Abstract: Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to a dual closure system disposed within a wellbore and capable of preventing the production of fluids from a fluid-producing formation to the surface. The dual closure system can include a passive closure mechanism and a subsurface safety valve coupled to an electric submersible pump positioned within a passageway defined by the tubing string. The passive closure mechanism and the subsurface safety valve can prevent production of fluid in the absence of the subsurface safety valve. The subsurface safety valve can be positioned within a passageway defined by a tubing string such that the subsurface safety valve can apply force to the passive closure mechanism. The force applied to the passive closure mechanism can maintain the passive closure mechanism in an open position, allowing movement of fluid to the surface in the presence of the active closure mechanism.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure are directed to tools actuated by pipe swell. A downhole assembly for a wellbore may be provided. The downhole assembly can include a first sleeve and a second sleeve. The first sleeve can expand from a first position to a second position in response to a first pressure applied to the first sleeve. The first sleeve can contract to the first position in response to a cessation of the first pressure. The second sleeve can be positioned adjacent to the first sleeve to define a swell chamber. The swell chamber can actuate a downhole tool by a pressure stored in the swell chamber by the expansion of the first sleeve.

Abstract: Disclosed are subsurface safety valves having a reduced spread between opening and closing pressures. One safety valve includes a housing having a piston bore defined therein and configured to receive hydraulic fluid pressure, the piston bore providing an upper bore having a first diameter, a lower bore having a second diameter, and an intermediate bore interposing the upper and lower bores and having a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is greater than the second diameter and the second diameter is greater than the first diameter, and a piston assembly movably arranged within the piston bore and comprising an upper piston operatively coupled to a lower piston, wherein the upper piston sealingly engages the upper bore and the lower piston sealingly engages the lower bore, wherein, when the upper piston is arranged in the intermediate bore, the hydraulic fluid pressure acts on the lower piston.

Abstract: A downhole circulating valve includes a generally tubular outer housing having a generally axially extending internal passageway. At least one generally longitudinally extending circulating passageway is formed through at least a portion of the housing. At least one exterior port and at least one interior port are in fluid communication with the circulating passageway. At least one seal plug is disposed within the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a first position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is remote from the exterior port and the interior port, thereby allowing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port through the circulating passageway. The seal plug has a second position relative to the housing wherein the seal plug is between the exterior port and the interior port and wherein the seal plug forms at least one metal-to-metal seal with the circulating passageway, thereby preventing fluid flow between the exterior port and the interior port.

Abstract: Disclosed is a subsurface safety valve with a magnetic booster feature. One disclosed safety valve includes a housing, a flow tube reciprocably disposed between an upper position and a lower position within the housing, a first magnetic element coupled to the housing, and a second magnetic element coupled to the flow tube and configured such that interaction of the first and second magnetic elements induces at least one of a first force on the flow tube when the flow tube is in the upper position and a second force on the flow tube when the flow tube is in the lower position.

Abstract: A safety valve includes a housing defining first and secondary piston bores in fluid communication with each other via a port, a first piston movably arranged within the first piston bore and having a first piston rod extending longitudinally therefrom and coupled to a flow tube, and a second piston movably arranged within the secondary piston bore and having a secondary piston rod extending longitudinally therefrom and axially engageable with the flow tube, wherein hydraulic fluid pressure acts on the first piston until the first piston axially moves and exposes the port, whereby the hydraulic fluid pressure is then able to enter the secondary piston bore and also act on the second piston.

Abstract: A downhole assembly for tool actuation using pressure delay is provided. The downhole assembly can include a chamber, a pressure path, a pressure damper, a pressure source, and a member. The pressure path can be positioned between first and second ends of the chamber. The pressure damper can reduce a rate at which pressure is communicated in the pressure path. Pressure from the pressure source can be communicated to the first end of the chamber and the second end of the chamber at different rates. The member can be positioned in the chamber between the first end and the second end. The member can actuate a downhole tool in response to a pressure difference between the first end and the second end. The pressure difference can result from a difference in between the first rate and the second rate.

Abstract: Method and systems for opening and closing a subsurface valve are disclosed. A rod piston forms a first piston chamber, a second piston chamber and a third piston chamber within a housing. The first piston chamber is fluidically coupled to a high tubing pressure and the second piston chamber is fluidically coupled to a surface control line and a first compartment of a storage chamber. The third piston chamber is coupled to a second compartment of the storage chamber. A flow tube couples the rod piston to a flapper. The rod piston is moved between a first position and a second position in response to a change in a pressure in at least one of the first piston chamber, the second piston chamber and the third piston chamber. The movement of the rod piston between the first position and the second position at least one of opens and closes the flapper.

Abstract: Certain aspects are directed to a subsurface safety valve. The subsurface safety valve includes a closure mechanism and a piston assembly for actuating the closure mechanism. The piston assembly includes a first piston disposed in a first chamber, a second piston disposed in a second chamber adjacent to the first chamber, and first and second control lines. The second chamber has a second diameter that is smaller than a first diameter of the first chamber. The first control line selectively communicates pressure to the first piston in a downhole direction. The first piston applies force to the second piston in response to pressure being communicated to the first piston. The force can cause the closure mechanism to be actuated. The second control line communicates a second pressure to the first piston in an uphole direction that reduces an amount of force for displacing the second piston an uphole direction.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve well device has a first sliding sleeve received in a second sliding sleeve. A polymer seal having a polymer sealing surface is between and in sealing contact with the sliding sleeves. A metal-to-metal seal is between the sliding sleeves and actuable into sealing contact with the first and second sliding sleeves.

Abstract: A wellbore tubular-conveyed drill assembly comprising a wellbore tubular, an electrical drilling mechanism coupled to an outside surface of the wellbore tubular, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism has a refracted position and an extended position, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism drills one or more openings in a subterranean formation when in the extended position, and a power source coupled to the electrical drilling mechanism. A method comprising extending an electrical drilling mechanism in a direction away from a wellbore tubular, wherein the electrical drilling mechanism is coupled to an outside surface of the wellbore tubular, and drilling one or more openings in a subterranean formation with the electrical drilling mechanism.

Abstract: Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to a subsurface safety valve that can be disposed in a wellbore that is through a fluid-producing formation. The subsurface safety valve can include a closure mechanism, a sleeve, and a control line. The closure mechanism can be positioned in a passageway defined by a tubing string. The closure mechanism can be configured to prevent a flow of fluid to a portion of the passageway that is closer to a surface of the wellbore than the closure mechanism. The sleeve can be positioned in the passageway adjacent to the closure mechanism. The control line can communicate pressure to a piston from a pressure source within an inner diameter of the tubing string, causing the piston to apply a force to the sleeve. The sleeve can open the closure mechanism in response to the force being applied to the sleeve.

Abstract: Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to a semi-autonomous insert valve. The semi-autonomous insert valve includes a body, a closure mechanism coupled to the body, an autonomous actuation mechanism coupled to the body, and a control system disposed in the body. The body engages an inner wall of a subsurface safety valve and causes a subsurface safety valve closure mechanism to open, allowing fluid to flow toward the surface of the wellbore. The closure mechanism selectively allows fluid to flow toward the surface of the wellbore. The autonomous actuation mechanism actuates the closure mechanism independently from a subsurface safety valve actuation mechanism that actuates the subsurface safety valve closure mechanism. The control sub-system includes one or more transceiving devices that can wirelessly communicate signals. The control sub-system closes the closure mechanism in response to losing signal communication between the transceiving devices and a signal source.

Abstract: Certain aspects and embodiments of the present invention are directed to a subsurface safety valve disposed in a wellbore through a fluid-producing formation. The subsurface safety valve can include a closure mechanism. In some embodiments, the subsurface safety valve can be coupled with an electric submersible pump. The subsurface safety valve coupled to the electric submersible pump can be positioned in a passageway defined by a tubing string via a power cable coupled to the electric submersible pump. In some embodiments, the subsurface safety valve can include at least one terminal. The at least one terminal can form an electrical connection between the subsurface safety valve and the electric submersible pump. The subsurface safety valve can receive power from the electric submersible pump via the electrical connection.

Abstract: A downhole tool actuation system comprises a control line in fluid communication with a control fluid source, a first piston assembly comprising a first surface in fluid communication with the control line, and a damper piston assembly comprising a second surface in fluid communication with the first surface. The first piston assembly is configured to actuate the downhole tool.

Abstract: Disclosed are subsurface safety valves having an expanding piston used to increase the opening force for the safety valve. One disclosed safety valve includes a housing having a piston bore defined therein and configured to receive hydraulic fluid pressure, the piston bore providing a tapered portion having a first end and a second end, wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the tapered portion progressively increases from the first end to the second end, and a piston assembly movably arranged within the piston bore and comprising a piston rod that extends longitudinally within at least a portion of the piston bore and an expanding piston coupled to the piston rod, wherein the expanding piston is configured to move between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration to sealingly engage the tapered portion as the piston assembly moves between the first and second ends.

Abstract: Disclosed are subsurface safety valves having a telescoping piston assembly. One disclosed safety valve includes a housing defining a piston bore that provides an upper bore section having a first bore diameter and a lower bore section having a second bore diameter smaller than the first bore diameter, and a piston assembly movably arranged within the piston bore and comprising a piston rod that includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a radial shoulder defined between the upper and lower portions, the piston assembly further comprising a piston movably arranged on the upper portion, wherein the piston dynamically seals an inner wall of the upper bore section when the piston assembly moves within the piston bore and dynamically seals an outer surface of the upper portion of the piston rod when the piston engages the bore shoulder and the piston rod continues moving.

Abstract: A wellbore system includes a first piezoelectric device on a first side of a wall and a second piezoelectric device on a second side of the wall. The second piezoelectric device is adapted to communicate through the wall wirelessly with the first piezoelectric device.

Abstract: A through tubing bridge plug (200) for providing a gripping and sealing engagement with a casing string of a wellbore. The bridge plug (200) includes an actuation rod (208), an anchor assembly (212), a pair of compression assemblies, each including a support assembly (216, 242) and an anti extrusion assembly (220, 238) and a packing assembly (224) disposed about the actuation rod (208) between the compression assemblies. Responsive to longitudinal movement of the actuation rod (208), the anchor assembly (212) establishes the gripping engagement with the casing string, the compression assemblies are radially deployed such that the anti extrusion assemblies (220, 238) are supported by the support assemblies (216, 242) and the packing assembly (224) establishes the sealing engagement with the casing string.

Abstract: Certain aspects and features are directed to an electric subsurface safety valve including an integrated communications system that can be disposed in a wellbore. The electric subsurface safety valve can include a body adapted to be coupled to a cable, a communications system disposed in the body, and a closure mechanism. The body can be disposed within the wellbore. The communications system can include one or more transceiving devices and a processing device. The transceiving devices can communicate signals via the cable to a rig at the surface and can wirelessly communicate signals to target tool in the well system. The processing device can process signals received by the one or more transceiving devices for communication via the cable. The closure mechanism can be positioned in a passageway defined by the wellbore and can control a flow of fluid to through the passageway.