Abstract: A drilling apparatus including a rotary cutting tool having a proximal end and a distal end and further defining a rotary axis generally extending between the proximal and distal ends. The rotary cutting tool includes a proximally directed face located between the proximal and distal ends that face mainly in a proximal direction. The rotary cutting tool also includes an angled mounting face that extends between the proximally directed face and the proximal end. The angled mounting face is angled relative to the proximally directed face and the rotary axis where one of a mounting aperture and a mounting protrusion are provided at the proximally directed face. The one of the mounting aperture and the mounting protrusion have a mounting depth that extends generally in the direction of the rotary axis. The distal end includes a feature that is configured for at least one of cutting and grinding.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to method and apparatus for communication through a fluid. The method includes measuring signals in the fluid at at least two spaced apart positions; estimating a subset of a separation matrix; and using the estimated subset and the signals to estimate a signal sent by the message source. The apparatus may include a message source on a bottom hole assembly; sensors disposed at least two spaced apart locations; and at least one processor configured to: estimate a subset of a separation matrix based on the signals and use the subset to estimate a message signal set by the message source.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a screened communication connector for a production tubing joint is disclosed. The screened communication connector including a hollow body including a plurality of holes to block particulate material from passing therethrough and allow fluid to pass therethrough. The screened communication connector additionally includes a first axial end of the hollow body including a first seal member for creating a particle tight seal between the first axial end and a first screen joint. The screened communication connector additionally includes a second axial end of the hollow body, the second axial end including a second seal member for creating a particle tight seal between the second axial end and a second screen joint.

Abstract: The tubing section comprises an outer skin (52a) defining at least one perforation (58), an inner skin (54a), the inner and outer skins being arranged to define a tubing annulus therebetween and an access device (48) to selectively provide fluid communication between the tubing annulus and a tubing section throughbore.

Abstract: A tool for retaining an activator ring of a hanger within a wellhead assembly during a fluid pumping process includes an annular fluid pumping sub body having an end selectively coupled with a supply of fluids and a distal end selectively coupled with the hanger. An outer ring assembly circumscribes and rotates relative to the fluid pumping sub body. A retainer ring circumscribes the fluid pumping sub body and selectively abuts the activator ring. A plurality of biasing assemblies that are selectively compressible are located between the outer ring assembly and the retainer ring, so that when the fluid pumping sub body is coupled with the hanger, an axial lockdown force is maintained on the activator ring by the biasing assemblies during the fluid pumping process.

Abstract: Downhole stimulation devices include an energetic material disposed within a housing and an initiator for igniting the energetic material. The initiator may comprise a shaped charge configured to produce a projectile to penetrate the energetic material to ignite the energetic material. The housing of the device may comprise a continuous outer surface. Methods of operating a downhole stimulation device include initiating an energetic material disposed within a housing of the stimulation device in order to burn the energetic material in a laterally extending direction transverse to a depth of a borehole in which the stimulation device is disposed.

Abstract: A control system for a Subsurface Safety Valve (SSSV), includes an actuating piston mounted in a housing with at least one seal and connected to the SSSV. The actuating piston having a first end and a second end, the first end in fluid communication with a control line; a primary pressure reservoir in fluid communication with the second end of the actuating piston, the reservoir configured to contain a fluid under an amount of pressure selected to act against a prospective hydrostatic pressure expected in the control line based upon the selected position of the control system in a downhole environment.

Abstract: Expandable apparatus include a triggering element comprising an at least partially corrodible composite material. Methods are used to trigger expandable apparatus using such a triggering element and to form such triggering elements for use with expandable apparatus.

Abstract: The Smart Reamer® Tool, Apparatus or Method is used to underream an oil or natural gas well while interlinked calipers and calibration sensors simultaneously record data relating to the geometry of the drilling operation (well diameter, diameter of the underreamed zone) and drilling fluid properties (density). Further sensors provide data on the relative position of the cutting and stabilizing blocks. Other sensors measure vibration data. All the sensors are interlinked by means of microprocessors which compare and correlate said data to automatically verify and deliver a desired wellbore diameter without the need to unnecessarily stop drilling or trip out of the hole.

Abstract: A gravel pack apparatus for a wellbore has a shunt tube disposed along the apparatus near a wellscreen. The shunt tube is typically composed of stainless steel and has an internal passage for conducting slurry. Along its length, the tube has flow ports for passing the conducted slurry into the wellbore. The exit ports can use erosion inserts composed of erodible material, barrier inserts having breakable barriers, flow nozzles with external sheaths or caps, erosion-resistant bushings disposed on the flow nozzles, etc. The tube can also include a tube body having the exit ports and flow nozzles integrally formed thereon. The tube body can couple end-to-end with sections of shunt tube.

Abstract: An adjustable bent housing assembly for a deviated direction drill string having 1.5° adjustment increments between an index sub housing and mandrel has variances of less than 0.02° at 0.25 nominal degree increments between 0° and 3.00° of drill direction deviation.

Abstract: A rock drill machine with a feed leg. The feed leg is attached to the rock drill machine with one end and rests on a support with another end. The feed leg is configured to feed the rock drill machine in a drilling direction and to interrupt feeding of the rock drill machine in the drilling direction. A control regulates the feed leg and a starter activates the rock drill machine. The control is provided on a rear handle in close proximity to the starter such that the control and the starter can be reached at the same time with one hand. Hereby, it is possible, with one hand, to activate and interrupt activation of the rock drill machine respectively, and simultaneously regulate the feed leg to feed the rock drill machine in the drilling direction and interrupt the feeding of the rock drill machine in the drilling direction.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbon deposit includes the step of sensing a material property of an underground volume. A three-dimensional map identifying the spatial variation in the sensed material property of the underground volume is generated. Propagating electromagnetic radiation is transmitted in the volume based on the map. The propagating electromagnetic radiation transmission is varied in at least one of frequency, polarization, wavelength, frequency, amplitude, mode, and phase in response to the variation in the material property of a region within the volume to which the propagating electromagnetic radiation is directed. Accordingly, the volume is heated in a spatially varying manner to heat material in the volume and thereby induce the flow of hydrocarbon deposits from the volume.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for retention of drilling components of a drilling rig that includes a first drilling component with a first retention feature, a second drilling component with a second retention feature, and a secondary retention device. The first drilling component is coupled to the second drilling component and the secondary retention device engages with the first retention feature of the first drilling component and with the second retention feature of the second drilling component.

Abstract: A centralizer includes one or more centralizer fins radially extending from a body of the centralizer. The centralizer fins may include one or more chambers extending through the outer surfaces of the centralizer fins. The one or more chambers may change shape in response to a compression force being applied to the centralizer fins to cause the centralizer fins to deform. The centralizer fins may be deformed for installation of the centralizer in a drill collar. The centralizer may also include a split-ring clamp for coupling the centralizer to a drilling tool positioned in a through-bore of the centralizer body. The split-ring clamp may apply a load on the drilling tool in response to an end cap being torqued to an end portion of the centralizer body.

Abstract: A method of running casing in a dual gradient system includes lowering a casing into a low density fluid region and allowing the low density fluid to enter the casing; releasing a plug into the casing; supplying a high density fluid behind the plug; and lowering the casing into a high density fluid region until target depth is reached.

Abstract: An adapter for sealing an outer joint portion of a joint assembly, the adapter includes a main body having an aperture for receiving an outer joint portion, the aperture including an inner sealing surface. The inner sealing surface has a plurality of track portions and a plurality and root portions, where each root portion includes a root midpoint and two track connecting points. The track connecting points connect the root portion to the track portion. The root portion includes a first root radius and an offset root radius, where the first root radius is measured from a first center, and the offset root radius is measured from an offset center. The offset center is located closer to the center axis of the adapter than the first center. Each root portion includes the first root radius at the track connecting point, and gradually transitions to the offset root radius.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing hydrocarbon gas from a wellbore and a control valve assembly for said wellbore. The wellbore comprises a wellhead, a production zone, a production tubing, and a velocity string installed inside the production tubing. The method comprises allowing gas to flow from the production zone through the velocity string, said gas forming a primary gas stream, and controlling the flow of gas from the annulus between the outer wall of the velocity string and the inner wall of the production tubing to the primary gas stream by means of the control valve wherein a controlled mass flow of said gas is combined with the primary gas stream.

Abstract: A directional drilling tool includes a housing defining a central cavity for enabling the transmission of drilling fluid through the drill string. A motor contained in the housing includes a rotor-stator assembly, and produces eccentric motion of the rotor. An inverter or shock absorbing assembly disposed along the housing upstream from the motor functions to expend and contract the central cavity in response to fluid pressure changes produced by the drilling fluid flow. A valve assembly, comprising a multi-port flow head that rotates under influence of the motor and a multi-port flow restrictor, creates a varying pattern of pressure spikes in the drilling fluid as the ports of the flow head move into and out of alignment with the ports of the flow restrictor, which in turn induces a percussive effect and axial movement in the drill string.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods of orienting wellbore tubulars using gravity. Some disclosed orientation indicating devices include a housing defining a first flow channel and being arrangeable within a wellbore tubular, an orientor movably arranged within the housing and defining a second flow channel in fluid communication with the first flow channel, and an eccentric weight arranged within the orientor and having a center of mass radially offset from a rotational axis of the orientor, the eccentric weight being configured to maintain the orientor pointing in one direction as the housing and the wellbore tubular are rotated, wherein, as the housing rotates, the first and second flow channels become progressively aligned or misaligned.