Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for downhole sampling are presented. The sampling system includes a control unit and a housing to engage a conduit. The housing at least partially encloses at least one formation sampler to collect a formation sample. The formation sampler is stored in a sampler carousel. A sampler propulsion system forces the formation sampler into the formation. The propulsion system is in communication with the control unit.

Abstract: A plunger lift system has a bumper and a landing positioned in tubing below a safety valve of a well. A plunger moving between the bumper and landing lifts columns of liquid above the plunger when pushed by downhole pressure. A valve on the plunger's housing is movable between open and closed positions to either permit or prevent flow through the plunger. When the plunger engages the landing, a striker rod on the landing opens the valve permitting fluid communication through the plunger to a sales line at the surface. The valve is biased to the closed position to prevent fluid communication through the plunger. When the plunger is disengaged from the striker rod, the valve closes so that application of downhole pressure can again move the plunger uphole. A controller cycles the plunger between the bumper and the landing by controlling fluid flow in the well.

Abstract: An adjustable centering tool for use in pipes of varying inner diameter. The centering tool being provided with a number of identical and steplessly adjustable, radially protruding wings having guiding lugs and chamfered end faces. The wings, having been set, are retained by an upper lock mandrel with a safety pin and a lower lock mandrel with a safety nut. The outer circumference of a cylindrical tool body is fitted with longitudinal grooves having sloped terminations cooperating with the wing dimensions, the chamfered end faces of the wings, and the guiding lugs.

Abstract: A gripper for use in a downhole tool is provided. The gripper can include an actuator, an engagement assembly, and an expandable assembly. The engagement assembly can comprise a leaf-spring like elongate continuous beam. The expandable assembly can comprise a linkage including a plurality of links. The linkage can be coupled to the actuator such that the actuator expands the expandable assembly which in turn expands the engagement assembly. In operation, during one stage of expansion radial forces are transmitted to the engagement assembly through both interaction of a rolling mechanism on the engagement assembly with the expandable assembly and pressure of the linkage assembly directly on an inner surface of the engagement assembly.

Abstract: A secondary cutting structure for sure in a drilling assembly, the secondary cutting structure including a tubular body and a block, extendable from the tubular body, the block including a first arrangement of cutting elements disposed on a first blade and a second arrangement of cutting elements disposed on a second blade, wherein the second arrangement is a modified redundant arrangement. Also, a secondary cutting structure for use in a drilling assembly, the secondary cutting structure including a leading blade disposed on a first block and a trailing blade disposed on the first block adjacent the leading blade. Additionally, the secondary cutting structure includes a unique blade disposed on a second block, wherein a gage portion of at least one of the blades has a length between 30% and 45% of a total blade length.

Abstract: A gas flow system for removing a liquid from a well bore and allowing for gas production is provided. The gas flow system comprises a casing in the well bore for allowing flow of the liquid and gas; a tubing string in the casing for allowing flow of the liquid and gas; pressure measurement devices for use in determining a rate of liquid influx into the well bore; a casing control valve moveable between various positions ranging from fully open to fully closed for controlling flow through the casing; a tubing control valve moveable between various positions ranging from fully open to fully closed for controlling flow through the tubing; and flow measurement devices for determining the rate of flow through the tubing and the total rate of flow.

Abstract: A percussion drilling assembly for boring into the earth is disclosed. The percussion drilling assembly includes a top sub, a casing coupled to the top sub, and a feed tube assembly disposed within the top sub and the casing. The feed tube assembly includes a non-rigid coupling having a throughbore and a tubular body disposed therein. The tubular body is translatable in the radial position and/or rotatable relative to a longitudinal centerline extending through the non-rigid coupling.

Abstract: A method for cleaning and/or altering an inside surface and shape of a tubular is disclosed. The method includes placing a surface finishing tool in the tubular, energizing the surface finishing tool, and causing extendable assemblies therein to extend radially to contact an inside diameter of the tubular. Moving the surface finishing tool axially and/or rotationally while the extended members are in contact with the inside diameter of the tubular cleans debris from the inside surface of the tubular. In another aspect of the invention, the tool burnishes the inside diameter of the tubular, thereby altering the surface characteristics and rounding the tubular.

Abstract: A method to detect leaks in a rotating control device includes positioning a leak detection device in communication with a chamber located between an upper sealing element and a lower sealing element of the rotating control device, and signaling with the leak detection device when a pressure of the chamber exceeds a selected critical pressure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described that combine a measurement of the physical velocity of material within the annulus of a well between the drill pipe and the wall of the well with a measurement of the area of the flow as determined from a measurement of distance between the drill pipe and the wall of the hole to determine the actual material volumetric flow rate. Changes in volumetric flow rate at one or more points along the well can be used to determine the occurrence and location of well dysfunctions. This knowledge can then be used to make decisions about treating well dysfunctions which will lead to more efficient use of drilling rig time.

Abstract: An item (e.g. a drill bit) handling method, the item for use in a well operation, the method including producing information about an item used for a specific well task, the information including design information and intended use information, producing an item identification specific to the item, associating the information with the item identification producing thereby an information package, installing the information package in at least one wave-energizable apparatus, and applying the at least one wave-energizable apparatus to the item.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sequence valve for use in a hydraulic plant, which sequence valve has a pressure-controlled slide valve (5) with a spring return and in a starting position defines a first cavity (10), which cavity is connected with a tank and the hydraulic plant, and in a second, pressurized position closes off the connection with the tank. The cavity is connected to a second cavity (18) via a channel (15, 16, 17) in the slide valve, and the second cavity is adapted to be connected with a pump via a throttle (20) and is positioned on the same side of the slide valve as the spring (7). The sequence valve has a third cavity (19), which is adapted to be connected with the pump and is positioned on the opposite side of the slide valve from the spring, and the second and the third cavity are connected with each other via a fixed throttle with a short flow channel. The invention also relates to downhole tractor with the sequence valve.

Abstract: An assembly for producing oil and/or gas through a well traversing stacked oil and/or gas bearing earth layers comprises a series of expandable packers and integrated perforating gun and sandscreen assemblies mounted on a production tubing such that each integrated perforating gun and sandscreen assembly is located adjacent an oil and/or gas bearing earth layer and at least one expandable packer is located between a pair of adjacent oil and/or gas bearing earth layers, and at least one inflow opening arranged in the wall of the production tubing adjacent to each sandscreen assembly. The integrated perforating gun and sandscreen assemblies are installed in a single run into the well such that uncontrolled fluid and/or sand influx into the well before installation of the sandscreens and expandable packers is avoided.

Abstract: A method for securing a wellbore string device to a wellbore liner tubular employs a swelling elastomer to frictionally grip a gap between the wellbore string device and the liner tubular. The swelling elastomer is positioned between the wellbore string device and the wellbore liner tubular, then activated to cause it to swell to engage the wellbore string device with the wellbore liner tubular. The wellbore string device may be a centralizer, a wear band or a torque ring.

Abstract: A novel aerator for use inside a well casing in conjunction with a submersible pump, the aerator comprising a check-valve with a nozzle for spraying a portion of a water supply that is being pumped by the pump. The spray is directed towards the well water within the well casing and is calibrated to provide enough agitation to promote the evolution of dissolved gases in the water both as it is sprayed and also as the spray contacts the surface of the well water. The check-valve is calibrated to operate at a pressure threshold to ensure that spraying occurs only when the pump is running.

Abstract: A sensor and transmitter is employed with a pressurized chamber of a downhole tool to be able to tell at a glance when the tool is delivered for service that it is properly charged. The sensor and transmitter can be integrated within the tool so as to be protected from damage during run in. While in service the sensor and transmitter can monitor pressure in real time and include a capability to send surface signals for real time monitoring of chamber pressures corrected for the service depth, temperature and density of the hydraulic fluid, for example. The signal can be acoustic through the control line or the annulus or delivered through a fiber optic cable or signal wire run in the hydraulic control line, an auxiliary line or through the annulus.

Abstract: A circulator sub tool for dispensing and circulating fluid in a well bore having a threaded packer sub with a quick coupler body, and wherein diameters for each annulus of the quick coupler body and the sub body are substantially identical enhancing laminar flow through the threaded packer sub.

Abstract: A system for use in a wellbore is disclosed. The system may include a tube, a swell packer surrounding a portion of the tube, a first pair of plates coupled to an outer surface of the tube and positioned at a first end of the swell packer, each of the first pair of plates having a plurality of slots extending inwardly from an outer edge of the plate, the regions between slots defining petals, wherein at least one of the slots of one of the first pair of plates overlaps with at least one of the petals of the second of the first pair of plates, and a second pair of plates coupled to the outer surface of the tube and positioned at a second end of the swell packer, each of the second pair of plates having a plurality of slots extending inwardly from an outer edge of the plate, the regions between slots defining petals wherein at least one of the slots of one of the second pair of plates overlaps with at least one of the petals of the second of the second pair of plates.

Abstract: A sensor used to determine the height of one or more fluids in a fluid column and to determine a location of an interface or boundary between a plurality of fluids in a fluid column is disclosed. The sensor includes a plurality of sensing elements comprising a capacitor and other components, such as resistors and inductors. The sensor also includes an oscillator that alters a frequency of an electrical current applied to the sensor, from which the dielectric constant of the fluid in which each sensing element is disposed can be determined. Methods of using such a sensor to determine the relative heights of various fluids in a fluid column are disclosed. In particular, methods of using embodiments of the invention in a well, such as water and petroleum wells, are described.

Abstract: A downhole motor to drill a wellbore including a pumping apparatus having a first chamber configured to receive a first fluid and a second fluid, and a first flexible diaphragm disposed with the first chamber configured to separate the first and second fluid, wherein the first flexible diaphragm is configured to transfer a hydraulic energy between the first fluid and the second fluid. In addition, the downhole motor includes a motor portion coupled to the pumping apparatus and configured to receive the second fluid and convert the hydraulic energy of the second fluid into a mechanical energy, thereby creating a torque. Further, the downhole motor includes a bit shaft coupled to the motor portion, configured to receive the torque from the motor portion and the first fluid from the pumping apparatus.