Abstract: A screen connection area assembly configured to mount between adjacent sand screens of a gravel pack string including a body attachable to a screen connection area between two adjacent sand screens of the gravel pack string, the body configured to displace fluid and present a radial dimension between about 75% and 100% of a radial dimension of the adjacent sand screens. A method for packing a gravel pack string including disposing an assembly as in any prior embodiment on a screen connection area between adjacent sand screens of the string, running the string into a borehole, supplying a slurry to the borehole proximate the sand screens, packing the sand screens and the screen connection area between adjacent sand screens without altering a flow regime of the slurry.

Abstract: A power control device includes a communication device configured to be disposed in a borehole and configured to couple electrical power from a power source to a downhole component from a conductor disposed along a borehole string, a circuit breaker system including a first circuit breaker disposed at a connection between the conductor and the downhole component and configured to be closed to connect the downhole component to the conductor, and a controller configured to monitor at least one of a current level and a voltage level at the connection and at the conductor. The controller is configured to control the circuit breaker system and autonomously perform opening the first circuit breaker in response to detecting a deviation in the at least one of the current levels and voltage levels at the connection, to isolate the downhole component from the conductor and the power source.

Abstract: A completion tool locating arrangement includes, an anchor attachable within a completion structure having a bore extending through the anchor, a seat disposed at the anchor receptive to a plug runnable thereagainst, and an attachment feature positioned at the anchor. The attachment feature is configured to allow at least one tool to be attached thereto for positioning the at least one tool with the anchor within the completion structure.

Abstract: A control valve assembly for use in a wellbore includes a body having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A portion of the body is formed from magnetic material. A plunger is mounted within the body. A portion of the plunger is formed from a magnetic material. A magnetic circuit having a gap is defined within the control valve assembly. The portion of the body formed from magnetic material defines a first portion of the magnetic circuit and the portion of the plunger formed from magnetic material forms another portion of the magnetic circuit. A solenoid is mounted at the body. The solenoid is selectively activated to create a magnetic field across the gap in the magnetic circuit. The magnetic field causes the plunger to shift, narrowing the gap disengaging from the one of the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet to produce a pressure pulse in the wellbore.

Abstract: A filter membrane includes carbon nanotubes and carbon nitride nanoparticles. Inter-particle atomic interactions between the carbon nanotubes and the carbon nitride nanoparticles bind the carbon nanotubes and the carbon nitride nanoparticles together. A filter cartridge includes such a filter membrane disposed within an outer housing between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet such that fluid passing through the outer housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet passes through the filter membrane. Such filter membranes may be formed by dispersing carbon nanotubes and carbon nitride nanoparticles in a liquid to form a suspension, and passing the suspension through a filter to deposit the nanotubes and nanoparticles on the filter. Liquid may be filtered by causing the liquid to pass through such a filter membrane.

Abstract: A method of providing an optimal surfactant blend to improve waterflood efficiency comprises selecting candidate surfactant blends based on one or more of the following: a reservoir condition; information of a crude oil; information of an injection fluid; or information of a formation fluid, each candidate surfactant blends comprising at least two surfactants, one surfactant having a higher relative affinity for the crude oil than for the injection fluid and at least one surfactant having a higher affinity for the injection fluid than for the crude oil; evaluating phase behavior of the candidate surfactant blends to select surfactant blends that form a Winsor III system with the crude oil and the injection fluid at a reservoir temperature; and evaluating the selected surfactant blends in a porous media to select an optimal surfactant blend which achieves at least an additional 10% crude oil recovery after waterflood.

Abstract: A valve assembly including a tubular having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion extending therebetween. The second end includes one or more openings. A pin member extends radially outwardly of the intermediate portion of the tubular. A valve member is arranged about the tubular. The valve member includes a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate section extending therebetween. The second end portion includes a valve element that registers with the one or more openings. An actuator sleeve is mounted to the first end of the valve member and extends about the tubular. The actuator sleeve includes a first end section, a second end section, and an inner surface extending therebetween. The inner surface includes a plurality of J-slots that are selectively receptive of the pin member to establish a position of the valve element relative to the one or more openings.

Abstract: Systems and methods for damping torsional oscillations of downhole systems are described. The systems include a damping system configured on the downhole system. The damping system includes a first element and a second element in frictional contact with the first element. The second element moves relative to the first element with a velocity that is a sum of a periodic velocity fluctuation having an amplitude and a mean velocity, wherein the mean velocity is lower than the amplitude of the periodic velocity fluctuation.

Abstract: A device for transferring torque to a drill bit in a borehole having a borehole axis includes a support element configured to rotate in the borehole about the borehole axis, a torque transferring element configured to transfer torque from the support element to the drill bit and further configured to isolate torsional oscillations that are created at the drill bit from the support element, a blocking element configured to block rotation of the torque transferring element relative to the support element about the borehole axis in at least one direction, and a bearing element between the support element and the drill bit.

Abstract: A downhole power generator module having a body with one or more couplings that are configured to connect the body to a downhole tool string positioned downhole in a wellbore. An axial passageway is formed through the outer housing and couplings. The power generator module has a pressure-driven electric generator such as a triboelectric or piezoelectric generator positioned within the body. A port in the body enables communication of well fluids from the wellbore to the generator. Pressure changes in the well fluids are communicated to the pressure-driven electric generator, causing it to autonomously generate electric power downhole. The generated power is provided directly to other downhole tools without intervention from the surface.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for evaluation of an earth formation intersected by a borehole using a logging tool. Methods include generating an excitation in the formation with an electromagnetic (EM) signal from a transmitter assembly at at least one frequency; making EM measurements using an EM tool on a tool string in the borehole by receiving a signal at at least one receiver assembly responsive to the excitation; wherein the at least one receiver assembly includes an induction antenna comprising a first winding and a second winding that share a common center tap, and wherein the average potential on the induction antenna is substantially the same as a ground potential. The receiver assembly or transmitter assembly may comprise a receiver or transmitter electrically connected to the induction antenna by a balun transformer, and a capacitive shield encompassing the induction antenna, the capacitive shield comprising a meander shaped isolation gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing acoustic waves below a surface of the earth includes an optical fiber disposed below the surface of the earth and having a series of sensing units along the optical fiber with each sensing unit having three or more reflectors and an optical interrogator in optical communication with the optical fiber. The reflectors in each sensing unit are positioned to provide a linearized response that approximates a sawtooth wave better than a sinusoidal wave to sense the acoustic waves in a desired dynamic range. The optical interrogator is configured to transmit an input light signal into the optical fiber and receive a reflected light signal from the optical fiber due to the input light signal in order to measure a strain on each sensing unit due to interaction with the acoustic waves and to determine a location of the sensing unit corresponding to the sensed strain.

Abstract: A transducer assembly for downhole imaging includes a 1-3 Piezoelectric composite transducer of high Q ceramic rods in a polymer matrix. The assembly also includes a Teflon® window, a fluid-filled cavity adjacent to the window, and impedance matching material between the composite transducer and the fluid. The transducer is positioned to reduce the reverberation time.

Abstract: Earth-boring tools may include a body having blades protruding therefrom and at least one hardfacing pad secured to at least one blade. The at least one hardfacing pad may be located at least partially within a recess extending at least into the at least one blade body around a circumference of a gage region of the body and may include a plate, an abrasion-resistant material secured to the plate on a side of the plate opposite the body, and at least one spacer extending from the plate toward the body, such that the plate is spaced from the body by at least a thickness of the at least one spacer. A braze material may secure the at least one hardfacing pad to the at least one blade, the braze material extending around the at least one spacer and located between the plate and the body.

Abstract: A method of lining an inner surface of a tubular with a polymer, includes positioning a polymer injecting head within the tubular, forming an annular space between the injecting head and an inner surface of the tubular, injecting polymer through the injecting head into the annular space, and moving the polymer injecting head longitudinally relative to the tubular while injecting polymer.

Abstract: Treatment of hydrocarbon streams, and in one non-limiting embodiment refinery distillates, with high pH aqueous reducing agents, such as borohydride, results in reduction of the sulfur compounds such as disulfides, mercaptans and thioethers that are present to give easily removed sulfides. The treatment converts the original sulfur compounds into hydrogen sulfide or low molecular weight mercaptans that can be extracted from the distillate with caustic solutions, hydrogen sulfide or mercaptan scavengers, solid absorbents such as clay or activated carbon or liquid absorbents such as amine-aldehyde condensates and/or aqueous aldehydes.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a fluid sample downhole that has at least a target fluid and an undesirable fluid may include receiving the fluid sample into a sample tank positioned that has a main chamber and isolating at least a portion of the undesirable fluid from the target fluid in the main chamber. A related apparatus may include a conveyance device configured to be conveyed along a borehole and a fluid sampling tool positioned along the conveyance device. The conveyance device may include a probe receiving the fluid sample from a formation; a pump drawing the fluid sample through the probe; and at least one sample tank receiving the fluid sample from the pump. The sample tank may include a main chamber receiving the fluid sample and an isolation volume isolating at least a portion of the undesirable fluid from the target fluid in the main chamber.

Abstract: Nanoparticles for use in the treatment of a well have a magnetic core of iron, nickel or cobalt or an alloy thereof; a carbon shell encapsulating the magnetic core; at least one organic functional group on the surface of the carbon shell through covalent bonding; and a coating of amorphous carbon nitride encapsulating the functionalized carbon shell. The nanoparticles may be used to identify fluids produced from the reservoir, identify the zone within the reservoir from which recovered fluid is produced, in water flooding to determine water breakthrough in the production well and to identify those injection wells from which breakthrough water originates.

Abstract: A downhole system including tubular casing string and a packer setting joint configured to receive a packer therein. The packer setting joint includes an interior and an exterior, and all interior and exterior surfaces from an uphole to a downhole end of the packer setting joint are machined surfaces. The uphole end of the packer setting joint is connected to the casing string, and the downhole end of the packer setting joint is connected to the casing string. The packer setting joint has a greater burst strength than a burst strength of a casing joint connected to the packer setting joint within the casing string.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond abrasive cutting element consists generally of a layer of high grade polycrystalline diamond bonded to a cemented carbide substrate. The polycrystalline diamond layer has a working surface and an outer peripheral surface and is characterized by having an annular region or a portion thereof adjacent the peripheral surface that is lean in catalysing material. A region adjacent the working surface is also lean in catalysing material such that in use, as a wear scar develops, both the leading edge and the trailing edge thereof are located in a region lean in catalysing material.