Abstract: A Tool for excavating an object, the tool having a jetting system arranged to impinge the object to be excavated with a jetted stream of a drilling fluid mixed with abrasive particles, the jetting system being provided with at least a mixing chamber with a drilling fluid inlet, a second inlet for abrasive particles, and an outlet nozzle for releasing the drilling fluid mixed with the abrasive particles; a recirculation system arranged to recirculate at least some of the abrasive particles, from a return stream of the fluid mixed with the abrasive particles downstream impingement of the jet with the object back to the jetting system, whereby the abrasive particles have a magnetic material, which recirculation system has a separator magnet for separating the abrasive particles from the return stream and for transporting the particles to the second inlet; and, a piece of magnetic material that is provided in or in the vicinity of the mixing chamber such as to draw a part of the magnetic field generated by the s

Abstract: A method for drilling wells in which the tubular can be added or removed from the drill string whilst mud and drilling fluids being circulated continuously and kept separated from the environment to reduce pollution. A connector is used with an inlet and outlet for the mud etc. and which incorporates rams to seal off and separate the flow of mud as a tubular is added or removed.

Abstract: A head member having a piston provided thereon is connected to an elongate tube such as a micro-tube. The micro-tube contains one or more optical fibres, preferably suspended therein by a protective fluid such as a scavenging gel. The head member is preferably inserted into an already-deployed downhole tubular and fluid is pumped down that already deployed tubular behind the piston such that the head member and attached micro-tube and optical fiber(s) are pumped downhole. A sealing means such as a resin material may be pumped downhole in the annulus between the outer circumference of the micro-tube and the inner circumference of the already-deployed tubular downhole in low viscosity form and which may be adapted to cure or harden after a passage of time and/or under application of heat.

Abstract: A system and method for assembly of downhole equipment in a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, a method of assembling an apparatus in a subterranean well includes the steps of: positioning an expandable shell in the well; expanding the shell in the well; and then interconnecting multiple portions of the apparatus to each other within the expanded shell.

Abstract: A system and method for determining blockage in a wellbore containing fluid and/or in a formation adjacent the wellbore, according to which energy is generated in the fluid and variables associated with the energy are measured.

Abstract: Drill stem elements and connections are shown with advantages such as being mechanically robust. The absence of a side access window in a sonde housing is one design feature that provides robust mechanical properties. Further advantages of sonde housings include being easy to disassemble for access to the sonde unit, or for insertion of the sonde unit. In one embodiment, a cap portion is easily secured or removed using a small allen wrench, or a hammer and a punch. The cap portion is not substantially affected or tightened by rotation of the drill stem during a drilling operation. A further advantage includes the ability to remove cap portions and pull back flexible product such as polyethylene pipe from a small exit pit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transferring torque on a rig. The apparatus comprises a central body having a central passage, and a first plurality of splines formed within the central passage and a second plurality of splines formed on a bottom sub, and wherein the first plurality of splines and the second plurality of splines cooperate to engage and transfer the torque applied to the central body. A third plurality of splines may be formed within the central passage, and a fourth plurality of splines formed on a top sub may be included that cooperates to engage and transfer the torque applied to the cental body with the third plurality of splines. In one of the preferred embodiments, the top sub is connected to a top drive of a rig. The apparatus may further comprise a first threaded cap engaging that contains an opening in communication with the central passage. A wireline is disposed within the opening.

Abstract: A two-cone drill bit that exhibits improved stability. In one embodiment, the two-cone drill bit has a first and a second roller cone arranged to have a cone separation angle between about 145 degrees and about 166 degrees. In some embodiments, the two-cone drill bit has a plurality of cutting elements arranged on the roller cones such that a bottom hole coverage greater than about 17 percent is achieved per revolution of the two-cone drill bit.

Abstract: A deformable member can be used in a well tool for use in downhole oil/gas wells. In one embodiment, a deformable member is described which is deformable between undeformed and deformed positions, and comprises a generally hollow cylindrical body defining a wall. The wall includes three circumferential lines of weakness in the form of grooves, with two grooves provided in an outer surface of the member wall and the other groove provided in an inner surface. The member is deformed outwardly by folding about the lines of weakness and is used in particular to obtain sealing contact with a tube in which the member is located.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve is first provided. The safety valve generally comprises a tubular housing, an isolation sleeve disposed within an inner diameter of the tubular housing, with the isolation sleeve and the tubular body forming an annular area there between, a flow tube movably disposed along a portion of the annular area, and a flapper. The flapper is pivotally movable between an open position and a closed position in response to longitudinal movement of the flow tube in order to open and close the valve. Preferably, the annular area is isolated from an inner diameter of the isolation sleeve in the open position. A method is also provided that allows for a cementing operation to be performed through an open safety valve.

Abstract: A percussion or hammer drill is provided including a drill plate arranged in the head end of a drill shaft, extending completely across the diameter of the drill shaft and comprising an open front face. Wedge-shaped cutting edges and flanks form two main cutters on the front face, whereby a plane running through the drill axis forms a mid-plane-of both main cutters. The main cutters form a tip angle in the range of approximately 140° to 180° and are separated by a central point.

Abstract: A method of drilling through a masonry structure 20 includes the steps of providing a drill 10 and using the drill 10 to drill a bore 18 in the masonry structure 20. The method also includes a step of providing a reaction member in the form of a lever 28 and causing engagement of the lever 28 with the masonry structure 20 and with the drill 10 within the masonry structure 20 such that the lever 28 may provide a reaction force to assist the movement of the drill 10 through the structure 20 as it drills the bore 18.

Abstract: A completion assembly has one or more control lines. The control lines can develop differing degrees of slack depending on the completion assembly configuration and also on the particular use of the completion assembly. A line slack compensator cooperates with the completion assembly to provide or remove slack in one or more control lines as necessary for a given operation and a given completion assembly.

Abstract: A stabilizer comprises a body having first and second ends, each of which is formed with a respective connector means, the body having an outer wall upon which is formed a plurality of the upstanding blades radially outer surfaces of which define gauge pads, flow channels being defined between adjacent ones of the blades, and at least one bridging region interconnecting two adjacent ones of the blades to form an enclosed passage communicating with an associated one of the flow channels, the bridging region having a surface defining part of an outer gauge surface of the stabilizer, the at least one bridging region being located intermediate and spaced from the first and second ends.

Abstract: Methods for forming a portion of a wellbore are provided. The well is drilled from a first selected depth to a second selected depth to form a bore through a surrounding earth formation. A fluid heating apparatus is disposed within the bore on a working string. Fluid is then heated by moving the fluid through the fluid heating apparatus in the wellbore. The process of circulating fluid adjacent the earth formation serves to also heat the surrounding formation so as to increase the fracture gradient. The fluid heating process may be conducted during a drilling procedure. Alternatively, the fluid heating process may be conducted in connection with a liner hanging and cementing process. A fluid flow restrictor is provided along a run-in assembly that serves to warm the fluids as they are circulated. The warm fluids provide convective heat to the surrounding earth formation, thereby reducing the formation's fracture gradient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drilling assembly for drilling deviated wellbores. The drilling assembly includes a drill bit at the lower end of the drilling assembly. A drilling motor provides the rotary power to the drill bit. A bearing assembly of the drilling motor provides lateral and axial support to the drill shaft connected to the drill bit. A steering device is integrated into drilling motor assembly. The steering device contains a plurality of force application members disposed at an outer surface of the drilling motor assembly. Each force application member is adapted to move between a normal position and a radially extended position to exert force on the wellbore interior when in extended position. A power unit in the housing provides pressurized fluid to the force application members. A control device for independently operating each of the force application members is disposed in the drilling motor assembly.

Abstract: A thrust bearing assembly in which each thrust pad is individually mounted on a deflection element. An embodiment of the invention comprises a rotating bearing runner having a wear resistant face and a stationary bearing carrier defining a plurality of cavities disposed annularly around the carrier. A deflection element, such as a Belleville washer, is disposed in a cavity of the plurality of cavities and a pad is disposed over the deflection element. The pad is at least partially disposed within the cavity. The wear resistant face of the rotating bearing runner contacts the pad.

Abstract: A downhole tool positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is disclosed. The downhole tool includes a housing, a coring bit and a sample chamber. The coring bit is disposed in the housing and is extendable therefrom for engaging a wellbore wall. The sample chamber stores at least two formation samples obtained with the coring bit and includes at least two portions for separately storing the formation samples.

Abstract: Pressure control in an isolated lower wellbore annulus, defined by a conduit sealably positioned within an isolated lower wellbore segment, is achieved while gravel packing by sensing the pressure within the isolated lower annulus while gravel packing and admitting fluid from the isolated lower annulus into the conduit at one or more discrete locations along the conduit when the sensed pressure corresponds to one or more threshold pressure conditions. The annulus pressure is sensed while gravel packing using a pressure-sensitive device disposed in the annulus, e.g., positioned by the conduit at a high-pressure location. The pressure-sensitive device actuates one or more valves carried along the conduit to admit fluid from the annulus into the conduit at one or more of the discrete locations, and thereby control the pressure in the isolated lower annulus.

Abstract: A wellstring assembly comprising a tubular first wellstring part with a passageway; a second wellstring part co-operating with the first wellstring part; and a releasable wellstring-interconnecting means for selectively interconnecting the first and second wellstring parts; an auxiliary tool for manipulating the second wellstring part, which auxiliary tool can pass along the passageway in the first wellstring part to the second wellstring part, comprising a tool-connecting means for selectively connecting the auxiliary tool to the second wellstring part, and an operating means for operating the wellstring-interconnecting means.