Abstract: This disclosure relates to a direct drive pumping unit having a reciprocator for reciprocating a sucker rod string and a sensor for detecting position of a polished rod. The reciprocator includes a tower for surrounding a wellhead. The polished rod is connectable to the sucker rod string and has an inner thread open to a top thereof and extends along at least most of a length thereof. A screw shaft extends into the polished rod and interacts with the inner thread. A motor is mounted to the tower, torsionally connected to the screw shaft, and operable to rotate the screw shaft relative to the polished rod.

Abstract: A wellbore completion is configured for multiple forms of artificial lift. A downhole assembly on production tubing defines a production port communicating a throughbore with the wellbore annulus. A bypass, such as a snorkel or riser tube, on the assembly also communicates the throughbore between the packer and the production port with the annulus. A packer on the assembly seals in the annulus downhole of the production port and bypass. The assembly can then be configured for any selected artificial lift. To do this, at least one isolation (a sleeve insert, a sliding sleeve, a check valve, or a rupture disk) selectively prevents/allows communication via one or both of the production port and the bypass as needed. Additionally, removable lift equipment, including jet pump, gas lift valve, plunger assembly, rod pump, piston pump, or standing valve, is selectively inserted into the assembly's throughbore as needed.

Abstract: A sealing device includes a tubular body having a bore; a collet seat having a plurality of collets; a frangible sealing element disposed in the collet seat and blocking fluid communication through the bore; and a releasable sleeve releasably attached to the tubular body and retaining the collet seat against the tubular body. In one embodiment, the plurality of the collets includes threads mated with threads on the tubular body. In another embodiment, the plurality of the collets is attached to the sleeve.

Abstract: A well system can include a pressure control device including a releasable assembly, and a running tool including a lock mechanism operable in response to a change in a fluid flow rate through the running tool. A method of retrieving a releasable assembly of a pressure control device can include engaging a running tool with a latch, applying a force from the running tool to deactivate the latch, and changing a fluid flow rate through the running tool. A pressure control device can include a releasable assembly having a passage, and a latch releasably securing the releasable assembly in an outer housing, the latch including a piston having set and unset positions, and the piston being displaceable toward the unset position in response to pressure applied to a port in the outer housing, or in response to displacement of a profile disposed in the passage.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus for use in a tubular can include: a mandrel having a first end shoulder; a first slip disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first end shoulder and abutting against a mule shoe; a cone disposed on the mandrel adjacent the first slip and movable relative to the first end shoulder to engage the first slip toward the tubular; a seal element disposed on the mandrel adjacent the cone and being expandable outward from the mandrel; and wherein at least one component selected from the group consisting of the mandrel, the first slip, the cone, the seal element, and the mule shoe is a filler-doped degradable component that comprise a degradable material and a filler.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of completing a wellbore (10) includes positioning an expandable tubular having a support layer (121) disposed on an exterior of the expandable tubular inside a casing (15); mechanically expanding the tubular and the support layer, wherein a distance between an outer diameter of the support layer and the inner diameter of the casing is sufficient to prevent burst of the tubular; and hydraulically expanding the support layer into contact with the casing.

Abstract: A method can include positioning a tubular string in a riser string including an outer housing of a pressure control device and an annular seal operable to prevent flow through an annulus between the tubular and riser strings, the tubular string including an equalization valve and a running tool operable to convey a releasable assembly of the pressure control device through the riser string, and opening the equalization valve, thereby permitting fluid communication between the annulus and a flow passage extending longitudinally through the tubular string. A system can include a riser string including an annular blowout preventer with an annular seal, a tubular string including a running tool and an equalization valve releasably attachable to a releasable assembly including an annular seal, and the equalization valve selectively preventing and permitting fluid communication between a flow passage of the tubular string and an annulus between the annular seals.

Abstract: A method of quantifying borehole properties, comprising: injecting an electric current from an outer button and an inner button disposed on an equipotential pad into a subterranean formation surround by the borehole, measuring an apparent conductivity or a scaled current for each button, modeling the measurements at a sequence of standoff locations, and, using an inversion technique to determine at least one of the following borehole properties: mudcake thickness, mudcake resistivity, diameter of invasion, flushed zone resistivity and true formation resistivity.

Abstract: A treatment tool can include a housing with longitudinal passages, a valve that controls flow between sections of one passage, another valve that controls flow between the one passage and a section of another passage, and a locking device that prevents the first valve from being transitioned to an open configuration from a closed configuration. A method can include flowing a fluid through a passage of a service string and into an annulus about a screen, the fluid entering the screen and flowing to another annulus via another passage of the service string, then installing a plug in the first passage, thereby preventing flow through the first passage to the annulus about the screen, and creating at least one pressure differential across the plug, thereby preventing flow from an interior of the screen to the other annulus and permitting flow from the first passage to the screen interior.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and methods for making up and evaluating tubular threaded connections. A tong assembly may be used for making up threaded connections. A threaded connection may be made up automatically by controlling the rotation speed of the tong assembly according to measurements of torque, turns, and/or time. After a threaded connection is made up, measurements of time, torque, and/or turns may be corrected based on operating parameters. The corrected measurements may be evaluated for indications of failure, such as discontinuity, torque spikes, and torque drops. The threaded connection is then accepted or rejected based on the evaluation.

Abstract: A long-stroke pumping unit includes a tower, a counterweight assembly movable along the tower, and a crown mounted atop the tower. A sprocket is supported by the crown and rotatable relative thereto. The counterweight is coupled to a belt. The pumping unit further includes a motor having a stator mounted to the crown and a rotor torsionally connected to the sprocket. A sensor is used to detect a position of the counterweight assembly. The pumping unit may include a dynamic control system for controlling a speed of a motor.

Abstract: A jarring device includes a housing, a mandrel received within the housing, and a pressure chamber defined between the housing and the mandrel and filled with a hydraulic fluid. A hydraulic lock piston is arranged about the mandrel and radially interposes the housing and the mandrel. The hydraulic lock piston includes a pressure piston having a first end exposed to the pressure chamber, a second end, and first and second fluid flowpaths defined in the pressure piston and extending axially between the first and second ends. When the mandrel moves in a first direction relative to the housing, the hydraulic fluid is metered through the first fluid flowpath and the second fluid flowpath is occluded. When the mandrel moves in a second direction relative to the housing and opposite the first direction, the hydraulic fluid is metered through the second fluid flowpath and the first fluid flowpath is occluded.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to control the acoustic properties of optical cables used as in-well oil and gas probes for acoustic monitoring, such as distributed acoustic sensing (DAS). One example aspect provides a solid path for the acoustic wave to propagate from an outside armor layer of the cable to the sensing optical waveguide embedded therein. Another example aspect offers ways to spatially dispose the optical sensing elements to create response delays indicative of the propagation speed and/or direction of an acoustic wave. Yet another example aspect provides ways to utilize additional spectral interrogation to increase ultimate spatial resolution. Yet another example aspect provides ways to locally vary the acoustic properties along the length of the cable.

Abstract: An isolation valve for use with a tubular string includes a tubular housing for connection with the tubular string; a first closure member disposed in the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position; a second closure member disposed in the housing and movable between an open position and a closed position; a chamber formed between the first closure member and the second closure member when the first and second closure members are in the closed position; and a leak detection device configured to measure a fluid flow into the chamber.

Abstract: A drive unit includes a drive stem having first friction surfaces and a load coupling, wherein the load coupling is a threaded coupling. The drive unit also includes a transmission unit having second friction surfaces parallel to the first friction surfaces; and shoulders proximate a bottom of the transmission unit. The drive unit further includes a transmission selector movable to an “on” position or an “off” position, wherein the drive stem moves synchronously with the transmission unit when the transmission selector is in the “on” position.

Abstract: A modular assembly for a wellhead has a housing and a plurality of modular cartridges. The housing connects with a studded or flanged connection to the wellhead, which can have a tubing adapter, casing hanger, etc. The modular cartridges can interchangeably stack in the housing's internal pocket so that the bores of the stacked cartridges configure the through-bore of the assembly communicating the wellhead with external components, such as flow lines, capillary lines, etc. The modular cartridges include a spacer cartridge, a hanger cartridge, a valve cartridge, and a cross cartridge. The spacer cartridge can be used to space other cartridges in the internal pocket, and the hanger cartridge can be used to support capillary strings and/or velocity strings in the wellhead. The valve cartridges have valve elements that can be opened and closed by bonnets that affix externally to the housing.

Abstract: An elevator for use in handling a tubular includes a first body part coupled to a second body part; and at least two slips coupled to each of the first and second body parts, wherein one or more of the slips includes an engagement member for coupling with a mating member of the first body part or the second body part, wherein at least 25% of the engagement member is coupled with the mating member when the slip is in an open position. In another embodiment, a swivel includes an upper housing rotatably coupled to a lower housing; and a rotary union having a rotating body attached to the lower housing and a non-rotating body attached to the upper housing, wherein the swivel is configured to transfer load from the lower housing to the upper housing.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism for coupling a first downhole tool to a second downhole tool includes a first portion, a second portion, and a locking device for locking the first portion to the second portion. The first portion includes a frame; a plug body movable relative to the frame; a guiding element coupled to the plug body; at least one of a hydraulic plug and an electric plug; and an actuator for moving the plug body relative to the frame. The second portion includes a receptacle body; a guide receptacle for receiving the guiding element; a respective receptacle for receiving at least one of the hydraulic plug; and the electric plug.

Abstract: A tong includes a frame having jaws configured to engage a tubular and a tong control assembly disposed on the frame. The tong control assembly includes a housing connected to the frame, a shutoff switch, and a toggle lever located at a suitable position on the housing, whereby the toggle lever is configured to be operated while the shutoff switch is depressed, and wherein the toggle lever is configured to control at least one of: a rotational speed of the jaws and a rotational direction of the jaws. A method of operating a tong includes clamping a first tubular using first jaws of a tong, clamping a second tubular using second jaws of the tong, rotating the first tubular relative to the second tubular, and controlling a rotational speed of the first tubular using a toggle lever disposed on a frame of the tong.

Abstract: A positioning tool can include a mandrel and an engagement device reciprocably disposed on the mandrel. The engagement device can include at least one engagement member and at least one landing dog. The mandrel can displace relative to the engagement device in response to engagement between the engagement member and at least one internal profile in an outer tubular string, and the landing dog can extend outward in response to displacement of the mandrel in a selected longitudinal direction relative to the engagement device. A system for use in a well can include a tubular string and a positioning tool reciprocably disposed in the tubular string. The positioning tool can include a landing dog that extends outward from a retracted position to engage one or more internal profiles of the tubular string, in response to a pattern of reciprocation of the positioning tool in the tubular string.