Abstract: A technique is provided for retaining a cable assembly in a length of conduit, such as coiled tubing. The retaining assembly is secured to an end of the coiled tubing and to tensile members of the cable assembly. A retainer element may be secured directly to conductors of the cable assembly for holding the cable assembly adjacent to the retaining structure. The retainer may include a flat plate-like structure which abuts against a surface of the assembly, such as against an upper surface of a connector to prevent re-entry of the cable into the coiled tubing. Following attachment of the cable and coiled tubing, the submersible equipment coupled to the coiled tubing may be retracted or withdrawn from the well. Certain of the conductors may be coupled to monitoring circuitry for continuously monitoring well parameters during such repositioning. The technique may be used during initial installation of coiled tubing deployed systems, or during subsequent removal or servicing of the equipment.

Abstract: A controlled release method for a submergible completion is disclosed wherein upper and lower interface assemblies are separated from one another in a predictable manner. A separation or release assembly is actuated remotely for forcing the interface assemblies apart. The release assembly may shear pins extending between portions of the interface assemblies. The interface assemblies may include multi-conductor electrical plugs or connectors which are separated during release.

Abstract: A packer assembly simplifies the location and relocation of a bottom intake electric submergible pumping system within a wellbore. The packer assembly includes a packer mandrel on which a packer is received and held in place. The packer mandrel includes a housing that forms an internal passage through which wellbore fluids are pumped. The housing also includes an outer surface that forms a recess in which a packer is received and held. The packer may be a conventional type hydraulically set or mechanically set packer. Thus, the packer may be set independently of actuation of the pump at any location within the wellbore casing. When the submergible pumping system must be moved or serviced, the packer assembly and the remainder of the submergible pumping system are moved as a single unit.

Abstract: The present invention is a low differential pressure relief valve made up of a valve body and an elastic membrane for downhole tools, especially rolling cutter drill bits. An aperture is formed in the membrane and a valve body with protruding end stops is mounted in the aperture. The thickness and shape of the valve body are such that the aperture is stretched when assembled. The amount the membrane is stretched and the geometry of the protruding end stop, control the differential relief pressure. The valve body and each end stop can be designed so that the pressure relief setting will be different, depending upon which side of the membrane has the higher pressure. The relief device may be adapted to be integral with existing elastic membrane type lubricant pressure compensation devices for downhole tools.

Abstract: A method for deploying a progressing cavity pump in a deviated well. The method allows a wireline deployment system to be used in moving a progressing cavity pump through a deviated well. The wireline is connected to a pump-down tool which is lowered into the production tubing. The pump-down tool allows a seal to be formed between an interior surface of the production tubing and the pump-down tool. This allows pressure, such as hydraulic pressure, to push the progressing cavity pump through well deviations to a desired location.

Abstract: A fixed-cutter drill bit for boring through earth has a body made predominately of high strength steel with thin erosion and abrasion resistant surfaces integrally formed in the steel in areas likely to encounter abrasive or erosive conditions. The drill bit may be formed by a rapid solid state densification (RSSDPM) process. The drill bit combines the high strength of conventional steel bits with design freedom and hardness equal to or greater than conventional matrix bits. Due to the manner in which the hard particles, such as tungsten carbide, are integrally held in a steel matrix, aggressive fluid hydraulics may be employed with the drill bit without unduly limiting the performance of the drill bit.

Abstract: A technique is disclosed for completion of a well, such as an oil and gas production well. A packer is positioned in the well to divide the well into upper and lower zones. The packer has multiple passageways between the upper and lower zones. A pumping system is positioned in the lower zone for displacing wellbore fluids flowing from a production formation. The pumping system may include a liquid/gas separator, and express gas-phase components through one of the passageways and liquid-phase components through another. A conduit conveys the gas-phase components to a desired location. The liquid-phase components are conveyed to a collection location in the annular region surrounding the conduit. The conduit may be used for positioning a chemical injection line within the well, or for receiving a parameter sensing unit. The chemical injection and parameter sensing may be performed independently of gas production, and without interruption of either gas or liquid production.

Abstract: A multiconductor electrical cable, for use in a subterranean wellbore, having which a plurality of electrical conductors, a jacket of insulation material, and a non-metallic armor. The non-metallic armor comprises one or more layers of extruded materials or an external wrapping of materials, selected from the group consisting of extruded thermoplastic materials, extruded thermoset materials, and fiber reinforced composite materials. The non-metallic armor eliminates corrosion problems associated with prior metallic armors, and provides significant weight savings over prior metallic armors.

Abstract: An adjustable shroud arrangement is disclosed for a submergible pumping system. The pumping system is of the type used to raise fluids from wells, such as petroleum production wells. The systems include a plurality of interconnected components, including a motor and a pump driven by the motor. The systems may also include a separator for separating production fluids from non-production fluids. The shroud serves to transfer fluids between system components, such as around the motor to promote convective cooling of the motor during operation. The shroud fits around a portion of the pumping unit to define a fluid flow path. The shroud is adjustable with respect to the pumping unit to permit relative thermal expansion and contraction of the shroud and the pumping unit components. In a preferred embodiment, the shroud has one end fixed to the pumping unit and a second end slidingly seals against a component of the pumping unit.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid recovery system for recovering fluid from a wellbore that has at least one lateral wellbore extending out therefrom. The system includes a first electric submergible pumping system for recovering fluids from a first zone of a wellbore, and a second electric submergible pumping system for recovering fluids from a second zone of the wellbore, such as from a lateral wellbore. Automated control mechanisms are used for independently regulating fluid flow from the first and the second electric submergible pumping systems. Such control mechanisms include automated downhole adjustable valves and variable speed electric motor controllers.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve is provided to control the flow of fluids through a tubular conduit. The sliding sleeve may include a housing having a longitudinal bore, at least one annulus pressure port, and at least one fluid flow port. An inner sleeve is disposed for axial movement within the longitudinal bore of the housing, and includes at least one fluid flow port for sealably cooperating with the fluid flow port in the housing to control the flow of fluids through the tubing string. A piston is associated with the inner sleeve and the housing. The piston is initially releasably secured to the housing. The sliding sleeve is initially provided with the fluid flow ports in a closed position, and is actuated by applying annulus pressure to the piston through the at least one annulus pressure port in the housing. The annulus pressure releases the piston from the housing and forces the piston and inner sleeve upwardly to establish fluid communication through the fluid flow ports.

Abstract: A gas separator having a reduced rotating mass. The gas separator includes a stationary flow inducer that creates a vortex within an outer housing. The flow inducer includes an accelerator mechanism that increases the velocity of the fluid mixture as it flows through a portion of the gas separator. The resultant liquid and gaseous phases are directed from the gas separator through separate outlets.

Abstract: A mechanical seal for rotary rock bits with a uniquely formed hydrodynamic wave geometry on the sealing faces. The sealing faces are first manufactured flat and smooth, then upon assembly are elastically deformed into a hydrodynamic geometry by an energizing system. After a smooth flat sealing surface is formed, the mechanical seal face elastically deforms into a hydrodynamic wave geometry. The typical deformation has a magnitude greater than about three helium light bands more than the original surface. The region of the sealing surface at the outer periphery of the seal does not have a wave geometry. Rather the portion of the seal face at the periphery is flat and parallel to its mating seal ring to exclude abrasives and eliminate lubricant leakage.

Abstract: A submersible centrifugal pump is claimed which includes an inner downthrust washer for receiving the downthrust load from the upward movement of the produced fluid, and an outer sealing washer, which is a non-load bearing washer, for allowing the repositioning of the impeller to prevent gaps that create recirculation.

Abstract: An oil-filled protector for use with an electric submergible motor, comprises a housing connectable to an electric submergible motor, and an oil-filled expandable chamber within the housing and in fluidic communication with the electric submergible motor. The expandable chamber is formed from an elastomeric material, and includes materials for preventing deleterious fluids, such as H2S, CO2 and CH4, from passing through the chamber and into the motor. Such materials include elastomeric materials with one or more metallic coatings or bonded layers. The chamber can include separate annular partitions to define an inner oil-filled region and an outer region filled with a barrier fluid that substantially inhibits the passage of the deleterious fluids.

Abstract: A rolling cutter drill bit and method for making a rolling cutter drill bit having a cutting insert pressed into a socket, wherein the socket forms a juncture with the curved outer surface of a rolling cutter, and the juncture contacts a plane in contact with the juncture in at least three points located on the juncture.

Abstract: A sensor assembly is used with a submergible pumping system within a wellbore. The sensor assembly is an integral part of the string of submergible components that form the submergible pumping system. One embodiment of the sensor assembly utilizes a sensor for detecting the axial downthrust load acting on the shaft of a submergible pump. The downthrust load can be used to determine, for instance, flow rate through the submergible pump.

Abstract: The invention provides a submersible pumping system which includes a motor containing self-centering rotor bearing assemblies. Each rotor bearing assembly in accordance with the present invention includes a sleeve, a journal, and at least two seals. The journal is preferably disposed about the sleeve which is keyed to the power transmission shaft of the motor. The journal has a peripheral surface which is configured to have at least two circumferential support regions which are spaced apart from one another. Each of these circumferential support regions supports a corresponding seal. Each seal includes an interface member and an activating member. When in place in a rotor section of a submersible pump motor, the seals frictionally engage the inner surface of the stator and exert a centering force against the journal and thus against the bearing sleeve and the power transmission shaft.

Abstract: The present invention is a combination wireline retrievable, side pocket locatable, fluid measurement and control assembly, which permits measurement and control of fluid from a first downhole production zone while maintaining fluid flow through the tubing from other downhole production zones. The various components of the fluid measurement and control assembly may be separately installed in or retrieved from by either wireline or coiled tubing intervention methods and can remain installed in the production tubing while installing or retrieving other downhole tools through wireline or coiled tubing intervention methods.

Abstract: A coiled tubing completion system is provided with a plurality of completion apparatus, all of which is designed flush with the diameter of the coiled tubing outside diameter for avoiding upsets and are flexible, spoolable on a coiled tubing reel and having through bores large enough to pass wireline tools for performing other operations. The spoolable coiled tubing system may use standard coiled tubing well control equipment and can be used in live wells. The flush, flexible, spoolable and through bore completion equipment may include a tubing retrievable safety valve, an annular control valve, concentric gas lift valves, a zone packer, a landing nipple, a sliding sleeve, and may include at the end a non-flexible but flush and open bore production packer and pump out plug. The completion system may be retrieved through a retrieval system.