Abstract: A bipartite transmission coupler assembly comprising a downhole tool such as a drill pipe having an axial bore comprising a bore wall. The bore wall comprising a first annular groove open to the bore. The coupler may comprise a cylinder comprising an outside wall and an inside wall separated by top and bottom walls. The top wall comprising an annular recess configured to house a transmission assembly. The outside wall comprising a second annular groove configured to align with the first annular groove when the cylinder is installed into the axial bore. An annular spring ring may be housed within the second annular groove such that when the grooves are aligned within the axial bore, the spring ring radially expands at least partially into the first annular groove, securing the elongate cylinder within the axial bore. The cylinder may be divided into a first part and a second part.

Abstract: A downhole data transmission system comprising a composite polymeric annular block including a ferrite channel molded therein. The block being suitable for being housed within an annular groove or trough in the shoulder of a drill pipe. The annular block comprising a volume of sub-micron and micron elements of Fe and Mn. The ferrite channel defining an annular core region and an insulated helical coil laying within the core region. One end of the insulated helical coil passing through the ferrite channel and the annular block. A gasket molded into the block and extending from the block provides a sealed pathway for the end of the coil to exit the groove and connect to a cable; the other end of the coil being connected to ground. The annular block further includes a bumper protruding from its peripheral wall and a void opening within the annular block proximate the bumper.

Abstract: A drill pipe joint includes an annular groove formed within its loadable primary or secondary shoulders. The groove may be formed in both shoulders. The groove may have parallel or non-parallel side walls and an undulating bottom wall. One or more of the respective walls may be deformed by peening that may increase the surface hardness of the respective walls. The hardened region may extend a distance from the deformed wall surfaces. An annular wired channel may be disposed within the groove. The channel may comprise a magnetically conductive electrically insulating material enclosing a wire coil on three sides and partially enclosing a top side of the channel. One end of the wire coil may be attached to a backstop that may be grounded to the walls of the groove. The other end of the wire coil may pass through an opening in the channel exiting the shoulder.

Abstract: A resilient electrical conductor for an inductive coupler assembly comprising a loop comprising first and second ends. The first and second ends being harder than the loop. The loop is located within an annular recess in the top wall of a cylindrical housing. A magnetically conductive electrically insulating, MCEI, channel surrounding the loop provides a transmission element for the electromagnetic field produced by the loop when energized. The first end is configured for connection to a transmission line and the second end is configured for attachment to ground. The wire loop comprises one or more helical segments between the first end and the second end, each segment comprising a plurality of turns. The annular recess may comprise a step in the side wall of the cylinder joining the side wall with the top wall. The segments may comprise vertical coils attached in series or in parallel to the loop.

Abstract: A game board comprising a tapered playing field with walls rising from a perimeter thereof. The board comprises open receptacles arranged in a pattern or randomly on the playing field. A triangular pattern extends from an apex adjacent to a first wall to a base adjacent to a second wall. Each of the receptacles comprise a depth and a diameter sufficient to capture a ball used in the game. A movable track comprising a pair of rods comprising first and second ends is disposed above the field. The first ends are attached to a pivot disposed on the first wall and the second ends are inserted through an elongate opening in the second wall. The track is inclined from the pivot ends. A ball placed on the track near the pivot ends is urged to travel uphill along the track and dropped into a receptacle by manipulating the rods.

Abstract: A cylindrical tool string assembly for downhole data transmission comprises a cylinder comprising a transmission element such as an inductive coupler installed within a groove in its top surface connected to a transmission line housed within its exterior wall. The assembly includes a split spring ring housed within a groove formed in a bore wall of a tool string component such as a drill pipe or a downhole tool within the bottom hole assembly. The spring ring may be compressed and released when positioned within the groove. The spring ring provides a platform on which cylinder may be mounted. The split provides a passageway for the transmission line to exit the cylinder. The cylinder includes a recess in its top surface housing an extractor to facilitate removal of the cylinder. An anti-rotation lock between the cylinder and bore of the tool string component may prevent movement of the cylinder.

Abstract: A coupler comprising a hub comprising a longitudinal hub axis and a chamber disposed therein. A shaft having a longitudinal shaft axis, a first end, and a second end, wherein the second end of the shaft is pivotally coupled to the hub. A positioning assembly disposed in the chamber of the hub that engages the second end of the shaft. The positioning assembly being configured to allow the longitudinal shaft axis to become laterally offset from the longitudinal hub axis. A lower coil plate assembly positioned adjacent to an end cap assembly. A floating coil assembly disposed in an open chamber having walls bounded by the coil plate assembly and the end cap assembly for electromagnetically communicating with an adjacent coil assembly of a tubular member connected to the hub. Seals between the floating coil assembly and walls of the chamber provide a sealed off portion of the chamber.

Abstract: A tool string composite transmission element comprising a composite polymeric carrier comprising an electrical conductor embedded therein. The conductor may be connected to ground and to a cable and may be suitable for producing an electromagnetic field within the carrier when energized. The conductor may comprise a tab that may align with a slot within the carrier to prevent rotation of individual carrier fragments or segments strung along the conductor. The carrier may comprise a volume of MCEI particles sufficient to allow the carrier to transmit the electromagnet field to an adjacent carrier. The transmitted field may be used to convey data and power. The carrier may comprise an annular or linear configuration. Also, the carrier may comprise a bumper for securing the carrier within a groove within a tool within the tool string. The carrier may comprise a depression in its outer top surface above the electrical conductor.

Abstract: A tool string electrical transmission line connector comprising a cylinder adapted for mounting within a bore adjacent to a shoulder within the bore of a downhole tool. The cylinder comprising an inside axial side wall spaced apart from an outside axial side wall joining top and bottom surfaces. The connector further comprises an axial channel open to the outside axial side wall intersecting the bottom surface and a housing open to the outside axial side wall. The housing being open to the top surface. An electrical transmission line connector is disposed within the housing. An electrical transmission line is disposed within the axial channel and connected within the housing to an adjacent electrical transmission device. The axial channel further comprises one or more tab closures. The tab closures may comprise a clamp. When fitted into the bore, the tabs close around a cable residing within the channel.

Abstract: A telemetry tool joint may comprise a tool joint body adapted for connection to a downhole tubular as part of a tool string. The tubular may be a drill pipe or a downhole tool such as a drill bit or component of a bottom hole assembly. The tool joint body may comprise an axial bore comprising a bore wall having an interior wall surface and a tapered outer wall surface. The tapered outer bore wall surface may comprise a first continuous thread form having multiple turns comprising a first thread start and a first thread end and a second continuous thread form having multiple turns comprising a second thread start and a second thread end. The respective thread forms may be separated by a gap along the tapered outer bore wall surface. The gap may comprise one or more annular recesses adapted for housing a radially oriented inductive coupler.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a reel-to-reel chalk line comprising a first housing comprising a first reel, a first rotatable crank mechanism connected to the first reel, and a first chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing the passage of a continuous loadable chalk line. The apparatus further comprises an opposed second housing comprising a second rotatable reel, a second crank mechanism connected to the second reel, and a second chalk bin comprising apertures for allowing passage of the continuous impregnable chalk line. The continuous impregnable chalk line is reeled about the first and second reels as the respective crank mechanisms are alternately rotated forward and backward. The chalk line comprises one or more releasable segments along its length. The releasable segments sever the chalk line when a load on the chalk line exceeds the working capacity of the first and second reels and crank mechanisms within the respective housings.

Abstract: A lineable tubular for use in subterranean exploration and production, such as oil, gas, and geothermal wells. The tubular may be part of a downhole tool string, including drill pipe and related downhole tools that may be found in the bottom hole assembly. The tubular may comprise a modified interior surface along its bore wall. The modified surface may comprise hard particles, rifling, threads, ridges and grooves, sand and ceramic grit, and knurling. The modified surface may aid in securing a liner within the tubular. The tubular may include connectable ends with box and pin end tool joints. The tool joints may be attached to an upset end of the tubular. The modified surface may run the length of the tubular or it may be restricted to the upset ends of the tubular and the respective tool joints. The tubular may comprise a seal gland within the tool joints.

Abstract: An inductive transmission element comprising a magnetically conductive electrically insulating, MCEI, annular core. The core comprises an outer wall and an inner wall apart from the outer wall. The respective walls are joined by a planar top surface. The inner wall and the outer wall form an annular trough opening adjacent the top surface. The open annular trough comprises opposed diagonal walls that intersect the top surface and a circular region at the distal end of the opposed diagonal walls. The annular trough opening may be wider or narrower than the planar top surface between the diagonal walls and outer surface. The annular core may be disposed within an annular housing comprising a polymeric block. The diagonal walls may intersect the top surface at an angle greater than 93°. The diagonal walls may intersect the circular region at an angle greater than 93°. The top surface may be polished.

Abstract: A downhole network includes a tool string such as a drill string or marine riser. The tool string may comprise components in communication with a surface control unit, SCU, storing executable code associated with the downhole tool string components. A downhole network may be in communication with the SCU and the downhole tool string components. The SCU may be in communication with a surface multi-network controller which is in communication with the downhole network and in communication with a remote downhole tool string, a remote downhole network, and a remote tool string component. The remote downhole tool string or marine riser may comprise a plurality of interconnected wired tubulars. The wired tubulars may comprise inductive couplers comprising reinforced MCEI troughs. The surface multi-network controller may be in communication with a mobile device comprising a restricted subscriber identification module (SIM). The SIM may restrict communications to the respective downhole networks.

Abstract: A telemetry tool comprising a tube comprising a side wall comprising an exterior side wall surface spaced a distance apart from an interior side wall surface. The tube comprises first and second flanged end connectors suitable for connecting the tube in a telemetry tool string, the tube comprising a major and minor axial bore. The minor axial bore being enclosed within the side wall. The exterior side wall surface is circular in cross section and the interior side wall surface comprises a substantially kidney shaped cross section forming a convex portion of the side wall. The minor axial bore may be enclosed within the convex portion of the side wall. The tool further comprises inductive couplers disposed within the convex portion of the side wall. Alternatively, the inductive couplers may be disposed within the end connectors. The couplers are connected by a cable running through the minor axial bore.

Abstract: A telemetry tool assembly for exploiting subsurface fluids and minerals through well construction and production. The assembly comprises a tube comprising a bore and a bore wall and first end and a second end. The respective ends each comprise internal and external upset portions welded to a pin end tool joint or box end tool joint, respectively. The upset portions comprise an internal and external conical transition section intermediate the respective tool joints and the tube. The external conical transition section comprises at least one socket comprising a removeable cover and side and bottom surfaces within the external conical transition section. The socket and cover comprise a seal between the cover and socket side walls. A telemetry adapter comprising electrical equipment is disposed within the one or more sockets and the assembly comprises a wired drill pipe (WDP). The socket surfaces comprise a hardness greater than the transition section.

Abstract: A drill string tool comprising a tube comprising a bore and a bore wall having externally and internally upset end portions in the bore wall. The upset end portions comprising one or more axial grooves in the bore wall open to the bore of the tube. The upset end portions further comprising a conical weld surface comprising an annular shoulder. The one or more axial grooves may be formed in the upset portions subsequent to forming the internal upset. Or, the axial grooves may be formed using a die and an internal upset mandrel comprising one or more axial lobes when the internal upset is formed in the bore wall. The upset end portions of the tube may be attached by friction welding to pin end and box end tool joints. The pin end and box end tools joints may comprise a conical weld surface comprising an annular shoulder.

Abstract: An annular block of polymer comprising an inductive coupler assembly configured to fit within a groove in the shoulder of a drill pipe joint. The assembly comprises a ferrite channel arranged around the interior of the block. At least one turn of a conductive wire is deposed within the channel. The block comprises a bumper comprising jutting from the block. The block comprises internal void openings adjacent its vertical side surfaces. A void opening is disposed proximate the bumper. The block further comprises an internal gasket partially extending from the bottom surface of the block. The external portion of the gasket being formed to fit within a gasket seat in the bottom of the groove. The wire passes through the gasket as it exits the block. When the block is installed into the groove, the gasket seals the wire and the block's components from the downhole environment.

Abstract: A modified tubular system for use in connection with the recovery of subsurface minerals and fluids. The tubulars may include drill pipes, risers, production tubing, and tools integrated into such tubulars. Such tubulars may be interconnected using tool joints or threaded tubular sections. Some tool joints may comprise annular shoulders. The shoulders may comprise an annular groove for housing an inductive coupler that may include magnetically conductive electrically insulating (MCEI) trough and an electrically conductive coil laid within the trough. An axial passageway formed in the shoulder may open into the groove. The passageway may comprise flutes. The flutes maybe formed in the wall of the passageway or added to the passageway as an insert or as part of a passageway liner. A fluted transmission line may be disposed within the passageway. The transmission line and liner flutes may mate with the passageway flutes. The liner may be hardened.

Abstract: An inductive coupler and method for a downhole tool such as a drill pipe comprising an electrically conductive ingot cast into a magnetically conducting electrically insulating (MCEI) annular mold. The MCEI mold may comprise an annular channel comprising a first perforation and one or more second perforations. The ingot may comprise first and seconds with sockets proximate the respective ends. The first perforation may comprise an electrical connection to a ground pin in the downhole tool. The one or more second perforations may comprise electrical connections to a similarly configured ingot within the downhole tool and to electrical equipment within the drill pipe. The ingot may further comprise cleats and flutes. The ingot may comprise an annular passageway around the interior of the ingot. The ingot may be sealed within the channel and each of the perforation may comprise a seal insolating the electrical connections from the downhole environment.