Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.

Abstract: Methods for the in-situ application of coating agent to production tubing within wellbores using plunger lift systems are provided herein. One method includes shutting in the wellbore, pressurizing the production tubing to displace fluids from the production tubing, and dropping a plunger from the surface into the production tubing such that the plunger travels toward the bottom of the production tubing until landing on a bumper spring. The method also includes pumping a predetermined amount of the coating agent from the surface into the production tubing such that the coating agent flows to the bottom of the production tubing and settles on top of the plunger and utilizing the differential pressure between the production tubing and the annulus to return the plunger and the coating agent to the surface, where the coating agent is applied to the inner diameter of the production tubing as it flows toward the surface.

Abstract: The hydrocarbon wells include a radioactive tracer system, a production conduit, a lift gas supply conduit, a lift gas supply system configured to provide a lift gas stream to the lift gas supply conduit, and one or more gas lift valves each being configured to selectively permit lift gas to enter the production conduit and mix with reservoir liquid therein to generate a produced fluid stream. The radioactive tracer system is configured to inject a radioactive tracer into the lift gas stream and to detect the radioactive tracer within the produced fluid stream. The methods include injecting the radioactive tracer into the lift gas stream, flowing the radioactive tracer through an open gas lift valve into the production conduit, mixing the radioactive tracer with the reservoir liquid to generate a tracer-marked liquid band within the produced fluid stream, and detecting radiation from the tracer-marked liquid band.

Abstract: Downhole tools and methods for detecting a downhole obstruction within a wellbore. The downhole tools include a positioning mechanism, which is configured to facilitate positioning of the downhole tool within a target region of a wellbore of a hydrocarbon well, an acoustic pulse generator, which is configured to generate an acoustic pulse within a wellbore liquid that extends within the wellbore and fluidly contacts the downhole tool, and a sensor assembly, which is configured to detect a reflected acoustic pulse within the wellbore liquid. The methods include positioning a downhole tool within a target region of a wellbore, generating an acoustic pulse, propagating the acoustic pulse within a wellbore liquid, and reflecting the acoustic pulse from a downhole obstruction. The methods also include propagating a reflected acoustic pulse within the wellbore liquid, receiving the reflected acoustic pulse, and characterizing the downhole obstruction based upon the reflected acoustic pulse.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells and methods of probing a subsurface region of the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore, a downhole sensor storage structure, and a detection structure. The wellbore may extend within a subsurface region and between a surface region and a downhole end region. The downhole sensor storage structure is configured to release a flowable sensor into a wellbore fluid that extends within the wellbore, and the flowable sensor may be configured to collect sensor data indicative of at least one property of the subsurface region. The detection structure may be configured to query the flowable sensor to determine the at least one property of the subsurface region. The methods include releasing a flowable sensor, collecting sensor data with the flowable sensor, and querying the flowable sensor.

Abstract: Systems and a method are provided for protecting a gas lift valve (GLV) from erosion. An example system includes a gas lift valve that includes an unloading protection orifice, and wherein the unloading protection orifice unloading protection orifice includes a different open area than a valve seat in the gas lift valve.

Abstract: Methods for the in-situ application of coating agent to production tubing within wellbores using plunger lift systems are provided herein. One method includes shutting in the wellbore, pressurizing the production tubing to displace fluids from the production tubing, and dropping a plunger from the surface into the production tubing such that the plunger travels toward the bottom of the production tubing until landing on a bumper spring. The method also includes pumping a predetermined amount of the coating agent from the surface into the production tubing such that the coating agent flows to the bottom of the production tubing and settles on top of the plunger and utilizing the differential pressure between the production tubing and the annulus to return the plunger and the coating agent to the surface, where the coating agent is applied to the inner diameter of the production tubing as it flows toward the surface.

Abstract: A plunger lift system, as well as a method for monitoring plunger parameters within a wellbore using such a plunger lift system, are provided. The plunger lift system includes a lubricator attached to a wellhead at the surface and a plunger dimensioned to travel through the production tubing upon being released from the lubricator. The plunger lift system also includes magnetic sensor systems installed along the production tubing, where each magnetic sensor system includes a magnetic sensor for detecting the passage of the plunger as it travels through the production tubing, as well a communication device for transmitting communication signals between the magnetic sensor systems and a computing system located at the surface, where the computing system includes a processor and a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that direct the processor to dynamically determine the plunger position and/or velocity based on the received communication signals.

Abstract: A self-adjusting gas lift system and corresponding self-adjusting gas lift valve (GLV) are described herein. The self-adjusting gas lift system includes a number of self-adjusting GLVs that fluidically couple an annulus of a well to an interior of a production tubing of the well. Each of the self-adjusting GLVs is configured to open to allow a compressed gas to flow from the annulus to the interior of the production tubing when a pressure differential between an injection pressure of the compressed gas within the annulus and a production pressure of fluids within the production tubing is within an engineered range. Each of the self-adjusting GLVs is also configured to close when the pressure differential is outside the engineered range.

Abstract: Methods of completing a hydrocarbon well. The methods include establishing a first fluid seal with an isolation device, forming a first perforation with a perforation device, and fracturing a first zone of a subsurface region with a pressurizing fluid stream. The methods also include moving the isolation device and the perforation device in an uphole direction within a tubular conduit of a downhole tubular that extends within a wellbore of the hydrocarbon well. Subsequent to the moving, the methods further include repeating the establishing to establish a second fluid seal, repeating the forming to form a second perforation with the perforation device, and repeating the fracturing to fracture a second zone of the subsurface region.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) monitoring system is described herein. The ESP monitoring system includes a base monitoring unit and a discharge monitoring unit that are communicably coupled via a ground path. The discharge monitoring unit is hydraulically coupled to the pump discharge and is configured to measure a discharge parameter relating to the pump discharge and transmit data corresponding to the discharge parameter to the base monitoring unit via the ground path. The base monitoring unit is electrically connected to the motor of the ESP system and is configured to measure a base parameter relating to the motor and/or the pump intake, receive the transmitted data corresponding to the discharge parameter from the discharge monitoring unit, combine the data corresponding to the discharge parameter and the data corresponding to the base parameter, and transmit the combined data to an ESP surface unit via an ESP power cable.

Abstract: A self-destructible frac ball is described herein. The self-destructible frac ball is configured to seal a hydraulic flow path through a fluid conduit of a frac plug when engaged on a ball seat of the frac plug. The self-destructible frac ball includes an activation mechanism configured to activate a destructive medium in response to the satisfaction of at least one predetermined condition. The self-destructible frac ball also includes the destructive medium, which is configured to destroy the self-destructible frac ball and a corresponding destructible ball retainer when activated by the activation mechanism. The destruction of the self-destructible frac ball and the corresponding destructible ball retainer reestablishes the hydraulic flow path through the fluid conduit of the frac plug.

Abstract: The hydrocarbon wells include a radioactive tracer system, a production conduit, a lift gas supply conduit, a lift gas supply system configured to provide a lift gas stream to the lift gas supply conduit, and one or more gas lift valves each being configured to selectively permit lift gas to enter the production conduit and mix with reservoir liquid therein to generate a produced fluid stream. The radioactive tracer system is configured to inject a radioactive tracer into the lift gas stream and to detect the radioactive tracer within the produced fluid stream. The methods include injecting the radioactive tracer into the lift gas stream, flowing the radioactive tracer through an open gas lift valve into the production conduit, mixing the radioactive tracer with the reservoir liquid to generate a tracer-marked liquid band within the produced fluid stream, and detecting radiation from the tracer-marked liquid band.

Abstract: A method of operating a reciprocating system including a rod pump for pumping liquids from a wellbore. The method includes determining rod position of the rod pump using a wave-based technology detector, the rod pump comprising a rod string carrying a down hole pump and a drive system including a drive motor coupled to the rod string through a transmission unit; communicating rod position to a data acquisition system receiving one or more other measurements of rod pump operation to determine rod pump performance; and adjusting at least one operating parameter to enhance rod pump performance. A method of determining operating parameters and optimizing performance of an oil or gas production rod pump, and a system for determining rod position of an oil or gas production rod pump are also provided.

Abstract: A lock mandrel is described herein. The lock mandrel includes an upper connector and a lower connector. The upper connector includes locking keys configured to attach the lock mandrel to a landing nipple on a tubing within a hydrocarbon well. The upper connector also includes a spring-loaded locking collar configured to prevent the locking keys from disengaging from the landing nipple by pressing radially against the locking keys from the inside when in a seated position, and allow the locking keys to disengage from the landing nipple by retracting away from the locking keys when in an unseated position. The lower connector includes a tool adaptor configured to attach a downhole tool to the lock mandrel.

Abstract: Downhole plugs including a sensor, hydrocarbon wells including the downhole plugs, and methods of operating the hydrocarbon wells. The downhole plugs include a sealing structure, an actuation mechanism, and the sensor. The actuation mechanism is configured to selectively transition the sealing structure between a disengaged state, in which the downhole plug is free to move within a tubular conduit of a downhole tubular of the hydrocarbon well, and an engaged state, in which the sealing structure operatively engages with the downhole tubular, forms a fluid seal with the downhole tubular, and resists motion of the downhole plug within the tubular conduit. The sensor is configured to detect a sensed parameter within the tubular conduit and to generate a sensor signal indicative of the sensed parameter.

Abstract: In some examples, an electric submersible pump includes a pump, an electric motor to drive the pump, and a controller. The controller can monitor at one or more terminals of the electric motor a value relating to total harmonic distortion. The controller can also determine whether to de-rate the electric motor in response to the monitoring at the one or more terminals of the electric motor of the value relating to the total harmonic distortion.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells including gas lift valves and methods of providing gas lift in a hydrocarbon well. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore extending within a subsurface region and a downhole tubular extending within the wellbore. The downhole tubular defines a tubular conduit, and the wellbore and the downhole tubular define an annular space therebetween. The hydrocarbon wells also include a lift gas supply system configured to provide a lift gas stream to the annular space and a closure material supply system configured to provide a closure material stream to the annular space. The hydrocarbon wells further includes a gas lift valve operatively attached to the downhole tubular. The gas lift valve includes a lift gas injection conduit and an actuation mechanism. The actuation mechanism selectively transitions to a closed state responsive to contact with the closure material. The methods include methods of operating the hydrocarbon wells.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells and associated methods that utilize radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and flowable interrogators to interrogate the hydrocarbon wells are provided. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore, a downhole tubular that defines a tubular conduit and extends within the wellbore, and a plurality of RFID tags. The hydrocarbon wells also include a downhole interrogator storage structure that includes a plurality of flowable interrogators and a well-side communication device. Methods of operating the hydrocarbon wells are also provided.

Abstract: Pump-through standing valves, wells including the pump-through standing valves, and methods of utilizing a pump-through standing valve to deploy a downhole device are disclosed herein. The pump-through standing valves include a valve body, a standing valve at least partially formed within the valve body, and a flow-through valve at least partially formed within the valve body. The standing valve includes a standing valve fluid conduit and a standing valve flow control device. The flow-through valve includes a flow-through valve fluid conduit and a flow-through valve flow control device. The wells include a wellbore, which extends within a subterranean formation, a wellbore tubular, which extends within the wellbore, and the pump-through standing valve, which is operatively attached to the wellbore tubular.