Abstract: A method of extending an earthen bore comprises the steps of rotating a drill bit at the end of a tubular while vibrating the tubular. The method results in reduced friction to tubular advance through the bore and results in stabilized drill bit loading and longer usable drill bit life. A method of conditioning a cement slurry in an annulus between a casing and a bore to improve a resulting cement liner comprises the steps of coupling a vibration generator to the casing, running the casing into the bore, displacing the cement slurry into the annulus and using the vibration generator to vibrate the casing. A vibration generator may comprise a mass, having a mass center, coupled to a frame, a motor and a power source to spin the mass about an axis offset from the mass center.

Abstract: A hydraulic connector to provide a fluidic connection between a fluid supply and a downhole tubular, the connector comprising: a body; an engagement assembly comprising an extendable portion selectively extendable from the body, the engagement assembly being configured to extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the extendable portion into and from a proximal end of the downhole tubular; and a valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position, the valve assembly being configured to: allow a fluid to communicate between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular through the seal assembly when in the open position; and prevent fluid communication between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular when in the closed position.

Abstract: An actuator to actuate a device received on a tubular string adjacent the device. The actuator comprises an energy storage member, such as a spring, restrained in a compressed mode between a stop collar and an outer sleeve threadedly received on a threaded portion of a non-magnetic tubular segment. An outer magnet is coupled to the outer sleeve to magnetically interact with an inner magnet coupled to an inner pipe string. The inner pipe string is run into the bore of the tubular string and the outer sleeve to position the inner magnet proximal the outer magnet to form a magnetic clutch. The inner pipe string rotates to transfer torque to the outer sleeve via a magnetic clutch, to rotate and threadedly disengage the outer sleeve from the tubular segment to release energy from the energy storage member to displace the outer sleeve to engage and actuate the device.

Abstract: A stabilizer to suppress unwanted pivotal movement in pipe handling equipment suspended from bails. The stabilizer can contain either or both adjustable contacting members and non-adjustable contacting members which are rigidly connected to a portion of the pipe handling equipment. The adjustable contacting members contact the bails on one or both sides of the bail(s) to suppress motion of the elevator relative to the bail.

Abstract: A method for cementing a tubular in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, comprises connecting a circulating tool to a slip and a top drive; gripping a first tubular with the slip above the surface of the wellbore; sealingly engaging the first tubular with a seal member; fluidly connecting a wiper plug to the circulating tool; connecting the first tubular to a second tubular; and lowering the second tubular into the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A temperature activated actuator installed on a tubular to actuate an adjacent device may include one or more shape-memory alloy elements. The elements may be coupled between a first portion and a second portion of a device, or the elements may be coupled between the tubular and a portion of the device. The elements are activated by raising the temperature to a transition temperature to cause metallurgical phase transformation, causing the elements to shrink and displace at least a portion of the device. The actuator may be used, for example, to actuate a centralizer from a run-in mode to a deployed mode or, alternately, to actuate a packing member from a run-in mode to an isolating mode. A nickel-titanium alloy, for example, may be used as the shape-memory alloy material from which the shape-memory element is made.

Abstract: A method for cementing a casing string in a borehole includes the steps of moveably coupling an outer sleeve on a casing segment; making up the casing segment with the outer sleeve into a casing string; running the casing string in a borehole; displacing a cement slurry into an annulus exterior to the casing string; and moving the outer sleeve relative to the casing string to agitate the cement slurry. A transfer device is used to rotate the outer sleeve against the cement slurry. Multiple outer sleeves may be received on the casing string at spaced intervals. In one embodiment, the transfer device may include a mechanical clutch through which the outer sleeves may be rotated. The mechanical clutch may be driven using an inner cementing string that provides a supply of cement slurry to the annulus.

Abstract: An example of a method for cementing a casing within an earthen formation includes the steps of providing a gripping mechanism connected to a cementing assembly and a top drive; gripping the casing with the gripping mechanism; sealingly engaging the casing with a seal member; moving the casing to a position within the formation; and cementing the casing within the formation while maintaining a gripping and sealing engagement of the casing. The step of cementing may also include the step of remotely releasing a plug into the casing from the cementing assembly.

Abstract: A low-clearance bow spring centralizer (10) can be made by providing a plurality of bow spring modules (54), each having an elongate rib (52) with a first integrally-formed collar segment (54) at a first end and a second integrally-formed collar segment (56) at a second end wherein the first collar segment (54) and the second collar segment (56) are joined to adjacent first and second collar segments, respectively. The bow spring modules may be interlinked by welding a seam (55) formed between abutting sides of adjacent pairs of first collar segments and/or second collar segments. The sides (54a) of the first collar segment and the sides (56a) of the second collar segment may each be perpendicular to the axis of the centralizer bore, and seams (55) therebetween may be welded to form a first centralizer collar and a second centralizer collar, coupled one to the other by the ribs (52).

Abstract: Delivering an additional subterranean conduit (124) along a deflected path relative to an existing conduit (120) is used for installing additional conductor pipes (124) from an existing production platform (50). A deflecting member in the form of a shoe (114, 115; 214) has a coupling means in the form of a screwthread for coupling to a lowermost end of an additional conduit (124). The shoe (114, 115; 214) is arranged to deliver the additional conduit (124) along the deflected path when the shoe (114, 115; 214) contacts whipstock (126; 226) which has been installed on top of an existing conductor pipe (120). The method can include running in the whipstock (126; 226) as a first step on an elongate member such as a drill string (94) and then withdrawing the drill string (94) and then running in the additional conduit (124). The outer diameter of the additional conduit (124) is maximised as it passes through conductor guides (52) attached to the production platform (50).

Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus for laser shock peening a treatment region of a metallic member includes a base oriented along a longitudinal axis; an engagement member actuable to engage a surface of the metallic member, the base in connection with engagement member; and a laser peening head adapted to emit laser radiation disposed with the base, the laser peening head moveable relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A tool to direct a fluids from a lifting assembly and a bore of a downhole tubular includes an engagement assembly configured to selectively extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the tool into and from a proximal end of the downhole tubular and a valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve assembly is configured to allow fluids from the lifting assembly to enter the downhole tubular through the seal assembly when in the closed position and wherein the valve assembly is configured to allow fluids from the downhole tubular to be diverted from the lifting assembly when in the open position.

Abstract: A hydraulic connector to provide a fluid tight connection between a fluid supply and a downhole tubular includes an engagement assembly configured to extend and retract a seal assembly disposed at a distal end of the hydraulic connector into and from a proximal end of the downhole tubular, and a valve assembly operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the valve assembly is configured to allow the fluids to communicate between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular through the seal assembly when in the open position, and wherein the valve assembly is configured to prevent fluid communication between the fluid supply and the downhole tubular when closed position.

Abstract: A method to connect a lifting assembly to a bore of a downhole tubular includes providing a communication tool to a distal end of the lifting assembly, the communication tool comprising a body assembly, an engagement assembly, a valve assembly and a seal assembly, sealingly engaging a first portion of the seal assembly in the bore of the downhole tubular, selectively permitting fluid to flow between the lifting assembly and the downhole tubular with the valve assembly, and disengaging the first portion of the seal assembly from the bore of the downhole tubular.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method for interconnecting tubular sections includes the steps of vertically positioning a second tubular above a first tubular forming a seam defined by a bottom end of the second tubular and a top end of the first tubular; positioning a friction stir welder (FSW) proximate to the seam; aligning the first tubular and the second tubular to form a longitudinal axis; and guiding the FSW along the seam forming a weld joint.

Abstract: A control apparatus to receive a tubular member includes a contact member configured to engage the tubular member, and a control mechanism operably coupled to the contact member, wherein the control mechanism is configured to dampen movement of at least one of the tubular member and the contact member as the tubular member engages the contact member.

Abstract: Gripping tool (10) and method to assemble tubular strings comprising a shaft (51) having first and second externally and oppositely threaded portions (52, 54)); and first and second generally frusto-conical cams (32, 34) threadably received on the first and second threaded portions. Cams (32, 34) adduct and abduct upon rotation of the shaft (51) in the first and second directions, respectively. Tool can comprise a plurality of jaws (42, 44) disposed within the variable space intermediate the cams (32, 34). Jaws (42, 44) cam radially outwardly upon adduction of cams (32, 34) to grip the wall of a tubular (90), and jaws (42, 44) can retract radially inwardly upon abduction of the cams (32, 34) to release. Tool (10) may comprise a shaft (101) having a bore (152) to facilitate fluid flow into tubular (118), and may cooperate with a fill-up and circulation tool and/or a cementing assembly.

Abstract: An adjustable end stop may selectively include one or more of the following elements: at least one guide member, a collapsible member, a movable assembly, a drive mechanism, and a position adjustment mechanism. The guide member may have the collapsible member and/or movable assembly attached thereto. The collapsible member may be configured to collapse when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a first direction and resist collapsing when the end of the tubular member engages the collapsible member in a second direction. The movable assembly may be movably attached to the at least one guide member, in which the movable assembly is configured to move along at least a portion of the length of the at least one guide rail. Further, the drive mechanism may be used to selectively position the collapsible member and/or movable assembly along the at least one guide member.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for deploying a bow spring centralizer installed on an expandable casing string and restrained in the collapsed configuration by restraining bands that rupture, upon expansion of the casing string, to deploy the bow spring centralizer and provide stand-off between the expanded casing string and the wall of the borehole. In one embodiment, the bow spring centralizer comprises landings for receiving and retaining the bands for restraining the centralizer in the collapsed configuration. In another embodiment, the bands are secured to the centralizer to prevent separation of the ruptured bands from the deployed centralizer.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus for connecting an add-on pipe segment to a pipe string to lengthen the pipe string using friction stir welding. The pipe string is suspended in a borehole using a spider or some other pipe suspending device, and the lower end of the pipe segment is brought into an abutting or nearly abutting relationship with the proximal end of the pipe string positioned above the pipe suspending device and above the rig floor. The friction stir welding machine is brought to well center to weld the abutment or gap between the pipe segment and the pipe string and join the pipe segment to the pipe string to lengthen the pipe string. In one aspect, the method includes friction stir welding an expandable pipe segment to an expandable pipe string to form a lengthened expandable pipe string. The pipe segment may be comprised of two or more pipe segments that have been friction stir welded or conventionally welded to form a pipe stand.