Abstract: A coating for a diamond table of a cutting element is described. The coating is employed to fill a plurality of voids left by the manufacturing process that compromise the integrity of the cutting element and the associated downhole tooling. The coating may comprise diamond nanoparticles in a metal matrix and may be used with or without a binder layer applied directly to the diamond table, the coating may alternatively be a pure diamond film coating, and may be employed to fill voids left by the manufacturing process.

Abstract: Drill bits and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the drill bit includes a body having a plurality of legs each having a lower section that has a leading surface and a trailing surface. A plurality of cone cutters are each rotatably mounted to the lower section of one of the legs, each having a cone axis, and including a first plurality of cutter elements arranged about the cone axis such that each is shear the formation when the body is rotated about the bit axis.

Abstract: A method and system for drilling a wellbore. A method for drilling a wellbore includes: generating a library of defined patterns, each of the defined patterns corresponding to an operational behavior of drilling equipment used to drill the wellbore; collecting, during operation of the drilling equipment, measurements from sensors coupled to the drilling equipment; characterizing the measurements as correlating to one of the defined patterns; detecting the one of the defined patterns in the measurements; extracting a feature from the measurements; determining a condition of the drilling equipment by comparing a value of the feature to a threshold derived from the one of the defined patterns; and activating an actuator coupled to the drilling equipment to adjust operation of the drilling equipment based on the condition.

Abstract: A lubrication system includes a pair of mating surfaces subject to relative motion and a source of lubrication in communication with the mating surfaces. A microfluidic channel system including at least one diffuser element is disposed in an interface between the mating surfaces to create a coherent fluid film at the interface in response to the relative motion.

Abstract: A cutting element for a drill bit includes a body having a face at an end thereof. The face includes a ramp, a first side region, a second side region, and a ridge thereon. The ramp has a curved edge along a periphery of the face, a first side, and a second side. The first side and the second side extend from opposite ends of the curved edge and converge at a location along the face. The ridge extends along the face from a chamfer along a peripheral edge of the face to the location. The ridge is positioned between the first side region and the second side region. The first side region extends between the periphery, the ridge, and the first side. The second side region extends between the periphery, the ridge, and the second side. The ramp extends from the first side region to the second side region.

Abstract: A system for handling pipes on a drilling rig includes an elevator suspended from a stand transfer vehicle, a top drive or other lifting device of a drilling rig. The system also includes a rig-floor pipe lifting machine including a fork sized to engage a tool-joint of a pipe. A navigation system includes a controller that can be programmed to autonomously drive the rig-floor pipe lifting machine.

Abstract: A flow responsiveness enhancer apparatus may include a stack of manifolds with at least one manifold dedicated to each of the rams of the blowout preventer. The flow responsiveness enhancer includes a shared pressure line coupled to each of the manifolds, and a shared tank line coupled to each of the manifolds. Each manifold can include a 4-way directional valve that is piloted by the pressure levels in a pair of input ports. Each 4-way directional valve can couple the shared pressure line and the shared tank line to a pair of output ports.

Abstract: A method of treating a cutter element comprises contacting at least a portion of a volume of polycrystalline diamond with an electrolyte solution, applying an electrical current between the volume of the polycrystalline diamond and a counter electrode to maintain a predetermined electrochemical potential between a reference electrode and the volume of polycrystalline diamond, and corroding at least a portion of the catalyst material from the interstitial spaces between the diamond grains in the volume of polycrystalline diamond. The volume of the polycrystalline diamond comprises interbonded diamond grains and a catalyst material disposed in the interstitial spaces between adjacent diamond grains in the volume of polycrystalline diamond. The counter electrode is in contact with the electrolyte solution, and the electrical current is supplied at a substantially constant electrochemical potential between a reference electrode and the volume of polycrystalline diamond.

Abstract: A fluid separation apparatus includes a hydrocyclone (100) having an orifice (134) therein, a housing (202) disposed in the hydrocyclone and having a bore (204), a piston (240) disposed in the bore (204) of the housing (202), and a first annular seal (248) disposed between the housing (202) and the piston (240) and configured to restrict fluid communication between the housing (202) and the piston (240), wherein the piston (240) includes a passage (242) extending through the piston (240) and having a pin (254) coupled to a first end (240a) of the piston, the piston (240) being actuatable to move between a first position (260) where the pin (254) is clear of the orifice (134) of the hydrocyclone, and a second position where the pin (254) is disposed in the orifice (134), wherein, the piston (240) is configured such that as the piston is actuated from the first position to the second position, fluid is permitted to flow into the passage (242) of the piston (240) from the bore (204) of the housing (202).

Abstract: A gooseneck (100) and a power swivel (10) including a gooseneck (100) are disclosed. In an embodiment, the gooseneck includes an inlet section (120) including an inlet (124) and a first fluid flow path (170) extending from the inlet. In addition, the gooseneck includes an outlet section (150) coupled to the inlet section. The outlet section includes an outlet (156). In addition, the outlet section (150) includes a second fluid flow path (160) extending axially from the outlet. The second fluid flow path is in fluid communication with the first fluid flow path. Further, the outlet section includes a radially outer surface (150c) that includes a first polygonal section having a plurality of planar surfaces (166) joined at a plurality of corners (168).

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 method for estimating downhole speed and force variables at an arbitrary location of a moving drill string based on surface measurements of the same variables. The method includes a) using properties of said drill string to calculate transfer functions describing frequency-dependent amplitude and phase relations between cross combinations of said speed and force variables at the surface and downhole; b) selecting a base time period; c) measuring surface speed and force variables, conditioning the measured data by applying anti-aliasing and/or decimation filters, and storing the conditioned data, and d) calculating the downhole variables in the frequency domain by applying an integral transform, such as Fourier transform, of the surface variables, multiplying the results with said transfer functions, applying the inverse integral transform to sums of coherent terms and picking points in said base time periods to get time-delayed estimates of the dynamic speed and force variables.

Abstract: A shock tool for reciprocating a drillstring includes an outer housing and a mandrel assembly coaxially disposed in the outer housing. The outer housing has a radially inner surface including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced splines. The mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having a radially outer surface including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced splines and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced troughs. Each spline of the outer housing is disposed in one trough of the mandrel. Each spline of the mandrel includes a top surface, a first lateral side surface extending radially from the top surface, a second lateral side surface oriented parallel to the first lateral side surface, and a bevel extending from the top surface to the second lateral side surface. Each spline of the mandrel also includes a pocket in the second lateral side surface extending radially from a bottom surface of a trough to the bevel.

Abstract: A method, comprising acquiring annular pressure data from a wellbore where the annular pressure data is acquired over a time interval and at least a portion of the annular pressure data is acquired during a pumps-off period. At least first and second values are identified from the annular pressure data and the variation between the first and second values are compared to a first threshold. Drilling equipment is operated based on the comparison with the first threshold.

Abstract: A magnetic cycloid gear assembly includes an outer magnet drum comprising a plurality of outer drum magnets having a first number of magnetic pole pairs. The assembly also includes a first inner magnet drum comprising a first plurality of inner drum magnets having a second number of magnetic pole pairs. The assembly also includes a second inner magnet drum comprising a second plurality of inner drum magnets having a third number of magnetic pole pairs. Each of the first and second inner drums has an inner magnet drum axis that is offset from an outer magnet drum axis. The assembly further includes a plurality of drive mechanisms, each mechanism being operatively coupled to each of the first and second inner drums. The plurality of drive mechanisms is configured to drive each of the first and second inner magnet drums to revolve in an eccentric manner about the outer drum axis.

Abstract: An articulating joint for conveying fluid flow includes first and second conduit members forming a fluid flow path therethrough. An annular member is disposed about the outer surface of the first conduit member and has an outer surface forming a convex partial sphere. A retainer is disposed about the first conduit member and has a seal-retaining ring coupled to the second conduit member. An annular seal is disposed between the seal-retaining ring and the partial sphere to retain fluid in the flow path. A drilling mud return line includes a first such articulating joint, and may include a second articulating joint connected end-to-end to the first articulating joint.

Abstract: Drill bits and methods relating thereto are disclosed. In an embodiment, the drill bit includes a body having a plurality of legs each having a lower section that has a leading surface and a trailing surface. A plurality of cone cutters are each rotatably mounted to the lower section of one of the legs, each having a cone axis, and including a first plurality of cutter elements arranged about the cone axis such that each is shear the formation when the body is rotated about the bit axis.

Abstract: A system and method for recovering drilling fluid from shaker tailings includes a hopper and a cover that is pivotable between a first position in which the hopper is uncovered and a second position in which the hopper is covered. In the first position, the hopper receives the tailings, which are pumped via a low shear pump to a centrifuge. The drilling fluid extracted in the centrifuge is stored in a holding tank. In the second position, the cover is angled with respect to the direction of gravity so as to divert shaker tailings from being received in the hopper. Some fluid from the holding tank is sprayed into the hopper through nozzles to convey the deposited tailings toward the pump. A level detector senses the level of the mixture in the hopper, and an associated control system controls the pump speed and the cover position to control the operation.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus includes a moveable seal holder with a cavity and includes a seal assembly disposed at least partially in the cavity. The seal assembly includes a resilient seal member including a fluid-facing end with a fluid-facing end surface, and the seal assembly includes an actuator plate configured to reciprocate between a first and a second position relative to the protective plate. The first actuator plate includes a fluid-facing end surface and a first camming surface. The seal assembly further includes a first protective plate disposed between the seal member and the first actuator plate. The actuator plate is configured to compress the seal member and to move the fluid-facing end surface of the seal member outward from a resting position when the actuator plate is in the second position.

Abstract: Embodiments of a sleeve assembly, used for stimulating multiple stages in a completion string has a lower shifting sleeve and an upper shifting sleeve and stimulation ports formed therebetween. The sleeves are caused to shift by progressively larger objects pumped through a bore of the completion string and engaging seats formed thereon. The seat on the lower sleeve is a releasable seat. When shifted the lower sleeve opens the stimulation ports. The seat on the upper sleeve is sized to accept the same size object as is required to engage and shift the lower sleeve on the stage uphole therefrom to close the ports. Thereby, stimulation ports are opened and closed without increasing a number of objects required to stimulate the wellbore. Further, as the ports at each stage below the stage being stimulated are closed, the objects are not required to isolate the bore therebelow.