Abstract: There are provided a carbon dioxide storage apparatus and a carbon dioxide storage method which, through direct injection of carbon dioxide into an underground brine aquifer, can store carbon dioxide efficiently in the brine aquifer. A filter formed of, for example, grindstone is provided at a tip portion of an injection well. A pumping apparatus pumps carbon dioxide stored in a carbon dioxide tank. The pumping apparatus feeds carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide tank into the injection well by means of a pump. In the pumping apparatus, carbon dioxide is held within a predetermined pressure range and a predetermined temperature range. Carbon dioxide is fed through the injection well, and is injected into a brine aquifer. Carbon dioxide injected into the brine aquifer assumes the form of microbubbles.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to polycrystalline diamond compacts (“PDCs”) and methods of manufacturing such PDCs in which an at least partially leached polycrystalline diamond (“PCD”) table is infiltrated with a low viscosity cobalt-based alloy infiltrant. In an embodiment, a method includes forming a PCD table in the presence of a metal-solvent catalyst in a first high-pressure/high-temperature (“HPHT”) process. The method includes at least partially leaching the PCD table to remove at least a portion of the metal-solvent catalyst therefrom to form an at least partially leached PCD table. The method includes subjecting the at least partially leached PCD table and a substrate to a second HPHT process effective to at least partially infiltrate the at least partially leached PCD table with a cobalt-based alloy infiltrant having a composition at or near a eutectic composition of the cobalt-based alloy infiltrant.

Abstract: A method can include applying a magnetic field to a well screen, thereby varying sizes of pores via which fluid flows through the well screen. A well screen can include a magnetic shape memory material having a dimension which changes in response to application of a magnetic field. Restriction to flow through the well screen can vary in response to the change in dimension of the magnetic shape memory material.

Abstract: A sub-surface safety system for hydrocarbon drilling operations is provided and includes at least one casing within a wellbore that extends into a first portion of a formation from the surface of the formation. A shut-in device is positioned in the casing so as to be below the surface of the formation. The well shut-in device defines a device passageway and is operable to sever a drill string extending through the device passageway and form a barrier in the device passageway that restricts wellbore fluids below the barrier from migrating up the casing to the surface.

Abstract: A method of drilling into a geological region including a subsurface clathrate reservoir includes drilling a borehole into the geological region including the subsurface clathrate reservoir and dissociating at least a portion of the clathrate in a region near the borehole. After the dissociating, material within at least a portion of the region near the borehole in which the clathrate has been dissociated is compacted to form a compacted region at least partially surrounding the borehole within the clathrate reservoir. After the compacting, well casing is placed into the borehole within the compacted region and the well casing is cemented into the borehole in the compacted area.

Abstract: A tubular has an exterior sealing element disposed in a recess. A swage passes through the tubular to increase its drift dimension from a location above the seal to below the seal. The interior projection that initially defined the exterior wall recess where the seal is located is expanded to the new drift dimension of the balance of the tubular. Extending members that are initially embedded in the seal while extending from the tubular wall that defines the recess move out during the expansion to engage the surrounding tubular to act as extrusion barriers and to aid in the fixation of the seal while being able to penetrate the wall of the surrounding tubular in so doing.

Abstract: An apparatus and a process for wellbore characterization are disclosed, including: separating, in a separation vessel, drilling mud from gas produced during drilling of a wellbore; transporting the separated produced gas from the separation vessel to a downstream process; and measuring at least one of a temperature, a pressure, a mass flow rate, and a volumetric flow rate of the separated produced gas during transport using one or more sensors. Properties of the gas separated from the mud may be used to determine characteristics of a wellbore.

Abstract: A plug element for conducting tests of a well, a pipe or the like, comprising one or more plug bodies of disintegratable/crushable material set up to be ruptured by internally applied effects, is disclosed. The plug element of the invention comprises an internal hollow space set up to fluid communicate with an external pressure providing body, and the plug is designed to be blown apart by the supply of a fluid to the internal hollow space so that the pressure in the hollow space exceeds an external pressure to a level at which the plug is blown apart.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for preventing backdriving of a mud motor through its output. One disclosed mud motor may include a housing having a longitudinal axis, a rotor disposed within the housing and configured to rotate generally about the longitudinal axis in a first direction with respect to the housing when a flow of fluid is provided to the power generator, an output shaft at least partially disposed within the housing and coupled to the rotor, and an anti-reverse bearing arranged radially between the output shaft and the housing and configured to support the output shaft within the housing and allow rotation of the output shaft in the first direction but resist rotation of the output shaft in a second direction about the longitudinal axis with respect to the housing, the second direction being opposite the first direction.

Abstract: A weight-based tubular interlock apparatus adapted to determine whether a tubular is engagingly gripped by a rig-based hoisting device or a secondary gripping device is described. The apparatus includes at least two gripping mechanisms and an interlock system operatively connected that is adapted to measure a tubular load on at least one of the gripping mechanisms and to compare the tubular load to a predetermined load to deter nine whether the at least one gripping mechanism is gripping the tubular. The gripping mechanism is adapted to release the tubular only when the tubular load meets the predetermined load, upon which a release force sufficient to release the tubular from the gripping mechanism is applied to the tubular relative to the gripping mechanism. Methods of using the interlock apparatus are also described.

Abstract: A containment cellar collects petroleum products leaked in a vicinity of a conductor pipe at an oil drilling site. The containment cellar has a body, a pipe, and a pumping orifice. The body has bottom and side surfaces to define an interior chamber to surround a length of the conductor pipe. The bottom surface includes an aperture to receive the conductor pipe. The surfaces are composed of materials substantially impermeable to the petroleum products. The side surface has sufficient strength to maintain integrity of the interior chamber when the containment cellar is disposed at least partially beneath a surface of the earth. The pipe extends through the interior chamber. The pumping orifice is coupled with the pipe and adapted for coupling with a pump to extract the leaked petroleum products from the interior chamber.

Abstract: An anchoring system for a tool in a borehole is provided. The anchoring system comprising a tool body, anchoring members which are operable to extend from the tool body so as to deploy an anchor portion into contact with the borehole wall such that when deployed. The anchoring members act to support the tool body in a central region of the borehole. Moreover, the anchoring members are connected to an operating mechanism which links deployment of the anchoring members so as to distribute the anchoring force and position of the anchoring members in a controlled manner.

Abstract: An apparatus for laser drilling including a laser beam emitter disposed within a housing having at least one laser beam outlet and at least one purge fluid outlet. At least one actuated nozzle is disposed within the housing for providing a purge fluid through the purge fluid outlet and having functional control for synchronized programmable activation patterns. Laser beam control is provided for directing a laser beam over a target surface.

Abstract: A nozzle assembly including a nozzle. The nozzle has an elongated body. The elongated body has a nozzle end at one end and a connection portion at another end. A joint section is connected with the connection portion. The joint section allows the nozzle to move axially and radially when an axial force is applied to the nozzle end.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method of performing a wellbore operation is disclosed that in one embodiment may include: deploying a device in the wellbore containing a conductive fluid, wherein the device is configured to disintegrate upon application of electrical current thereto; and applying current to the device in the wellbore using a tool to controllably disintegrate the device. In another aspect, an apparatus for use downhole is provided that in one embodiment may include a device placed at a selected location in a wellbore, wherein the device is made from a material that disintegrates when electric current is induced in to device and a tool placed proximate to the device configured to induce electric current into the device to cause the device to disintegrate.

Abstract: In a method for drilling a borehole real time geosteering data, including natural gamma ray data is obtained for a plurality of borehole positions for drilling a borehole along a projected trajectory. A formation layer having a thickness equal to or greater than the natural gamma ray sphere of influence and having a first lithology is identified. Data is processed for subsequent borehole positions. Upon location of the boundary of a formation layer of different lithology within the natural gamma ray sphere of influence, at least two points of the different formation layer boundary are determined by using the inverse problem methods, and an extrapolation ahead of the drill bit of at least two points is made utilizing the boundary to determine whether to change the borehole trajectory.

Abstract: Equipment and processes for ground heat exchange are disclosed. Embodiments of the ground heat exchange system may comprise a geothermal well that includes an inner tube positioned coaxially inside a borehole in geologic units, a substantially-liquid impermeable outer liner sealed at the bottom, and a liquid supply system. The outer liner may include one or more layers of a substantially-liquid impermeable fabric or coating. A fluid such as water is supplied by the liquid supply system and flows co-axially through the inner tube. The fluid pressure in the annulus between the inner tube and the outer liner presses the outer liner against the borehole wall, providing sealing contact and preventing interconnection of aquifers of the geologic units.

Abstract: An interruption sub for a downhole tool the downhole tool activatable by detonation. The interruption sub includes a barrier movable between a biased closed position and an open position. Preventing ballistic transfer to the downhole tool in the closed position and allowing ballistic transfer to the downhole tool in the open position. A detonation path within the interruption sub, wherein the barrier is hydraulically or electronically movable from the closed position to the open position in response to at least one condition acceptable for ballistic transfer. Also included is a downhole tool activatable by detonation.

Abstract: This device comprises a cable working line bearing a lower assembly and a winch for maneuvering the line. The hydraulic central unit (46) of the winch includes a tank (50) for storing a hydraulic control fluid, a pump (52) for driving the hydraulic fluid, connected to the tank (50) through an upstream conduit (54) and at least one hydraulic motor (56) for driving the drum (42) connected to the pump (52) through an intermediate conduit and connected to the tank (50) through a downstream conduit. The hydraulic central unit comprises a regulator (62) for the hydraulic fluid flow rate at the outlet of the pump (52). The regulator (62) is driven according to at least one hydraulic fluid pressure depending on the load exerted on the motor (56) by the rotary drum (42), said or each pressure being directly taken on one of said conduits.

Abstract: A hanger seal system includes a first seal and a second seal disposed between a hanger and a hanger housing, creating a fixed-volume annular region filled with a first fluid; and a trapped pressure compensator (TPC) disposed in the annular region and filled with a second fluid. The TPC is collapsible from an initial position to a collapsed position in response to a pressure being applied to the outside of the TPC exceeding a predetermined amount. Additionally, the TPC occupies an initial volume in the initial position and a reduced volume in the collapsed position and a fluid pressure in the annular region exceeding the predetermined amount causes the TPC to move from the initial position to the collapsed position. This causes an increase in volume of the annular region such that the fluid pressure in the annular region is below the predetermined amount when the TPC is in the collapsed position.