Abstract: A downhole hydraulic control tool comprising a substantially tubular body adapted for connection in a tubing string, the body including a throughbore arranged coaxially with a bore of the tubing string and one or more pockets arranged on a wall of the body, the pockets including a hydraulic power source and at least two control lines, wherein the device includes a pump to drive hydraulic fluid through the control lines and a switchable flow mechanism for switching the flow of pumped fluid between the at least two control lines, and a switchable flow mechanism and a method of operating one or more downhole devices from a downhole located hydraulic control tool.

Abstract: An actuating apparatus for a downhole valve including a tubular body, which includes an axial bore that extends through the body. The actuating apparatus also includes an operating member that is adapted to move relative to the tubular body. The movement of the operating member relative to the tubular body is between a first position and a second position such that fluid contained within a reservoir is displaced when such a downhole valve is actuated. The actuating apparatus is adapted to be fluidly coupled to the downhole valve.

Abstract: An actuating apparatus for a downhole valve including a tubular body. The tubular body includes an axial bore that extends through the body. An inlet port extends radially and at least partially through the tubular body. When open, the inlet port is arranged to be in fluid communication with a region uphole of the actuating apparatus. The actuating apparatus also includes an actuating member that is operable by application of fluid pressure from a region uphole of the actuating apparatus via an open inlet port to actuate the valve.

Abstract: A downhole valve assembly operable to control production fluid flow around an obstruction in a production tubing string. The obstruction may be caused by another valve or valve assembly located in the production tubing string, where the valve is closed and blocks flow through the production tubing. The downhole valve assembly comprises a tubular body that includes an axial passage extending through the body and one or more ports extending substantially radially through the body. The downhole valve assembly also includes one or more actuating members operable to move relative to the body. Movement of the actuating members selectively opens the ports such that a fluid flow path through the ports is defined between an annulus region outside of the valve assembly and the axial passage such that the blockage can be bypassed.

Abstract: Methods of monitoring a force applied to a component (28) in a wellbore (12) following drilling and during a subsequent operation. Methods comprising: providing a string of tubing (35) including a tubular member (46) having at least one sensor (48) for measuring the strain in the tubing, and a device (50) for transmitting data to surface and which is operatively associated with the sensor. Running the string of tubing into the wellbore; monitoring the strain in the tubing measured by the sensor and compensating for the strain. Performing an operation in the well employing the tubing, involving the application of a force to the component in the wellbore; monitoring the resultant change in strain in the tubing measured by the sensor; and transmitting data relating to the resultant change in strain to surface using the data transmission device, to facilitate determination of the force applied to the component.

Abstract: A tubing mounted completion assembly that includes at least one downhole valve assembly and at least one contingency device. The contingency device or devices can be associated with and can be separate from the downhole valve assembly. The contingency device or devices can be adapted to operate upon failure of operation of the downhole valve assembly.

Abstract: An example apparatus for generating downhole fluid pressure pulses includes a tubular housing defining an internal fluid flow passage and providing a housing wall having an internal surface and an external surface. The apparatus also includes a device for selectively generating a fluid pressure pulse, the device being mounted in an aperture defined in the housing wall and being movable between a retracted position, where the device is seated within the aperture, and a radially extended position, where the device extends at least partially beyond the external surface.

Abstract: A downhole assembly includes an apparatus for generating a fluid pressure pulse downhole. A disclosed apparatus for generating a fluid pressure pulse downhole includes an elongate, generally tubular housing defining an internal fluid flow passage and having a housing wall. The apparatus also includes a device for selectively generating a fluid pressure pulse, the device having a cartridge which can be releasably mounted entirely within a space provided in the wall of the tubular housing. The internal fluid flow passage defined by the tubular housing is a primary fluid flow passage. A secondary fluid flow passage has an inlet which communicates with the primary fluid flow passage. The cartridge houses a valve actuable to control fluid flow through the secondary fluid flow passage to selectively generate a fluid pressure pulse. Data relating to a measured downhole parameter or parameters can be transmitted to surface via the pressure pulses.

Abstract: A method for obtaining real-time data relating to a well construction activity includes locating wellbore-lining tubing comprising at least one non-magnetic tubing section in a wellbore of a well. At least one downhole parameter is measured at a location external of the wellbore-lining tubing using at least one sensor associated with the non-magnetic tubing section. A magnetic field generating device is positioned within the non-magnetic tubing section and the device is activated to inductively couple the device to the at least one sensor. Data relating to the at least measured parameter is then transmitted through the non-magnetic tubing section to the magnetic field generating device by means of the inductive coupling. The data retrieved from the at least one sensor may then be transmitted to surface using a fluid pressure pulse generating device associated with the magnetic field generating device.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a fluid pressure pulse downhole includes an elongate tubular housing defining an internal fluid flow passage. A first device is coupled to the housing for controlling a flow of fluid along a first flow path that communicates with the internal fluid flow passage to generate a first fluid pressure pulse. A second device coupled to the housing for controlling a flow of fluid along a second flow path that communicates with the internal fluid flow passage to generate a second fluid pressure pulse. The first and second devices are releasably mounted in corresponding spaces defined in a wall of the housing, and the first and second devices each house a valve having a valve element and a valve seat. The valve being actuatable to control the flow of fluid along the first and second flow paths, respectively.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus (10) adapted to be run on a workstring in a well bore. The apparatus has a body (12) including ports (42) and a valve (26) which is rotatable to open and close the ports to selectively allow fluid flow through the body between regions of a well bore above and below the apparatus. The valve is rotated via a gearbox (28) and motor (30) in the apparatus. A sealing arrangement between the valve and body is also described. A method of running the apparatus in a well bore and monitoring pressure above the apparatus in order to control opening and closing of the valve under predetermined conditions is presented.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining the depth and orientation of a feature in a wellbore, and to a corresponding method. It also relates to a downhole apparatus for performing an operation in a well comprising a device for determining the depth and orientation of a feature in a wellbore and a device for performing the operation. In an embodiment, a downhole device (42) for determining the depth and orientation of a feature (24, 26, 28) in a wellbore (12) containing a ferrous tubing (14) is disclosed, the device comprising: at least one magnetic field sensor (44) for monitoring the inherent magnetic field of the ferrous tubing so that the presence of the feature can be detected; and at least one orientation sensor (48) for determining the orientation of the device within the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of communication comprising: providing a string of a plurality of connected components (2,3,5,6,7), one or more vessels running along the string to form a continuous fluid path (13); incorporating a device (3) into the string so that the device is in communication with the fluid path; inserting the string into a borehole (18) so that the device is located below a surface into which the borehole is formed and the fluid path extends from the surface to the device; providing a pressure sensor at the surface, adapted to sense the pressure of the fluid in the fluid path; filling it with a pressurized fluid; over a communication period, venting fluid, under the control of the device, from the fluid path (13) to an exterior of the string (17) at the device on occasions, so that the resulting decrease in pressure in the fluid in the fluid path can be detected by the pressure sensor; and during the communication period introducing fluid into the fluid path at a rate below 30 gallons/minute [0.113 m3/minute].

Abstract: A downhole hydraulic control tool comprising a substantially tubular body adapted for connection in a tubing string, the body including a throughbore arranged coaxially with a bore of the tubing string and one or more pockets arranged on a wall of the body, the pockets including a hydraulic power source and at least two control lines, wherein the device includes a pump to drive hydraulic fluid through the control lines and a switchable flow mechanism for switching the flow of pumped fluid between the at least two control lines, and a switchable flow mechanism and a method of operating one or more downhole devices from a downhole located hydraulic control tool.

Abstract: A downhole hydraulic control tool comprising a substantially tubular body adapted for connection in a tubing string, the body including a throughbore arranged coaxially with a bore of the tubing string and one or more pockets arranged on a wall of the body, the pockets including a hydraulic power source and at least two control lines, wherein the device includes a pump to drive the hydraulic fluid through the control lines and a switchable flow mechanism for switching the flow of pumped fluid between the at least two control lines, and a switchable flow mechanism and a method of operating one or more downhole devices from a downhole located hydraulic control tool.

Abstract: There is herein defined a control apparatus operable to control the opening and closing of downhole flow control devices. The apparatus includes first and second indexing modules, which are arranged in fluid communication with a respective downhole control device. Each of the modules includes two inlet ports and two outlet ports, where the inlet ports are each in fluid communication with one of two control lines. The first module is operable to open and close a first downhole control device on application of fluid pressure through the first control line and the second module is operable to open and close a second downhole control device on application of fluid pressure through the second control line.