Abstract: A system including a display for displaying a comparison between a calculated energy value and a desired energy value of a drilling system, the display including a first portion defining a first potential operational issue, a second portion defining a second potential operational issue, a third portion defining a third potential operational issue, and a fourth portion indicating the comparison between the calculated energy value compared and the desired energy value of the drilling system.

Abstract: A drilling rig having a top drive has a pipe gripper with a mandrel having an upper end for connection to and rotation with a drive string extending downward from the top drive. The pipe gripper has gripping elements that move radially into engagement with a string of pipe. A pull-down mechanism is mounted to the rig and secured to a non-rotating portion of the pipe gripper for exerting a downward force on the mandrel. A sensor is operatively coupled to the top drive to sense weight being supported by the top drive. A controller is linked to the sensor and the pull-down mechanism for controlling the downward force exerted on the mandrel by the pull-down mechanism in response to the weight sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments include drilling through a formation using a drill bit conveyed by a tubular string having an outer diameter at least 70 percent of the wellbore being drilled. The formation is drilled at a first rate of penetration (ROP) while pumping drilling fluid at a first flow rate. After drilling through the formation, the ROP is reduced to a second ROP, the flow rate is reduced to a second flow rate, and pressure is increased in the wellbore until drilling fluid begins to leak into the formation. While maintaining the increased pressure in the wellbore, the volume of drilling fluid lost to the formation is monitored until the rate at which the drilling fluid loss occurs is reduced. Components of this procedure are repeated until a selected wellbore strength is achieved.

Abstract: A drilling rig having a top drive has a pipe gripper with a mandrel having an upper end for connection to and rotation with a drive string extending downward from the top drive. The pipe gripper has gripping elements that move radially into engagement with a string of pipe. A pull-down mechanism is mounted to the rig and secured to a non-rotating portion of the pipe gripper for exerting a downward force on the mandrel. A sensor is operatively coupled to the top drive to sense weight being supported by the top drive. A controller is linked to the sensor and the pull-down mechanism for controlling the downward force exerted on the mandrel by the pull-down mechanism in response to the weight sensed by the sensor.

Abstract: Embodiments include drilling through a formation using a drill bit conveyed by a tubular string having an outer diameter at least 70 percent of the wellbore being drilled. The formation is drilled at a first rate of penetration (ROP) while pumping drilling fluid at a first flow rate. After drilling through the formation, the ROP is reduced to a second ROP, the flow rate is reduced to a second flow rate, and pressure is increased in the wellbore until drilling fluid begins to leak into the formation. While maintaining the increased pressure in the wellbore, the volume of drilling fluid lost to the formation is monitored until the rate at which the drilling fluid loss occurs is reduced. Components of this procedure are repeated until a selected wellbore strength is achieved.

Abstract: The centrifuge continuously separates free flowing substances that have different densities. The centrifuge includes a rotor 14 having a cylindrical drum 16 and a conical drum 18. The rotor wall includes discharge ports 48, 48′, 48″ for a heavy phase and weirs 38 for a light phase arranged on a front end wall 36 of the cylindrical drum. The rotatable scroll conveyor 22 includes a hollow shaft 26 and a helix 24 for transporting the heavy phase toward the discharge ports. A feed pipe 28 is coaxially within the hollow shaft and opens into a chamber 32 within the hollow shaft. A plurality of nozzles each within a respective discharge port in the conical drum and a non-restrictive discharge port 60 in the end section of the conical drum discharge the heavy phase from the centrifuge. The nozzles are preferably arranged in a plurality of circumferential rings.