Abstract: A new method separating sand, solids, and produced particulates down-hole in a well producing hydrocarbons. The separation assembly can include ether one, two, or more segments or stages of varying lengths depending upon the individual application. The assembly is installed into the tubing string or delivery conduit of a well producing hydrocarbons. One stage can consist of a velocity chamber whereby separation of particulates occurs by increasing the downward velocity of particulates and reducing the upward velocity of hydrocarbons thereby allowing the particulates to “fall-out” into a lower chamber where the particulates are captured. Another stage can consist of a filter whereby particulates are captured in a chamber that can consist of filtering materials such as gravel, rock, sand, wood, or manmade materials. Each of the stages can be employed individually or in combination.

Abstract: A pulse generator comprises a stator coupled to a housing and a rotor that is rotatably disposed within the housing. An annulus is formed between the rotor and the stator. An inner bore is formed through the rotor. One or more outer flow ports provide fluid communication between the annulus and the inner bore. A retrievable valve assembly is rotationally coupled to the rotor and at least partially disposed within the inner bore. The retrievable valve assembly includes a rotary valve member having one or more primary flow ports. A fluid flow path is periodically formed by the one or more outer flow ports, the annulus, and the one or more primary flow ports as the rotor rotates.

Abstract: A shunt tube assembly comprises a plurality of shunt tubes, a jumper tube, and a coupling member configured to provide fluid communication between the jumper tube and the plurality of shunt tubes. The coupling member can comprise a first end and a second end. The coupling member may be configured to provide a sealing engagement between the coupling member and the jumper tube at the first end, and the coupling member may be configured to provide a sealing engagement between the coupling member and the plurality of jumper tubes at the second end.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the sealing apparatus includes a mandrel having at least two portions, a first portion having a seal ring disposed on an exterior surface and a second portion without a seal ring disposed on an exterior surface. In one embodiment, the seal ring is disposed around the first portion. In another embodiment, the burst and collapse integrity of the first portion is substantially the same as the second portion.

Abstract: A system is provided that is conducive to multi-stage stimulation in a near-continuous fashion. That is, unlike conventional stimulation systems, embodiments herein may operate without the requirement of traditional plug-setting, perforating and fracturing interventions on a zone by zone basis for a cemented completion. Rather, the system is outfitted with frac sleeves that may be shifted open to expose the bore to the formation while simultaneously achieving a seal through a ball drop technique. Once more, this manner of operation is rendered practical by the sleeve being of a passable configuration such that cementing of the casing is not impeded.

Abstract: Threaded couplings and methods for use in drilling with casing can include first and second male members having exterior threads engaged with interior threads of a female member. Exterior shoulders of the male members can abut interior shoulders of the female member to facilitate placement of the male members such that pin noses thereof are positioned at the center of the female member, where abutment between the pin noses of the male members can form a seal. The shoulders can be provided with negative angles to prevent disengagement. Tapered surfaces can be provided on the male members, to contact tapered surfaces on the female member to form metal-to-metal seals for enhancing the integrity of the connection, a straight thread configuration can be used to maximize the thickness of the coupling, and bearing journals or guides can be used to facilitate engagement of the threads and retention of the engagement.

Abstract: A system for deep deployment of electric submersible pumps is described. In an implementation, an electric submersible pump (ESP) power cable has a strength member that enables the ESP power cable to support itself when lowered deep into a well inside a coiled tubing. The self-supporting ESP power cable frees the coiled tubing from having to carry the weight of the ESP power cable, thereby permitting longer runs of coiled tubing to be suspended into the well. The ESP power cable and the coiled tubing can be anchored independently to a wellhead, and a computing device can monitor the weight loads on the ESP power cable and on the coiled tubing.

Abstract: An apparatus usable with a well includes an explosive pellet that is adapted to be communicated into the well via a fluid and includes an explosive material that is adapted to be detonated downhole in the well. The apparatus further includes an encapsulant to encapsulate the explosive pellet to inhibit unintended detonation of the explosive material. The encapsulant is adapted to be at least partially removed from the explosive pellet in response to the explosive pellet being communicated into the well.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a transmission line in a downhole component includes: an element coupled to an exterior surface of the transmission line, the transmission line configured to be disposed in a communication conduit that extends through the downhole component, the element configured to restrict axial movement of the transmission line within the communication conduit.

Abstract: A casing centralizer which has an annular body having a substantially cylindrical bore extending longitudinally therethrough. The annular body is divided along its axis into two inter-connectable sections, each of which includes fins extending radially therefrom. Each inter-connectable section also includes at least one latch and at least one alignment guide, as well as at least one latch cavity configured for matingly receiving and interlocking with the at least one latch of the other inter-connectable section, and at least one alignment guide cavity configured for matingly receiving and interlocking with the at least one alignment guide of the opposing inter-connectable section. The two inter-connectable sections may then be clamped about a drill pipe for maintaining a centralized position of the drill pipe in a downhole casing.

Abstract: A coiled tubing injector apparatus for inserting and/or removing coiled tubing from a well head comprising a first injector column and a second injector column forming a central pathway within a frame. The first and second injector columns each comprise an inner and outer band, the outer band containing a plurality of rolling elements for engaging the coiled tubing and the inner band creating drive force to energize the outer band. The inner band further comprises a wear plate designed to sustain the majority of wear for less costly maintenance and repair of injection heads.

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: 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 wellbore plug isolation system and method for positioning plugs to isolate fracture zones in a horizontal, vertical, or deviated wellbore is disclosed. The system/method includes a wellbore casing laterally drilled into a hydrocarbon formation, a wellbore setting tool (WST) that sets a large inner diameter (ID) restriction sleeve member (RSM), and a restriction plug element (RPE). The WST is positioned along with the RSM at a desired wellbore location. After the WST sets and seals the RSM, a conforming seating surface (CSS) is formed in the RSM. The CSS is shaped to engage/receive RPE deployed into the wellbore casing. The engaged/seated RPE isolates heel ward and toe ward fluid communication of the RSM to create a fracture zone. The RPE's are removed or left behind prior to initiating well production without the need for a milling procedure. A large ID RSM diminishes flow constriction during oil production.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a first casing string comprising one or more profiled seats furrowed into the first casing string's inner casing wall, a second casing string comprising an upper casing joint, a lower casing joint, and a tension-set external mechanical casing (EMC) packer positioned between the upper casing joint and the lower casing joint, wherein the tension-set EMC packer comprises a mandrel that is attached to the upper casing joint and to the lower casing joint, wherein the second casing string is disposed within the first casing string such that a casing casing annulus (CCA) is formed between the first casing string's inside diameter (ID) and the second casing string's outside diameter (OD), and wherein the recessed seats are positioned below the tension-set EMC packer prior to any engagement of the tension-set EMC packer with the first casing string.

Abstract: A wellbore tubular handling system and method for moving tubulars into a wellhead. The wellbore tubular handling system includes a service rig including a transport chassis, a mast pivotally connected to the transport chassis and moveable between a storage position and an erected position and a block supported on the mast; an upper snubbing unit pivotally connected to the mast, the upper snubbing unit including a first driving ram and a second driving ram, each including a mounted end and an outboard end, each of the first driving ram and the second driving ram being connected at the pivotal connection to the mast adjacent their mounted ends and a travelling snubbing slip assembly mounted to the outboard ends of the first driving ram and the second driving ram and being drivable toward and away from the mounted ends by the first driving ram and the second driving ram; and a stationary snubbing slip assembly configured for connection to the wellhead.

Abstract: Improvements to base beams and self-propelled derrick rigs are described. The base beam can have two or more stabilizer arms which can be deployed. The base beam is also designed to support the derrick rig. An optional counterweight assembly can be connected to the front of the rig. The self-propelled derrick rig can be easily and quickly mounted to the base beam, and when mounted, the assembly will be able to withstand high hook loads and wind loading without the danger of the rig coming off of its wheels or falling over.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a borehole deployable apparatus is described that can be used to generate strong vibrations in a subterranean rock formation. In some embodiments, the apparatus accelerates a mass using mechanisms built into the tool and causes the mass to strike the borehole wall. The mechanisms can control the mass acceleration, and the frequency of strikes. In some embodiments, the apparatus is designed for use in the field of petroleum recovery where the vibrations are used to create or re-establish a flow rate for the fluids in the formation.

Abstract: A flow control valve for use with a downhole motor includes a housing with at least one port and a sleeve with at least one opening. The sleeve is movable within the housing to align and offset the ports and openings. A first biasing member associated with a first portion of the sleeve and a second biasing member associated with a second portion of the sleeve bias the sleeve in a first direction, while pressure applied to the sleeve due to fluid flow moves the sleeve in an opposing second direction. Movement of the sleeve in the second direction compresses the first and second biasing members, disengages the first portion of the sleeve from the first biasing member, and aligns the openings with the ports to permit transmission of the pressure through the openings and ports.

Abstract: A method of and system for directional drilling reduces the friction between the drill string and the well bore. A downhole drilling motor is connected to the surface by a drill string. The drilling motor is oriented at a selected tool face angle. The drill string is rotated at said surface location in a first direction until a first torque magnitude without changing the tool face angle. The drill string is then rotated in the opposite direction until a second torque magnitude is reached, again without changing the tool face angle. The drill string is rocked back and forth between the first and second torque magnitudes.