Split casing block-off for gas or water in oil drilling

Claim 5

A method as in claim 24, wherein said step of forming a liner comprises the steps of: providing a substantially rectangular liner of resilient sheet material; rolling said liner into a scroll having a smaller diameter than said predetermined diameter, opposite edge portions of said liner overlapping each other along a portion of said scroll substantially parallel to the axis thereof; and retaining said liner in said scroll of said smaller diameter.

Claim 6

A method as in claim 3, wherein said rectangular liner has at least one dimension at least as great as the circumference of the bore hole, and wherein said rolling step comprises the step of rolling said liner into a scroll with said one dimension oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of said scroll.

Claim 7

A method as in claim 4, wherein said rectangular liner is rolled into a scroll around rotary pressing means.

Claim 8

A method as in claim 2, wherein said pressing step comprises the steps of: contacting pressing means with said liner; and moving said pressing means circumferentially of said liner and the wall of the bore hole.

Claim 9

A method as in claim 6, wherein said pressing step comprises the steps of: contacting rotary pressing means with said liner; and rotating said pressing means.

Claim 10

A method as in claim 6, wherein said pressing step further comprises the step of: moving said pressing means axially of said liner and the wall of the bore hole to thereby press at least substantial portions of said liner against the wall of the bore hole.

Claim 13

A method as in claim 9 wherein said step of forming a liner comprises the steps of: forming a liner of resilient sheet material into said cylinder wherein said resilient material is biased in a direction tending to enlarge the diameter of said cylinder; and retaining said liner in the form of said cylinder of smaller diameter.

Claim 14

A method as in claim 9, wherein said pressing step comprises the steps of: contacting pressing means with said liner; and moving said pressing means circumferentially of said liner and the wall of the bore hole.

Claim 15

A method as in claim 11, wherein said pressing step comprises the steps of: contacting rotary pressing means with said liner; and rotating said pressing means.

Claim 16

A method as in claim 11, wherein said pressing step further comprises the step of: moving said pressing means axially of said liner and the wall of the bore hole to thereby press at least substantial portions of said liner against the wall of the bore hole.

Claim 17

A method as in claim 9, wherein said cement is a dry cement.

Claim 18

A liner for insertion into a bore hole comprising: a resilient sheet adapted to be pressed against the wall of a bore hole; and a layer of mud applied to the surface of said sheet and a layer of dry cement applied to said layer of mud prior to insertion of said sheet into a bore hole.

Claim 19

A liner for insertion into a bore hole comprising: a resilient sheet adapted to be pressed against the wall of a bore hole; and a layer of mud applied to the surface of said sheet and a layer of dry cement applied to said layer of mud prior to insertion of said sheet into a bore hole.

Claim 20

A liner as in claim 15, wherein the bore hole has a predetermined diameter and circumference, and wherein: said resilient sheet has at least one dimension at least as great as the predetermined circumference; and said sheet is pressed against the wall of the bore hole about the entire circumference thereof.

Claim 21

A liner as in claim 15, further comprising: means for retaining said sheet in a substantially cylindrical configuration with a diameter smaller than the predetermined diameter prior to application of said sheet to the wall of the bore hole; and means for releasing said sheet to allow it to expand to the predetermined diameter.

Claim 22

Apparatus for lining a bore hole having a predetermined diameter, comprising: an elongated member having a first end thereof adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; a liner of resilient sheet material formed into a scroll having a smaller diameter than the predetermined diameter; a squeegee coupled to said elongated member and located adjacent said first end for sealing the portion of said bore hole above said squeegee; means associated with said elongated member for supporting said liner within the bore hole; and rotary means for pressing said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole.

Claim 23

Apparatus for lining a bore hole having a predetermined diameter, comprising: an elongated member having a first end thereof adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; a liner of resilient sheet material formed into a scroll having a smaller diameter than the predetermined diameter; a squeegee coupled to said elongated member and located adjacent said first end for sealing the portion of said bore hole above said squeegee; means associated with said elongated member for supporting said liner within the bore hole; and rotary means for pressing said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole.

Claim 24

Apparatus for lining a bore hole, comprising: an elongated member having a first end thereof adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; an expandable liner adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; means associated with said first end for supporting said liner within the bore hole; rotary means including at least one element comprising a displaceable strip of resilient material having first and second ends, means for moving said second end toward and away from said first end to expand and retract said displaceable strip to press said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole, and means for mounting said first end of said displaceable strip to said rotary means at a fixed position thereon; and means for driving said rotary means in rotation about an axis generally parallel to the axis of the bore hole.

Claim 25

Apparatus for lining a bore hole, comprising: an elongated member having a first end thereof adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; an expandable liner adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; means associated with said first end for supporting said liner within the bore hole; rotary means including at least one element comprising a displaceable strip of resilient material having first and second ends, means for moving said second end toward and away from said first end to expand and retract said displaceable strip to press said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole, and means for mounting said first end of said displaceable strip to said rotary means at a fixed position thereon; and means for driving said rotary means in rotation about an axis generally parallel to the axis of the bore hole.

Claim 26

Apparatus for lining a bore hole having a predetermined diameter, comprising: an elongated member having a first end thereof adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; a liner of resilient sheet material formed into a scroll having a smaller diameter than the predetermined diameter; retaining means comprising a non-conductive line or cable encircling said liner and secured by releasable knot means for retaining said liner in a substantially cylindrical configuration with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bore hole; means associated with said elongated members for supporting said liner within the bore hole; means for releasing said liner, thereby allowing said liner to expand into contact with the wall of the bore hole, said releasing means comprising release cable means having one end coupled with said releasable knot means, said cable means extending upwardly and out of said bore hole, wherein an upwardly exerted force on said release cable means causes said releasable knot means to release said retaining line or cable and thereby allow said liner to expand into contact with the wall of said bore hole; and rotary means for pressing said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole.

Claim 27

Apparatus for lining a bore hole having a predetermined diameter, comprising: an elongated member having a first end thereof adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; a liner of resilient sheet material formed into a scroll having a smaller diameter than the predetermined diameter; retaining means comprising a non-conductive line or cable encircling said liner and secured by releasable knot means for retaining said liner in a substantially cylindrical configuration with a diameter smaller than the diameter of the bore hole; means associated with said elongated members for supporting said liner within the bore hole; means for releasing said liner, thereby allowing said liner to expand into contact with the wall of the bore hole, said releasing means comprising release cable means having one end coupled with said releasable knot means, said cable means extending upwardly and out of said bore hole, wherein an upwardly exerted force on said release cable means causes said releasable knot means to release said retaining line or cable and thereby allow said liner to expand into contact with the wall of said bore hole; and rotary means for pressing said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole.

Claim 28

Apparatus as in claim 20, wherein; said elongated member comprises a second end; and means are associated with said second end of said elongated member for driving said elongated member and said rotary means in rotation.

Claim 29

Apparatus as in claim 21, wherein means are associated with said second end of said elongated member for axially reciprocating said rotary means within said hole.

Claim 30

Apparatus as in claim 20, wherein: said retaining means comprises at least one fastener retaining said liner in said configuration; and said releasing means comprises means for rupturing said fastener.

Claim 31

Apparatus as in claim 23, wherein said rupturing means is an explosive.

Claim 32

Apparatus according to claim 20, wherein said retaining means comprises a plurality of non-conductive lines or cables encircling said liner at spaced apart locations, each such line or cable being secured by a corresponding releasable knot; and said knots being serially coupled to each other with one of said knots being coupled to said release cable.

Claim 33

Apparatus for lining a bore hole having a predetermined diameter, comprising: an elongated member having a first end thereof adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; a liner of resilient sheet material formed into a scroll having a smaller diameter than the predetermined diameter; means associated with said first end for supporting said liner within the bore hole; rotary means for pressing said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole, said rotary means comprising: at least one displaceable member having first and second ends for pressing said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole, means for retracting said at least one displaceable member and for expanding said at least one displaceable member to press said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole, means for mounting said first end of said at least one displaceable member at a fixed position on said rotary means, and means for moving said second end toward and away from said first end to expand and retract said at least one element; and means for driving said rotary means in rotation about an axis generally parallel to the axis of the bore hole.

Claim 34

Apparatus for lining a bore hole having a predetermined diameter, comprising: an elongated member having a first end thereof adapted to be inserted into the bore hole; a liner of resilient sheet material formed into a scroll having a smaller diameter than the predetermined diameter; means associated with said first end for supporting said liner within the bore hole; rotary means for pressing said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole, said rotary means comprising: at least one displaceable member having first and second ends for pressing said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole, means for retracting said at least one displaceable member and for expanding said at least one displaceable member to press said liner into contact with the wall of the bore hole, means for mounting said first end of said at least one displaceable member at a fixed position on said rotary means, and means for moving said second end toward and away from said first end to expand and retract said at least one element; and means for driving said rotary means in rotation about an axis generally parallel to the axis of the bore hole.

Claim 35

Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein said means for moving said second end comprises a solenoid.

Claim 36

Apparatus as in claim 27, wherein said mens for moving said second end further comprises a weight biasing said at least one element into engagement with said liner.

Claim 37

Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein: said elongated member comprises a second end; and means are associated with said second end of said elongated member for driving said elongated member and said rotary means in rotation.

Claim 38

Apparatus as in claim 26, further comprising means associated with said first end of said elongated member for blocking flow through the bore hole.

Claim 39

Apparatus as in claim 30, wherein said means for blocking flow comprises a sealing member having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the bore hole.

Claim 40

Apparatus as in claim 31, further comprising means associated with said flow blocking means for applying lubricating mud to said liner.

Claim 41

Apparatus as in claim 30, further comprising means associated with said flow blocking means for applying lubricating mud to said liner.

Claim 42

Apparatus as in claim 26, further comprising means for applying lubricating mud to said liner.

Claim 43

A liner for insertion into a bore hole having a wall with a predetermined diameter and circumference, comprising: a resilient sheet having at least one dimension at least as great as the predetermined circumference of the bore hole wall and forming a substantially cylindrical surface; said sheet further having outwardly bevelled portions at the axial ends of said cylindrical surface and being adapted to be pressed against the wall of the bore hole about the entire circumference thereof; and a layer of mud applied to the surface of said sheet and a layer of cement applied to said layer of mud prior to insertion of said liner into a bore hole.

Claim 44

A liner for insertion into a bore hole having a wall with a predetermined diameter and circumference, comprising: a resilient sheet having at least one dimension at least as great as the predetermined circumference of the bore hole wall and forming a substantially cylindrical surface; said sheet further having outwardly bevelled portions at the axial ends of said cylindrical surface and being adapted to be pressed against the wall of the bore hole about the entire circumference thereof; and a layer of mud applied to the surface of said sheet and a layer of cement applied to said layer of mud prior to insertion of said liner into a bore hole.

Claim 45

A liner as in claim 35, further comprising: means for retaining said sheet in a substantially cylindrical configuration with a diameter smaller than the predetermined diameter prior to application of said sheet to the wall of the bore hole; and means for releasing said sheet to allow it to expand the predetermined diameter.

Claim 46

A method as in claim 35, wherein said cement is a dry cement.

Claim 49

A method as in claim 38, wherein said cement is a dry cement.