Abstract: A circulating sub is run in with the circulating port closed. A dart blocks a central passage and moves two concentric pistons in tandem to open the circulation port while retaining the dart. The outer piston shoulders out in the circulation port open position. A second dart lands on the first and with applied pressure moves the inner piston relative to the shouldered outer piston to close the circulation port and only then discharge both darts. Subs can be used in tandem as long as higher located subs accept larger darts than lower subs and preferably the two darts for each sub are the same size. The ejected darts can be used to pressure actuate a downhole tool like a packer.

Abstract: An insert meter can be run into an inverse venturi on wireline and make use of the existing pressure taps to allow accurate measurement of reduced flow rates that could not be accurately measured with the inverse venturi meter. The insert meter has seals and can lock into position with peripheral sealing to direct the new and lower flow rate into the throat of the insert meter that is preferably a standard venturi. The venturi devices can be in meter or eductor service and located downhole, subsea or on the surface.

Abstract: Multiple producing zones separated by a non-producing zone are gravel packed together. The non-producing zone has locations to take returns so as to get a consistent pack in the non-producing zone. The production string features external seals and/or an internal plug so that no matter which producing zone is aligned to produce, the screens in the non-producing zone are selectively isolated so that the producing zone that is not intended to be produced has only the path through the gravel pack to get to the actual zone being produced. Since the annulus can be long and full of gravel this path will make flow from the zone that is not of interest minimal into the flow from the zone of interest without using a packer between pairs of spaced apart producing zones.

Abstract: One or more valves can be run into a string to land near associated ports in the string for injection or/and production service. When multiple valves are installed they can be initially configured to balance flow into or from a zone. The position of each valve can be altered without removal from the string preferably by a wireline shifting tool. One or more valves can also be removed and replaced when worn preferably using a wireline run tool. The valves can come with an integral sand control feature to facilitate production. Sensors to monitor well conditions and to transmit data to the surface can also be incorporated into the valve module.

Abstract: A screen section has a valve assembly to control flow through it. The valve is open and has a closure spring held compressed by a shape memory material that responds to the presence of a specific well fluid or fluids so that its property changes to allow the spring to deliver the stored potential energy to the valve member to close it when the specific well fluid or fluids are detected. The preferred material is a shape memory polymer that, for example, is sensitive to the presence of water or methane and gets softer to release the potential energy source to operate the downhole tool.

Abstract: A pressure equalizing tool can be run into a downhole tool on wireline or coiled tubing preferably and temporarily secured before being actuated to separate two components in a downhole tool that are in a sealing relation but are configured to be temporarily movable so as to allow pressure equalization before the downhole component is actuated. Once pressure is equalized the equalizing tool is released, usually with an applied pick up force and the downhole tool being equalized as to differential pressure can be operated with the preexisting actuation parts that are on the downhole tool. In a preferred embodiment the downhole tool is a ball valve and the equalizing tool is temporarily secured to the ball valve housing to temporarily part the ball from the uphole seat to equalize an annular space around the ball with tubing pressure. The ball is allowed to go back to contact with the seat when the equalizing tool is released and removed from the tubing.

Abstract: A tool for subterranean use employs relative movement between a housing and a piston by pressurizing and removing pressure in a variable volume defined between them. The variable volume is sealed with packer cups preferably with one supported from the piston and the other off the housing and in opposed orientations so that the broad surface area on each packer cup abuts the surface where relative movement takes place. The downhole tasks accomplished with the relative movement can be varied and include tubular expansion, setting packers or shifting sleeves, for example. A single or multiple packer cups are tied to a structure that needs to be driven and building pressure behind a packer cup or reducing pressure ahead of it advance the piston.

Abstract: A mill is configured to have large debris passages disposed among a series of radially extending blades. The mill center is adapted to accept a retention nut that supports a tool that secures the downhole tool being milled out, such as a packer. Reverse flow takes cuttings into the large open area between the blades to pass up in an annular space around a support for the retention nut. The passage then opens up to a maximum dimension leaving only the tubular wall needed for structural strength to support the mill and conduct cuttings into a debris removal tool.

Abstract: A wiper plug release tool uses a first pump down plug that lands in the tool to pressurize an internal chamber to slide a sleeve that undermines a set of dogs to allow the lower wiper plug to be decoupled from support. The shifting of this sleeve cams a second set of dogs into an internal passage in the tool to act as a landing location for a second pump down plug. Landing the second pump down plug on the now extended dogs allows a net pressure to be applied to an upper piston which shifts a sleeve to release the support for the second wiper plug. The upper piston remains in pressure balance unless the second pump down plug can be landed on the dogs that only extended because the sleeve that released the lower wiper plug had shifted.

Abstract: A wiper plug has a telescoping feature to allow it to be shorter while in a lubricator so as to reduce lubricator length as compared to an extended length for proper propulsion past off center openings such as side pocket mandrels in the string. The wiper has a telescoping feature that allows it to extend when dropping or being pumped from a lubricator. Once extended, it can lock in the extended position so that it doesn't collapse on the way down the string. Centralizers can optionally be used between an upper and a lower wiping section.

Abstract: A downhole valve features a flow port that can be selectively obstructed by a pressure actuated sleeve that is movable in a pin and slot mechanism to rotate while being cycled up and down by application and removal of pressure in a cyclical manner. When the sleeve is cycled to the port closed position, a flapper mounted near its upper end can fall on a seat on the sleeve to allow pressure to be applied to the flapper and sleeve, causing the sleeve to move to a position that will prevent fluid loss from the tubular string into the formation. The Closed flapper allows pressure cycles of the sleeve. A double closure against fluid loss can be affected.

Abstract: A fluid loss valve is disposed in a wash pipe in a gravel packing assembly. It is preferably held open initially and when in the process it is time for the valve to be able to go closed a pulling force is applied that creates relative movement to either close the valve or allow it to close without release of the assembly when under tension. This allows a surface signal that the valve is to be released for closure. The tension is relieved before string movement with the valve can occur. This can happen by slacking off before picking up again or through other time delay features that allow the tension to be removed and a lock to collapse before a lift force is applied for subsequent gravel packing operations. The valve in its closed position acts to eliminate fluid loss when excess gravel is reversed out.

Abstract: A ball type downhole lubricator valve features a ball rotating on its axis to open or close with control line pressure to an actuating piston. The ball is also shiftable to a locked open position. A cage surrounds the ball and retains opposed seats to it. The cage is made from one piece and tangential holes are drilled and tapped before the piece is longitudinally split with a wire EDM cutting technique. Fasteners to rejoin the cut halves properly space them to the original one piece internal dimension. Auxiliary tools allow determination of spacing of internal components so that a desired spring preload on the seats against the ball can be achieved.

Abstract: A watermelon mill has a smaller dimension for run in and a larger one for reaming out the window made by a window mill and passes through a smaller drift and then gets larger for more effective widening of the window. The cutters are preferably tungsten carbide or polycrystalline diamond inserts and they are mounted to blades that are ramped outwardly by a cone upon relative movement between the two. The body can be in multiple pieces that are rotationally locked and movable relative to each other longitudinally. Actuation to the larger dimension can be by setting down weight or by fluid pressure with the dimension getting smaller as a return spring allows the cutters to retract upon removal of applied pressure.

Abstract: A packer features spaced apart sealing elements with an extrusion barrier between them. When the packer is set the extrusion barrier is protected from debris in the well. The barrier provides full circumferential extrusion protection using one or more rings made of wedge shaped segments that have a keyway at their edges and are assembled in an alternating manner so as to be able to increase or decrease in diameter when mandrel components are moved toward or away from each other. The segments have an opening through which a mandrel projection extends so as to force the segments into the smaller diameter for removal. Travel stops for the segments in the form of machined flats are provided on the relatively movable mandrel components.

Abstract: Two subs are held in a fixed position relative to each other when assembled to a string and run into a wellbore. A reservoir of fluid is defined in a wall between the subs. The reservoir has one or more outlets connected by a short jumper line to an adjacent tool to be operated. At the appropriate time, set down weight breaks a shear pin to reduce the reservoir volume and create pressure in the exit lines. The exit lines can be connected to operating pistons in adjacent tools to actuate them or to perform other desired functions using a stream of pressurized fluid. The device can be set for one time or multiple cycles where fluid in the reservoir can be replenished and re-pressurized for multiple cycles of operation.

Abstract: Non conductive supports flank the mounting location of ribs for a wire wrap screen so as to limit penetration into the wire being fed over the ribs and resistance welded notwithstanding variations of applied force from the weld roller. Optionally the wire can be pre-rolled to approximately its end diameter in the finished screen ahead of the time it contacts a rib so as to minimize bending the wire over the rib which thins the wire. The supports are preferably ceramic and provide equal penetration of the rib into the wrap wire despite variations in loading by the weld roller.

Abstract: A tool for dropping one or more balls and then one or more darts features a closable ball drop opening that works automatically after the ball release to minimize damage to the subsequently released dart. A retainer keeps the darts from coming back up above the dart launcher in the event of a pressure surge in the well. The dart launcher features a dedicated movable barrel for each dart that can be locked in a fully misaligned and fully aligned position with the casing or tubular. A handle is retained to the dart housing and can be manipulated to defeat the lock and rotate a given barrel. The darts may be inspected in their respective barrels before launch and the launch order is variable.

Abstract: New locking connector assemblies and telescoping extension/retraction assemblies are disclosed that operate on the natural spring rate constraints of radial protrusions or radially constrained rings as they interact with engaging members to provide the locking force and permit the connector and extension retraction assemblies to be engage and disengaged or extended and retracted.

Abstract: A jet bushing for a wellbore cleanup tool features a jet looking uphole to reduce turbulence at the outlet ports that look downhole to accommodate the recirculation flow around the tool that captures the cuttings. The uphole oriented port keeps the pumped fluid downhole from having to make a u-turn to get back uphole and reduces turbulence to allow a higher recirculation flow at the tool to pick up and capture cuttings within the tool.