Abstract: A rotary drill bit is operable for forming a wellbore in a geologic formation, and includes a hybrid gauge pad thereon. The hybrid gauge pad includes movable gauge elements biased to protrude radially from a circumferential engagement surface of the gauge pad to define a full gauge of the of the drill bit. The movable gauge elements retract and become flush with the circumferential engagement surface of the gauge pad in response to the application of a steering force to the drill bit, and thus, the circumferential engagement surface of the gauge pad may define the full gauge of the drill bit in a second configuration. The gauge elements are axially spaced from one another and are arranged to provide either uniform engagement forces, or decreasing engagement forces in an axial direction of the drill bit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inserting a detonator into a door on an end fitting and closing the door into a recess of the end fitting, enabling a quick wireless install of a detonator and resulting in a side-by-side arrangement between the detonator and the detonating cord.

Abstract: A method and system for downhole pulse generation determines an optimal frequency and, in some embodiments, amplitude of axial pressure pulses to maximize the rate of penetration. Specifically, one or more sensors may be disposed on or near an axial oscillation tool that provides near real-time raw sensor data relating to speed, velocity, and acceleration of the tool. With this sensor data, an optimal set of parameters, namely an optimal frequency and, in some embodiments, amplitude may be determined based on the hydraulic conditions and frictional forces of the actual drilling environment. An optimizing control system may directly communicate these parameters to the axial oscillation tool or pass the parameters to an axial oscillation tool control system that controls the operation of the tool. Advantageously, frictional forces may be substantially reduced, the rate of penetration may be substantially enhanced, and power consumption may be intelligently managed.

Abstract: Included are bridge plugs and methods and systems for the use and deployment of the bridge plugs. An example bridge plug comprises a first sealing element, a second sealing element, and a spacer; wherein the spacer is disposed between the first sealing element and the second sealing element; wherein the first sealing element and the second sealing element are not adjacent to one another.

Abstract: An assembly for perforating a downhole formation includes a perforating gun, coupled to a downhole conveyance system, the perforating gun including an explosive charge and an uphole contact. The assembly also includes a tandem, coupled to the perforating gun proximate the uphole contact, the tandem including a cartridge assembly communicatively coupled to the downhole contact and a primary igniter communicatively coupled to the cartridge assembly. The assembly further includes an intermediate sub, coupled to the tandem opposite the perforating gun, the intermediate sub receiving at least a portion of the primary igniter, the intermediate sub having a fuse and secondary igniter. The assembly also includes a setting tool coupled to the intermediate sub, the setting tool receiving a setting signal via the secondary igniter.

Abstract: Techniques of the present disclosure relate to downhole perforation operations using fluid containing hollow spheres. A method comprising: disposing a perforating apparatus in a volume of hollow particles in a wellbore; and detonating the perforating apparatus to collapse a portion of the hollow particles to increase flow through at least one perforation resulting from a detonation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a conduit forming part of a drilling fluid return path from a wellbore. The the conduit has at least one well outflow control in the conduit. The at least one well fluid outflow control has at least two annular flow restrictors each separately operable to close to a respective inner diameter.

Abstract: An example method for dynamic wear prediction for a drill bit with a cutting structure may include receiving at a processor of an information handling system an unworn profile of the cutting structure and a diamond distribution of the cutting structure. The diamond distribution may include a three-dimensional diamond distribution characterized by radial and axial position on the drill bit. The method may include calculating a final predicted wear profile of the cutting structure based, at least in part, on the unworn profile and the diamond distribution. The method also may include calculating iterations of intermediary wear profiles based, at least in part, on the previous wear profile and the diamond distribution. The final predicted wear profile may indicate a fully worn portion of the cutting structure. A usable life for the drill bit may be determined based, at least in part, on the final predicted wear profile.

Abstract: A compact downhole tool, such as a frac plug, may include a single frustoconical member and a single set of slips. The slips may further include an internal button that engages with the frustoconical member. Various elements in the downhole tool may be dissolvable or degradable.

Abstract: Systems and methods of the present disclosure relate to rotatable electrical connectors for a downhole perforating tool. A downhole perforating tool comprises a first segment; a second adjacent segment that is rotatable, wherein the first and second segments are coaxially aligned or eccentrically aligned; and an electrical contact disposed between the first and second segments.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a downhole component includes a downhole sensing device configured to monitor a downhole component and generate component information during deployment of the of the downhole component to a selected location in a borehole in a resource bearing formation. The system also includes a downhole communication device connected to the downhole sensing device, the downhole communication device configured to wirelessly transmit a signal indicative of the component information to a surface location during the deployment.

Abstract: A shaped charge liner having a plurality of metal powders including at least one high purity level metal having a purity level of at least about 99.5%. The metal powders and high purity level metal are compressed to form the shaped charge liner, and the shaped charge liner is for installation in a shaped charge. Once installed in the shaped charge, the shaped charge liner is for being thermally softened so that it has a porosity level of less than about 20 volume % and is able to maintain its mechanical integrity when thermally softened. A shaped charge including such liners is disclosed, as well as a method of perforating a wellbore using such shaped charge having such liners positioned therein.

Abstract: A method for mitigating a fluid flow from a target wellbore using a relief wellbore includes receiving wellbore geometry information of the target wellbore, receiving an initial interception point of the target wellbore, simulating a change in a three-dimensional flow characteristic of a kill fluid flow from a simulated relief wellbore and a target fluid flow from a simulated target wellbore resulting from an interaction between the kill fluid flow and the target fluid flow at the initial interception point, the simulated target wellbore designed using the received wellbore geometry information, and determining a final interception point of the target wellbore based on the simulation.

Abstract: A convertible and addressable switch assembly includes an interface (I/O) configured to connect to a controller along a telemetry system; and a processor connected to the interface (I/O). The processor is configured to receive a command from the controller, along the telemetry system, to change a first value of a mode status variable to a desired second value, wherein the first value is associated with a first operating mode of the switch assembly and the second value is associated with a second operating mode, which is different from the first operating mode; change the first value to the second value within the switch assembly; and store in a non-volatile memory, at the switch assembly, the second value of the mode status variable.

Abstract: A technique is provided for estimating perforated entry and exit hole diameters (EHD) of a casing string. In one embodiment, a method for predicting perforation outcomes may comprise selecting one or more variables for a perforating operation, determining an estimate of a perforating outcome for the perforating operation, and correcting the perforating outcome to obtain a corrected perforating outcome by applying a weighting based on historical perforating data.

Abstract: A downhole rotating machine includes a stator having stator windings and corresponding magnetic flux guides and a rotor having a plurality of magnets configured to cooperate with the stator windings and the corresponding magnetic flux guides to generate a magnetic field in a magnetic gap that is substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotor, wherein the magnetic gap provides a magnetic gap separation between the plurality of magnets and the corresponding magnetic flux guides that is at least five percent of an overall diameter of the downhole rotating machine. A method of operating a downhole tool in a wellbore and a downhole tool are also provided.

Abstract: High pressure seals for pressure control fittings are disclosed, where such pressure control fittings are located at a wellhead, for example. Embodiments of cam lock seals, a spring-driven ball race seal and wedge seals are disclosed.

Abstract: A centralizing perforating gun for perforating a tubular in a wellbore include a gun housing, perforating charges positioned within the gun housing and detonatable to perforate the tubular, and a centralizing system. The centralizing system includes an extendable member configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position. The extendable member is configured to engage a surface of the tubular in the extended position, thereby biasing the centralizing perforating gun away from the surface of the tubular.

Abstract: A downhole plug for plugging a tubular member. The downhole plug may include a packer and a slip assembly including a plurality of slip segments circumferentially spaced about a central axis of the slip assembly, each slip segment having a body comprising a first end, a second end longitudinally opposite the first end, an outward face with at least one engagement member for coupling to the tubular member, and sides each facing an adjacent slip segment of the plurality of slip segments. The plurality of slip segments may include a first set of slip segments and a second set of slip segments wherein each of the first set of slip segments is positioned directly between a pair of the second set of slip segments. Each of the second set of slip segments may include a pair of arcuately extending anti-extrusion members.

Abstract: Zonal isolation devices, systems, and methods for use are provided. In some embodiments, the zonal isolation device comprises a tubular body having a fluid communication pathway formed along a longitudinal axis comprising: a sealing element comprising a deformable material and an inner bore forming at least a portion of the fluid communication pathway; an expansion ring disposed within the bore of the sealing element; a wedge engaged with a downhole end of the sealing element; and an anchoring assembly engaged with the wedge. In certain embodiments, the tubular body further comprises an end element adjacent the anchoring assembly.