Abstract: A rotating control device is remotely hydraulically latched and unlatched with a docking station housing for use and removal, respectively. The system and method allows for interactive lubrication and cooling of the rotating control device, as needed, along with a supply of fluid for use with an active seal. A first sensor and a second sensor can be used to detect temperature, pressure and density of the supplied fluid at different locations and this data can be compared using a central processing unit (CPU). Also, a sensor can be used to detect the revolutions per minute of a rotating seal of the rotating control device and fluid can be provided to the rotating control device responsive to the detected revolutions per minute.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a valve assembly for use with a velocity string. The valve assembly is used during the snub-in operation and the snub-out operation of the velocity string. In one aspect, a valve for a velocity string is provided. The valve includes a body having a bore. The valve further includes a flapper member disposed in the body, wherein the flapper member includes a flapper that is movable between an opened position in which fluid flow is allowed to move through the bore in a first direction and a second direction, and a closed position in which fluid flow through the bore is blocked in the second direction. The valve further includes a sleeve member attached to the body by a releasable connection, wherein the sleeve member is configured to hold the flapper member in the opened position. The sleeve member is movable through the bore of the body upon release of the releasable connection.

Abstract: A flow tool has a sensor that detects plugs (darts, balls, etc.) passing through the tool. An actuator moves an insert in the tool once a preset number of plugs have passed through the tool. Movement of this insert reveals a catch on a sleeve in the tool. Once the next plug is deployed, the catch engages the plug on the sleeve so that fluid pressure applied against the seated plug through the tubing string can move the sleeve. Once moved, the sleeve reveals ports in the tool communicating the tool's bore with the surrounding annulus so an adjacent wellbore interval can be stimulated. The actuator can use a sensor detecting passage of the plugs through the tool. A spring disposed in the tool can flex near the sensor when a plug passes through the tool, and a counter can count the number of plugs that have passed.

Abstract: The present invention relates methods and apparatus for lining a wellbore. In one aspect, a drilling assembly having an earth removal member and a wellbore lining conduit is manipulated to advance into the earth. The drilling assembly includes a first fluid flow path and a second fluid flow path. Fluid is flowed through the first fluid flow path, and at least a portion of which may return through the second fluid flow path. In one embodiment, the drilling assembly is provided with a third fluid flow path. After drilling has been completed, wellbore lining conduit may be cemented in the wellbore.

Abstract: A packer having a swellable element is configured for axial expansion of the swellable element. The axial expansion causes the slip mechanism to deploy and engage a sidewall of a tubular or casing. The axial expansion may directly cause activation of the slip mechanism, or may trigger a triggering mechanism to activate a spring-loaded slip mechanism. The swellable element may be the same element used for sealing the packer to the sidewall, or may be a sleeve dedicated for deployment of the slip mechanism.

Abstract: A multi-zone formation treatment assembly has sections disposed on a tubular structure in a borehole. An isolation element disposed on the tubular structure that isolates a borehole annulus around the section from the other sections, and a flow valve disposed on the tubular structure is selectively operable between opened and closed conditions permitting and preventing fluid communication between the through-bore and the borehole annulus. A screen disposed on the tubular structure communicates with the borehole annulus, and a closure disposed on the tubular structure at least prevents fluid communication from the through-bore to the screen. A workstring of the assembly can be manipulated in the tubular structure relative to each section in the same trip to: open the flow valve, position in the through-bore relative to the open flow valve, deliver the treatment from an outlet to the section through the open flow valve, and close the flow valve.

Abstract: An ultrasonic scanner tool employs a transducer that excites a target plate at a known distance from the transducer. One side of the target plate forms a chamber that in operation is filled with wellbore fluid. On the other side of the target plate, a chamber is formed containing a vacuum or a fluid with a significantly lower acoustic impedance than the wellbore fluid and the target plate, allowing an improved measurement of the acoustic impedance of the wellbore fluid.

Abstract: Concentric control lines have an outer line disposed about one or more inner lines. Encapsulated together, the lines only require one penetration through the wellhead to extend downhole. At the wellhead, the lines communicate with an operating system, which can provide hydraulics, electric power, signals, or the like for downhole components. Beyond the wellhead, the concentric lines extend along the tubing to a manifold. The outer line sealably terminates at the manifold's inlet, while the inner conduit passes out an outlet with a sealed fitting to connect to a downhole component. A downhole line couples to an outlet of the manifold and communicates internally with the outer conduit terminated at the manifold's inlet. This downhole line can then extend to the same downhole component or some different component.

Abstract: A rod tong assembly has inner and outer rings. The outer ring has rollers disposed about a central opening. The inner ring disposes in the outer ring and has three jaws for engaging a rod element. The outer ring is rotated clockwise to make a rod connection and is rotated counter-clockwise to break the rod connection. When rotated, the rollers pivot the opposing jaws pivot against flats of the rod element. Further rotation of the outer ring then rotates the inner ring to respectively tighten or loosen the connection. To return the assembly to its default condition, operators switch a lock disposed on the inner ring to a return condition. When the outer ring is then rotated back, the lock catches on the outer ring and allows the inner ring to rotate in the same direction as the outer ring.

Abstract: A system of sliding valves wherein the inserts of multiple sliding valves may be shifted to an open position using a single shifting ball. Each individual sliding valve has a movable insert that, depending upon the position of the insert within the sliding valve, may either block, permit fluid to radially flow between the interior and exterior of the sliding valve at a first rate, or permit fluid to radially flow between the interior and exterior of the sliding valve at some different second rate.

Abstract: A system of sliding valves wherein the inserts of multiple sliding valves may be shifted to an open position using a single shifting ball. Each individual sliding valve has a movable insert that, depending upon the position of the insert within the sliding valve, may either block or permit fluid to radially flow between the interior and exterior of the sliding valve. The insert has a profile about the interior of the movable insert allowing a shifting tool to connect to and move the insert so that fluid may be prevented from entering the interior portion of the sliding sleeve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the active control of a wavelength-swept light source used to interrogate optical elements having characteristic wavelengths distributed across a wavelength range are provided.

Abstract: A downhole pump has a barrel and a plunger movably disposed therein. The gap between the barrel and plunger has first and second seals. The barrel and plunger each have a one-way valve restricting fluid passage out of it. A filter or screen is disposed on the plunger between the first and second seals. In a downstroke, fluid and particulate in the barrel transfers into the plunger. In an upstroke, fluid and particulate in the plunger lifts uphole. At the same time, a volume in the barrel fills with fluid and particulate. During either stroke, the first seal prevents particulate uphole of the plunger from passing into the gap. The filter or screen, however, prevents at least some particulate (i.e., most or larger particulate) inside the plunger from passing out of the plunger with fluid flowing into the gap between the first and second seals.

Abstract: A gas lift apparatus has a gas lift valve that disposes in a mandrel. A housing of the valve has a chamber, and a seat disposes between the inlet and outlet. A piston movably disposed in the housing has one end exposed to the chamber. A distal end can selectively seal with the seat to close the valve. A first edge-welded bellows disposed on the piston separates the inlet and chamber pressures and can fully compress to a stacked height when the distal end of the piston seals with the seat. A dynamic seal can be achieved at closing by using a captive sliding seal between the piston's distal end and the seat. A second edge-welded bellows can also be disposed on the piston, and the two bellows can operate in tandem. Oil filing the interiors and the passage can move from one bellows to the other to transfer the pressure differential between the inlet and the chamber pressures. The second bellows fully compresses to a stacked height and stops opening of the valve.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tubular gripping assembly for use with a top drive to handle a tubular includes a tubular gripping tool having a mandrel and gripping elements operatively coupled to the mandrel; and a link assembly attached to the mandrel, wherein a load of the link assembly is transferred to the mandrel. In another embodiment, the tubular gripping assembly includes a swivel having selectively actuatable seals. In yet another embodiment, the tubular gripping assembly includes a thread compensator to facilitate tubular make-up. In yet another embodiment, the tubular gripping assembly includes a wedge lock release apparatus to facilitate the release of gripping elements from the tubular.

Abstract: A torque measuring flange is provided for use with a tong arrangement. The torque measuring flange includes a top plate and a bottom plate and one or more cylinders disposed between one or more wedges, whereby rotating the top plate causes the wedges to compress a piston in the cylinder.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided to place a conductor pipe and a casing in a subsea environment. In one embodiment, a conductor pipe is jetted or drilled into the subsea floor. Thereafter, a casing drilling assembly comprising a drill casing and a drilling assembly is connected to the drill pipe using a crossover. The drilling assembly urged into the seafloor until a casing latch on the drilling assembly is engaged with a casing profile of the conductor pipe. During drilling, instrumentation in the drilling assembly may be used to measure geophysical data. The measured data may be used to optimize the drilling process. After the drill casing is engaged with the conductor pipe, cementing may be performed to set the drill casing.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a swage assembly that is movable from a compliant configuration having a first shape to a substantially non-compliant configuration having a second shape. In one aspect, an expansion swage for expanding a wellbore tubular is provided. The expansion swage includes a body and a solid cone disposed on the body. The expansion swage further includes a deformable cone disposed on the body, wherein the solid cone is made from a first material and the deformable cone is made from a second material and wherein the deformable cone is movable relative to the body when the expansion swage is in a compliant configuration. In another aspect, a method of expanding a wellbore tubular is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods used to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. In one instance, an interlock system is used to control the operations of a gripping apparatus connected to the top drive and a spider such that at least one of the top drive or the spider retains the tubular. The interlock system allows the spider to open when the gripping apparatus is supporting a load of the tubular or is in position to support a load of the tubular.

Abstract: A multi-zone screened frac system combines screens with integrated check valves, frac valves, and optional shunt tubes for slurry dehydration. The system can also include fiber optic technology. In particular, the system uses sliding sleeves and flow devices for each section. The sliding sleeves open with dropped balls or a service tool, and the flow devices have screens and act as check valves. Dehydration tubes can also be used. The system does not require a crossover tool, and in some implementations, the system does not even require a complete service tool.