Abstract: A screening assembly 10 includes at least one rail 14 to be secured to a support member of a screening machine. At least one locating formation 16 extends from an operatively upper surface of the rail 14. Each locating formation 16 includes a catch member 32. The assembly 10 further includes a plurality of screening modules 12, each screening module 12 having an end supported on the rail 14. A pair of modules 12 lie in end-to-end abutting relationship with the abutting ends overlying the rail 14 so that the catch member 32 of each locating formation 16 protrudes beyond an upper surface of the screening modules 12. Further, a locking member 18 engages the catch member 32 of the locating formation 16 for locking the pair of modules 12 with respect to each other and with respect to the rail 14.

Abstract: Apparatus for attaching a downhole isolation, production, or testing tool is disclosed, such that the tool is mechanically attached to a mandrel in a manner that is highly resistant to axial movement. In general, the connection includes at least one groove or channel cut in an outer wall of the casing mandrel, and at least one partially or fully annular slot on the inside surface of the tool oriented to correspond with the groove(s) in the outer wall of the casing mandrel. At least one lock is situated in the corresponding slot and the groove. The lock engages the flanks of the slot and groove sufficiently to resist shear loads applied by compression or tension in the string. In one embodiment, the lock is one or more wires, although other mechanical locking devices may be installed to provide the same function.

Abstract: A liner hanger having a mechanical coupling between a liner hanger body and one or more cones is disclosed. The cones are coupled to the liner hanger body to resist axial and relative rotational movement without welding the cones to the hanger body, and without the need to use integral cones. In general, the mechanical coupling includes a hanger body or casing mandrel, a cone assembly journaled on the casing mandrel, at least one slot or groove in an outer wall of the casing mandrel, and at least one partially or fully annular slot on the inside surface of the cone assembly oriented to correspond with the groove(s) in the outer wall of the hanger body. At least one wire, or one or more bearings, is situated in the corresponding slot and the groove. The wire engages the flanks of the slot and groove sufficiently to resist axial or rotational movement of the cones relative to the hanger body.

Abstract: An apparatus and corresponding method for determining component flow rates of a multiphase fluid in a conduit, the fluid consisting of at least three known components, the method including the steps of: measuring at each of two different positions along the conduit at least four mixture quantities, typically the sound speed, the flow velocity of the multiphase fluid, the pressure and the temperature; providing a speed of sound in each of the components at the measured pressures and temperatures; providing a trial value for each of either the component flow rates or the phase fractions; using a predetermined model to calculate values for the measured mixture quantities based on the trial values for each of either the component flow rates or the phase fractions; using a predetermined error function to determine an error value; and using a predetermined optimizing algorithm to determine whether the calculated values are acceptable, and, if they are not, to provide a new trial value for each of either the compone

Abstract: A method and corresponding system for measuring the speed of sound in a fluid contained within an elongated body, the sound traversing the elongated body substantially along a direction aligned with the longest axis of the elongated body, the sound causing a momentary change in pressure in a portion of the fluid as the sound traverses the portion of the fluid, the method including the steps of: providing at predetermined locations an array of at least two sensors distributed along the elongated body, each sensor for discerning and signaling spatio-temporally sampled data including information indicating the pressure of the fluid at the position of the sensor; acquiring the spatio-temporally sampled data from each sensor at each of a number of instants of time; constructing a plot derivable from a plot, using a technique selected from the group consisting of spectral-based algorithms, such as the Capon method or the MUSIC method, in which a spectrum-like function of the speed of sound is formed, and parametric

Abstract: A thermal compensating apparatus and method for maintaining a relatively constant fluid pressure within a subterranean well tool of the type that is responsive to a source of actuation fluid for manipulating said tool at a location in a well to at least one of sealing and anchoring positions. A body includes a fluid chamber within the body for housing a substantially incompressible fluid for manipulating said tool to at least one of the positions. The fluid chamber is expandable and contractible, for example, through movement of a piston, in response to manipulation of the tool and thereafter in response to thermal variations of the fluid in the fluid chamber. An energy storage and release mechanism, for example, a compression spring, is responsive to pressure changes in the fluid chamber for expanding or contracting the fluid chamber in response to pressure variations in the fluid for maintaining the fluid at a relatively constant pressure.

Abstract: A thermal compensating apparatus method for maintaining a substantially constant fluid pressure within a subterranean well tool of the type that includes a bladder that is selectively expandable upon the introduction of pressurized actuation fluid for actuating said tool at a location in a well. A body includes first and second fluid chambers. The first fluid chamber houses a substantially incompressible fluid and communicates with the actuating fluid used for activating said tool in the well. The second fluid chamber is charged with a compressible fluid. Both chambers define first volumetric sizes within the body upon actuation of said tool in the well. The fluid chambers are operatively connected to each other without transmitting fluid there between so that changes in the volumetric size of the first chamber caused by temperature variations in the actuation fluid will change the volumetric size of the second fluid chamber for maintaining the actuating fluid at a substantially constant pressure.

Abstract: A thermal compensating apparatus and method for maintaining a substantially constant fluid pressure within a subterranean well tool of the type that includes a bladder that is selectively expandable upon the introduction of pressurized actuation fluid for actuating said tool at a location in a well. A multi-stage piston is movable in a housing. The piston includes a first surface in contact with the actuating fluid and a plurality of second surfaces in contact with well fluid surrounding the apparatus. The combined surface areas of the second surfaces are greater than the surface area of the first surface, so that expansion or contraction changes in the volume of the actuating fluid caused by temperature changes in the vicinity of the tool will result in movement of the piston for maintaining the actuating fluid at a relatively constant pressure.

Abstract: A window milling device which parameters can be set, prior to running inside a casing, and once positioned at a proper location can assure accurate and constant milling parameters, independently from hole configuration and geometry. The assembly consists of an anchoring device, to which a whipstock is connected, and a milling bit attached to a motor, contained within a motor housing. The whipstock has a predetermined groove, and the motor housing is fitted with a mating key having a complimentary profile to the groove. Thus, when the mating key engages the groove, the motor housing travels down the whipstock to a predetermined location, where the milling of the wellbore casing commences.

Abstract: Installation/removal assembly and method are disclosed that reduce forces required for installing and removing from a wellbore hydraulic artificial lift installations, such as, for example, hydraulic reciprocating pumps, hydraulic jet pumps, coil tubing hydraulic jet pumps, and other hydraulically operated installations. The installation/removal assembly is provided with a hydraulically activated latch and spear assembly that, in a preferred embodiment, includes no radially extending latch elements for securing a bottomhole assembly to a reservoir connection, such as a seating nipple designed for use with mechanical latches. A bottomhole assembly is provided with relatively moveable inner and outer members that move between closed and open positions for respectively sealing or equalizing, differential pressure across a one-way valve that arises when the pump is turned off.

Abstract: A fluid recovery system for producing subsurface oil and water deposits comprises a high capacity pump such as a high capacity centrifugal pump that is immersed within the deposit, a well casing that extends into the deposit from the surface, a source of rotatory motion power, and a power transmission system that connects the power source and the pump in the well casing. The power transmission system includes a step up transmission and a rod string which interconnects the power source and the step up transmission to deliver rotary motion to the step up transmission. The pump is connected to the step up transmission for delivery of higher speed rotary power to the pump. A method of operating the fluid recovery system is also disclosed.