Abstract: A multiphase flow meter comprising two Venturis separated by a choke. The choke may be varied to adjust the properties of the multiphase fluid flow being measured. The two Venturis may be identical and may be arranged horizontally with respect to the multiphase fluid flow. The choke may be a choke in a return line of a managed pressure drilling system.

Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to a method and a system for directionally drilling a borehole with a rotary drilling system. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, methods and system provide for controlling motion of the rotary drilling system in the borehole when a side force is applied to the drilling system to bias or focus the motion so that the drilling system directionally drills the borehole through an earth formation. In certain aspects, side cutting of a sidewall of the borehole by a drill bit under an applied side force is controlled by a geostationary element to provide for directional side cutting and, as a result, directional drilling of the borehole through the earth formation. In other aspects, a non-concentrically coupled gauge pad assembly may rotate with the drilling system and bias or focus the applied side force.

Abstract: A drill bit direction system and method is disclosed that modifies or biases the stochastic movement of the drill bit to change a drilling direction of a drilling system. The direction of the drill bit is monitored to determine if the direction happens to align in some way with a preferred direction. If the direction isn't close enough to a preferred or desired direction, stochastic motion of the drill bit in the borehole may be controlled and/or motion of the drill bit under a side force acting on the drill bit to direct the drilling may be focused or biased to modify the direction of drilling closer to the preferred direction. Any of a number of stochastic motion control mechanisms or biasing mechanisms can be used. Some embodiments can resort to conventional steering mechanisms to supplement the stochastic motion control or side force biasing mechanisms.

Abstract: Injection of gas into a managed pressure drilling system to provide for operation of the drilling system in a pressure window defined by the pore pressure of a formation being drilled and a fracture pressure of the formation. The gas is injected through gas injection ports and drilling fluids are allowed to flow between the drilling annulus and the gas injection system though a plurality of flow ports that are disposed vertically below the gas injection ports in the borehole being drilled. The gas injection ports and the flow ports are configured so that when gas is flowing through the gas injection ports, the flow ports are sealed.

Abstract: A drill bit direction system and method is disclosed that modifies or biases the stochastic movement of the drill bit and/or stochastic interactions between the drill bit and an inner-wall of a borehole being drilled by a drilling system to change the direction of drilling of the drilling system. The direction of the drill bit is monitored to determine if the direction happens to align in some way with a preferred direction. If the direction isn't close enough to a preferred direction, a biasing mechanism modifies the stochastic movement in an attempt to modify the direction closer to the preferred direction. Any of a number of biasing mechanisms can be used. Some embodiments can resort to conventional steering mechanisms to supplement the biasing mechanism.

Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to a method and a system for directionally drilling a borehole with a rotary drilling system. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, methods and system provide for controlling motion of the rotary drilling system in the borehole when a side force is applied to the drilling system to bias or focus the motion so that the drilling system directionally drills the borehole through an earth formation. In certain aspects, side cutting of a sidewall of the borehole by a drill bit under an applied side force is controlled by a geostationary element to provide for directional side cutting and, as a result, directional drilling of the borehole through the earth formation. In other aspects, a non-concentrically coupled gauge pad assembly may rotate with the drilling system and bias or focus the applied side force.

Abstract: Acoustic monitoring is carried out using a fiber optic cable. Coherent Rayleigh noise generated by the transmission of a coherent beam of radiation through the fiber optic cable is detected, a phase of the coherent Rayleigh noise is measured and the measured phase is processed to identify an acoustic occurrence along the fiber optic cable. In certain aspects, an optical fiber serves as a distributed interferometer that may be used to monitor a conduit, wellbore or reservoir. The distributed interferometric monitoring provides for accurate detection of acoustic occurrences along the fiber optic cable and these acoustic occurrences may include fluid flow in a pipeline or wellbore, processes taking place in a wellbore or pipeline, fracturing, gravel packing, or production logging.

Abstract: Acoustic monitoring is carried out using a fiber optic cable. Coherent Rayleigh noise generated by the transmission of a coherent beam of radiation through the fiber optic cable is detected, a phase of the coherent Rayleigh noise is measured and the measured phase is processed to identify an acoustic occurrence along the fiber optic cable. In certain aspects, an optical fiber serves as a distributed interferometer that may be used to monitor a conduit, wellbore or reservoir. The distributed interferometric monitoring provides for accurate detection of acoustic occurrences along the fiber optic cable and these acoustic occurrences may include fluid flow in a pipeline or wellbore, processes taking place in a wellbore or pipeline, fracturing, gravel packing, or production logging.

Abstract: Acoustic monitoring is carried out using a fiber optic cable. Coherent Rayleigh noise generated by the transmission of a coherent beam of radiation through the fiber optic cable is detected, a phase of the coherent Rayleigh noise is measured and the measured phase is processed to identify an acoustic occurrence along the fiber optic cable. In certain aspects an optical fiber serves as a distributed interferometer that may be used to monitor a conduit, wellbore or reservoir. The distributed interferometric monitoring provides for accurate detection of acoustic occurrences along the fiber optic cable and these acoustic occurrences may include fluid flow in a pipeline or wellbore, processes taking place in a wellbore or pipeline, fracturing, gravel packing, or production logging.

Abstract: A drill bit direction system and method is disclosed that modifies or biases the stochastic movement of the drill bit and/or stochastic interactions between the drill bit and an inner-wall of a borehole being drilled by a drilling system to change the direction of drilling of the drilling system. The direction of the drill bit is monitored to determine if the direction happens to align in some way with a preferred direction. If the direction isn't close enough to a preferred direction, a biasing mechanism modifies the stochastic movement in an attempt to modify the direction closer to the preferred direction. Any of a number of biasing mechanisms can be used. Some embodiments can resort to conventional steering mechanisms to supplement the biasing mechanism.

Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to a method and a system for directionally drilling a borehole with a rotary drilling system. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, methods and system provide for controlling motion of the rotary drilling system in the borehole when a side force is applied to the drilling system to bias or focus the motion so that the drilling system directionally drills the borehole through an earth formation. In certain aspects, side cutting of a sidewall of the borehole by a drill bit under an applied side force is controlled by a geostationary element to provide for directional side cutting and, as a result, directional drilling of the borehole through the earth formation. In other aspects, a non-concentrically coupled gauge pad assembly may rotate with the drilling system and bias or focus the applied side force.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling a wellbore (10) is disclosed, the apparatus comprising a lowermost pilot drill bit (16) having a diameter less than that of the diameter of wellbore (12) drilled by the apparatus, above which is a reamer, having an adjustable drill diameter from a first diameter less than that of the pilot drill to a second diameter greater than that of the pilot drill, above which is a body portion (24) having a lower diameter less than that of the pilot drill and an upper diameter greater than that of the pilot' drill but less than the second diameter of the reamer.

Abstract: A drill bit system for a drilling assembly is disclosed. The drill bit system may include a chassis, a head, and one or more compliantly coupled gauge pads. The head may include a first plurality of cutters coupled with an end of the head, and the head may be coupled with chassis. The one or more gauge pads may include a second plurality of cutters, and the one or more gauge pads may be movably coupled with the chassis.

Abstract: A drill bit direction system and method is disclosed that modifies or biases the stochastic movement of the drill bit and/or stochastic interactions between the drill bit and an inner-wall of a borehole being drilled by a drilling system to change the direction of drilling of the drilling system. The direction of the drill bit is monitored to determine if the direction happens to align in some way with a preferred direction. If the direction isn't close enough to a preferred direction, a biasing mechanism modifies the stochastic movement in an attempt to modify the direction closer to the preferred direction. Any of a number of biasing mechanisms can be used. Some embodiments can resort to conventional steering mechanisms to supplement the biasing mechanism.

Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to a method and system for acoustic monitoring using a fibre optic cable. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide for using an optical fiber as a distributed interferometer that may be used to monitor a conduit, wellbore or reservoir. In certain aspects, the distributed interferometric monitoring provides for accurate detection of acoustic occurrences along the fibre optic cable and these acoustic occurrences may include fluid flow in a pipeline or wellbore, processes taking place in a wellbore or pipeline, fracturing, gravel packing, production logging and/or the like.

Abstract: The drill bit system may include a chassis, a head, and a first plurality of gauge pads. The chassis may be configured to be operably coupled with a first rotational motion source. The head may include a first plurality of cutters coupled with an end of the head, and the head may be rotatably coupled with chassis. The head may be configured to be operably coupled with a second rotational motion source. The first plurality of gauge pads may include a second plurality of cutters, and the first plurality of gauge pads may be fixedly coupled with the chassis.

Abstract: Acoustic monitoring of a conduit, a wellbore or a reservoir associated with hydrocarbon production or transportation and/or carbon dioxide sequestration is carried out using a fibre optic cable extending along or appurtenant to it as a distributed interferometer. Coherent Raleigh noise generated by the transmission of the coherent beam of radiation through the fiber optic is detected and processed to identify an acoustic occurrence.

Abstract: A drill bit system for a drilling assembly is disclosed. The drill bit system may include a chassis, a head, and a first plurality of gauge pads. The head may include a first plurality of cutters coupled with an end of the head, and the head may be movably coupled with chassis. The first plurality of gauge pads may include a second plurality of cutters, and the first plurality of gauge pads may be fixedly coupled with the chassis.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus an methods for detecting the behavior of perforations in a wellbore casing, the apparatus including a sensor array movable within the internal diameter of the casing, the sensor array having one or more sensors located proximate the internal surface of the casing with the sensors being located or oriented such that properties of flow from a proximate perforation can be distinguished from properties of a main flow through the wellbore.

Abstract: A drill bit system for a drilling assembly is disclosed. The drill bit system may include a chassis, a head, and one or more gauge pads. The head may include a first plurality of cutters coupled with an end of the head, and the head may be coupled with chassis. The one or more gauge pads may include a second plurality of cutters, and the one or more gauge pads may be movably coupled with the chassis.