Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a drilling rig having a control management system, comprises programming the control system with at least one resource module, the at least one resource module having at least one operating model having at least one set of programmed operating rules related to at least one set of operating parameters. In addition, the system and method provide an authenticating hierarchical access to at least one user to the at least one resource module.

Abstract: A screen assembly for a shale shaker comprising a panel and a support structure, the panel having an area provided with a multiplicity of apertures and at least one layer of screening material arranged over the multiplicity of apertures, wherein said panel is removable from said support structure.

Abstract: Methods for moving drilled cuttings, the methods, in certain aspects, including conveying with air under positive pressure, drilled cuttings to flow conduit apparatus; applying air under positive pressure to the flow conduit apparatus to continuously move the drilled cuttings material therethrough; continuously moving the drilled cuttings material with the air under pressure to separation apparatus; with the separation apparatus continuously separating drilled cuttings from air; wherein, in certain aspects, the drilled cuttings are included in a low density slurry with drilling fluid, drilling mud, and/or oil and wherein, in certain aspects, the separation apparatus is a cyclone separator and the drilled cuttings moved into the cyclone separator are wet; and systems for effecting such methods.

Abstract: A vibratory separator having a basket with a first side spaced-apart from a second side, screen assembly apparatus mounted in the basket, the screen assembly apparatus having a central portion, a first screen side and a second screen side, central support apparatus connected to the basket and positioned beneath and in contact with the central portion of the screen assembly apparatus, and pressing apparatus on the first side and second side of the basket for pressing down on the first screen side and on the second screen side of the screen assembly apparatus so that the central portion of the screen assembly apparatus is higher than the first screen side and the second screen side.

Abstract: A method for making a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the method including, in at least certain aspects, gluing together with glue at least two layers of fine screening material, allowing the glue to set, preheating the glued together at least two layers of fine screening material, placing the thus-preheated at least two layers of fine screening material in a heating apparatus, placing a coarse mesh layer on the at least two layers of screening material on the heating apparatus, placing on the coarse mesh layer a support with heat activated material thereon for adhering the support to the coarse mesh layer, and heating the coarse mesh layer, at least two fine layers of fine screening material, and the support to adhere the support to the coarse mesh layer and to glue the at least two layers of fine screening material to the coarse mesh layer.

Abstract: A disconnect device for use in oil well and gas well servicing operations. The device comprising a mandrel having one or more locking formations, and a hollow, female member in which the mandrel is releasably securable. The female member includes one or more lugs that are moveably retained relative to an inner surface thereof by a first retainer member engaged with at least one retainer formation formed in each lug. Each lug includes one or more locking formations. The disconnect device includes a second locking member that is moveable into and out of engagement with the retainer formation of each lug respectively to lock the lug in the first position and release it therefrom to permit its movement to the said second position.

Abstract: A hybrid choke control system wherein the traditional choke experience is manifest in auditory and visual feedback mechanisms which are emulated by a digital control system enabling direct control of either position or back pressure associated with an adjustable choke device. The present invention enhances safety and efficiency when used in association with oil field drilling operations and in particular when applied to a device which provides the user with enhanced control capabilities for direction controlling the back pressure and position associated with drilling chokes during down hole operations.

Abstract: A system that controls a back reaming operation of a drilling rig is provided that includes a hoisting system that moves a drill pipe during a back reaming operation at a hoisting speed and a hoisting torque. The hoisting system comprises at least one back reaming parameter sensor for measuring a corresponding at least one back reaming parameter. An operator control unit allows an operator to input a predetermined value of the at least one back reaming parameter therein. A back reaming parameter sensor obtains the measured value of the at least one back reaming parameter. A control system monitors the at least one back reaming parameter. A braking assembly resists the hoisting torque of the drawworks system when the measured value of the at least one back reaming parameter equals the predetermined value of the at least one back reaming parameter.

Abstract: An oil or gas well slip system is provided that includes a first movable member having an interactive contact surface and a second movable member having a mating interactive contact surface for slidable engagement with the interactive contact surface of the first movable member. The first and second movable members are each comprised of a first material. A second material, compositionally different from the first material, is attached to the interactive contact surface of either the first or the second movable member.

Abstract: A separator system for separating first material from second material, in one aspect for separating gumbo from drilling fluid, a combination of the first material and second material introducible to the separator system, the separator system having a screen conveyor having a plurality of spaced-apart rods or shafts, a plurality of wires, for each pair of adjacent rods or shafts of the plurality of spaced-apart rods or shafts a wire of the plurality of wires wrapped partially, once, or more around the rods of the pairs of spaced-apart rods, and portions of the rods and portions of the wires defining openings through which the first material is passable and through which the second material is not passable so that the screen conveyor separates the first material from the second material.

Abstract: A controller provides an automatic bit protection sequence for an autodriller that can be initiated during the initial stage of set down of the bit within the formation. The automatic protection sequence establishes a setpoint for a parameter of interest (such as weight on bit, ROP, torque) associated with operation of the drilling system and then initiates a gradual increase in that parameter in order to achieve the setpoint. The bit protection sequence may be adjustable so that varying degrees of gradualness may be selected. The controller of the autodriller may also be provided with measured data for torque, rate of penetration (ROP) and/or the differential pressure of the mud motor of the drilling system. Each of these parameters is provided with a predetermined setpoint, and each may be selected as the controlling parameter for operation of the autodriller.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for remotely analyzing and affirmatively notifying appropriate personnel of problems and events associated with an oil recovery system—comprising hundreds of oil rigs over a vast geographic area. The results of selected Health Checks, which are run on each oilrig, are reported to a central server. The central server populates a data base for the oil recovery system, displays a red/yellow/green color coded electronic notification and status for an entire oil recovery system and affirmatively alerts appropriate personnel of actions required to address events associated with an oilrig in an oil recovery system. The diagnostics run at each oilrig are configurable at the individual rig. The present invention provides a dynamic oilrig status reporting protocol that enables population and display of a tree node structure representing an entire oil recovery system status on a single screen at a top level.

Abstract: A rotary seal assembly for a rotary support table for use in drilling systems and the like to provide pressurized fluid to a rotary slip assembly disposed within the rotary support table is provided. The rotary seal assembly is designed to be coupled to an existing rotary support table which is used to rotate a drill string, and includes a powered slip that is powered into an engaged position to securely engage a pipe segment, for example, a casing segment.

Abstract: A unibody structure for a screen assembly for a vibratory separator, the unibody structure, in certain aspects having an integral body member with a portion having a plurality of spaced-apart openings in a pattern of a plurality of spaced-apart screening openings and including a pair of spaced-apart integral side members made of folded portions that form the pair of spaced-apart integral side members, a pair of spaced-apart integral end members made of folded end portions, the pair of spaced-apart integral end members each with a first end member and a second end member, the first end member configured with a shoulder support portion for sealingly abutting a screen ledge end of an adjacent screen, and the second end member configured with a ledge portion for sealingly abutting a shoulder portion of an end of an adjacent screen, and the plurality of spaced-apart openings of the integral body member defined by a plurality of spaced-apart strips, each adjacent pair of the plurality of spaced-apart strips definin

Abstract: A monitoring system for leak prevention and leak detection in a pipe line through which a liquid, particularly a petroleum product, passes. The system includes a fitting having two ports. Both ports are connected to an interstitial area surrounding the pipe through which the liquid passes. One port is also connected to a liquid leakage detection device and the other port is connected to a device for preventing liquid leakage to the ambient area.

Abstract: In the field of oil drilling and other well operations there is a need for a coiled tubing connector that is quick and simple to use. There is also a need for a coiled tubing connector that is reusable. A coiled tubing connector (50) comprises a first sub (20); at least one arcuate segment (31, 32) and a second sub (40). The first sub (20) is slidable on the exterior surface of a length of unwound coiled tubing (10); and includes an internal recessed portion (21) and an engagement portion (22) adjacent to a first end thereof (26). At least one arcuate segment (31, 32) defines a protuberance (33) extending radially from an inner surface thereof. Each protuberance (33) is engagable with a corresponding circumferentially extending recess (11) in the coiled tubing (10). The second sub (40) is slidable on the exterior surface of the coiled tubing (10); and includes an engagement portion (41) adjacent to a first end thereof (42).

Abstract: A transportable, elevating operator cabin for use in connection with controlling coiled tubing injection equipment comprises a cabin including control elements; an elongated flexible element of fixed length, such as a belt or chain, extending under the cabin, between two, elevated points on adjacent structures located on opposite sides of the cabin; and a take-up mechanism for shortening the length of the flexible element between the two, elevated points. The take-up mechanism is mounted in a fixed position relative to the cabin so that operation of the take-up mechanism results in elevating of the cabin with respect to the adjacent structures. The cabin may be raised to a distance roughly equal to the height of the cabin while maintaining a compact design not much larger than the cabin itself that is suitable for transport, and the arrangement avoids mechanical complexity and costs associated with using other types of lifting mechanisms.

Abstract: In a first aspect the invention provides a method and apparatus for transporting solid waste material, the apparatus comprising: an upstream waste supply means (4); feed means (10) to transport waste from the waste supply means (4) to a pneumatic conveyancing means (9); which pneumatic conveyancing means (9) comprises a tube (14) within which waste material is transferred from the feed means (10) to a downstream waste collector (22A,22B); wherein said tube (14) is associated with at least one blockage sensing device (30), and electronic data processing means to process data output from the blockage sensing device (30).

Abstract: A vibratory separator including basket apparatus for holding screening apparatus, at least one upper screen apparatus in the basket, the at least one upper screen apparatus having a fluid exit end, at least one lower screen apparatus in the basket below the at least one upper screen apparatus, fluid flowable from the at least one upper screen apparatus down onto the at least one lower screen apparatus, flow diffusion apparatus mounted below the fluid exit end of the at least one upper screen apparatus and above the at least one lower screen apparatus, so that fluid flowing down from the at least one upper screen apparatus flows onto the flow diffusion apparatus and is diffused thereby, and vibrator apparatus for vibrating the basket and the screen apparatus therein.

Abstract: A shale shaker for separating material, said shale shaker comprising a basket (100) for supporting a screen assembly and a collection receptacle, the basket comprising two side walls (102), an end wall (103) and an opening in the bottom of said basket (100), said basket (100) having means (109,110) to support screen assemblies for substantially covering said opening characterized in that said basket (100) further comprises separating means (104,105,106)in or on any of said walls (102,103) for separating material. Preferably, further comprising directing means for directing separated material therefrom into said collection receptacle. The invention also provides a method for separating material using the shale shaker of the invention, a basket of the shale shaker of the invention and screen assemblies used in the shale shaker of the invention.