Abstract: A valve assembly includes a seat having at least an opening and a first surface. A cover has a contact surface that is slideably and sealingly engaged to the first surface of the seat to form a seal when the contact surface completely covers the at least one opening.

Abstract: A flow rate control device (18) placed at the bottom of an oil well in production comprises holes (24) formed in the production tubing (16), a closure sleeve (26) suitable for sliding over the holes (24) for controlling the flow rate, and a protective sleeve (34). The protective sleeve (34) is urged by a return spring (36) into a position in which it covers a sealing gasket (32). During closure of the device (18), the two sleeves come into edge-to-edge abutment and the closure sleeve (26) pushes the protective sleeve (34) back against the return spring (36). The sealing gasket (32) is never in direct contact with the fluid in the well. Preferably, the closure sleeve (26) is mounted on the outside of the production tubing (16).

Abstract: A system for use in a subsea well includes a sealing element having an inner surface defining a bore through which a carrier line of a tool string may extend. A pressure-activated operator is coupled to the sealing element and is adapted to cause the sealing element to deform generally radially inwardly to allow the inner surface to apply a force to seal around the carrier line. A fluid pressure conduit extends from a sea surface pressure source to the pressure-activated operator. The sealing element is part of a pack-off device that can be used in a subsea blow-out preventer.

Abstract: A completion string for use in a wellbore includes a tubing having a bore and a housing providing a main bore communicating with the tubing bore and further defining plural side bores generally parallel to each other. A plurality of valves are positioned proximal respective side bores to control fluid flow. An actuator is coupled to the valves to actuate the valves to at least open and closed positions. The valves may be part of tubular flow elements mounted to the housing, each tubular flow element including a bore that forms part of a respective side bore. Each valve may include a sleeve valve or a disk valve. The housing may include a side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that comprises releasably securing a milling tool to a deflecting tool using a securing mechanism. The securing mechanism comprises a member that is adapted to be broken by milling action of the milling tool. In addition, in some arrangements, a protective mechanism protects abrasive inserts on a pilot mill of the milling tool.

Abstract: A system for use in a wellbore includes a tubing having an inner bore and flow switcher assembly. The flow switcher assembly including a first conduit coaxial with the tubing inner bore and a second conduit formed annularly around the first conduit. One of the first and second conduits is adapted to carry production fluid flow, and the other one of the first and second conduits is adapted to carry injection fluid flow. The flow switcher assembly includes ports in communication with the first and second conduits to enable cross-over flow. In addition, one or more valves may be provided to control fluid flow through the ports.

Abstract: A packer for use inside a casing of a subterranean well includes a resilient element, a housing and a rupture disc. The resilient element is adapted to seal off an annulus of the well when compressed, and the housing is adapted to compress the resilient element in response to a pressure exerted by fluid of the annulus of a piston head of the housing. The housing includes a port for establishing fluid communication with the annulus. The rupture disc is adapted to prevent the fluid in the annulus from entering the port and contacting the piston head until the pressure exerted by the fluid exceeds a predefined threshold and ruptures the rupture disc.

Abstract: A method for use with equipment located downhole in a subterranean well includes providing a model describing behavior of the equipment and measuring a state of the equipment downhole. An indication is received of the state at a surface of the well, and the model is modified based on the indication. The system includes a communication link, a circuit and a machine. The communication link is adapted to furnish an indication of a state of the equipment to the surface of the well. The circuit is located downhole and is adapted to detect the state and produce the indication. The machine is adapted to provide a model describing behavior of the equipment and modify the model based on the indication.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of performing fluid loss, well isolation control, and flow control in a well having multiple zones. A multi-valve system having a plurality of valve assemblies is installed into the well. The multi-valve system provides fluid loss and well isolation control during running of the upper completion and provides flow control during production or other operation of the well. A control line carrying fluid pressure is run from the surface to the plurality of valve assemblies, with the control line capable of selectively actuating more than one valve assembly. In one example arrangement, the control line carries nitrogen gas to the multi-valve system. A fast bleed and slow bleed device at the well surface is connected to the control line. One of the fast bleed and slow bleed devices may be employed to open or close a selected one of the valve assemblies. In another arrangement, the control line and activating mechanism may be used for other types of pressure-actuated devices.

Abstract: A subsurface valve with a pressure equalizing mechanism is provided to permit pressure above and below a valve closure member to equalize prior to the opening of the valve closure member. An actuating key is releasably engageable with a recess in a flow tube that is moveably disposed within a longitudinal bore of the safety valve. An equalizing plug is disposed for reciprocal movement within a plug bore, and is moveable in response to movement of the actuating key. To open the valve closure member, the flow tube moves downwardly into engagement with the actuating key, thereby carrying the actuating key into engagement with the equalizing plug to shift the equalizing plug to an open or equalizing position. Pressure above and below the valve closure member is equalized through the equalizing plug prior to the opening of the valve closure member by further downward movement of the flow tube.

Abstract: An assembly for formation and completion of deviated wellbores is disclosed which includes a toolguide and a casing section which can be used together or separately. The toolguide includes a lower orienting section and a whipstock having a sloping face, commonly known as the directional portion of a whipstock. The toolguide is coated with a material such as epoxy or polyurethane to provide a repairable surface and one which can be removed to facilitate removal of the toolguide from the well bore. The lower orienting section has a latch which extends radially outwardly from the section and can be locked in the outwardly biased position.

Abstract: The present Invention relates to novel devices and methods to minimize the production of sand in subterranean environments; in particular, in poorly consolidated formations, sand is often co-produced along with the desired fluid (e.g., oil); sand production is undesirable, hence in the present Invention, elliptically shaped perforations of a particular orientation are created in the casing (or directly into the formation in the case of an uncased wellbore) that lines wellbore drilled through the formation, to improve near-wellbore stability of the formation, hence minimizing sand intrusion.

Abstract: An annular pack for a cylindrical member for use in a wellbore includes a housing adapted to be mounted about an exterior circumference of the cylindrical member. The housing has mutually engagable annular segments. At least one of the annular segments defines a chamber for housing an electrical device.

Abstract: A flow rate control device (18) placed down an oil well in production comprises holes (24) formed in the production tubing (16), a closure sleeve (26) suitable for sliding facing the holes (24), an actuator (31) disposed eccentrically relative to the tubing (16), and an intermediate part (29). The intermediate part (29) is guided on the tubing (16) in a manner such as to withstand the tilting torque due to the eccentricity of the actuator (31). A coupling (46) that is flexible except in the direction in which the sleeve is moved connects the part (29) to the closure sleeve (26) symmetrically about the axis of the tubing (16). The resulting decoupling guarantees that the sleeve (26) is self-centering, which improves the life-span of the device (18) significantly.

Abstract: A system usable with a subterranean well includes a tubing and a lubricator. The tubing is adapted to receive a drill string in a passageway of the tubing, and the lubricator is located downhole and is connected to the tubing. The lubricator is adapted to be remotely operable from a surface of the well to control fluid communication between the passageway located above the lubricator and a formation located beneath the lubricator. The lubricator may include a sleeve and controller. The controller selectively moves the sleeve into a passageway of a valve of the lubricator to protect the valve from a downhole fluid.

Abstract: A target for testing perforating systems, including an agglomeration of sand selected and conditioned to simulate a down-hole rock formation. A sand mixture may be selected to simulate the distributions of particle size, density and hardness of the down-hole rock formation. The sand may be agglomerated in the presence of a binding agent. Conditioning of the target may be conducted to simulate the compressive strength and porosity of the down-hole rock formation.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for operating a valve positioned in a wellbore. The apparatus includes a tubing having a bore and a piston operably coupled to the valve. The piston is moveable from a first position to the second position by predetermined pressure applied from fluid in the tubing bore. A counter mechanism coupled to the piston prevents movement of the piston to the second position until the predetermined pressure has been applied a first number of times.

Abstract: A formation isolation valve assembly for use in a well includes first and second fluid paths that are coupled to at least first and second completion zones. A first valve controls fluid flow from the first zone to the first fluid path, and a second valve controls fluid flow from a second zone to the second fluid path. The valves may include ball valves and sleeve valves.

Abstract: An integrated data communication and data access system includes a first cache memory operatively connected to a first application and a first conversion means operatively connected to the first cache memory and interfacing between a first operator of the first application and the first cache memory for receiving original data having a first format from the first operator and converting the original data having the first format into original data having a second format, the first application storing the original data having the second format in the first cache memory and in a database when the first application sets a persistant or a transient storage state.

Abstract: The crosslinking of galactomannan gum fracturing fluids by borate ion is delayed for high temperature applications by completing boron in a basic solution with an organic polyol. Low pumping friction pressures are achieved by the delay in the crosslinking with the boron being available at high temperatures to add high temperature stability to the fracturing fluid at temperatures ranging upto about 300.degree. F.