Abstract: A system and method for removing liquid from a horizontal wellbore is disclosed. The system and methods utilize multi-conduit tubing associated with one or more liquid intake port(s) positioned at selected locations along the tubing and positioned within a wellbore. The one or more liquid intake ports are typically placed at liquid accumulation points along the primarily horizontal section of the wellbore.

Abstract: The present invention provides an oil and gas reservoir electronic logging overflow safety control wireline hanger which comprises a body (1) and a wireline clamping apparatus. Threads (5) are provided on a part of the outer surface of the upper end of the body (1). An entry opening (12) extending along a vertical direction is provided in the body (1) to receive the wireline. A tapering-down, truncated cone shaped passage (2) is provided inside the body (1). A detachable support apparatus (9) is fixed on the upper part of the body (1). The wireline clamping apparatus comprises two wedges (3), and each has a sector shaped cross-section and tapering-down truncated cone shape corresponding to the passage (2). The wedges are symmetrically fixed inside the passage (2) so that a wireline hole (4), with a diameter less than that of the wireline, is formed between the two wedges (3).

Abstract: Systems and methods for cooling process equipment are provided. The system includes a process fluid source, and a heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the process equipment and the process fluid source. The heat exchanger is configured to receive a process fluid from the process fluid source and transfer heat from the process equipment to the process fluid. The system also includes a control system fluidly coupled with the heat exchanger. The control system is configured to vary a temperature of the process fluid heated in the heat exchanger. Further, at least a portion of the process fluid heated in the heat exchanger is delivered into a wellbore at a temperature below a boiling point of the process fluid.

Abstract: A rock drilling unit and a method of changing drill rods in a rock drilling unit is disclosed. The rock drilling unit includes a feed beam, a retainer device, a rock drilling machine and at least one clamp. The clamp is operable without driving force of the drilling unit. The clamp has a space for receiving one single drill rod. The clamp is positioned at a side position, which is parallel to a drilling axis and is at a transfer distance from the drilling axis.

Abstract: A downhole tool for increasing a cross-sectional area of a wellbore is provided. The downhole tool may include a first drilling assembly including a first reaming tool for selectively increasing the cross-sectional area of the wellbore. A first ball seat may receive a first ball. At least one of the first ball seat and the first ball may deform to allow the first ball to pass through the first ball seat when a predetermined pressure is applied thereto. A first piston may be coupled to the first ball seat. The first ball seat and the first piston may stroke when the first ball is received within the first ball seat, thereby actuating the first reaming tool between an active state and an inactive state.

Abstract: An actuation tool uses a lock that when released allows a moving magnet to move into position to repel another magnet. Alternatively a magnetic field can be triggered in a stationary magnet such as one delivered on wireline, for example, to accomplish tool actuation. The repelling force on the second magnet moves it away from a locking position to allow another lock to retract and release the stored potential energy, where the release of the potential energy creates kinetic energy to drive an actuation assembly to set the tool. In a preferred application the tool can be a liner hanger. The release device can be a selectively energized electromagnet or a solenoid that shifts at least one magnet into alignment with at least one second magnet so as to defeat the second magnet from effectively supporting dogs that retain the potential energy whose movement can set the tool.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for controlling a downhole operation is disclosed. A tool is operated to perform the downhole operation at a selected downhole location using a first value of an operation parameter of the tool. A magnetostrictive probe is used to determine a temperature profile along a section of a wellbore related to the operation being performed using the first value of the operation parameter. At least one temperature of the temperature profile is compared to a selected threshold. The operation parameter is altered to a second value based on the comparison of the temperature profile to the selected threshold.

Abstract: An opto-acoustic subsystem is provided. The subsystem includes an optical transmitter and an actuator device. The optical transmitter can be positioned at a surface of a wellbore. The actuator device can be positioned in the wellbore and can respond to a modulated electrical signal generated from a modulated optical signal received from the optical transmitter by outputting a modulated acoustical signal into an environment of the wellbore.

Abstract: A percussion drilling assembly includes a housing with a hammer bit disposed in the lower end portion thereof and configured to move longitudinally within the housing. The hammer bit includes an annular bit shank having a bit strike face and a cutting structure at a lower end portion thereof. An annular piston having a piston strike face arranged and designed to strike the bit strike face is also disposed in the housing. At least one of the bit strike face and the piston strike face has a toroidal curvature profile. A method includes one or more of lowering the percussion drilling assembly into a borehole, engaging the cutting structure with a formation, and impacting the bit strike face of the annular bit shank with the piston strike face of the annular piston.

Abstract: A caged ball fractionation plug for use in a wellbore with a crown engagement having a tapered nose cone and various load ring, slips, slip backups, lubricating spacers and seals can all be slidably engaged to the mandrel. Upon applying pressure, the slidably engaged components can be compressed against each other and the plug can expand and bite into the casing of the wellbore. The caged ball portion of the plug seats the ball internal to the plug to create two separate fractionation zones in the wellbore.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for completing a wellbore including providing a packer having an inner mandrel, alternate flow channels along the inner mandrel, and a sealing element external to the inner mandrel, including connecting packer to tubular body, then running the packer and connected tubular body into the wellbore. In one aspect, the packer and connected tubular body may be placed along an open-hole portion of the wellbore. Tubular body may be a sand screen, with the sand screen comprising a base pipe, a surrounding filter medium, and alternate flow channels. The method includes setting a packer and injecting a gravel slurry into an annular region formed between the tubular body and the surrounding wellbore, and then further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow the gravel slurry to at least partially bypass sealing element of the packer.

Abstract: The invention addresses ways to protect the free ends of communication lines from debris during downhole connection. A lower assembly, positioned downhole, has a lower connector with a free end of a communication line. An upper assembly is moved downhole and has an upper connector. A reciprocating member with attached protective cover is mounted for movement on the lower assembly. A second reciprocating member with attached protective cover is mounted for reciprocating movement on the upper assembly. The free ends are connected as the upper and lower assemblies are moved toward one another. Upon disconnection, the upper and lower connectors are moved apart and the reciprocating members return to their initial positions, again protecting the free ends of the communication lines. The covers are preferably biased towards a closed position and return to a closed state upon disconnection.

Abstract: A technique facilitates deflecting a tubing string into a desired branch of a surrounding tubular structure. A deflector assembly is provided with a deflector tube, an orienting member, and a latching feature, such as latch dogs which are circumferentially disposed on the deflector tube in an asymmetrical pattern. The deflector assembly may be moved within the outer tubular structure, e.g. wellbore tubing, to a desired junction. The deflector tube and the latching feature are then oriented in an alignment sleeve of the surrounding tubular structure by moving the orienting member along a profile within the outer tubular structure. The latching feature is able to securely latch at the selected junction. The latching feature may use a pattern of latch dogs which matches a corresponding asymmetrical pattern of latch openings in the alignment sleeve.

Abstract: A downhole tool for a wellbore within a geological formation may include a housing to be lowered into the wellbore, a probe carried by the housing having a first opening therein, and a packer carried by the probe. The packer may include a rigid base having a second opening therein aligned with the first opening, an inner elastomeric ring carried by the rigid base and having a third opening aligned with the second opening, a rigid intermediate containment ring carried by the rigid base and surrounding the inner elastomeric ring, and an outer elastomeric ring carried by the rigid base and surrounding the rigid intermediate containment ring.

Abstract: A downhole valve assembly operable to control production fluid flow around an obstruction in a production tubing string. The obstruction may be caused by another valve or valve assembly located in the production tubing string, where the valve is closed and blocks flow through the production tubing. The downhole valve assembly comprises a tubular body that includes an axial passage extending through the body and one or more ports extending substantially radially through the body. The downhole valve assembly also includes one or more actuating members operable to move relative to the body. Movement of the actuating members selectively opens the ports such that a fluid flow path through the ports is defined between an annulus region outside of the valve assembly and the axial passage such that the blockage can be bypassed.

Abstract: An ejector or jet pump is provided for use in the drilling of wells to prevent the total fluid pressure at the bottom of the borehole from reaching a level which constitutes a risk of cracking the rock or sediment being drilled, thus resulting in leakage and circulation failure. The pump is placed between the drill bit and the drill string and provided with nozzles directed in such a way that low pressure is established externally at the drill bit. The pump is operated by the drilling fluid which is supplied in the normal way through the drill string. The pressure difference across the pump is used to draw a secondary flow of drilling fluid from the borehole through internal bores in the pump to the nozzles in the drill bit. This fluid flow provides necessary cleaning of the drill bit and drilling surface.

Abstract: A system for use in a drilling operation that includes uphole electronic equipment and a drill string suspended in an earth borehole, a section of wired drill pipe that is part of a communication link between a downhole tool and the uphole electronic equipment, an interface for communicating between the section of wired drill pipe and a communication source/destination. The system includes a housing having a generally cylindrical outer shape which has a passage there through. The housing has a WDP end connectable to the section of wired drill pipe and a further end connectable to the communication source/destination. The system also includes a WDP circuit module disposed within the housing. The WDP circuit module electrically coupleable with the wired drill pipe section. The system includes a further circuit module, disposed within the housing, which is electrically coupled with the WDP circuit module and electrically coupleable with the communication source/destination.

Abstract: An oil well gas separator that includes a seating nipple for a downhole pump. An inner and outer barrel define a fluid passage and a separation annulus with the well casing. A separated well liquid passage is directly connected to the pump inlet to reduce dissolution of gas from the separated liquid. An isolation means is provided to isolate the separation annulus from the well casing fluids.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of balancing weight distribution between downhole cutting tools. One system includes a drill bit arranged at a distal end of the bottom-hole assembly, a first sensor sub arranged proximate to the drill bit and configured to monitor one or more operational parameters corresponding to the drill bit, a reamer axially-offset from the drill bit on the bottom-hole assembly, a second sensor sub arranged proximate to the reamer and configured to monitor one or more operational parameters of the reamer, and a communications module communicably coupled to the first and second sensor subs and configured to communicate one or more corrective action signals when the one or more operational parameters of the drill bit and the reamer surpass a predetermined operating threshold.

Abstract: A flow sub for use with a drill string includes: a tubular housing having a longitudinal bore formed therethrough and a flow port formed through a wall thereof; a bore valve operable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the bore valve allows free passage through the bore in the open position and isolates an upper portion of the bore from a lower portion of the bore in the closed position; and a sleeve disposed in the housing and movable between an open position where the flow port is exposed to the bore and a closed position where a wall of the sleeve is disposed between the flow port and the bore; and a bore valve actuator operably coupling the sleeve and the bore valve such that opening the sleeve closes the bore valve and closing the sleeve opens the bore valve.