Abstract: Systems and methods for initiating an emergency disconnect sequence (EDS) are provided. In an aspect, a disconnection system is provided and configured to initiate the EDS, and includes a controller including a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The controller receives, from a set of motion reference units (MRU(s)) operably coupled to a flexible joint, position data generated by the set of motion references units and associated with the joint when the joint is operably coupled to and disposed between a drilling riser and a lower marine riser package (LMRP). The controller determines, based on the position data, an angular offset of the joint. The controller sends, to a subsea control pod disposed at or adjacent to the LMRP, a trigger signal in response to determining that the angular offset exceeds a predetermined threshold, such that the subsea control pod initiates the EDS.

Abstract: A system includes a memory configured to store a first acoustic profile associated with a device. The first acoustic profile includes at least two of the following acoustic characteristics: frequency, amplitude, and time. The system further includes a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and an acoustic sensor. The processor is configured to receive, from the acoustic sensor, an acoustic signal comprising one or more of the frequency and amplitude, compare the received acoustic signal to the first acoustic profile, and determine that the received acoustic signal matches the first acoustic profile based on the comparison of the received acoustic signal to the first acoustic profile.

Abstract: A mud pulse telemetry tool includes a dampener for reducing shock and vibration. The mud pulse telemetry tool includes a housing having a shoulder formed along an inner surface thereof, the housing including an orifice formed therein. A piston assembly is longitudinally movable in the housing between a retracted position and an extended position. The piston assembly includes a poppet disposable in the orifice in the extended position and a piston connected to the poppet. The dampener is disposed longitudinally between the piston and the shoulder, the piston being movable in contact with the dampener when the piston assembly is in the extended position.

Abstract: A system for measuring conditions in a wellbore includes tubing extending into the wellbore. A high power laser having a power greater than 1 kW is operable to deliver a light to a first fiber optic cable. The first fiber optic cable extends axially along a fist surface portion of the tubing and has at least one signal generation gauge located at a predetermined location for producing a generated acoustic signal that propagates outward from the generation gauge and through the tubing. A second fiber optic cable extends axially along a second surface portion of the tubing and is operable to receive a resulting signal of the generated acoustic signal so that wellbore parameters proximate to the predetermined location can be determined. The second fiber optic cable is spaced apart from the first fiber optic cable and is operable to transmit data of the resulting signal to a receiver.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for automatically evaluating slurry properties includes a down-hole measurement device configured to be lowered into slurry provided in an excavated hole, the measurement device comprising an outer housing, a flow pump, a flow meter, and a differential pressure sensor, wherein the flow pump is configured to pump slurry through the flow meter, the flow meter is configured to measure a flow rate of the pumped slurry, and the differential pressure sensor is configured to measure a difference in pressure between the pumped slurry and the slurry outside of the measurement device.

Abstract: In described examples, there are systems and methods for deployment in proximity to an abandoned well. The systems and methods may allow use of data collected from an abandoned well, in which a sensor is positioned in the open hole section, or a well having a discontinuous metallic well structure. In some examples, there is described a communication system that is configured to be deployed in an abandoned well having a discontinuous metallic well structure that may be severed below a ground region.

Abstract: Apparatus (100) for use in sensing temperature along a wellbore, comprising: tubing (110) comprising at least 6 temperature sensor modules (120) provided at locations along the inside of the tubing, each temperature sensor module comprising a temperature sensor comprising a crystal oscillator having an electrical oscillation frequency that varies with temperature; the tubing having an external diameter of less than 14 mm at the location of at least 6 temperature sensor modules.

Abstract: A system, includes a first sensor configured to monitor a first characteristic of drilling fluid and generate a first indication based on the monitoring. The system also includes a second sensor configured to monitor a second characteristic of drilling fluid and generate a second indication based on the monitoring. The system further includes a processor configured to correlate the first indication with the second indication to generate a baseline value indicative of a characteristic of a well.

Abstract: A near-bit wireless constant current short-distance transmission device has an emission part and a receiving part. The emission part modulates a signal and then wirelessly transmits the modulated signal to the receiving part. The emission part transmits an emission signal into a stratum according to a set rated emission constant current value, and dynamically monitors and adjusts the rated emission constant current value of the emission signal to obtain stable emission power.

Abstract: A fibre sensing apparatus (100) comprises an interrogation unit (104) to interrogate a sensing fibre with optical radiation, and to detect an optical signal returned from the fibre, and processing circuitry (114). A portion of the fibre may be excited with a test signal. The processing circuitry comprises an assessment module (115) to analyse the optical signal returned from the excited portion of fibre, and to determine at least one operational characteristic of the apparatus based on the detected optical signal.

Abstract: A downhole communications system comprises a power generator disposed proximate a predetermined portion of a side pocket mandrel in such a way as to not impede fluid flow within a wellbore into which the side pocket mandrel is disposed and a wireless communications transmitter operatively in communication with the power generator. Placed at least partially within a side pocket mandrel, the system allows fluid flowing proximate the side pocket mandrel to engage the power generator to create electric energy which may be used to power the wireless communications transmitter and allow data interchange between the wireless communications transmitter and a predetermined well device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatus and methods are described for purposes of initiating a response to detection of an adverse operational condition involving a system including a drill rig and an inground tool. The response can be based on an uphole sensed parameter in combination with a downhole sensed parameter. The adverse operational condition can involve cross-bore detection, frac-out detection, excessive downhole pressure, a plugged jet indication and drill string key-holing detection. A communication system includes an inground communication link that allows bidirectional communication between a walkover detector and the drill rig via the inground tool. Monitoring of inground tool depth and/or lateral movement can be performed using techniques that approach integrated values. Bit force based auto-carving is described in the context of an automated procedure.

Abstract: An azimuthal acoustic LWD apparatus is sequentially provided with a centralizer, a transmitting circuit, transmitting transducers, an acoustic insulator, a receiving transducer array, ultrasonic transducers and a receiving circuit on a drill collar. The azimuthal acoustic LWD apparatus is capable of operating in a dipole mode or a unipole mode, to cover all the sectors around a wellbore by adopting a fixed time interval measurement mode or an alternating time interval measurement mode according to a relationship of an interval between measurement times and a rotation speed of the apparatus, thereby achieving azimuthal acoustic LWD. This apparatus overcomes problems that the fixed time interval measurement mode may not cover all the sectors and further may not achieve azimuthal acoustic imaging in a case where the rotation speed and the interval between measurement times are under certain conditions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for sealing a wellbore are described. The system includes a packing element configured to at least partially seal an uphole portion of a wellbore from a downhole portion of the wellbore. A first annular pressure sensor is positioned uphole of the packing element. The first annular pressure sensor is configured to measure a first pressure within the wellbore uphole of the packing element. A second annular pressure sensor is positioned downhole of the packing element. The second annular pressure sensor is configured to measure a second pressure within the wellbore downhole of the packing element. A control sub-assembly is configured to be positioned within the wellbore. The control sub-assembly is configured to monitor a sealing efficiency of the system by comparing the first pressure and the second pressure.

Abstract: A test installation for simulating multiple reflections of GNSS signals, the installation including a bottom screen that is reflective in the radio frequency spectrum; a top screen above the bottom screen, wherein the top screen is partly transparent in a radio frequency spectrum, and wherein the top screen is substantially dome-shaped and has a height of 1 to 3 meters; and a GNSS antenna between the top screen and the bottom screen; wherein the test installation is configured to measure the GNSS signals received by the antenna and to simulate the multipath reflections.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a method of calculating fluid distribution from a hydraulically fractured well, especially during a plug-and-perf hydraulic fracturing operation. The Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) data is used to quantify the fluid distribution in separate perf clusters during fracturing, and the result can be used for completion design and optimization, hydraulic fracturing, and ultimately for oil and gas production.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a method of calculating fluid distribution from a hydraulically fractured well, especially during a plug-and-perf hydraulic fracturing operation. The Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) data is used to quantify the fluid distribution in separate perf clusters during fracturing, and the result can be used for completion design and optimization, hydraulic fracturing, and ultimately for oil and gas production.

Abstract: A wellbore servicing tool comprising a housing comprising one or more ports and generally defining a flow passage, an actuator disposed within the housing, a magnetic signature system (MSS) comprising a magnetic sensor in signal communication with an electronic circuit disposed within the housing and coupled to the actuator, and a sleeve slidably positioned within the housing and transitional from a first position to a second position, wherein, the sleeve is allowed to transition from the first position to the second position upon actuation of the actuator, and wherein the actuator is actuated upon recognition of a predetermined quantity of predetermined magnetic pulse signatures via the MSS.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying power at the surface and in a wellbore may include a downhole tool conveyed into the wellbore and a battery bank conveyed by the downhole tool. The battery bank may include a plurality of battery cells, wherein at least two cells of the plurality of battery cells have substantially different power responses to a change in an ambient temperature at the downhole tool.

Abstract: An energy storage system is disclosed. The energy storage system comprises an energy storage device configured to operate above ambient temperature, and a thermal insulator at least partially surrounding the energy storage device, wherein heat losses from one or more other devices are received within the thermal insulator to provide heat energy to the energy storage device. Utilizing heat losses from one or more other devices, such as associated electronic components, enables the energy storage device to be maintained at its elevated operational temperature for longer providing extended battery life. In the application of wireline logging, this results in more data log available per trip in a well.

Abstract: A system and method to intelligently group seismic interpretation data, retrieved from an interpretation workflow, in an inventory tree based upon processing history records automatically captured during generation of volume and horizon datasets. As new volume and horizon datasets are created during the interpretation workflow, the relationships between the datasets are stored within system records. Inventory trees are then generated and/or updated based upon these records to intuitively display the relationships between the volume and horizon datasets.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for fault detection and tolerance in a downhole tool string are provided. If a fault is detected in an electrical path between tools of downhole tool string, one or more switches of a fault detection and tolerance circuit may be kept open to isolate the fault in an electrical path between tools of downhole tool string. If a fault is not detected, one or more switches of a fault detection and tolerance circuit may be closed to enable the transmission of signals on the electrical path. In some embodiments of fault detection and tolerance circuits, an additional one or more switches may be kept open to isolate the fault in electronics of the tool.

Abstract: A system and method for determining the depth to the top surface of a fluid contained in a hydrocarbon well generates a pressure pulse which travels down the casing to the fluid and receives a returning pressure pulse. The system and method may measure the decay rate or pulse width of the returning pressure pulse and not necessarily require the measurement of the time between the emission of the pressure pulse and the detection of the return pulse to ascertain the depth to the fluid.

Abstract: A linear wireless sensor network includes network nodes having monotonically varying network node identifiers along each branch of the network. The network identifiers enable the nodes to forward network packets without use of routing tables. Low duty cycle wireless communication protocols enable network packets to be routed to all nodes of very large networks while consuming very little electrical power. Broadcast, rather than unicast, transmissions between nodes take advantage of favorable signal propagation conditions to forward messages using largest possible hops, skipping over nodes when possible, as well as automatically adapting to time- or spatially-varying conditions. A group of network packets is broadcast and forwarded by a most distant receiving node that received all packets of the group. A receiving node's clock is automatically adjusted, based on which packet(s) of a group of packets was received. A sending node synchronizes near-by receiving nodes.

Abstract: A linear wireless sensor network includes network nodes having monotonically varying network node identifiers along each branch of the network. The network identifiers enable the nodes to forward network packets without use of routing tables. Low duty cycle wireless communication protocols enable network packets to be routed to all nodes of very large networks while consuming very little electrical power. Broadcast, rather than unicast, transmissions between nodes take advantage of favorable signal propagation conditions to forward messages using largest possible hops, skipping over nodes when possible, as well as automatically adapting to time- or spatially- varying conditions. A group of network packets is broadcast and forwarded by a most distant receiving node that received all packets of the group. A receiving node's clock is automatically adjusted, based on which packet(s) of a group of packets was received. A sending node synchronizes near-by receiving nodes.

Abstract: Defects in ferromagnetic materials are detected and characterized by analyzing the items' magnetic fields to find portions of the magnetic fields that differ in characteristic ways from residual magnetic fields generated by non-defective portions of the items. The portions of the magnetic fields that differ in the characteristic ways correspond to locations of the defects. The residual magnetic fields correspond to portions of the items distant from the defects. The defect characterization may include volume of material lost due to each defect and/or width and/or depth of each defect.

Abstract: A wellbore servicing tool comprising a housing comprising one or more ports and generally defining a flow passage, an actuator disposed within the housing, a magnetic signature system (MSS) comprising a magnetic sensor in signal communication with an electronic circuit disposed within the housing and coupled to the actuator, and a sleeve slidably positioned within the housing and transitional from a first position to a second position, wherein, the sleeve is allowed to transition from the first position to the second position upon actuation of the actuator, and wherein the actuator is actuated upon recognition of a predetermined quantity of predetermined magnetic pulse signatures via the MSS.

Abstract: Downhole electrical power generation apparatus and methods of using stored pressurized gas and/or ambient downhole pressure. One example comprises first and second fluid receiving chambers, a fluid communication path for allowing flow of fluid from the first chamber via the fluid communication path to the second chamber and a turbine generator disposed so that fluid flowing from the first chamber via the fluid communications path to the second chamber operates the turbine generator to generate electrical power.

Abstract: A downhole assembly including a turbine to be disposed within a wellbore and a rotating array. The rotating array includes magnetic material and is coupled to the turbine. The downhole assembly also includes a magnetostrictive material coupled to the rotating array to strain the magnetostrictive material to induce an electric current in a conductor coupled to the magnetostrictive material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for in-situ wellbore measurements wherein the apparatus includes one or more sensors arranged outside a wellbore, one or more actuators associated with the sensors, a wireless instrument unit situated outside the non-magnetic portion of wellbore conduit, and an electromagnetic transceiver situated inside a non-magnetic portion of wellbore conduit and mounted on an electric-line logging cable, each of the wireless instrument unit and the transceiver have a transmission antenna and a spaced apart receiver antenna, each transmission antenna disposed to be positioned to oppose through the non-magnetic casing a receiver antenna to form a phase-locked loop that verifies the relative positions of the transceiver and wireless instrument unit.

Abstract: An automated method of characterizing distortion detected by equalization on a channel of a network is provided. Equalization stress of an observed channel equalization response of an end device of the network is estimated, and equalization stress is calculated for a theoretical channel equalization response of the end device mathematically based on the observed channel equalization response and a theoretical removal of a suspected impairment from the network. The above referenced calculating step is separately repeated for each of a plurality of suspected impairments stored in a database of suspected impairments. A highest ranking suspected dominant impairment is determined from the database of suspected impairments such that removal of the highest ranking suspected dominant impairment from the network would provide a greatest reduction of equalization stress of a channel equalization response of the end device.

Abstract: A communications module and methods for downhole operations having utility with production of hydrocarbon fluids from a wellbore, including at least one alternate flow channel and an electrical circuit. Generally, the electrical circuit is pre-programmed to (i) receive a signal and, in response to the received signal, deliver an actuating command signal. The communications module further has a transmitter-receiver. The communications module allows a downhole tool to be actuated within a completion interval of a wellbore without providing an electric line or a working string from the surface. The tool may be actuated in response to a reading from a sensing tool, or in response to a signal emitted in the wellbore by a downhole carrier, or information tag.

Abstract: A collision avoidance system including a plurality of inclinometers in offset wellbores and a processing unit for receiving a vibration signal from the inclinometers and determining a distance between the offset wellbore and a central wellbore based on the vibration signal. Also, a method of avoiding wellbore collisions by determining relative movement of a drill bit within a central wellbore including the steps of determining an original distance between the central wellbore and an offset wellbore, drilling in the central wellbore so that the drill bit moves a known distance with respect to the offset wellbore, capturing vibration readings during the drilling step, characterizing movement of the drill bit based on the drilling step, and calculating drill bit movement during drilling with respect to the offset wellbore based upon the characterizing step.

Abstract: A system for matching the hydrocarbon reservoir inflow with the outflow of an artificial lift system utilizes an apparatus which makes real time fluid level determinations and inputs the observed fluid levels into a processor which controls the speed of a motor which operates a subsurface pump, so as to increase hydrocarbon production. The apparatus which makes real time fluid determinations is installed such that a gas emission port and a pressure wave receiving port are placed within the tubing-casing annulus.

Abstract: A downhole telemetry system usable with a subterranean well comprises at least one pressure pulse generator, at least one pressure transmitter located in an internal tube space in the well and at least one pressure transmitter located in a tubing annulus. The system comprises a packer providing hydraulic isolation of the tubing annulus and at least one transmitter located below the packer and responding to at least one physical quantity characterizing a bottom-hole zone. The system also includes a data encoder located below the packer to read out the transmitter located below the packer and to respond to at least one physical quantity characterizing the bottom-hole zone, a pressure pulse modulator to modulate pressure pulses generated by the pressure pulse generator, a surface-mounted data-collection unit to converts the output data of the transmitters and to provide a surface-mounted data decoder with data for analysis.

Abstract: A real time telemetry system is disclosed for use with a drilling system including a rotary valve 28 controlling the supply of drilling fluid or mud to a downhole tool. The system comprises receiving data to be transmitted, encoding the data as a duration, and controlling the rotation the rotary valve 28 such that the rotary valve 28 is rotated for the said duration at a predetermined rotary speed to cause the formation of pressure fluctuations or waves in the drilling fluid or mud.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a well system component configured to reduce excessive acoustic noise that would otherwise interfere with acoustic telemetry systems. Specifically, the well system component includes a body configured to be coupled to a pipe string, at least one lobe extending radially from the body, and a pad disposed on the at least one lobe and extending radially from an outer radial extent of the at least one lobe. The well system component can be installed at critical acoustic transmission locations, such as at the location of a hanger, at or near a flex joint in a wellhead installation, and/or at or near a rig floor or deck of an offshore rig.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system described for generating pressure pulses in a drilling fluid utilizing a flow throttling device longitudinally and axially positioned within the center of a main valve actuator assembly is described. The main valve actuator assembly includes a main valve pressure chamber, a magnetic cup encompassing a rotary magnetic coupling, and a pilot actuator assembly.

Abstract: A system and method to synchronize distributed measurements in a borehole are described. The system includes a plurality of wired segments coupled together by couplers and a plurality of nodes configured to measure, process, or relay information obtained in the borehole to a surface processing system, each of the plurality of nodes comprising a local clock and being disposed at one of the couplers or between couplers. The system also includes a surface processing system coupled to a master clock and configured to determine a time offset between the master clock and the local clock of an nth node among the plurality of nodes based on a downhole generated synchronization signal.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for facilitating oilfield operations utilizing auditory data. In one embodiment, the present invention generates one or more auditory mapping structures whereby oilfield data may be mapped to sounds. The present invention provides at least one computer generated selection tool through which the user may select one or more portions of displayed oilfield data for auditory enhancement. Once the user has indicated an area of interest using the selection tool, the present invention may identify the oilfield data displayed within the outlined area of interest, identify auditory data associated with the displayed oilfield data utilizing one or more auditory mapping structures, and emit at least a portion of the identified auditory data to enhance the user's understanding of the displayed oilfield data.

Abstract: A method and system are presented for transmitting data along tubing in a borehole, comprising generating an acoustic signal using a transmitter at a first location on the tubing, and receiving the acoustic signal at a receiver at a second location on the tubing. The method and system further comprise: (i) generating the acoustic signal at the transmitter at a first frequency and bit rate; (ii) receiving the acoustic signal at the first frequency at the receiver and attempting to synchronize the receiver at the first frequency, and (iiia) if the synchronization is successful, continuing to transmit the acoustic signal so as to pass the data from the transmitter to the receiver; or (iiib) if the synchronization is unsuccessful, adjusting the frequency and/or bit rate of the signal and repeating steps (i)-(iii) on the basis of the adjusted signal.

Abstract: Evaluating utilities involves generating an acoustic or seismic source signal, communicating the source signal to a first underground utility, moving a receiver through a second underground utility situated in proximity to the first utility, and monitoring for a cross bore involving the first and second utilities in response to receiving the source signal emanating from the first utility as the receiver progresses through the second utility. Utility evaluation may further involve detecting a cross bore involving the first and second utilities using monitoring data acquired by the receiver.

Abstract: A stacked-ring, slow-wave acoustic telemetry isolation system and method for use with tubular assemblies such as drillpipe or production tubing comprising an acoustic wave transmitter, the acoustic isolator behaving such that a “down” wave propagated toward the isolator is reflected back substantially in phase with an “up” wave propagated from the acoustic wave source away from the isolator. The acoustic isolator is similarly effective in reflecting “up” propagating waves originating from below the isolator, hence further protecting the acoustic wave source from possible deleterious interference. It causes substantially all of the emitted wave energy to travel in a chosen direction along the drill pipe, thus aiding the efficiency of acoustic telemetry said pipe.

Abstract: Remote operation of downhole tools in a subterranean wellbore is performed by inserting untethered, mobile devices sequentially into the wellbore. The mobile devices can include motive means, power supply, communication and data storage means, etc. In one embodiment, the method comprises maneuvering a first mobile device into proximity with a downhole tool, the device powering the tool. The first device is then removed, such as by flowing up or dissolving. The now-powered tool is used to perform a test or other operation. A second mobile device is maneuvered into proximity with the downhole tool and data is transferred. The second device is retrieved with the data or, using on-board logic devices, provides “if-then” commands to the downhole tool. Alternately, a third mobile device can be used to power and transfer commands to the tool. The method can be used for various tasks, such as opening bypass ports on ICD valves.

Abstract: A method for inspecting down hole drilling systems for identifying indications of flaws in material. The method can include removing particulate, disposing a wave coupling medium on an area of interest, attaching a probe to a sound carrying wedge, engaging the sound carrying wedge over the wave coupling medium, transmitting inspection signals to the area of interest, manipulating the probe to produce detection signals, transmitting the detection signals to a data storage, presenting the detection signals and a known reference level to a user, and comparing the detection signals to the known reference level to determine if the detection signals are within a standard deviation of the known reference level. The method can include adapting a sound carrying wedge to form-fittingly couple to an area of interest of a down hole drilling system.

Abstract: A method for reducing interference in a received downhole telemetry signal includes: segmenting a received signal; windowing each signal segment; transforming each windowed signal segment into a complex variable domain to generate a plurality of complex variable domain segments with an in-phase component vector I and a quadrature component vector Q; calculating a real amplitude vector A from the I and the Q vectors; filtering interferers in the amplitude vector A for each complex variable domain segment to generate a filtered amplitude vector Ã; recalculating an amplitude of the amplitude vector A using the filtered amplitude vector à to generate an output amplitude vector Â; scaling the I and the Q vectors by a factor Â/A to generate an output in-phase component vector I? and an output quadrature component vector Q?; and transforming I? and Q? into the time domain to provide an interference-reduced output signal in the time domain.

Abstract: A system performs methods for well and reservoir management for optimized production of fluids in a reservoir. The system includes a knowledge engine configured to receive a plurality of field inputs, process and analyze the field inputs, and provide a plurality of outputs for presentation to an operator. The system also includes a user data interface configured to display the plurality of data outputs. The plurality of field inputs comprises chemical sensing data and at least one of: temperature, pressure, flow rate and concentration of production components from one or more individual wells located within the reservoir, seismic surveys of the reservoir, permeability, geochemistry and lithology of rock formations, and geographic information system (GIS) data associated with the reservoir.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of performing a wellbore operation. The apparatus includes a drill bit that has a cavity at an end thereof and a communication device placed in the cavity. The communication device includes a first section and a second section. An outer dimension of the second section is greater than an outer dimension of the first section. The second section includes a conduit configured to allow passage of a conductor from the drill bit to a location outside the drill bit so as to provide a direct connection of the conductor from the drill bit to an element outside the drill bit.

Abstract: An electromagnetic telemetry repeater. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising inducing an electrical signal along a metallic tubular (the electrical signal carrying the information and the inducing within a borehole beneath the ocean floor), sensing an electric field proximate to the ocean floor, sensing a magnetic field proximate to the ocean floor, recreating the information using one sensed field as indicative of the information and the other sensed field as indicative of the noise, and sending the information toward the ocean surface.

Abstract: Mud pulse telemetry. The various embodiments are directed to methods and systems of encoding data in a mud pulse telemetry system, where at least a portion of the data is encoded the time between pressure transitions. Moreover, the various embodiments are directed to detection methods and systems that detect the pressure transitions at the surface.