Abstract: A device for use during operation of a borehole survey probe or the like. The device is attachable to a flexible cable which in turn is connected to the survey probe, and the device includes an outer sealing or swab member and an interior valve. The valve and sealing member cooperate during pumping of the survey probe down through a conduit, and the valve opens during retrieval of the survey probe so that fluid in the conduit passes through the device as the survey probe is removed.

Abstract: A wellhead lubricator comprising a housing arranged for vertically extending attachment to a wellhead assembly and having a wireline for supporting a wireline tool therein and passing the wireline tool in and out of the well to the point of attachment to the wellhead; a laterally extending portion of the housing forming a part of the chamber of the housing; a longitudinally extending portion extending from the laterally extending portion and having an opening for passage of a wireline tool therethrough while the housing remains attached to the wellhead; a cap for closing the tool opening; a guide supported in the housing and shiftable between a first position for guiding the wireline tool in and out of the well through the point of attachment to the wellhead and a second position for guiding the wireline tool to the longitudinally extending portion; a spring-actuated valve member for urging the guide to the second position for guiding the wireline tool to the longitudinally extending portion; and a fluid-actu

Abstract: An improved method of setting a packer in a geothermal well bore under pressure to allow isolation of the wellhead valve including the steps of connecting a lubricator to the wellhead above the valve with the improved packer of the present invention in the lubricator and with a string extending into the lubricator to connect to the packer, running the packer into the well bore below the valve, releasing the packer to allow well pressure to move the packer to set position, disconnecting and recovering the running string, removing the lubricator, repairing or replacing the valve attaching the lubricator, running and connecting the string to the set packer, equalizing pressure across the packer, unsetting the slips and recovering the packer from the well bore.

Abstract: An improvement in a launcher for launching spheroid pigs one at a time into a pipeline, having a downward sloping barrel magazine for holding a multiplicity of spheroid pigs and having a closable fluid tight opening for loading the pigs on the breech end and a full bore opening valve on the muzzle end in fluid communication with a pipeline, is characterized by apparatus situated in the barrel magazine upstream of the full bore valve for releasing the pigs one at a time into the pipeline from the magazine.

Abstract: Drilling muds and waste fluids pumped to reserve pits and other on-site locations during drilling operations are recycled to the drilled well after the drilling operation is terminated and after the rig is removed from the site of the driling operations. The well is then plugged and abandoned without a rig on location.

Abstract: A cementing plug container for enclosing and injecting cementing plugs into the casing of an oil or gas well to reduce contamination on the interface between the well fluid and the cement, which container includes a shaped housing containing one or more plugs, a plug release mechanism for each plug, which release mechanism is characterized by an air cylinder and a cooperating plug support and release assembly which function to drop the plug or plugs from an upper interior segment of the housing into a lower interior segment or bore responsive to operation of the cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a ball catcher having a housing which may contain a stinger, baffles, or both such features therein.

Abstract: A pumpdown system in which the pistons providing for movement of the train into and out of the well do not travel down into the tubing below the wellhead and are connected to tools through reach rods extending down into the tubing. The cathead effect resulting from working around the loop with pistons is minimized by guides which substantially center the pistons in the loop and in the preferred form by the use of straight sections of the loop.

Abstract: A valve supporting tubular assembly capable of being mounted on a geothermal well head, with the tubular assembly of such structure that an internal plug that supports resilient packers and has circumferentially extending teeth defined thereon may be removably locked in a first position to seal the interior of the tubular assembly above the outlets to the valves, the plug may also be moved longitudinally in the tubular assembly to scrape solids deposited on the interior surface thereof by geothermal fluids, and the plug may also be moved to a second position to pack off the interior of the tubular assembly below the valve outlets to permit the valves to be moved or maintenance work performed thereon without shutting down the geothermal well. In addition, the plug is provided with means to equalize the pressure above and below the plug in the tubular assembly to permit the plug and components situated thereabove to be removed from the tubular assembly.

Abstract: A cementing head is disclosed, which is particularly designed for injecting an omega-type cementing plug into a well casing. Prior to cementing, the plug is retained in a housing. Located above the plug is a movable plunger, actuated by an operating fluid, such as hydraulic fluid. Below the plug is a control valve. When the valve is closed, it prevents any accidental downward movement of the plug into the well casing. Following injection of the cement slurry into the casing, the valve is opened, and the plunger is moved down to push the plug through the valve and beyond the cement inlet. A fluid such as water is passed through the cement inlet, under pressure, to push the plug down the casing behind the cement slurry.

Abstract: A flowline switching apparatus having a tubular housing with end closures and a drum rotatably mounted therein with a passage through the drum aligned with a port in one end closure and positioned to sequentially align with each of a plurality of ports in the other end closure as said drum is rotated, a power cylinder connected to said housing and having a plunger with a ratchet pawl for rotating said drum, a second power cylinder connected to said housing with a plunger adapted to engage sequentially in recesses in the exterior of said drum to lock the drum in preselected positions of passage-port alignment, a third power cylinder connected to the housing with a plunger adapted to engage sequentially in recesses of varying depth on the exterior of said drum to indicate the position of the drum and means balancing fluid pressure between the interior and exterior and between opposite ends of said drum.

Abstract: Cementing plug container having improved fluid inlets thereto.

Abstract: A through the flowline or "TFL" tool selector has a base provided with a number of spaced flowline ports and a diverter tube shiftably mounted in a housing for selective communication with the flowline ports. The base is mounted on a remotely operable connector, and the assembly is lowered onto a template beneath the sea having conduits aligned with the selector ports when the assembly is connected to the template. The inlet conduit loop of the selector assembly is also connected to an inlet conduit on the template. The connector is remotely operated to mechanically lock the selector apparatus in place.

Abstract: A diverter device for use in directing pumpdown or through the flowline (TFL) tools through a connector joining a main flowline to at least one branch flowline. The diverter member is pivoted by operation of a removable operator to allow movement of the tool string through a selected branch of the connector. A sealing system allows removal of the operator without having to depressurize the flowlines joined at the connector. The manual operator can be easily padlocked in position. The hydraulic operator provides a rugged, reliable mechanism to translate linear movement of a hydraulic piston into rotary movement of the diverter.

Abstract: A plunger lift system used in wells having a tubing string disposed within casing. An improved plunger catcher and trip assembly is provided within the wellhead to hold the plunger in its upper position while lift gas escapes from the tubing string through the wellhead and formation fluids form a new slug in the lower end of the tubing string. The new system incorporates a conventional mechanical timer or controller to allow simple adjustments to obtain the most efficient product rate from each individual well. The controller determines the time interval during which lift gas is injected into the annulus between the casing and tubing and the time interval during which the plunger is held within the wellhead by the catcher and trip assembly.

Abstract: A cylindrical body defines a through passage for a pipe bailer and its contents, and a side exit for the contents. A circular concave element is fixed adjacent its perimeter to a shaft journaled in the cylinder body transverse the through passage and below the side exit, for swinging the circular concave element upwardly to close the through passage and simultaneously engage a "stinger" to trip a bottom valve in the bailer and thereby releasing the contents on and into the circular concave element for channeling to and out of the side exit, and for swinging the circular concave element downwardly to open the through passage for the travel of the pipe bailer up and down the shallow well. A crank is fixed to the shaft and actuated by a hydraulic cylinder controlled by limit switches responsive to bailer travel.

Abstract: A new and improved apparatus and method for cementing casings in wells that is particularly advantageous for use in subsea wells. The cementing plug apparatus contains the cementing plugs which are released by a predetermined manipulation of the support string for the apparatus. Inadvertent or premature release of the cementing plug is prevented by a telescoping tubular stinger member which protects the cementing plugs from circulation flow.

Abstract: Improved apparatus for isolating a production tubing string in an oil well from the control head whereby pressures higher than the pressure of the control head may be applied through the production tubing string to the producing formation. The apparatus utilizes an outer housing with a telescoping inner mandrel and seals therebetween, with the outer housing being adapted for connection to the control head and the inner mandrel being capable of moving into the control head to make a fluid-tight sealed connection with the production tubing thereby isolating the control head from the higher pressure being applied through the tubing into the formation.

Abstract: Well apparatus is disclosed in which an inner member is adapted to be sealed with respect to an outer member by means of a seal ring of elastomeric material surrounding the inner member for movement from a first position about a first cylindrical surface in which its outer diameter is spaced from a cylindrical bore in the outer member, and a second position about a second, larger cylindrical surface in which its inner and outer diameters are sealably engaged with said second surface and bore in the outer member, respectively.

Abstract: A cementing head for use in the cementing of casing in a wellbore, wherein means are provided internally of a tubular housing for normally directing drilling fluid or mud through the cementing head prior to introducing cement therethrough, and wherein cement control means are also disposed internally of the tubular housing for regulating and controlling the introduction of a first cementing plug in advance of cement, followed by a second cement plug, and with means for thereafter pumping drilling fluid or mud down to wash out the cement from the cementing head while forcing the second cementing plug down the casing above the cement.