Abstract: A method for determining a piston position in a downhole tool, having steps of providing a transducer in the downhole tool, wherein the tool has a piston used to create a vacuum for the downhole tool, providing a transducer tone burst to provide acoustic energy toward the piston, reflecting the transducer tone burst by a surface of the piston, receiving the transducer tone burst at a receiver, calculating time of flight for the transducer tone burst and determining the piston position in the downhole tool based upon the calculated time of flight of the transducer tone burst.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for circulating fluid in a wellbore includes a bottom sub having a bottom sub port and a mandrel, wherein the mandrel substantially forms an inner bore of the circulating tool and includes a mandrel port. The circulating tool may also include an activation piston that is movable in a first direction and a port piston movable in a second direction when the activation piston moves in the first direction. The circulating tool may further include an inner sleeve coupled to the port piston and movable with the port piston, the inner sleeve having an inner sleeve port in selective communication with the mandrel port. When the inner sleeve port is in communication with the mandrel port at least partially, circulating fluid is allowed to flow through the bottom sub port to the wellbore.

Abstract: A system and method of fabricating a percussion tool that includes one or more coatings applied onto a piston, casing, and/or flow tube. The percussion tool includes a piston positioned in sliding contact within a casing. The piston includes an inner wall and an outer wall, where the inner wall defines a passageway extending longitudinally therethrough. The outer wall is positioned in close fitting relationship with an internal surface of the casing. One or more coatings are disposed on at least one of the casing's internal surface and/or the piston's outer wall. A flow tube may be placed through the passageway such that an outer wall of the flow tube is in a close fitting relationship with the piston's inner wall. One or more coatings can be disposed on at least one of the piston's inner wall and/or the flow tube's outer wall.

Abstract: Well pressure control is integrated in real time with geomechanics determinations made during drilling. A well drilling method includes updating determinations of properties of a formation surrounding a wellbore in real time as the wellbore is being drilled; and controlling wellbore pressure in real time as the wellbore is being drilled, in response to the updated determinations of the formation properties. Another well drilling method includes obtaining sensor measurements in a well drilling system in real time as a wellbore is being drilled; transmitting the sensor measurements to a control system in real time; the control system determining in real time properties of a formation surrounding the wellbore based on the sensor measurements, and the control system transmitting in real time a pressure setpoint to a controller; and the controller controlling operation of at least one flow control device, thereby influencing a well pressure toward the pressure setpoint.

Abstract: A method and system for collecting information of a rig operation, including subterranean operations at a rig-site. The system may include an integrated control system, wherein the integrated control system monitors one or more rig operations, and comprises a centralized data acquisition server coupled to one or more sensor units of the rig operations. The system may further include a central computer that can communicate with sensor units, and store the data in a central time-synchronized database accessible by a central data acquisition server, wherein the central time-synchronized database collects data from the various sensors to generate a time-synchronized overview of rig operations.

Abstract: A method of measuring a formation parameter in the process of drilling a well penetrating the rock formation is disclosed. A section of the well is provided with a drill string comprising a drilling bit at its distal end; a first fluid is circulated through the drilling bit and invades the rock formation; a formation evaluation tool mounted onto the drill string is used to measure the formation parameter; the formation parameter is used to select the time at which a second fluid is circulated through the drilling bit; such that the second fluid alters the response of the rock formation to the formation evaluation tool; the second fluid is circulated through the drilling bit to start invading the formation; and the formation evaluation tool is used to repeat the measure of the formation parameter while circulating the second fluid.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a weight setting indicator which is used to indicate that an applied force to a tool achieved or exceeded a predetermined amount. In one aspect, a packer actuator for use with a packer is provided. The packer actuator includes a body with a recess. The packer actuator further includes a dog assembly disposed in the recess of the body. The dog assembly is configured to set the packer when a force is applied to the packer actuator. The packer actuator also includes a setting indicator disposed in the recess adjacent an end of the dog assembly. The setting indicator is configured to move from a pre-set position to a post-set position when the force is applied to the packer actuator, wherein the setting indicator is plastically deformed in the post-set position.

Abstract: A gate valve has a gate valve seat for sealing a valve body to a gate of the gate valve. The valve seat extends from a flow passage of the valve body into a cavity of the valve body parallel to an axis of the flow passage. The cavity is perpendicular to the flow passage, and the gate is disposed within the cavity. The valve seat has a tubular body having a face for contact with a gate, and an end opposite the face adjacent to and in contact with the valve body. The valve seat also includes a sleeve positioned on an inner diameter of the tubular body, the sleeve adapted to receive a shear force for shearing a member extending through the flow passage, the inner sleeve having an adjustable length.

Abstract: A valve for communication of a measurement while drilling system includes a first structure having a central portion and one or more elongate portions radially extending from the central portion, and a second structure having one or more portions which substantially bound a central orifice region and one or more elongate orifice regions radially extending from the central orifice region. At least one of the first structure and the second structure is configured to be rotated about a rotation axis to produce a relative rotation between the first structure and the second structure such that a flow path through which mud can flow varies as the at least one of the first structure and the second structure rotates about the rotation axis. The central portion has a maximum inscribed circle encircling the rotation axis and having a first radius and the central orifice region has a maximum inscribed circle encircling the rotation axis and having a second radius greater than the first radius.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond compact useful for wear, cutting, drilling, drawing and like applications is provided with a first diamond region remote from the working surface which has a metallic catalyzing material and a second diamond region adjacent to or including the working surface containing a non-metallic catalyst and the method of making such a compact is provided. This compact is particularly useful in high temperature operations, such as hard rock drilling because of the improved thermal stability at the working surface.

Abstract: A cementing port collar has an opening sleeve biased from a closed position to an opened position relative to the collar's exit port, and a first restraint temporarily holds the opening sleeve closed. The collar also has a closing sleeve biased from an opened position to a closed position, and a second restraint temporarily holds the closing sleeve opened. During cementing, the first restraint is electronically activated with a first trigger to release the opening sleeve opened so cement slurry can pass out of the collar's exit port to the borehole annulus. When cementing is completed, the second restraint is electronically activated with a second trigger to release the closing sleeve closed to close off the collar to the borehole so the cement can set. The restraints can include bands of synthetic fiber, which are burned by fuses activated by a controller of the collar responding to passage of RFID tags.

Abstract: A coupling assembly is disclosed for connecting and centralizing a first threaded-end member and a second threaded-end member, the coupling assembly comprising: a mandrel having a rotor receiving surface bounded by a first stop and a second stop, the mandrel having a first threaded pin at a first end for connection to a first threaded box coupling for the first threaded-end member, and a second threaded pin at a second end for connection to a second threaded box coupling for the second threaded-end member; each of the first stop and the second stop having respective outer diameters and the respective outer diameters being less than or equal to the respective outer diameters of the first threaded box coupling and the second respective box coupling; and a rotor with raised fins mounted on the rotor receiving surface between the first stop and the second stop.

Abstract: A method for determining stick slip conditions. The method may include disposing an operating apparatus in fluid communication with a pressure wave transmission medium. At least one pressure measurement device may be disposed at least partially within the pressure wave transmission medium and at some distance from the operating apparatus. One or more pressure waves generated by the operating apparatus may be measured within the pressure wave transmission medium with the at least one pressure measurement device and pressure measurement data may be generated therefrom. The pressure measurement data from the at least one pressure measurement device may be transmitted to a data acquisition system. The pressure measurement data may be analyzed to detect one or more stick slip conditions from one or more variations in the pressure measurement data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a plugging device (1), comprising a packer device (4) for pressure tight sealing of a pipe. The packer device (4) comprises a cone device (10) comprising a first cone (12) and a second cone (14), each having their base faced towards each other and each comprising a tapering surface (12a, 14a). A first packer supporting device (20) is provided on a first side of the cone device (10), a second packer supporting device (22) is provided on a second side of the cone device (10) and a packer body (50) provided is between the first packer supporting device (20) and the second packer supporting device (22). The first and second packer supporting devices (20, 22) comprise supporting arms (24) having a first end (24a) movably connected to the plugging device (1) and a second end (24b) connected to either a front supporting element (30) or a rear supporting element (40).

Abstract: A cutting unit for a slot-type perforator is mounted in a casing, driven by a pusher, containing cutting tools with an extension mechanism for extending thereof, including a holder fixed to the pusher and another holder fixed to the casing. The holders are capable of rotating, causing an extension and retraction of the cutting tools from and to the casing. The extension mechanism includes a balance beam, having shoulders for placing the cutting tools and being assembled in the casing between the holders. The beam rotates around an axle during interaction with the holders. The axle is adapted to move along the longitudinal axis of the casing, e.g. in a groove arranged therein. The cutting unit may include at least two balance beams sequentially mounted between the holders. The cutting unit can be equipped with a retractable mechanism bringing parts thereof into a transportation position and fixing them therein.

Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling sonde housing has a cavity for receiving a sonde. Signal channels extend from the cavity to an exterior of the housing. A polymer lines at least part of the cavity and fills the signal channels. The drilling tool has a bit body and a drilling body. The two bodies have respective lateral surfaces which engage each other to prevent the transverse movement of the drilling body relative to the bit body during operations. The drill bit has a forward extending drill tooth, which drill tooth is removable from a bore. A spacer is located in the bore between the bottom end of the bore and the tooth. The drilling bit has buttons located on the side in a spiral configuration about a longitudinal axis of the bit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for a “disappearing” perforator gun assembly. In a preferred method of perforating a well casing, inserted into the well casing is a tubing conveyed perforator having an outer tubular made from a metallic glass alloy having high strength and low impact resistance. An inner structure is positioned within the outer tubular and holds one or more explosive charges. Upon detonating the explosive charges, the outer tubular is fragmented. The inner structure is preferably also substantially destroyed upon detonation of the one or more explosive charges. For example, the inner structure can be made from a combustible material, corrodible, dissolvable, etc., material. A disintegration-enhancing material is optionally positioned between the outer tubular and the inner structure. Additional embodiments are presented having gun housings which dematerialize upon detonation of the charges.

Abstract: A tubular member has at least one drainage section including an inlet inlet and at least one self-adjustable flow control device to control the flow of fluid into the drainage section from a well. The flow control devices are located in an annular space surrounding a pipe between the inlet and an outlet is provided for fluid flowing into the drainage section. The annular space forms a flow path through the flow control device passing by a valve body arranged to adjust the flow area in response to the pressure difference across the flow control device and/or changes in density of the fluid. The flow control device includes a valve seat cooperating with the valve body. The valve body includes an annular resilient valve member arranged to be deformed at least in a radial direction, in order to reduce or increase the flow area through the flow control device.

Abstract: A drill bit for forming a hole in a formation. The drill bit has a shank and a full face crown that cooperate to define an interior space that receives water or other drilling fluid. The full face crown defines a plurality of bores that extend from a cutting face of the full face crown to the interior space. The full face crown completely circumferentially encloses the interior space of the drill bit. A wedge shaped slot is defined therein the full face crown that extends longitudinally therein a portion of the cutting face and the circumferential outer surface of the full face crown. The slot further defines an apex that is positioned beyond the center of the cutting face of the drill bit such that the longitudinal axis of the drill bit extends through the bottom surface of the slot and into an interior void area of the slot. Further, a conduit is defined in the drill bit that is in communication with the interior space and with a portion of the defined slot.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards a downhole slot cutter. The downhole slot cutter a housing of the downhole slot cutter configured to be inserted into a tubular positioned within a wellbore, and a plurality of dies supported by the housing, wherein the plurality of dies is configured to extend radially outward from the housing.