Protechnics International, Inc.

Gas Research Institute

Thomas R Bandy

Edward S Wallace

Donna A Read

William F Trainor

Roger N Samdahl

Norman C MacLeod, Deceased

John T Hampton, Iii

An insulative threaded connection is provided for metal tubulars to be placed in wells or for other metal pipe. The connection contains a coating of plastic having a selected thickness which is applied to the surface of the threads of a tubular to be mated with another joint of tubular. The plastic contains particles at a selected loading such that the particles support load between the mated threaded joints. Metal is removed from the mating threads, the thickness of the metal removed being about the same as the thickness of the plastic coating. The coating may be applied to the pin end or the box end of connections. The box end may be a coupling or an integral threaded area. The insulative threaded connection is used in tubulars for improved transmission of electromagnetic signals to or from wells.

Electrically insulative threaded connection

A method and apparatus for communicating signals from within an encased borehole including a wireless communications system for transmitting down-hole environmental data signals between a down-hole tool and a surface receiver. The down-hole tool is disposed within a borehole encased in an electrically conductive casing; the receiver is located at the ground surface. The tool includes a conductive upper and lower tool housing, a plurality of down-hole sensors, and a signal generating device. The sensors and signal generating device are housed within the tool. The generating device receives analog or digital signals of the down-hole environmental conditions from the sensors, converts these signals into a modulation pattern signal which is applied to a carrier signal and conducts a modulated carrier signal into the upper and lower tool housings. An upper contactor or spreader electrically connects the upper housing to a first position on an inside wall of the casing. Similarly, a lower contactor or spreader electrically connects the lower housing to a second position on the inside wall of the casing. The first and second positions are spaced-apart by a pre-determined separation, and define a casing conducting portion therebetween. The transmitted drive signal cause a reciprocating current to flow through the conducting portion thereby inducing a voltage potential on the outside of the well-casing which forms corresponding dipolar electromagnetic field in the earth surrounding the conductive portion and propagating the field upward to be received by the surface receiver.

Method and apparatus for communicating signals from within an encased

There is provided radioactive particles having a ceramic matrix and an element which can be bombarded with neutrons to produce a gamma ray-emitting isotope. The particles are manufactured by mixing the ceramic components and the element, forming particles, sintering the particles, and the particles are subsequently made radioactive by bombardment with neutrons. Particles injected into wells or flow apparatus are traced by adding the radioactive particles and detecting the radioactive particles with gamma ray-sensitive instruments. Particles containing different elements are detected by spectral analysis of gamma rays.

Radioactive tracing with particles

Raioactive tracing with particles

Growing community of inventors

Katy, TX, United States of America

Thomas R Bandy