Abstract: Plugs for use in hydrocarbon recovery operations having lower and upper anchor slip assemblies with individual anchors, upper and lower elements, a shoe and tubular mandrel.

Abstract: A method of positioning a bottom hole assembly in a wellbore includes lowering the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore. The bottom hole assembly has a whipstock, a downhole tool, and a cleaning tool having a cleaning element. The method also includes cleaning at least a portion of a wall of the wellbore using the cleaning tool, and activating the downhole tool to engage the cleaned portion of the wall.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for casing recovery in which a clean-up of the inside of the outer casing above the inner casing is performed on the same trip in the wellbore as cutting and pulling a section of the inner casing. A bottom hole assembly including a spear, a casing cutter and at least one clean-up tool is described. An embodiment of a clean-up tool being a jetting sub which can jet fluid radially to wash the outer casing and selectively allow fluid to pass through the sub at different pressures is described. The jetting sub can be used to control operation of other tools in the bottom hole assembly such as the casing cutter and a hydraulic jack.

Abstract: Couplers for connecting a power source to a drilling string are disclosed. The coupler may include an elongate assembly including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion and the second portion are configured to move relative to each other such that the coupler may be arranged in a retracted position, an extended position, and one or more intermediate positions. In the retracted position, the coupler may transmit a compressive force and/or a torque to the drilling string. In the extended position, the coupler may transmit a tensile force and/or a torque to the drilling string. In the intermediate positions, the first portion and the second portion are able to translate and rotate independently relative to each other.

Abstract: A pipe racking system including two mechanical arms to move pipe stands to a dedicated position on a rig floor wherein at least one mechanical arm is connected to a mast of a drilling rig. A method to move a drilling rig comprising: providing a pipe racking system with two mechanical arms connected to the mast of the drilling rig; folding the pipe racking system onto the mast of the drilling rig; and transporting the drilling rig without disassembling the pipe racking system from the mast.

Abstract: A cutting head has a mounting bracket for attachment to a pipe and a cutter wheel. A double tapered bearing is connected between the mounting bracket and the cutter wheel. The bearing allows the cutter wheel to be rotated without rotation of the pipe. A drive shaft connector on the cutter wheel is connectable to a pilot hole drive shaft for rotating the cutter wheel and pulling it and the pipe. A pilot hole is drilled in a conventional manner. The pipe is attached to the mounting bracket and an end of the pilot hole drive shaft is then connected to the cutter wheel. Simultaneously the pilot hole is enlarged and the pipe and cutter wheel are pulled along the enlarged hole by the drive shaft. The cutter wheel advances along the pilot hole and the pipe is simultaneously advanced through the enlarged hole immediately behind the cutter wheel.

Abstract: Provided are wiper plugs with removable cores and methods of using the wiper plugs with removable cores. An example wiper plug with a removable core comprises a molded body, a wiper, a cavity through the interior of the molded body, a support disposed in the cavity, and the removable core disposed in the cavity. An example method of use comprises removing the core of the wiper plug without drilling through the wiper plug, and leaving the remainder of the wiper plug in the wellbore.

Abstract: A gripper mechanism for a downhole tool is disclosed that includes an eccentric linkage mechanism. In operation, an axial force generated by a power section of the gripper expands the linkage mechanism, which applies a radial force to the interior surface of a wellbore or passage. A sliding portion allows the gripper to slide along a surface of the formation in response to the radial force applied to the interior surface of the wellbore or passage.

Abstract: A downhole rock debris extraction system is provided. The downhole rock debris extraction system includes a downhole marking component, a ground control component and a ground detection and extraction component. The downhole marking component is arranged at a drill bit for underground excavation or near the drill bit, and is configured to mark rock debris by spraying different types of markers in real time during the underground excavation performed by the drill bit; the ground detection and extraction component is configured to detect the types of the markers on the rock debris; and the ground control component is configured to manage and control the downhole marking component to mark the rock debris, and to manage and control the ground detection and extraction component to determine the types of the markers on the rock debris. Furthermore, a control method for the downhole rock debris extraction system is provided.

Abstract: A push-pull force control method for a horizontal directional drilling machine with the following steps is provided. According to a correspondence relationship between a motor displacement and a maximum push-pull force of a drilling machine, the motor displacement is first adjusted, so that the required push-pull force can be obtained through the adjustment of the subsequent steps. Then, an oil feeding pressure of the motor is controlled according to a relationship between the push-pull force and the working pressure difference of the motor. Finally, the push-pull force of the motor is controlled in real time according to the oil feeding pressure of the motor to be equal to the required push-pull force value.

Abstract: A connector system and method, of which the connector system includes a first conduit having a lower coupling and a first alignment feature, and a frame configured to be coupled to an oilfield tubular, and configured to receive the first conduit and a second conduit. The frame includes a second alignment feature configured to mate with the first alignment feature such that the lower coupling is aligned with the second conduit, and the first alignment feature is configured to slide vertically with respect to the second alignment feature such that the lower coupling is brought into engagement with the second conduit while the first and second alignment features are mated together.

Abstract: A method of drilling an uncompleted lateral wellbore in a subsurface formation includes drilling the uncompleted lateral wellbore with coiled tubing in the subsurface formation. The subsurface formation includes unconsolidated sand and the subsurface formation overlays a water-saturated reservoir. The method may further include introducing particles having an average particle size of from 8 mesh to 140 mesh into the uncompleted lateral wellbore, thereby supporting the uncompleted lateral wellbore and avoiding wellbore collapse and installing a screen in a vertical wellbore fluidly connected to the uncompleted lateral wellbore, wherein the screen has a mesh size of from 325 mesh to 1000 mesh. The subsurface formation may include hydrocarbons and the method may further include producing hydrocarbons from the subsurface formation.

Abstract: Generally, a sonde, associated components and methods are described which can be used in conjunction with an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation. A sonde housing assembly includes an exterior configuration that is receivable within the inground tool cavity. The sonde housing assembly at least partially defines a sonde interior and is further configured for receiving the pressure sensor body of a pressure sensor in a pressure sealed engagement. A sonde electronics package is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive the pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde.

Abstract: A downhole system includes a lower completion having at least one tubular including a first end and a second end terminating at a shoe. The at least one tubular defining a flow path. A packer is arranged at the first end. A fluid loss control valve (FLCV) is arranged between the packer and the shoe. A screen system is arranged between the FLCV and the shoe. The screen system includes a screen and a non-mechanically operated flow control valve that selectively isolates the flow path from formation fluids passing through the screen. A wellbore clean out string is insertable into the lower completion. The wellbore clean out string includes a selectively activated casing cleaner and a setting tool. The selectively activated casing cleaner is spaced from the setting tool.

Abstract: A wellbore surface assembly includes a slip assembly, vertical rails, linear actuators, and an iron roughneck. The slip assembly is attached to a floor surface of a wellbore and it includes movable slips that engage a first tube. The vertical rails are attached to the base of the automatic slip assembly. The iron roughneck is movable along the vertical rails. The automatic iron roughneck includes a frame, a rotary ring, die actuators, and dies. The iron roughneck is movable by the linear actuators along a length of the vertical rails, changing an elevation of the iron roughneck with respect to the automatic slip assembly and the floor surface of the wellbore. The dies engage the second tube and the rotary ring rotates the second tube, threadedly attaching or detaching the second tube from the first tube.

Abstract: The present invention is a rod jack apparatus with four vertical legs that form a framework and first and second lower brackets connected to the vertical legs. Two hydraulic cylinders extend upwardly from the lower brackets, pass through a first horizontal plate, and are connected to a second horizontal plate. A primary clamping mechanism is situated on top of each of the two horizontal plates, and a secondary clamping mechanism is attached to the underside of each horizontal plate. The apparatus is configured to receive a polished rod, and the primary and secondary clamping mechanisms are configured to grip the polished rod when activated. The sucker rod assembly is lifted out of the well when the first and second hydraulic cylinders are extended. The invention includes a method of using the apparatus described herein.

Abstract: A single use setting tool and associated method for actuating a tool in a wellbore may include an inner piston having a piston proximal end, a piston distal end, and a piston annular wall that defines a piston cavity. The setting tool may include a gas-generating power charge positioned within the piston cavity. The power charge may extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and have at least two different widths along its length. The power charge may further include a tapered portion. The setting tool may further include a piston extension connected to the piston distal end. The inner piston may further include a shear element groove circumferentially extending in an outer surface of the inner piston, for receiving a shear element.

Abstract: A mast assembly for a drilling rig includes a mast formed from a plurality of mast subunits. The mast assembly includes a lower drilling machine, upper drilling machine, and upper mud assembly, each of which is coupled to and movable vertically relative to the mast. The mast subunits are separable when the mast is in a transport configuration such that the LDM is positioned in a first subunit and the UDM is in a second subunit of the mast when the mast is in the transport configuration. The mast assembly may be used during a continuous drilling operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for positioning a non-expandable liner hanger in a wellbore. A liner is coupled to the liner hanger, wherein the liner hanger comprises: a conduit body; and a reactive metal sealing element disposed on the conduit body, wherein the reactive metal sealing element comprises a reactive metal having a first volume. An example method includes contacting the reactive metal with a fluid that reacts with the reactive metal to produce a reaction product having a second volume greater than the first volume; and contacting a surface adjacent to the reactive metal sealing element with the reaction product to form a seal against the surface and to anchor the liner hanger from the surface, wherein anchoring the liner hanger to the surface suspends the liner in the wellbore.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for use in a subterranean well can include a whipstock, a mill releasably secured to the whipstock, an antenna, and a release mechanism configured to release the mill from the whipstock in response to a predetermined radio frequency signal received by the antenna. A method can include positioning a bottom hole assembly in a well, the bottom hole assembly including a mill and a whipstock releasably secured to the mill, and then releasing the mill from the whipstock by displacing a radio frequency identification tag into the bottom hole assembly. A well system can include a bottom hole assembly comprising an anchor, a whipstock and a mill, and a radio frequency identification tag displaceable with fluid flow into the bottom hole assembly.