Abstract: A downhole magnetic latching tool includes at least one permanent magnet deployed on a non-magnetic tool body. A magnetically permeable housing is deployed about the permanent magnet. The magnetic latching tool provides an attractive magnetic force between a drill string and a cased target wellbore.

Abstract: Packers may be inflated within the wellbore to engage and isolate a portion of the wellbore casing. Charges included within the packers may then be fired to perforate the casing. According to certain embodiments, the charges may be located within drains in the packers that can be subsequently employed to induce and measure pressure changes within the casing and surrounding formation. The pressure measurements in turn can be used to determine the integrity and/or permeability of the casing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an enhanced oil recovery system (1). The system (1) comprises an underground oil reservoir (2) comprising oil having an oil temperature (3) and an injection well (4) in fluid communication with the underground oil reservoir (2). The system (1) further comprises an enzyme storage (5) comprising temperature control means (6), wherein the temperature control means (6) are adapted for controlling the temperature of enzymes (7) in the enzyme storage (5) in relation to an operative temperature range (8) of the enzymes and/or the oil temperature (3) and the system (1) comprises injection means (9) for creating an injection stream comprising enzymes from the enzyme storage (5) to the underground oil reservoir (2) through the injection well (4). The invention further relates to a method for operating an underground oil reservoir (2).

Abstract: An ice auger reversal attachment which couples in-line with an ice auger to selectively reverse direction of the ice auger blade. The ice auger reversal attachment generally includes a mounting assembly adapted to be mounted to an ice auger motor. The mounting assembly includes a locking assembly which is adapted to selectively engage/disengage with an auger reversal assembly which is secured between the ice auger motor and the ice auger blade. Using the locking assembly and auger reversal assembly, the direction of rotation of the ice auger blade may be efficiently transitioned between a forward and reverse direction to aid in removal of slush when drilling a hole through a layer of ice.

Abstract: A wireline retrievable injection valve for an oil or gas well has an internal valve that is initially moved to open a flapper safety valve and also opens to allow fluid flow through the valve. The internal valve includes a sleeve that opens the flapper safety valve and shields the flapper safety valve from fluid. In this manner the flapper valve is protected from being caused to “flutter” or “chatter” due to pressure variations in the fluid flow, which may damage the seat.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhanced capture and recovery of core samples from unconsolidated or friable formations are provided using drilling fluids that permit increased overpressures to preserve the ability to cut core samples and to strengthen the core samples obtained. Drilling fluids used during capture and recovery of core samples may comprise a solid particulate loss prevention material having a size range from about 150 microns to about 1,000 microns. The solid particulate loss prevention material prevents fracture initiation and propagation in the subterranean formation to allow the use of higher overpressures than would otherwise be possible. Thus, by circulating drilling fluid in the borehole while drilling a core sample, higher overpressures may be achieved, which have been found to be beneficial during core capture and recovery by maintaining core integrity and avoiding core loss. In this way, core sample integrity is improved, yielding more accurate representations of the subsurface.

Abstract: An example whipstock assembly includes a whipstock providing a ramped surface and a longitudinal groove defined in the ramped surface. A lead mill is coupled to the whipstock with a shear bolt and having a slot defined therein, and a torque key is movable between an extended position, where the torque key is partially positioned within both the slot and the longitudinal groove, and a retracted position, where the torque key retracts into the slot. When the torque key is in the extended position, the torque key prevents the lead mill from rotating with respect to the whipstock.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating drilling or completion fluids is described. The apparatus may include a fluid container that is operable to at least temporarily contain a drilling or completion fluid. The fluid container may have an inlet port and at least one outlet port. The apparatus may further include an excitation element. The excitation element may be operable to impart a pre-determined vibratory force on the drilling or completion fluid within the fluid container.

Abstract: A centralizer comprises a first collar, a second collar, a plurality of bow springs coupling the first collar to the second collar, and a plurality of particulates disposed on an outer surface of at least one bow spring. One or more of the first collar, the second collar, and the bow springs comprises a composite material. In some embodiments, the centralizer comprises a third collar, wherein the plurality of bow springs comprise a first portion of bow springs and a second portion of bow springs, and wherein the first portion of the bow springs couple the first collar to the third collar and the second portion of the bow springs couple the second collar to the third collar.

Abstract: A circulating valve assembly can include a valve controlling flow between an interior and an exterior of the assembly, another valve controlling flow between sections of a flow passage extending through the assembly, and an actuator that both opens one valve and closes the other valve in response to each of multiple positive pressure differentials from the interior to the exterior. A system for use with a well can include a circulating valve assembly controlling flow through a tubular string and a well tool connected in the tubular string downstream of the assembly. In one configuration of the assembly, the flow passes through the well tool. In another configuration, the flow passes from the tubular string to an annulus external to the tubular string, with the flow substantially bypassing the well tool. The assembly cycles between the configurations in response to alternating increases and decreases in the flow.

Abstract: The application is related to improving recovery of fracturing fluids from subterranean target earth intervals. The application is also related to improving hydrocarbon productivity of subterranean target earth intervals. The application is also related to controlling the development of fractures in subterranean target earth intervals.

Abstract: A method for stimulating a sub-commercial geothermal well includes steps of drilling a stimulating well; isolating a corresponding zone in the stimulating well using vertically spaced swell packers that are swellable when contacted by subterraneously heated geothermal brine present in the stimulating well and are resistant to the high temperature of the brine; injecting stimulating fluid into the stimulating well such that it will flow only through a zone of the well that is not isolated; and allowing the stimulating fluid to exit the well from a non-isolated zone located at a desired depth into a surrounding geological formation. The fracture or system of fractures within the formation is thereby hydraulically reopened.

Abstract: A wear bushing assembly protects and locks down a hanger in a wellhead housing; and which includes a wear bushing body that inserts into a wear bushing sleeve. A lock ring extends into registered recesses on the body and sleeve to couple together the body and sleeve. The wellhead housing has a profiled recess circumscribing its inner surface. A lockdown ring selectively mates with the profiled recess; and when mated is in interfering contact with an upper surface of the wear bushing sleeve, thereby coupling the sleeve to the wellhead housing. The sleeve outer surface is profiled to interfere with upward movement of the hanger, so that force is transferred from the hanger to the housing through the sleeve which locks down the housing.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring down-the-hole percussion drilling. A down-the-hole hammer is supplied with percussion and flushing fluid flow. The down-the-hole hammer is subjected to rotational force and to feed force. Percussion frequency or a related frequency of the down-the-hole hammer is sensed. A representation of a spread thereof is created so as to produce a response to an adjustment of at least one drilling parameter as a change of width of the spread.

Abstract: A Y-tool for use in a wellbore includes: a stem having a bore formed therethrough, a port formed through a wall thereof, and a coupling formed at each end thereof; a branch fastened to the stem and having a passage formed therethrough in fluid communication with the stem port and a coupling formed at an end thereof; and a gasket sealing an interface of the stem port and branch passage.

Abstract: A device and method for use is provided for grippingly engaging a tubular, in particular for gripping a wellbore casing. Drillable bridge plugs may use hardened buttons or other slip arrangements and materials that may be susceptible to damage when the bridge is being run into the wellbore. It may be desirable to protect the slip ring or the hardened buttons by shielding the buttons during run-in or by providing a standoff device so that the buttons may be prevented from contacting the casing until desired.

Abstract: A method and system for retrieving a fracturing ball in a wellbore casing. The system includes a wellbore retrieval tool comprising a tool body that is inserted into and transported along the wellbore casing. The tool is sized and configured to trap and hold the fracturing ball. When a hydraulic lock happens in the wellbore casing, the retrieval tool is lowered in a vertical section and the ball is flowed back along a horizontal section and captured by a trap in the retrieval tool. The retrieval tool may also be run in conjunction with a setting tool with a ball-in-place fracturing plug. In case of the hydraulic lock, the injection is tested following perforation with the retrieval tool still a location proximal to the ball, and the ball is immediately retrieved.

Abstract: A cutting element for an earth-boring tool. The cutting element comprises a substrate base, and a volume of polycrystalline diamond material on an end of the substrate base. The volume of polycrystalline diamond material comprises a generally conical surface, an apex centered about a longitudinal axis extending through a center of the substrate base, a flat cutting surface extending from a first point at least substantially proximate the apex to a second point on the cutting element more proximate a lateral side surface of the substrate base. Another cutting element is disclosed, as are a method of manufacturing and a method of using such cutting elements.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a rotating casing hanger having a housing configured to abut a casing spool and a casing hanger body disposed within the housing, wherein the casing hanger body is configured to suspend a casing element within a wellbore, and the casing hanger body is configured to rotate within the housing.

Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a hydrocarbon production well. The downhole tool has a housing defining a flowpath around a longitudinal axis and a seat radially expandable between an unstressed state and an expanded state. The seat has a frame comprising at least one annular sealing element and a plurality of unconnected seat segments. The seat segments are engaged with the frame. The annular sealing element are engaged with an outer surface of each of the plurality of seat segments. The seat forms a tubular structure in the unstressed state.