Abstract: To improve drilling performance, a drilling fluid is selected based on one or more criteria and to have at least one target characteristic. Drilling equipment is used to drill a wellbore, and the selected drilling fluid is provided into the wellbore during drilling with the drilling equipment. The at least one target characteristic of the drilling fluid includes an ability of the drilling fluid to penetrate into formation cuttings during drilling to weaken the formation cuttings.

Abstract: The motor of an electrical submersible pump generates a significant amount of heat that can be removed by transferring it to the well production fluid. Grooves in the stator and motor housing facilitate more rapid heat transfer from the rotor and stator, through the motor lubricant, to the motor housing. Increased heat transfer to the motor housing facilitates increased heat transfer to the production fluid on the outside of the motor housing.

Abstract: The motor of an electrical submersible pump generates a significant amount of heat that can be removed by transferring it to the well production fluid. The motor housing may have turbulators that increase the turbulence of the production fluid to increase the rate of heat transfer. The turbulators are designed for manufacturability and maintenance.

Abstract: A roller cone bit is provided that includes a companion ring positioned adjacent to the seal, wherein the companion ring is formed of a porous material that is compatible with the fluid lubricating the interface between the roller cone and the bearing pin.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for retaining a roller cone on a bearing pin of a drillbit body.

Abstract: An inlet apparatus for a submersible well pump.

Abstract: A device for guiding energy in a subsurface electromagnetic measuring system is provided, the device including a transmitting member for transmitting an electromagnetic signal into a subsurface medium, an energy-guiding member disposed in magnetic communication with the electromagnetic signal, and a receiving member for receiving a return signal induced from the subsurface medium. A method of guiding energy in a subsurface measuring system is also provided, the method including transmitting an electromagnetic signal into a subsurface medium, modifying the electromagnetic signal using a magnetic field, and then receiving a modified return signal induced from the medium using a receiving member.

Abstract: To improve drilling performance, a drilling fluid is selected based on one or more criteria and to have at least one target characteristic. Drilling equipment is used to drill a wellbore, and the selected drilling fluid is provided into the wellbore during drilling with the drilling equipment. The at least one target characteristic of the drilling fluid includes an ability of the drilling fluid to penetrate into formation cuttings during drilling to weaken the formation cuttings.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring the agglomerative state of asphaltenes in oil by applying an acoustic signal to the oil, detecting the scattered acoustic energy and using this detected signal to determine the relative particle size distribution of the asphaltene particles in the oil and/or their state of agglomeration. A method for controlling the agglomerative state of the asphaltenes which is based on the acoustic measurement technique is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for determination of the quality of a formation fluid sample including monitoring permeability and mobililty versus time to determine a filtrate contamination level, single phase state without gas and solids in the formation fluid, as it existed in the formation and the determination of laminar flow from the formation. The present invention also enables determination of an optimal pumping rate to match the ability of a subsurface formation to produce a single phase formation fluid sample in minimum time. The method and apparatus also detect pumping problems such as sanding and loss of seal with borehole.

Abstract: The present invention provides a chemometric equation to estimate fluid density, viscosity, dielectric constant and resistivity for a formation fluid sample downhole. The chemometric estimates can be used directly as estimated values for fluid density, viscosity, dielectric constant and resistivity for a formation fluid sample downhole. The chemometric estimates can also be plugged into a Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) non-linear least squares fit, as an initial estimate of the parameter to be estimated by the LM fit. If the initial parameter estimate is too far from the actual parameter values, the LM algorithm may take a long time to converge or even fail to converge entirely. The present invention estimates an initial value of a parameter that provides a high probability that the LM algorithm will converge to a global minimum.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and an apparatus for measuring the size, concentration and size distribution of particles in a fluid by determining the characteristics of an acoustic speckle signal of the particles and relating these characteristics to the size and concentration characteristics of the particles. The method and the apparatus are especially useful for the measurement of the size distribution of small particles in optically opaque liquids.

Abstract: A measurement-while-drilling or logging while drilling method and apparatus for determining the azimuth of providing magnetic field in a remote formation layer in the vicinity of a down hole resistivity tool. A cross-component magnetic field with substantially orthogonal transmitter and receiver coils is provided. The coil planes are either substantially orthogonal (coaxial coils) or parallel (transverse coils) with respect to, the longitudinal axis of the tool body. The coils are placed on the tool body having a external surface and a plurality of grooves are cut in the external surface of the tool body and oriented substantially horizontally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tool body for the coils and oriented vertically with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tool body for the coaxial coils. A transverse and coaxial coil are placed in the grooves for transmission or reception of a cross-component transverse magnetic field.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and an apparatus for measuring the size, concentration and size distribution of particles in a fluid by determining the characteristics of an acoustic speckle signal of the particles and relating these characteristics to the size and concentration characteristics of the particles. The method and the apparatus are especially useful for the measurement of the size distribution of small particles in optically opaque liquids.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and an apparatus for measuring the size, concentration and size distribution of particles in a fluid by determining the characteristics of an acoustic speckle signal of the particles and relating these characteristics to the size and concentration characteristics of the particles. The method and the apparatus are especially useful for the measurement of the size distribution of small particles in optically opaque liquids.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and an apparatus for measuring the size, concentration and size distribution of particles in a fluid by determining the characteristics of an acoustic speckle signal of the particles and relating these characteristics to the size and concentration characteristics of the particles. The method and the apparatus are especially useful for the measurement of the size distribution of small particles in optically opaque liquids.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention discloses a system for use with a downhole tool while perforating deviated portions of subterranean wellbores. The system involves a swivel connection attaching subsequent segments of the downhole tool which increases the overall flexibility of the downhole tool. The swivel connection allows sections of the downhole tool to pivot with respect to the next adjacent section.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention discloses a system and method for orienting perforating guns inside of slanted or deviated wellbores. The invention involves adding a weight inside of the guns to gravitate the gun to a specified orientation. The weight is situated on the outer circumference of the gun tube and within the inner diameter of the gun body. The invention is capable of orienting the gun in any radial position without affecting the shot performance of any of the shaped charges.

Abstract: A mud resistivity measuring device for use in a borehole includes a pair of current electrodes disposed between a pair of guard electrodes. The measure electrodes are carried on a recessed portion of a logging tool so that the measure current flows substantially along the borehole axis and is relatively insensitive to the formation resistivity. A pair of measure electrodes on the logging tool determines a voltage difference caused by the current flow in the borehole.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for use in a well borehole drilled into a formation. The apparatus comprises a work string disposed in the borehole. The work string includes at least one modular body portion having at least one receptacle. A modular tool is disposed in the at least one receptacle for carrying out a drilling operation. The modular tool may be a tool for use in drilling a well borehole, it may be a tool for testing a formation surrounding a borehole, or the modular tool may be a combination. For example, one aspect of the present invention provides a modular steering rib. The modular steering rib may also include modular components for sampling and testing formation fluid.