Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring displacement on structural elements of subsea systems such as on components of a subsea pipeline network used to transport production fluid from a subsurface wellhead to surface facilities. The described techniques sense changes in displacement using a sensing blade, for example made of crystalline material such as sapphire, that is anchored to the structural element such that it is approximately perpendicular to the direction of sensed displacement. Displacement is sensed as bending of the sensing blade using one or more instruments fabricated on the blade. Robustness of design is in part provided by additional flexible non-sensing blades mounted in parallel to the sensing blade.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for non-invasively acoustically monitoring containers to distinguish gas contents from liquid contents. In some embodiments the container is part of a buoyancy tank (132) in a subsea pipeline network (102) used to transport production fluid from a subsurface wellhead (112) to surface facilities, and the systems and methods are used to detect water ingression into the buoyancy tank (132) and to transmit alert signals to the surface relating thereto.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for monitoring displacement on structural elements of subsea systems such as on components of a subsea pipeline network used to transport production fluid from a subsurface wellhead to surface facilities. The described techniques sense changes in displacement using a sensing blade, for example made of crystalline material such as sapphire, that is anchored to the structural element such that it is approximately perpendicular to the direction of sensed displacement. Displacement is sensed as bending of the sensing blade using one or more instruments fabricated on the blade. Robustness of design is in part provided by additional flexible non-sensing blades mounted in parallel to the sensing blade.

Abstract: A positive displacement pump is provided that includes a pump housing having a pump chamber; a plunger mounted in the pump housing for reciprocating motion in the pump chamber; a suction valve positioned to allow a fluid to enter the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a first direction; a discharge valve positioned to discharge the fluid from the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a second direction; and at least one sensor enclosed by the pump housing for measuring at least one pump condition parameter.

Abstract: A chopper mechanism for providing a fiber to a fluid at an oilfield. The chopper mechanism may be employed to process the fiber from an uncut form to a cut form in order to provide a mixture of the fluid and the fiber with flowback inhibiting character. Techniques of employing the chopper mechanism may be utilized at the site of an oilfield for applications such as fracturing, cementing, and drilling. Additionally, the chopper mechanism itself may be made available as a large high capacity chopper assembly, or a smaller handheld chopper gun for slower rate fiber supply operations.

Abstract: A positive displacement pump is provided that includes a pump housing having a pump chamber; a plunger mounted in the pump housing for reciprocating motion in the pump chamber; a suction valve positioned to allow a fluid to enter the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a first direction; a discharge valve positioned to discharge the fluid from the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a second direction; and at least one sensor enclosed by the pump housing for measuring at least one pump condition parameter.

Abstract: A chopper mechanism for providing a fiber to a fluid at an oilfield. The chopper mechanism may be employed to process the fiber from an uncut form to a cut form in order to provide a mixture of the fluid and the fiber with flowback inhibiting character. Techniques of employing the chopper mechanism may be utilized at the site of an oilfield for applications such as fracturing, cementing, and drilling. Additionally, the chopper mechanism itself may be made available as a large high capacity chopper assembly, or a smaller handheld chopper gun for slower rate fiber supply operations.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a cable; and a gel-based filler material, seismic sensors that are disposed in the cable. The seismic sensors are suspended in pockets, and each pocket contains a material that has a shear stiffness that is less than a shear stiffness of the gel-based filler material to attenuate a flow noise.

Abstract: A chopper mechanism for providing a fiber to a fluid at an oilfield. The chopper mechanism may be employed to process the fiber from an uncut form to a cut form in order to provide a mixture of the fluid and the fiber with flowback inhibiting character. Techniques of employing the chopper mechanism may be utilized at the site of an oilfield for applications such as fracturing, cementing, and drilling. Additionally, the chopper mechanism itself may be made available as a large high capacity chopper assembly, or a smaller handheld chopper gun for slower rate fiber supply operations.

Abstract: A positive displacement pump is provided that includes a pump housing having a pump chamber; a plunger mounted in the pump housing for reciprocating motion in the pump chamber; a suction valve positioned to allow a fluid to enter the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a first direction; a discharge valve positioned to discharge the fluid from the pump chamber upon movement of the plunger in a second direction; and at least one sensor enclosed by the pump housing for measuring at least one pump condition parameter.

Abstract: A vehicle, such as a truck, includes mixing and pumping equipment for mixing a liquid and a particulate material (e.g., cement) and for pumping the mixture. One application is to pump the mixture into a wellbore for cementing a casing or liner to the wellbore inner wall. The vehicle includes a cab, with the mixing and pumping equipment positioned behind the cab. The equipment includes one or more reservoirs, with at least one used as both a mixing and displacement tank. A hose assembly is also positioned on the vehicle. To reduce the weight load placed on the rear axle(s) of the vehicle, relatively heavy components, such as the pump, are placed further forward on the truck. In one arrangement, the pump may be placed between the cab and the one or more reservoirs.

Abstract: Conduit integrity monitors enable the detection of defects or faults in conduits. One type of the conduit integrity monitor measures the bending stiffness of the conduit. A load cell device is used to detect a force applied by a bent conduit. Defective or damaged portions may cause an increase or decrease in bending stiffness that can be detected by the conduit integrity monitor. Another type of the conduit integrity monitor includes proximity sensors each measuring its distance to a predetermined layer of the conduit, such as a metallic reinforcement layer. Defects or damage in the conduit may cause the conduit to change shape, which can be detected by the proximity sensors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method or process, useful in cementing a well, especially a hydrocarbon well, which is characterized by the use of increased external and internal diameter liners, the method being characterized by provision and use of a novel liner and liner-tool assembly. Novel liner apparatus, a liner-tool assembly, and a fluid circulating tool are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method or process, useful in cementing a well, especially a hydrocarbon well, which is characterized by the use of increased external and internal diameter liners, the method being characterized by provision and use of a novel liner and liner-tool assembly. Novel liner apparatus, a liner-tool assembly, and a fluid circulating tool are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for fishing for and/or communicating with subsurface apparatus. In a preferred embodiment, a subsurface logging-while-drilling (LWD) or measuring-while-drilling (MWD) apparatus is placed in tandem with a drill string near the bottom of a borehole. The LWD apparatus includes a surface retrievable component such as a nuclear source carrier with a fishing head facing upwardly. The carrier is releasably secured within the LWD apparatus with means such as a shear pin. A wireline conveyed tool having a downwardly facing latching mechanism includes a downhole powered latch for telescopically extending beyond the fishing head, forcing a latching lug radially inwardly below the fishing head, and moving axially upward to latch the fishing head. Further upward latch movement causes the fishing head to move upwardly until the shear pin shears which releases the carrier from the subsurface apparatus. The wireline tool with the attached carrier is then brought to surface with the wireline cable.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring density, porosity and other formation characteristics while drilling is disclosed. The apparatus, preferably housed in a drill collar and placed within a drill string, includes a source of neutrons and a source of gamma rays placed within a tubular body which is adapted to provide for the flow of drilling through it. Two sets of stabilizer blades are provided. One set, associated with the neutron source, includes secondary radiation detectors that are placed radially beyond the nominal outer radius of the body. Formation porosity measurement accuracy is substantially enhanced since the standoff of the detectors from the formation is substantially decreased. Another set, associated with the gamma ray source, includes one or more gamma ray detection assemblies in a single blade. Each of the gamma ray detector assemblies is also placed radially beyond the nominal outer radius of the tubular wall.

Abstract: A measurement while drilling nuclear tool adapted to be coupled in the drill string to make formation evaluations and methods of using are described. A neutron source is positioned on the cylindrical axis of the tool while a connected gamma ray source is eccentered against an interior side of the cylindrical tool. Both sources can be axially removed from the tool along its interior. Novel source-detector configurations are provided in order to accommodate the constraints of the MWD environment. Gamma ray transparent windows are provided through both the drill collar and an external fluid excluder (stabilizer) at the positions of the gamma ray source and scintillator detectors. Neutron detectors may be of two different types at the same spacing from the source. Corrections are made for microphonic noise that arises while drilling and for natural gamma ray background. A drilling fluid density determination is made and is utilized to compensate for "borehole" or "standoff" effects.

Abstract: A borehole logging apparatus for performing radiation based measurements has a tubular body for movement through a borehole. The tubular body includes an upwardly opening passage and an interior chamber for accommodating the positioning and lengthwise insertion and removal of an energy radiating source. The radiation source includes an uppermost portion which may be remotely engaged by a source removing device for its removal in the event the tool becomes stuck in the borehole and in order to facilitate source handling at the earth's surface.