Abstract: A tubular string having a box end and pin end coupled to one another with a threaded attachment and a coupling assembly. The coupling assembly includes an annular outer thrust ring having an axial end abutting a shoulder on a terminal end of the box end. Included with the coupling assembly is an inner thrust ring, which is also annular, and which has an end that axially abuts a shoulder formed along an outer surface of the pin end. An alternate type of the inner thrust ring is made up of two separate semi-circular members that circumscribe the pin end when positioned in the recess so their arcuate ends adjoin. The inner thrust ring inserts into the outer thrust ring, and has a radial surface on its outer circumference that lands on a shoulder formed along an inner circumference of the outer thrust ring.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a magnetic pressure to a work piece includes an inductor configured to be disposed in proximity to the work piece and a controller electrically connected to the inductor and configured to control a supply of electrical power in order to output a first voltage over a selected frequency range to determine a frequency that provides a maximum current or a frequency that provides a current within a selected range of the maximum current to the inductor.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling a directional wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a drive for rotating a drill bit, a deflection device that enables a lower section of the drilling assembly to tilt about a member of the deflection device within a selected plane when the drilling assembly is substantially rotationally stationary to allow drilling of a curved section of the wellbore when the drill bit is rotated by the drive and wherein the tilt is reduced when the drilling assembly is rotated to allow drilling of a straighter section of the wellbore, and a tilt sensor that provides measurements relating to tilt of the lower section. A controller determines a parameter of interest relating to the tilt for controlling drilling of the directional wellbore.

Abstract: Methods and systems for optimizing drilling operations in a wellbore using a drill string are provided. The methods and systems include measuring a first formation characteristic with at least one sensor, measuring a second formation characteristic by means of a hydraulic test, the at least one second formation characteristic being different from the at least one first formation characteristic, generating a model to represent a formation around the wellbore, the model incorporating the first formation characteristic and the second formation characteristic, and performing a drilling operation based on the generated model.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring formation properties in downhole operations are provided. The systems and methods include generating, at a neutron source, neutrons that are emitted into a downhole formation (302), registering, at a detector, photons generated by chemical constituents of the downhole formation (304), measuring a response of the photons registered at the detector (306), transforming, with a computing system, the measured responses of the photons registered at the detector into thermal neutron capture probabilities (308), and transforming the thermal neutron capture probabilities into weight concentrations of the chemical constituents of the downhole formation (312).

Abstract: Fluids produced from a fractured subterranean formation may be monitored by pumping into the well a fracturing fluid which contains a tracer. The method may be used to monitor produced hydrocarbons as well as produced water. The tracer may also be used in a sand control, frac pack or acid fracturing operation. The tracer is a component of a composite where it may be immobilized within a matrix (such as an emulsion) or porous particulate, onto a support or compressed with a binder into a solid particulate. The tracer may be slowly released from the composite.

Abstract: A method of fracturing a subterranean formation includes introducing into the formation a fracturing composition comprising a carrier and a polymeric particulate derived from a cashew nut shell liquid, the polymeric particulate having an apparent specific gravity of less than about 2.4. The fracturing composition is introduced at a pressure sufficient to create or enlarge a fracture in the formation.

Abstract: An earth-boring tool comprising a bit-body, a blade, and a cutting element assembly. The cutting element assembly comprising a journal, a rotatable cutting element, and a retention element. The journal defines an upper cylindrical exterior surface, a first bearing surface that intersects the upper cylindrical exterior surface, and a first external groove in the upper cylindrical exterior surface. The rotatable cutting element comprises a table of polycrystalline hard material having an end cutting surface and a supporting substrate. The substrate defines a second bearing surface, a longitudinally extending blind hole having a diameter larger than the diameter of the upper cylindrical exterior surface of the journal, and a second groove in the surface of the substrate defining the blind hole. The retention element is disposed at least partially in the first groove and partially within the second groove.

Abstract: A pin whose movement triggers setting of the borehole tool, is initially held by a collet that is supported off a surrounding housing. A spring is supported off the pin and would push a housing that locks the collet to the pin axially to unsupport the collet but for the presence of a Kevlar® wire that has an associated heater. The wire pulls the housing that locks the collet against the spring bias and has an end attached to the pin. Melting the wire allows the spring to move the housing that traps the collet to the pin. At that point hydrostatic pressure can move the pin to either open a port on the borehole tool to set it hydrostatically or to move an actuation rod attached to the pin to set the borehole tool mechanically or with a combination of mechanical and hydraulic force.

Abstract: A string from the surface is connected to a packer extension with a thread to provide a metal to metal seal for production or injection through the packer. The thread provides a metal to metal seal. The initial string is released from the packer extension by a tubular cut made with a cutting tool above the thread that provides the metal to metal seal to the packer extension. An outer sleeve surrounds an expanded length of wall which is the target cut zone above the threaded connection. A cut through the tubular does not cut the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve features a left handed square thread to engage a known released tool run in on a string to connect to the packer release mechanism and release the packer for removal with the release tool suspended from a string.

Abstract: A method for estimating a time at which a pressure window relevant observation occurred relating to an event that occurred in an open borehole penetrating an earth formation includes: receiving with a processor a pressure window relevant observation that provides input to adjusting a pressure window for drilling fluid for drilling the borehole; and estimating with the processor a time window in which a physical parameter, a chemical parameter, or a process that caused the pressure window relevant observation to occur, the time window having a start time and an end time.

Abstract: A downhole signal transmission system provides electric radiofrequency signals that are coupled to electrically conductive or non-conductive fluids through electrical insulators. A plurality of signal repeaters are tuned to the frequencies of the radiofrequency signals, and a plurality of transmission lines terminated by resonance circuits are also provided such that the terminating resonance circuits resonate on the frequencies of the electric radiofrequency signals. The plurality of signal repeaters and plurality of transmission elements are arranged to be redundant such that a failure of one or more of the signal repeaters or a failure of one or more of the transmission elements does not substantially affect the operation of the data transmission system. The signal repeaters and transmission elements also are arranged such that a failure of any of the signal repeaters or a failure of any of the transmission elements is communicated to the surface.

Abstract: The flow of well treatment fluids may be diverted from a high permeability zone to a low permeability zone within a fracture network within a subterranean formation by use of a divert system comprising dissolvable diverter particulates and proppant. At least a portion of the high permeability zone is propped open with the proppant of the divert system and at least a portion of the high permeability zone is blocked with the diverter particulates. A fluid is then pumped into the subterranean formation and into a lower permeability zone of the formation farther from the wellbore. The diverter particulates in the high permeability zones may then be dissolved at in-situ reservoir conditions and hydrocarbons produced from the high permeability propped zones of the fracture network. The divert system has particular applicability in the enhancement of production or hydrocarbons from high permeability zones in a fracture network located far field from the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of estimating a parameter of an anomaly in an earth formation includes: disposing a measurement device at at least one measurement location, the measurement device including a frequency standard; estimating a frequency shift of a frequency standard due to a gravitational potential at at least one measurement location; and deriving a relationship between a mass and a depth of a formation anomaly at a distance to the at least one measurement location using the frequency shift.

Abstract: A method of making a radially expandable device, including extruding a bulk of a material in an extrusion direction to form an extruded member. The material operatively arranged to disintegrate upon exposure to a selected borehole fluid; and forming a tubular body with the extruded member such that the extrusion direction is aligned circumferentially with respect to the tubular body.

Abstract: A flexible collet on a subterranean tool has sacrificial soft components to protect seal bores through which the collets have to compress to get through. The sacrificial components can be replaced when the tool is removed to the surface. In one embodiment, threaded fasteners are used alone or with washers for height adjustment such that the heads of the fasteners which are softer than the seal bore material ride on the seal bore and take the wear. The tool can ultimately be used to latch into shifting sleeves to move such sleeves to open or close wall ports. Alternatively axial ridges with beveled profile ends can be used or rolling members such as wheels or balls can be used to keep sharp edges off the seal bore. EDM method can be used to create multiple fingers with an axial ridge profile and rounded end transitions.

Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprises introducing a solution comprising a silicon-containing compound into the subterranean formation. The silicon-containing compound may comprise a terminal group comprising one of an alkanoate group, a fluoroalkanoate group, and a perfluoroalkanoate group, and one or more of an alkoxy group and a chlorine atom bonded to a silicon atom. The method comprises attaching the silicon-containing compound to one or more of formation surfaces of the subterranean formation to form an oleophilic surface on the one or more of the formation surfaces and the surfaces of proppant particles.