Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for fracturing a subterranean formation which use a liner fracturing tool. The liner fracturing tool consists of a liner, with at least one jet extending through the liner. During fracturing operations, fracturing fluid is pressured through the jet to form microfractures. Fractures are formed by the stagnation pressure of the fracturing fluid. The jets may be mounted within a jet holder that may be dissolved following fracturing operations to allow reservoir hydrocarbons to flow into the liner more readily.

Abstract: A drill string is fitted at the lower end with a drill string deflecting apparatus and a drill bit. The drill string deflecting apparatus is activated to deflect the drill bit from the general center line of the drill string. Drilling proceeds to enlarge a length of larger well bore. The drill bit is lifted to allow the lower end of the drill string to move, by gravity, to the low side of the enlarged well bore. The drill string deflecting apparatus is straightened and drilling bit load is applied to drill ahead along the extended center line of the lower end of the drill string.

Abstract: A lost circulation composition, that comprises a first portion of particles having a weight mean particle size of less than about 20 microns, a second portion of particles having a weight mean particle size in the range of from about 25 microns to about 400 microns, and a third portion of particles having a weight mean particle size in the range of from about 450 microns to about 1,500 microns, wherein the lost circulation composition has a multimodal particle size distribution, is provided, wherein resilient particles, particles comprising a thermoset polymer laminate, or a combination thereof are present in the lost circulation composition in an amount of at least about 20% by weight of the lost circulation composition, is provided. Drilling fluids, methods of controlling lost circulation, and methods of increasing an effective fracture gradient while drilling also are provided.

Abstract: A wellbore system for simultaneously drilling a wellbore into an earth formation and producing hydrocarbon fluid from the wellbore, is provided. The system comprises a production tubing extending into the wellbore and having a hydrocarbon fluid inlet arranged in a first part of the wellbore in fluid communication with a hydrocarbon fluid bearing zone of the earth formation, and a drilling riser extending through the production tubing and having a drilling fluid inlet in fluid communication with a second part of the wellbore, said second wellbore part being scaled from said first wellbore part. A drill string extends through the drilling riser and into said second wellbore part so as to allow further drilling of the wellbore.

Abstract: A tool for multiple purposes features one ore more dogs that can engage a collar groove or restriction sub in the wellbore. The dogs are extendable through a sleeve biased in opposed directions and are supported from a mandrel. The dogs can retract into mandrel grooves to clear restrictions on the trip into the well. On the way up to a collar that has just been passed, the dogs engage and an upward pull on the mandrel displaces fluid through a restriction to allow enough time to get a meaningful surface signal of the overpull force. Thereafter, the applied force can be reduced as the dogs release at a lower applied force to reduce the slingshot effect. The tool can be inverted and used to keep a constant force on a bottom hole assembly during offshore drilling where a heave compensator is employed.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a system and method to measure a pressure or other measurement at a source (e.g. a hydraulic power supply) and in or near a downhole tool and compare the measurements to verify that, for example, the supply is reaching the tool. Another aspect of the present invention is a system and method in which a gauge is positioned within a packer. Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a gauge that communicates with the setting chamber of a packer as well as related methods. Other aspects and features of the system and method are also described. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: A tool string stab guide for axially aligning first tool string components with second tool string components is disclosed. The stab guide has a body with an axial length along a longitudinal axis with a first and a second section. The first section of the body adapted for removable attachment within a diameter of a bore of a tool string component. The second section of the body has a centering element with a flow channel. The ratio of the axial length to the diameter is at least 2:1.

Abstract: The invention is a valve that prevents blow-outs through a control line while simultaneously allowing bi-directional flow or pressure transfer through the control line. The invention comprises a shuttle valve disposed in the control line.

Abstract: A system is described for monitoring a subsea formation, which is under development. Instruments located in a completed but unconnected well are employed for providing information by a provisional monitoring unit being lowered downhole and connected to the well. Changes in the reservoir as a result of operations in other adjacent wells are intercepted by the instruments in the well and transmitted via an acoustic link to the surface.

Abstract: A high-temperature lubricant is shown and described. The lubricant includes a base stock and about 1 to about 20 weight percent zirconium 2-ethylhexanoate. The lubricant may also include about 1 to about 9 weight percent bismuth 2-ethylhexanoate.

Abstract: A cemented open hole selective fracing system is shown. In the producing zone, an open hole is drilled therein and a production tubing is cemented in place. At preselected locations along the production tubing, the production tubing will have sliding valves located there along. The sliding valves may be selectively opened by a shifting tool, and the cement around the sliding valve dissolved. Thereafter, the formation may be fraced immediately adjacent the opened sliding valve. By selectively opening different combinations of sliding valves, fracing can occur in stages with more fracing pressure and more fracing fluid being delivered deeper into the formation. Just as the sliding valves can be selectively opened with a switching tool, the sliding valves can also be selectively closed to protect the production of the well.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a method for remotely controlling and/or monitoring at least one parameter of well bore equipment. In one aspect, a method for remotely controlling and/or monitoring at least one parameter of well bore equipment is provided, including: collecting data corresponding to the at least one parameter by a sensor module monitoring the at least one parameter of the well bore equipment; transmitting the collected data to a remote control/monitoring unit via a communication link; analyzing the collected data to determine if the parameter is within predefined limits; if the parameter is not within predefined limits, then transmitting control data from the control/monitoring unit to the well bore equipment for modifying the operation of the well operation equipment so that the parameter will conform to the predefined limits or stopping operation of the wellbore equipment.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for drilling and completing multiple wellbores from a single drilling rig and from within a single wellhead is provided. In one embodiment, a template is disposed at a predetermined location downhole within a casing. In one aspect, a first casing string is lowered with the template to the predetermined location and disposed within a first wellbore. A second wellbore may be drilled through a bore in the template. A second casing string may then be lowered through the bore into the second wellbore. In another embodiment, at least two wellbores are drilled and completed from a surface casing having a crossover portion.

Abstract: A down-hole tool guide is disclosed for deflecting various down-hole tools having a tendency to hang or bind in uncased bore holes. The down-hole tool guide or ball guide assembly, being adaptive to the down-hole tools, extends forwardly there from and includes an eccentric rotatable ball and high-pressure jets. In cases where the guide is used to guide casing, the ball guide assembly is constructed from a drillable material thereby allowing the hole bore to be extended beyond the last set casing depth without side deviation from the original bore.

Abstract: A system for producing gas and water from a gas bearing strata during and after drilling completion. The system includes a directional drilling system, a main bore and pump. The directional drilling system includes a drill and a drill string. The main bore intersects the gas bearing strata and has an upper vertical portion, a lower horizontal portion and a curve portion connecting the vertical portion and the horizontal portion. Waste material collects temporarily until pumped to the surface by the pump installed in the bore.

Abstract: An insert for a rock bit that includes tungsten carbide particles, and a cobalt binder disposed around the particles, wherein a grain size of the tungsten carbide particles and a content of the cobalt binder are selected to provide a fracture toughness of at least about 18 ksi (in)0.5, a wear number of at least about 2, and a hardness of 85 to 87 Ra is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to subterranean cementing operations, and more particularly to an apparatus useful in loading cementing plugs and darts into tubulars, and methods of using such apparatus in subterranean cementing operations. An example of a method of the present invention is a method of placing a compressible object having a cross-section within a tubular, including the steps of: reducing the cross-section of the compressible object; placing the compressible object with the reduced cross-section in a tubular; and releasing the compressible object within the tubular. Another example of a method of the present invention is a method of reducing the radial cross-section of a compressible object. Other examples of apparatus of the present invention include apparatus for placing a compressible object into a tubular.

Abstract: A fluid recovery system 10 for collecting formation fluid at the surface of a well 12 includes a downhole jet pump 20 and a surface diaphragm pump 40 having a plurality of diaphragms 42. The jet pump includes a fluid nozzle 22, an intake 24 directing the formation fluid into a jet 26, a mixing tube 28 for mixing the power fluid and the formation fluid, and a diffuser 30 for converting the velocity of the mixed fluid to pressure. A flow meter 50 and a pressure sensor 52 monitor the quantity and pressure of the power fluid to the jet pump.

Abstract: A method of initiating fluid circulation in a well bore through a casing inner diameter and an annulus outside the casing, the method having the following steps: inducing an increase in the annulus fluid pressure; flowing cement composition into the annulus at the top of the well bore; maintaining a difference in pressure between the fluid pressure of the casing inner diameter and the fluid pressure of the annulus until enough cement composition has entered the annulus to drive fluid circulation by the added cement composition weight.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for communicating with a device disposed in a wellbore. Signals are communicated between a surface location and the device via a hardwired section of wellbore and a wireless section of wellbore. The signal is sent downhole or uphole over a portion of the distance via a communication line and over another portion of the distance via wireless communication.