Otis Engineering Corporation

Other

Sedco, Inc.

Subsea Equipment Associates Limited

Donald F Taylor

William G Boyle

John H Yonker

Larry C Wortham

Thomas Wayne Ray

Joseph L Pearce

Oliver W McCracken

James H Bostock

Carlos E Montgomery

Rene H Coulboy

Jacques M Pernet

A hydroponic growing system is disclosed herein. The hydroponic growing system includes a plurality of plant containers, a nutrient reservoir, a nutrient control tower, a plumbing means, a pump, and an overflow tube. The hydroponic growing system is useful for pumping a nutrient solution to the plurality of plant containers from the nutrient reservoir. A method is also disclosed herein.

Hydroponic growing system and method

An electronic recording device and multiple sensors for measuring various parameters at locations remote from the recording device. The multiple sensors can be joined together to comprise a downhole tool for measuring various parameters within a well bore and transmitting information concerning each parameter to the recording device via a single conductor electrical wireline. The embodiment disclosed within this patent measures the parameters of pressure, temperature, flow rate plus direction, and collar location. A wide variety of sensors can be included within the downhole tool to measure additional parameters as desired. This invention allows the multiple sensors to measure various parameters at any location remote from the recording device and to transmit information concerning each parameter to the recording device on single conductor electrical line as a composite signal.

Electronic well tools and multi-channel recorder

A submergible pump installation for wells comprising a submergible pump assembly adapted to be landed in position within the well bore for pumping well fluids to the surface, together with a safety system for the well including a subsurface valve or valves for maintaining the well under control as the pump is run into and removed from the well. At least one subsurface valve of the system is hydraulically actuated by the discharge pressure of the pump with the pressure fluid being conducted to the valve by a conducting means located exteriorly of the pump housing. The invention also contemplates the use of a novel poppet-type subsurface valve which may be suitably pressure balanced so that it is capable of being actuated by relatively low hydraulic control pressure supplied by the pump.

Submergible pump installation

A valve for automatically dumping a load of solids entrained within a fluid transport medium in response to flow interruption is disclosed. The automatic dump valve is particularly well-suited for use in combination with a module transport riser in deep ocean mining operations. The automatic dump valve system is combined with a tubular conduit defining a longitudinally extending flow passage having a sidewall opening defining a dump port. The automatic dump valve assemby includes a movable dump port cover plate and a hydraulic actuator coupled to the cover plate The hydraulic actuator is operably responsive to pressure changes within the flow passage relative to the pressure exerted by a surrounding body of water to open and close the dump port. The hydraulic actuator is formed by the combination of a sidewall portion of the tubular conduit constricting the flow passage thereby defining a venturi flow region, and a pressure chamber housing enclosing the conduit section and defining an annular pressure chamber. The pressure chamber is divided by a movable piston into a first chamber which is connected in fluid communication with the venturi passage, and a second pressure chamber which is exposed to hydraulic pressure exerted by the surrounding body of water. The dump valve further includes a deflector plate mounted within the tubular housing for movement from a clear passage position to a dump position, with the deflector plate extending from the dump port transversely through the flow passage in the dump position thereby defining a bypass channel for diverting settling solids through the dump port.

Pressure responsive actuator for use with an automatic dump valve

A valve to control flow between outside and inside a tubular member. The valve is housed concentrically in an annular body around a tubular member and may be utilized mounted on an outside mandrel or in a side pocket mandrel which may be included in a well tubing string to control injection or lift gas flow from the well annulus into the tubing. Variable and staged flow restrictors upstream and downstream protect the resilient valve seal from flow cutting and opening closing stresses. The valve is balanced and is not urged to open by increasing outside pressure. The balanced valve minimizes difference between open and close pressures as opening pressure is very near closing pressure. An operating piston, in communication with outside and inside pressures, senses differential pressure and moves the valve axially to open when outside pressure is sufficiently higher than inside pressure. A compressed spring holds the valve closed and opening and closing pressures may be adjusted.

Flow control valve

A locking assembly for well devices, such as a cable suspended electric pump, for anchoring the device against both axial and rotative movement within a well flow conductor. The assembly includes locking keys engageable with locking recesses provided in the flow conductor to support the device within said conductor. An expander mandrel actuated by the torque forces developed by a rotating element of the well device coacts with said locking keys to urge said keys into tighter locking position and thereby prevent rotation of said assembly within the flow conductor. The assembly also includes an equalizing valve which equalizes pressures across the assembly and the well device prior to releasing the locking action of the locking keys.

Locking assembly for well devices

A valve for automatically dumping a load of solids entrained within a fluid transport medium in response to flow interruption is disclosed. The automatic dump valve is particularly well-suited for use in combination with a nodule transport riser in deep ocean mining operations. The automatic dump valve system is combined with a tubular conduit defining a longitudinally extending flow passage having a sidewall opening defining a dump port. The automatic dump valve assembly includes a movable dump port cover plate and a hydraulic actuator coupled to the cover plate. The hydraulic actuator is operably responsive to pressure changes within the flow passage relative to the pressure exerted by a surrounding body of water to open and close the dump port. The hydraulic actuator is formed by the combination of a sidewall portion of the tubular conduit constricting the flow passage thereby defining a venturi flow region, and a pressure chamber housing enclosing the conduit section and defining an annular pressure chamber. The pressure chamber is divided by a movable piston into a first chamber which is connected in fluid communication with the venturi passage, and a second pressure chamber which is exposed to hydraulic pressure exerted by the surrounding body of water. The dump valve further includes a deflector plate mounted within the tubular housing for movement from a clear passage position to a dump position, with the deflector plate extending from the dump port transversely through the flow passage in the dump position thereby defining a bypass channel for diverting settling solids through the dump port.

Automatic dump valve

A well packer for use in geothermal wells or stem injection wells. The packer can be anchored to the inner wall of a casing string to resist differential pressure in either direction. The anchoring means includes a single set of slip elements which are hydraulically or mechanically set. The packer includes a sealing unit with packing elements especially adapted for high temperature wells. The packer can be simply released from the casing by upward tension on the tubing.

High temperature well packer

A piston for use as a TFL locomotive or well swab having a seal unit forming a fluid seal between the piston and the inner wall of a flow conductor or tubing string. The seal unit comprising at least one annular fin or lip extending radially from the piston. The annular fin or lip having an exterior portion formed from elastomeric material which is deformable to seal with the flow conductor and an interior portion formed from elastomeric material molded on wire mesh. The interior portion providing increased wear resistance and strength for the annular lip. In one version, the piston carries several individual seal units each having an annular lip.

Reinforced seal unit for pumpdown pistons or well swabs

Disclosed is a valve to control fluid flow between a region exterior of a tubular member and a region interior of the tubular member. The valve includes a tubular seal element which is radially expandable to prevent flow and is radially contractible upon sliding movement thereof to permit flow and to reduce frictional resistance to such sliding movement.

Radially expandable tubular valve seal

Disclosed is an axially movable valve for admitting fluid to a fluid starved region. The admitted fluid feeds a pressure generating pump. Fluid pressure generated by the pump provides a force to further open the valve and to move a tool actuator. The valve opens with minimal sliding friction resistance. During the opening sequence, the flow area of the valve gradually increases. This abstract is neither intended to define the scope of the invention, which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to limit the invention in any way.

Multi-stage sliding valve fluid operated and pressure balanced

A swivel connector for joining well tools or similar apparatus with a main longitudinal bore or passage through which well operations may be conducted and at least one separate passage for conducting fluid therethrough which extends through the swivel joint and is not blocked by rotation or pivoting of the swivel joint. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Swivel connector

A collar lock and seal assembly for releasably locking a well tool such as a pump in a well flow conductor, such as casing or tubing, and sealing with the flow conductor around the assembly to restrict flow to a path into the pump. The assembly has an annular support surface engageable with a no-go shoulder in the flow conductor, radially movable locking keys for expansion into a locking recess in the flow conductor above the no-go shoulder, a longitudinally operable bypass valve, and interference fit annular seals. First shear pins hold the assembly unlocked while running in and second shear pins are activated to lock the assembly at operating position. The seals and connected parts are coupled to resist rotation by the pump when locked in a well casing. In operation the assembly is coupled in a tool train including an electric well pump, valves, and related structure. The tool train is lowered on a cable in a well casing until the flow conductor no-go shoulder is engaged. The bypass valve allows lowering in a closed liquid filled system. Upon engagement with the no-go shoulder the keys are locked outwardly, the bypass valve is closed, and the seals form a pressure barrier around the assembly to limit flow into the pump and resist rotation of the assembly by the pump. The collar lock dog and seal assembly is unlocked for removal by a longitudinal upward force applied to the cable.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Donald F Taylor