Abstract: A tubular member includes a central axis, a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a throughbore extending axially from the first end to the second end. In addition, the tubular member includes a first connector at the first end and a second connector at the second end. Further, the tubular member includes a tubular region axially positioned between and axially spaced from the first connector and the second connector. The tubular member also includes a first upset axially positioned between the tubular region and the first connector. The first upset has an internal transition within the throughbore that increases an inner diameter of the throughbore when moving axially from the first upset to the tubular region. Moreover, the tubular member includes a first wear pad integrally formed on the tubular region. An outer diameter of the tubular member is greater along the first wear pad than along the tubular region.

Abstract: A valve for a displacement pump includes a valve body having an annular strikeface and defining an annular receptacle, and an annular seal received in the receptacle of the valve body, the seal including an annular contact surface, wherein the seal defines a cumulative displacement ratio of (i) at least one of at most 0.20 at a location that is spaced 40% from an inner diameter (ID) of the contact surface of the seal moving towards an outer diameter (OD) of the contact surface, (ii) at most 0.35 at a location that is spaced 55% from the ID of the contact surface moving towards the OD of the contact surface, and (iii) at most 0.45 at a location that is spaced 65% from the ID of the contact surface moving towards the OD of the contact surface.

Abstract: A smart manifold for frac operations may include a support structure and a fluid management system arranged on the support structure. The fluid management system may be configured for receiving low-pressure frac fluid from a fluid processing system, delivering the low-pressure fluid to a plurality of pressurization units, receiving high-pressure fluid from the plurality of pressurization units, and delivering the high-pressure fluid to a well head. The smart manifold may also include a power management system arranged on the support structure. The power management system may be configured for receiving power for frac operations and for delivering power to each of the plurality of pressurization units.

Abstract: A cutter element for a fixed cutter drill bit configured to drill a borehole in a subterranean formation includes a base having a central axis, a first end, a second end, and a radially outer cylindrical surface extending axially from the first end to the second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base. The cutting layer includes a stepped cutting face distal the base and a radially outer cylindrical surface extending axially from the cutting face to the radially outer cylindrical surface of the base. The radially outer cylindrical surface of the cutting layer is contiguous with the radially outer cylindrical surface of the base. The stepped cutting face includes a first step, a second step axially spaced from the first step, and a riser axially positioned between the first step and the second step. The first step is axially positioned between the riser and the base.

Abstract: A shale shaker for separating formation cuttings from a drilling fluid includes a basket and a screen deck positioned within the basket. The screen deck includes a plurality of screens positioned on a plurality of screen supports, such that each screen is positioned on a corresponding one of the plurality of screen supports. Each screen includes a top side, a bottom side opposite the top side, and a mounting bracket positioned along the bottom side. The mounting bracket includes a pair of parallel first support members and a clamping bar coupled to and extending between the pair of first support members. Each screen support includes a pair of parallel second support members and a latch assembly including a hook assembly positioned between the pair of second support members. The hook assembly is configured to engage with the clamping bar to secure the screen to the screen support.

Abstract: A washpipe assembly for a rotational device includes a gland assembly, a washpipe positioned within the gland assembly, and a seal assembly positioned about the washpipe within the gland assembly. The seal assembly includes a plurality of ring seals, a plurality of annular chambers positioned between the ring seals along the washpipe, and a pressure manifold fluidly coupled to the plurality of annular chambers. The pressure manifold is configured to receive a first fluid pressure and is configured to apply a plurality of pressures to the annular chambers, and the plurality of pressures are each less than the first fluid pressure.

Abstract: A guide mechanism may include a first jaw and a second jaw pivotably coupled to the first jaw. The jaws may include a guide having a bottom pocket for seating arrangement on a box end of a first tubular and a top funnel for laterally guiding a pin end of a second tubular into the box end. The guide mechanism may also include a linkage system secured to the first and second jaws to control pivoting motion of the jaws. The guide mechanism may also include a bias mechanism coupled to the linkage system and configured to impart a biasing force on the jaws via the linkage system. The biasing force may be adapted to resist opening of the jaws such that opening of the jaws occurs when a lateral force is applied to the guide mechanism that overcomes the biasing force.

Abstract: A method for increasing an amplitude of reciprocal axial extensions and contractions of a shock tool configured to induce axial oscillations in a drillstring during drilling operations includes (a) selecting the shock tool. The shock tool has a central axis and an axial length. The shock tool includes an outer housing, a mandrel telescopically disposed within the outer housing, and a first annular piston fixably coupled to the mandrel. The shock tool has a first amplitude of reciprocal axial extension and contraction at a pressure differential between a first fluid pressure in the outer housing and a second fluid pressure outside the outer housing. In addition, the method includes (b) fixably coupling a second annular piston to the mandrel of the shock tool and increasing the axial length of the shock tool after (a). The second annular piston is axially spaced from the first annular piston.

Abstract: A method for drilling a wellbore includes providing a mud motor connected to a downhole end of a drillstring, wherein a bend adjustment assembly of the mud motor is provided in a first configuration, pumping a drilling fluid at a drilling flowrate from a supply pump into the drillstring whereby a drill bit coupled to the drillstring is rotated to drill into the earthen formation, receiving by a drilling controller an actuation command instructing the drilling controller to shift the bend adjustment assembly from the first configuration to a second configuration, and operating by the drilling controller at least one of the supply pump to provide an actuation drilling fluid flowrate stored in a storage device of the drilling controller, and a rotary system to provide an actuation drillstring rotational speed stored in the storage device

Abstract: A lubricator assembly for servicing a tubular member includes a mounting base, a lubricant housing movably coupled to the mounting base and configured to receive lubricant from a lubricant source, a guide pin slidably disposed in the lubricant housing, a first seal positioned between the guide pin and the lubricant housing and a second seal positioned between the guide pin and the lubricant housing, and a first chamber extending between the first seal and the second seal, wherein the guide pin is configured to direct lubricant disposed in the first chamber against the tubular member in response to the tubular member engaging the guide pin.

Abstract: A cutter element for a drill bit includes a base portion having a central axis, a first end, a second end, and a radially outer surface extending axially from the first end to the second end. In addition, the cutter element includes a cutting layer fixably mounted to the first end of the base portion. The cutting layer includes a cutting face distal the base portion and a radially outer surface extending axially from the cutting face to the radially outer surface of the base portion. The cutting face includes a planar central region centered relative to the central axis and disposed in a plane oriented perpendicular to the central axis. Further, the cutting face includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced cutting regions disposed about the planar central region. Still further, the cutting face includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced relief regions disposed about the planar central region.

Abstract: A tower crane for performing a lifting a load includes an extendable tower assembly having a central axis and including a plurality of separate tower sections, a climbing assembly including a climbing frame positioned on the tower assembly and a latching assembly to transport the climbing assembly vertically along the tower assembly, and a boom assembly atop the tower assembly and including a crane floor, a boom supported on the crane floor, a lifting member coupled to the boom, and a slew bearing coupled to the crane floor and configured to permit the crane floor to rotate about a rotational axis, wherein the slew bearing includes a first bearing position and a second bearing position spaced from the first bearing position relative to the central axis of the tower assembly.

Abstract: A decanter centrifuge includes one or more nozzles through which a slurry may be discharged from a feed chamber into a separation zone within a centrifuge bowl. A scroll conveyor may be coaxially aligned in the separation zone within the centrifuge bowl around the circumference of the feed chamber. In the separation zone, the slurry can be separated into at least a light phase and a heavy phase by centrifugal acceleration generated by rotation of the centrifuge bowl, the feed chamber, and/or the scroll conveyor. Each separated phase can discharge from the centrifuge bowl via respective discharge ports. Each nozzle may include a rectangular aperture and differentiated profiles of its leading edge and trailing edge. In some embodiments, the leading edge of the aperture comprises a rounded profile, while the trailing edge comprises an abrupt edge or a less-rounded edge.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a drill bit design. The design specifies a design parameter for a plurality of cutter elements of a drill bit. The method also includes estimating a temperature value for the cutter elements based on the design parameter and a drilling parameter; estimating a wear value for the cutter elements based on the design parameter and the temperature value; updating a value of the design parameter for at least one of the cutter elements based on the wear value and a time period; and using the updated design parameter value, repeating the steps of estimating the temperature value, estimating the wear value, and updating the design parameter value until the design parameter value for the at least one of the cutter elements reaches a threshold value.

Abstract: Tower erection systems and methods utilizing a load-sharing support member (LS support member) are disclosed. The LS support member can have a first end coupled to a crane tower and a second end configured to repeatably couple to the upper-most tower section of a partially assembled tower stack during assembly. During lifting, a portion of the vertical load is transferred to the partially assembled tower stack.

Abstract: A downhole motor for directional drilling includes a driveshaft assembly including a driveshaft housing and a driveshaft rotatably disposed within the driveshaft housing, a bearing assembly including a bearing housing and a bearing mandrel rotatably disposed within the bearing housing, wherein the bearing mandrel is configured to couple with a drill bit, a bend adjustment assembly configured to adjust a bend setting of the downhole motor, a lock piston including an unlocked position, and a locked position configured to lock the bend setting of the bend adjustment assembly, one or more hydraulic pumps configured to actuate the lock piston into the unlocked position to unlock the bend adjustment assembly, and an electronics package configured to indicate the bend setting of the bend adjustment assembly.

Abstract: A coupling assembly includes a coupling, a protective ring and two tubulars, the coupling of generally cylindrical shape with a channel therethrough, the coupling having at least one internal thread and two coupling ends and a pin end of at least one of the two tubulars having an external thread for threaded mating therewith so that the coupling assembly provides a connection between the two tubulars, the protective ring including a ring body for positioning adjacent an interior wall of the coupling between the two ends thereof, the ring body being generally cylindrical and having a ring channel therethrough, the protective ring includes one of a tongue and groove and at least one of the ends of at least one of the two tubulars having the other of a tongue and groove.

Abstract: A trailer assembly for carrying coiled tubing includes a main beam assembly extending from a forward end of the trailer assembly to a rear end of the trailer assembly. The main beam assembly includes a forward portion that extends from the forward end of the trailer assembly, a rear portion that extends to the rear end of the trailer assembly, and a middle portion connected between the forward portion and the rear portion and configured to transfer load to the forward portion and the rear portion. The middle portion includes an upper beam section, and a lower beam section vertically separated from the upper beam section. The upper beam section is configured to share a load resultant from a bending force experienced by the lower beam section.

Abstract: A washpipe assembly for a rotational device includes a gland assembly, a washpipe positioned within the gland assembly, and a seal assembly positioned about the washpipe within the gland assembly. The seal assembly includes a plurality of ring seals, a plurality of annular chambers positioned between the ring seals along the washpipe, and a pressure manifold fluidly coupled to the plurality of annular chambers. The pressure manifold is configured to receive a first fluid pressure and is configured to apply a plurality of pressures to the annular chambers, and the plurality of pressures are each less than the first fluid pressure.

Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing system can include valve apparatuses that control the delivery of fluid to high-pressure pumps that supply the fluid to a wellhead. The valve apparatuses can receive electronic signals from a control system to regulate the flow rate of the fluid to the high-pressure pumps. In one or more examples, the flow rate of the fluid can be controlled such that proppant in the fluid remains in solution.