Abstract: A process for drying mature fine tailings is provided. A low molecular weight anionic organic polymer is contacted with a tailings stream to flocculate mature fine tailings and enhance dewatering. The tailings stream can contain, for example, water, sand, silt and fines clays produced from a bitumen extraction process for oil sands ore. The process can also involve rigidification of the suspension.

Abstract: In a plug an abandon environment with casing and a tubular string running through the casing a tool is placed at a desired location for a severing of the inner tubular. A first set of blades is extended from a housing to cut radially until the inner tubular is severed. A second set of blades are then extended for axial milling with a reach limit of the outside wall of the severed tubular at a location between upsets. As the axial milling reaches an upset, the second set of blades is allowed to retract and a third set with a longer reach is extended to axially mill the upset. Thereafter the third set of blades is allowed to retract and the second set is extended to continue axial milling. The second and third sets of blades can be reversed so that initial axial milling can be at the upset rather than between the upsets followed by milling between the upsets with the shorter reach blades.

Abstract: A well pump assembly has a submersible well fluid pump, motor, and seal section with a seal section shaft for transferring rotation of a motor drive shaft to a pump drive shaft. The seal section has a shaft passage through which the seal section shaft extends. A movable compensating element has an interior containing motor lubricant that is in fluid communication with motor lubricant in the motor and also in fluid communication with motor lubricant in the shaft passage. A shaft seal restricts well fluid from entry into the shaft passage. A lubricant pump driven by the shaft has a discharge within the shaft passage below the shaft seal. A recirculation passage extends from the shaft passage at a point between the discharge of the lubricant pump and the shaft seal to the interior of the compensating element.

Abstract: A process for hardening tubulars and increasing their surface area for heat transfer can be performed in place in a borehole or on the surface. A pattern is applied to an interior wall with at laser, electron beam or radiation source that is remotely controlled to apply the hardening pattern to the inside or outside wall as inert gas or clean fluid is applied. Pressure differential is applied to the wall so that the non-hardened portions or the negative of the hardened pattern plastically or elastically deform to increase surface area and enhance load resistance of tubular or sheets. Alternatively, wall differential pressure is applied with an insert having a raised pattern on its exterior surface causing the spaces where the pattern is absent to plastically deform to enhance surface area. When done in a borehole annulus pressure or stand pipe pressure is applied or a vacuum is pulled inside the tubular to generate differential pressure for hydro-forming or switching dents in an opposite stable condition.

Abstract: A main bore is drilled and a treatment assembly is located. A packer is located to support a whipstock for drilling the lateral. This packer serves as a lower seal on a main bore diverter. The whipstock is installed on the packer and a mill drills a window and the lateral. The mill is pulled and the whipstock removed with a fixed lug tool. A bottom hole assembly is run into the lateral which includes a diverter that is landed by the window. If cementing is called for it is done at this time. A top string is installed that isolates the upper casing. The lateral is treated with the main bore isolated. The diverter is retrieved through the top string. The main bore diverter is run in through top string and landed in the junction with the window and lateral isolated. The main bore diverter is removed through the top string. The treatment bottom hole assembly has a series of sliding sleeves operated by a single size ball.

Abstract: Fracking ports are initially obstructed with respective biased sleeves that have an associated release device responsive to a unique signal. The signal can be electronic or magnetic and delivered in a ball or dart that is dropped or pumped past a sensor associated with each release device. Each sensor is responsive to a unique signal. When the signal is received the release device allows the bias to shift the sleeve to open the fracture port and to let a flapper get biased onto an associated seat. The flapper and seat are preferably made from a material that eventually disappears leaving an unobstructed flow path in the passage. The method calls for repeating the process in an uphole direction until the entire zone is fractured. The flapper and seat can dissolve or otherwise disappear with well fluids, thermal effects, or added fluids to the well.

Abstract: A re-fracturing method involves placement and centralization of a liner string that has shaped charges at predetermined locations that are externally isolated with packers. The shaped charges can be set off in a desired order and re-fracturing can then take place in new locations. In a bottom up order for perforating sequentially larger balls can be landed on seats and developed pressure or component movement generated by applying pressure can be used to set a shaped charge and isolate portions of the borehole below. The balls and even the seats can be later milled out or just allowed to disintegrate or dissolve with well fluids that are present or later added to clear the liner for subsequent production. Alternatively, the liner could be removed by release of the packers before production or injection begins.

Abstract: A well treatment fluid uses ingredients that include an aqueous base, a non-associative, ionic, synthetic polymer, and optionally, at least one metal crosslinker. The polymer contains a backbone and a functional group that hinders hydrolysis of the backbone. The functional group is distributed at intervals on the backbone. A well treatment method includes forming a well treatment fluid by combining ingredients including a non-associative, ionic, synthetic polymer and a first aqueous base. The first fluid exhibits a first viscosity greater than a viscosity of the first aqueous base. The method includes treating a well during a stage using the first fluid exhibiting the first viscosity. A second well treatment fluid is formed by combining ingredients including the polymer, a second aqueous base, and at least one crosslinker and by crosslinking the synthetic polymer. The method includes treating the well during another stage using the second fluid exhibiting the second viscosity.

Abstract: A watermelon mill has a cutting structure mounted on a removable sleeve. The mandrel can be in two pieces threaded together to trap a ring or lug extending internally from the sleeve. Alternatively the sleeve can serve as a coupling holding together opposed threaded components that then make up the mandrel. The mandrel can have a radial external shoulder to act as a sleeve travel stop and another sleeve can be pushed into the first sleeve that has the cutting structure on it for proper axial fixation. The second sleeve that does not have cutting structure is pushed into position by making up an adjacent pin and box combination at a nearby connection to the cutting structure. What results is a flexible assembly that assembles without welding and retains greater flexibility in the larger sizes due to the assembly method. The sleeve can be tossed when the cutting structure is spent or redressed and remounted for another use.

Abstract: Nuclear magnetic resonance apparatuses and methods for estimating properties of an earth formation are provided. An apparatus includes a carrier configured to be deployed in a borehole, at least one transmitting assembly configured to generate an oscillating magnetic field in a volume of interest within the earth formation, at least one receiving assembly configured to detect a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) signal originating in the volume of interest; and a magnet assembly configured to generate a static magnetic field in the formation from a primary side of the magnet assembly. The magnet assembly includes an array of longitudinally elongated magnets having a rotating pattern of magnetic orientations, the array configured to generate the static magnetic field in the volume of interest, and the static magnetic field strength is higher at the primary side than the field strength at a side of the magnet assembly that is opposite the primary side.

Abstract: A device and method for selectively closing and opening a flow path through a sealing element. The device includes second and third tubulars positioned within a bore of a first tubular. A sealing element having a bore is positioned between the second and third tubulars within the bore of the first tubular. The sealing element may be connected to one or both of the tubulars. Bores of the second and third tubulars communicate with the bore of the sealing element to provide a flow path. Movement of the third tubular with respect to the second tubular buckles the sealing element inward to selectively close a portion of the flow path. The third tubular may be moved away from the second tubular to reopen the flow path. The sealing element may engage a structure within the bore of the sealing element to selectively close the flow path through the sealing element.

Abstract: Compositions for suspending proppants in a hydraulic fracture of a subterranean formation involve a carrier fluid, a plurality of proppants, and a plurality of compressible, three-dimensional anti-settling agents. A method of using the compositions includes hydraulically fracturing the subterranean formation to form fractures in the formation; during and/or after hydraulically fracturing the subterranean formation, introducing proppants into the fractures; during and/or after hydraulically fracturing the subterranean formation, introducing the compressible, three-dimensional anti-settling agents into the fractures where the agents are at least partially compressed before or during the introducing so that they may flow into the fractures. The compressed agents expand after they are in the fractures. The expanded three-dimensional anti-settling agents contact and inhibit or prevent the proppant from settling by gravity within the fractures.

Abstract: A debris catcher can include an anchor connected to the wellbore tubular and a filter fixed to the anchor. The filter is positioned in a bore of the wellbore tubular and has an disintegrable accelerator material located in a carrier body. The debris catcher formed at least partially of a disintegrable accelerator material located in a carrier body is conveyed in a wellbore tubular. The disintegrable accelerator material is exposed to a downhole material in a subterranean fluid flowing through the wellbore tubular. The debris catcher filters the downhole material. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the general subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: A fracturing system including a plug having a solid mandrel preventing fluid flow therepast when set. A setting tool in operable communication with the plug; and a perforating gun disposed adjacent to the setting tool. A method for fracturing a formation.

Abstract: An equalizer valve is hydraulically operated by a pair of control lines running from a remote location such as a well surface. The use of control lines to make a mandrel or piston move in opposed directions removes the need for a spring or compressed gas to act as a spring against the anticipated hydrostatic force in a single control line system that is dependent on setting depth. The equalizer valve with its pair of control lines is insensitive to setting depth. Three seals on the mandrel are used to move the mandrel with the two control lines in opposed directions and to apply a net force to the mandrel. The seal applying the net closure force is exposed to a low or atmospheric chamber to make the second seal operate reliably using a large differential.

Abstract: An embodiment of a gripping arrangement includes a mandrel having an axially extending groove therein, a first slip ring about the mandrel, a first cone about the mandrel spaced from the first slip ring, and a key engaged with the groove such that the key is axially movable and rotationally fixed relative to the mandrel. The key is disposed to maintain the spacing between the first slip ring and the first cone. The gripping arrangement also includes a release feature releasably interconnected with the key and method.

Abstract: A mandrel and a packer outer assembly are formed to create spring compartments on opposed sides of a sealing element. The outer assembly is shear pinned to the mandrel to minimize spring travel during setting. Once set in the normal way the presence of the springs transfers load and sustained loads through the connected tubular string in either direction. A load coming from downhole and acting in an uphole direction first compresses the spring located uphole from the sealing assembly so that the loading goes behind the sealing assembly and into the upper spring and ultimately to the upper slips. The reverse happens when the force is coming from uphole of the sealing assembly and acting in a downhole direction. The springs can be a coil, a stack of Belleville washers, fluid pushed through an orifice, a resilient material or a contained compressible fluid, to name some examples.

Abstract: An electrical submersible pump assembly has a motor with a stator stack of limitations. The stack has slots through which magnet wires are wound. An encapsulate surrounds and bonds the magnet wires together within each slot. The encapsulate includes ceramic particles within a polymer adhesive matrix. The polymer matrix may be a fluoropolymer adhesive. Each of the magnet wires may have an electrical insulation layer surrounding a copper core. The ceramic particles are rounded and much smaller than a cross-sectional area of each of the magnet wires. At least some of the magnet wires may be in contact with a perimeter of the slot. The ceramic particles may be porous.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a conveyance device having a flow bore, an isolator forming a testing volume at least partially defined by an inner surface of a wellbore tubular, and one or more pressure sensors generating signals representative of a pressure in the testing volume while the conveyance device moves the isolator axially through the wellbore tubular. The isolator substantially isolates a testing fluid received from the flow bore in the testing volume from an adjacent bore of the wellbore tubular. A location of at least one flow path in the wellbore tubular is identified by estimating a pressure of the testing fluid in the testing volume. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the general subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for evaluating an earth formation. Methods may include conveying the carrier into a formation borehole; and using measure electrodes, in one mode of measurement, to make current measurements by applying a voltage to each measure electrode in a first set of sensor arrays while making first current measurements; and applying another high frequency voltage to each measure electrode in a second set of sensor arrays while making second current measurements. Optionally, methods include using the measure electrodes, in another mode of measurement, to make further resistivity measurements by applying a voltage to each measure electrode in both sets of sensor arrays while making third current measurements. Methods include combining first current measurements, second current measurements, and third current measurements to simulate a virtual impedance for each measure electrode. Optionally, any two consecutive sensor arrays around the circumference of the tool body are in different sets.