Other

Norton Christensen, Inc.

Christensen, Inc.

Japan National Oil Corporation

Eastman Christensen

Craig R Hyland

James T Aumann

Steven R Radford

Alfred Ostertag

John S Davis

Lawrence Frear

Robert E Iversen

Kenneth D Enever

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.

Method and apparatus for recovering core samples under pressure

Apparatus for recovering core samples at in situ conditions

Method and apparatus for transferring core sample from core retrieval chamber under pressure for transport

Apparatus for recovering core samples under pressure

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 surfaces 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.

The present invention is included in an operating assembly for lowering into a wellbore on a wireline, tubular conveyance, or the like, or for use in a horizontal application, for initiating or setting off pyrotechnic, explosive, or propellant elements of that operating assembly, and comprises a firing head and an initiation assembly that are arranged for lowering into the wellbore, from a well head. The firing head provides for the extension of a striker plunger therefrom that travels into the initiating assembly to both arm it and to impact a piezoelectric device therein whose deformation generates an electrical current which fires an array of flashbulbs that excite a laser rod. The excited laser rod produces a laser beam that is passed through a fiberoptic cable or is split to pass through a plurality of fiberoptic cables to detonate initiation charges or to provide a cascading initiation of a number of initiation devices that each fire single or multiple pyrotechnic, explosive or propellant elements individually or in a cascading action.

System for the initiation of downhole explosive and propellant systems

An improved universal ball joint especially adapted to be used in the transmission of high torque, as in oil field use, includes a driving and driven shaft. One of the shafts, which may be the driving shaft includes a spherical ball received in a housing provided in the other shaft, which may be the driven shaft. The opposed surfaces of the ball and housing include axially extending grooves of essentially the same depth and length forming therebetween a plurality of chambers. Each chamber receives a pin which is tapered at each end and which forms the driving connection between the shafts. The shafts and the ball may include a bore for flow of fluid through the assembly, the ball being sealed in the ball chamber by seals to provide a sealed ball chamber which may be filled with lubricant, the ball being seated on a bearing and retained in the chamber by a retainer member which prevents relative axial movement between the shafts. Various forms are described including arrangements for flexible drill strings, reamer/stabilizer combination, mill tool combination and an arrangement for use in converting eccentric rotation to concentric rotation for use in a downhole motor.

Universal ball joint

A nozzle retention system for a drill bit which includes a nozzle member which is retained by means of a keyway in the bit body. The bit body can include a partially cylindrical bore, truncated by opposing walls to form a lower contact surface within the bit body. The nozzle will be conformed to pass through the bore in a first orientation, and to be retained in the bore and against such contact surface when the nozzle is rotated to the second orientation.

Nozzle retention system for a drill bit

A direct acting slug and wipe tool for use in drill pipe in drilling operations effects a cleaning operation by placing a rib inflated bladder in contact with the inside surface of a drill pipe in connection with a free floating pneumatic chamber. The inflatable bladder is toroidal and circumferentially disposed about and communicates with a sealed and closed chamber filled with a fixed amount or mass of gas. Weights may be added to the wiper in order to fix its equilibrium floating position. The wiper with the inflatable bladder is able to wipe the interior of the drill pipe even through those portions having a reduced inner diameter, such as at the drill pipe joints. Thus, as the drill pipe is tripped, the slug and wipe tool is longitudinally displaced with respect to the drill pipe through a plurality of drill pipe sections. In a second embodiment, a plurality or pair of intercommunicating ribbed inflatable bladders are circumferentially attached to the sealed and closed chamber thereby allowing one bladder to expand in a portion of the drill pipe having a normal sized diameter as the other bladder is simultaneously compressed when passing through a restricted diameter.

Automatic drill pipe inside wiper

A mechanism for catching and holding a core within an inner tube in a drill string includes a slidable core catcher and a full closure core catcher. The slidable core catcher is disposed within the inner tube and is coupled to an inner tube ring concentrically mounted on the outside of the inner tube. The inner tube ring and the slidable core catcher are connected to each other by means of a shear pin slidable within a slot defined in the inner tube. An outer tube ring is connected to the outer tube concentrically disposed about the inner tube. When the outer tube ring contacts the inner tube ring as the inner tube is lifted, the inner tube ring is moved downwardly with respect to the inner tube, thereby pulling the core catcher with it. As the core catcher moves downwardly it is compressed by an inside conical surface provided near the end of the inner tube. This serves to effectuate operation of the slideable core catcher. As the slidable core catcher is moved downwardly its upper edge will clear the lower surfaces of a spring loaded full closure catcher which is formed in the shape of a cusped flapper valve. Thus, when the slidable core catcher has been longitudinally displaced with respect to the inner tube by a predetermined distance the full closure catcher will, in the case of an unconsolidated core, close completely and thereby retain the unconsolidated core within the inner tube.

Externally powered core catcher

A self powered downhole tool anchor device (10) preattached to a downhole tool (T) and unitarily supported by a drill string (DS) for a single trip into a well bore, actuated by forceful engagement with the bottom or plug (P) in the well bore and attachment to a well bore casing (C). The anchor device comprises an inner mandrel (20) and lower cone (34) containing a piston (30) and fluid (F) for axially displacing an outer mandrel and piston (44) connected thereto by shear screws (46). An upper cone (20) on the outer mandrel is connected by shear pins to a slip housing (50) containing radially expandable slips (38) keyed to the lower cone (34). A self contained power supply (PS) of combustible material (M) is ignited by a firing pin (90) striking a primer igniter (I) and generates gas pressure applied to the piston 30 and fluid (F) to shear pin (46) and axially displace the outer mandrel and piston (44) upper cone (40) slip housing (50 ) slips (38) and ratchet ring (62) relative to inner mandrel (20) and cone (34). Screws (52) are then sheared off releasing upper cone (40) from slip housing (50) and allowing relative displacement therebetween to radially expand slips (38) into gripping engagement with the well bore casing (C). A mechanical firing mechanism includes a preloaded compressed spring (100) actuated hammer (98) retained against a spring housing (102) and in a cocked firing position by a shear pin (101) extending from an outer housing (96). A trigger (108) engaged by the spring housing (102) has a foot (110) which engages the bottom of or plug (P) in the well bore. Lowering of a predetermined amount of weight of the assembled unit causes pin (101) to shear and release the hammer (98) which strikes and propels the firing pin into the igniter capsule I.

Self powered downhole tool anchor

A core barrel flushing device and method is disclosed particularly for flushing drilling fluid, mud and other undesirable material from a pressure core barrel downhole at existing conditions and pressure. The flushing device (F) comprises an outer barrel attachable to the drill string and core barrel (10), and an inner barrel (90) within the outer barrel (70). A sealed chamber (C) within the outer barrel (70) contains a piston (114) and flushing medium (M) displacable from the chamber (C) and into the core barrel during forceful displacement of the piston following actuation of the flushing device. Actuation of the flushing device is initiated by means (B) passed down the drill string into engagement with actuating means (94) allowing displacement of the piston and flushing medium from the chamber into the core barrel. Tripping means (112) are also disclosed responsive to the final movement of the piston to actuate, and seal the flushed pressure core barrel (10) and core sample (51) therein downhole.

Growing community of inventors

Magna, UT, United States of America

Craig R Hyland