Abstract: A technique is described for producing fluids from a series of wells. Production fluids from production wells are raised from the wells and deposited in a collection well. The production fluids may include both liquid and gas phase components. The collection well may serve to permit separation of the gas and liquid phase components under the forces of gravity. The fluids deposited in the collection well are separately displaced to a further collection and processing location. The head requirements for the pumping systems of the production wells is reduced by the need only to transmit the production fluids to the collection well. A pumping system in the collection well then produces some or all of the deposited fluids. Where the fluids include significant quantities of gas, the collection well pumping system may only produce the liquid-phase components, reducing the capacity requirements for the collection well pumping system.

Abstract: The present invention is a surface controlled gas lift valve designed for high flow rates and used in a subterranean well, comprising: a valve for sealable insertion in a mandrel, having a variable orifice which alternately permits, prohibits, or throttles fluid flow into the valve, and a detachable and/or remote actuator are disclosed. Methods of actuating the valve include electro-hydraulic, hydraulic, and pneumo-hydraulic, while sensors relay the position of the variable orifice and critical fluid pressures to a panel on the surface. The orifice valve and the actuator while operatively connected, may be separately installed in or retrieved from by either wireline or coiled tubing intervention methods.

Abstract: A connector permits separation of a submergible pumping system from its deployment system. The connector includes an upper assembly and a lower assembly that are connected by shear screws. A hydraulic separation mechanism is used to shear the shear screws and separate the upper and lower assemblies from a remote location.

Abstract: In a broad aspect, the invention is directed to a well locking device having a shear ring for retaining a setting wedge within a well lock housing during running, setting, locking, and removing the well locking device within a bore of a well tubing. In a particular embodiment, the well locking device may include a no-go shoulder provided on the running tool used to locate and set the well lock downhole within the tubing.

Abstract: A selective re-entry tool is provided that allows an operator at the earth's surface to perform intervention operations in one or more completion strings by allowing remote discrimination and orientation of a tool string to a target location in a single comingling completion string. The selective re-entry tool may broadly include a carrier body having a navigation port extending longitudinally therethrough, and an orienting key movably connected to the carrier body and releasably engageable with a discriminator groove in a tubing string to align the navigation port with a predetermined one of a plurality of branch tubings in the tubing string. The re-entry tool may further include a locking dog movably connected to the carrier body and releasably engageable with a locking recess in the tubing string to prevent rotation of the carrier body after the navigation port has been aligned with the predetermined one of the plurality of branch tubings.

Abstract: A pumping assembly for use on an offshore drilling platform. The pumping assembly includes a vertical pump designed for mounting on the deck of an offshore drilling platform. The pump is a vertical pump that includes a fluid intake, a fluid discharge, a rotatable shaft, and a fluid driving mechanism to draw fluid into the fluid intake and to discharge fluid through the fluid discharge. A seal is mounted about the rotatable shaft to prevent leaking of the pumped fluid along the rotatable shaft. Additionally, a power source is coupled to the rotatable shaft to power the vertical pump. The fluid discharge is oriented to discharge fluid in a direction generally axially aligned with the rotatable axis to limit transverse forces on the seal.

Abstract: A system allows the pumping of viscous fluids from a wellbore. The system includes a submergible pump and a pump intake through which a fluid may be drawn. A submergible electric motor powers the submergible pump, and a heater is connected in the pumping system to heat the wellbore fluid. Additionally, a combination of heaters may be employed to heat the desired production fluid both externally to the pumping system and internally to the pumping system.

Abstract: A motor protector for use in protecting an electric motor in a subterranean environment. The motor protector utilizes a dual chamber system for absorbing the expansion and contraction of the internal fluids of a submergible electric motor. One of the chambers provides for the expansion and contraction of the internal fluids of a submergible electric motor. The other chamber is in fluid communication with the subterranean environment. A gas pocket is disposed within the motor protector between and in fluid communication with both of the dual chambers. The volume of gas couples the fluid pressure of the subterranean environment to the internal fluids of the electric motor without direct contact between the internal fluids of the electric motor and fluids from the subterranean environment.

Abstract: There is provided a rotary drag-type drill bit comprising a bit body having a leading surface comprising a plurality of pads, at least some of the pads each having a wearable abrasive surface including particles of superhard material and defining an outer profile of the pad, at least a part of the outer profile of at least one of the pads being disposed inwardly or outwardly of the outer profile of the other pads. With this arrangement, during initial drilling through softer formation, most of the removal of formation will be effected by the outermost of the abrasive pads and little or no formation will be removed by the more inward pads. Accordingly, the bit will act as a lighter set bit and good rates of penetration may be achieved.

Abstract: A wear-resistant bearing system utilizes a grid pattern of wear-resistant material. In instances where two bearing surfaces slide with respect to one another, such as with a thrust bearing, wear-resistant material strips are inlaid in the surrounding support material. The strips of wear-resistant material are arranged on each component such that the strips intersect one another when one component is moved with respect to the other. This transverse relationship or grid pattern promotes extremely long component life.

Abstract: A technique for installing a length of cable assembly and coiled tubing includes application of both compressive and tensile forces on the cable assembly. The compressive forces are applied to the cable assembly in a compression station at an entry end of the coiled tubing. Tensile forces are applied to the cable assembly by a wire line or a similar structure situated at an exit end of the coiled tubing. Following installation of the cable assembly in the coiled tubing, the coiled tubing may be transported to an application site, and coupled to equipment, such as a submersible pumping system. The submersible pumping system may then be deployed by extension of the coiled tubing and cable assembly. Additional lengths may be obtained by joining subassemblies formed by the tensile and compressive force technique. The technique reduces residual elongation or strain in the cable assembly as compared to conventional methods.

Abstract: A modular plug system facilitates engagement and disengagement of the power cable with a submergible pumping system. The modular plug includes a first plug portion connected to the power cable and mounted within an upper assembly of the connector. The plug also includes a second plug portion connected by a plurality of conductors with the submergible motor. The second plug portion is mounted within a lower assembly of the connector and is configured for mating engagement with the first plug portion. The upper assembly and lower assembly of the connector also are designed for relatively easy engagement and disengagement coincident with the engagement and disengagement of the plug.

Abstract: An inductor assembly is disclosed for protecting electronic circuitry in a downhole equipment string. The inductor assembly includes a plurality of modular inductors coupled to one another in series to provide the desired inductance. The modular inductors are supported by a support structure in a protective housing, such as in a common housing with the electronic circuitry. The inductor assembly is electrically isolated from the housing. The support structure may include insulative end members and rail members extending between the end members to which the inductors are secured. One or more insulative covers are provided around the inductors to further isolate the inductors from the housing. The inductor assembly dissipates energy in the event of certain failure modes of power supply circuitry or lines extending from the earth's surface. The inductor may be secured electrically between a neutral node in a Y-wound motor to prevent high voltage ac waveforms from damaging the electronic circuitry.

Abstract: The invention provides a mechanical face seal for rotary rock bits with a novel coil spring energization system that prevents yielding of the coil springs in extreme torque conditions. Within at least one of the coil springs is a cylindrical pin designed to co-act with the spring such that the combination becomes very stiff in the radial direction as the spring extends beyond a certain amount. This prevents the high torque from yielding the springs. When the spring returns to its normal extension, the pin does not interfere with the axial compression of the spring. This combination allows the coil spring energizers of a rotary rock bit mechanical face seal to survive the occasional extreme torque event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading lubricant into a bit chamber of an earth boring bit measures and controls the pressure of pressurized lubricant at the bit chamber while the lubricant is being loaded into the bit.

Abstract: A wear indicator is provided for a rotary drilling tool of the type which comprises a bit body having a leading surface for cutting, abrading or reaming a hole in a target substrate material such as a sub-surface formation, the wear indicator comprising or including one or more discrete areas of a visually distinct material to that from which the drilling tool is mainly composed, the visually distinct material being arranged or configured at or adjacent the surface of the bit such that progressive wear of the bit and hence the or each visually distinct discrete area provides a visual indication of surface wear of the tool.

Abstract: A system and method that permits fluids, such as petroleum, to be pumped from two separate zones. A submergible pumping system, including a submergible electric motor driving a submergible pump, is deployed in a wellbore. The submergible pump intake is located in a first zone to intake a fluid. The fluid is discharged through a fluid-powered pump, such as a jet pump. The jet pump is coupled to a fluid intake disposed in a separate zone within the wellbore. The single system can be utilized to pump fluids from two different zones.

Abstract: A submergible pumping system having a gas separator with multiple separation chambers. The gas separator includes an outer housing having a hollow interior divided into a plurality of separation chambers. A shaft and an inducer are rotatably mounted within the hollow interior. A plurality of flow-through bearings are distributed through the hollow interior to support the rotatable shaft. Also, a plurality of vortex generators are disposed in the hollow interior to generate and maintain a fluid vortex during separation.

Abstract: A pressure equalizing subsurface safety valve with a fluid injection system is provided. A fluid injection conduit is connected from a source of injection fluid, such as at the earth's surface, to the subsurface safety valve. A fluid flowpath is provided in the safety valve to transmit injection fluid from the fluid injection conduit to a longitudinal bore of the safety valve. The injection fluids are introduced into the longitudinal bore to resist corrosion of or other damage to the safety valve. The fluid may be injected into the longitudinal bore through a single port, or through a plurality of ports. The fluid injection conduit may also be used to equalize pressure above and below a closure member disposed within the safety valve prior to the opening of the closure member.

Abstract: The present invention is a surface controlled gas lift valve designed for high flow rates and used in a subterranean well, comprising: a valve for sealable insertion in a mandrel, having a variable orifice which alternately permits, prohibits, or throttles fluid flow into the valve, and a detachable and/or remote actuator are disclosed. The valve can be actuated by an electro-mechanical actuating assembly while sensors can relay the position of the variable orifice to a panel on the surface. The orifice valve and the actuator while operatively connected, may be separately installed in or retrieved from by either wireline or coiled tubing intervention methods.