response to insertion into the casing, the actuating device causes the movable seal to move from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: A float shoe comprising an upper section having a casing connection at an upper end thereof, and a lower section slidably coupled to the upper section, the lower section comprising a closed lower end and having at least one port disposed therein.

Abstract: A valve for downhole well service, having a rotary indexer carrying an elastically-loaded valve element on a valve seat surface in a flow passage, the valve element adapted to obstruct one or more flow passages in the valve seat surface when aligned therewith. The valve may additionally, or alternatively, comprise an elastically-loaded valve element mounted in one or more flow passages in the valve seat surface, this valve element adapted to obstruct the flow passage in which it is installed when urged into contact with the valve seat surface. When a valve element is mounted in one or more of the flow passages in the valve seat, the indexer comprises a protrusion positioned to engage such valve element and force it out of contact with the valve seat surface. The valve may be actuated by command from the surface by sending telemetry elements to a downhole telemetry data detector.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing water from a gas well to permit efficient production of gas while protecting formation from introduced pressures. The apparatus comprises a one-way-valve that seals the casing from production zone when hydrostatic pressure of water from production accumulates in casing above production perforations and one-way-valve exceeds formation pressure. When the casing is sealed, a compressor pressurizes gas into the casing but not an exhaust conduit, the top of the casing being sealed around the exhaust conduit, permitting communication between the conduit and a suitable destination, such as via liquid separators on into sale pipeline. Accumulated water is caused to flow into the bottom of the exhaust conduit and out at surface to collection. When pressure within the sealed casing to the top end of exhaust conduit is equalized, the one-way-valve opens and regular production can resume.

Abstract: A removable ball seat assembly is disclosed. It features a solid ball seat backed up by segmented dogs pinned to each other and mounted under the ball seat. Upon actuating a downhole tool with fluid pressure applied to a ball on the seat, the pressure is increased and the ball and seat move at a regulated rate. The dogs reach a recess and the ball moves through the seat. Subsequent, larger balls can pass through the seat, with the dogs in the recess, at much smaller pressure drops than the original ball.

Abstract: An open type cage, having exterior threads and three equally spaced slots, which locates and contains the stationary or standing ball and seat check valve, and connects to standardized, stationary barrel, top or bottom anchored, rod insert pumps that are commonly used for crude oil production. This cage allows for the placement of a standard sized, flat type, ball and seat at the very end of the pump barrel or extension coupling, or up inside of the same. This positioning allows the upper travelling valve to sweep as close as possible to the lower standing valve when the plunger is at the bottom of its stroke. This reduces the unswept volume and increases the pumps compression ratio. This cage has two slightly different configurations that is determined by the bore size of the pump for which it is designed, but both variations use standard valve sizes and threaded connections.

Abstract: When running in a hydrocarbon well with a large diameter pipe, such as a liner or wash pipe, on the bottom of smaller diameter drill pipe, a safety sub is screwed into the box of a drill pipe stand by the derrickman. Any low pressure mud flowing upwardly in the drill pipe is diverted by the sub to a standpipe and then to the mud system of the drilling rig. In the event high pressure mud starts flowing in the drill pipe, the safety sub is tightened with a wrench and a valve is manipulated to stop upward flow in the drill pipe. The safety sub is partially dismantled, leaving the valve closed and suitable pressure lines are connected to the sub to kill the well. The valve includes a ball check which is normally held open and a mechanism manipulated to allow the ball check to close against a seat. After closing the valve, the ball check may be pumped downwardly into the well to allow a wire line tool to be run into the hole.

Abstract: A downhole oil well pulling and running tool provides a releasable tool body that can be used to release a workstring such as a coiled tubing string from a tool assembly and to reattach if desired. To reestablish circulations (the ability to pump fluid down the workstring and up the annulus of the well) after detachment by increasing the pressure across a seated ball to a predetermined pressure that forces the ball through the seat into a ball cage. The cage is sized and shaped to carry a plurality of the ball valving members so that the unlatching and relatching procedure may be repeated as many times as desired until the ball cage is filled. Also providing a delay or timing system that will allow debris to pass thru the tool without a release.

Abstract: A downhole oil well pulling and running tool provides a releasable tool body that can be used to release a workstring such as a coiled tubing string from a tool assembly and to reattach if desired. To reestablish circulations (the ability to pump fluid down the workstring and up the annulus of the well) after detachment by increasing the pressure across a seated ball to a predetermined pressure that forces the ball through the seat into a ball cage. The cage is sized and shaped to carry a plurality of the ball valving members so that the unlatching and relatching procedure may be repeated as many times as desired until the ball cage is filled. Also providing a delay or timing system that will allow debris to pass thru the tool without a release.

Abstract: A well testing tool for use in high pressure wells where it is desired to pressure test the equipment includes a mandrel that is ported to the interior of the test string. The ported mandrel allows pressure to equalize between the interior of the string and an annular chamber formed between the mandrel and the tool housing, and thereby eliminates the tendency of the mandrel to deform into the chamber.

Abstract: The completion tool is formed by two identical inflation valve bodies, two identical casing members screwed to the two valve bodies respectively, two identical packer mandrels with packers coupled to said inflation valve bodies, and a valve sleeve coupled to the other ends of the two casing members and to the two packer mandrels. A piston is slidably located in the sleeve valve for movement between opened and closed positions. One casing, with its valve body and packer mandrel and packer is screwed to one end of the sleeve valve and the other casing with its valve body and packer mandrel and packer is coupled to the other end of the sleeve valve by way of an adapter coupling. The packers are bonded in annular slots formed in the packer mandrels at opposite ends to allow the packers to be expanded outward. Valve structure is provided in the valve bodies for allowing the packers to be inflated. A central passageway and outer by-pass passageway are formed through the completion tool.

Abstract: A safety check valve for use with a pumping unit for an oil well includes a ball housing in communication with a valve housing, a ball contained in the ball housing moving into the valve housing upon the breakage of a polished rod, whereby the ball seats upon a seating surface and seals off the oil well from the atmosphere.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for closing, without a surge, one end of a core barrel installed in a mining or oil drilling rig, optionally equipped with a turbine.This device comprises a tubular element in whose bore there is guided a sliding member which provides a passage for the drilling liquid under pressure, this sliding member being movable in the above-mentioned bore under the influence of a variation in the flow of drilling liquid between a first position in which it keeps a closing member such as a ball remote from a seat provided at the above-mentioned end of the core barrel and, when it has engaged in the second section of the bore allows the closing element to be held in the first section of the bore, and a second position in which it allows the closing element to pass from the first section of the bore into the second section thereof and to place itself on the seat of the core barrel when the sliding member returns to its starting position.

Abstract: A downhole tool for use with a ball and seat travelling valve associated with a moveable plunger includes a means for causing relative movement between the upper and lower housings forming the downhole tool, whereby a bumping force may be imparted to the plunger to unseat the ball during the downstroke of the downhole tool.

Abstract: In a hydraulically operated setting tool for liner hangers used in a well bore, a norally countracted ball seat formed in the setting tool mandrel by contracted and elongated finger members. Upon seating a ball member in the ball seat, applied pressure is used to set the hydraulic setting tool. After setting the hydraulic setting tool, the ball seat is longitudinally movable so that the finger members can expand to a full opening condition in a recess and release the ball member and so that the finger members are also retrievable with the setting tool.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus either in the form of a float shoe or float collar for use in cementing a casing string within a well bore, the shoe or collar having blades extending longitudinally along the outer side thereof for centering the shoe or collar, and thus the lower end of the casing string, within the well bore.

Abstract: An inside blowout preventer for use in an earth boring drill string has features to reduce erosion. The blowout preventer has a valve body for connection into the drill string with a longitudinal passage extending through the body. The ball seat is located in the longitudinal passage. A ball storage location is located below the seat, and offset from the longitudinal passage. A ball is carried in the storage location during downward flow, and moves into the longitudinal passage to seat against the seat if the upward flow is sufficient. The storage location is located in an area of the longitudinal passage which has a much larger flow area than through the seat. The downward flow impinges on a portion of the ball. A communication passage extends from the storage location downward to a reduced diameter section of the longitudinal passage.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for improving well cementing. A fluid such as drilling mud or preflush fluid is oscillated in the annulus prior to introduction of cement slurry into the annular interval to be cemented. The fluid is oscillated by changing its direction of flow at least twice. The oscillatory flow of the fluid flushes gelled drilling mud and filter cake from the annulus more effectively than conventional unidirectional flow. Following the oscillatory phase, cement slurry is pumped into the annular interval to be cemented, thus displacing the fluid, and is allowed to set. The fluid can be oscillated in the annulus either before or after the cement slurry is introduced into the casing. A selective check valve is also described which permits all fluids to flow in the forward direction out of the casing and into the annulus and which permits all fluids other than cement slurry to flow in the reverse direction out of the annulus and into the casing.

Abstract: A well casing float shoe which is adapted for a variety of well installations consists of a tubular metal shoe member filled with cementitious material having a longitudinal bore surrounding and securing in place a tubular metal sleeve. The metal sleeve is threaded at the top and bottom ends to receive a variety of sizes and types of check valves. A well casing float collar has the same construction, but the tubular shoe member is replaced with a tubular metal collar with threaded connections both above and below the cementitious filler material.

Abstract: Casing hardware, such as float collars and shoes, are used in oil well cementing operations. Some of the collars and shoes are constructed of a steel casing with a concrete core inside the casing. The casing structure of the collars and shoes now available places the core under a predominantly shearing force, so that it will fail at relatively low downhole differential pressures. The present invention provides a new design for the casing structure, which places the concrete core under a predominantly compressive force, and greatly increases the amount of pressure the core can withstand without failing.

Abstract: A cementing float valve for subterranean wells is provided wherein a wiping plug retaining sleeve is concentrically positioned on the top of a float valve and secured to an outer housing by cementitous or other drillable material. the retaining sleeve provides a downwardly facing latching surface and a seal bore disposed above the latching surface for cooperation respectively with an expandable ring and an annular seal conventionally provided on a wiping plug.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for effecting the replacement of a cementing float shoe on the bottom of a well casing. A casing extension sleeve defines an upwardly facing locating shoulder and a seal bore adjacent such shoulder. A new or replacement float shoe is run into the well casing on the end of a tubular workstring and seated on the locating shoulder with an external seal engaging the casing seal bore. A plurality of radially expandable slip elements are provided in the replacement unit at a position above the external seal and such slips are retained in a retracted position by a retaining sleeve. Connection of the replacement cementing shoe to the workstring is achieved through a coupling sleeve having a threaded engagement with the replacement shoe and also being connected to the retaining sleeve.

Abstract: A trap to catch knockout plugs or "pins" from casing inflation packers. The trap is mounted in the well casing above a float valve, and catches pins falling from casing inflation packers in the casing above it as these pins are broken off by a cementing plug descending into the well, thus preventing the loose pins from jamming the float valve open after cementing is completed. The trap comprises a generally cylindrical hollow body having rods extending laterally across its bore, and a collapsible pin guide mounted on top of the body to guide the pins into the body, where they are constrained above the float valve by the rods.

Abstract: A method and apparatus as provided for periodically supplying a quantity of fluid containing a corrosion inhibitor or other treating fluid to both the internal and external surfaces of downhole components of a subterranean well. The corrosion inhibitor is introduced in the fluid that normally fills the annulus defined between the well casing and the production string. This fluid is periodically subjected to a cyclic pressure and the cyclic pressure is employed to operate valving apparatus disposed in the vicinity of the packer to periodically inject a quantity of the annulus fluid containing the corrosion inhibitor into a bypass passage extending through the packer and, hence, into the production fluid, which the carries the corrosion inhibitor to internally disposed downhole components in the well bore.

Abstract: A device for preventing unwanted objects from entering the ball assembly of a float collar or float shoe and otherwise damaging or plugging the valve mechanism therein is disclosed. The device comprises a screen constructed of expanded metal and rigidly affixed to the interior of the float collar or float shoe above the ball valve assembly. The screen portion is either mounted to the interior surface of the float collar sleeve by an annular structural member or mounted to a structural band which is partially embedded in the concrete portion of the float collar or casing guide shoe.

Abstract: An inside blowout preventer assembly for connection into an earth boring drill string has improved features for preventing erosion. The blowout preventer assembly allows downward flow during normal drilling, but prevents upward flow if the flow rate is above a selected amount, to prevent a blowout. The assembly includes a valve body with a longitudinal passage having a throat section. A recess passage intersects the throat section and contains a ball. The ball is movable from the recess passage into the throat section, where it seals against a seat to stop upward flow. An equalizing passage of selected size and configuration extends from the base of the recess passage to the longitudinal passage. The ball is of lesser diameter than the recess passage for allowing downward flow through the recess passage and the equalizing passage. This prevents the ball from being drawn by pressure differential into the throat section during downward flow, reducing turbulence and erosion.

Abstract: An insertion type cementing baffle comprising a baffle housing and insertion type cementing baffle member.

Abstract: A re-entry cementing float shoe for use with sonar/TV underwater guide systems is a short inner and outer cylindrical housing members in concentric spaced relationship forming an annular space therebetween with a cementing core filling said annular space, said inner housing has its top below the top of the outer housing, the upper inner surface of the cement forming a taperal lining cone, the bottom of the cone ending at the top of the inner housing and the top of the cement cone ending at the inner surface of the outer housing below an inner top portion of the outer housing, said portion having an attachment means for accepting and attaching to a casing pipe.

Abstract: An internally tapered production shoe for securing to the bottom of production tubing having no sharp projections, thereby permitting the removal of wireline tools from an initial location below the shoe without snagging. The shoe is particularly useful for slanted boreholes. The wireline tool being carried by a wheeled locomotive further minimizes attendant friction problems.

Abstract: A check valve assembly for use in a drill string to limit reverse flow of drilling fluid through the string while permitting such fluid to be pumped freely into the well under normal conditions. The assembly may include: a valve body having a longitudinal flowbore therethrough; a valve seat at one end of the flowbore; a pair of inclined cylindrical recesses in the valve body communicating with the flowbore; and a ball member normally disposed in either one of the recesses and movable into the flowbore for sealing engagement with the seat in response to a predetermined rate of reverse flow through the flowbore.