Abstract: A method and apparatus for severing tubular members below a mud line. The mud is evacuated from the target area of the tubular member and the apparatus is lowered through the inner opening of the tubular member to the target area. A housing of the apparatus carries a plurality of centralizing fins which hinge 90 degrees in relation to their pre-deployed position and centralize the housing in the target area. An explosive material contained in the housing is extruded, by movement of the piston, into a flexible bag secured at a lower portion of the housing, forcing the bag to form a receptacle for the explosive. A sidewall of the bag protector pivots at a right angle to form a support for the receptacle with the explosive.

Abstract: There are disclosed rams for blowout preventers having blades on their inner ends in position to shear or sever a pipe or other object extending within the bore of the preventer housing as the rams are moved within guideways intersecting the bore from outer positions, in which the bore is open, to inner positions in which shear edges on opposed faces of the blades pass over another. The rams also carry packing for sealing with respect to the guideways in which they move as well as with respect to one another to close off the bore following shearing of the object.

Abstract: Chemical cutting processes and tools for use in a well bore useful in the cutting of high strength and corrosion-resistant downhole tubular goods. The cutting tool has an elongated tool body comprising a chemical section and a cutting section having a plurality of cutting ports therein. After lowering the cutting tool to the desired location within the well, the cutting agent is discharged from the chemical section into contact with an ignitor material formed of a permeable mixture of metallic ignitor component and a promoter component which can be a metallic component or a grease component or both. The promoter component is formed of a material which is exothermically reactive with the cutting agent at a first temperature and the ignitor component is exothermically reactive at a higher temperature. The ignitor component may be formed of a predominately or entirely non-ferrous corrosion-resistant metal alloy.

Abstract: A perforation trigger bypass conduit assembly (10) for a well perforation gun (17) positioned in a well casing (12) at a down-hole location below a tubular completion assembly (16). A pressure sensing device (20) senses a detonation pressure of fluid communicated from a pump (21) through bypass conduit assembly (10) to the sensor (20). The sensing device (20) triggers the gun upon sensing a pressure surpassing a predetermined value, which perforates the casing (12). The bypass conduit assembly (10) is formed to enable blocking of the bypass conduit assembly (10) after triggering of the perforation gun (17) to prevent pumping of production and power fluid back into the formation upon severing of a portion (34) of the conduit assembly (10). Blocking can be effected by removing a member (25) which contains a passageway (51) forming part of the bypass conduit assembly (10) and replacing the removable member (25) with a passageway-free insert member (35).

Abstract: The present invention provides a single trip system for placing perforating apparatus and sand control equipment in a wellbore. This system includes a casing string equipped with extendible pistons and a pumpable activator plug for extending the pistons. Additionally, this system utilizes a single gravel-pack and completion tool string. Further, this system includes a means for opening the extendible pistons to fluid flow.

Abstract: A coplanar jetting head for well perforating. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a plurality of jetting openings therein. The jetting openings are substantially coplanar and are angularly disposed with respect to a longitudinal axis of the housing. Each of the jetting openings has a jetting nozzle disposed therein. In the preferred embodiment, the angle of the plane of the jetting openings is such that the plane may be positioned substantially perpendicular to an axis of least principal stress in a well formation adjacent to the well bore when the housing is disposed in the well bore. A method of fracturing a well is also disclosed and comprises the steps of positioning a jetting head in a well bore and directing a plurality of fluid jets from the jetting head at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the well bore.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a window in well casing. First, using coiled tubing, a two stage whipstock is set in the well casing through the production tubing. Next, a jointed milling assembly is inserted through the production tubing, also using the coiled tubing. The travel of the mill is guided by the two stage guide surface of the whipstock, and the joint in the milling tool allows the direction of the mill to change. Thus, the mill impinges on the well casing at a relatively acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing reducing the likelihood that the mill will bite into the guide surface of the whipstock instead of the well casing.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for severing multiple concentric casing strings in an abandoned oil or gas well allowing the upper portion of the casing strings to be removed comprising positioning a container holding a sealed cylinder full of air at atmospheric pressure that is surrounded by a high velocity explosive in the casing at the location of the desired cut. Igniting the explosive at one end of the container so that the mixture detonates producing a shock wave and gas bubbles that travel downwardly progressively, collapsing the sealed cylinder and increasing the pressure of the air in the cylinder until the cylinder fails whereby pressurized air forced from the cylinder causes the shock wave and gas bubbles from the TNT, RDX, and aluminum mixture to move laterally and sever the casing strings.

Abstract: A perforator to increase conductivity of a deposit bearing region of oil, gas, and/or water saturating a rock formation having a wellbore hole therethrough and, thus, increase production by cutting elongated openings (slots) through casing, cement bond and formation rock. The perforator is attached to the bottom end of a string of drill pipes. The string of drill pipes are connected to a surface raising and lowering device for raising and lowering the string of drill pipes into a wellbore hole. A pump pumps an abrasive liquid into the perforator through the string of drill pipes. The perforator has telescoping nozzles and double jet nozzles. The abrasive liquid is jetted at a high velocity out of the telescoping jet nozzles and the double jet nozzles. By shifting the perforator with the raising and lowering device while pumping the abrasive liquid into the perforator, slots are cut in the casing, cement bond and formation rock along wellbore axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting pipe disposed in a string down a borehole of an oil or gas well, including an elongated body for lowering into the bore of the string and defining an annulus between the body and the pipe wall, a quantity of combustible material supported within the elongated body, for providing a cutting flame when the material is ignited, a nozzle to direct the cutting flame radially outward from the body against the wall of the pipe to be cut, and an anchor supported along the lower end of the body, of a desired length and diameter defining an annulus below the cutting nozzle, so that upon the ignition of the material, the pressure of the gases produced by the ignition which collect in the annulus formed by the anchor below the nozzle is substantially equal to the gas pressure in the annulus formed by the body, and the cutting nozzle is maintained at a stable point within the hole to produce an even cut.

Abstract: Apparatus engageable with a well casing for suspending a perforating gun in the casing. The apparatus includes toothed slips forced into engagement with the well casing. A spring maintains an engaging force on the slips with the casing. In response to detonation of the perforating gun, a first release mechanism is operated to allow the perforating gun to drop a short distance. After initial dropping of the perforating gun, a second release mechanism is operated to release the engagement of the toothed slips with the casing, thereby allowing the entire unit to fall to the bottom of the well. A retrieval tool attached to a tubing string can be utilized to operate the second release mechanism, disengage the unit from the casing, and retrieve it from the well.

Abstract: A tracer system can monitor in real-time the propagation of a fracture through a rock formation traversed by a well borehole, during hydraulic fracturing processes. The inventive system permits continuous measurement of the movement of gamma-emitting tracers in the fracturing fluid, while the fluid is pumped into the formation. The tracers are injected into the fluid from downhole-placed exploding charges. The fracturing fluid with the tracers passes through perforated production casing into the induced formation fracture, and the tracers emit characteristic gamma radiation. Multiple sodium-iodide scintillometer detectors, arrayed on the logging tool above and below the neutron source, are calibrated to detect the characteristic energy spectra emitted from the activated radioactive tracer isotopes in the fractured formation through the formation rock and the steel production casing and tubing.

Abstract: A ram assembly for positioning within a through bore of a blowout preventer body includes first and second opposing ram pistons each powering a respective knife blade. Each knife blade may have a pair of angled shear edges on opposite sides of the respective ram centerline, with each pair of angled shear edges defining a generally V-shaped configuration. The pair of opposing knife edges preferably engage the oilfield tubular at four contact points spaced substantially equidistant about a circumference of the tubular, and thereby contain the tubular for the shearing operation. According to the method of the present invention, the oilfield tubular is sheared substantially by brittle shearing rather than ductile shearing.

Abstract: Methods of perforating a well using coiled tubing conveyed perforating guns are disclosed. A perforating tool string includes a coiled tubing string, a perforating gun, a releasable gun hanger, and a pressure responsive release connecting the coiled tubing string to the perforating gun. The perforating tool string is lowered into place within the well and then the gun hanger is actuated by reciprocating motion of the coiled tubing string without rotating the coiled tubing string, thereby setting the gun hanger in the casing. Fluid pressure is then increased in the coiled tubing string to actuate the pressure responsive release to release the coiled tubing string from the perforating gun. The coiled tubing string and pressure responsive connector may then be retrieved from the well prior to firing the perforating gun. The perforating gun is subsequently fired by a pressure responsive firing head to perforate the well casing, and the perforating gun then automatically drops to the bottom of the well casing.

Abstract: A modular perforating gun system for use in perforating a well. The system comprises a lower perforating gun module or section which may be supported in a variety of ways adjacent to a well formation to be perforated. The system further comprises at least one additional perforating gun module or section which is positioned above the lower perforating gun module. After firing, any number of the perforating gun modules may be individually retrieved from the wellbore without killing the well and subsequently replaced as necessary.

Abstract: An improved shearing blowout preventer having improved shearing rams for shearing a tubing string extending through the bore of the preventer body. The shear rams include a shear ram having an upper shear blade and a ram having a lower shear blade. The upper shear blade includes a flat surface under the blade with a recess therein for a sealing element and a pair of surfaces spaced apart and below the flat surface under the blade and a tapered conical recess in the rear end of the blade to receive the fish that is sheared and to control the shape of the upper end of the sheared fish. The ram with the lower shear blade includes a tapered conical surface in the center portion of the blade and extending below the cutting edge of the blade. This recess coacts with the recess below the upper shear blade to shape the cut fish so that it does not flatten and to maintain a substantial opening in its upper end without exceeding maximum dimension.

Abstract: A system is provided for performing multiple operations on a well in response to multiple fluid pressure increases. The system includes first and second pressure actuated firing heads and a source of actuating fluid pressure for the firing heads. A first selective communication device is provided for isolating the second firing head from the source of actuating fluid pressure until after the first firing head has been actuated and for then communicating the second firing head with the source of actuating fluid pressure in response to actuation of the first firing head. This system is particularly adapted for allowing pressure testing of a well upon a first fluid pressure increase, followed by perforation of the well upon a second fluid pressure increase.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for use in a wellbore are provided to prevent an igniter from igniting a pyrotechnic device within a downhole well tool until after the downhole well tool is positioned downhole within the wellbore. A blocking member is movable between two positions for selectively obstructing an ignition pathway between the igniter and pyrotechnic device. An actuator is provided which, when heated to an activation temperature by downhole well temperatures, moves the blocking member from a position obstructing the ignition pathway to a position for allowing the igniter to ignite the pyrotechnic device.

Abstract: An emergency downhole disconnect tool for use in a drilling well conduit having hydraulic pressure activated and electricity activated means for disconnecting the tool from the drilling assembly by disconnecting telescoping first and second releasably connected parts.

Abstract: Chemical cutting tool for use within a well bore for cutting very small diameter tubular goods. The tool has an elongated tool body having anchoring means for anchoring the tool within a conduit and a pressure generating section. A cutting section of the tool body has a longitudinal bore having at least one cutting port for expelling cutting agent. A chemical section in the tool body is between the pressure generating section and the cutting section. The chemical section includes a casing having a chamber containing a source of fluid cutting agent. The tool further comprises closure means at at least one end of the casing. The closure means comprises a diaphragm body which is inserted into one end of the casing by an interference fit and which has spaced transverse rupture diaphragms. One of the rupture diaphragms fits into the diaphragm body in an interference fit. The other rupture diaphragm may fit into the tool body in an interference fit, or may be formed integrally.

Abstract: Chemical cutting processes and tool for use in a well bore useful in the cutting of high strength and corrosion-resistant downhole tubular goods. The cutting tool has an elongated tool body adapted to be inserted into a well conduit and positioned at a downhole location for effecting a cutting action. The tool body comprises a chemical section and a cutting section having a plurality of cutting ports therein for discharge of the chemical cutting agent. The cutting ports extend transversely of the major axis of the elongated tool body and are arranged in at least first and second groups. The first group of cutting ports is arranged in a configuration conforming to the desired shape of the cut and define a first pattern. The second group of cutting ports conform generally to the first pattern and are in a canted relationship with respect to the first pattern. At least some of the cutting ports in the first group are in a staggered relationship relative to at least some of the cutting ports in the second group.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling well fires which has a controllable extension pipe, a clamping base and a sealing assembly. The sealing assembly includes a moveable sealing sleeve located between an outer and an inner nesting pipe and plastically deformable sealing material located at one end of the nesting pipes. The sealing assembly is attached to a clamping base. The clamping base can be of two different constructions, a top mount base which, along with the attached sealing assembly, is lowered over the well pipe and a side mount base which clamps from the side with the assembly rotated away from the well pipe. All apparatus controls and method steps can be remotely accomplished.The top mount base is clamped to the pipe after lowering the apparatus over the well pipe to the point where the well pipe passes through the clamping base and into the interior of the inner nesting pipe.

Abstract: An explosive charge carrier is provided which is lowered into a well pipe casing. The carrier includes wear plates that slide along the inner diameter of the pipe and which are biased against the inner wall of the well pipe casing. A string of explosive charges having a density of up to six charges per foot are mounted between disks of the carrier which are separated by 12 inches. Spaced about the periphery of the separated disks are a maximum density of six strings of charges separated by 60.degree. for 36 explosive charges. Alternately, four strings of charges may be spaced about the periphery of the separated disks at a spacing of 90.degree. for 16 explosive charges.

Abstract: A system is provided for selectively perforating multiple zones in a well on a single trip into the well. The system includes a tubing string which carries at least a first and a second perforating gun. At least a first and a second pressure actuated firing head are associated with the first and second perforating guns, respectively. A source of actuating fluid pressure for the firing head is provided, which may be the bore of the tubing string. A first selective communication device is provided for isolating the second firing head from the source of actuating fluid pressure until after the first perforating gun has been fired, and for then communicating the second firing head with the source of actuating fluid pressure in response to firing of the first perforating gun. The first firing head provides a time delay during which the actuating fluid pressure may be bled off prior to the firing of the first perforating gun.

Abstract: A downhole chemical cutting tool for use in a well bore to cut large diameter conduits including an elongated tool body having a chemical section adapted to contain a chemical cutting agent and a cutting section adapted to receive the cutting agent from the chemical section. The cutting section has a plurality of externally upset cutting heads extending circumferentially outwardly from the cutting section and terminating in outer cutting surfaces. Each of the cutting heads has a plurality of cutting ports extending radially inwardly from the outer cutting surface and in fluid communication with an internal chamber within the cutting section. The tool further comprises expansible slip and bow spring means in the elongated tool body for centering and anchoring the tool during cutting. The cutting heads are of a configuration having an inner spoke section which has a central bore opening into the interior chamber of the cutting section and a disk section secured to the outer portion of the spoke section.

Abstract: An apparatus for regaining control over the flow of oil and gas from "blow out" wells having a housing consisting of two portions which are adapted to be fastened around an insitu well casing. The housing has a top, a bottom, an exterior surface and a central passage. The housing is rotatably secured to the insitu well casing, such that the well casing extends through the central passage. Cutters are provided which communicate with the central passage of the housing. Upon rotation of the housing the cutters move systematically around the circumference of the insitu well casing until it is severed. Rams are positioned adjacent the top of the housing for closing the central passage upon the severing of the well casing.

Abstract: A well service tool has a mandrel including a fluid flow conduit therethrough in fluid communication with a workstring including a fluid pressure source. An expendable knife-mounting sleeve is coupled to the mandrel and includes at least one cutting knife pivotally secured thereto. A housing is disposed about and secured against rotation relative to the mandrel by drive pins and is selectively movable relative to the mandrel responsive to fluid pressure from the fluid pressure source. The housing includes a positive extender to extend the cutting knives and temporarily maintain them in an extended position. A closure member is coupled to the mandrel to selectively obstruct fluid flow through the fluid conduit, wherein fluid pressure within the fluid conduit is increased, and wherein relative movement between the housing and the mandrel is induced. A probe is coupled to the housing to open the closure member upon a selected extension of the cutting knives wherein fluid pressure within the mandrel is decreased.

Abstract: A tubing retrievable safety valve, lockout tool and method of use are disclosed that are adapted to lock the valve open permanently and provide access to control line pressure by perforating the piston in the valve. The lockout tool comprises a track mandrel having a ramp slidably disposed beneath a punch that is adapted to penetrate the piston wall of the valve at a point adjacent to the control fluid annulus, thereby creating a protrusion adapted to lock the valve open and establishing fluid communication between the control fluid annulus and the valve bore.

Abstract: A travelling valve assembly utilizing a length of tubing, longer than the production screen, positioned at the end of a wash pipe and lowered into the tubing bore so that the lower end of the tubing is a depth below the production screen. When gravel packing is concluded, the tubing is then placed in position by raising the wash pipe and tubing to the upper seal bore. The wash pipe is then sheared from the tubing assembly. The tubing includes seals at each end, which seat in respective seal bores, for sealing off above and below the production screen. There is further provided a valving mechanism, such as a sliding door valve which is operable from the surface between open and closed positions. While the valving mechanism is closed, the production flow is prevented; however, upon opening the valve through a wire line or shifting tool, production flows through the sliding door valve and up to the surface through the tubing.

Abstract: A wellhead severing system for detonating a liquid explosive charge and subsequent removal of the wellhead from the sea floor. The explosive severing system includes a charge container holding a liquid explosive and a contractable bladder in fluid communication with the charge container to compensate for pressure and temperature variations as the system is lowered to the wellhead in the sea floor. Liquid explosive from the bladder flows into the charge container maintaining a constant volume of uncontaminated explosive around the detonators. The severing system is lowered into the wellhead on a running string and detonated through high voltage wires extending to a connector or the surface.

Abstract: A cut-and-close device for pressure pipes in production and supply installations for gaseous and liquid media includes a two-piece clamping block. A pipe-cutting and pipe-closing plate is driven into said clamping block by means of a propelling charge and a piston, both of which form part of a drive unit. The clamping block (1) is divided in the middle of its circular opening into a rear part (1.1) and a front part (1.2). The rear part (1.1) and the front part (1.2) can be screwed together. The rear part (1.1) and the front part (1.2) have rectangular slits (3) on the inside. The front part (1.2) also possesses a slot opening (5) large enough for a shearing plate (6). The shearing plate (6) runs in guide grooves (16) of a connector (12) bolted to the front part (1.2) of the clamping block (1). The conductor (12) is attached to the drive unit consisting of a pressure cylinder (13), a piston (14), and a cartridge furnishing a remotely triggered propelling charge.

Abstract: A conduit is shut off by a shut-off valve mechanism which is attached to an external periphery of an exposed region of the conduit. That region is exposed by excavation from the ground surface. A drill mounted on the fixture is actuated to cut out a section of the conduit. A sealing shoe mechanism carried by the drill is positioned within the cut-out section of the conduit and is actuated to make sealing contact with the cut edges of the conduit in order to block the passage of fluid therethrough. Alternatively, the drill can be eliminated by preforming a gap between two sections of the conduit and providing the body with a through-hole which is aligned with the conduit sections until the sealing shoe is displaced into the gap.

Abstract: A well-head pipe of a leaking oil well is sealed by radial application of a high-energy magnetic pulse to the well-head pipe to thereby plastically deform the metal of the pipe casing and form the metal into a seal that caps the well-head pipe without cracking the pipe. A system for sealing an oil-well-head pipe having a metal casing includes an electromagnet dimensioned for placement around an exposed portion of the well-head pipe, with the electromagnet being disposed to radially apply a magnetic field to the pipe when the electromagnet is placed around the exposed portion of the pipe; and a capacitor bank and a transmission line for providing a high-energy current pulse to the electromagnet to cause the electromagnet to radially apply a high-energy magnetic pulse to the pipe to plastically deform the metal of the pipe casing and form the metal into a seal that caps the well-head pipe.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for severing tubular members and is provided with a carrier, which carries a sparging assembly and an explosive assembly downwardly into the tubular member to be severed. The outlet of the sparging assembly is below the lower end of the carrier and is at a level adjacent to the level of the explosive charge carried by the explosive assembly. The sparging assembly dislodges and agitates the debris accumulated within the tubular member and evacuates it from the level, wherein it is deployed, simultaneously allowing progression of the explosive assembly downward along the interior of the tubular member.

Abstract: An apparatus for installing a selectively reopenable shut-off valve into an oil well casing of the type having an outer production casing and an inner production pipe suspended therein including a laterally installed casing plug to which independent flow diversion apparatus are attached after the casing is plugged and flow is initially stopped to allow temporary diversion and continued separated and independent flow from the annulus between the outer casing and inner pipe and from the pipe itself. The apparatus is particularly adapted to shut off a well which is burning or flowing out of control so that suitable repairs may be effected at the wellhead, while production is continued via the separately diverted flows.

Abstract: The invention, as set forth in this disclosure, includes a perforating assembly for perforation of well tubing. This perforating assembly can be dropped by hand without attachments of any kind. The outside diameter of this manually-dropped tubing perforating assembly allows it to free fall within tubing to the plug or pump near the bottom of a well. It incorporates a firing head with secured frangible pin and only one moving part; and it can be detonated mechanically. After this apparatus reaches a plug or pump near the bottom of a well, an impact bar can be dropped by hand to hit the apparatus. This detonates an explosive charge which blasts a hole through the tubing. The apparatus remains in the tubing on top of the plug or pump, so when the tubing is pulled from the well, the apparatus is retrieved along with the tubing. The use of electric wireline or slickline operations to lower and to retrieve a perforator from a well is eliminated with the use of this invention.

Abstract: A shock absorber is adapted to be disposed within a perforating gun string or within the tubing string above the perforating gun and includes an energy absorbing element adapted to absorb and store mechanical energy during detonation of the perforating gun and to permanently deform in response to the storage of the mechanical energy, the stored energy being released in the form of heat, and not in the form of kinetic energy. Therefore, following absorption of the mechanical energy by the shock absorber, no further expansion of the shock absorber is experienced. The shock absorber includes an inner housing, an outer hosuing, a connection for interconnecting the inner and outer housing, and a break up charge for breaking the connection and releasing the inner housing from the outer housing when the perforating gun is detonated whereby the shock absorber is as strong as the tubing string before the connection is broken and is flexible after the connection is broken.

Abstract: In the representative embodiments of the several methods and apparatus of the invention disclosed herein, a movable detonating member is arranged to be selectively impelled against an impact-responsive detonator on a well bore perforator having one or more explosive devices. The movable detonating member is initially restrained from moving in relation of the tool body by a heat-responsive material which, in one embodiment, is operative to release the detonating member when an electrical heater on the tool is initiated from the surface for melting the bonding material or, in another embodiment, releases the detonating member when the material melted by elevated well bore temperatures.

Abstract: An explosive charge carrier is provided which is lowered into a well pipe casing. The carrier includes wear plates that slide along the inner diameter of the pipe and which are biased against the inner wall of the well pipe casing. A string of explosive charges having a density of up to six charges per foot are mounted between disks of the carrier which are separated by 12 inches. Spaced about the periphery of the separated disks are a maximum density of six strings of charges separated by 60.degree. for 36 explosive charges. Alternately, four strings of charges may be spaced about the periphery of the separated disks at a spacing of 90.degree. for 16 explosive charges.

Abstract: Underground frangible pipe replacement apparatus and methods for replacing an existing unserviceable pipe by first crushing the existing pipe entirely inwardly, or imploding it, to destroy it. The resulting shards are then forced outwardly into the surrounding soil, creating a bore large enough to accommodate a replacement pipe at least as large as, or large than, the old pipe. The new pipe is pulled into place substantially simultaneously with the expansion of the bore. The crushing tool includes a generally tubular main body and a plurality of longitudinally extending, tapered blades circumferentially disposed about the ID of the main body of the crushing tool. The blades taper outwardly and forwardly from near the midportion of the crushing tool. The crushing tool has a connecting rod at its center, including means for connecting the crushing tool to a motive force at one end and means for connecting the crushing tool to the expanding plug at the other end.

Abstract: A well penetrator has a housing moveable down a well casing with a radially moveable punch being supported in the housing for movement between retracted and extended positions; a fluid jet is discharged from the outer end of the punch with liquid for the jet coming from a tube fixedly positioned at one end in the housing and held in slightly bowed condition when the punch is retracted to permit movement of the punch to its extended position from its retracted condition without the creation of excessive force on this metal tube. The jet creates a bulbous drumstick shaped cavity in the earth which is packed with a gravel slurry which hardens and cannot move into the casing due to the bulbous shape of the hardened slurry mass. Similar procedures are employed using a hose or lance with a nozzle at its outer end; one nozzle embodiment includes radial jets activated to transversely enlarge the cavity at a location spaced from the casing.

Abstract: A method of completing a well is provided which utilizes a primary tool string and a secondary tool string. The primary tool string will include apparatus such as perforating guns and associated firing heads, and may be actuated to perforate the well. This primary tool string will also include various flow control mechanism, which will control the flow of fluid from the perforated formations into selected portions of the primary tool string. These flow control mechanisms are preferably actuated through use of a secondary tool string.

Abstract: The arrangement for patching off troublesome zones in a well has a string of profile pipes with cylindrical portions at their ends, and a device for setting the string of profile pipes in a well, mounted for longitudinal reciprocation inside the string of profile pipes.Said device includes a reamer of the cylindrical portions of the profile pipes, positioned inside the uppermost cylindrical portion of the string of profile pipes, rigidly connected with an expander positioned above the string of profile pipes and having a housing with expanding elements mounted thereon.

Abstract: A time delay perforating apparatus and method of use. The apparatus includes at least one first and second gun with a time delay device positioned therebetween. The time delay device delays firing of the second gun for a predetermined period after firing of the first gun and prevents fluid communication between the first and second guns. The time delay device is positioned in a housing interconnecting the first and second guns and closes off a central opening through the housing. The time delay device includes a body with a primer assembly, a firing pin for detonating the primer assembly, an ignition mix ignited by detonation of the primer assembly, a time delay mix triggered by ignition of the ignition mix, and an explosive disposed in the body. The firing pin is oriented such that it closes off a central opening through the body. The explosive includes a primary explosive triggered by the time delay mix and a secondary explosive triggered by the primary explosive.

Abstract: Tool for slitting and laterally expanding underground steel gas mains and inserting replacement plastic piping into the spread apart pipeline has a forward end cylindrical portion mounting a single, rearwardly angled blade to make only one line of cut, and a conical pipe spreader portion at its rearward end. The conical spreader portion is eccentrically disposed with respect to the forward end cylindrical portion. A single roller type pipe slitter aligned with the fixed blade may be mounted on a removable extension of the forward end cylindrical portion, to initially groove and weaken the pipe along the intended line of cut. A pneumatically operated impact ram is attached to the rearward end of the tool, as is the leading end of the replacement piping. A wire cable pulls the tool through the underground pipe, thereby grooving, slitting and laterally expanding the pipe.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a mole to be pulled through an existing pipe provided with a cone-shaped head portion for widening an existing pipe, a cutting arrangement with radially protruding blades in front of the effective head portion and a guidance portion having a cylindrical portion centered on the mole axis which precedes the cutting arrangement, the diameter of the cylindrical part being slightly smaller than the bore diameter of the existing pipe. For cutting along two lines parallel to the line of apparatus advance and for centering the apparatus in the existing pipe in the case of any usual utility line, a cable passes axially through the cylindrical portion of the apparatus and is fastened to the head portion of the mole. The guidance portion is loosely attached to the cone-shaped head portion and is axially moved through the existing pipe by the head portion and the cable.

Abstract: A well perforating gun provides a full bore passage for fluids and tools through the discharged gun without increasing the normal exterior diameter of the gun. The full bore passage is disposed eccentrically within a tubular housing and the perforating guns are mounted in a longitudinally spaced array on one or more elongated strips disposed adjacent elongated slots in the wall of the housing opposite the eccentric portion of the full bore fluid passage.

Abstract: Apparatus for sealing a perforated liner to a well casing. A cylindrical liner having a sleeve thereabout is associated with a deforming tool which is telescoped thereon and extends to the sleeve. A portion of the sleeve is spaced from the cylindrical liner to receive the deforming tool. A pressure fluidizing solid is located within the sleeve. An impacting system for a hydraulic deforming mechanism are employed to force the deforming tool against the pressure fluidizing solid which in turn deforms the sleeve outwardly against a well casing.

Abstract: In the representative embodiments of the several methods and apparatus of the invention disclosed herein, a movable detonating member is arranged to be selectively impelled against an impact-responsive detonator on a well tool having one or more explosive devices. The movable detonating member is initially restrained from moving in relation of the tool body by a heat-responsive material which, in one embodiment, is operative to release the detonating member when an electrical heater on the tool is initiated from the surface for melting the bonding material or, in another embodiment, releases the detonating member when the material is melted by elevated well bore temperatures.

Abstract: A perforating gun having no firing head and no primary explosives is attached to a tubing string and the tubing string is run into a borehole. A new pump apparatus, having a firing head, is run into the tubing string until the pump firing head is adjacent the perforating gun. The firing head in the pump apparatus detonates, firing the perforating gun. If the firing head fails to detonate, one need only remove the pump apparatus from the tubing string in order to gain access to the firing head, for repair and replacement thereof. One need not remove the tubing string to gain access to the firing head.