Abstract: A system for determining a stuck point of a pipe positioned within a wellbore includes a tubular housing and a sensor array positioned within the tubular housing, the sensor array arranged at a first end. The system also includes a first magnetic source positioned within the tubular housing, the first magnetic source arranged at a second end. The system further includes a second magnetic source positioned within the tubular housing, the second magnetic source arranged between the sensor array and the second end. The first magnetic source and the second magnetic source have a different magnetic field source.

Abstract: A sensor package for sensing rotational positional data includes a stack of separated printed circuit boards that includes a first position target printed board, a second printed circuit board having a rotary sensor and a third printed circuit board having power supply components. The sensor package is included in a skew detection system for an aircraft control system, which includes a control surface having opposed first and second ends. A first drive mechanism is operatively connected to the first end of the control surface by a first rack and pinion assembly and a second drive mechanism is operatively connected to the second end of the control surface by a second rack and pinion assembly. Each rack and pinion assembly includes a respective sensor package operatively connected to the pinion thereof. A processing component is operatively connected to both sensor packages to determine presence of skew in the control surface.

Abstract: A technique includes deploying an untethered object though a passageway of a string in a well; and sensing a property of an environment of the string, an electromagnetic coupling or a pressure as the object is being communicated through the passageway. The technique includes selectively autonomously operating the untethered object in response to the sensing.

Abstract: Electromagnetic free point tools are configured to determine the free point of a downhole pipe in a wellbore utilizing the amplitude or phase change in a transmitted signal for stressed and unstressed pipe. Certain examples of electromagnetic free point tools comprise a housing, one or more transmitter coils, one or more receiver coils, each coil spaced apart from one another, a power source for applying an oscillating voltage to the one or more transmitter coils which then induces a current in the receiver coil(s), and electronics for measuring the induced current in the receiver coil(s). In another embodiment, at least one of the coils is axially adjustable in position within the tool to permit the relative distance between coils to be adjusted to optimize performance of the tool in various conditions. By measuring the amplitude or phase of the induced current relative to the oscillating voltage, a log of the amplitude or phase is generated while passing the tool through a length of unstressed pipe.

Abstract: Electromagnetic free point tools are configured to determine the free point of a downhole pipe in a wellbore utilizing the amplitude or phase change in a transmitted signal for stressed and unstressed pipe. Certain examples of electromagnetic free point tools comprise a housing, one or more transmitter coils, one or more receiver coils, each coil spaced apart from one another, a power source for applying an oscillating voltage to the one or more transmitter coils which then induces a current in the receiver coil(s), and electronics for measuring the induced current in the receiver coil(s). In another embodiment, at least one of the coils is axially adjustable in position within the tool to permit the relative distance between coils to be adjusted to optimize performance of the tool in various conditions. By measuring the amplitude or phase of the induced current relative to the oscillating voltage, a log of the amplitude or phase is generated while passing the tool through a length of unstressed pipe.

Abstract: A free point tool comprises an elongated main shaft assembly and a low mass sensor assembly coaxially and slidingly disposed over the elongated main shaft. The low mass sensor assembly is adapted to be supported within the down hole casing by first and second drag spring centralizers coupled respectively to upper and lower ends of the low mass sensor assembly. The low mass sensor assembly comprises a magnetic amplifier sensor disposed in a sensor body and having a variable inductance proportionally responsive to longitudinal and rotational displacement of an adjacent sensor plate portion of a movable sensor sleeve concentric with and enclosing the sensor body, wherein the sensor sleeve is attached to the first drag spring centralizer and the sensor body is attached to the second drag spring centralizer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the location of stuck pipe are provided. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of attaching a free point logging tool to a working line such as a slickline or wireline. The free point logging tool has a freepoint sensor and, optionally, an acoustic sensor. The freepoint sensor acquires magnetic permeability data in a string of pipe, while the acoustic sensor acquires acoustic data in the pipe. Two sets of data for each sensor are acquired—one in which the pipe under investigation is unstressed, and one in which the pipe is stressed. The first set and second sets of magnetic permeability data are compared to determine the stuck point location for the pipe. The first and second sets of acoustic data are compared to determine the nature in which the pipe is stuck.

Abstract: A free point tool comprises an elongated main shaft assembly and a low mass sensor assembly coaxially and slidingly disposed over the elongated main shaft. The low mass sensor assembly is adapted to be supported within the down hole casing by first and second drag spring centralizers coupled respectively to upper and lower ends of the low mass sensor assembly. The low mass sensor assembly comprises a magnetic amplifier sensor disposed in a sensor body and having a variable inductance proportionally responsive to longitudinal and rotational displacement of an adjacent sensor plate portion of a movable sensor sleeve concentric with and enclosing the sensor body, wherein the sensor sleeve is attached to the first drag spring centralizer and the sensor body is attached to the second drag spring centralizer.

Abstract: A free point tool has at least one sensor to measure deformation of a stuck conduit in a borehole. A set of anchors is located adjacent to and on each side of the sensor. The anchors include anchor arms that move from a stowed position to an extended position. Each of the anchor arms has a pad, which pad has a contact face. The contact face is structured and arranged to engage the conduit. The pad is coupled to the respective anchor arm in an articulating manner, such as by a pin joint or a ball and socket joint. The pad can be easily coupled to or disconnected from the arm. This allows the pad to be selected for the downhole conditions, including conduit physical characteristics and environmental conditions downhole. The anchors also include cam arms coupled between the anchor arms and an actuator. There are provided at least two sets of anchor linkages of cam arms and anchor arms so as to adapt to the conduit inside diameter.

Abstract: A well logging system is disclosed having an improved speed correction apparatus and method. One embodiment comprises a logging sonde, a wireline cable, a distance sensor, a tension sensor, and a surface computer. The logging sonde moves through a wellbore while making logging measurements of the formation around the wellbore. The sonde includes an accelerometer to measure acceleration of the logging sonde. As the wireline cable is reeled in on the surface, the distance sensor detects the length of wireline cable that is retrieved. The tension sensor measures the tension in the wireline cable. The surface computer receives measurements from the accelerometer, the distance sensor, and the tension sensor, and determines intervals in which the logging tool is stuck. At least in part, this is done by finding “slow” intervals in which the wireline cable is stretching at about the same rate that the wireline cable is being reeled in.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting and localizing unwanted matter, e.g., cement deposits, internally in a drill string. A sleeve-shaped indicator body is dropped down through the drill string while the same occupies an operative position. Then, the indicator body lands either in a seat at the lower end of the drill string, or the indicator body becomes stuck within a pipe section at a higher level in the drill string. The drill string overlying the position of the indicator body may be considered free of deposits formed on the pipe section walls thereof, and these pipe sections thus may be re-used without any further examination or cleaning. If stuck at a higher level, the indicator body is subsequently localized at the surface through examination in context of disassembling the drill string. The indicator body also may comprise an indicator element that provides a detection signal or sign for its detection and localizing on the surface.

Abstract: A downhole tool that is connectable to a line to be run downhole with the tool includes a housing, a sensor and a mechanism that is located inside the housing. The mechanism is coupled to the sensor to, in response to the detection of the feature by the sensor, generate a tension signal in the line without physically contacting a downhole structure.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for analysing a well completion system, wherein the method includes receiving data representative of physical characteristics of the completion system and calculating a first change in length of a tube string resulting from a helical buckling effect. The method further includes calculating a second change in length of the tube string resulting from a ballooning effect and calculating a third change in length of the tube string resulting from a slackoff force effect. Upon completion of the calculating steps, the method may output predetermined results therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of monitoring a well to detect and provide warning of pipe sticking. The method includes 1) monitoring the downhole annular fluid pressure of a drilling fluid being pumped through the drill string during drilling over predetermined intervals of time to obtain a series of pressure measurements, 2) monitoring the torque required to rotate the drill string during said periods to obtain a series of torque measurements, and 3) comparing the series of downhole annular fluid pressure measurements with the series of torque measurements so as to identify corresponding changes in both, and 4) raising an alarm when the magnitude of the changes passes predetermined alarm values.

Abstract: The present invention is a system and method for generating an alarm relative to effective longitudinal behavior of a drill bit fastened to the end of a drill string driven in rotation in a well by a driving device situated at the surface, using a physical model of the drilling process based on general mechanics equations. The following steps are carried out: the model is reduced so to retain only pertinent modes, at least two values Rf and Rwob are calculated, Rf being a function of the principal oscillation frequency of weight on hook WOH divided by the average instantaneous rotating speed at the surface, Rwob being a function of the standard deviation of the signal of the weight on bit WOB estimated by the reduced longitudinal model from measurement of the signal of the weight on hook WOH, divided by the average weight on bit WOB0, defined from the weight of the string and the average weight on hook. Any danger from the longitudinal behavior of the drill bit is determined from the values of Rf and Rwob.