Abstract: It is a continuing goal to reduce the amount of sludge produced in a biorefinery while also improving oil quality and water quality. In one aspect, an exemplary method of minimizing sludge from biorefineries includes the steps of feeding a source feedstock into a degumming centrifuge, where the source feedstock is separated into wet oil and a primary sludge stream, and conveying a portion of the primary sludge stream to a three-phase centrifuge. At the three-phase centrifuge, the portion of the primary sludge stream is separated into recovered centrifuge oil, which is retrieved; centrifuged water, which is conveyed to a wastewater treatment plant; and centrifuged sludge. The remainder of the primary sludge stream is conveyed to a gravity separator, where the remainder of the primary sludge stream is separated into recovered oil and residual sludge. The residual oil is retrieved from the gravity separator.

Abstract: The present disclosure is for an inverted diffuser usable in wellheads and other wellsite equipment. The inverted diffuser includes at least one first section having a first vertical inner surface, a first inclined inner surface relative to the first vertical inner surface, and one or more channels supporting one or more releasable fasteners between the at least one first section and a wall of a wellhead or of a wellsite equipment. At least one second section is press-fitted or fastened adjacent to the at least one first section. A method for application of the inverted diffuser in a wellhead and in other wellsite equipment is also disclosed, along with a method of manufacture of the inverted diffuser.

Abstract: A method for customizing non-destructive testing is provided and includes receiving, by a non-destructive testing (NDT) device, a stock application. The method further includes the device performing a stock NDT function in response to execution of the stock application. The stock NDT function can include a first device manipulation, a first NDT data acquisition by a device sensor, a first analysis employing data acquired by the first NDT data acquisition, or a first NDT output. The method additionally includes the device receiving a custom application after receipt of the stock application. The method also includes the device performing a custom NDT function, different from the stock NDT functions, and including at least one of a second device manipulation, a second NDT data acquisition by a sensor of the device, a second analysis employing data acquired by the second NDT data acquisition, or a second NDT output.

Abstract: A cutting element assembly includes a cutting element and a sleeve having a cutter-receiving aperture configured to receive at least a portion of the cutting element within the cutter-receiving aperture. The cutting element assembly may also include a retention element rotatably coupling the cutting element to the sleeve and a biasing member disposed between the cutting element and the sleeve. The biasing member may be configured to bias the cutting element relative to the sleeve. A method of forming a downhole tool includes forming a bit body including at least one blade, securing at least one sleeve to the blade, disposing at least one biasing member within the cutter-receiving aperture, and inserting a cutting element into the cutter-receiving aperture of the at least one sleeve, such that the at least one biasing member is disposed between the at least one sleeve and the cutting element.

Abstract: A gas-lift well includes a casing extending down a wellbore, production tubing extending within the casing, a gas system for inserting compressed gas into an annular space between the casing and the production tubing, at least one gas-lift input, and at least one fluid flow regime modifier. The at least one gas-lift input extends from the annular space, through the production tubing, and to an interior of the production tubing. The at least one fluid flow regime modifier is disposed within the production tubing and is at least partially within a fluid column of the production tubing, the at least one fluid flow regime modifier is configured to reduce fluid fallback and impart a turbulent flow regime to at least a portion of the fluid column.

Abstract: A control valve assembly includes a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A portion of the body is formed from a first magnetic material. A sleeve is slidingly mounted to the body. At least a portion of the sleeve is formed from a second magnetic material. A magnetic circuit having a gap is defined within the control valve assembly. A solenoid is mounted to the body about at least a portion of the first magnetic material of the body. The solenoid is selectively activated to create a magnetic field across the gap in the magnetic circuit. The magnetic circuit causes the sleeve to slide, narrowing the gap and sliding from the first position to the second position to produce a pressure pulse in the wellbore, wherein the biasing member biases the sleeve back to the first position.

Abstract: A hydraulic tool includes a rotor rotatably disposed within a stator. At least an inner portion of the stator and/or at least an outer portion of the rotor is configured to be installed in a drill string in either of two inverted orientations along a longitudinal axis of the hydraulic tool. The rotor is configured to rotate within the stator in either of the two orientations. A method includes disposing a rotor within a cavity defined by a stator, passing a fluid through the stator to rotate the rotor, and reversing the stator or the rotor. A drilling system includes a fluid source, a hydraulic tool, a drive shaft operatively associated with the rotor of the hydraulic tool, and a drill bit operatively associated with the drive shaft.

Abstract: A cross-over tool including a housing having an extension port therein, a gravel pack port sleeve having a gravel pack port structure and a seal disposed at a radially inward surface of the port structure, and an activation sleeve having an opening therein, the activation sleeve being in dynamic sealing contact with the seal of the port structure. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a completion string in the borehole, and a tool disposed in the completion string. A method for gravel packing a borehole including releasing the housing from a latch connected to a workstring, applying tension to the activation sleeve with the workstring, and aligning the opening of the activation sleeve with the gravel pack port.

Abstract: An annular seal system for sealing between a casing hanger and a wellhead housing, the system including an actuator ring having a rigid portion and a flexible portion, and a lockdown ring positioned adjacent the actuator ring. The annular seal system further includes a seal assembly capable of moving between a de-energized position and an energized position, wherein the seal assembly in the de-energized position has a defined a space between the seal assembly and the rigid portion of the actuator ring, wherein the seal assembly in the energized position has the space closed, wherein the rigid portion of the actuator ring is to contact a surface of the casing hanger, wherein the flexible portion of the actuator ring is to push the lockdown ring into engagement with the wellhead, and wherein the flexible portion of the actuator ring adapted is to axially compress to allow positional variation between the lockdown ring and the wellhead housing.

Abstract: A wellbore system includes an upper head and a lower head coupled to the upper head by one or more fasteners. The wellbore system also includes a seal ring positioned within a seal pocket to engage the upper head to form a first seal interface between the upper head and the seal ring. The wellbore system includes a hanger arranged within a bore. The wellbore system includes a packoff positioned between the hanger and the lower head. The wellbore system includes one or more lock screws to apply a downward force to the packoff to establish a second seal interface between the packoff and the seal ring and a third seal interface between the packoff and the hanger.

Abstract: Technical effects of the invention include use of a data-driven multivariate statistical method for the detection and isolation of sensor faults applied in a virtual flow metering context. In one implementation, the data-driven multivariate statistical method employs principal components analysis, weighted squared prediction error, and partial decomposition contribution plots.

Abstract: A setting tool for actuating a downhole component includes an inner tubular configured to be connected in fluid communication with a borehole string, a housing configured to define a first fluid chamber and a second fluid chamber isolated from the first fluid chamber and in fluid communication with the inner tubular, and a setting piston in pressure communication with the second fluid chamber. The setting tool includes a metering module coupled to the housing and disposed at an end of the first fluid chamber, the metering module including a fluid path forming a restriction therein, and an outlet connected to the fluid path. The outlet is configured to be opened to permit fluid to flow out of the first chamber at a controlled rate to generate a differential pressure between the first and second chambers that causes the setting piston to apply a gradually increasing force on the component.

Abstract: A method for identifying defects in a multi-barrier wellbore includes receiving log data, the log data corresponding to one or more wellbore operations, the log data including data from at least one measurement modality corresponding to a present measurement modality. The method also includes training, using the log data, a machine learning model. The method further includes acquiring wellbore data, via the present measurement modality, during a logging operation. The method also includes processing at least a portion of the wellbore data using the trained machine learning model. The method includes identifying one or more features of interest in the wellbore data, via the trained machine learning model.

Abstract: A method includes transmitting an instruction to a motive power supply of an elastically deformable device to drive the elastically deformable device in accordance with a drive setting; measuring a force exerted on the elastically deformable device with a sensor; outputting an observed value representative of the force; comparing the observed value with a reference value corresponding with a predetermined force to be exerted on the elastically deformable device; and adjusting the drive setting based on a determination that the observed value is outside of a predetermined range of the reference value. The method prevents slack in the elastically deformable device over time. Related apparatuses, systems, techniques and articles are also described.

Abstract: Examples described herein provide a computer-implemented method that includes analyzing a first dataset by applying the first dataset to a first model to generate a first result. The method further includes analyzing a second dataset by applying the second dataset to a second model to generate a second result. The method further includes performing validation on the first model and the second model by comparing the first result to the second result. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the first result and the second result match, modifying an operational action of a surface assembly based on at least one of the first result or the second result. The method further includes, responsive to determining that the first result and the second result do not match, updating at least one of the first model or the second model.

Abstract: A method includes disposing a device into a borehole in proximity to a subterranean formation where a filter cake has been formed adjacent thereto, the device comprising a support structure and a shape-memory article disposed at the support structure, the shape-memory article comprising a shape-memory polymer, wherein the device is disposed when the shape-memory article is in a compacted shape; exposing the shape-memory article to a fluid system to cause the shape-memory article to expand and conform to a surface of the borehole; exposing the filter cake to the fluid system; and removing the filter cake with the fluid system. The fluid system comprises a chelating agent, an activator, a non-emulsifier, and water or a brine.

Abstract: A wellbore system includes a slip hanger arranged within a wellbore component, the slip hanger having a mechanical receptacle formed in a face of the slip hanger. The wellbore system also includes an adapter configured to couple to the slip hanger, the adapter having one or more engagement members arranged to engage the mechanical receptacle, wherein the one or more engagement members extend into the mechanical receptacle to secure the slip hanger to the adapter.

Abstract: A wellbore system includes a hanger lock energizing ring, a hanger lock ring, and a shoulder ring. The wellbore system further includes a seal energizing ring coupled to the shoulder ring. The wellbore system also includes a seal element being driven into an energized position by the seal energizing ring. The wellbore system further includes a seal lock energizing ring being driven to move via one or more extensions. The wellbore system includes a seal lock ring being supported, at least in part, by the seal energizing ring. Both the hanger lock ring and the seal lock ring are set, substantially simultaneously, responsive to movement of the one or more extensions.

Abstract: A system and associated method for data handling in downhole operations uses a downhole tool to receive signals from a downhole environment and uses at least one processor that causes the system determine encoded data for the signals, where the encoded data is based in part on coefficients associated with at least one predetermined fitting curve that is applied to data from different areas of the signals, and where the coefficients include at least one difference between the data of the different areas of the signals and the at least one predetermined fitting curve. The system is further to transmit the encoded data from the downhole environment to a surface environment and also to determine at least one parameter or levels of an element in the downhole environment based in part on decoding the encoded data.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel is configured for use within a gas lift system deployed in a well that has an annular space surrounding the gas lift system. The side pocket mandrel includes a central body that includes a central bore, a gas lift valve pocket, and a gas lift valve installed within the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include a motorized choke valve assembly to selectively cover some or all of an internal tubing port extending between the central bore and the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include an automatic closing valve assembly configured to automatically close the gas lift valve port when the gas lift valve is removed from the side pocket mandrel.