Abstract: A drill string for a rotary-vibratory drill comprises a plurality of drill pipes. Each of the drill pipes has a longitudinal axis and at least one end. A female connector member and a male connector member are between the ends of adjacent said drill pipes, the female connector member having a first portion mating with a first of the adjacent drill pipes and a second portion extending away from the first of the drill pipes. The male connector member has a first portion mating with a second of the adjacent drill pipes and a second portion extending away from the second of the drill pipes, the second portion of the female connector threadedly engaging the second portion of the male connector. One of said each drill pipe and the connectors has a plurality of spaced-apart slots adjacent to the end of the drill pipe and communicating outwardly at the end. The slots are parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A bypass plunger having one or more internal shock absorbing elements and a variety of bypass orifice options is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electric-hydraulic power unit. In one illustrative embodiment, the power unit comprises a body having a movable pressure barrier positioned therein, the movable pressure barrier defining first and second chambers therein, a configurable flow path in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, and at least one valve for configuring the flow path in a first state wherein fluid may flow within the flow path only in a direction from the first chamber toward the second chamber, and a second state wherein fluid within the flow path may flow in both directions between the first and second chambers.

Abstract: An anchoring device for tool is disclosed that can be positioned downhole and used in casing. The anchoring device can have an architecture that supports installation by running downhole and into engagement with a recess formed in the casing. The anchoring device can support the use of weak materials such as plastic.

Abstract: An apparatus for, and method of, lowering items from a drilling rig to a well located below it through the use of a landing string comprised of drill pipe having an enlarged diameter section with a shoulder, in combination with upper and lower holders having wedge members with shoulders that engage and support the drill pipe at the shoulder of the enlarged diameter section, the shoulder of the drill pipe and the shoulders of the wedge members being rotatable with respect to each other.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to apparatus and methods for moving tubulars into and out of a well bore, and particularly, a tubular injector with two or more gripping members which bind the outer surface of the tubular, two or more actuators which cause the gripping members to bind or release the tubular, and at least one reciprocator for translating a gripping member to move the tubular, or for repositioning the gripping member. A method of translating a tubular is also provided which includes the steps of binding the outer surface of a tubular with at least one gripping members by engagement with an actuator, and translating a gripping member by reciprocator to move the tubular.

Abstract: A mount for a bonnet of a blowout preventer includes at least one support member coupled to a body of the blowout preventer, and a bonnet mounting member moveably coupled to the at least one support member and adapted to move substantially normal to a face of the body of the blowout blowout preventer, wherein the bonnet is coupled to the bonnet mounting member.

Abstract: A borehole tool positioning and measuring apparatus and its methods of use are provided. The apparatus and method can be used to centralize a logging tool in a wellbore, or position a logging tool at a desired relative alignment relative to the wellbore perimeter surface. The method and apparatuses can be used to determine useful information regarding borehole size and configuration. Various embodiments are useful for centralizing, eccentralizing, and otherwise positioning a borehole tool in a wellbore. Methods of determining borehole size and configuration measurements using a positioning apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides an inexpensive method for drilling a multilateral wellbore where the pressure exerted on a formation of interest by a column of drilling fluid may be controlled.

Abstract: A liner hanger assembly seals with casing 22 and supports a liner 90 within a well. The tubular liner hanger body 50 and a tubular expander 40 may be positioned downhole at a desired depth on a running tool. An actuator assembly 12, 24 may forcibly move the tubular expander 40 into the liner hanger body 50, expanding the liner hanger body to seal and secure the hanger body to the casing string 22. The running tool may be released from the set liner hanger by an axially movable collet mechanism, such as ratchet ring 92 and a catch mechanism, such as threads 94. The running string thus need not be rotated to release from the set liner hanger.

Abstract: The rotatable support for inclinable masts of drilling machines includes a connecting element connected to the lifting mechanism of a drilling machine, and including two essentially parallel planar elements having an essentially triangular or trapezoidal shape, on the vertex of which a coupling element configured for bearing the mast is connected. The coupling element is rotated by two pistons, and is coupled to the connecting element by two hinges having a common rotational axis and spaced one from the other, in order to allow the passage of the piston rods between the hinges.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of expanding tubular members are disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a vibrating device that is capable of imparting a longitudinal and/or lateral and/or oblique vibration to a tubular member or string as it is being run into a borehole or wellbore. In another embodiment, the vibrating device imparts a longitudinal and/or lateral and/or oblique vibration to a tubular member and/or expander device, as the tubular member is being radially expanded by the expander device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus whereby the intake pipeline running between the production chamber of a natural gas well and the suction inlet of an associated wellhead compressor is completely enclosed, in airtight fashion, within a jacket of natural gas under positive pressure (i.e., higher than atmospheric). Being enclosed inside this “positive pressure jacket”, the intake pipeline is not exposed to the atmosphere at any point. This allows gas to be drawn into the compressor through the intake pipeline under a negative pressure, without risk of air entering the intake pipeline should a leak occur in the pipeline. If such a leak occurs, there will merely be a harmless transfer of gas from the positive pressure jacket into the intake pipeline. If a leak occurs in the positive pressure jacket, gas therefrom will escape into the atmosphere, and entry of air into the positive pressure jacket will be impossible.

Abstract: A method for remotely managing downhole power consumption in a downhole network system is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of monitoring an activation state for each of a plurality of individually activatable electrically-powered modules in a downhole device and determining an optimal activation state for each module according to system demands. The activation state of each module may be selected from the group consisting of activated or deactivated. The method further comprises the step of transmitting a power state switching instruction from a top-hole processing element to a downhole power-consumption state controller over the downhole network. The method also includes the step of switching the selected electrically-powered modules according to the determined optimal activation states.

Abstract: Material is removed from a body of material, e.g. to create a bore hole, by plasma channel drilling. High voltage, high energy, rapid rise time electrical pulses are delivered many times per second to an electrode assembly in contact with the material body to generate therein elongate plasma channels which expand rapidly following electrical breakdown of the material causing the material to fracture and fragment.

Abstract: Methods and devices for operation of a flapper valve. A valve assembly is described with a flapper element and a valve opening assembly that will mechanically open the flapper element. The valve opening assembly is particularly valuable where the flapper element fails to open in response to normal hydraulic opening techniques. The valve opening assembly includes a valve opening sleeve having a generally hemispherical cross-section and an opening portion that presents a pair of opening shoulders. The opening shoulders engage lugs on the flapper element so that movement of the opening sleeve will urge the flapper element to an open position. The valve assembly may be run into the wellbore with the flapper element in the open position, rather than having to be closed, as with a number of conventional valve assemblies.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling apparatus and a method for introducing a drilling element into the soil comprising a drive, which is supported on a mast for introducing the drilling element, and a collet turning device having a collet which can be turned by means of at least one operating cylinder. In order to improve the torque transmission at least two collet turning devices are provided which can be engaged with the drilling element so as to transmit the torque.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a well bore using solid material impactors comprising a nozzle and a cavity for accelerating the velocity of the solid material impactors and directing flow of the solid material impactors through the nozzle. The drill bit may also comprise a junk slot for return flow of the drilling fluid and solid material impactors.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods and apparatus for expanding downhole tubing. In one embodiment, there is disclosed a method of expanding tubing comprising providing an assembly 40 comprising a section of expandable tubing (42) and an expansion device in the form of an expansion mandrel (44) located at least partially externally of the tubing (42), running the assembly (40) into a bore, translating the expansion mandrel (44) relative to the tubing (42) to expand an end section of the tubing (42), and further translating the expansion mandrel (44) relative to the tubing (42) to expand a further section of the tubing (42).

Abstract: A method of injecting a stream of treatment fluid into an earth formation in the course of drilling a borehole into the earth formation, using an assembly having a drill string provided with at least one sealing means arranged to selectively isolate a selected part of the borehole from the remainder of the borehole, the drill string further being provided with a fluid passage for the stream of treatment fluid into the selected part of the borehole, the method involving: operating the drill string, and stopping the drilling operation when a zone for which treatment is desired is arranged adjacent to the part of the selected part of the borehole; isolating the selected part of the borehole using the sealing means so as to seal the drill string relative to the borehole wall; and, pumping the stream of treatment fluid via the fluid passage into the selected part of the borehole and from there into the treatment zone.