Abstract: An apparatus for use in a wellbore includes a drill string section, a drive shaft disposed in the drill string section, a bearing assembly connected to the drive shaft, and an alignment assembly connecting the bearing assembly to the drill string section. The alignment assembly has a first alignment member and a second alignment member slidingly engaging one another to allow at least a portion of the bearing assembly to tilt relative to the drill string section. A related method includes the steps of positioning a drive shaft in a drill string section; connecting a bearing assembly to the drive shaft using the alignment assembly, the alignment assembly having a first alignment member and a second alignment member; and allowing at least a portion of the bearing assembly to tilt relative to the drill string section using the alignment assembly by having the first alignment member and the second alignment member slidingly engage one another.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a volumetry method is provided. The method can include receiving one or more 2D images of a site including one or more containers configured to hold a liquid, the 2D images being acquired at a first time. The method can also include identifying a container within the 2D images. The method can further include selecting an identified container within the 2D images for volumetric analysis based upon a degree of occlusion of its front facing surface. The method can additionally include classifying a portion of the selected container containing the liquid. The method can further include determining the volume of liquid held within the container based upon the classified portion.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an output signal from a conductive element configured within a dielectric material. The conductive element can have an input voltage applied thereto and the output signal can include a plurality of signal amplitudes indicative of electric charges discharged across a gap between the conductive element and the dielectric material in response to the applied input voltage. The method can also include determining charge characterization data and classifying a material and a geometry of the conductive element and/or the dielectric material. The classification can include an operational state of the conductive element and/or the dielectric material. Related systems, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer readable mediums are also described.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method includes receiving data characterizing an alarm event report associated with a first industrial machine generated by a first user via a first web-based graphical user interface (GUI). The first web-based GUI associated with an enterprise monitoring system of an industrial enterprise that includes the first industrial machine. The alarm event report includes at least a portion of an event dataset including information of an alarm event associated with the first industrial machine, and an identity of a second user assigned to work on the alarm event report by the first user. The method further includes providing the alarm event report to a second web-based graphical user interface (GUI) associated with the enterprise monitoring system. The method also includes receiving, via a first GUI of a first monitoring system, data characterizing additional information associated with the alarm event and/or edits to the event dataset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for target inspection are provided. The system includes a camera, at least one sensor, and a controller. The camera acquires images of a target over time and the sensor(s) acquire motion data characterizing camera and target movement. The controller generates, using a first computer vision (CV) algorithm, an initial prediction and confidence level regarding an object of interest for a first image acquired at a first time. The controller also determines, using the motion data, a motion parameter characterizing relative motion between the camera and the target at the first time. The controller additionally receives a weighting based upon a second image acquired at a second time prior to the first time. The controller generates, using a second CV algorithm, a final prediction and confidence level for the first image based upon the first image, the initial prediction and confidence level, the motion parameter, and the weighting.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enabling communication in a downhole power and communications system installed in a well, where one or more components of a wired backbone of the system have failed. Equipment positioned at the surface of a well is connected to a wired power and communication backbone that has one or more conductors and one or more nodes with standardized interfaces that enable downhole devices to be interchangeably connected to the wired backbone. When the wired backbone has failed at one or more points, preventing wired communications between the surface equipment and one or more downhole devices installed at the nodes, one or more wireless-enabled modules are installed at corresponding nodes of the wired backbone to establish wireless channels that bridge the failed portion of the wired backbone and thereby enable communication between the surface equipment and the downhole devices.

Abstract: A method of improving rheological properties of a divalent brine based downhole treatment fluid at an elevated temperature comprises adding to the divalent brine based downhole treatment fluid a rheological modifier, which comprises a carboxylic acid ester, or a phosphate ester blended with an ethoxylated glycol, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing in an amount effective to improve the rheological properties of the divalent brine based downhole treatment fluid at a temperature of greater than about 200° F. The divalent brine based downhole treatment fluid comprises calcium bromide, calcium chloride, zinc bromide, zinc chloride, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

Abstract: A pumping system includes a motor and a drive shaft configured for rotation by the motor. The pumping system includes an upper pump positioned above the motor, an upper pump shaft and an upper directional coupling connected between the drive shaft and the upper pump shaft. The upper directional coupling is configured to lock the upper pump shaft to the drive shaft when the drive shaft is rotated in a first direction. The pumping system further includes a lower pump positioned below the motor, a lower pump shaft, and a lower directional coupling connected between the drive shaft and the lower pump shaft. The lower directional coupling is configured to lock the lower pump shaft to the drive shaft when the drive shaft is rotated in a second direction.

Abstract: A system for performing downhole logging operations includes a conductor coil configured to alternate between producing a magnetic field and measuring a magnetic field induced in a formation, a power supply couplable to the conductor coil for providing an electrical control current to conductor coil, and a signal acquisition system couplable to the conductor coil. The system further includes a permanent magnet coupled to the conductor coil, and a multi-state switch operable in a first state and a second state. In the first state, the conductor coil is coupled to an output of the power supply and decoupled from an input of the signal acquisition system. In the second state, the conductor coil is coupled to the input of acquisition electronics and decoupled from the output of the power supply.

Abstract: A method for estimating a parameter relating to solids recovered from a wellbore includes drilling a wellbore using a bottomhole assembly; conveying solids in the wellbore to the surface using drilling fluid; separating the drilling fluid from the solids; and continuously dropping the solids into a solids evaluator positioned above a dryer. The solids evaluator includes a chute having a vertically aligned bore in which the dropped solids reach a constant velocity, a sensor assembly generating a microwave field, and a control unit. The control unit estimates a mass flow rate of the solids based on the generated signals. The method may further include generating the signals representative of a mass flow rate of the dropped solids using the sensor assembly and using the control unit to estimate the mass flow rate of the solids based on the generated signals.

Abstract: An ultrasonic inspection system includes an ultrasonic probe and an analyzer. The probe includes a flexible delay line and an ultrasonic transducer array at a first delay line end. A second delay line end can contact a target. The analyzer can receive ultrasonic echoes from the ultrasonic transducers representing amplitude of ultrasonic signals reflected from the target as a function of time from transmission. The analyzer determines a maximum amplitude of the echoes received by each transducer, scale the maximum amplitudes based upon a greatest maximum amplitude, and bin the scaled maximum amplitudes. The analyzer assigns each bin a color and generate a C-scan based upon the scaled amplitudes. Each C-scan pixel can correspond to at least one transducer, and the relative position of each C-scan pixel can correspond to the relative position of the ultrasonic transducer represented by the pixel. Each pixel can be displayed with its assigned color.

Abstract: A cutting element comprises a supporting substrate, a cutting table comprising a hard material attached to the supporting substrate, and a fluid flow pathway extending through the supporting substrate and the cutting table. The fluid flow pathway is configured to direct fluid delivered to an outermost boundary of the supporting substrate through internal regions of the supporting substrate and the cutting table. A method of forming a cutting element and an earth-boring tool are also described.

Abstract: A method includes receiving data characterizing a target surface extending in three dimensions. The method also includes rendering in a graphical user interface display space, a first visual representation including a two-dimensional image of a first portion of the target surface, and a second visual representation including a three-dimensional representation of at least a subset of the first portion of the target surface included in the first visual representation. The method further includes receiving, based on a first user interaction with the three-dimensional representation via a cursor configured to move over the three-dimensional representation, a first user input indicative of selection of a first location of the target surface. The method also includes rendering a first graphical object at a first target position in the three-dimensional representation and a second graphical object at a second target position in the two-dimensional image.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining a dielectric measurement of a portion of a downhole formation. The method also includes processing the dielectric measurement via a trained machine learning system. The method further includes determining at least one of a classification or a textural parameter simultaneously with formation water saturation of the downhole formation, via the machine learning system, based at least in part on the dielectric measurement. The machine learning system is based on a pre-determined dataset from previous measurements or simulated results of synthetic cases. The method determining the correlation between water saturation and formation texture through a frequency cascading training process based on sensitivity of complex dielectric spectrum with respect to desired parameters including water saturation and texture parameter. The method also includes assigning at least one of the classification or the textural parameter to the downhole formation.

Abstract: It has been discovered that contaminants such as metals and/or amines can be transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble C5-C12 polyhydroxy carboxylic acids, ammonium salts thereof, alkali metal salts thereof, and mixtures of all of these. The composition may also optionally include a mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. The method permits transfer of metals and/or amines into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase undercarry into the aqueous phase. Resolving the emulsion into the hydrocarbon phase and the aqueous phase occurs in a refinery desalting process using electrostatic coalescence. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom. The polyhydroxy carboxylic acid additionally inhibits metal corrosion of metal pipe or other equipment used in a crude unit.

Abstract: An element backup including a first ring defining an axis; a first parting line through the first ring, the first parting line having a first plurality of generally axially extending segments and a first generally non-axially extending segment extending between the first plurality of axially extending segments; a second ring defining an axis; a second parting line through the second ring, the second parting line having a second plurality of generally axially extending segments and a second generally non-axially extending segment extending between the second plurality of axially extending segments; and an interconnection releasably securing the first and second rings to one another.

Abstract: A photogrammetry system includes a memory, a processor, and a geo-positioning device. The geo-positioning device outputs telemetry regarding a vehicle on which one or more cameras are mounted. The processor can receive first telemetry from the geo-positioning device characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a first time, camera specification(s) regarding the cameras, photogrammetric requirement(s) for captured images, and a last camera trigger time. The processor can determine a next trigger time for the cameras based upon the received telemetry, camera specification(s), photogrammetric requirement(s), and last trigger time. The processor can transmit a trigger signal to the camera(s) and the geo-positioning device to cause the camera(s) to acquire images of a target and the geo-positioning device to store second vehicle telemetry data characterizing the vehicle telemetry at a second time that is after the first time and during acquisition of the images.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating pressure variances in a fluid flowing in a downhole tool having a longitudinal axis includes a flow section having an outer wall, a flow control member selectively blocking flow in the flow section, and an actuator moving the flow control member between a first position wherein the flow control member at least partially blocks flow in the flow section and a second position wherein the flow control member reduces the at least partial blockage of the flow in the flow section. The actuator may be disposed outside the outer wall of the flow section.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining proper phase rotation in a linear motor that may be used in an ESP system, where the phase rotations associated with power and return strokes are initially unknown. The method includes providing power to the motor for multiple cycles and monitoring the load (e.g., by monitoring current drawn by the motor) on the motor to determine in which direction (phase rotation) the load on the motor increases. This direction corresponds to the power stroke of the motor. The direction of increasing load is then associated with the power stroke and the motor is operated normally.