Abstract: An apparatus for controlling flow of a fluid in a fluid conduit may include a closure member having an outer circumferential surface defined by a composite geometry, a biasing member applying a biasing force to the closure member, and a sealing member receiving the closure member. A fluid seal is formed in the fluid conduit when the biasing member presses the closure member against the sealing member.

Abstract: A system comprises a casing; a liner that is disposed in the casing and that is concentric with the casing; and a layer of material disposed between the liner and the casing; where the layer of material forms a first bond with the liner and a second bond with the casing thereby enabling the liner to hang from the casing. A method for hanging the liner from the casing comprises disposing in a borehole a system comprising a casing; a liner that is disposed in the casing and being concentric with the casing; and a layer of material disposed between the liner and the casing; heating the system at a point proximate to the layer of material; and forming a first bond between the layer of material and the liner and a second bond between the layer of material and the casing.

Abstract: Systems, devices and methods for evaluating an earth formation intersected by a borehole. Method include detecting a reflective boundary in the earth formation by: generating a multipole acoustic signal with a logging tool in the borehole; identifying a shear wave signal resulting from shear body waves reflected in the formation in a near-field region of the formation around the borehole responsive to the generated multipole acoustic signal; and estimating at least a depth along the borehole of the boundary based on the shear wave signal. The boundary may have an angle of incidence with respect to the borehole of greater than 70 degrees. The boundary may be at least one of i) a fracture; and ii) a fault. The method may include evaluating the boundary using at least one attribute of the shear wave signal and the estimated depth.

Abstract: A method for stimulating an earth formation according to a stimulation scenario for extracting hydrocarbons from the earth formation includes: selecting an earth formation stimulation scenario; applying a modified Mohr-Coulomb model that is configured to estimate behavior of a rock formation during the stimulation scenario, the modified Mohr-Coulomb model having a term representing dilatation in an out-of-plane orientation; predicting a fracture and damage network using the modified Mohr-Coulomb model; converting the fracture and damage network into permeability; simulating fluid flow in the earth formation using the permeability to predict hydrocarbon production; computing a value of a metric for hydrocarbon production for the selected stimulation scenario; iterating the selecting, applying, predicting, converting, simulating, and computing until the metric value meets or exceeds a threshold value; and stimulating the earth formation using a stimulation treatment system according to the stimulation scenario

Abstract: Relatively low strength and/or relatively low density, but ductile materials may be folded or crumpled and finely divided to give proppants for introduction into hydraulic fractures, where the folded or crumpled structure of the proppants gives relatively increased strength relative to the relatively low strength and/or relatively low density of the materials. Materials not previously considered suitable for proppants may be considered when structure or configured in this manner. Similarly to the case where crumpled paper within a cardboard box keeps it from collapsing, the folded or crumpled material spontaneously develops structural rigidity at relatively low volume fractions without a specific externally imposed design. The folded or crumpled proppants may also be used alone or together with conventional proppants for sand control in gravel packs or frac packs.

Abstract: A method for operating a wireline winch configured to convey a wireline coupled to a downhole tool disposed in a borehole penetrating the earth includes: receiving a first cumulative surface wireline tension limit for downhole wireline components; calculating a second cumulative surface wireline tension limit for surface components using wireline speed and surface equipment data; combining the first and the second cumulative surface wireline tension limits to provide a total cumulative surface wireline tension limit as a function of depth; presenting the total cumulative surface wireline tension limit as a function of depth and operating wireline tension values as a function of depth for the downhole tool to a user; performing an assessment of the operating wireline tension values as a function of depth versus the total cumulative surface wireline tension limit as a function of depth; and operating the wireline winch using the assessment and a winch controller.

Abstract: A method of forming a flexible carbon composite self-lubricating seal includes compressing a carbon composite mixture into a mold forming a flexible carbon composite self-lubricating annular seal.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating properties of an earth formation includes a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurement device including a magnet assembly, at least one transmitting assembly configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field in the formation, and a receiver configured to detect NMR signals from at least a sensitive volume in the formation. The apparatus also includes a processing device configured to receive NMR data corresponding to the detected NMR signals. The processing device is configured to perform combining a geometrical factor of the NMR logging tool with a temperature distribution, the temperature distribution indicating a temperature value at at least one location in the sensitive volume of the formation, correcting the NMR data based on the temperature value, estimating a property of the formation based on the corrected NMR data, and performing one or more aspects of an energy industry operation based on the estimated property.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly includes a production pump, a motor containing a motor lubricant, and a seal section coupled between the motor and the pump. A drive shaft extends through the seal section, the drive shaft being rotated by the motor for driving the production pump. A mechanical face seal in the seal section seals around the shaft. A circulation pump is mounted to the shaft above the face seal for rotation therewith. An inlet passage leads from an exterior of the seal section to the circulation pump to deliver well fluid to the circulation pump. An outlet passage leads from the circulation pump to the exterior of the seal section to discharge well fluid exterior of the seal section. The rotating component of the face seal is located in the outlet passage.

Abstract: An array of sliding sleeve valves are uniquely addressable without control lines or wires to open for a treatment and then close and then selectively open for production. The discrete movements employ an available pressure source such as tubing pressure and change the piston areas on opposed sides of a sliding sleeve valve to get the desired movements. Access valves to tubing pressure can be actuated in a desired sequence with signals such as acoustic or electromagnetic, for example. Access to one piston area that communicates opposed and offsetting piston areas to the tubing hydrostatic can be achieved with a straddle tool breaking a rupture disc. The piston is then in pressure balanced and can be moved in a desired direction with the straddle tool straddling access locations to the piston from above or below.

Abstract: An actuation system and method, the system including a tubular having a passage, and an assembly disposed with the tubular. The assembly includes a degradable restriction, the restriction only partially blocking the passage prior to being degraded. The assembly is configured to receive and prevent further movement of a restrictor through the tubular prior to the restriction being degraded. The assembly is further configured to release the restrictor when the restriction is degraded.

Abstract: A sealing system for a flow channel comprises a mandrel and a swellable article disposed about the mandrel, the swellable article comprising a swellable body containing an elastomer of ethylene propylene diene monomer, styrene butadiene rubber, polychloroprene rubber, fluorosilicone rubber, fluoroelastomers, perfluoroelastomers, isobutylene-isoprene rubber, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; wherein a surface of the swellable body is functionalized with a functional group that is effective to cause the surface of the swellable body to become more oleophobic than a reference surface without the functional group.

Abstract: A slow response time tool including a biasing arrangement, a piston in operable communication with the biasing arrangement, a chamber receptive to the piston, a retardation arrangement defining a helical pathway in fluid communication with the chamber.

Abstract: A method of controlling degradation of a degradable material including forming a fluid in a hydration unit, admixing one or more additives to the fluid in a blender, introducing the fluid into a wellbore, injecting a degradation fluid between the hydration unit and the blender. The degradation fluid forms a degradation zone in the fluid. A degradable component formed from a degradable material is introduced into the degradation zone, and the degradable material and the degradation zone is pumped into a wellbore.

Abstract: Systems and methods to cover sensitive areas of downhole tools including a downhole tool having an outer surface including a first position and a second position on the outer surface of the downhole tool, the outer surface having a sensitive area, a downhole sensitive element positioned along the outer surface of the downhole tool at the sensitive area, a movable cover operatively connected to the downhole tool and movable relative to the sensitive area, a control unit configured to generate an activation signal, and an activation mechanism operable in response to the activation signal, the activation mechanism configured to move the movable cover relative to the sensitive area from the first position to the second position, wherein the movement of the movable cover from the first position to the second position one of increases or decreases a portion of the sensitive area covered by the movable cover.

Abstract: A reverse circulation debris cleanup tool has a pressure control valve that closes up a passage through the body based on a sensed well condition to help pressure control the well when rams close around the tool to isolate the surrounding annulus. The sensor can hold the valve open for a predetermined time to allow debris removal operations and then close. The debris chamber below an eductor in a VACS tool can be thousands of feet long and the valve can provide protection during running in or removal of the tool from well pressure events so as to avoid using shear rams and losing the bottom hole assembly in the borehole and a fishing operation to get it out.

Abstract: A method to measure a parameter of interest is provided. The method includes receiving a first signal via an antenna of a reception circuit. The method further includes generating a second signal by a signal generator of the reception circuit. The method further includes mixing the first signal and the second signal in a mixer of the reception circuit to generate a third signal. The method further includes measuring a parameter of the third signal using an instrument. The method further includes adjusting, by a processor, a frequency of the second signal to substantially match a frequency of the first signal based at least in part on the measured parameter of the third signal. The method further includes determining, by the processor, the parameter of interest using the adjusted frequency of the second signal.

Abstract: A dedicated borehole for an ESP or artificial lift mechanism communicates with a sump or wellbore to collect liquids and/or condensate from one or more other bores where there can be laterals into a producing formation. If the ESP or artificial lift mechanism needs to be replaced the dedicated bore with the ESP or artificial lift mechanism can be closed off and the ESP or artificial lift mechanism removed without taking out the main bore or bores connected to the sump or wellbore. Those bores can continue to produce gas as liquids and/or condensate accumulate in the sump, sumps or wellbore. When the ESP or artificial lift mechanism is replaced the liquid can be pumped to surface without interruption of the gas production.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for performing a borehole treatment has a plurality of ported valve housings where the housings have an assembly of shifting sleeves. The first sleeve is shifted uphole to open the port in the housing and lock the first sleeve in the ports open position. A second sleeve in the same housing is shifted in the same direction as the first sleeve to close the ports in the housing. The second sleeve has profiles for shifting it up to close the housing ports and back down to reopen the housing ports after closing them.

Abstract: An operating control line is in communication with an operating piston for the safety valve as well as an equalizing piston such that pressure in the operating control line opens the safety valve and holds the equalizer valve closed. A balance chamber receives fluid from an operating piston in the safety valve when the valve opens to displace a floating piston to the open position. Operating control line pressure reduction allows valve closure and opposite floating piston movement to the closed position. If the floating piston is forced by a tubing seal leak against the open position travel stop, pressure in a balance control line against the equalizing valve member moves it from a seat to then equalize pressure on opposed ends of the floating piston allowing a bias force to move the floating piston off the open position stop so the safety valve can open despite the tubing leak.