Abstract: A liner deployment assembly (LDA) for use in a wellbore includes: a crossover tool. The crossover tool includes: a seal for engaging a tubular string cemented into the wellbore; a tubular housing carrying the seal and having bypass ports straddling the seal; a mandrel having a bore therethrough and a port in fluid communication with the mandrel bore, the mandrel movable relative to the housing between a bore position where the mandrel port is isolated from the bypass ports and a bypass position where the mandrel port is aligned with one of the bypass ports; a bypass chamber formed between the housing and the mandrel and extending above and below the seal; and a control module. The control module includes: an electronics package; and an actuator in communication with the electronics package and operable to move the mandrel between the positions.

Abstract: A system for operating a downhole tool includes a tag carrier; a RFID tag coupled with the tag carrier; and a control sub having a bore extending therethrough, the control sub comprising: an antenna located adjacent to the bore; and a stop for catching the tag carrier, wherein: the radio frequency identification tag is coupled with the tag carrier in relation to the stop and the antenna such that the radio frequency identification tag is aligned with the antenna when the tag carrier is caught in the stop, and the stop is operable to allow passage of the tag carrier through the stop after the tag carrier is caught by the stop.

Abstract: A system for operating a downhole tool includes a tag carrier; a RFID tag coupled with the tag carrier; and a control sub having a bore extending therethrough, the control sub comprising: an antenna located adjacent to the bore; and a stop for catching the tag carrier, wherein: the radio frequency identification tag is coupled with the tag carrier in relation to the stop and the antenna such that the radio frequency identification tag is aligned with the antenna when the tag carrier is caught in the stop, and the stop is operable to allow passage of the tag carrier through the stop after the tag carrier is caught by the stop.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for expanding an anchoring device in a borehole. In one aspect, an anchoring device is provided. The anchoring device includes an expandable tubular. The anchoring device further includes a plurality of bands disposed on an outer surface of the expandable tubular. Each band is attached to the tubular at a first connection point and a second connection point, wherein each band is configured to bow radially outward as the expandable tubular shortens in length in response to the expansion of the tubular. In a further aspect, a method of attaching an anchoring device in a borehole is provided.

Abstract: A connection between two wellbore components includes a male portion with sets of male formations formed on an outer surface and male knobs disposed around the outer surface. A female portion has mating sets of female formations formed on an inner surface thereof, with each set separated by a female gap and female knobs disposed around the inner surface. Each male gap is wider than each female formation and each female gap is wider than each male formation. The male and female portions can be mated together in a manner whereby the male sets occupy female gaps and the female sets occupy the male gaps and, thereafter, the male portion is rotatable in a counterclockwise direction relative to the female portion to interconnect the male and female formations, thereby preventing axial movement of one portion relative to the other portion.

Abstract: A holding device having release mechanisms for securing and releasing one or more ball, dart, and/or plug members from the holding device into a tubular string disposed in a wellbore. The release mechanisms may include a planetary gear arrangement for extending and retracting a plunger member disposed below the ball, dart, and/or plug members. The release mechanisms may include a bevel gear arrangement for extending and retracting a finger support member disposed below the ball, dart, and/or plug members. The release mechanisms may include a pivotable, spring type arrangement for extending and retracting a finger support member disposed below the ball, dart, and/or plug members.

Abstract: A plug release system for cementing a tubular string into a wellbore includes: a wiper plug; a tubular housing; a latch for releasably connecting the wiper plug to the housing. The latch includes: a fastener engageable with one of the wiper plug and the housing; a lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock keeping the fastener engaged in the locked position; and an actuator connected to the lock and operable to at least move the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position. The plug release system further includes an electronics package disposed in the housing and in communication with the actuator for operating the actuator in response to receiving a command signal.

Abstract: An apparatus for gripping a tubular for use with a top drive includes a connector at one end for rotationally fixing the apparatus relative to the top drive; one or more gripping members at a second end for gripping the tubular; an actuator configured to move and hold the gripping members in contact with the tubular; and a lock coupled to the connector for preventing the apparatus and the top drive from rotating independently of one another.

Abstract: A plug release system for cementing a tubular string into a wellbore includes: a wiper plug; a tubular housing; a latch for releasably connecting the wiper plug to the housing. The latch includes: a fastener engageable with one of the wiper plug and the housing; a lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock keeping the fastener engaged in the locked position; and an actuator connected to the lock and operable to at least move the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position. The plug release system further includes an electronics package disposed in the housing and in communication with the actuator for operating the actuator in response to receiving a command signal.

Abstract: A system for operating a downhole tool includes a tag carrier; a RFID tag coupled with the tag carrier; and a control sub having a bore extending therethrough, the control sub comprising: an antenna located adjacent to the bore; and a stop for catching the tag carrier, wherein: the radio frequency identification tag is coupled with the tag carrier in relation to the stop and the antenna such that the radio frequency identification tag is aligned with the antenna when the tag carrier is caught in the stop, and the stop is operable to allow passage of the tag carrier through the stop after the tag carrier is caught by the stop.

Abstract: A connection between two wellbore components includes a male portion with a plurality of sets of male formations formed on an outer surface and a plurality of male knobs disposed around the outer surface, each knob adjacent a set of the male formations. A female portion has a plurality of mating sets of female formations formed on an inner surface thereof with each set separated by a female gap and a plurality of female knobs disposed around the inner surface, each knob adjacent a set of the female formations. Each male gap is wider than each female formation and each female gap is wider than each male formation wherein the male and female portions can be mated together in a manner whereby the male sets occupy female gaps and the female sets occupy the male gaps and, thereafter, the male portion is rotatable in a counterclockwise direction relative to the female portion to interconnect the male and female formations, thereby preventing axial movement of one portion relative to the other portion.

Abstract: A plug release system for cementing a tubular string into a wellbore includes: a wiper plug; a tubular housing; a latch for releasably connecting the wiper plug to the housing. The latch includes: a fastener engageable with one of the wiper plug and the housing; a lock movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the lock keeping the fastener engaged in the locked position; and an actuator connected to the lock and operable to at least move the lock from the locked position to the unlocked position. The plug release system further includes an electronics package disposed in the housing and in communication with the actuator for operating the actuator in response to receiving a command signal.

Abstract: A method of lining a wellbore includes deploying a BHA into the wellbore using a conveyance. The BHA includes setting tool, an anchor, and an expandable tubular. The method further includes pressurizing a bore of the setting tool, thereby releasing the anchor from the setting tool. The method further includes pulling the conveyance, thereby: extending the anchor into engagement with a casing of the wellbore, pulling an expander of the setting tool through the expandable tubular, and expanding the tubular into engagement with an open and/or cased portion of the wellbore and retracting the anchor.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for expanding an expandable tubular assembly in a borehole. In one aspect, a system for expanding a tubular having an anchor portion in a borehole is provided. The system includes a running tool configured to position the tubular in the borehole. The running tool including a first expander configured to activate the anchor portion by expanding the tubular to a first diameter. The system further includes a second expander configured to expand the tubular to a second larger diameter, wherein the second expander is movable between a retracted position and an expanded position. In another aspect, a method of expanding a tubular having an anchor portion in a borehole is provided.

Abstract: A liner deployment assembly (LDA) for use in a wellbore includes: a crossover tool. The crossover tool includes: a seal for engaging a tubular string cemented into the wellbore; a tubular housing carrying the seal and having bypass ports straddling the seal; a mandrel having a bore therethrough and a port in fluid communication with the mandrel bore, the mandrel movable relative to the housing between a bore position where the mandrel port is isolated from the bypass ports and a bypass position where the mandrel port is aligned with one of the bypass ports; a bypass chamber formed between the housing and the mandrel and extending above and below the seal; and a control module. The control module includes: an electronics package; and an actuator in communication with the electronics package and operable to move the mandrel between the positions.

Abstract: A holding device having release mechanisms for securing and releasing one or more ball, dart, and/or plug members from the holding device into a tubular string disposed in a wellbore. The release mechanisms may include a planetary gear arrangement for extending and retracting a plunger member disposed below the ball, dart, and/or plug members. The release mechanisms may include a bevel gear arrangement for extending and retracting a finger support member disposed below the ball, dart, and/or plug members. The release mechanisms may include a pivotable, spring type arrangement for extending and retracting a finger support member disposed below the ball, dart, and/or plug members.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to tools and methods for hanging and/or expanding liner strings. In one embodiment, a method of hanging a liner assembly from a previously installed tubular in a wellbore includes running the liner assembly and a setting tool into the wellbore using a run-in string. The setting tool includes an isolation valve and the liner assembly includes a liner hanger and a liner string. The method further includes sending an instruction signal from the surface to the isolation valve, wherein the isolation valve closes in response to the instruction signal and isolates a setting pressure in the setting tool from the liner string; and increasing fluid pressure in the setting tool, thereby setting the liner hanger.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for running tubulars into and out of a wellbore.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to tools and methods for hanging and/or expanding liner strings. In one embodiment, a method of hanging a liner assembly from a previously installed tubular in a wellbore includes running the liner assembly and a setting tool into the wellbore using a run-in string. The setting tool includes an isolation valve and the liner assembly includes a liner hanger and a liner string. The method further includes sending an instruction signal from the surface to the isolation valve, wherein the isolation valve closes in response to the instruction signal and isolates a setting pressure in the setting tool from the liner string; and increasing fluid pressure in the setting tool, thereby setting the liner hanger.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for running tubulars into and out of a wellbore. A tubular handling system having a tubular gripping apparatus having a gripping mechanism and a sensor adapted to track movement of the gripping mechanism, wherein the sensor sends a signal to a controller when the gripping apparatus is in a position that corresponds to the gripping apparatus being engaged with the tubular.