Abstract: A method used to determine an operational mode of a tong. The method includes rotating a first sensor target relative to a first sensor and rotating a second sensor target relative to a second sensor. The method also includes identifying a position of the first sensor target using the first sensor and analyzing the position of the first sensor target to determine the operational mode of the tong.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a debris removal tool. In one embodiment, the tool includes a cover assembly having a plurality of covers spaced from one another along the length of the assembly creating a gap between adjacent covers. A carrier disposed within the cover assembly is axial movable relative thereto and has a plurality of magnet groups spaced from one another along its length. In an unactuated position of the tool, each of the plurality of magnet groups is under one of the plurality of covers and in an actuated position, each of the plurality of magnets is in a gap between covers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for predicting and optimizing the effects of acidizing treatment of carbonate rock are disclosed. The disclosed methods predict the conflicting effects of increased production (i.e., wormhole creation) and reduced rock compressive strength due to acid rock reactions. The mechanical stability of stimulated wellbores, such as horizontal wellbores, can be determined under different acidizing conditions, such as acid type and volume. The acidizing conditions can be optimized to maximize short and long-term production.

Abstract: A well barrier can include an inner mandrel, a flow passage, and a releasably secured plug. The plug blocks fluid flow through the flow passage, and includes a shoulder that prevents the plug from displacing completely through the inner mandrel. A method of treating a subterranean well can include treating a deeper zone, setting a well barrier in the well between the deeper zone and a shallower zone, then treating the shallower zone, and then applying a pressure differential from the deeper to the shallower zone, thereby displacing a plug out of the well barrier. A well treatment system can include a well barrier with a plug releasably secured to an inner mandrel. The plug is released by application of a pressure differential in a longitudinal direction, and fluid communication is unblocked by application of a pressure differential in an opposite longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Near-Infrared (NIR) filter photometry is used to calculate component concentrations in multiphase flows. The disclosed methodology adapts the Beer-Lambert law for nonhomogeneous immiscible mixtures (such as oil and water) by modeling the fluid layer as a nonhomogeneous distribution of its components and deriving a mathematical relationship between measured absorbances, component path lengths, and non-homogeneity factors. The methodology is integrated into a multi-channel filter photometer to measure phase concentrations in oil-and-gas pipelines. The system is proven more accurate than current state of the art based on data from simulations, multiphase flow laboratories and field trials.

Abstract: Equipment and methods for coupling a top drive to one or more tools to facilitate data and/or signal transfer therebetween include a receiver assembly connectable to a top drive; a tool adapter connectable to a tool string, wherein a coupling between the receiver assembly and the tool adapter transfers at least one of torque and load therebetween; and a stationary data uplink comprising at least one of: a data swivel coupled to the receiver assembly; a wireless module coupled to the tool adapter; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the tool adapter. Equipment and methods include coupling a receiver assembly to a tool adapter to transfer at least one of torque and load therebetween, the tool adapter being connected to the tool string; collecting data at one or more points proximal the tool string; and communicating the data to a stationary computer while rotating the tool adapter.

Abstract: A whipstock assembly includes an inner body having a bore and an inclined surface at an upper portion; and an outer body disposed around the inner body and releasably attached to the inner body, the outer body having an inclined surface and an upper portion closed to fluid communication.

Abstract: An expandable liner is used to re-complete a wellbore for a re-fracturing operation. The expandable liner may be used to cover the old perforations and provide a larger bore after expansion. The larger bore allows the new completion perforations and fracturing operation to be more easily achieved. In one embodiment, an expandable liner an expandable tubular having a threaded connection, wherein the threaded connection includes a groove configured to fail at a predetermined tension load. In another embodiment, the expandable liner may have a rib disposed around an outer diameter of the expandable tubular, wherein the rib is configured to form a seal with the outer tubular.

Abstract: An anchor for securing a well tool can include a longitudinally extending central axis, an outwardly extendable grip member, and a mechanical linkage including multiple pivotably connected links. The links pivot relative to each other in a plane laterally offset from the central axis. A method of anchoring a well tool can include flowing a fluid through an anchor connected to the well tool, thereby outwardly extending a grip member into contact with a well surface, and applying a tensile force to the anchor, thereby increasingly biasing the grip member against the well surface and securing the well tool relative to the well surface. A method of anchoring a tubing cutter in a tubular string can include applying a tensile force from an anchor to the tubular string, and cutting the tubular string while the tensile force is applied from the anchor to the tubular string.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to an optical reference element having a wavelength spectrum comprising a plurality of wavelength functions having wavelength peaks spaced over a range of wavelengths, wherein adjacent wavelength functions are due to two orthogonal birefringence axes in the optical reference element. Aspects of the present disclosure may eliminate the drift issues associated with residual polarization and polarization dependent loss (PDL) with respect to grating-based sensor and reference element measurements.

Abstract: A downhole barrier can include a housing disposed between a slip and a seal element, a mandrel extending through the housing and the seal element, and a piston fixed to the mandrel and separating two chambers in the housing. One chamber is positioned between the slip and the other chamber, and is in communication with a passage in the mandrel. The other chamber is in communication with an exterior of the barrier. A system can include a downhole barrier set in a wellbore. The barrier can include a housing disposed between a slip and a seal element, a mandrel, and a piston fixed to the mandrel, the piston separating two chambers in the housing. An outer area of the mandrel in one chamber is equal to twice a difference between an inner area of the housing and an outer area of the mandrel in the other chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a flapper valve including a pressure relief assembly. The pressure relief assembly is operable to activate when a pressure differential across the flapper approaches or exceeds a design pressure of the flapper.

Abstract: A tong for use at a wellbore includes a tong body; at least one door pivotally coupled to the tong body and movable between an open position and a closed position; a carrier ring rotatable relative to the tong body; and a brake plate coupled to the carrier ring. The tong also includes a brake band configured to move with the at least one door between the open and closed positions, and a braking member for moving the brake band into contact with the brake plate to stop rotation of the carrier ring.

Abstract: A tool for use in a wellbore includes a tubular body having a bore therethrough, an opening through a wall thereof, and a connector at each longitudinal end thereof; and an arm. The arm is pivotally connected to a first piston and rotationally coupled to the body, is disposed in the opening in a retracted position, and is movable to an extended position where an outer surface of the arm extends outward past an outer surface of the body. The first piston is disposed in the body bore, has a bore therethrough, and is operable to move the arm from the retracted position to the extended position in response to fluid pressure in the piston bore exceeding fluid pressure in the opening. The tool further includes a lock operable to retain the first piston in the retracted position; and a second piston operably coupled to the lock.

Abstract: A system for use with a subterranean well can include a system controller with a computer, a power supply and at least one current sensor, multiple downhole well tools, each of the downhole well tools including a motor and a member displaceable by the motor; and an umbilical connected between the system controller and the downhole well tools, at least one conductor of the umbilical being connected to the motor of each of the downhole well tools. A downhole well tool example can include an actuator assembly configured to displace a member of the downhole well tool, the actuator assembly including a motor, a load yoke displaceable by the motor, and an elongated position indicator bar having at least one profile formed thereon. Friction between the load yoke and the position indicator bar varies as the load yoke displaces relative to the position indicator bar.

Abstract: A method of making-up or breaking-out tubular string components can include threading tubulars with each other while a camera obtains images of the tubulars, outputting image data from the camera to an image processor that detects optical flow vector fields from the image data, the optical flow vector fields representing displacements of the respective tubulars during the threading, and controlling the threading in response to a difference between the displacements. Another method can include positioning a camera so that the camera simultaneously observes at least two tubulars, threading the tubulars with each other, outputting image data from the camera to an image processor, the image processor detecting optical flow vector fields from the image data, the optical flow vector fields representing displacements of the respective tubulars during the threading, and controlling the threading in response to the image processor detecting the optical flow vector fields.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a method for making up a tubular joint. The method includes rotating a first tubular relative to a second tubular to engage the first and second tubulars while measuring a torque between the first and second tubulars, calculating a set point of a relative rotational speed between the first and second tubulars using the measured torque, and using the calculated set point with a closed-loop controller to control the relative rotational speed between the first and second tubulars.

Abstract: A sensor assembly can include a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a housing assembly containing the gyroscope and the accelerometer. An axis of the gyroscope can be collinear with an axis of the accelerometer. A method of inspecting a well pumping unit can include attaching a sensor assembly to the pumping unit, recording acceleration versus time data, and in response to an amplitude of the acceleration versus time data exceeding a predetermined threshold, transforming the data to acceleration versus frequency data. A method of balancing a well pumping unit can include comparing peaks of acceleration versus rotational orientation data to peaks of acceleration due to circular motion, and adjusting a position of a counterweight, thereby reducing a difference between the peaks of acceleration due to circular motion and the peaks of the acceleration versus rotational orientation data for subsequent operation of the pumping unit.

Abstract: An artificial lift system can include an actuator operable to reciprocate a rod string in the well, the actuator including a piston reciprocably disposed in a cylinder, and a piston rod connected to the piston, and a rod rotator that continuously rotates the piston rod relative to the cylinder as the piston displaces in a longitudinal direction relative to the cylinder. A method of rotating a rod string can include connecting the rod string to a piston rod of an actuator, longitudinally reciprocating the piston rod relative to a cylinder of the actuator and a mandrel of a rod rotator, and rotating the piston rod relative to the mandrel in response to the reciprocating, the mandrel being disposed at least partially within the piston rod during the rotating. A rod rotator can include a mandrel having a helical external profile configured to attach to a cylinder of a hydraulic actuator, an internal profile complementarily shaped relative to the external profile, and a one-way clutch.

Abstract: A piston initiator is used on an assembly having a milling tool and a whipstock for creating a sidetrack in a wellbore. A piston disposed in an uphole position in a bore of the milling tool seals the bore from communicating with the port. A line from the port can communicate pressure to components on the whipstock for initiating their activation. The piston is movable from the uphole position, but is held by a releasable connection configured to release the piston in response to a predetermined force from fluid flow in a downhole direction against an exposed surface area of the piston. An uphole shoulder in the milling tool prevents movement of the piston in an uphole direction so the piston does not stress the releasable connection in response to reverse fluid flow through the milling tool.