Abstract: A plunger with expandable mating pad elements arrayed circumferentially about the plunger's body sealed to the plunger and biased to expand the plunger assembly's outer circumferential surface toward the inner surface of the tubular within which the plunger assembly is designed to operate. The gaps between the pad elements are minimized by having the adjacent pad elements slidable against each other along two sets of surfaces along essentially the length of the interface between adjacent pad elements, one surface set being approximately axial to the plunger and the other set being approximately radial to the plunger's longitudinal axis, and in this way reducing the available pathway in the gap between adjacent pad elements for fluid to bypass the plunger assembly.

Abstract: A method of creating and finishing perforations in a hydrocarbon well having a well wall that includes causing a high velocity jet of a material to shoot into the well wall, thereby creating a perforation in the well wall. The method further includes introducing a gas blast into the perforation, for a blast time duration, the gas blast creating an increasing pressure at the perforation until a maximum pressure is reached; and allowing the pressure of the gas blast to undergo a period of rapid decline to a level of less than 50% of the maximum pressure.

Abstract: A rotatable cutter may comprise a rotatable element, a stationary element, and a releasable interface. The releasable interface may be configured to substantially inhibit rotation of the rotatable element when the rotatable element and the stationary element are at least in partial contact. An earth-boring tool may include one or more rotatable elements.

Abstract: A technique facilitates operation of an actuator via an operating module. The actuator and the operating module are constructed to enable operation in a wide variety of environments and applications. The operating module is coupled to the actuator and is operable in a plurality of modes, such as an electro-hydraulic mode, a pure hydraulic mode, and a mechanical mode. A desired mode of operation is selected and the operating module enables shifting of the actuator via the selected mode.

Abstract: A hole drilling device for forming an expanded-diameter hole portion at an inner bottom part of a mounting hole includes: a shaft including a contact surface and a tapered surface, and a cutter including a stopper provided on a side surface of the cutter, the stopper coming into contact with a surface of a drilling object. The cutter is movable between a first position and a second position. When the cutter is in the first position, the contact surface is in contact with the inner bottom part of the mounting hole, and the stopper is away from the surface of the drilling object. When the cutter is in the second position, the cutter has been pushed in forward from the first position, the cutting bit has protruded laterally from the tapered surface, and the stopper is in contact with the surface of the drilling object.

Abstract: A boring tool moves having a pitch orientation, a yaw orientation and a roll orientation and is steerable underground using the roll orientation. A maximum drill string curvature is established for steering. The boring tool is advanced over a path segment. An averaged roll characteristic is determined for movement of the boring tool along the path segment. A path segment pitch orientation is established based on at least one measured pitch orientation along the path segment. Using the maximum drill string curvature in combination with the averaged roll characteristic and the path segment pitch orientation, the yaw orientation is determined. The averaged roll characteristic is determined based on a series of incremental roll measurements that are spaced across the path segment. A set of coupled ordinary differential equations is used to characterize movement of the boring tool.

Abstract: A vehicular auger implement includes an auger having a bit; a walk-behind vehicle having front and rear ends, a forward anchor point, and a rear anchor point; linkage coupling the auger to the walk-behind vehicle; and an actuator for causing the linkage to move between raised and lowered configurations. The linkage includes first, second, and third links. The first link is coupled to the walk-behind vehicle and is rotatable about the forward anchor point. The second link is coupled to and is rotatable about the first link. The second link supports the auger. The third link is coupled to and is rotatable about the second link. The third link is also coupled to the walk-behind vehicle and is rotatable about the rear anchor point.

Abstract: A whipstock/bottom hole assembly (BHA) arrangement including a whipstock, a BHA, an interconnection arrangement releasably securing the whipstock to the BHA, a fluid flow configuration in the BHA, the configuration directed at the interconnection arrangement. A method for releasing a whipstock from a whipstock/bottom hole assembly (BHA) arrangement as in any prior embodiment including flowing fluid through the fluid configuration, eroding the interconnection arrangement with the fluid, and separating the whipstock from the BHA.

Abstract: A system and method for rapid deployment of fiber optic distributed sensing cables, conventional electronic cables, or hydraulic control lines in the annulus of a wellbore along a specific well zone without the need to clamp cables to the casing or tubing string for support.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vise arrangement for a directional drilling machine. The vise arrangement can include a translatable and pivotal vise. The vise arrangement can also include up-hole and down-hole rod guides/supports. The vise arrangement can further include a lubrication dispenser.

Abstract: Realtime on-site mechanical characterization of wellbore cuttings is described. At a surface of a wellbore being drilled at a wellbore drilling site, multiple cuttings resulting from drilling the wellbore are received. At the wellbore drilling site, nano-indentation tests on each of the multiple cuttings are performed. At the wellbore drilling site, mechanical properties of the multiple cuttings are determined based on the results of the nano-indentation tests.

Abstract: In a well related to the production of hydrocarbons, an injection apparatus including: a base pipe including a radial port; an in-flow control device including a flow restriction device and a housing, with the housing being external and concentric of the base pipe. The housing includes a closed end portion and an open, opposite end portion and a housing channel communicating the opposite end portion. The flow restriction device is disposed at an intermediate location along the housing channel and adapted to control a rate of flow along the housing channel. A fluid transmissive screen is concentric of the base pipe and extends from the open, opposite end portion of the housing. A check valve assembly is interposed between the opposite end portion of the housing and a screened space.

Abstract: A central shaft defines a first interior flow path. The central shaft disposed at least partially within a washover pipe. A lead tapered mill is positioned at a downhole end of the central shaft to center the downhole-type milling tool within a tubular. The lead tapered mill defines a second central flow path in line with the first interior flow path. Milling blades extend between the central shaft and the washover pipe. The milling blades are arranged to allow fluid flow around the milling blades. Each of the milling blades includes a tungsten-carbide hardened face and a soft steel body configured to support a load of the downhole-type milling tool during milling operations. A junk basket is positioned within the washover pipe uphole of the milling blades to receive and retain cuttings formed by the milling blades.

Abstract: A coupler includes a housing having a bore therethrough, a lock member at least partially disposed within the bore of the housing and longitudinally movable relative to the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position, and an actuator at least partially disposed within the housing and configured to move the lock member. In another embodiment, a combined multi-coupler system includes a housing having a bore therethrough, an adapter of a tool dock, and a locking assembly including a lock member at least partially disposed within the bore of the housing and longitudinally movable relative to the housing between a locked position and an unlocked position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a modular electrical feedthrough system for use in offshore and top-side electrical submersible pump (“ESP”) installations. A modular electrical connection system includes a stab receptacle assembly for mating with a stab plug assembly and a compliance mount. The stab plug assembly includes stab plugs and guide funnels adapted to guide the stab receptacles into a mating position with the stab plugs. The compliance mount compensates for physical misalignment between stab receptacles and stab plugs. A tubing hanger assembly forms a pressure barrier at a production bore by use of a tubing hanger penetrator assembly including a set of seals to isolate the electrical penetrator from the production bore. A secondary penetrator assembly provides a redundant pressure barrier for increased safety and system reliability.

Abstract: A method and system for remediating a lost circulation zone in a wellbore. A flexible liner is deployed adjacent the lost circulation zone that blocks fluid communication between the wellbore and surrounding formation. The liner material has a designated yield and tensile strength, so that in response to pressure applied in the wellbore the liner flexes and conforms to contours in the wellbore. The liner remains intact during deformation to maintain the flow barrier between the wellbore and formation. The liner is set in the wellbore with a bottom hole assembly that includes an outer housing for protecting the liner during the trip downhole. Drill pipe can be used for deploying the bottom hole assembly, and for conveying pressurized fluid for setting the liner. An expander is included with the bottom hole assembly for mechanically conforming the liner to the wellbore sidewalls.

Abstract: A device is provided for isolating, from shock and vibration, any down-hole tool housed within a drill string, while maintaining rotational alignment and providing a continuous electrical connection between the ends of the tool along a plurality of conductor paths. The device increases down-hole tool life while reducing damage when operating in demanding environments.

Abstract: A tubular element for a drill stem includes a substantially cylindrical body and two tool joints. Each tool joint is disposed at one end of the body and provided with a threaded portion that can be joined to a complementary element. At least one of the tool joints has a lifting surface that can cooperate with a lifting tool of the element to connect it into a drill stem. The lifting surface has a non-circular cross-section forming an activation zone for a drilling fluid.

Abstract: A fingerboard latch assembly includes a latch body, a finger member pivotably connected to the latch body at a first pin, and an actuator assembly coupled to the finger member, wherein the actuator assembly is configured to actuate the finger member from a closed position to an open position in response to the application of fluid pressure to the actuator assembly.

Abstract: A frac plug that is energized by a ball member, the frac plug comprising an upper mandrel having a tapered outer surface, a seal member coupled to the upper mandrel, and a lower mandrel coupled to the upper mandrel. A button ring having one or more buttons is disposed about the upper mandrel. The lower mandrel is movable relative to the upper mandrel to move the button ring along the tapered outer surface and force the buttons into gripping contact with a surrounding wellbore. The seal member is movable into sealing contact with the surrounding wellbore by the ball member.