Abstract: A composition of matter includes a liquid and nanoparticles suspended in the liquid. The nanoparticles each include silica, alumina, and an organosilicon functional group having a molecular weight of at least 200. A method includes functionalizing a surface of nanoparticles with an organosilicon functional group and dispersing the nanoparticles in a liquid to form a suspension. The functional group has a molecular weight of at least 200. The nanoparticles each include silica and alumina at a surface thereof.

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, Al, 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, Al, W, and C. A method of forming a cutting element, a cutting element, a related structure, and an earth-boring tool are also described.

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: Methods, systems, devices, and products for ultrasonic borehole logging using an ultrasonic borehole imaging tool in a borehole intersecting the earth formation. Methods may include adjusting a focus for an ultrasonic beam generated from a single-transducer ultrasonic assembly of the ultrasonic imaging tool; using a receiver to generate measurement information responsive to an ultrasonic signal caused by the ultrasonic beam; and estimating a parameter of interest from the measurement information. Methods may include adjusting the focus in dependence upon environmental conditions, the environmental conditions comprising at least one of: i) standoff between the ultrasonic imaging tool and a wall of the borehole; and ii) borehole annulus conditions. Methods may include adjusting the focus in substantially real-time. The ultrasonic beam may be focused with a focal zone at the borehole wall configured to produce a beam spot size of a selected diameter.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a wellbore includes a downhole tool, a fuel cell, a pressure applicator, and a desiccant. The wellbore has a wellbore fluid at hydrostatic pressure. The downhole tool is conveyed into the wellbore with a conveyance device. The fuel cell is associated with the downhole tool and receives a flow of an oxidant and a flow of hydrogen. The pressure applicator applies at least a portion of the hydrostatic pressure of the wellbore fluid to the fuel cell to increase a pressure applied to the fuel cell. The desiccant receives a fluid byproduct produced by the fuel cell.

Abstract: A segmented backup ring including a plurality of individual segments each having curved surfaces that define an arcuate portion of the ring, each segment including a body section having the arcuate profile and defining a receptacle therein having a circumferential dimension, a projection section having a head portion and a neck portion and extending from the body section in a circumferential direction of the ring, the projection section being receivable and retainable in the receptacle of an adjacent segment body section, and the head portion having a dimension in line with the circumferential direction of the ring that is shorter than the circumferential dimension of the receptacle.

Abstract: A well fluid centrifugal pump has a shaft passage in the shaft. The shaft passage has an open upper end above the impellers and a closed lower end below the impellers. An outlet port extends laterally from the shaft passage. A gas-lock re-priming device in the shaft passage diverts a portion of well fluid in the discharge adapter bore through the shaft passage and out the outlet port. The re-priming device may be a pressure actuated valve that is biased to a closed position and opens when the pressure in the discharge adapter bore drops below a minimum. Alternately, the re-priming device may be an orifice member with an orifice passage that continuously diverts a portion of the well fluid in the discharge adapter bore out the outlet port.

Abstract: Sensing systems include a tube defining a Fabry-Perot cavity and an optical fiber including a distal end disposed within the Fabry-Perot cavity and a proximal end. A corrodible material caps the Fabry-Perot cavity. Devices for sensing corrosion of downhole equipment include an optical fiber with a corrodible material disposed over a distal end of the optical fiber. Systems for sensing a condition in equipment include an optical fiber with a fiber Bragg grating proximate a distal end thereof and a mass of sensor material coupled to the distal end of the optical fiber. The mass of sensor material is suspended from above the fiber Bragg grating. Other systems for sensing a condition in a wellbore include an optical fiber and a plurality of fiber Bragg gratings along a length thereof. A plurality of sensor materials are coupled to the optical fiber and surround respective fiber Bragg gratings.

Abstract: An extraction solvent comprised of one or more ethyleneamines having structure (I), (II), or (III): where R1-R6 can independently be H, C1-C4 linear or branched alkyl, amido (RRNC?O), or hydroxyalkyl, where each R in the amido group independently H or C1 alkyl, and where x ranges from 1 to 6, may be contacted with a hydrocarbon stream to remove or extract non-acidic contaminants, such as thiophenes, benzothiophenes, alkyl sulfides, alkyl disulfides, mercaptans, aromatics, oxygenates, metals, olefins, and combinations thereof, from the hydrocarbon stream. The extraction solvent may include co-solvents and the hydrocarbon stream may be in gas and/or liquid form.

Abstract: A hydraulic tool includes a rotor rotatably disposed within a stator. At least an inner portion of the stator and/or at least an outer portion of the rotor is configured to be installed in a drill string in either of two inverted orientations along a longitudinal axis of the hydraulic tool. The rotor is configured to rotate within the stator in either of the two orientations. A method includes disposing a rotor within a cavity defined by a stator, passing a fluid through the stator to rotate the rotor, and reversing the stator or the rotor. A drilling system includes a fluid source, a hydraulic tool, a drive shaft operatively associated with the rotor of the hydraulic tool, and a drill bit operatively associated with the drive shaft.

Abstract: A system for slowly releasing an oil-soluble well treatment agent into a well or a subterranean formation includes a composite of the oil-soluble well treatment agent associated with a second component. The amount of the oil-soluble well treatment agent in the composite is from 20 to 35 weight percent and the average particle size of the oil-soluble well treatment agent in the composite is less than or equal to 1 micrometer. The composite may further contain a water-soluble well treatment agent.

Abstract: A method of demulsifying an emulsion with an ionic liquid having a nitrogen or phosphorus cation.

Abstract: A method of treating a well or a subterranean formation with an aqueous treatment fluid containing one or more oil-soluble, water-insoluble well treatment agents. The fluid includes an aqueous dispersion containing the well treatment agent in an amount from 25 to 60 weight percent. The volume average particle diameter of the oil-soluble well treatment agent in the fluid may be less than or equal to 2.5 microns. The fluid may further contain a water-soluble well treatment agent.

Abstract: A submersible well pump has diffusers fixed within the housing and an impeller mounted between each of the diffusers. Spacer sleeves located between and in abutment with hubs of adjacent ones of the impellers define a stack wherein the impellers rotate in unison with the shaft and are axially movable in unison with each other relative to the shaft. A stop shoulder on the shaft abuts the lower end of the stack. A spring mounted in compression around the shaft in abutment with the upper end of the stack urges the lower end of the stack against the stop shoulder. Upward movement of the stack requires further compression of the spring. Up thrust and down thrust gaps between each impeller and adjacent diffusers prevent up thrust and down thrust from being transferred to any of the diffusers.

Abstract: A method of forming a polycrystalline diamond compact includes forming a polycrystalline diamond material at a temperature and a pressure sufficient to form diamond-to-diamond bonds in the presence of a catalyst; substantially removing the catalyst from a volume of the polycrystalline diamond material from a first surface to a first leach depth; and substantially removing the catalyst from a volume of the polycrystalline diamond material from a second surface to a second, different leach depth. A polycrystalline diamond compact includes a polycrystalline diamond material having a first volume, a second volume, and a boundary between the first volume and the second volume. The first volume includes a catalyst disposed in interstitial spaces between diamond grains. The second volume is substantially free of the catalyst. The boundary's location is selected to control thermal stability and/or impact resistance.

Abstract: A scavenger comprising a formaldehyde sulfoxylate may be used to scavenge hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from systems that are brine or mixed production. Suitable formaldehyde sulfoxylates include, but are not necessarily limited to, sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate, zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate, and calcium formaldehyde sulfoxylate, potassium formaldehyde sulfoxylate, magnesium formaldehyde sulfoxylate, iron formaldehyde sulfoxylate, copper formaldehyde sulfoxylate, alkene aldehyde sulfoxylates, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: An earth-boring tool having at least one cutting element with a multi-friction cutting face provides for the steering of formation cuttings as the cuttings slide across the cutting face. The multi-friction cutting element includes a diamond table bonded to a substrate of superabrasive material. The diamond table has a cutting face formed thereon with a cutting edge extending along a periphery of the cutting face. The cutting face has a first area having an average surface finish roughness less than an average surface finish roughness of a second area of the cutting face, the two areas separated by a boundary having a proximal end proximate a tool crown and a distal end remote from the tool crown.

Abstract: A gas sensing tube includes an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a passage. A sensor node is arranged along the sensing tube. The sensor node includes an inlet fluidically connected to the passage, an outlet fluidically connected to the passage, and an interior chamber arranged between the inlet and the outlet. A sensor cable extends along the sensing tube. The sensor cable includes a first conduit having a first connector coupled to the sensor node at the inlet and a second conduit having a second connector connected to the sensor node at the outlet. The sensor cable has a first conductor extending through the first conduit and being coupled to the first connector and a second conductor extending through the second conduit and being coupled to the second connector.

Abstract: Methods and devices for estimating at least one property of a volume of interest of an earth formation from a radiation based measurement. Methods include using an optimization procedure to determine an optimal mineralogical model in dependence upon a secondary dependence relation between tool measurements, the mineralogical model including a mineralogical composition of the volume. The secondary dependence relation may include a relation between a plurality of estimated elemental concentrations for the volume. The mineralogical composition may include a concentration of each mineral of a plurality of minerals of the volume. The relation may include a ratio of a first elemental concentration of the plurality of estimated elemental concentrations and a second elemental concentration of the plurality of estimated elemental concentrations. Methods may include using at least one cost function to determine the optimal mineralogical model, wherein the at least one cost function is determined using the relation.

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.