Abstract: An expandable liner is used to re-complete a wellbore for a re-fracturing operation. The expandable liner may be used to cover the old perforations and provide a larger bore after expansion. The larger bore allows the new completion perforations and fracturing operation to be more easily achieved. In one embodiment, the expandable liner may have a rib disposed around an outer diameter of the expandable tubular, wherein the rib is configured to form a seal with the outer tubular.

Abstract: A downhole assembly of an artificial lift system includes: an adapter for connection to production tubing; a receptacle shaft; an up-thrust bearing; a centrifugal pump; and a down-thrust bearing. The receptacle shaft has a latch profile for receiving a latch fastener of a drive coupling and a torsional profile for mating with the coupling to longitudinally and torsionally connect thereto. The up-thrust bearing includes: a thrust driver longitudinally and torsionally connected to the receptacle shaft; and a thrust carrier connected to the adapter. The centrifugal pump includes: a diffuser connected to the adapter; a pump shaft torsionally connected to the receptacle shaft; and an impeller connected to the pump shaft. The down-thrust bearing includes: a thrust driver longitudinally and torsionally connected to the pump shaft; and a thrust carrier connected to the adapter.

Abstract: A gravel pack assembly includes screen sections with a packer between them. A first screen section communicates an uphole annulus with the assembly's interior passage, and a second screen section communicates a downhole annulus with the interior passage. A housing of the packer has an internal bore communicating with the assembly's interior passage and has an internal bypass communicating external ports with one another. A first packer element disposed between the external ports restricts gravel passage at least from the uphole to the downhole annulus. A second packer element disposed downhole from a second of the external ports is independently actuated to isolate fluid passage between the uphole and downhole annulus. One or more transport tubes communicate slurry from the uphole annulus to the internal bypass once the uphole annulus is packed with gravel.

Abstract: A container for collecting water samples to determine dissolved gas includes a flask-type pouch with a spout. A removable cap and valve install on the spout. The valve includes an adapter that fits with an O-ring or other seal inside the mouth of the spout. The valve includes a valve element, which can be a one-way, self-closing type of valve, that fits with an O-ring or other seal inside the end of the adapter. A cap of the container fits over the adapter and affixes to the spout to hold the valve on the spout. In use, the cap can be removed so that the valve element and adapter can be removed for filling the pouch. Otherwise, the cap can remain in place so filling can be performed through the valve element. A tamper-evident ring on the cap may be provided to ensure the integrity of the sample contained in the flask.

Abstract: A cementing port collar has an opening sleeve biased from a closed position to an opened position relative to the collar's exit port, and a first restraint temporarily holds the opening sleeve closed. The collar also has a closing sleeve biased from an opened position to a closed position, and a second restraint temporarily holds the closing sleeve opened. During cementing, the first restraint is electronically activated with a first trigger to release the opening sleeve opened so cement slurry can pass out of the collar's exit port to the borehole annulus. When cementing is completed, the second restraint is electronically activated with a second trigger to release the closing sleeve closed to close off the collar to the borehole so the cement can set. The restraints can include bands of synthetic fiber, which are burned by fuses activated by a controller of the collar responding to passage of RFID tags.

Abstract: A centralizer sub for cementing a tubular string in a wellbore includes: a tubular body; a centralizer disposed along an outer surface of the body and having a pair of collars and a plurality of bow springs connecting the collars; and a joint longitudinally linking the centralizer to the body. The joint has: a groove formed in and around the body outer surface, and a plurality of protrusions formed integrally with or mounted to one of the collars and extending into the groove.

Abstract: A downhole tool with a swellable mantle is configured for insertion of a cable into a longitudinal slit in the mantle. An arcuate groove is formed in an outer surface of the mantle corresponding to a displacement caused by the inserted cable, so that the displacement is counteracted and the outer surface of the mantle remains smooth.

Abstract: An apparatus is used in cementing and perforating casing in a borehole. A cement head disposed on the casing has first and second containers. A first plug positioned in the first container deploys from the cement head in the casing in advance of cement slurry. An assembly positioned in the second container deploys from the cement head in the casing after the cement slurry. The first plug lands on a float collar on the casing, and a breachable passage in the first plug opens and allows the cement slurry to pass into the borehole annulus. The assembly has a wiper and has one or more charges. The wiper wipes the casing as the assembly is displaced down the casing with displacing fluid. Eventually, the assembly lands at the first plug, and hydraulic pressure applied in the casing activates the one or more charges to perforate the casing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wellbore strengthening are disclosed. An effective way to strengthen a wellbore and prevent future fractures during drilling operations is to induce fractures having a desired fracture width profile and fracture length. Surface back pressure can be used to accurately induce such fractures. The induced fractures which are then sealed can increase fracture gradient of the wellbore thus mitigating future fractures.

Abstract: A dual string packer may be provided with a crossover module located such that fluid communication may be provided from any tubular bore to the internal shifting chamber without completely disassembling the dual string packer. The crossover module may be attached to the through tubing mandrels at or near the bottom or lower end of the dual string packer.

Abstract: A tubular expansion system is configured to expand a tubular in a wellbore. The expansion system may include an expandable tubular having a lower section and an upper section; a first expansion member configured to expand the lower section; and a second expansion member configured to expand the upper section. The upper section may be expanded to have an inner diameter greater than an inner diameter of the expanded lower section. The second expansion member may be engaged and moved by the first expansion member and/or one or more support members to expand the upper section.

Abstract: Systems and methods for an integrated wellbore stress, stability and strengthening analysis are disclosed. An integrated geomechanical tool can be used to analyze and evaluate stress along the length of the wellbore to identify a safe drilling mud weight window and help identify troublesome zones in the wellbore. Fracture length may then be predicted in the identified troublesome zones by using a stress tensor calculated during the stress analysis. The calculated fracture length may be used to perform a strengthening analysis. After performing strengthening analysis, mud loss may be predicted based on predicted fracture size calculated during the stress, stability and strengthening analyses.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for attaching tubulars to a tubular string in a well bore. The apparatus includes a drill rig elevator configured with a rotatable set of slips that grip the tubular to be added to the tubular string. As a result, the elevator can grip the tubular to pick up and position the tubular and can continue to grip the tubular as the tubular is spun to be threaded onto the tubular string in the well bore. The slips can also be moved axially to compensate for movement of the tubular toward the tubular string as the tubular threadingly attaches to the tubular string.

Abstract: A method for using a Focused Ion Beam and/or Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB/SEM) for etching one or more alignment markers on a rock sample, the one or more alignment markers being etched on the rock sample using the FIB/SEM. The one or more alignment markers may further be deposited with a platinum alloy or other suitable compositions for increasing alignment marker visibility.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a downhole tool. In one embodiment, a method of deploying a tool in a wellbore is disclosed and consists of installing a tool body at an upper end of a tubular string extending from a wellbore, the body having at least one control line groove formed on its outer surface for housing at least one control line, the at least one control line housed therein; providing an assembly, the assembly strung on the at least one control line and including a compressible element with at least one ring on each end thereof; at least one ring on each end of the element; a locking ring at an upper end of the assembly. The method further includes installing the assembly over the body whereby the at least one control line is housed between the body and the assembly.

Abstract: An MWD apparatus has a bottomhole assembly for supporting a tool string and an antenna. The tool string has a sensor and an electromagnetic telemetry device. The tool string affixes in a muleshoe and carrier sub of the assembly using a stinger and fastener. An antenna disposes in an emitter sub of the assembly. The antenna is attached to extend from the tool string so the antenna is in electrical communication with the telemetry device. Finally, the portions of the assembly are connected together, and the antenna is affixed in the uphole portion of the assembly using a conductive landing and one or more fasteners. In this way, the tool string and the antenna are held in tension inside the assembly. The MWD apparatus can be used with an air drilling assembly having an air hammer and a motor coupled downhole of the apparatus. Non-magnetic and regular drill collars can couple uphole of the apparatus, along with a jet sub.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for a low profile rotating control device (LP-RCD) and its housing mounted on or integral with an annular blowout preventer seal, casing, or other housing. The LP-RCD and LP-RCD housing can fit within a limited space available on drilling rigs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring parameters of a borehole using an acoustic logging system. By transmitting a high frequency acoustic signal essentially perpendicular to the major axis of a borehole casing using a transducer, the high frequency acoustic signal may produce one or more acoustic echoes. By receiving and analyzing a first acoustic echo from an inner wall of the borehole casing and at least one second acoustic echo from a back wall of the borehole casing, borehole parameters such as the impedance of the casing cement and the thickness of thicker borehole casings, up to and greater than 1 inch, may be determined.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for installing deepwater completions and performing well intervention from a vessel that can perform other duties while not running completions or performing interventions. The system for installing deepwater completions and performing well intervention may comprise a surface pipe handling and deployment package including a horizontally operated rig that may also be operated in a slanted mode. Deepwater completions may be deployed from the vessel via a buoyant horizontal riser (BHR), which may be supported by a submerged buoyant tensioning system (BTS). In this manner, the cost of performing completion or intervention operations may be significantly reduced compared to such operations run from a drilling rig.

Abstract: A lubricator for use in a plunger lift system includes a tubular body having an outlet formed through a wall thereof and a bore therethrough. The bore is closed at an end thereof. The lubricator further includes a striker assembly disposed within the bore. The striker assembly includes a dampener housing longitudinally movable relative to the tubular body between a ready position and a stroked position and a choke plate. The choke plate: is disposed in the dampener housing, separates a bore of the housing into an upper hydraulic chamber and a lower hydraulic chamber, and has one or more orifices formed therethrough. The striker assembly further includes a dampener support rod connecting the choke plate to the tubular body. The orifices are sized to dissipate kinetic energy of a plunger striking a lower end of the dampener housing.