Abstract: An electronic control system comprises a first tubular handling tool, a sensor, and a controller. The controller is configured to control actuation of the first tubular handling tool in response to an electronic signal received from the sensor that corresponds to an operational characteristic of the first tubular handling tool. The electronic control system functions as an electronic interlock system to prevent mishandling of a tubular. A method of controlling a tubular handling tool comprises measuring an operational characteristic of the tubular handling tool, communicating the operational characteristic to a controller in the form of an electronic signal, and using the controller to control actuation of the tubular handling tool in response to the measured operational characteristic.

Abstract: An exemplary method of the present disclosure includes causing, by a processing system proximate to the wellbore, injection of the lift gas into the wellbore at a first gas injection rate; obtaining, by the processing system, a first indication of a parameter associated with the wellbore, an arrival of a first fluid at a wellhead associated with the wellbore, or a composition of the first fluid; determining, by the processing system and based on the first indication, at least one of: a second gas injection rate of the intermittent gas lift system, a first period to inject the lift gas with the intermittent gas lift system, or a second period, subsequent to the first period, with no injection of the lift gas by the intermittent gas lift system; and operating, by the processing system, the intermittent gas lift system according to the determination.

Abstract: A plunger lift method can include introducing a plunger sleeve and a plunger closure into a well, engaging the sleeve with the closure, securing the sleeve and closure to each other in a flow passage of the well, and then retrieving the sleeve and closure from the well. A plunger lift system can include a plunger sleeve configured for reciprocal displacement in a flow passage of the well, a plunger closure configured to block flow through a flow path of the sleeve and being displaceable in the flow passage separate from the sleeve. A plunger retrieval device may displace with the sleeve in the flow passage and secure the closure against displacement away from the sleeve. Another plunger retrieval device may be positioned in a lubricator, whereby the plunger retrieval device engages the closure and secures the closure against displacement away from the sleeve in the lubricator.

Abstract: An apparatus disposed on a drillstring deviates a borehole advanced by a drill bit. At least one director is disposed on a housing to rotate therewith. The director at least includes a piston movable in a chamber, a pad pivotable about a pivot point between an extended condition and a retracted condition relative to the housing, and a linkage arm pivotably connected between the piston and the pad. At least one actuator disposed on the housing in fluid communication with a housing bore is operable at least between a first condition (directing communicated fluid from the bore or other source to the chamber of the director) and a second condition (at least permitting the director to retract toward the retracted condition).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for a side looking NMR tool for downhole geophysical analysis wherein a unique static field shape is provided by two magnets magnetized in two different directions. The tilted configuration of magnets and optimized value of the tilt angle provide, among other advantages, an elevation of the Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR), an enriched content of the 1H NMR signal from rock formations by providing a wider span of gradients including higher gradients, a diminished level of undesired sodium 23Na signal, less tool energy consumption and a wider NMR beam.

Abstract: A riser pipe system for releasably securing a rotating flow control device internally within a riser string for use in offshore drilling can include a riser pipe section, a removable latch assembly for releasably securing the RFCD, and optionally, a removable seal assembly for sealing against the RFCD. The latch and seal assemblies are disposed within the riser pipe section and axially restrained by at least one removable retaining member. The latch assembly and seal assembly may be hydraulically or pneumatically actuated together or separately.

Abstract: An apparatus deploys and retrieves a wear bushing in a wellhead during the same trip, such as when using a bottom hole assembly for drilling. Arms in the form of pistons, levers, dogs, etc. can be moved between retracted and extended conditions on the apparatus using actuations from remote communications. When extended, the arms engage inside the wear bushing or inside an adapter disposed in the bushing. When retracted, the arms lie within the exterior of the tool to avoid wear and damage when the drillstring is used for drilling or other operations. During deployment, the bushing supported on the extended arms is seated in the wellhead. The arms are then retracted through remote activation, and the bottom hole assembly is run further downhole. During retrieval, the retracted arms are extended through remote activation and engage in the bushing so the drillstring can lift the bushing from the wellhead.

Abstract: A downhole tool has a housing with a communication path extending from a first to a second part of a bore. An indexer disposed in the communication path is movably responsive to applied pressure at the first part. The indexer counts a number of applications of the applied pressure and permits fluid communication of the applied pressure from the first part to the second part in response to the counted number. An insert in the housing bore sealably encloses the second part of the communication path and is movable from a first position covering to a second position uncovering a port in the housing. At least a portion of the insert acted upon by the applied fluid pressure in the second part initiates movement of the insert from the first to the second position. A kit having a modular housing portion and the indexer can adapt the downhole tool for use.

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: A flow control apparatus includes a housing having a bore extending and a port formed through a wall of the housing; and a port sleeve disposed in the housing and having a port in communication with the port of the housing. The apparatus also includes a first sleeve releasably attached to the housing, wherein the first sleeve is movable from a first position preventing axial movement of the port sleeve relative to the housing to a second position allowing axial movement of the port sleeve relative to the housing. The apparatus further includes a second sleeve releasably attached to the port sleeve, wherein the second sleeve is movable from a first position blocking fluid communication through the port of housing and the port of the port sleeve to a second position allowing fluid communication through the ports.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for tubular stabbing guides are presented. One example tubular stabbing guide includes a frame, a clamping assembly mounted to the frame, the clamping assembly including a plurality of guide members configured to receive a tubular and movable between an open position and a closed position, and a support plate configured to support a weight of the tubular, the support plate movable between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A casing floatation system includes a casing having a pre-load collar and a landing collar; and a lower bottom latch-in plug comprising: a catch mechanism compatible with the pre-load collar; and a landing mechanism compatible with the landing collar. A method of well completion includes floating a casing in a wellbore with a casing floatation system having a pre-load collar; sequentially engaging a lower bottom latch-in plug and a top latch-in plug having a transitionable seal; pressure testing the casing; and triggering the transitionable seal to unseal the bore of the top latch-in plug.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a safety valve chamber housing can include depositing a chamber housing material, and thereby gradually building up the chamber housing and forming a chamber in the chamber housing enclosed by the chamber housing material, the chamber being bounded by only a single solid structure of the chamber housing. A safety valve can include a piston, and a chamber housing having a piston bore and a chamber formed therein, the piston bore being in communication with the chamber, the chamber being enclosed by only a single chamber housing material. A well system can include a safety valve connected in a tubular string, the safety valve including a chamber housing with a chamber in communication with a control line, inner and outer walls of the chamber housing being made of a continuous chamber housing material.

Abstract: An apparatus is directed relative to geomagnetic and gravitational fields of reference while advancing with rotation in a borehole by determining angular position of the apparatus during the rotation and correcting the angular position of the apparatus relative to an offset of a toolface of the apparatus. To do the correction, a magnetic toolface of the apparatus during the rotation is determined based on geomagnetic readings of the apparatus in each of a plurality of divisions of the rotation relative to the geomagnetic field, and a gravitational toolface of the apparatus during the rotation is determined based on gravitational readings of the apparatus in each of the divisions of the rotation relative to the gravitational field. The offset of the toolface is then calculated as a difference between the magnetic toolface and the gravitational toolface. The corrected angular position can then be used in directing the apparatus.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described for estimating the level of contamination of downhole fluid and underlying composition using physical property measurements, and mathematical modeling of contamination functions and fluid property mixing laws. The proposed approaches enable computation of estimates of the pumping time needed to achieve a certain contamination threshold level and the determination of whether or not sampling is appropriate at the current point in time based on the predicted compositional properties of the formation fluid.

Abstract: A modular top drive system for construction of a wellbore includes an identification reader for automatically identifying tools during operation for rig up and tool exchange. The identification reader may be disposed in one of a tool storage unit, a tool change unit or a top drive unit. Drilling tools, cementing tools and casing tools with one or more identification devices may be used with the modular top drive system. The one or more identification devices may be radio frequency identification devices, barcodes, text tags, micro-controllers, or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A fill up tool includes a mandrel; a primary sealing member disposed around the mandrel; and a selectively operable secondary sealing member activated by rotation of the mandrel. In another embodiment, the selectively operable secondary sealing member is activated using hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A pumping method can include displacing a rod string with pressure applied to an actuator by a pressure source including an accumulator and a separate gas volume in communication with the accumulator. A sensor indicates whether a fluid is in the gas volume. A pumping system can include an actuator, a pump connected between the actuator and an accumulator, a hydraulic fluid contacting a gas in the accumulator, a separate gas volume in communication with the accumulator, and a sensor that detects the hydraulic fluid in the gas volume. Another pumping system can include an actuator, a pump connected between the actuator and an accumulator that receives nitrogen gas from a nitrogen concentrator assembly while a hydraulic fluid flows between the pump and the actuator, a separate gas volume in communication with the accumulator, and a sensor that detects a presence of the hydraulic fluid in the gas volume.

Abstract: A system for communicating through a hanger can include an alignment manifold having upper and lower terminals positioned on opposite respective sides of the alignment manifold, each of the upper terminals being in communication with a respective one of the lower terminals. A downhole line connector can be configured to connect to downhole lines, the downhole line connector including terminals aligned with the lower terminals of the alignment manifold. A method of communicating through a hanger can include connecting an alignment manifold to the hanger, the hanger being configured to suspend a tubular from a wellhead assembly, and connecting a downhole line connector to the alignment manifold.

Abstract: Mechanical acoustic actuators and methods for using these actuators to generate controlled acoustic signals to measure silent or quiet parameters are provided. One example method includes using fluid flows (whistle) and/or mechanical shocks between solids (bells) to stimulate the actuators, either proportionally from the parameter targeted for measurement or artificially modulated to create emitters. Some aspects provide for usage of the actuators within an oil and gas well or a fluid conduit, including in combination with arrays of acoustic sensors, to perform sonar array processing monitoring of acoustic wave propagation to derive properties of the media traversed.