Abstract: A lateral propulsion apparatus positioned onto a drillstring comprising a tubular housing, venturi nozzles, an impeller, and flow ports. The apparatus utilizes both the venturi effect as well as rotational forces to cause wellbore fluid to travel from an area of high pressure near a lower end toward an area of lower pressure near an upper end urging the apparatus further into a non-vertical wellbore.

Abstract: A rotor catch assembly for connection in a workstring in a wellbore is provided. The rotor catch assembly is connected to a downhole motor assembly that includes a rotor that is driven by a fluid. In the normal operating state of the rotor catch assembly, fluid flows through the catch assembly and causes the rotor to rotate. In this state, the catch assembly generates pressure pulses in the fluid in the workstring to facilitate advancement of the workstring in the wellbore. In the event of a failure of a mechanical connection in the motor assembly, the rotor catch assembly shifts to a catch-activated state in which the motor assembly is disabled.

Abstract: A driveshaft assembly comprises a cylindrical upper member, with one end of the upper member being connected to the rotor and an other end of the upper member having a plurality of torque transmitting profiles. An elongated central member has two ends, with each end having a plurality of torque transmitting profiles. A seat is retained within a central bore of the upper member, the seat having a curved end. A catch is retained within the central member, the catch having a curved end. The upper member transfers torque from the rotor to the central member via the torque transmitting profiles of the upper member and the torque transmitting profiles of the central member, and the curved end of the seat contacts the curved end of the catch while maintaining a gap between the other end of the upper member and the adjacent end of the central member.

Abstract: A lateral propulsion apparatus positioned onto a drillstring comprising a tubular housing, venturi nozzles, an impeller, and flow ports. The apparatus utilizes both the venturi effect as well as rotational forces to cause wellbore fluid to travel from an area of high pressure near a lower end toward an area of lower pressure near an upper end urging the apparatus further into a non-vertical wellbore.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating vibrations in a pipe string is disclosed. The device comprises a fluid pump which pumps fluid within a first fluid bore and is connected to the pipe string. A hydraulic pump pumps fluid within a second fluid bore and a movable plunger disposed between the first fluid bore and the second fluid bore intermittently opens and closes access to a tank based on changes to a pressure of the fluid pump. The tank for collecting at least a portion of the fluid is connected to the apparatus via the first fluid bore, and the movement of the plunger is configured to generate vibrations within the pipe string by altering the amount of fluid allowed to flow to the tank.

Abstract: A pressure actuated jarring apparatus includes a tubular housing, a piston, a spring element, and a seat. The tubular housing has a passage therethrough extending from an upper end to a lower end. The piston is disposed within the central bore and is movable axially between an inactivated state and an activated state. The spring element is configured to store energy to drive the piston from the activated state. The seat is coupled to the piston such that when a plug is seated in an orifice of the seat fluid is prevented from flowing through the orifice. The jarring device is fired by increasing pressure in the passage until the plug is forced through the seat, thereby releasing the energy in the spring element and driving the piston from the activated state so that it impacts an abutment and generates a jarring force.

Abstract: A venturi jet basket assembly adapted to be coupled to a tubing that extends into a wellbore includes a body and a jet nozzle subassembly. The body includes a wall that defines a passageway that extends longitudinally through the body. The body also includes an opening extending through the wall and into the passageway. The wall also includes a flute formed in an outer surface of the wall of the body. The flute is in fluid communication with the opening. The jet nozzle subassembly is disposed within the passageway and includes a jet nozzle. The jet nozzle is arranged to direct fluid received through the tubing through the opening and into the flute such that the fluid is guided into the wellbore by the flute.

Abstract: A pressure activated cyclical valve assembly includes a first sub, a second sub, a piston, and a biasing member. The first sub has a first passageway therethrough. The second sub is coupled to the first sub and has a second passageway therethrough. The piston is positioned within the second passageway and is shiftable between a deactivated position in which a bypass port is closed and an activated position in which the bypass port is open. The piston has a piston orifice and the first passageway is in fluid communication with the second passageway through the piston orifice. The biasing member exerts a force against the piston to maintain the piston in the deactivated position. The piston orifice is sized to restrict the flow of fluid therethrough such that the piston can be shifted between the deactivated and activated positions by changing flowrate of fluid in the first passageway.

Abstract: An apparatus for dampening vibrations in a drill string has a tubular housing with an upper sub connected to a first end, having a threaded connection for engagement with the pipe or drillstring. A piston is positioned in the bore of the tubular housing and longitudinally movable in the bore; the dimensions of the piston and bore permit limited fluid flow around the piston. Connected to the piston and extending out of the second end of the housing is a bottom sub. Mating and engaging profiles in the tubular housing and lower sub allow longitudinal movement between them, but no relative rotation. A spring member, which may be a mechanical spring, an elastomeric member, a compressed gas, or some combination thereof, biases the piston and lower sub out of the tubular housing.

Abstract: A bypass tool has a piston movable within the bore of a central housing. A control slot on an exterior wall of the piston engages a slot pin in the housing. Longitudinal movement of the piston is downward, in response to fluid pressure exerted on a ball seated on a ball seat on the piston; and spring biased upward. The control slot and slot pin rotate the piston as it moves longitudinally between a first, upper position in which bypass ports in the housing are closed, and a second, lower position in which the bypass ports are open. An intermediate longitudinal position has the ports closed, and permits pressuring up on a ball to force it through the ball seat and reset the tool in the flow through position. The ball and/or ball seat may be of resilient material to permit passage of the ball through the seat.

Abstract: A mechanically activated bypass valve apparatus for allowing fluid being pumped through the pipe or coiled tubing string to be bypassed around a tool string and into the wellbore. Activation of the bypass valve is accomplished by applying weight-on-bit to the apparatus to shear a set of shear screws, allowing the mandrel to move axially relative to the tubular housing. Lowering the pipe string and setting down weigh on bit misaligns fluid bypass ports in the mandrel and housing, thus forcing fluid to continue to flow through the bore of the tool and to the toolstring below the bypass tool. Picking up on the pipe string aligns corresponding ports in the mandrel and housing and allows fluid to flow from the bore of the tool to the wellbore annulus, thus bypassing other tools downhole of the apparatus.

Abstract: A friction reduction apparatus (FRA) positioned onto a pipe string comprises a tubular housing, upper and lower mandrels having variously configured fluid flow passages and ports, a valve and a shifter. Fluid travelling through the apparatus causes the valve and shifter to reciprocate, repeatedly opening and closing flow passages. Each of these cycles creates a pulse in the fluid column creating vibrations that reduce friction in the pipe string. The FRA can be used in conjunction with a ball or dart activated tool positioned downhole from the FRA.

Abstract: A rotor catch assembly for connection in a workstring in a wellbore is provided. The rotor catch assembly is connected to a downhole motor assembly that includes a rotor that is driven by a fluid. In the normal operating state of the rotor catch assembly, fluid flows through the catch assembly and causes the rotor to rotate. In this state, the catch assembly generates pressure pulses in the fluid in the workstring to facilitate advancement of the workstring in the wellbore. In the event of a failure of a mechanical connection in the motor assembly, the rotor catch assembly shifts to a catch-activated state in which the motor assembly is disabled.

Abstract: A downhole separation apparatus for releasing a pipe string from a bottom hole assembly is disclosed. The apparatus has a tubular collet body, a tubular bottom sub, and a piston collet positioned within the collet body. The collet piston has a plurality of collet fingers threadedly engaging an internal profile of the bottom sub. Separation is accomplished by pumping a circulation ball through the pipe string until it lands on a ball seat inside the collet piston. Increasing fluid pressure then shifts the piston collet axially downward within the collet body thereby causing the collet fingers to collapse to disengage the bottom hole assembly from the pipe string.

Abstract: A system for facilitating the connection of a first tubular to a second tubular used in the oil and gas exploration and extraction industries includes a tubular handling device having a body having a profile shaped to accept a first tubular into a throat area and opposing scissor plates with overlapping tips. The system further includes a tubular engagement apparatus to engage and raise a tubular to a vertical position, and a spider apparatus including a plurality of slip assemblies. The slip assemblies include a slip back with an inclined load bearing surface, and a slip with a load bearing surface in sliding abutment with the inclined load bearing surface of the slip back.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating vibrations in a pipe string is disclosed. The device comprises a fluid pump which pumps fluid within a first fluid bore and is connected to the pipe string. A hydraulic pump pumps fluid within a second fluid bore and a movable plunger disposed between the first fluid bore and the second fluid bore intermittently opens and closes access to a tank based on changes to a pressure of the fluid pump. The tank for collecting at least a portion of the fluid is connected to the apparatus via the first fluid bore, and the movement of the plunger is configured to generate vibrations within the pipe string by altering the amount of fluid allowed to flow to the tank.

Abstract: A method for assembly of a device is disclosed. The device comprises a quick connect apparatus that includes a first member having a male locking profile on an outer surface and a second member having a female locking profile on an inner surface. The method includes stabbing the second member onto the first member to fully seat the first member within the second member, rotating the second member relative to the first member to lock the male locking profile to the female locking profile, and engaging a second locking mechanism to restrict further rotation of the second member relative to the first member.

Abstract: A hydraulic percussive apparatus is disclosed for generating vibrating forces to a pipe string. The apparatus is attached to the pipe string a central bore through which fluid may be introduced into the apparatus. The apparatus has a tubular housing, an anvil surface with an irregularly profiled surface, and a rotor with an irregularly profiled hammer surface that is urged to move axially toward and away from the anvil surface. The rotor has a longitudinally extending fluid bore and a tangentially oriented fluid port in communication with the longitudinal fluid bore of the rotor. Fluid entering the rotor's fluid bore and exiting the rotor's tangentially oriented fluid port rotates the rotor, and thus the irregularly profiled hammer surface on the irregularly profiled anvil surface, moving the hammer surface toward and away from the anvil producing intermittent impact forces.

Abstract: A driveshaft assembly comprises a cylindrical upper member, with one end of the upper member being connected to the rotor and an other end of the upper member having a plurality of torque transmitting profiles. An elongated central member has two ends, with each end having a plurality of torque transmitting profiles. A seat is retained within a central bore of the upper member, the seat having a curved end. A catch is retained within the central member, the catch having a curved end. The upper member transfers torque from the rotor to the central member via the torque transmitting profiles of the upper member and the torque transmitting profiles of the central member, and the curved end of the seat contacts the curved end of the catch while maintaining a gap between the other end of the upper member and the adjacent end of the central member.