Abstract: An earth removal member with features for facilitating drill-through is provided for drilling with casing or liner applications. In one embodiment, the casing bit includes a tubular body; a nose attached to one end of the tubular body, wherein the nose includes a blade support and comprises a drillable material; a blade attached to the blade support using mating profiles; cutters disposed along the blade; and a nozzle disposed in the nose.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for a drill string has a mud motor and a mandrel. The motor has a rotor and a stator, and the rotor defines a bore for passage of conductors. The mandrel has a bore for passage of the conductors and for drilling fluid, and rotation of the mandrel rotates a drill bit. A shaft and universal joints covert orbital motion at the rotor to rotational motion at the mandrel. To pass the conductors from a sonde uphole of the motor to electronics disposed with the mandrel, an inner beam disposes in a bore of the shaft. This inner beam has an internal passage for the conductors, and seal caps dispose on each end of the inner beam to seal inside the universal joints. The inner beam and seal caps prevent drilling fluid passing from the motor and around the shaft from communicating in the shaft's bore.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include methods and apparatus for dynamically controlling pressure within a wellbore while forming the wellbore. In one aspect, one or more pressure control apparatus are used to maintain desired pressure within the wellbore while drilling the wellbore. In another aspect, pressure is dynamically controlled while drilling using foam to maintain a substantially homogenous foam flow regime within the wellbore annulus for carrying cuttings from the wellbore.

Abstract: A system compensates for heave induced pressure fluctuations on a floating rig when a drill string or tubular is lifted off bottom and suspended on the rig, such as when tubular connections are made during MPD, tripping, or when a kick is circulated out during conventional drilling. In one embodiment, a liquid and a gas interface moves along a flow line between a riser and a gas accumulator as the tubular moves up and down. In another embodiment, a pressure relief valve or adjustable choke allows the movement of fluid from the riser when the tubular moves down, and a pump with a pressure regulator moves fluid to the riser when the tubular moves up. In other embodiments, a piston connected with the rig or the riser telescoping joint moves in a fluid container thereby communicating a required amount of the fluid either into or out of the riser annulus.

Abstract: A compensation and fill up assembly comprises a slip assembly for engaging a tubular and a compensation assembly for supporting a weight of the tubular when engaged by the slip assembly. The compensation and fill up assembly further comprises a fluid swivel and a fill up tool coupled to the fluid swivel by a fluid shaft. The fill up tool is insertable into and rotatable with the tubular using the fluid swivel.

Abstract: A straddle apparatus deploys in a borehole with tubing to treat different zones of a formation. The apparatus has first and second packer elements and a flow element disposed on the apparatus. The first and second packer elements have fill ports in fluid communication with the tubing and have packer valves. These packer valves are biased to open fluid communication between the packer elements and the fill port so the packer elements can be inflated to seal off a section of the borehole when fluid pressure is applied down the tubing string. The flow unit has a flow port in fluid communication with the tubing and has a flow valve biased to close fluid communication between the flow port and the borehole. Once the elements inflate, one or more control units on the apparatus electronically activate the at packer valves to close fluid communication between the packer elements and the fill ports.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for a low profile rotating control device (LP-RCD) and its housing mounted on or integral with an annular blowout preventer seal, casing, or other housing. The LP-RCD and LP-RCD housing can fit within a limited space available on drilling rigs. An embodiment allows a LP-RCD to be removably disposed with a LP-RCD housing by rotating a bearing assembly rotating plate. A sealing element may be removably disposed with the LP-RCD bearing assembly by rotating a seal retainer ring. Alternatively, a sealing element may be removably disposed with the LP-RCD bearing assembly with a seal support member threadedly attached with the LP-RCD bearing assembly. The seal support member may be locked in position with a seal locking ring removably attached with threads with the LP-RCD bearing assembly over the seal support member. Spaced apart accumulators may be disposed radially outward of the bearings in the bearing assembly to provide self lubrication to the bearings.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for converting a drilling rig between conventional hydrostatic pressure drilling and managed pressure drilling or underbalanced drilling using a docking station housing mounted on a marine riser or bell nipple. This docking station housing may be positioned above the surface of the water. When a removable rotating control device is remotely hydraulically latched with the docking station housing, 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 active seals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a wellbore assembly. The wellbore assembly may comprise a conveyance member including at least one of a continuous spooled rod, a wireline, and a slickline; an accumulator system connected to the conveyance member; and a setting tool connected to the accumulator system. The accumulator system may be configured to supply a fluid pressure to actuate the setting tool. A method of operating a wellbore tool may comprise lowering a wellbore assembly into a wellbore using a conveyance member including at least one of a continuous spooled rod, a wireline, and a slickline, wherein the wellbore assembly includes an accumulator system and a setting tool. The method may comprise actuating the accumulator system to provide a fluid pressure to the setting tool. The method may comprise actuating the setting tool using the fluid pressure.

Abstract: A well screen assembly has a base pipe and one or more screen sections attached to the outer surface of the base pipe. The assembly also has one or more shunt tubes attached to the base pipe via top and bottom rings. The shunt tubes can be attached to the screen sections via B-rings and may be transport tubes or packing tubes. Connections are used for securing a jumper tube to adjoining shunt tubes of adjoining screen sections of the wellscreen assembly, which may be used in open or cased holes. At a well site, the joints of the wellscreens have timed threads so that the various shunt tubes can be aligned with one another along the assembly as the joints are made up. The connections of the present disclosure allow operators to install a jumper tubes between shunt tubes at the joint without needing to tighten fasteners or assembly components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a parameter of a production fluid in a wellbore by providing an initially blocked isolated communication path between a sensor and an aperture formed in a sleeve. The isolated communication path is subsequently unblocked to allow measurements of the parameter of the production fluid.

Abstract: A communication arrangement is disclosed for communication between a downhole line and a wellhead body having a through-hole and a valve member for closing the through-hole. The communication arrangement provides a fluid passage that extends from a wellhead body port to the downhole line thus allowing communication between the wellhead body and a safety valve or valves and/or the injection of chemicals or fluids into the well without the need to rework the valve member or disable the valve member.

Abstract: Latch position indicator systems remotely determine whether a latch assembly is latched or unlatched. The latch assembly may be a single latch assembly or a dual latch assembly. An oilfield device may be positioned with the latch assembly. Non-contact (position), contact (on/off and/or position) and hydraulic (flowmeter), both direct and indirect, embodiments include fluid measurement systems, an electrical switch system, a mechanical valve system, and proximity sensor systems.

Abstract: A hybrid swellable material employs an oleophilic elastomer as a matrix admixed with an organic material derived from soy that is water swellable in brine, as well as fresh water. Various downhole tools may be made using this hybrid swellable material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus enable reliable and improved isolation between two portions of a bore extending through a casing string disposed in a borehole. A downhole deployment valve (DDV) may provide the isolation utilizing a valve member, such as a flapper, that is disposed in a housing of the DDV and is designed to close against a seat within the housing. The DDV includes an operating mechanism for opening/closing the DDV. In use, pressure in one portion of a well that is in fluid communication with a well surface may be bled off and open at well surface while maintaining pressure in another portion of the casing string beyond the DDV.

Abstract: A packoff for hanging a liner string from a tubular string cemented in a wellbore includes: a tubular body having an outer groove and an inner groove; an inner seal assembly disposed in the inner groove; an outer seal assembly disposed in the outer groove; a cap connected to an upper end of the body for retaining the seal assemblies; a plurality dogs disposed in respective openings formed through a wall of the body; and a lock sleeve. The lock sleeve is: disposed in the body, longitudinally movable relative to the body, and has a cam profile formed in an outer surface thereof for extending the dogs.

Abstract: A system and method have a choke in fluid communication with a rotating control device. The choke controls flow of drilling mud from the rotating control device to a gas separator during a controlled pressure drilling operation, such as managed pressure drilling (MPD) or underbalanced drilling (UBD). A probe is in fluid communication with the drilling mud between the choke and the gas separator. During operations, the probe evaluates gas in the drilling mud from the well passing from the choke to the gas separator.

Abstract: A method of lining a wellbore includes deploying a BHA into the wellbore using a conveyance. The BHA includes setting tool, an anchor, and an expandable tubular. The method further includes pressurizing a bore of the setting tool, thereby releasing the anchor from the setting tool. The method further includes pulling the conveyance, thereby: extending the anchor into engagement with a casing of the wellbore, pulling an expander of the setting tool through the expandable tubular, and expanding the tubular into engagement with an open and/or cased portion of the wellbore and retracting the anchor.

Abstract: A safety valve for an effluent-production installation, the safety valve comprising a longitudinal shell in which there extends a production tube defining an inside volume for effluent flow. The tube is movable in translation inside the shell in an axial direction between an advanced position in which effluent flow is authorized from the bottom of the installation towards the surface, and a retracted position in which effluent flow is prevented. The valve includes a connection duct between a feed line for feeding at least one additive from the surface and an injection line for injecting the additive downhole, a safety plug being provided in the connection duct in order to close or open the duct depending on whether the production tube is in its retracted position or its advanced position.

Abstract: For wellbore fluid treatment, sliding sleeves deploy on tubing in a wellbore annulus. Operators deploy a plug down the tubing to a first sleeve. The plug seats in this first sleeve, and pumped fluid pressure opens the first sleeve and communicates from the tubing to the wellbore annulus. In the annulus, the fluid pressure creates a pressure differential between the wellbore annulus pressure and a pressure chamber on second sleeves on the tubing. The resulting pressure differential opens the second sleeves so that fluid pressure from the tubing can communicate through the second open sleeves. Using this arrangement, one sleeve can be opened in a cluster of sleeves without opening all of them at the same time. The deployed plug is only required to open the fluid pressure to the annulus by opening the first sleeve. The pressure chambers actuate the second sleeves to open up the tubing to the annulus.