Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbon material from a layer of oil sand in an earth formation, the layer having a thickness and extending in an extension direction for more than its thickness comprises creating production borehole having a production borehole section extending in a production borehole direction, and a refill borehole having a refill borehole section extending in a refill borehole direction, wherein both the production and refill borehole directions deviate less than 45 degrees from the extension direction; creating a cavity in the layer of oil sand, the cavity being in fluid communication with the production borehole section; extending the cavity by operating fluid jetting means against a wall of the cavity; withdrawing the slurry from the cavity via the production borehole to a processing facility; and injecting refill material into the cavity via the refill borehole section, wherein the refill borehole section extends below the production borehole section.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbon material from a layer of oil sand in an earth formation, the layer having a thickness and extending in an extension direction for more than its thickness, the method comprising: an injection borehole having an injection borehole section extending in an injection borehole direction and a discharge borehole having a discharge borehole section extending in a discharge borehole direction below the injection borehole section, wherein both the injection and the discharge borehole directions deviate less than 45 degrees from the extension direction; creating a cavity in the layer, the cavity being in fluid communication with both the injection and the discharge borehole sections; extending the cavity by operating fluid jetting means via the injection borehole against a wall of the cavity to obtain a slurry; and withdrawing the slurry from the cavity via the discharge borehole to a processing facility.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from a layer of oil sand located in a formation comprises creating a plurality of boreholes in the formation, including a first borehole and a second borehole spaced from the first borehole in a selected direction along which the layer of oil sand extends, and creating a cavity in the layer, the cavity being in fluid communication with the first borehole; extending the cavity in the selected direction by operating fluid jetting means via the first borehole to jet a stream of fluid against the cavity wall; when the cavity is in fluid communication with the second borehole, operating the fluid jetting means via the second borehole to jet a stream of fluid against the cavity wall so as to further extend the cavity; and transporting a slurry of fluid and oil sand from the cavity to a processing facility.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbon fluid from a layer of oil sand located in an earth formation, the method comprising creating at least one borehole in the earth formation, including a discharge borehole having a borehole section extending in a selected direction at an angle of less than 45 degrees with an upper and/or lower boundary of the layer and being provided with a liner of a length adapted to be changed, and creating a cavity in the layer of oil sand, the cavity being in fluid communication with said borehole section; extending the cavity in the selected direction by operating fluid jetting means via said at least one borehole to jet a stream of fluid against a wall of the cavity; changing the length of the liner in correspondence with extension of the cavity in the selected direction; and transporting a slurry of fluid and oil sand, resulting from operation of the fluid jetting means, from the cavity via the discharge borehole to a processing facility for processing the slurry.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of connecting a first borehole to a second borehole, the boreholes being formed in an earth formation and extending at a mutual distance. The method comprises inserting a volume of hardenable fluidic material into a space in the earth formation extending between the first and second boreholes, and allowing the hardenable fluidic material to harden so as to form a body of hardened material between the first and second boreholes. At least one fluid channel is created in the body of hardened material, each fluid channel providing fluid communication between the first borehole and the second borehole.

Abstract: A Seismic source comprising an actuator having a rotary part (104) and a reciprocative part (105), conversion means (109) in the form of corrugated surfaces to convert a rotation of the rotary part (104) into a reciprocal movement of the reciprocative part (105), and a vibrator body (106) that is connected to the reciprocative part (105) of the actuator by means of a spring (107).

Abstract: A wellbore system is provided for the production of hydrocarbon fluid from a hydrocarbon fluid reservoir (4) in an earth formation. The wellbore system comprises a first wellbore (18) drilled from a first surface location at a horizontal distance from the hydrocarbon fluid reservoir, the first wellbore having a lower section (10) extending from a rock formation outside the reservoir, into the reservoir, and a second wellbore (20) drilled from a second surface location horizontally displaced from the first surface location. The second wellbore (20) extend towards the first wellbore (18) and is in fluid communication with the reservoir (4) via said lower section (10) of the first wellbore.

Abstract: Telemetry systems and methods are disclosed for real time communication of information between multiple positions in a wellbore.

Abstract: A wellbore system is provided for the production of hydrocarbon fluid from a hydrocarbon fluid reservoir (4) in an earth formation. The wellbore system comprises a first wellbore (18) drilled from a first surface location at a horizontal distance from the hydrocarbon fluid reservoir, the first wellbore having a lower section (10) extending from a rock formation outside the reservoir, into the reservoir, and a second wellbore (20) drilled from a second surface location horizontally displaced from the first surface location. The second wellbore (20) extend towards the first wellbore (18) and is in fluid communication with the reservoir (4) via said lower section (10) of the first wellbore.

Abstract: A hydraulic motor for use in subterranean drilling operations in which a drive fluid within a first reservoir is forced through the motor by a high pressure working fluid, such as drilling mud, the drive fluid entering a second reservoir upon exiting the motor. Upon a change in valving, the drive fluid in the second reservoir is forced through the motor by the high pressure working and back into the first reservoir.

Abstract: Telemetry systems and methods are disclosed for real time communication of information between multiple positions in a wellbore.

Abstract: Telemetry systems and methods are disclosed for real time communication of information between multiple positions in a wellbore.

Abstract: A device for anchoring a drill string in a borehole an anchoring member connected to the drill string, the anchoring member being movable between a retracted position in which the anchoring member is retracted from the borehole wall, and, an extended position in which the anchoring member is extended against the borehole wall so as to anchor the drill string to the borehole wall, and an activating member operable to move the anchoring member from the extended position to the retracted position by the action of pressure of drilling fluid present in the borehole.

Abstract: A Seismic source comprising an actuator having a rotary part (104) and a reciprocative part (105), conversion means (109) in the form of corrugated surfaces to convert a rotation of the rotary part (104) into a reciprocal movement of the reciprocative part (105), and a vibrator body (106) that is connected to the reciprocative part (105) of the actuator by means of a spring (107).

Abstract: A hydraulic motor for use in subterranean drilling operations in which a drive fluid within a first reservoir is forced through the motor by a high pressure working fluid, such as drilling mud, the drive fluid entering a second reservoir upon exiting the motor. Upon a change in valving, the drive fluid in the second reservoir is forced through the motor by the high pressure working and back into the first reservoir.

Abstract: Telemetry systems and methods are disclosed for real time communication of information between multiple positions in a wellbore.

Abstract: A device for anchoring a drill string in a borehole formed in an earth formation is provided. The device comprises an anchoring member connected to the drill string and being movable between a retracted position in which the anchoring member is retracted from the borehole wall and an extended position in which the anchoring member is extended against the borehole wall so as to anchor the drill string to the borehole wall, and an activating member operable to move the anchoring member from the extended position to the retracted position by the action of pressure of drilling fluid present in the borehole.

Abstract: A drilling system for drilling a borehole into an earth formation is provided. The drilling system comprises a drill string extending into the borehole whereby an annular space is formed between the drill string and the borehole wall and the annular space contains a body of fluid. The drill string includes a longitudinal fluid passage having an outlet opening at the lower end part of the drill string, a device for selectively pumping drilling fluid via the passage and outlet opening into the body of fluid, and a fluid discharge conduit for discharging fluid from the body of fluid. The drilling system further comprises a device for controlling the fluid pressure in the body of fluid when the pumping device is inoperative to pump drilling fluid into the body of fluid.

Abstract: An extended reach drilling (ERD) system for drilling a borehole in an underground formation is provided. The ERD system comprises a drill bit, a motor for driving the drill bit, a drill-pipe to surface, a hydraulic cylinder/piston arrangement for providing the required weight on bit, the drill-pipe being coupled to a selected one of the cylinder and the piston of the cylinder/piston arrangement such that the drill pipe may rotate relative to the selected one of the cylinder and the piston, the drill bit being coupled to the other one of the cylinder and the piston, and locking members for locking the selected one of the cylinder and the piston against the borehole wall, the locking members being operable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

Abstract: A method of operating a drill string tool for use in a wellbore formed in an earth formation is provided. T he method comprises rotating an upper drill string part while a rotation transfer assembly transfers the rotation of a first element to a second element so as to rotate a lower drill string part in order to drill a section of a wellbore, inducing a controller to disengage the rotation transfer assembly so as to allow the first element to rotate relative to the second element by virtue of bearings, and rotating the upper drill string part about its longitudinal axis while the lower drill string part remains substantially stationary.