Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evaluating a volume of an earth formation wherein the volume comprises a fluid-saturated rock matrix including clay particles. Methods include making measurements of complex permittivity at a plurality of frequencies using an electromagnetic tool in a borehole penetrating the earth formation; and estimating a plurality of parameters of interest simultaneously using the measurements at the plurality of frequencies and a mixing model accounting for electrical effects on the measurements caused by the clay particles. The plurality may include at least: i) water saturation; and ii) resistivity of formation water. Parameters of interest may comprise at least one of: i) an electrical parameter of the volume; and ii) a textural parameter of the volume. Methods may include modeling for electrical effects caused by at least one of: i) a surface conductivity of the clay particles; and ii) a textural property of the clay particles.

Abstract: A treatment composition may contact an oil-based mud (OBM) filter cake formed over at least part of a wellbore for cleaning the filter cake by incorporating more oil and/or filter cake particles into the treatment composition as compared to an otherwise identical filter cake absent the treatment composition. The treatment composition may include, but is not limited to, a surfactant, an aqueous-based fluid, an agent, an optional second acid, and combinations thereof. The agent may be or include long chain alcohols, phenol derivatives, fatty esters, a first acid, and combinations thereof. The first acid may be or include a diacid. The diacid may be a polycarboxylic diacid, such as but not limited to [N-(1,2-dicarboxyethylene)D,L asparagine acid] (IDS), polyaspartic acid (DS), ethylenediamine-disuccinic acid (EDDS), [N,N-bis(carboxylmethyl)L-glutamic acid] (GLDA), methylglycinediacetic acid (MGDA), salts thereof, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A downhole electrohydraulic movement arrangement including a spark gap device positioned and configured to move a separate component, and an energy source electrically connected to the spark gap device. A method for moving a component in a downhole environment including disposing an electrohydraulic arrangement having a spark gap device and an energy source electrically connected to the spark gap device operably proximate a component, actuating the spark gap device, generating a pressure wave with the spark gap device, and moving the component with the pressure wave. A downhole system including a borehole, a component moved within the borehole by an electrohydraulic arrangement.

Abstract: A method for estimating a chemical composition of hydrocarbons of interest includes: performing a measurement for each physical property of a plurality of physical properties of the hydrocarbons of interest using a sensor to provide a value for each different physical property being measured; and estimating the chemical composition of the hydrocarbons of interest by using a correlation prediction function for each chemical component in the chemical composition in terms of the different physical properties being measured.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating linear motors, and for determining whether a linear motor has reached the end of its power and return strokes. In one embodiment, an electric drive controller of an ESP system monitors position signals received from the system's linear motor and determines transition time differentials, transition counts from the beginning of a stroke, elapsed stroke times and related parameters. If predetermined conditions relating to these parameters are met, the controller determines that the linear motor's mover has reached the end of its stroke. The controller therefore reverses the phase order of the drive's output power and thereby reverses the direction of the mover.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating a device in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a drop device configured to be dropped into the wellbore that transmits a selected signal while the drop device is traveling in the wellbore, a control circuit in the wellbore that detects the transmitted selected signal and provides a control signal in response to the detected signal to operate the device in the wellbore.

Abstract: A hybrid-type earth boring drill bit is described having fixed cutting blades and rolling cones with cutting elements, wherein the rolling cones are associated with a spindle assembly that may be optionally divorced from the head pin assembly, and which includes bearing members that further include a plurality of polycrystalline diamond elements.

Abstract: A method of forming a casing bit includes positioning a cutting element adjacent an outer surface of a casing bit body. The cutting element has a superhard material and a bonding material that is used to bond the cutting element to a body of the casing bit. The bonding material may be a weldable or brazable metal alloy, and a welding process or a brazing process, respectively, may be used to bond the cutting elements to body of the casing bit. Casing bits fabricated using such methods may exhibit reduced bond strength between the cutting elements and the casing bit body.

Abstract: A high pressure compressed gas source is separated from an actuation piston by a pilot valve that is selectively operated with raising annulus pressure to break a rupture disc to provide access to a shuttle type valve. Movement of the shuttle valve using pressure applied to opposing pistons of different sizes connected to a common shaft translates the shaft against a spring bias to open the valve on the high pressure source. This allows the high pressure to reach the actuating piston to operate the tool. One application can be setting a packer without well intervention.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for evaluation of an earth formation intersected by a borehole using a logging tool. Methods include performing EM logging in a borehole intersecting an earth formation using a measurement signal from an antenna system in the borehole, the measurement signal dependent upon a parameter of interest of the formation and at least one antenna system parameter of the antenna system, comprising feeding a calibration signal into a signal path of the antenna system to generate a resultant signal; estimating at least one value of the at least one antenna system parameter by using the resultant signal; and performing further logging operations in dependence upon the at least one value of the at least one antenna system parameter. The calibration signal comprises at least two calibration subsignals with a first calibration subsignal having a first frequency and a second calibration subsignal having a second frequency.

Abstract: A whipstock assembly for emplacing and orienting a whipstock within a wellbore. The whipstock assembly includes a whipstock, an anchor sub for securing the whipstock within the wellbore and a locating tool which is releasably secured to the whipstock. The locating tool includes a tool body with an inclined contact face and a hook which extends radially outwardly from the tool body. The hook is shaped and sized to engage a lower end of the casing exit window to align and orient the whipstock with the casing exit window.

Abstract: An anchor member comprises a substrate; and at least one insert secured to the substrate and extending outwardly from an outer surface of the substrate. The insert is configured for engagement with another member. In an embodiment, the insert comprises a shell at least partially defining an empty core. Alternatively, the insert comprises an inner portion and an outer portion disposed on the inner portion; the inner portion comprising a soft material which comprises one or more of the following: a low carbon steel or an aluminum alloy; and the outer portion comprising the soft material and a hard material and having a gradient in the weight ratio of the soft material to the hard material, the hard material comprising one or more of the following: an intermetallic compound; a ceramic; a hard steel; or a titanium alloy.

Abstract: Examples of techniques for optimal storage of load data for lifetime prediction for a piece of equipment used in a well operation are disclosed. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method may include: using a lifetime model for the piece of equipment used in the well operation; discretizing, by a processing device, a load data spectrum into one or more buckets, the one or more buckets having a bucket size, wherein the bucket size of at least one bucket is based on one of the lifetime model and a distribution of load data; collecting load data of the piece of equipment; assigning, by the processing device, the collected load data to the one or more buckets of the load data spectrum; and storing, by the processing device, the collected load data assigned to the one or more buckets to a memory.

Abstract: An earth-boring tool may comprise at least one cavity formed in a face thereof. At least one retractable pad residing in the at least one cavity may be coupled to a piston located at least partially within the at least one cavity. Additionally, a valve may be positioned within the earth-boring tool and configured to regulate flow of an incompressible fluid in contact with the piston through an opening of a reservoir. A cartridge may comprise a barrel wall defining a first bore, and a piston comprising at least one retractable pad positioned at least partially within the first bore. The barrel wall and the piston may define a first reservoir within the first bore, and a valve may be positioned and configured to regulate flow through an opening to the first reservoir. Related methods and devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond (PCD) composite compact element comprising a PCD structure bonded to a cemented carbide substrate, in which at least a peripheral region of the substrate comprises cemented carbide material having a mean free path (MFP) characteristic of at least about 0.1 microns and at most about 0.7 microns; and an elastic limit of at least about 1.9 GPa.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly (BHA) contains a motor and a section mill for milling in an uphole direction after blade extension with circulating fluid through the BHA. Below the section mill is sensing equipment to detect location of a bridge formed by the cuttings or swarf from the section mill. A secondary mill oriented for cutting in a downhole direction is located at the bottom of the BHA for use in removal of the bridge. The sensing equipment delivers in real time data as to the density of the bridge so that decisions to interrupt the section milling and to lower the secondary mill to the bridge can be made in real time. Cement is pumped and displaced by a wiper plug to plug and abandon the hole.

Abstract: A rotating assembly for alignment of tool strings including a tubing joint, and a component mounted to the tubing joint, the component being axial movement restricted and rotatable on the joint. A method for running in a borehole a string with components thereon that require alignment including a threading adjacent joints of tubing together, the joints having components thereon, rotating the components to align with each other, and connecting the components operably to one another. A downhole system including a string, and a plurality of components that require alignment with one another, the components axially immovably and rotatably movably mounted to the string.

Abstract: A system for predicting production parameters includes a production assembly configured to receive fluid from a region of an earth formation that includes a methane hydrate deposit, and a processor configured to receive data including a temperature and a pressure of the fluid, the processor configured to perform generating a mathematical model based on an energy balance relationship that includes an amount of energy estimated to be used by a dissociation reaction that produces dissociated water and dissociated gas, the energy balance relationship accounting for a first amount of energy taken by the dissociated water and a second amount of energy taken by the dissociated gas, the energy balance relationship based on the temperature of the fluid and the pressure of the fluid. The processor predicts a flow rate of the dissociated gas as a function of a pressure differential in the borehole based on the model.

Abstract: A fishing tool for a fishing arrangement to remove a stuck fish or object from a wellbore. The fishing tool includes an overshot housing which defines an interior chamber. An inflatable bladder element resides within the interior chamber and is inflatable radially inwardly to capture a portion of the stuck fish. The fish is removed as the fishing arrangement is pulled out of the wellbore.

Abstract: A production sting has a premium thread preferably VAM or similar for threading into a packer extension without the need for a seal stack to engage a seal bore in the extension. The seal bore use becomes optional and a metal to metal seal is provided by the premium thread whether the string is in compression or tension. Another adjacent left hand square thread is provided in the packer extension to land accessory tools or for removal of the packer after the packer is released in a variety of known ways. Either the premium thread or the left hand thread can be in the uphole position on the packer extension.