Abstract: A multi-zone monitoring system allowing simultaneous measurement of separate zones of multi-zone wellbore formations comprising a multi-component umbilical containing both electrical lines and a hydraulic fluid lines, an inflatable isolation packer that can traverse through the wellbore and be inflated with hydraulic fluid to seal off a portion of the wellbore wherein the inflatable isolation packer is connected to a hydraulic line of the multi-component umbilical, wherein the inflatable isolation packer further comprises: one or more cable bypass feed throughs for the umbilical's electric and hydraulic fluid lines, wherein the hydraulic line is attached to the inflatable isolation packer with compression fittings.

Abstract: A stage cementing tool includes a top sub-assembly; a bottom sub-assembly; a housing that connects the top and bottom sub-assembly and includes a bore therethrough from the top sub-assembly to the bottom sub-assembly, the housing including a plurality of ports radially arranged in the housing, each port including a fluid path between an interior radial surface of the housing and an outer radial surface of the housing; at least one sleeve that rides on a portion of the housing; and a controller mounted in the housing and configured to control the sleeve to adjust, based on receipt of a command to the controller from the terranean surface, between a first position such that the sleeve mandrel decouples fluid communication from the bore to an exterior of the housing through the fluid paths and a second position such that the sleeve mandrel fluidly couples the bore with the exterior of the housing through the fluid paths.

Abstract: A technique includes deploying an untethered object though a passageway of a tubular member; and acquiring a plurality of measurements that represent an environment of the tubular member as the object is being communicated through the passageway. The technique includes cross-correlating the plurality of measurements and using results of the cross-correlating to identify at least one feature of the tubular member.

Abstract: Disclosed is a well bore reamer for enlarging, stabilizing and/or cleaning portions of a drilled hole. An internal clutch system comprising pins and springs cause a helical blade segment of the disclosed device to rotate about its axis in a clockwise direction during its movement in a wellbore. When the device is situated in a fixed position in the wellbore, rotation of the drill pipe causes the clutch system to lock the helical blade segment of device in place, forcing the reamer to rotate with the drill string.

Abstract: The present invention is a method to determine where fractures are created within a wellbore during a formation fracturing operation, the method comprising the steps of: providing at least one sensor within a carrier capable of measuring and recording a pressure difference across the carrier as a function of time; releasing the sensor into fracturing fluids; injecting fracturing fluids into a wellbore during a fracturing operation; after at least one fracture has formed, permitting fluids to flow back from the fractured formation into the wellbore and to a surface facility; capturing at least one sensor from the fluids which flowed back from the fractured formation; reading recorded data from the captured sensor; and determining the relative size of at least two different fractures based on the recorded data.

Abstract: Hangers and related tools which actuate without fluid or mechanical communication between the interior of the tool and its exterior are disclosed. Devices as disclosed herein may include a piston for applying actuating force based on the fluid pressure outside of the tool. The piston may be fixed to a tubing wall or other body of the tool with a shear element to prevent the tool from actuating until a certain pressure is applied to piston, such as by the static pressure of wellbore fluid at a certain depth, by pressure applied to the annulus from surface, or a combination thereof. Actuation of the tool may cause latches to expand outwardly to engage a latch receptacle fixed in or along the host tubing or such actuation may lead to other hanging members, such as slips, to engage the host tubing wall in order to suspend the hanging string therein.

Abstract: A resettable pressure activated device (100), comprises an inner wall (102), a return spring (105), a resilient element (110) and an axially movable piston (120) arranged around the inner wall (102). The piston (120) comprises a radially extending piston area (121) in fluid communication with a central bore (101) within the inner wall (102) such that the piston (120) moves in an activation direction when a bore pressure within the central bore (101) exceeds the pressure around the device by a predetermined release pressure. The return spring (105) is configured to provide a return force that is directed opposite the activation direction and has a magnitude sufficient to return the piston (120) to an idle position when the bore pressure drops below a predetermined reset level. The resilient element (110) provides a retaining force, e.g. a friction force, equal to the difference between the release force and the return force.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for performing a borehole treatment has a plurality of ported valve housings where the housings have an assembly of shifting sleeves. The first sleeve is shifted uphole to open the port in the housing and lock the first sleeve in the ports open position. A second sleeve in the same housing is shifted in the same direction as the first sleeve to close the ports in the housing. The second sleeve has profiles for shifting it up to close the housing ports and back down to reopen the housing ports after closing them.

Abstract: An earth-boring bit includes a bit body threaded at its upper extent for connection to a drill string and a plurality of blades on the bit body, each blade having a leading edge and a trailing edge. A plurality of cutting elements is arranged on the leading edge of each blade and a junk slot is defined between pairs of adjacent blades. A surface texture may be formed on the surface of the junk slot, the surface texture being selected to alter a flow of drilling fluid through the junk slot. At least one milling element may extend at least partially across the junk slot between the trailing edge and leading edge of adjacent blades, wherein flow of cuttings generated by the cutting elements is impeded until the cuttings are disintegrated to a selected size.

Abstract: A drill string tool assembly, in some embodiments, comprises a punching tool that induces fissures to increase permeability in a localized region of a borehole wall. The assembly also comprises a sensor that detects spatial features of the fissures and processing logic, coupled to the sensor and punching tool, that adapts operation of the punching tool based on the spatial features. The assembly further comprises a fluid sampling probe, coupled to the processing logic, that samples fluid from the localized region.

Abstract: A percussive rock drill bit includes a plurality of peripheral gauge buttons distributed circumferentially around an axially forwardmost collar at the drill head. The gauge buttons are grouped into pairs such that the central axes of neighboring gauge buttons are aligned substantially parallel to one another and are not centered on a longitudinal axis of the bit. Enlarged flushing grooves are located at the annular collar to provide a segmented collar configuration optimized for flushing cut material rearwardly from the drill bit.

Abstract: A heat sink of solid state phase change material for a heat sensitive downhole tool component. The heat sink may be of a polyhydric alcohol based or other suitable material which is capable of undergoing a phase change from one solid form to another. That is, the phase change material need not undergo a phase change into a liquid form in order to absorb well heat and provide substantial protection to the heat sensitive downhole tool component. Thus, cost effectiveness, manufacturability and performance may all be enhanced which may be particularly advantageous where the component is of a single application use variety.

Abstract: A running tool for installing a liner in a wellbore of the type which can be disconnected from the liner by applying a weight down condition to the tool and rotating the work string in the right-hand direction.

Abstract: An improved free piston assembly for use in combination with a plunger lift assembly is provided. The piston assembly includes a sleeve member, a retention sleeve, and a flow restriction member. The sleeve member has an inner surface defining an opening for the flow of formation fluids. The opening includes a first section and a second section. The retention sleeve is configured to be affixed to the first section of the opening. The flow restriction member is not latched to the sleeve member and is configured to have an interference fit with the retention sleeve. The interference fit provides a force that is sufficient to overcome the force of gravity on the flow restriction member when formation fluid forces acting on the flow restriction member are decreased or removed. The second section of the opening is configured to prevent the passage of the flow restriction member.

Abstract: A method of verifying swelling of a swellable material in a well can include connecting a transmitter to a sensor which senses a parameter indicative of degree of swelling of the swellable material, and conveying a receiver into an interior of a tubular string. The transmitter transmits to the receiver an indication of the degree of swelling of the swellable material. A packer swelling verification system can include a swellable material which swells in a well, and a well tool which is conveyed to the packer in the well. The well tool receives an indication of a degree of swelling of the swellable material. A method of verifying whether a swellable material has swollen in a well can include positioning a conductor proximate the swellable material, whereby the conductor parts in response to swelling of the swellable material, and detecting whether the conductor has parted.

Abstract: A fixed-cutter drill bit is provided that includes a metal-matrix composite body having at least one metal-matrix composite blade. Cutters are disposed on the blades. A ductile insert is partially disposed within the body and has an exposed surface. The ductile insert has a greater ductility than the metal-matrix composite thereby alleviating stresses imposed on the metal-matrix composite during manufacture of the bit or drilling.

Abstract: A downhole fluid flow control system includes a fluid control module having an upstream side, a downstream side and a main fluid pathway in parallel with a secondary fluid pathway each extending between the upstream and downstream sides. A valve element disposed within the main fluid pathway has open and closed positions. A viscosity discriminator including a viscosity sensitive channel forms at least a portion of the secondary fluid pathway. A differential pressure switch operable to open and close the valve element includes a first pressure signal from the upstream side, a second pressure signal from the downstream side and a third pressure signal from the secondary fluid pathway. The magnitude of the third signal is dependent upon the viscosity of the fluid flowing through the secondary fluid pathway such that the viscosity of the fluid operates the differential pressure switch, thereby controlling fluid flow through the main fluid pathway.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a downhole drilling tool configured to engage a formation to form a wellbore includes one or more channels formed in a bit body, the channels configured to direct electromagnetic radiation. The downhole drilling tool also includes an opto-analytical device integrated with the downhole drilling tool, the opto-analytical device configured to receive electromagnetic radiation directed through the one or more channels and detect a drilling characteristic based on the received electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Downhole tools and methods, of which the downhole tool includes an expandable sleeve defining a bore therethrough, and a first body positioned at least partially within the bore of the expandable sleeve. The first body is slidable relative to the expandable sleeve, and sliding the first body along the bore of the expandable sleeve causes the expandable sleeve to radially expand so as to actuate the downhole tool from a run-in configuration to a set configuration. The downhole tool also includes an isolation device received at least partially in the expandable sleeve in the set configuration. A pressure on the isolation device is at least partially transmitted to the expandable sleeve as a radially-outward force.

Abstract: A bottomhole assembly (BHA) has a first section, a second section, and a drilling motor disposed along the second BHA section. The first BHA section is connected to the second BHA section with a flex sub. A steering assembly positioned along the BHA includes a first steering unit and an axially spaced apart second unit. Each steering unit has at least one pad. During operation, the first steering unit generates a force in a first direction and the second steering unit generates a force in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and the second steering units thereby cooperate to axially misalign the first BHA section and the second BHA section at the flex sub.