Abstract: A latching system has a latch body, a latch carrier and two latch dogs. The latch dogs are retained in the latch carrier by two pins. The latch carrier is located within the latch body. The latch body has slots through which the latch dogs can extend. The pins pass through both latch dogs and through longitudinal slots in the latch carrier. The pins are fixed at their opposite ends to the latch body. When the latch carrier is moved axially the latch dogs move parallel to each other between: a latching position where the latch dogs extend from the latch body and latch carrier and can engage a latching mechanism; and a release position where the latch dogs retract inwardly.

Abstract: A coring method and apparatus is provided for extracting a core sample from a subterranean formation and/or drilling a hydrocarbon well, the coring apparatus having: a pneumatic reciprocating hammer having a first end for operatively connecting the pneumatic reciprocating hammer to a drill string, a second end having a hammer bit and a reciprocating piston for reciprocating the hammer bit; and a coring member operatively connected to the pneumatic reciprocation hammer, the coring member comprising an impact anvil and a hollow coring barrel forming an internal longitudinal chamber for accommodating the core sample, the coring barrel positioned below the impact anvil; whereby when the hammer bit strikes the impact anvil, the coring barrel is driven into the formation and the core sample is extracted into the internal longitudinal chamber of the coring barrel.

Abstract: A coring system may be used to create a lateral section or borehole off a wellbore, and obtain a core sample therefrom. The coring system may include a coring assembly connected to a deflector assembly to enable a single-trip coring operation. The coring assembly may include a coring bit and an outer barrel for extracting a core sample. A deflector of the deflector assembly may direct the coring bit to drill a lateral section in the borehole and extract a core sample therefrom. The coring assembly and deflector may include mating surfaces to collectively retrieve the deflector assembly and coring assembly in a single trip. A collar of the coring assembly may engage against a stop surface of a shoulder or sleeve of the deflector assembly. By pulling upwardly, the engaged collar may release the anchored deflector.

Abstract: A coring system and method enable a single-trip operation for setting a deflector assembly, deploying a coring assembly and obtaining a core sample from a borehole drilled in a wellbore. The coring assembly has a barrel with a bore for collecting the core sample and has a coring bit coupled to an end portion of the barrel. The deflector system is arranged to deflect the coring bit into a side wall of the wellbore to drill the borehole therein. The deflector system includes a deflector and a collar. The collar, coupled to the deflector, restricts upward movement of the coring assembly relative to the deflector assembly. The collar may also be used as a retrieval device to engage the coring assembly and permit removal of the coring assembly and the deflector assembly as well as the core sample after the core sample has been obtained.

Abstract: An example coring tool includes a cylindrical body having a leading edge to contact a substance and a cavity defined at least in part by an inner surface of the cylindrical body. The inner surface is to engage and retain a sample from the substance with a plurality of raised features. The raised features are shaped so that at least one of the raised features or an exterior surface of a sample in the cavity deforms to increase a force required to remove the sample from the cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting core samples includes an outer tube having an open end and a cover removably mounted to the open end; a core tube slidable into and out of the outer tube when the cover is removed from the outer tube; and a supporting structure between the core tube and the outer tube. The supporting structure supports the core tube within the outer tube with the core tube spaced from contact with an inner wall of the outer tube.

Abstract: A coring method and apparatus is provided for extracting a core sample from a subterranean formation and/or drilling a hydrocarbon well, the coring apparatus having: a pneumatic reciprocating hammer having a first end for operatively connecting the pneumatic reciprocating hammer to a drill string, a second end having a hammer bit and a reciprocating piston for reciprocating the hammer bit; and a coring member operatively connected to the pneumatic reciprocation hammer, the coring member comprising an impact anvil and a hollow coring barrel forming an internal longitudinal chamber for accommodating the core sample, the coring barrel positioned below the impact anvil; whereby when the hammer bit strikes the impact anvil, the coring barrel is driven into the formation and the core sample is extracted into the internal longitudinal chamber of the coring barrel.

Abstract: A sponge core barrel for use in performing sponge coring and methods of assembling the sponge core barrel, as well as methods of performing sponge coring. The sponge core barrel includes an outer barrel assembly, a core bit secured to a lower end thereof, and an inner barrel assembly disposed therein. The inner barrel assembly may comprise multiple, sponge-lined inner tube sections and may also include a near-bit swivel assembly. The sponge core barrel may include a piston assembly configured to be released by contact with a core sample without imparting high compressive forces to the core. The sponge core barrel may also include a pressure compensation mechanism and, optionally, a thermal compensation mechanism cooperatively configured to maintain the pressure of pre-saturation fluid. The sponge core barrel may also include a valve assembly enabling the make-up and pre-saturation of multiple, sections of inner tube to form a single, continuous chamber.

Abstract: A cutting apparatus for use in a sampler is disclosed. The cutting apparatus includes an extension tube having a round unit on a bottom side of the extension tube; a cutting ring located in a bottom portion of a protecting tube; a guide tube which is internally equipped within the cutting ring; a plurality of cutters equipped to an outside of the cutting ring for closing a bottom portion of the sampling tube when the cutting ring is pulled by uplifting an up-lifting rod of the sampler, wherein a plurality of the cutters are uplifted followed by the guide tube and bended according the round unit in order to be gathered and closed; and a connection means for fixing a plurality of the cutters on the cutting ring. A sampler having the cutting apparatus can gather a sample of un-cohesive soil such as a sandy soil without spilling.

Abstract: An in situ reactor for use in a geological strata, is described and which includes a liner defining a centrally disposed passageway and which is placed in a borehole formed in the geological strata; and a sampling conduit is received within the passageway defined by the liner and which receives a geological specimen which is derived from the geological strata, and wherein the sampling conduit is in fluid communication with the passageway defined by the liner.

Abstract: A pressure and temperature core sampler comprises a tool for recovering cores specifically enabling the evaluation of methane hydrate resources. Because methane hydrate tends to decompose under conditions of pressure decrease and/or temperature increase as the samples are retrieved to the surface, a coring tool in accordance with the present invention provides a self-contained system for retrieving core samples at or near in situ pressure while cooling the core sample. The coring tool is preferably a wire line retrievable device that provides for nearly continuous coring during the drilling operation.

Abstract: A large diameter sampler for gathering an undisturbed sample includes an outer tube provided with a bit on a bottom portion thereof for excavating a ground, wherein the outer tube is rotated by applying an outer power for penetrating into the ground; unit for protecting a sample from a disturbance generated by a rotating excavation of the bit, wherein the protecting unit is located the bottom portion of the outer tube, internally, and is penetrated into the ground by weight; a sampling tube for locating the sample pulled-out by self-gravity of the protecting unit; a cutting unit for sheltering a bottom portion of the sampling tube for protecting spilling of the gathered sample, wherein the cutting unit is equipped within the protecting unit and cutting the sample pulled-out by the sample protecting unit; unit for up-lifting the sampling tube and the protecting unit by applying an up-lift force from an operating device which is located on the ground; and an outer rod for connecting the outer tube and a boring

Abstract: A pressure and temperature core sampler comprises a tool for recovering cores specifically enabling the evaluation of methane hydrate resources. Because methane hydrate tends to decompose under conditions of pressure decrease and/or temperature increase as the samples are retrieved to the surface, a coring tool in accordance with the present invention provides a self-contained system for retrieving core samples at or near in situ pressure while cooling the core sample. The coring tool is preferably a wire line retrievable device that provides for nearly continuous coring during the drilling operation.

Abstract: A drilling tool, for example a core barrel inner tube assembly, includes a latch body mounting latches for movement into a latch seat to removably retain the assembly adjacent to a drill string bit end and to impart rotary movement to the latch body as the drill string is rotated. A spindle subassembly is connected to the axial inner end of the latch body, to in turn, mount a vibrational subassembly for imparting axial reciprocal movement to a core receiving tube as the drill string is rotated to facilitate entry of core into the tube. The vibrational assembly converts rotary motion of the spindle subassembly to axial reciprocal movement of the core receiving tube while the core receiving tube is not being rotated but is moved axially inwardly over the core.

Abstract: The present invention is a soil sampling probe where a conical piston is kept at the opening to the sampling container by a first threaded portion near the top of the piston rod which engages a threaded opening near the top end of the container. With the piston in this position the probe is more streamlined to reduce the required driving force. When the desired depth is reached, the piston rod is rotated until the first threaded portion of the piston rod is disengaged from the threaded opening at the top end of the container. The piston is then raised until a second threaded portion of the piston rod, near the piston itself, engages a threaded lock ring near the top end of the container. Thus the piston is locked in place near the top of the container. The container is then further inserted to take the core sample.

Abstract: Core samples are obtained through production wells by inserting a milling tool through the production tubing string on the distal end of coilable tubing to mill out a window in the well casing. The milling tool is deflected by a whipstock set in the casing at a predetermined point and encased in cement which, upon setting, is bored to form a pilot bore for the milling tool. A fluid-motor-driven core barrel is provided on the end of the tubing after the milling operation is complete and core drilling is carried out in an underbalanced condition by reducing wellbore pressure through a gas lift so as to minimize core invasion by wellbore fluids including spent milling motor and core drilling motor fluids.

Abstract: Core samples are obtained through production wells by inserting a milling tool through the production tubing string on the distal end of coilable tubing to mill out a window in the well casing. The milling tool is deflected by a whipstock set in the casing at a predetermined point and encased in cement which, upon setting, is bored to form a pilot bore for the milling tool. A fluid-motor-driven core barrel is run into the well on the coilable tubing after the milling operation is complete and core drilling is carried out in an underbalanced condition by reducing wellbore pressure through gas lift so as to minimize core invasion by wellbore fluids, including spent core drilling fluids.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a novel method and apparatus for sinking drill holes in underground rock formations while generating drill cores as rock samples. More particularly, the present invention discloses a method and apparatus which allows for an expanded analysis of ground formations over a larger area through the extraction of drill cores as rock samples. The method and apparatus herein disclosed allows one to drill a number of core shaft sections from the base of a main shaft section in various directions in order to obtain a number of sample cores.

Abstract: A core sampling device comprising a drill bit assembly, a drive shoe arranged to house the drill bit, a core sampling tube and a retraction tube. The drill bit assembly includes a bit housing, which is drivingly engaged by the drive shoe, and a series of drill segments which are pivotally attached to the housing to be capable of pivoting between a drilling position and a retracted position. The segments are maintained in the drilling position by the core sampling tube when this is in a forward position, but are allowed to adopt the retracted position when the sampling tube is withdrawn. The core sampling tube engages the drill bit assembly via the retraction tube whereby continued withdrawal of the core sampling tube causes withdrawal of the drill bit assembly from within the drive shoe.

Abstract: A simple low-cost and highly passive bitless nonrotational nondeviating jam-proof thin-kerf Newtonian hydraulics retrievable core-sampling method and apparatus that advances its circular core kerf through the rock by a combination of high-pressure droplet-impact and abrasive particle-jet effects, and which is independent of the weight of any drillpipe, drill collars, or any other heavy cylindrical conduit or tubular conduit associated with the coring operation. The Newtonian hydraulics features high-pressure solids-free fresh water or solution-weighted brine as the drilling fluid, which excavates rock along the inner periphery of the circular core kerf by droplet-impact effects of the high-pressure and high-velocity circular sheet of drilling fluid and by the abrasive particle-jet effects of the deflected drilling fluid and excavated rock particles along the outer periphery of the circular core kerf.

Abstract: A low-cost retrievable light-weight high-speed thin-kerf reversible electrically-driven core-sampling method and apparatus that is independent of the weight of any drill pipe, drill collars, or any other heavy cylindrical or tubular conduit associated with the coring operation. The flow direction of electric current to the direct-current electric motor of the core-sampling assembly is automatically reversed at frequent intervals so as to cause corresponding reversals in the direction of rotation of its core bit, resulting in the cancellation of any lateral forces on the core bit produced by reactive torque created during the coring operation, since such forces are alternately applied in opposite directions, thus, eliminating any corehole deviation that, otherwise, might occur from the lateral force created by the reactive torque of a down-hole motor that is rotated in just one direction.

Abstract: An improved anti-jamming mechanism for use in a coring tool is devised by providing a rotary jar within the inner barrel of the coring tool. The inner barrel is connected to a bearing assembly into which a bearing shaft is axially and concentrically disposed. The bearing assembly is rotatably journaled to the bearing shaft. The bearing shaft is rotatably and longitudinally fixed with respect to the outer barrel of the coring tool. The bearing shaft and bearing assembly are longitudinally displaceable with respect to each other by Bellville washers. The bearing assembly also includes a rotary anvil which is ultimately brought into contact with a rotary hammer which in turn is fixed with respect to the outer barrel. An impulsive torsional and longitudinal force is imparted by the rotary hammer to the rotary anvil through the resilient coupling between the bearing shaft and bearing assembly disposed within the inner barrel.

Abstract: In a rotary table driven hollow auger type sampling device, a rod is mounted at an end above the rotary table to be substantially fixed against rotation, but for axial movement. The rod extends through a hollow spindle driven by the table, and is fixedly mounted below the table to the upper end of a thin wall sampling tube mounted within a hollow auger to project a short distance below the lower end of the auger. The rod, hence the sampling tube, is forced downwardly with the auger, but is positively restrained from rotation.

Abstract: The disclosure includes additional features of the apparatus and technique disclosed in Applicant's U.S. application Ser. No. 575,429. For example, in one embodiment, the motor is adapted to drive a rotary drill rod of the type mentioned in the foregoing Application, but wherein the abutment on the rod opens into the working face of the bit; and the anvil member in the motor has a bit on the distal end thereof which is adapted to insert into the opening of the abutment when said end of the anvil member is engaged with the abutment, and the anvil member is relatively rotatably interconnected with the piston member and has means on the periphery thereof for interengaging with the rod to undergo conjoint rotation therewith. Manipulatively, the additional features include a process wherein an inner bit is inserted in the opening of the abutment, having an anvil on the relatively rear end portion thereof, and the anvil is engaged with the abutment and the inner bit with the rod to rotate in conjunction therewith.