Abstract: A centraliser primarily for use when casing an oil or gas well, the centraliser having low frictions coatings or sliders on the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for completing a subterranean well bore in at least one subterranean formation. At least one perforating gun assembly is positioned on the outside of casing in a subterranean well bore. A suitable signal, such as a hydraulic, electric or wave signal, is transported to the perforating gun assembly so as to detonate one or more explosive charges in the perforating gun assembly which are aimed toward the casing. At least one wall in the casing is perforated thereby establishing fluid communication through the wall of the casing. Usually, cement surrounding the casing and a subterranean formation surrounding the casing are also perforated to establish fluid communication between the formation and the interior of the casing.

Abstract: There is provided a jetting tool assembly for use in cleaning tubular components used in drilling for gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons in producing formations, said assembly being connectable to a hollow drillstring and having a first mode of operation which allows through-flow of fluid and lengthwise of the drillstring, and a second mode of operation which routes the fluid transversely outwardly of the drillstring.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating the connection of tubulars using a top drive, the apparatus comprising a supporting member (13) for connection with said top drive, a tool (30) for gripping a tubular and means for allowing substantially horizontal movement therebetween, wherein said means comprises a flexible membrane (18) enclosing a fluid.

Abstract: A roller cone drill bit is disclosed which includes at least one roller cone rotatably mounted to a bit body. The bit body includes therein a lubricant reservoir adapted to supply lubricant to bearings on which the roller cone rotates about the bit body. The bit includes a sensor adapted to detect drilling fluid contamination of the lubricant. The bit includes a processor/transmitter operatively coupled to the sensor and adapted to communicate signals corresponding to detected contamination.

Abstract: A method and composition is provided for sealing a subterranean zone penetrated by a well bore, wherein the composition basically comprises a mixture of latex, dithio carbamate, zinc oxide, and sulfur.

Abstract: A pressure reducing assembly for high pressure oil wells is disclosed. The assembly includes a metallic body having inlet and outlet channels that are lined with ceramic inserts. The assembly may also include a removable pressure reducing device that is preferably formed of a ceramic material. Pipe spool pieces associated with the pressure reducing assembly transition the narrow interior flow diameter of the assembly to the larger interior flow diameter of downstream oil process piping. The spool pieces have metallic bodies, with flow channels that are lined with ceramic inserts. The ceramic inserts are disposed within the metallic spool, and are preferably designed with a flow channel taper that gradually increase the interior flow diameter from that of the outlet channel of the pressure reducing assembly to that of the process piping.

Abstract: A clamp for clamping two concentric tubes, typically two concentric tubes in an oil or gas well. The clamp has two axially movable tapered components which can be pulled over one another in an axial direction to provide a contraction of internal diameter which grips the smaller diameter tube. In one embodiment, a spacer is fitted to allow the tapered components to be held apart until the tubes have been correctly positioned. The spacer is then removed, and the tapered components are drawn together to effect the clamping. A hydraulic ram can be provided to separate the tapered components should readjustment be required. In another embodiment, the larger diameter tube is made with a relatively thin wall, so that it can be distorted inwards to grip the smaller tube.

Abstract: Coiled tubing (120) is used to drill into a subsurface formation and provide a conduit back to the surface to allow sensors (200) to be deployed and measurements made for monitoring of the formation. A method of monitoring subsurface formation properties between injection and production wells comprises using coiled tubing (120) to drill sensor holes at predetermined positions between the injection and production wells and fixing the coiled tubing permanently in the hole such that a sensor (200) can be deployed in the tubing to provide measurements of the formation.

Abstract: A jarring tool uses a button member to control the jarring sequence used to free an object lodged in a well bore. A preferred tool includes an anvil having a sleeve portion adapted to enter a bore of a hammer. The button member allows selective entry of the anvil sleeve into the hammer bore. A preferred telemetry link includes two or more at least partially conductive members in a telescopic relationship for exchanging electrical signals with the object. The members extend and retract to accommodate length changes of the jarring tool. An exemplary jarring sequence includes a loading phase, a release phase, and a reset phase. In the loading phase, the button member prevents hammer movement toward the anvil. During the release phase, the button member allows the hammer to be propelled against the anvil. In the reset phase, the hammer and button returns to their initial positions.

Abstract: A tool for radially plastically expanding a pipe having a threaded connection therein, that includes a first section. The first section has an increasing diameter and increasing cone angle along a direction of travel through the pipe. The first section includes a first outer surface adapted to contact an inner surface of the pipe at a plurality of selected contact patches on the first outer surface. The tool also includes a second section axially disposed behind the first section along the direction of travel. The second section has an increasing diameter and decreasing cone angle along the direction of travel. The second section includes a second outer surface adapted to contact an inner surface of the pipe at at least one selected contact patch on the second outer surface.

Abstract: A roller cone for a drill bit is disclosed which includes a cone body having a plurality of sockets. An interior portion of at least one of the sockets is treated on an interior surface of the socket to provide a residual compressive stress proximate the interior of the socket to reduce stress cracking. Forms of treating include shot peening, laser shock peening and hammer peening. In one embodiment, the socket is treated over approximately the lower 50 percent of the lateral wall. In another embodiment, the socket is treated on the bottom surface from the lateral wall inward approximately 33 percent of the diameter of the socket. Another aspect of the invention is a roller cone for a drill bit including a cone body having a plurality of sockets formed in the cone. In this aspect, an interior portion of at least one of the sockets is locally annealed on an interior surface of the socket. In one embodiment, the socket is locally annealed over approximately the lower 50 percent of the lateral wall.

Abstract: A bridge plug for use in a wellbore to isolate an upper portion of the wellbore from a lower portion. The bridge plug is run into the wellbore on wireline or run-in tubular and then set in the wellbore at a predetermined depth. In one aspect of the invention, the bridge plug includes a cylindrical body having a longitudinal bore therethrough which is sealed to the passage of fluid. A first and second lock ring assemblies are installed on the outer surface of the body and are designed to move in a single direction with respect to the body. A bidirectional slip member which provides resistance to axial forces in two directions and a sealing member is located on the exterior of the body. A sealing member is disposed between the first and second lock ring assemblies and is actuated by movement of the first ring towards the second ring.

Abstract: The borehole packer is for sealing the annular space around a pipe in a borehole. The packer is pre-manufactured, in-factory. To give the packer the rigidity it needs for handling and transport, the packer is built around an inner sleeve of rigid (metal) mesh. Alternatively, the packer may be built around a cardboard tube, which is discarded as the packer is assembled onto the pipe. When the packing material is bentonite, the bentonite may be compression-moulded into annular-rings, and the packer is built up from the rings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a wellbore casing. An annular piston is displaced in the axial direction by pressurizing an annular piston chamber. The axial displacement of the piston radially expands a tubular member into contact with a preexisting tubular member. The radially expanded liner hanger is then decoupled from the apparatus.

Abstract: A Logging-while-Drilling method and apparatus for obtaining information about a formation uses a plurality of rib sets with pad-mounted sensor on one or more selectively non-rotating sleeves attached to a rotating housing that is part of a drilling assembly. The sensors may be density, neutron, NMR, resistivity, sonic, dielectric or any number of other sensors. In an alternative arrangement, the sensors rotate with the drill string.

Abstract: A subsea riser disconnect assembly 10 may be actuated from a drilling rig DR by axial movement of an upper riser 35 relative to a lower riser 28, for disconnecting the upper riser 35 from the lower riser 28. A subsea riser valve assembly 20 may be actuated from the drilling rig DR by axial movement of the upper riser 35 relative to the lower riser 28, for sealing an interior portion of the lower riser 28 and well bore WB below the subsea riser valve assembly 20. A drill pipe disconnect 30 may be actuated from a drilling rig DR, either onshore or offshore, for disconnecting an upper portion of drill pipe 236 from a lower portion of drill pipe 240. The drill pipe disconnect 30 may be actuatable by hydraulic and/or mechanical forces applied to the drill pipe disconnect 30 from the drilling rig DR. The drill pipe disconnect 30 may be compatible for use with or without the subsea riser disconnect assembly 10 and/or the subsea riser valve assembly 20.

Abstract: A system that is usable with a subterranean well includes a downhole assembly and an apparatus. The downhole assembly is adapted to respond to a command that is encoded in a stimulus that is communicated downhole. The apparatus is adapted to change a pressure of a gas in communication with the well to generate the stimulus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel methods to stimulate a hydrocarbon-bearing formation; in particular, techniques are disclosed for shooting perforations aligned with the direction of probable fracture propagation; this is followed by fracturing using a low viscosity fluid, preferably a viscoelastic surfactant-based fluid; the combination yields surprising results with respect to optimized fracture efficiency (i.e., ideal height, and half-length more closely approaches the true fracture length due to superior clean up properties of the fluids).

Abstract: A drill for forming undercuts in cylindrical bores formed in stone or concrete and including a drilling member (2;22) having a stem (3;23) provided, at its opposite longitudinal ends, respectively, with a shank (4;24) receivable in a chuck of a hand-held drilling tool and a cutting head (5;25) with abrasive cutting bodies, and a sleeve (7;27) for receiving the drilling member (2;22) and having, at its end adjacent to the shank (4;24), a radial collar (8;28), a drag bearing (11) arranged in side the sleeve for supporting the drilling member (2;22), and at least one opening (15;35, 36, 37) formed in a front, in a direction toward the cutting head (5;25), section of the sleeve and spaced axially from the drag bearing (11) by a distance (a) amounting to from about 0.05×D to about 0.6×D, where D is an outer diameter of the sleeve in the drag bearing region of the sleeve.