Abstract: A completions insertion and retrieval under pressure (CIRP) apparatus utilizes a snaplock connector to assemble uphole a tool string of any desired length prior to lowering the tool string into a wellbore for performing wellbore operations in the wellbore. The tool string could comprise a perforating gun string including a plurality of perforating guns interleaved with a corresponding plurality of snaplock connectors. The CIRP apparatus includes a winch housing connected to a lubricator, the lubricator being connected to a valve, the valve being connected to a connection apparatus, such as a deployment BOP or a snaplock operator, the connection apparatus being connected to a work string which extends into the wellbore.

Abstract: A system for reducing pressure while running a casing liner, hanging a casing liner from a casing and cementing the liner in a borehole during a single trip downhole is disclosed. Some of the components of the system are 1.) a bypass or diverter sub for reducing surge pressure having either an incremental breakaway seat or a yieldable seat, 2.) a container or manifold for launching a smaller ball used to close the bypass, a larger ball used to hang the liner in the casing, and a drill pipe wiper dart for cementing, and 3.) a guide shoe with multiple openings and no float valve to provide proper flow of drilling fluid up the liner and out the port of the bypass to reduce surge pressure and to provide for proper cementation. Advantageously, methods for operation of this surge pressure reduction system and its components are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enhanced recovery of subterranean deposits. A heating fluid circulates in a concentric tubing assembly which attaches to a downhole heat exchanger. A convertible fluid descends to the downhole heat exchanger in the concentric tubing assembly where it converts to vapor by transfer of heat from the heating fluid. The vapor can then be used to liquefy viscous subterranean deposits. A feed control valve controls the rate at which convertible fluid enters the downhole heat exchanger. Scale produced by the vaporization of the convertible fluid is purged by a purging valve into the well sump.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a measuring assembly lowered inside a well with an operator. The assembly includes several measuring elements assembled to one another along a longitudinal axis, at least one section of which includes at least one measuring element having a coupling at both ends for assembling with the other measuring elements. The couplings include a rotary joint rotating about the longitudinal axis and the assembly further includes a device for bringing said section into rotation. In a variant, each of the assembling couplings of the section includes a rotary joint.

Abstract: A method for repairing damaged sections of an oil well includes the use of a combination of two fluids, pumped simultaneously to allow treatment of a specific part of a portion of an oil producing zone. A first fluid is pumped down a coiled tubing and a second fluid is pumped down the annulus formed by the coiled tubing and the production tubing. Because of density differences in the two fluids, diversion is facilitated, treating the lower part of the pay zone with the first fluid and the second fluid to keep the first fluid away from the upper section of the open hole. The coiled tubing could be raised or lowered during this procedure to help ensure desired zone coverage.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating and producing gas and liquid from a subterranean production zone via a well in fluid communication with the zone. After separation in the well, the gas is produced to the surface, compressed, and injected into an injection zone which is also in fluid communication with the well. The liquid is pumped to a production facility at the surface.

Abstract: A well completion system comprises production tubing (5) extending downhole from wellhead equipment (2) to a plurality of completion systems (7, 8, 9). A well testing facility comprising a test loop (26) with flow metering equipement (27) is included in the wellhead equipment. Each of a plurality of independently adjustable flow control means (57) is operable to stop the flow of fluid from a respective one of the completion assemblies into the production tubing. The downhole completion assemblies (7, 8, 9) are mounted on a common fluid and electrical supply means (4) comprising tubular electrical conductor means (42) and tubing (41, 45, 46) defining fluid paths.

Abstract: Natural gas is reinjected into an earth formation for storage and/or stimulating the recovery of hydrocarbon liquids by mixing the gas with water at a pressure sufficient to maintain bubble flow of gas dispersed in a water flowstream in a range of volumetric gas fraction up to about twenty percent of total flow. A water and gas distribution system includes static flow mixers for maintaining uniform distribution of gas bubbles in the water flow stream through the distribution conduits. The mixers may comprise multi-stage bladed mixing elements of the same or opposite pitch and extending across the intersection of branch conduits with the main conduit of the distribution system. The water and gas may be mixed in an injection well having a tubing string extending within the well and having a distal end below the point of injection into an earth formation so that a uniform gas and water mixture enters the formation through the well perforations.

Abstract: An arrangement for removing impurities from ground water and surrounding ground region has a wall shaft driven to a contaminated region and provided with at least locally permeable well shaft, a separating wall subdividing the well shaft into two well shaft regions which are sealed from one another, a device for removing impurities arranged in the well shaft so that ground water passes through the device, a tube provided with a feed pump and extending through the separating wall, and an opening provided in one of the well shaft regions to communicate the one well shaft region with the tube, wherein the tube has a tube portion extending through the opening and accommodating an additional feed pump.

Abstract: An electric submersible pumping system uses a small diameter capillary tube and a high pressure injection pump. The tube size is selected so that the frictional flow resistance of the tubing at the desired flow volumes balances the pressure caused by the height difference in the columns of fluid. The flexibility of the system is expanded by tapering the capillary tubing string, preferably, but not necessarily, using a larger inner diameter tube above and a smaller inner diameter tube below. Using calculated lengths of different diameter tubing, the pressure loss due to flow can be adjusted to suit the anticipated well conditions. For example, for a flow rate of two gallons per day of oil, a 4,000 foot well might start with 1,500 feet of 0.069" inner diameter tubing at the top and 2,500 feet of 0.055" inner diameter tubing on the bottom. The high pressure injection pump assures that the surface pressure will never go negative, even if the well productivity or other conditions are unknown or changing.

Abstract: In a preferred method, a spilled fluid, lighter than and immiscible with water, is removed from the subsurface by first penetrating through the fluid zone and at least partially through the groundwater zone to provide a bore in communication therewith. Then, at suitable intervals, an amount of fluid is extracted from the fluid zone through the bore at a selected rate. In addition, at suitable intervals, an amount of water from the groundwater zone is extracted through the bore at a selected rate. Meanwhile, a vacuum is applied to one or more selected portions of the subsurface to draw air therethrough, to volatilize volatilizable components of the fluid, and to induce movement of the volatile (vapor) and liquid and heavy components of the fluid into the bore for extraction.

Abstract: A submersible well probe sleeve made of a cylindrical tube attached to a submersible pump. The cylindrical tube has a number of slots exposing access to a protective pouch. Inside the protective pouch a fluid level sensing probe is placed. The fluid has access to the pouch through slots in the sleeve. Opposite the pouch at a predetermined level is a number of fluid inlet holes which provide access to the center of the cylinder by fluid in the well. The submersible pump draws fluid into the center of the cylinder past the probe. The submersible well probe sleeve provides a fixed relative position between the probe and the inlets such that the level of the well can be maintained at a precise level and the probe can be installed in the well while under the protection of the sleeve.

Abstract: An arrangement for cleaning ground water and ground region through which it passes comprises transporting unit for producing a liquid circulation between a well shaft extending in the region of contaminated ground water and the surrounding region, unit for separating the well shaft into an upper region and a lower region, a water permeable shaft wall arranged at least locally for aspiration of water from and reintroduction of water into the ground, unit for connecting the regions with one another and including a throughgoing tube in which the transporting unit operate, and unit forming filter chambers in the upper region and in the lower region of the well shaft. The filter chambers occupy the whole free cross-section of the well shaft and extend at least in the upper well region upwardly over an upper edge of the water permeable shaft wall into an outwardly closed shaft region.

Abstract: Apparatus for continuously recovering oil-only from mature wells with typically low production. The apparatus includes a continuous chain which is suspended in the oil-containing portion of the well. By continuously moving the chain, oil is drawn out of the well and deposited in a collection box.

Abstract: An arrangement for driving out of volatile impurities from ground water and a ground region through which the ground water flows has a well shaft extending to a region with contaminated ground water, and a nozzle member for introducing a gas into the ground water in the shaft. The nozzle member is formed by a sieve wall portion of the well shaft arranged above a ground water level in the ground region, so that it can be located at least partially underneath the ground water during a raising of the ground water level in the well shaft under the action of a negative pressure produced in the well shaft, and a filter insert arranged upstream of the sieve wall portion.

Abstract: A process for two phase vacuum extraction of contaminants from the ground involves vacuum withdrawal of liquid and gaseous phases as a common stream, separation of the liquid and gaseous phases, and subsequent treatment of the separated liquid and gases to produce clean effluents. Two phase vacuum extraction employs a single vacuum generating device to remove contaminants in both the liquid stream and soil gases through a single well casing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for removing contaminants from a contaminated area of the ground having a vadose zone and a water table which comprises providing a borehole in the contaminated area; placing in the borehole a perforated riser pipe inside of which is situated a vacuum extraction pipe with an opening situated near, at, or at any point below the water table within the perforated riser pipe; while introducing a gas into the riser pipe, applying a vacuum to the vacuum extraction pipe to draw gases and liquid from the soil into the perforated riser pipe and from the riser pipe into the vacuum extraction pipe and transport both the gases and the liquid to the surface as a common stream; forming from the common stream a stream which is primarily liquid and a stream which is primarily gaseous; and separately treating the separated liquid and gas streams. Also disclosed is an apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating multiple strata in a single operation from a single wellbore which penetrates a treatment interval which, in turn, includes a plurality of strata which, in turn, have different permeabilities. A treating fluid (e.g. consolidating agent, acid, etc.) is delivered directly to different levels within a section of the wellbore adjacent the interval to be treated through a plurality of alternate paths which, in turn, lie substantially adjacent to the strata to be treated.

Abstract: An arrangement drives volatile impurities from ground water and ground through which it flows by producing a negative pressure in a well shaft extending to a region of a contaminated ground water by supplying a gas in an air chamber arranged above a water level in the well shaft. The arrangement includes partitions separating a well shaft region with a water permeable shaft wall for water suction from the ground and a well shaft region for resupply of the water into the ground. The partitions are formed as a pipe. A suction pump is arranged in the water suction region of the shaft and has an outlet, and a closed water receiving chamber is arranged underneath a nozzle body. The outlet of the suction pipe is connected with the water receiving chamber.

Abstract: An arrangement for cleaning contaminated ground water and the ground through which it passes with a shaft extending to the region of the ground water to be cleaned has a shaft wall including a plurality of water permeable and water impermeable wall portions with one of the water impermeable wall portions located between water permeable wall portions, a tightly inserted partition located above a ground water level in the one water impermeable wall portion and having an opening, a throughgoing passage extending in the opening and forming a part of a flow path of a ground water and ending above a ground water level in the well shaft, a circulating pump arranged in the well shaft for circulating the ground water along the flow path, and a filter arranged in the well shaft in the flow path of the ground water circulated by the circulating pump.

Abstract: A ground subsidence wellhead has a lower wellhead assembly mounted on the ground for supporting a casing in tension and an upper wellhead assembly threaded to the top of the casing and spaced from the lower wellhead assembly. The lower assembly has a casing head with aconical bowl for receiving a slip. The slip is wedged between the casing head and casing by compression springs acting between the casing head and the slip, and has asymmetrical teeth for engaging the casing to prevent downward, but allow upward, movement of the casing in the slip.

Abstract: Surface packer and method for using the same. An annular body is mounted on the upper end of a string of casing which extends above a drilling rig platform. An annular seal is received within the body at the upper end thereof and may be sealed against the radially outer surface of a string of drill pipe which is lowered therethrough into the casing. A radial circulation port is formed in the body beneath the annular seal. In a cementing operation, a string of drill pipe is lowered in the casing to the lower end thereof and the annular seal is sealed thereagainst. The pipe-casing annulus is pressurized and cement is pumped into the drill pipe for cementing the casing into the well bore. In one embodiment, the annular seal is of the inflatable type which permits vertical and rotational manipulation of the pipe string while maintaining the seal thereagainst.

Abstract: An inexpensive oil well pumping mechanism is largely made of commercially available plastic components. An air line leads from an air compressor at the surface into the well. One or more pumps are connected to the air line and include a pneumatic displacement chamber which is arranged to fill up with formation liquids. A float inside the chamber rises when the chamber fills and trips a valve to allow compressed air entry into the chamber. The chamber accordingly empties into a conduit leading toward the surface.

Abstract: Apparatus for injecting high-temperature steam at a selected mass flow rate into a plurality of vertically spaced production formations of a subterranean well comprises a plurality of choke devices connected in series relationship in a tubing string extending to the well surface. Each choke device is positioned immediately above or adjacent to a production formation and defines a flow diversion device which extracts a predetermined portion of steam flow from the main steam flow, moving downwardly through the tubing string and directs such diverted steam portion into the inlet chamber of a Venturi passage. The steam is accelerated by the Venturi passage to its critical mass flow rate and is discharged into the production formation. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the Venturi passage is connected in series with a fluid mixing apparatus which effects an intimate mixture of vapor and water components of the steam.

Abstract: A continuous obstruction monitor for well logging drill strings including a well logging instrument at the forward end thereof transports the logging instrument through an earth borehole while continuously monitoring for obstructions. An outer tubular housing is connected at its upper end to the drill string and a piston therein is connected to the upper portion of the logging instrument. The housing has a variable volume greater than the volume of an equal length of the drill string. The piston is electrically connected to the surface. A latch retains the piston in the lower portion of the housing, and releases it when an obstruction is encountered. The outer housing moves downward relative to the piston to a point where a sealing surface at the mid portion of the housing shuts off fluid flow below the piston and causing the drilling fluid to rise within drill string to be detected at the surface.

Abstract: A technique for liquid treating a geological formation comprises spraying the liquid with a pressurized carrier gas, using a spraying pipe whose length and diameter are adjusted as a function of the pressure prevailing at the level of the formation and of the characteristics of the injected liquid and the pressurized carrier gas, so that the size of the liquid droplets at the outlet of the spraying pipe has a narrow range of distribution about a single preselected value.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for introducing fluid into a wellbore through use of a multi-channel conduit.

Abstract: A subsurface well bore completion assembly without convention inflatable or cup packer elements. The completion is effected by cementing a member having an internal sealing surface in place within the well then running tubing string terminating with a sealing adapter having matching sealing face into the cemented member and sealing said well by pressing the surface and face together under the weight of the tubing string.

Abstract: A technique for liquid treating a geological formation comprises spraying the liquid with a pressurized carrier gas, using a spraying pipe whose length and diameter are adjusted as a function of the pressure prevailing at the level of the formation and of the characteristics of the injected liquid and the pressurized carrier gas, so that the size of the liquid droplets at the outlet of the spraying pipe has a narrow range of distribution about a single preselected value.

Abstract: A system and method of moving near-surface water to a deep water aquifer at a high rate of transfer and with no external energy sources, and which additionally generates excess energy available for other uses. The system comprises at least one deep well into the deep aquifer and one or more shallow wells into a near-surface water table aquifer having siphon pipes from the shallow wells to the deep well. Siphon action is initiated resulting in a continuing flow of water from the shallow wells to the deep well. A water-driven turbine is disposed in the deep well above its tail water level and below the lower end of the siphon tubes. The water flow operates the turbine and the turbine shaft drives an external vacuum pump. Each shallow well has a closed top plate, and suction from the vacuum pump is applied through the top plate, holding the water level above its normal point increasing the draw down.

Abstract: An electro-pneumatic or electro-hydraulic safety system for shutting in a well or the like in the event of unusual pressure conditions in the production line of the well. The safety system includes a pressure transducer (30) which senses the flowline pressure and provides a corresponding electrical signal to a digital controller (34). When the signal applied to the controller is outside of a preset range defined between low and high settings of the controller, a control circuit deenergizes a solenoid valve which bleeds fluid from a fluid actuator in order to close a surface safety valve (10). Once the safety valve has closed, the controller is latched out of service and must be manually reset before the safety valve can be opened. For protection of a subsurface safety valve (155), the safety system provides a time delay between opening of the subsurface valve and opening of the surface valve and also between closing of the surface valve and closing of the subsurface valve.

Abstract: A combination structure adapted for use in a catalytic process for stimulating the recovery of hydrocarbons from porous and permeable hydrocarbon bearing strata in earth formations utilizing at least one injection well and at least one production well both completed in said hydrocarbon bearing strata and a finely divided hydrocarbon cracking catalyst which is delivered by and through said structural combination of parts and elements to said strata by injection gas controlled at suitable pressure, temperature and O.sub.2 content to promote and advance in place catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons and catalyst regeneration within said strata to be produced by utilizing said combination structure or its equivalent.

Abstract: A conventional logging instrument is adapted to traverse a slanted or deviated earth borehole on the end of a conventional logging cable. A heavy, streamlined sinker bar is adapted to be fitted over the cable and to slide freely thereon. Upper and lower stop clamps, separated by approximately 100 feet of cable, are provided on the cable with the lower stop clamp being located approximately 200 feet above the logging instrument. The sinker bar is adapted to slide freely between the upper and lower stop clamps. Since it is unlikely that the logging tool and the sinker bar will become stuck at the same time in a highly deviated borehole, one of two things can happen. If the sinker bar becomes stuck, the cable passes freely through the center of the sinker bar without impeding the logging tool until the upper clamp reaches the limit of its travel. If at that point the logging instrument is descending freely, it can dislodge the sinker bar with a gravitational force.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a fluid carrier recovery system for recovering oil and like liquid deposits from an underground source wherein the oil is deposited in an unpumpable form and wherein the oil is recovered by directing into the oil deposit a carrier which will fill a large volume of the oil deposit and which will flow upwardly through a flow passage in the earth to a location adjacent or above the surface of the earth, followed by the introduction into the lower part of such volume of a solvent for the oil, the solvent having a lesser specific gravity than the carrier and being operative on the oil to form oil-solvent droplets which float in the carrier and flow to the top of the flow passage for recovery. The carrier is preferably water and the solvent may be an inexpensive mineral spirit immiscible with water.

Abstract: A standing valve wash-out tool comprises:A. a vertically elongated tubular body,B. elastomer cup means on the body to engage a well tubing bore as the body travels lengthwise within said bore in response to fluid pressure exertion on the cup means exteriorly of the body,C. the body having a fluid pressure inlet above the cup means, there being a frangible plug within the body blocking fluid pressure flow downwardly through the body, andD. a seat on the body proximate the lower end thereof and sized to land on sand containing means, whereby application of sufficient fluid pressure within the body will rupture said plug and pass downwardly through the body and outwardly below said seat to wash sand from said sand containing means.

Abstract: A method for determining when formation fluids enter the borehole during drilling of a well wherein a bypass is provided in the drill string above the back pressure valve and the pressure at the surface downstream of the mud pump is determined.

Abstract: An impingement device in a side pocket mandrel or other downhole tools for injecting a predetermined quality of steam in one or more zones of a formation. The impingement device directs and mixes the laminae of hot fluid and vapor and a valve in a valve pocket controls the flow of steam to the zone from the side pocket mandrel or other downhole tools. Along with the impingement device, a centralizer to guide tools through the impingement device and to cause a pressure change and dispersion of the steam; and an agitation device to amalgamate the steam may be used if further blending is required.