Abstract: A modified stuffing box for a wellhead is provided. More particularly, a modified stuffing box having improved and adjustable sealing is provided. The modified stuffing box may include a valve for sealing the well.

Abstract: A drill bit for obtaining core sample fragments from a subterranean formation includes a bit body having a bit centerline and a bit face, a plurality of blades extending radially along the bit face, including a coring blade, a plurality of cutting elements on the blades, and a non-planar insert embedded in the bit body proximate the bit centerline. One of the cutting elements is a first cutting element on the coring blade at a first radial position from the bit centerline, and at least a portion of the coring blade is radially outward from a most radially interior cutting part of the first cutting element.

Abstract: A technique facilitates formation of perforations into a formation surrounding a borehole in a manner which enhances fluid flow along the perforations. The technique comprises providing a plurality of perforating charges which may be detonated in the borehole to create perforations. The detonation is used to initiate a time delay device for controlling a subsequent detonation of a corresponding charge. The corresponding charge is used to create a pressure underbalance in the borehole. This relatively lower pressure in the borehole is selectively established to create a reverse flow through the perforations which cleans the perforations.

Abstract: A system for controlling flow and access in multilateral completions is disclosed. The system includes a flow control sub having a single bore portion and a dual bore portion with a sleeve disposed therein. The flow control sub further includes a channel in an inner cylindrical surface, and the sleeve includes protrusions configured to engage the channel, which may be extendable. The channel provides paths for the protrusions between three different positions where two positions allow access to one or the other bore of the dual bore portion and a third position allows flow from both bores of the dual bore portion to co-mingle and enter the flow control sub. A run-in tool may be used to engage the sleeve and apply a pulling or pushing force to move the sleeve along the various channel paths to control flow through the flow control sub.

Abstract: A casing landing and cementing tool has a wellbore obstruction-clearing tool at a downhole end thereof and a check valve uphole of any fluid vulnerable components to isolate the vulnerable components from the threat of cement incursion. The check valve is manufactured of drillable materials, the plunger being axially actuable but non-rotatable, the valve body being threadably secured within the tool. In one aspect the tool is a sleeve bit rotatably and reciprocally coupled about a mandrel secured to a non-rotating casing string, the check valve located in the mandrel. In another aspect, the tool is a bit coupled to a rotatable casing string, the check valve located in the bit.

Abstract: A soil boring device and a kit including the same are disclosed herein. The soil boring device includes an elongate tubular body portion; at least one fin member configured to loosen soil when the soil boring device is rotated by a user; at least one handle portion extending outwardly from the elongate tubular body portion; and a water connection subassembly coupled to the elongate tubular body portion. The soil boring device is configured to discharge water from the water outlet of the elongate tubular body portion so as to moisten soil adjacent to the soil boring device, thereby facilitating the forming of the hole in the ground by allowing the soil to be more easily loosened by the at least one fin member. The soil boring device may be provided in conjunction with a soil boring kit that may further include a vacuum collar and a vacuum wand.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for launching objects into a wellbore. The apparatus generally includes a first object container and a container actuator. The first object container includes first compartments. The container actuator is adapted to displace the first object container so that respective ones of the first compartments are sequentially aligned with an opening. When the respective ones of the first compartments are sequentially aligned with the opening, objects loaded into the respective ones of the first compartments are sequentially launchable through the opening and into the wellbore. In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a second object container including second compartments and being positionable above the first object container so that the respective second compartments are aligned with the respective first compartments.

Abstract: A pipe handler for handling tubular members of a well system includes a mounting member for mounting the pipe handler to a structure of the well system, a first arm having a first end coupled to a structure of the well system, and a second end, wherein the first arm is configured to pivot relative to the mounting member about a first axis, a second arm having a first end and a second end, a connector coupled to the second end of the first arm and the first end of the second arm, and wherein the connector is configured to rotate the second arm about a second axis and a guide member coupled to the second end of the second arm for guiding a tubular member, wherein the second arm is configured to pivot relative to the connector about a third axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for decreasing a size of debris entering an electrical submersible pump assembly in a subterranean well with a debris handling assembly include a handler housing with an inner bore and a housing cutting profile located on an inner surface of the inner bore. A cutting blade is secured to a rotating shaft within the inner bore of the handler housing, the cutting blade being aligned with a first portion of the housing cutting profile. A mill is secured to the rotating shaft, the mill aligned with a second portion of the housing cutting profile. An annular mill space is defined by an outer surface of the mill and the inner surface of the inner bore, the annular mill space decreasing in a radial dimension in a downstream direction.

Abstract: An annular safety valve sealing package comprises an annular safety valve comprising a tubular housing; a first annular sealing element comprising a first elastomeric material and disposed about the tubular housing of the annular safety valve; a second annular sealing element comprising a second elastomeric material and disposed about the tubular housing of the annular safety valve adjacent the first annular sealing element; and a third annular sealing element comprising a third elastomeric material and disposed about the tubular housing of the annular safety valve adjacent the second annular sealing element and on an opposite side of the second annular sealing element from the first annular sealing element. At least two of the first elastomeric material, the second elastomeric material, or the third elastomeric material have different compositions.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a tubular includes a body. A slip carrier is coupled to an inner surface of the body. The slip carrier is configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position. A tubular is configured to be introduced laterally into the body when the slip carrier is in the open position. A slip is coupled to the slip carrier. The slip is configured to move radially between a first position that is spaced apart from the tubular and a second position that contacts and grips the tubular.

Abstract: An elevator for moving a tubular having a tubular body and a joint section comprises an elevator body, a securing apparatus having a first blocking apparatus and a second blocking apparatus biased in a blocking position where a throat of the elevator is blocked, and an actuation apparatus coupled to the first blocking apparatus and the second blocking apparatus and adapted to manually move both the first blocking apparatus and the second blocking apparatus from the blocking position to a non-blocking position.

Abstract: An automatic auxiliary workover rig includes a silo body arranged on a skid-mounted baseplate, a guide-roller type elevator, a random-folding type traveling block rigid guide device, a truck-mounted folding type manipulator, a slip, a flatcar up-down adjustment device, a detecting and conveying device, and a transfer device. The automatic auxiliary workover rig cooperates with an existing workover rig to complete ascending and descending of a sucker rod of an oil pipe during minor overhaul. The slip is located above a wellhead blowout preventer, and is configured to clamp and loosen the oil pipe of a wellhead. The silo body is configured to store and output the oil pipe. The truck-mounted folding type oil pipe manipulator garbs the oil pipe and then ascend and descend the oil pipe, meanwhile the manipulator is equipped with a height adjusting device to realize flexible joint in tube thread fastening and unfastening.

Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling system. The system has a pilot drill and an exit side drill, with a drill string extending between them. A backreamer is positioned between the drills to enlarge a borehole. The pilot drill pulls and rotates the backreamer. The exit side drill adds segments to the product pipe and pushes the product pipe into the enlarged borehole. The exit side drill is equipped with a rotational disconnect. The disconnect is engaged to allow torque transfer between a motor and a spindle when adding segments to the product pipe. The disconnect is disengaged to prevent torque transfer between the motor and the spindle when pushing the product pipe into the enlarged borehole.

Abstract: A system for assuring that a rotation brake has engaged on a directional drilling machine. A pump-powered motor drives rotation of a spindle on the machine. The spindle is in turn attached to the above-ground end of a drill string. After the rotation brake is actuated, a controller causes the motor to transmit oppositely-directed rotational pulses to the spindle. If the brake is properly engaged, the pulses will produce spikes in pressure within the hydraulic circuit that powers the pump. When a pressure sensor detects such spikes, it signals the controller and confirms that the brake is engaged.

Abstract: A bypass plunger includes a plunger body that includes a head portion located at one end of the plunger body and a tail portion located at an opposite end of the plunger body. The head portion includes at least one flow port, and the tail portion includes at least one passageway. A valve component is disposed within an internal bore of the plunger body and is movable between an open position and a closed position. At least one plug is located within a respective one of the flow ports and/or a respective one of the passageways, and is configured to reduce or prevent flow through the respective flow port or the respective passageway.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured tool body assembly having valving members (e.g., safety or kelly values) and valving members holding plugs, balls, or darts to be dropped. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members. A transmitter (or transceiver) provides an ability to generate a wireless signal that is received by receivers (or transceivers) on the tool body assembly. Each receiver (or transceiver) controls an electrical actuator that engages a valving member or the indicator. Wireless signals can be used to open or close a valve or to reset a “tripped” indicator.

Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and apparatus structured to increase efficiencies of a drilling operation. A drilling apparatus can be structured to include a hammer drill to move a hammer to impart impact force to a bit box in conjunction with a rotary drive shaft. The hammer drill can be arranged as a mechanical drive hammer capable of being applied to both fluid drilling and air drilling. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A system for electromagnetic wellbore surface ranging to determine the location of a second wellbore relative to a first wellbore utilizing i) a current source configured to directly inject electrical current into a conductive member disposed in each wellbore and ii) an electromagnetic senor positioned on the surface of a formation, the sensor configured to measure electromagnetic fields at the formation surface emanating from the conductive member within each wellbore.

Abstract: A rotary steerable tool used for directional drilling include a housing, at least one external director, and at least one valve. The external director is hydraulically movable to an extended condition relative to the housing, and the valve selectively directs pressurized fluid from a first side of the valve to the external director on the valve's second side. A first seal of the valve is selectively orientable about an axis and has an inlet, which communicates with the pressurized fluid from the first side. A second seal of the valve disposed adjacent the first seal has an outlet, which communicates the pressurized fluid to the second side at least when aligned with the inlet. A bearing assembly of the valve is disposed at the axis between the seals and has male and female bearing surfaces, which are angled off the axis and are mated with one another.