Abstract: A method of synchronizing a cross-compound generator system on one or more turning gears during startup includes determining, via a notch monitor controller, first and second angular velocities, respectively, of a first and a second rotor. The method also includes simultaneously exciting, via the notch monitor controller, the first and second rotors to attain electromechanical coupling therebetween. The method further includes determining, via the notch monitor controller, a value of a time at which a calibration value of an offset is a constant value, where the offset is representative of a phase alignment of the first rotor relative to the second rotor, and where the offset is indicative of a successful electromechanical coupling therebetween. The method also includes disengaging the one or more turning gears from the cross-compound generator system.

Abstract: A hybrid rotary drill bit having at least one fixed blade and at least one rolling cutter assembly is configured for reverse fluid flow from an annulus, through junk slots and into a fluid pathway system located substantially centrally to a bit body. The fluid pathway system may be located underneath a portion of the at least one fixed blade.

Abstract: An earth-boring tool includes a tool body configured to rotate in a wellbore and carrying at least one extendable element. The at least one extendable element is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position projecting radially beyond the tool body. The at least one extendable element has a mating surface. The earth-boring tool includes a support structure located in the tool body and having a support surface that is located and configured to face the mating surface of the at least one extendable element when the at least one extendable element is in the extended position. The support surface of the support structure is configured to bear at least a portion of the tangential forces acting on the extendable element during rotation of the earth-boring tool in the wellbore when the at least one extendable element is in the extended position.

Abstract: A drill bit comprises a bit body having a longitudinal axis and a blade extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region and axially along a gauge region. A gauge region includes a cutting element located proximate to an uphole edge of the blade in the gauge region. A remainder of the gauge region is free of cutting elements mounted thereon. A method of drilling a borehole comprises rotating the bit about the longitudinal axis, engaging a formation with cutting elements mounted to the face region, and increasing a lateral force applied substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the cutting element engages the formation and such that side cutting exhibited by the tool is initially minimal and substantially constant and subsequently increases in a substantially linear manner with increasing lateral force.

Abstract: A method of ultrasonic inspection includes generating, by a phased array ultrasonic probe, a first ultrasonic beam propagating in a fluid and incident at a first angle to a target surface in response to receipt of first instructions. Ultrasonic echoes from first beam reflection by the target are measured and corresponding ultrasonic measurement signals are output. At least one environmental sensor measures at least one fluid property and outputs corresponding environmental signals. One or more processors determine a current speed of sound within the fluid from the ultrasonic measurement signals and environmental signals. Second instructions including a second angle are generated by the processors, based on the current speed of sound, when the current speed of sound differs from a predetermined speed of sound by more than a speed threshold. The ultrasonic probe generates a second ultrasonic beam at the second angle in response to receipt of the second instructions.

Abstract: A pressure calibration system includes a manual pump and pressure adjustment subsystem. The pump outputs pressurized fluid to the adjustment subsystem in response to manual actuation. The adjustment subsystem is configured to automatically adjust the pressure in fine increments after the manual pump pressurizes the fluid within a tolerance range of a pressure set point. A user interface is further configured generate annunciations regarding the fluid pressure.

Abstract: A method of forming a supporting substrate for a cutting element comprises forming a precursor composition comprising discrete WC particles, a binding agent, and discrete particles comprising Co, one or more of Al, Be, Ga, Ge, Si, and Sn, and one or more of C and W. The precursor composition is subjected to a consolidation process to form a consolidated structure including WC particles dispersed in a homogenized binder comprising Co, W, C, and one or more of Al, Be, Ga, Ge, Si, and Sn. A method of forming a cutting element, a cutting element, a related structure, and an earth-boring tool are also described.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an aqueous acidizing fluid. In addition to an acid, the fluid contains an organophosphorus surfactant and/or an acid retarder. The organophosphorus surfactant may be an amino phosphonate or a phosphino carboxylate. The acid retarder comprises the combination of urea or a urea derivative and a bifunctional organic compound. Suitable bifunctional organic compounds contain at least one quaternary ammonium or phosphonium and at least one alcohol as well as salts of nitrogen containing heterocyclic rings.

Abstract: Methods for welding a particle-matrix composite body to another body and repairing particle-matrix composite bodies are disclosed. Additionally, earth-boring tools having a joint that includes an overlapping root portion and a weld groove having a face portion with a first bevel portion and a second bevel portion are disclosed. In some embodiments, a particle-matrix bit body of an earth-boring tool may be repaired by removing a damaged portion, heating the particle-matrix composite bit body, and forming a built-up metallic structure thereon. In other embodiments, a particle-matrix composite body may be welded to a metallic body by forming a joint, heating the particle-matrix composite body, melting a metallic filler material forming a weld bead and cooling the welded particle-matrix composite body, metallic filler material and metallic body at a controlled rate.

Abstract: Methods for forming fixed-cutter earth-boring drill bits include retrieving a forged steel drill bit body from an inventory of substantially identical forged steel drill bit bodies including fixed blades and junk slots between the fixed blades. Cutter pockets are formed in the blades. Nozzle holes are formed in the drill bit body to provide fluid communication from an interior of the forged steel drill bit body to the junk slots. Additional methods include forging first and second steel drill bit bodies substantially identical in shape and configuration, forming first cutter pockets in the first steel drill bit body in a first configuration, and forming second cutter pockets in the second steel drill bit body in a second, different configuration.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a formulation and methods for simultaneously dissolving metal sulfide scales, inhibiting acid gas corrosion, and inhibiting the formation of calcite and barite in a system having low or high shear stress conditions due to fluid movement, in which the formulation contains a THP+salt, one or more corrosion inhibitors, one or more scale inhibitors, and one or more acid corrosion inhibitors. The formulation may be applied to the system in diluted or undiluted form, and continuously or in batch style.

Abstract: A method of reducing water saturation onto surfaces exposed to hydrocarbons during the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations by altering the wettability of the surface of the formation with surface modified nanoparticles.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling curved and straight sections of a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a drilling assembly configured to include a drill bit at an end thereof that can be rotated by a drive in the drilling assembly and by the rotation of the drilling assembly, and wherein the drilling assembly includes: a deflection device that (i) tilts a section of the drilling assembly within a selected plane when the drilling assembly is substantially rotationally stationary to allow drilling of a curved section of the wellbore by rotating the drill bit by the drive; and (ii) straightens the section of the drilling assembly when the drilling assembly is rotated to allow drilling of a straight section of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for evaluating or improving performance of a drilling operation includes, during the drilling operation, receiving a performance parameter of a component of a drilling system measured by a sensor of the drilling system. The measured performance parameter is compared to a target performance parameter of the component of the drilling system. The target performance parameter includes a performance parameter of a prior drilling operation measured under substantially similar drilling conditions and measured at at least one of substantially a same drilling depth, substantially a same depth percent, and substantially a same drilling time. A performance attribute value is determined by calculating a normalized, weighted average difference between the measured performance parameter and the target performance parameter.

Abstract: An autonomous vehicle and a suspension for the autonomous vehicle are provided. The suspension may include first and second support legs pivotally coupled to a body of the autonomous vehicle at respective pivot points, and extending in opposing directions to contact a surface upon which the autonomous vehicle moves. A biasing element biases the support legs towards the surface. A coupler couples the support legs to cause pivotal movement of one of the support legs to be mirrored in the other support leg. The coupler may cause the support legs to maintain a centerline, which extends equidistantly between the pivot points and through a sensor mounted to an underside of the body, perpendicular to the surface as the support legs pivot during movement of the autonomous vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating pressure variances in a flowing fluid includes a first member having a body and a second member. The second member is displaceable about a rotational axis to at least partially block fluid flow through one or more channels in the first member and at least partially reduce the blockage of this fluid flow. The second member has a hub and at least one section extending axially and radially from the hub relative to the rotational axis of the second member. A related method includes guiding fluid across the first member using the channel(s); selectively blocking the fluid flow through the channel(s) using at least one section of a second member; and moving the second member using an actuator to reduce the blockage of the flow of fluid through the channel(s).

Abstract: A drill bit for removing subterranean formation material in a borehole comprises a bit body comprising a longitudinal axis, a plurality of blades extending radially outward from the longitudinal axis along a face region of the bit body and extending axially along a gauge region of the bit body, and an insert coupled to at least one blade in the gauge region. The insert comprises an elongated body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a longitudinal axis extending centrally therethrough and intersecting the upper and lower surfaces. The upper surface comprises a bearing surface for supporting for the drill bit and providing a surface on which the subterranean formation being drilled rubs against the insert without exceeding the compressive strength of the selected formation. The insert is coupled to the blade such that the upper surface thereof extends radially beyond an outer surface of the blade and the lower surface thereof extends radially below the outer surface of the blade.

Abstract: Method includes recovering a stimulating fluid, which includes transferring working fluid having the stimulating fluid from an operating site (102) to a current temporary processing facility (TPF) (110) that is located remotely with respect to the operating site in the geographical region. After purifying the working fluid at the current TPF (110), thereby providing the stimulating fluid, the stimulating fluid is transferred from the current TPF to an injection site (103) that is located remotely with respect to the current TPF and the operating site. The method also includes transporting fluid-handling equipment after a designated condition has been satisfied. The fluid-handling equipment is transported from the current TPF (110) to a new TPF (110). The recovering of the stimulating fluid, the transferring of the stimulating fluid, and the transporting of the fluid-handling equipment is repeated a plurality of times. The current and new TPFs are at different locations within the geographical region.

Abstract: Metals, such as mercury, may be removed from glycol fluids by applying a sulfur compound having the general formula HS—X, wherein X is a heteroatom-substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, and/or alkylaryl group either alone or in combination with or as a blend with at least one antifoam additive, at least one demulsifier and/or a buffering agent, to chelate the at least one metal and form a chelate complex of the sulfur compound with the at least one metal and then separating the chelate complex from the fluid.

Abstract: A telemetry system is provided for a coiled tubing-based work string and includes electrical transmission of power and data between sensors in a bottom hole assembly and a controller. One or more optic fibers are used to provide distributed temperature or acoustic sensing along the length of the work string.