Abstract: A controlled swell-rate swellable packer comprises a mandrel; a sealing element, and a jacket. The sealing element is disposed about at least a portion of the mandrel, and the jacket covers at least a portion of an outer surface of the sealing element. The jacket is configured to substantially prevent fluid communication between a fluid disposed outside of the jacket and the portion of the outer surface of the sealing element covered by the jacket.

Abstract: A downhole tool, for selectively reaming a wellbore or stabilizing drill string components within a wellbore, includes an elongate tool body adapted to receive reamer cartridges or stabilizer cartridges depending on the function desired. The reamer cartridges are radially insertable into corresponding pockets in the tool body, with each reamer cartridge having a reamer insert with an array of cutting elements. The reamer insert is disposed within a bushing and is rotatable relative thereto, about a rotational axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tool. However, the rotational axis is offset from the tool body axis, resulting in eccentric contact of the cutting elements with the wall of the wellbore, which in turn imparts rotation to the reamer insert when the tool is being moved axially through a wellbore without rotation.

Abstract: A technique facilitates avoidance of premature actuation of a liner hanger in a wellbore. The technique utilizes a running string which may be coupled to a liner having a liner hanger. The running string extends into the liner in a manner which creates an inner pressure region within the running string, an intermediate pressure region between the running string and the liner, and an outer or annulus pressure region surrounding the liner. The inner pressure region is initially isolated from the intermediate pressure region by a closure mechanism during, for example, movement downhole. The closure mechanism selectively closes off a port used to actuate the liner hanger.

Abstract: A flow control assembly includes a cylindrical body defining an interior and one or more openings through a wall of the body, and a composite choke assembly positioned within the body. The composite choke assembly includes an inner sleeve made of a first material and defining choke orifices that coincide with the openings, and an outer sleeve sized to receive the inner sleeve within the outer sleeve and being made of a second material that is more ductile than the first material. The outer sleeve defines sleeve orifices alignable with the choke orifices to facilitate fluid communication through the composite choke assembly. A flow control device is movably disposed within the body between a fully open position, where the choke orifices and the sleeve orifices are exposed, and a fully closed position, where the choke orifices and the sleeve orifices are occluded by the flow control device.

Abstract: A method for cementing an annular space outside of an inner casing of a subterranean well includes running and setting a cement packer assembly into a bore of the inner casing. The cement packer assembly includes a plurality of nails spaced around a circumference of the cement packer assembly. Slips are set and a lower end of each of the nails is pushed through the inner casing with a setting tool to form holes. A middle portion of the nails having a smaller outer dimension than the lower end of the nails is positioned within the holes. Cement is pumped through the inner casing, through the holes and into the annular space. A force is applied to the nails to move the nails through the holes and position a seal plate of each nail against an inside surface of the bore surrounding one of the holes.

Abstract: An oil and gas well gas separator that operates in conjunction with an isolation means and a tail pipe to reduce the pressure gradient of the well fluids flowing up the tailpipe, to thereby reduce the well's producing bottom hole pressure.

Abstract: A downhole drilling assembly includes a drill string having an inner fluid passageway. A fluid motor disposed within the drill string has a rotor operable to rotate relative to a stator in response to a circulating fluid received via the inner fluid passageway. A drive shaft and drill bit are operably associated with and operable to rotate with the rotor. A hydraulically actuated clutch disposed within the drill string has a first configuration, wherein a first clutch assembly is disengaged from a second clutch assembly such that the drive shaft and drill bit rotate relative to the drill string and, a second configuration, wherein the first clutch assembly engages the second clutch assembly responsive to hydraulic pressure generated by rotation of the drill string such that the drive shaft and drill bit rotate with the drill string.

Abstract: A torque anchor intended to block the rotation of a production string with respect to a casing of a well, the torque anchor comprising a body, at least two supports mobile with respect to the body, wheels borne by the supports, the wheels being suitable for running on an inner face of said casing, at least one restraining device suitable for exerting a force on said wheels in order to anchor said wheels in said casing. Each restraining device comprises a set of springs suitable for acting on the set of said supports and a guide capable of guiding said set of springs; said guide being borne by said supports; said guide being mobile with respect to at least one support.

Abstract: A downhole motor rotary drive system including a housing, a rotor rotatably and coaxially disposed within the housing, and an annular space between the rotor and housing. The rotor includes first and second ends, a bore extending between the first and second ends, an inlet port extending from the bore to the annular space, and an outlet port extending from the annular space to the bore. A plurality of gates are disposed within the annular space, each configured to engage the rotor and the housing, and a plurality of lobes extend within the annular space such that the lobes and the gates divide the annular space into a plurality of chambers. A flow path is defined by the annular space between the inlet and outlet ports, and the rotor is configured to rotate relative to the housing when a fluid is circulated along the flow path.

Abstract: A safety valve for a hydrocarbon wellbore includes a valve housing; a tubular valve member having an axially extending tube wall; and an operating mechanism for operating the valve member. The housing has a passage extending from a lower opening to an upper opening. The tube wall has one or more radial inlet apertures therethrough. The lower end part of the tube wall is closed. The valve member is axially movable in the passage between a flow position and a blocking position. In blocking position, the valve member is retracted in the housing such that the inlet apertures lie inside the housing and fluid flow between the lower opening and upper opening is prevented by the closed lower end part of the valve member. In the flow position, the valve member projects below the housing such that the one or more radial inlet apertures lie outside the housing.

Abstract: Earth-boring tools may have a body, a cutting element attached to the body at a first location, and a formation-engaging structure attached to the body at a second location. The formation-engaging structure may be movable during a drilling operation between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the formation-engaging structure may be located rotationally behind the cutting element at a first radial distance from a longitudinal axis of the body at which the cutting element will at least initially shield the formation-engaging structure from engaging a formation. In the second position, the formation-engaging structure may be located at a different second radial distance from the longitudinal axis of the body at which the formation-engaging structure will engage a formation.

Abstract: A liner hanger has slips held by a slip body. A potential energy force to move the slips axially when the hanger is in position is selectively released. The slips move axially and radially outwardly guided on opposed edges by the slip body. The slip faces have wickers that dig into the surrounding casing that will support a liner string off the slips. Weight is set down to bring the housing into contact with the top of the slips that are already engaged to the surrounding casing. The nature of the loading between the slips and the casing changes from a radial reaction force from the casing going into the slip and then distributed circumferentially to the slip housing to an essentially axial loading of the slip housing down onto the slip that has penetrated the casing with an opposite reaction force in the casing wall.

Abstract: A detonating restriction plug element and method in a wellbore casing. The element includes a hollow passage in the restriction plug element that receives a detonating assembly coupled to a mechanical restraining element, and a space for containing a reactive fluid. The mechanical restraining element undergoes a change in shape for a pre-determined time delay due to a chemical reaction when the reactive fluid in the space such as wellbore fluids comes in contact with the restraining element. A firing pin in the detonating assembly is released when the restraining elements changes shape and releases the restraint on the firing pin. The firing pin contacts a detonator in the detonating assembly and causes a detonating event such that the restriction plug element fragments.

Abstract: A frac plug mandrel assembly has an inner core that permits flow that is surrounded by a thin wall tube that distributes compressive loading, such as that applied by the set sealing element to the core. The core is a cylindrically shaped insert for inside the tube and allows flow until a ball or plug is landed on a seat to close off the flow through the core. The core can have a star pattern with a series of radially extending segments from a solid hub or a cylindrical shape of a honeycomb or other porous structure that has the requisite strength to resist collapse from compressive loading of the set sealing element while still allowing sufficient flow area for fluid displacement.

Abstract: A shunt tube assembly comprises a wellbore tubular, a packing tube, a transport tube, at least one valve configured to provide selective fluid communication between an interior passageway through the transport tube and the packing tube. At least a portion of the transport tube is disposed within the packing tube.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for downhole formation testing including use of a probe having inner and outer channels adapted to collect or inject injecting fluids from or to a formation accessed by a borehole. The probe straddles one or more layers in laminated or fractured formations and uses the inner channels to collect fluid.

Abstract: A liner hanger has slips held by a slip body. A potential energy force to move the slips axially when the hanger is in position is selectively released. The nature of the loading between the slips and the casing changes from a radial reaction force from the casing going into the slip and then distributed circumferentially to the slip housing to an essentially axial loading of the slip housing down onto the slip that has penetrated the casing with an opposite reaction force in the casing wall. The contact location between the slip housing and the slip is made broader at the slip end with a wider portion having an undercut to reduce contact stress and to aid in promoting flow past the set slip. The slip housing also has axial flow channels that interact with the undercut to promote flow past the set slips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multistage high pressure fracturing system and tubular hydraulic valve (THV) system for connection to a completion string to enable isolation of a zone of interest within a well. In particular, the system enables access to a downhole formation for fracturing the zone of interest and for hydrocarbon production. The system generally includes an electronic plug counting system, a plug capture system and a valve system wherein dropping a series of plugs down the completion string enables successive capture of individual plugs within individual THVs for subsequent fracturing operations.

Abstract: A wellbore tool comprising a power supply, an electrical load, a receiving unit configured to passively receive a triggering signal, and a switching system electrically coupled to the power supply, the receiving unit, and the electrical load, wherein the switching system is configured to selectively transition from an inactive state to an active state in response to the triggering signal, from the active state to the active state in response to the triggering signal, or combinations thereof, wherein in the inactive state a circuit is incomplete and any route of electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is disallowed, and wherein in the active state the circuit is complete and at least one route of electrical current flow between the power supply and the electrical load is allowed.

Abstract: A method and/or system is provided for milling an opening into a tubular positioned in a well bore using coiled tubing. Surface equipment includes a programmable controller at the surface, which is utilized for controlling an injector motor so that an encoder for monitoring movement of said coiled tubing string produces less than a predetermined maximum number of pulses for a given time interval.