Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely controlling a machine. A remote operator controls a tracking device including a signal system for selectively emitting a remote enable signal. The remote enable signal is relayed to a control system for the machine. The control system is proximate to the machine and is adapted to enable at least one action of the machine upon detecting the remote enable signal. The machine is also adapted to disable the same action of the drilling machine upon detecting an absence of the remote enable signal for a predetermined number of intervals, each interval being of a preselected duration.

Abstract: System and methods for transmitting and receiving electromagnetic pulses through a geological formation. A preferably programmable transmitter having an all-digital portion in a preferred embodiment may be operated at frequencies below 1 MHz without loss of target resolution by transmitting and over sampling received long PN codes. A gated and stored portion of the received signal may be correlated with the PN code to determine distances of interfaces within the geological formation, such as the distance of a water interfaces from a wellbore. The received signal is oversampled preferably at rates such as five to fifty times as high as a carrier frequency. In one method of the invention, an oil well with multiple production zones may be kept in production by detecting an approaching water front in one of the production zones and shutting down that particular production zone thereby permitting the remaining production zones to continue operating.

Abstract: An expanding screen has an associated spirally wrapped exterior control line. The control line rests in a spiral trough made up in an exterior perforated jacket. The trough can be made by a pair of ridges disposed substantially parallel to each other or by an ordered spacing of raised dimples in the outer perforated jacket to create spiral troughs. At the screen connections centralizers having a spiral path or paths within can serve a dual function of locating the screen prior to expansion and protecting the control line in the joint area. A fiber optic cable can be placed in the control line.

Abstract: An anomaly detector, used to sense the presence of tool collars, tool joints and other structures within a longitudinal space, that includes a protective housing. Sensory components are disposed within the protective housing and a port is provided for communication between internal and external components of the sensory system. A pressure containing region within the housing prevents the loss of pressure from within the detector, and protects the various components of the system from fluids and other materials constrained within the longitudinal space.

Abstract: Drill rod holder (10) for clamping a pair of jaws against a drill rod (40), by a piston-cylinder arrangement (22). A first of the jaws is fixed and a second jaw (36) is movable by the piston-cylinder arrangement. A medium under pressure is introduced into the cylinder to urge the piston (26) and the second jaw attached thereto to release the second jaw from the drill rod. The cylinder (2) is pre-filled with a pressurized gas (46) acting on the piston (26) to urge the second jaw (36) against the drill rod to clamp the drill rod (40) between the jaws when the gas pressure exceeds the medium pressure. The second jaw (36) is arranged to move away from the first jaw (34) when the medium pressure exceeds the gas pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for inserting or removing a string of tubulars from a borehole includes a makeup/break out mechanism which is capable of adding a tubular to or removing a tubular from the string and handling mechanism which feeds a tubular into, or removes a tubular from, the make up/break out mechanism. The make up/break out mechanism is moveable along the direction parallel to the axial direction of the string, such that the string may be substantially continuously inserted into or removed from the borehole.

Abstract: For extracting a liquid (such as oil) from a porous medium, the liquid is subjected to pulses that propagate through the liquid flowing through the pores of the medium. The pulses cause momentary surges in the velocity of the liquid, which keeps the pores open. The pulses can be generated in the production well, or in a separate excitation well. If the pulses travel with the liquid, the velocity of travel of the liquid through the pores can be increased. The solid matrix is kept stationary, and the pulses move through the liquid. The pulses in the liquid can be generated directly in the liquid, or indirectly in the liquid via a localized area of the solid matrix.

Abstract: A temporary abandonment cap includes a body, a pressure-retaining top portion extending across the body and a plurality of locking pins coupled to the body and a single moveable handle, the locking pins being adapted to be moved from an engaged position to a disengaged position by movement of the single handle. The temporary abandonment cap is lightweight, reusable, and can be placed on and retrieved from an open pipe of a subsea well.

Abstract: A drill bit employing a plurality of discrete, post-like, abrasive, particulate-impregnated cutting structures extending upwardly from abrasive, particulate-impregnated blades defining a plurality of fluid passages therebetween on the bit face. Additional cutting elements may be placed in the cone of the bit surrounding the centerline thereof. The blades may extend radially in a linear fashion, or be curved and spiral outwardly to the gage to provide increased blade length and enhanced cutting structure redundancy. Additionally, discrete protrusions may extend outwardly from at least some of the plurality of cutting structures. The discrete protrusions may be formed of a thermally stable diamond product and may exhibit a generally triangular cross-sectional geometry relative to the direction of intended bit rotation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling drilling mud density at a location either at the seabed (or just above the seabed) or alternatively below the seabed of wells in deep water and ultra deep water applications combines a base fluid of lesser density than the mud required at the wellhead to produce a diluted mud in the riser. By combining the appropriate quantities of drilling mud with base fluid, a riser mud density at or near the density of seawater may be achieved. A wellhead injection device for attachment to the wellhead is used for injecting the base fluid into the rising drilling mud at a location below the seabed. The riser charging lines are used to carry the low density base fluid to the injection device for injection into the drilling mud below the seabed. The cuttings are brought to the surface with the diluted mud and separated in the usual manner. The diluted mud is then passed through a centrifuge system to separate the heavier drilling mud from the lighter base fluid.

Abstract: A device for cleaning an inner pipe which comprises a nozzle head comprised of a feed borehole axially disposed therein, at least two rotation nozzles communicating with the feed borehole, at least two cleaning nozzles communicating with the feed borehole and a shaft. A rinsing nozzle communicates with the feed borehole and extends upwardly at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the feed borehole. The shaft is received in an outer sleeve whereby when the device is inserted into an inner pipe and a medium is flowed through the borehole and out of the rotation nozzles a force is generated when the medium emerging from the rotation nozzles contacts the wall of the inner pipe which force causes the nozzle head to rotate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are described for forming a window of optimum dimensions in casing wall. A window of maximum width is cut when the center line of the mill tool is located inside of the inner diameter of the casing where a maximum amount of casing is drilled away by the mill tool. A whipstock is described which deviates the mill tool outwardly so that the center line of the mill tool is in approximately this position. The whipstock then maintains the mill tool at this approximate location until a window of desired length is cut having a substantially maximum width. The whipstock then deviates the mill tool such that the centerline is outside of the casing to drill a rathole into the formation.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method useful for discouraging the extrusion of at least one deformable member of a device into a space adjacent to the deformable member when the device is disposed within a borehole and the deformable member extends from the device to the borehole wall involves at least one expandable member disposed upon the device. The expandable member is expandable into the annulus to reduce the width thereof and retractable therefrom to allow movement of the device within and out of the borehole and redeployment of the expandable member. The apparatus, system, and method are particularly suited for limiting the extrusion of packer elements.

Abstract: A disconnect system for coiled tubing. A first end of the coiled tubing is disconnected from a second end of the coiled tubing by holding the coiled tubing in a stationary position at a first and a second location. The coiled tubing is then sheared at one or more locations between the first and the second location.

Abstract: Methods of reducing or preventing particulate flow-back in subterranean zones. In accordance with the methods, a treating fluid having a mixture of reticulated foam fragments and particulate solids are suspended therein. The treating fluid is introduced into a subterranean zone and the mixture of the reticulated foam fragments and the particulate solids are deposited in the subterranean zone whereby the reticulated foam fragments retard or prevent the flow-back of the particulate solids and the transport of formation fines from the subterranean zone upon the flowing-back of fluid from the zone.

Abstract: A gooseneck for coiled tubing operations have a folding design to allow for a more compact design for storage and transport. The gooseneck may remain attached to the injector during transport, thereby decreasing the equipment required to move and set-up the coiled tubing equipment. The gooseneck includes a linkage mechanism for connecting a pair of support struts between the injector body and the tubing guide. The linkage allows the guide to follow a substantially parabolic path as it tracks the tubing from the reel to the injector.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for sealing a tubular. In one aspect, the apparatus is sealing apparatus for a downhole tool such as a bridge plug, packer, or frac-plug. In one embodiment, the present invention provides for a sealing apparatus having a body and a sealing system disposed about the body. The sealing apparatus further includes one or more extrusion rings disposed at each end of the sealing system. The sealing apparatus may also have a first cone to support the one or more extrusion rings and a second cone expandable over the first cone. A slip member is disposed adjacent the second cone at each end of the sealing system. Upon actuation, the sealing apparatus expands the sealing system and causes the slip member to fold outward and engage the tubular. The sealing apparatus is functionally expandable to at least 25% diametrically to seal the tubular.

Abstract: A method for conveying a tool into a borehole with the use of a tool conveying apparatus includes deploying the tool conveying apparatus into the borehole, transmitting fluid through the tool conveying apparatus, the tool conveying apparatus generating power from the flow of fluid therethrough, discharging fluid from the tool conveying apparatus and providing power to at least one tool carried thereby. The tool conveying apparatus also includes a communication system for transmitting data bi-directionally between the tool and the surface.

Abstract: A method and system for the combined underground storage and production of petroleum. A wellbore is drilled such that the surface is in fluid communication with an oil bearing and a salt bearing formation. Salt is leached from the salt bearing formation to form a cavern. The oil bearing formation is placed in condition for production. The pressure in the salt bearing formation is maintained below the pressure in the oil bearing formation and oil is collected in the cavern that was formed in the salt bearing formation. Periodically, oil is displaced from the cavern to the surface. The system includes a wellbore connecting the surface, an oil bearing formation and a cavern in fluid communication, a check valve is placed within the wellbore to permit the one way flow of oil from the oil bearing formation to the cavern. A wellhead tree seals the wellbore through which passes a conduit to inject gas into the wellbore.

Abstract: Annular seals of this invention comprise an elastomeric seal body that is configured to fit within a seal gland of a rock bit. The seal comprises a first seal surface, for providing a seal along a dynamic rotary surface formed between the seal body and one portion of the rock bit, and a second seal surface, for providing a seal between the seal body and another portion of the rock bit. The annular seal further comprises an extrusion prevention member that is positioned adjacent a surface of the seal body between the first and second seal surfaces. The extrusion prevention member can be integral, partially-attached, or independent of the seal body. The extrusion prevention member is preferably formed from a material having a hardness that is greater than that of the seal body. The member is positioned along the seal body at a location adjacent a groove, formed between opposed members of the rock bit, to act as a physical barrier to prevent the seal from being extruded therethrough.