Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling pressure surges in a wellbore. One embodiment provides a downhole surge control tool equipped with a fluid motivator. The fluid motivator may be, for example, any type of motor or a venturi. The fluid motivator motivates wellbore fluid through a bypass channel formed in the tool and then out an exhaust port of the tool.

Abstract: A fire-resistant system for passing at least one cable, tube, or the like through an opening in a wall, which system having a fire-resistant sleeve member includes a continuous slit, which is at least partially arranged round said at least one cable, tube, or the like, and which is at least partially installed in said opening, characterized in that the sleeve member can be placed in a position in which longitudinal edges of said slit overlap permanently under material stress.

Abstract: The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are described that provide for the efficient installation a cemented steel cased well wherein the drill string and the drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass down into the earth. The normal mud passages or watercourses present in the rotary drill bit are used for the second independent purpose of passing cement into the annulus between the casing and the well while cementing the drill string into place during one single pass into the earth. A one-way cement valve is installed near the drill bit of the drill string that allows the cement to set up efficiently under ambiently hydrostatic conditions while the drill string and drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass into the earth.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and apparatus for sealing a tubular. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a packer having a body, a sealing element, and a cleaning device operatively connected to the body. In one aspect, the apparatus may clean a surface of the tubular before the sealing element expanded into contact therewith.

Abstract: An optical module comprises a support (T) on which an optical fibre (F) is mounted. Introduced on the support (T) is a V-groove (VG) that serves only to fix the fibre (F). Applied perpendicularly to the groove (VG) is a strip-shaped contact layer (CL). The fibre (F) is pressed into the groove (VG). When the fibre (F) is pressed into the groove (VG), the contact layer (CL) forms a mechanical joint with the fibre (F) in the form of a cold weld. This functions particularly well in the case of glass fibres having a contact layer of aluminium (Al). The contact layer (CL) is preferably composed of a plurality of narrow strips extending perpendicularly to the groove (VG).

Abstract: A connector for connection of a pipe end portion of coiled tubing adapted for connecting a piece of downhole equipment. The connector is formed by three separate parts that can be screwed together two and two, of which a radially inner shrinkable adapter sleeve compressively surrounded by an elongate outer adapter and connector sleeve ensures the securing of the end portion of the coiled tubing, whereas a freely projecting, internally threaded end portion of the outer sleeve ensures the connection to the remaining part of the connector in the screwing together. The connector, besides exhibiting improved tensile, flexural and compressive strength properties, is also well suited to absorb torques applied.

Abstract: An optical detection system for forming an image of a field of view in an object plane onto an image plane in which the electromagnetic radiation image is transmitted to a detector array at the image plane via an optical distorting element such as a reflector 11, so as to impose a non linear relationship between areas in the image and object planes.

Abstract: A large diameter optical waveguide, grating, and laser includes a waveguide 10 having at least one core 12 surrounded by a cladding 14, the core propagating light in substantially a few transverse spatial modes; and having an outer waveguide dimension d2 of said waveguide being greater than about 0.3 mm. At least one Bragg grating 16 may be impressed in the waveguide 10. The waveguide 10 may be axially compressed which causes the length L of the waveguide 10 to decrease without buckling. The waveguide 10 may be used for any application where a waveguide needs to be compression tuned, e.g., compression-tuned fiber gratings and lasers or other applications. Also, the waveguide 10 exhibits lower mode coupling from the core 12 to the cladding 14 and allows for higher optical power to be used when writing gratings 16 without damaging the waveguide 10. The shape of the waveguide 10 may have other geometries (e.g.

Abstract: A scalable pipelined pixel shader that processes packets of data and preserves the format of each packet at each processing stage. Each packet is an ordered array of data values, at least one of which is an instruction pointer. Each member of the ordered array can be indicative of any type of data. As a packet progresses through the pixel shader during processing, each member of the ordered array can be replaced by a sequence of data values indicative of different types of data (e.g., an address of a texel, a texel, or a partially or fully processed color value). Information required for the pixel shader to process each packet is contained in the packet, and thus the pixel shader is scalable in the sense that it can be implemented in modular fashion to include any number of identical pipelined processing stages and can execute the same program regardless of the number of stages.

Abstract: The apparatus is used for cutting an opening through the wall of a conduit located in a borehole traversing the subsurface formations. The apparatus includes a body adapted to be lowered into the conduit to a desired level. The body is formed by a cylindrical wall defining an elongated chamber having a combustible charge receiving portion and an ignition portion located close to the combustible charge receiving portion. A plurality of spaced apart apertures are formed through the wall defining a given pattern which may be at least one elongated row of apertures generally parallel with the axis of the cylindrical wall or a line which encloses a given configuration on one side of the axis.

Abstract: The density of at least one fluid in a pipe is determined using a pair of effective sound speeds a1eff and a2eff of the fluid/pipe system. The pair of effective sound speed measurements is taken at two sensing regions along the pipe wherein each of the sensing regions has a different cross sectional area compliance. The pair of effective sound speeds a1eff and a2eff is provided to signal processing logic 60, which determines the density of the fluid flowing in the pipe. The effective sound speeds a1eff and a2eff may be provided by a pair of sound speed meters positioned at the sensing regions wherein the sound speed meters utilize a spatial array of acoustic pressure sensors placed at predetermined axial locations along the pipe. The acoustic pressure sensors measure one-dimensional planar acoustic waves that are lower in frequency (and longer wavelength) signals than those used for ultrasonic flow meters, and thus is more tolerant to inhomogeneities in the flow.

Abstract: Embodiments are provided for testing termination circuits in SCSI bus controllers. In one embodiment, the termination circuits are tested by sending test data between respective SCSI controllers of the termination circuits for varying enabled/disabled statuses of the termination circuits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for advancing a rotating motorized downhole tool for operations in oil/gas wells. The apparatus is adapted for drilling and milling away of casing sections in the wells, as preparation for plugging the same. The apparatus includes a rotating tool and a driving motor indirectly suspended on coiled tubing. The apparatus also includes a carriage connected to the motor adapted to absorb torques that occur during use. The carriage is connected to the coiled tubing via a swivel coupling such that a tensile force on the coiled tubing provides an advancing force for the tool and motor.

Abstract: A drilling method in which a rotary drill bit is mounted on a tubular drillstring extending through a bore comprises: drilling through a formation containing fluid at a predetermined pressure; circulating drilling fluid down through the drill string to exit the string at or adjacent the bit, and then upwards through an annulus between the string and bore wall; and adding energy to the drilling fluid in the annulus at a location above the formation. The addition of energy to the fluid in the annulus has the effect that the pressure of the drilling fluid above the formation may be higher than the pressure of the drilling fluid in communication with the formation and that predetermined differential may be created between the pressure of the formation fluid and the pressure of the drilling fluid in communication with the formation.

Abstract: An isolation container designed for use with a downhole electric pump assembly commonly used in oil and gas drilling and production operations is disclosed. The isolation container has an annular housing with an axial inlet and outlet bore. A downhole electric pump assembly is centrally located within the pressure isolation container. The downhole electric pump assembly includes an electric pump positioned above and coupled to a motor seal section which is positioned above and coupled to a centrifugal pump, thereby providing a means to power the centrifugal pump. A blind coupling is positioned above the electric motor with a tubular member connected thereto and extending through the inlet of the isolation container. The tubular member connects to a tubing string supplying fluid from the surface. The blind coupling has a plurality of radially disposed ports to allow pressurized fluid from the surface to flow into the annulus between the downhole electric pump and the isolation container.

Abstract: A packer, and operation of the same, which forms elastomeric seals and non-elastomeric seals. The packer may be constructed from a non-elastomeric tubular core having a frustoconical shaped inner diameter. The outer diameter of the core may be substantially smooth and carry one or more elastomeric sealing elements. The packer is set by causing the diametrical expansion of the tubular core. The construction of the tubular core is preferably such that its diametrical expansion causes the formation of radial raised portions (upsets) on the outer surface. These raised portions form the non-elastomeric seals and also prevent extrusion of the elastomeric sealing elements.

Abstract: In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an optical device includes a first element which decomposes said optical signal into a first beam and a second beam with the first beam being in a first polarization state and the second beam being in a second polarization state. The first and second polarization states being orthogonal to one another and including each of said multiple channels. The optical device further includes a second element which transforms the first beam into a first elliptically polarized state having odd channels in a third polarization state and even channels in a fourth polarization state having even channels in the third polarization state and odd channels in the fourth polarization state; and a third element which combines the odd channels into a first output port and the even channels into a second output port.

Abstract: A tool adapted for changing the direction of drilling during drilling. The drilling equipment used in the drilling includes a drill string, a bent sub, a drill motor, and a drill bit. The tool is positioned between the drill string and the bent sub, includes housing elements connected to one another, and has a passage for drilling fluid. The tool can be activated for rotation of the bent sub, so that the direction of drilling is changed in an infinitely variable manner. The tool includes a valve adapted for choking the passage so that the tool can be activated for rotation, a piston adapted for forced guiding of the rotation. The guides can be formed by twisted splines formed in the wall of the passage and in the wall of the opposite piston.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus for placing fiber optic control line in a wellbore. In one aspect, a method for placing a line in a wellbore is provided. The method includes providing a tubular in the wellbore, the tubular having a first conduit operatively attached thereto, whereby the first conduit extends substantially the entire length of the tubular. The method further includes aligning the first conduit with a second conduit operatively attached to a downhole component and forming a hydraulic connection between the first conduit and the second conduit thereby completing a passageway therethrough. Additionally, the method includes urging the line through the passageway. In another aspect, a method for placing a control line in a wellbore is provided. In yet another aspect, an assembly for an intelligent well is provided.