Abstract: A pressure energised seal for a wellhead, in particular, provides a seal of an annulus between an inner wellhead casing member and an outer wellhead casing member. The wellhead incorporates a clamping arrangement whereby the outer member is arranged to be deflected radially inwardly in order to grip and secure the inner member within the bore of the outer member. Also, a seal for use in such a clamping arrangement. In particular, the seal includes a sealing lip which locates within a groove provided in the outer clamping surface of the inner member. A seal is activated and created as the outer member is clamped inwardly since this causes the outer member to compress the inner member and to reduce the diameter of the inner member. Also, a well and a method of sealing an annulus in a well.

Abstract: A valve-style drilling mud screen system comprising a first body having a first portion, a second portion and a third portion, a first drilling mud inlet at a first end of the first portion of the body, a first drilling mud outlet at a second end of the third portion of the body, a rotating subassembly, wherein the rotating subassembly is disposed within the second portion of the first body, wherein the first portion of the first body is fluidly connected to a first end of the rotating subassembly, and wherein a second end of the rotating subassembly is fluidly connected to the third portion of the first body, a pivot subassembly, wherein the pivot subassembly is attached to the rotating subassembly through the second portion of the first body, and a drilling mud screen, wherein the drilling mud screen is disposed within the rotating subassembly between the first drilling mud inlet and the first drilling mud outlet is disclosed.

Abstract: A backup ring includes a plurality of segments defined by a plurality of slots, wherein each segment is defined by a sequential pair of the plurality of slots, and a resilient matrix material that at least partially fills each slot of the plurality of slots.

Abstract: A method for managing a sequestration fluid including sequestering a fluid in a subsurface formation downhole of a caprock and downhole of a seal in a borehole, targeting a sample of formation fluid in the borehole uphole of the caprock and uphole of the seal in the borehole. A sequestration system including a borehole in a formation, the borehole extending downhole of a caprock, a string disposed in the borehole, a seal between the string and a wall of the borehole uphole of the caprock, and a port in the string uphole of the seal and the caprock, the port having access to a portion of the formation uphole of the caprock.

Abstract: A system and method set a liner hanger in a borehole by actuating a hydraulic setting mechanism on the hanger to engage slips in the borehole. A setting tool runs the hanger into position. A reserve volume of the tool holds a clean fluid separate from the borehole. A piston of the tool has a tool volume for the fluid. During run in, pressure in the tool volume is balanced to hydrostatic pressure by drawing actuation fluid from the reserve volume to the tool volume through a check valve. To set the hanger, a plug is engaged on a seat in the tool, tubing pressure is applied behind the engaged plug, and the seat is unlocked. With more applied pressure, the piston moves, reduces the tool volume, and intensifies pressure of the clean fluid communicated to the hanger's setting mechanism. Over-pressure can be handled by a venting valve.

Abstract: A perforating gun, system and method is provided. The perforating gun includes a body, a plurality of shaped charges, at least one initial propellant and may include an actuating mechanism. The plurality of shaped charges are mounted within the body, and each shaped charge has an amount of an explosive material. The actuating mechanism is in communication with each shaped charge and the at least one initial propellant. The actuating mechanism is configured to fire the at least one initial propellant before firing any of the plurality of shaped charges.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for minimizing deceleration of downhole tools when the downhole tools are pumped down into wellbores through drill pipe in an untethered manner. For example, embodiments described herein include a hydraulic downhole tool deceleration system that includes a hydraulic decelerator configured to be affixed to a downhole tool string pumped down through drill pipe during operation. The hydraulic decelerator is configured to contact a hard shoulder while traveling through the drill pipe, and to limit an initial magnitude of deceleration of the downhole tool string caused at the initial moment of contact of the hydraulic decelerator against the hard shoulder.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for creating a fluid communication line in a downhole environment between an annular chamber and a throughbore of a tool. The tubular wall therebetween is provided with circumferentially arranged recesses extending into the wall to provide selected thin-walled sections for perforation by a communication tool. The communication tool has two oppositely arranged punch heads, one aligned with a recess and the other between neighbouring recesses giving an orientationless configuration in operation. An embodiment for creating a fluid communication line through a tubing retrievable safety valve for operation of a wireline retrievable safety valve located therein is described.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include methods to perform an in-situ determination of a formation property of a downhole formation, methods to operate a tool to perform an in-situ determination of formation properties of a downhole formation, and in-situ formation property measurement tools. In one embodiment, a method to perform an in-situ determination of a formation property includes deploying a tool into a borehole that is drilled through a formation. The method also includes isolating a source zone from an injection zone. While the source zone is isolated from the injection zone, the method further includes withdrawing a fluid that partially fills the source zone; flowing the fluid into the injection zone; injecting the fluid into a first portion of the formation that is along the injection zone; and determining at least one formation property of the first portion based on an injection of the fluid into the first portion.

Abstract: A valve includes a body having a wall including an outer surface, an inner surface defining a passage, an opening extending from the passage through the outer surface. The outer surface includes a recess. A valve sleeve is arranged in the passage and is selectively positioned over the opening. A valve actuator module is detachably mounted in the recess. The valve actuator module includes a housing having an inlet fluidically exposed to the passage, an outlet fluidically exposed to the valve sleeve, and a valve member arranged between the inlet and the outlet. The valve member includes an actuator delay mechanism.

Abstract: Downhole apparatus is provided for location in a fluid-filled bore, such as a well bore. The apparatus comprises a tubular body comprising a plurality of cylindrical chambers for containing a compressible substance, and pistons mounted in the chambers. A lock arrangement is provided and has a locking configuration for retaining the pistons in the chambers and an unlocked configuration in which bore fluid pressure may translate the pistons through the chambers.

Abstract: A retrievable whipstock assembly for a wellbore includes a whipstock including a longitudinal body and an anchor connection, a deflection surface provided on the longitudinal body with a first engagement element, and a drilling assembly including a drill housing and a second engagement element. The second engagement element is selectively extendible between a recessed position and an extended position. In the extended position the second engagement element is engageable with the first engagement element.

Abstract: A pressure compensator including a housing, an electroactive polymer (EAP) disposed in the housing and defining a volume therein, the volume being changeable upon application of an electric signal. A method for managing pressure in a tool including applying an electrical signal to the pressure compensator and changing a shape of the EAP to change the volume of the compensator whereby the pressure in the tool is altered. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, a pressure compensator disposed within or as a part of the string.

Abstract: A core detection device of a coring instrument includes a base body and a core switch mechanism provided on the base body. The base body is provided with a core channel communicated with a core barrel. The core switch mechanism includes a detection portion, a connecting rod assembly and a travel switch which are sequentially arranged and connected along a length direction of the coring instrument. The detection portion is rotatably installed on the base body and one end thereof is extended into the core channel, so that a core passing through the core channel pushes the detection portion to rotate. The connecting rod assembly can be pulled by the rotating detection portion to trigger the travel switch to operate. The core switch mechanism adopts a slider-connecting rod structure, and the kinematic pairs are mainly a sliding pair and a rotating pair.

Abstract: A well installation comprising downhole power delivery apparatus for delivering electrical power from a surface power source S to a downhole tool T. The well installation comprises downhole metallic structure (2) running down into a borehole. The apparatus comprises an electrical cable (3) for carrying electrical power from the surface power source S, a power transfer arrangement (4) and a power pick up arrangement (5). The cable 3 runs down into the borehole together with the metallic structure (2) to the power transfer arrangement (4) which is provided at a first downhole location for transferring electrical power carried by the electrical cable (3) onto the downhole metallic structure (2) for onward conduction. The power pick up arrangement (5) is provided at a second downhole location, spaced from the first, for picking up electrical power from the downhole metallic structure (2) for supply to the downhole tool T.

Abstract: A rotary tool for operation within an underground borehole or within tubing in a borehole has a tool body and at least one sensor-containing unit attached to the tool body and positioned to contact the conduit wall. The sensor-containing unit includes an exterior portion to contact the borehole or tubing wall and one or more sensors is located in a cavity between the exterior portion and the tool body. The sensor-containing unit may be formed from the exterior portion, an attachment portion for attachment to the tool body, and one or more connecting portions extending between the attachment and exterior portions, with the sensor-containing cavity between the attachment and exterior portions. Possible rotary tools include drill bits, reamers, mills, stabilizers, and rotary steerable systems.

Abstract: Provided is a completion string and a multilateral well system. The completion string, in one aspect, includes a first tubing string, the first tubing string defining a first fluid path operable to receive a first fluid obtained from a first wellbore. The completion string, in accordance with this aspect, further includes a second tubing string positioned about the first tubing string, the first tubing string and the second tubing string creating an inner annulus that defines a second fluid path operable to receive a second fluid obtained from a second lateral wellbore. The completion string, in accordance with this aspect, further includes a third tubing string positioned about the second tubing string, the second tubing string and the third tubing string defining an outer annulus that defines a third fluid path operable to receive a third fluid obtained from a third lateral wellbore.

Abstract: A method for steering a downhole tool includes receiving an electromagnetic (EM) signal from the downhole tool. The downhole tool is in a wellbore in a formation. The EM signal comprises a gap voltage and a gap current that are measured across a gap sub in the downhole tool. The method also includes determining a gap impedance based at least partially upon the gap voltage and the gap current. The method also includes determining a first formation resistivity at a first location in the wellbore based at least partially upon the gap impedance. The method also includes steering the downhole tool based at least partially upon the first formation resistivity.

Abstract: A well tool device includes a housing having an axial through bore; a sleeve section releasably connected to the housing in the axial through bore, wherein the sleeve section comprises an axial bore; a frangible disc provided in the axial bore of the sleeve section in sealing engagement with the sleeve section. The sleeve section is axially displaceable within the axial through bore between a first position and a second position. The well tool device includes a first supporting sleeve fixed to the housing in the axial through bore and a second supporting sleeve provided radially inside of, and releasably connected to, the first supporting sleeve. The first supporting sleeve includes an upwardly facing surface configured to support a lower end of the sleeve section when the sleeve section is in the second position.

Abstract: A rotation brake for stopping rotation of a spindle assembly on a horizontal directional drill. The rotation brake comprises a brake lock that is actuated by a cylinder and spring to interact with a non-rotating brake cap and a rotating pinion, thereby stopping rotation of the pinion. The brake lock is removed from the pinion by applying pressurized fluid to a cylinder such that a cylinder rod moves the brake lock out of a cavity between the brake cap and the pinion. Upon removing fluid pressure from the cylinder, a compressed spring moves the brake lock back to into the cavity, preventing rotation.