Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars, said apparatus comprising a winch, at least one wire line, and a device for gripping the tubular, the arrangement being such that, in use, the winch can be used to winch said at least one wire and said device to position a tubular below said top drive.

Abstract: The objective of the invention is to smoothly merge the influx flow streams with the wellbore flow stream so as to reduce the pressure drop along the perforated section of the wellbore liner. There is disclosed a completion liner for a well for the production of hydrocarbons is provided with angled ports through the sidewall which reduce pressure drop along the length of the liner. There is also disclosed short imperforate completion tubing for a well for the production of hydrocarbons is concentrically mounted alongside substantially only the perforated section of the production tubing to cause production fluids to initially flow toward the wellhead along an annulus defined between completion tubing and the production tubing prior to exiting the annulus and commingling a with fluids produced from further down hole.

Abstract: A drilling system for drilling a bore hole into an earth formation, the bore hole having an inside wall. A drill string reaches into the bore hole from a surface, leaving a drilling fluid return passage between the drill string and the bore hole inside wall. A bottom hole assembly is supported by the drill string, and a drilling fluid discharge conduit is provided in fluid communication with the drilling fluid return passage. A drilling fluid is pumped through the drill string into the bore hole and to the drilling fluid discharge conduit via the drilling fluid return passage. Means are provided for obtaining information on the existing down hole pressure of the drilling fluid in the vicinity of the bottom hole assembly and back pressure means for controlling the drilling fluid back pressure.

Abstract: A flow tube exercising tool and method for use are described for actuating the flow tube of a downhole safety valve in order to remove build ups of scale and debris from the safety valve and ensure proper operation. The exercising tool provides an engagement portion that underlies the lower end of the safety valve flow tube so that upward movement of the exercising tool will move the flow tube upwardly. Hydraulic fluid is then provided to the safety valve hydraulic controller to move the flow tube downwardly. Only a single trip of the flow tube exercising tool is necessary to accomplish multiple upward and downward movements of the flow tube.

Abstract: A rotating inner member is used to drive a downhole tool housed within the hollow outer member of a dual-member drill string. The downhole tool preferably will be adapted to receive rotational energy from the inner member. In a preferred embodiment, the downhole tool is an electric generator connected to a downhole electric device. In another preferred embodiment the downhole tool is a mechanical transmission that uses the rotational energy from the inner member to drive a non-electric tool, such as a downhole hammer. This invention will increase the consistency and efficiency of downhole energy production.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an annular barrier tool to block or restrict the flow of well fluids in the annular region of a well.

Abstract: A flow tube exercising tool and method for use are described for actuating the flow tube of a downhole safety valve in order to remove build ups of scale and debris from the safety valve and ensure proper operation. The exercising tool provides a lower engagement portion that underlies the lower end of the safety valve flow tube so that upward movement of portions of the exercising tool will move the flow tube upwardly. An upper engagement portion overlies the upper end of the flow tube so that downward movement of portions of the exercising tool will move the flow tube downwardly. Only a single trip of the flow tube exercising tool is necessary to accomplish multiple upward and downward movements of the flow tube.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus for drilling a deviated bore comprising a tubular outer member having an offset and adapted for rotatably supporting a drill bit. The member has a gripping arrangement for selectively engaging the wall of a bore to restrain the member against rotation. An inner member is provided within the outer member for coupling to the drill bit at one end and to a drill string at another end. The apparatus has a first configuration in which the gripping arrangement is retracted and the inner member is coupled to the outer member such that rotation of the drill string provides for corresponding rotation of the inner and outer members, and a second configuration in which the gripping arrangement is extended and the inner member is rotatable relative to the outer member such that the outer member is restrained from rotation in the bore and rotation of the drill string provides for corresponding rotation of the inner member and the drill bit.

Abstract: A rotating dry drilling bit for low thrust drilling of an annular bore hole into a body of rock and obtaining an extremely small diameter core sample comprises a bit crown moulded to the end of an annular steel body. The bit crown comprises a plurality of radially extending channels and a plurality of evenly spaced radially extending cutting blades surrounding an annulus. The bit crown is a hard metal matrix formed onto the bottom end of the annular steel body using a powdered metallurgy process. Embedded within each cutting blade are natural and synthetic diamonds. A reverse auger mechanism within the annulus removes cuttings from the annulus and the surface of the bit crown.

Abstract: An inline well fluid separator is movable for pigging operations. The separator assembly has a housing with an inlet port and an outlet port. A separation unit is carried within the housing. The separation unit has an operational position in alignment with the ports to cause well fluid to flow through the separation unit. The separation unit will move to a storage position within the housing outside of the flow path to enable a pipeline pig to pass.

Abstract: Methods are provided that include the steps of providing wells in a formation, establishing one or more fractures (12) in the formation, such that each fracture intersects at least one of the wells (16, 18), placing electrically conductive material in the fractures, and generating electric current through the fractures and through the material such that sufficient heat (10) is generated by electrical resistivity within the material to pyrolyze organic matter in the formation into producible hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A downhole plunger for a gas/oil well comprises a valve to regulate fluid flow past the plunger and a thermal actuator to control the valve. The thermal actuator of the disclosed device enables the valve to open and close aperatures without relying on the physical impact generally required of mechanical valve bypass plungers. In addition, the thermal actuator provides for a brake to reduce a plunger's travel rate as it approaches the bottom or top of a well. The thermal actuator partially opens aperatures to slow a plunger down as it approaches the top of a well. Likewise, the thermal actuator partially closes aperatures to slow the plunger as it approaches the well bottom. A thermally actuated plunger comprising an expandable outer diameter is disclosed, as is a plunger in combination with a data logger and a thermal activated brake.

Abstract: A system and method for completing a well with multiple zones of production includes a casing having a plurality of flapper valves integrated therein for isolating each well zone and a perforating gun string for selectively perforating the casing and underlying formation at each well zone to establish communication between the formation and the interior of the casing and to facilitate delivery of treatment fluid to each of the multiple well zones. The system and method may include mechanisms for selectively actuating each flapper valve, such as by detonating a perforating gun in a perforating gun string. The system and method may include providing a perforating gun string having multiple guns, each gun selectively detonated at a corresponding well zone, and the gun string being stored in a lubricator at the surface between alternating sequences of perforating and treating the well zones.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for conveying an electrically energized progressing cavity pump into a wellbore surrounded by steel casing and thereafter using that progressing cavity pump to pump oil, water and gas to the surface of the earth. The progressing cavity pump self-powers itself into the wellbore by pumping fluid from one side to another side of a lateral hydraulic seal and is thereafter used to provide artificial lift which is particularly useful in extreme-reach lateral wellbores. The apparatus may be suspended on coiled tubing, on any umbilical means, or on a wireline, and may also be used as a conveyance system to convey completion devices into a well. The progressing cavity pump is not subject to gas lock in highly deviated, partially gas-filled wells, and may be used to prevent any reverse fluid flow into formation during deployment in the well.

Abstract: A mono-diameter wellbore casing. The mono-diameter wellbore casing is formed by plastically deforming and radially expanding a first tubular member within a wellbore. A second tubular member is then plastically deformed and radially expanded in overlapping relation to the first tubular member. The second tubular member and the overlapping portion of the first tubular member are then radially expanded again.

Abstract: A downhole mill includes a plurality of cutters extending generally radially from a center region to a gage diameter, wherein the plurality of cutters includes a first serrated cutter blade having a plurality of peaks and valleys along its length. The plurality of cutters includes a second serrated cutter blade having a plurality of peaks and valleys along its length. The plurality of cutters includes a non-serrated cutter blade positioned upon the cutting face between the first serrated cutter blade and the second serrated cutter blade, wherein the peaks of the first serrated cutter blade is radially aligned with the valleys of the second serrated cutter blade. A pump-off sub configured to release a downhole mill includes a dovetail connection maintained by a c-ring in an expanded state.

Abstract: An earth boring bit includes a bit body including plurality of PDC cutter elements and a fluid plenum connecting a fluid inlet to at least one fluid orifice. Furthermore, a ledge formed between a bottom of the fluid plenum and the at least one fluid orifice includes a relief region formed therein located across a flow change angle. Additionally, a method to improve a polycrystalline diamond compact drill bit body design includes determining flow change angles from a fluid plenum into a fluid orifice and modeling a relief region on a ledge to optimize fluid into the fluid orifice.

Abstract: A sucker rod guide installation device for installing a sucker rod guide on a sucker rod. The device having a rod positioner for positioning the sucker rod and guiding a portion of the sucker rod into the sucker rod guide. The sucker rod guide held in a holder, the holder having at least one releasable attachment for holding the sucker rod guide attached to the sucker rod guide holder during the installation process. Various safety devices are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for expanding a downhole tubular. The apparatus includes a mandrel defining at least one curved support surface. The apparatus further includes an expansion member defining a curved bearing surface for contact with the support surface and corresponding to the mandrel support surface. The expansion member is movable relative to the mandrel, whereby the surfaces are in contact and movable over one another to move the expansion member from a smaller diameter first configuration towards a larger diameter second configuration.

Abstract: A method of fracturing using deformable proppants minimizes proppant pack damage, without compromising the fracturing fluid's proppant transport properties during pumping, by use of deformable proppants. Selection of proppant is dependent upon the mechanical properties of the formation rock. The strength of the deformable proppant is dependent upon the modulus of the formation rock being treated such that the proppant is capable of providing, at the very least, a minimum level of conductivity in in-situ stress environments. The maximum elastic modulus of the deformable proppant is less than the minimum modulus of the formation rock which is being treated. The method is particularly applicable in fracturing operations of subterranean reservoirs such as those comprised primarily of coal, chalk, limestone, dolomite, shale, siltstone, diatomite, etc.