Abstract: Methods and control systems are provided for a wellbore drilling system having an active differential pressure device (APD device) in fluid communication with a returning fluid. The APD Device creates a differential pressure across the device, which reduces the pressure below or downhole of the device. In embodiments, a control unit controls the APD Device to provide a selected pressure differential at a wellbore bottom, adjacent a casing shoe, in an intermediate wellbore location, or in a casing. In one arrangement, the control system is pre-set at the surface such that the APD Device provides a substantially constant pressure differential. In other arrangements, the control system measures one or more parameters (e.g., wellbore pressure, formation parameters, BHA parameters, etc.) and adjusts an operating parameter of the APD Device to provide a desired pressure differential. Devices such as an adjustable bypass can be used to control the APD Device.

Abstract: A method for optimizing oil production rate from an oil well with high gas-to-oil ratio is disclosed to include modeling an Inflow Performance Relationship curve and calculating an optimal level of bottomhole pressure to be higher than zero. Maintaining the bottomhole pressure at that calculated optimum level by using a bottomhole tool of the invention or other known means such as gas injection provides for maximum oil recovery from a given well. The bottomhole tool includes a multi-stage flow resistor and a needle moved in and out of the resistor by a spring-biased piston responsive to a difference in pressure between a bottomhole pressure and a pipe pressure. Automatic adjustment of the bottomhole pressure is maintained over a wide range of operating parameters throughout the life of 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 rotary drill bit insert that includes an elongate body that is rotatable about a central axis wherein the elongate body has a pair of symmetrical halves symmetrical about the central axis. The elongate body contains a central notch disposed between the symmetric halves of the elongate body. Each symmetrical half includes a leading face and a top surface that has a leading surface and a trailing relief surface wherein the leading surface and the trailing relief surface are contiguous and non-coplanar. Each half also has a leading cutting edge at the intersection of the leading face and the leading surface of the top surface. The leading surface is inclined at a constant angle of inclination in a radial direction with respect to a first radial line projecting from the central axis, and the leading surface being inclined downwardly and rearwardly from the leading cutting edge.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for pumping operations that may be used to form perforations in the casing of a well, clean perforations and drill drain holes through perforations. A plunger is placed in a reference perforation and the pumping operations may be performed through a nozzle at a known location with respect to the reference perforation. The nozzle may be attached to a flexible hose to drill a drain hole or may be inserted in a body on the bottom of a tubing string. Addition apparatus and method are provided to insure that the plunger or plungers are maintained in a reference perforation or perforations when pumping operations are carried out through tubing.

Abstract: A percussive drill bit or reamer having a plurality of bit segments formed into a circular pattern suitable for drilling or reaming a hole. The bit segments are close-fitted and shaped to increase the cutting area and improve efficiency. Pressurized air exhausted from driving the percussion mechanism, or provided from a separate source, is passed into the bit segment and exits from a side face thereof into the gap formed between adjacent bit segments, thereby driving out any debris present in the gap and preventing binding of the bit segments. When utilized with mechanically-driven percussive bit assemblies, where air is only needed to remove debris from a rock face, separately-provided air is delivered to the bit segments of the present invention as described above to clear the gaps of debris.

Abstract: The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for a second purpose as the casing that is cemented in place during typical oil and gas well completions. Methods of operation are described that provide for the efficient installation a cemented steel cased well wherein the drill string and the drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass down into the earth. The normal mud passages or watercourses present in the rotary drill bit are used for the second independent purpose of passing cement into the annulus between the casing and the well while cementing the drill string into place during one single pass into the earth. A one-way cement valve is installed near the drill bit of the drill string that allows the cement to set up efficiently under ambiently hydrostatic conditions while the drill string and drill bit are cemented into place during one single drilling pass into the earth.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for completing a wellbore using expandable tubulars. Particularly, the invention relates to a system of completing a wellbore through the expansion of tubulars. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to the concurrent expansion of a first and second tubular, wherein the first tubular contains a polished bore receptacle configured to sealingly receive a portion of the second tubular thereby providing a sealable connection therebetween.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit includes a bit body adapted to be coupled to a drill string, a bearing journal depending from the bit body, and a single roller cone rotatably attached to the bearing journal. The single roller cone has a plurality of cutting elements, where at least one of the plurality of cutting elements is formed of an inner region that is at least partially surrounded by an outer region, where the inner region is more abrasive resistant than the outer region. Such an arrangement in a single roller cone bit allows the at least one cutting element to be “self-sharpening.

Abstract: A transmitter on a bottomhole assembly (BHA) is used for generating a transient electromagnetic signal in an earth formation. A receiver on the BHA receives signals that are indicative of formation resistivity and distances to bed boundaries. The transmitter and receiver may have axes that are parallel to or inclined to the axis of the BHA. The transmitter and the receiver are on a tubular on a damping portion of the BHA that includes cuts for attenuating eddy currents. The damping portion may include non conducting material such as a ferrite on the outer surface.

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 for moving and handling tubulars has a stinger (21) slidably mounted on a frame which stinger comprises a rod or tube the end of which is adapted to fit within the pipe (20) to be moved, a gripping means (23) on the end of the stinger which is inserted into the pipe end which gripping means is adapted to grip the pipe, a drive means (25) which drives a sc threaded sub (24) which drive means is adapted to slide along said stinger so that the screw threads on the sub can engage the screw threads on the end of the pipe and moving means adapted to move the sub and a pipe attached to the sub along the frame so that a tubular can be automatically removed from a container (10) or an ISO container transferred to a mast (13) the mast moved vertically above a drill head or well head and the tubular connected to the drill string in such a way that the cross section area of the stinger takes the majority of the well head pressure while the tubular is snubbed into the well using relatively little force.

Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method may include providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to the hydrocarbon containing formation. Hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation may interact with the hydrocarbon recovery composition. The hydrocarbon recovery composition may include an aliphatic anionic surfactant and an aliphatic nonionic additive. In some embodiments, an aliphatic anionic surfactant may be branched. In other embodiments, an aliphatic nonionic additive may be branched.

Abstract: In embodiments, methods of determining a size of an annulus in a wellbore include: (a) displacing a fluid comprising reflective particles downhole and up through the annulus, wherein the reflective particles make a front end of the fluid visible as it exits the wellbore; (b) determining a total volume of the fluid displaced into the wellbore by detecting the reflective particles exiting the wellbore; and (c) calculating the size of the annulus based on that total volume of the fluid. The fluid may include a drilling fluid, a cement slurry, a spacer fluid, or combinations thereof. The reflective particles may include polymeric beads. In additional embodiments, drilling fluids, spacer fluids, cement slurries and combinations thereof comprise an effective amount of reflective particles to ensure that the fluids are visible when they exit a wellbore.

Abstract: An auger boring machine includes a track having an initial end and a terminal end, and the track is provided with a rack. The boring machine also includes a sled that is mounted on the track and adapted to be moved between the initial end and the terminal end of the track. The boring machine also includes a mechanism for rotating an auger on the sled and a drive system. The drive system includes a pinion which is mounted so as to engage with the rack on the track and a mechanism for rotating the pinion so as to drive the sled along the track.

Abstract: A method for characterizing formation fluid using flowline viscosity and density data in an oil-based mud environment includes: making an initial estimate of the density and viscosity of the individual components of the sampled fluid; measuring the volume fractions, density, and viscosity of the total mixture of formation fluid; computing the density and viscosity of the total mixture using the estimate and the measured volume fractions; comparing the computed values with the measured values; and updating the estimate based on the comparison until convergence. The process is repeated as additional data are acquired until the converged computed values differ only by an acceptable amount.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, the apparatus comprising a supporting member connectable to said top drive characterized in that it further comprises an internal tool for engaging said tubular and an external clamping device for engaging said tubular.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and an apparatus for stimulating the production of an existing well. In one aspect, a method of treating a well is provided. The method includes inserting a selective treatment assembly and a plug assembly into a partially lined wellbore until the selective treatment assembly is positioned proximate an area of interest. Thereafter, the selective treatment assembly is activated to isolate and treat the area of interest. Next, the selective treatment assembly is deactivated and urged toward the surface of the well until the plug assembly is seated in a polished bore receptacle disposed in a string of casing. At this point, the treated portion of the wellbore is separated from the untreated portion. Thereafter, the pressure in the untreated portion of the wellbore is equalized with the surface of the well and then the selective treatment assembly is removed from the wellbore while the plug assembly remains in the polished bore receptacle.

Abstract: A non-metallic element system is provided which can effectively seal or pack-off an annulus under elevated temperatures. The element system can also resist high differential pressures without sacrificing performance or suffering mechanical degradation, and is considerably faster to drill-up than a conventional element system. In one aspect, the composite material comprises an epoxy blend reinforced with glass fibers stacked layer upon layer at about 30 to about 70 degrees. A downhole tool, such as a bridge plug, frac-plug, or packer, is also provided. The tool comprises a first and second support ring having one or more tapered wedges, a first and second expansion ring, and a sealing member disposed between the expansion rings and the support rings.

Abstract: A rolling cone drill bit is provided that has gage inserts on the first row from the bit axis to cut to full gage diameter that have a cutting portion enhanced with a layer of super abrasive material. The gage cutting surface has a center axis that is canted to be more normal to the gave curve such that its point of contact at gage is away from the thinner portion of the layer of super abrasive material.