Abstract: A flow measurement apparatus can include a main flow passage, a variable flow restrictor, a bypass flow passage having an inlet connected with the main flow passage upstream of the variable flow restrictor and an outlet connected with the main flow passage downstream of the variable flow restrictor, and a mass flowmeter connected in the bypass flow passage between the inlet and the outlet. A method can include connecting a flow measurement apparatus, so that a fluid flow in a well also flows through the flow measurement apparatus, and varying a restriction to the fluid flow through the variable flow restrictor in response to a change in a flow rate of the fluid flow.

Abstract: Structures for a tool surface of a downhole tool are constructed from a metal clay molded in a wet state. The wet state clay is a workable combination that can have a braze alloy grain, a tungsten carbide grain, and a binder. Additional cutting inserts can be embedded in the molded clay. Heat treatment applied to the molded metal clay causing the binder to be combusted and consumed. The braze alloy melts and then cools into a fused state with the tungsten carbide grain therein. The structure can affix to the tool surface of the tool by first being fused and then attached by brazing to the tool. Alternatively, the structure can be positioned in a fusible state adjacent the tool surface. When the heat treatment is applied, the structure fuses together and forms a metallurgical bond with the tool surface of the tool.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for hydrocarbon monitoring are provided. A method that may be performed by a flowmeter or monitoring system includes receiving downhole measurements of a flowing fluid from a flowmeter; determining a standard phase fraction of the flowing fluid based on the downhole measurements from the flowmeter; receiving surface measurements of the flowing fluid; determining a surface phase fraction of the flowing fluid based on the surface measurements; comparing the standard phase fraction to the surface phase fraction; based on the comparison being greater than a predetermined threshold, using the surface measurements as a reference to adjust a speed of sound (SoS) of a first phase until a target value is achieved; and receiving additional downhole measurements of the flowing fluid from the flowmeter, wherein the flowmeter is operating using the adjusted SoS of the first phase.

Abstract: A running tool sets and cements a liner in a borehole. While the tool's bypass section is closed, a plug deployed to the tool diverts hydraulic pressure to set a liner hanger in the borehole. The setting plug is unseated, and the bypass section is switched opened by deploying another plug to an opening seat and shifting a control sleeve open relative to a bypass port. While the tool's packoff remains sealed in the hanger, cement pumped out the bypass port is bullheaded into a lap of the liner and borehole. When cementing is complete, the bypass section is switched closed by deploying another plug to a closing seat and shifting the control sleeve closed relative to the bypass port. The bypass section is then placed in a flow-through condition where fluid communication is reestablished through the tool to the liner by allowing fluid to flow past the plugs in the tool.

Abstract: A flow measurement apparatus can include a main flow passage, a bypass flow passage having an inlet and an outlet connected with the main flow passage, a mass flowmeter connected in the bypass flow passage between the inlet and the outlet, and a flow restrictor connected in the bypass flow passage between the inlet and the outlet. A method can include connecting the flow measurement apparatus, so that a fluid flow in the well also flows through the flow measurement apparatus, and determining at least one rheological parameter of a non-Newtonian fluid, based on an output of the flow measurement apparatus.

Abstract: A tubular gripping apparatus includes a housing having a bore and a plurality of gripping members movable between a gripping position and a release position. The apparatus may also include a shield having a tubular inner body movable relative to an outer body. The tubular inner body is movable between a retracted position, in which the tubular inner body is positioned above the plurality of gripping members, and an extended position, in which the inner body is at least partially positioned interiorly of the plurality of gripping members.

Abstract: A well tool assembly can include a well barrier and a detachable sub connected to the well barrier. The detachable sub can include a sensor data receiver. A method of retrieving sensor data can include positioning a sensor on one side of a well barrier, connecting a detachable sub on an opposite side of the well barrier, the detachable sub including a sensor data receiver configured to receive sensor data from the sensor, and conveying the well barrier, the sensor and the detachable sub together into a well. A system can include a sensor, a detachable sub, and a well barrier positioned between the sensor and the detachable sub, the detachable sub including a sensor data receiver, a passage extending longitudinally through the detachable sub, and a closure that selectively opens and blocks the passage.

Abstract: A method of separating a downhole tubular includes running a tool into a wellbore to a predetermined location on a work string and actuating flow actuated slips. The method also includes maintaining slips in a set position by providing a first upward force on the work string. The method further includes rotating the work string to separate an upper portion of the tubular from a lower portion using a cutter assembly disposed on the work string below the slips and pulling the upper portion of the tubing and the tool from the wellbore.

Abstract: Control of a drilling system drilling a wellbore is improved using a hydraulic model corrected for pressure losses. A surface backpressure of the outlet and a standpipe pressure of the inlet are measured with sensors in the system. An estimate of the standpipe pressure is calculated based integrating from the measured surface backpressure back to the inlet in the hydraulics model. The pressure loss increment in the hydraulics model is calculated based on a difference between the measured and estimated standpipe pressures. Meanwhile, a parameter in the drilling system is monitored during drilling so the parameter can be adjusted at least partially based on the hydraulics model corrected for the pressure loss.

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: A catcher for use in a wellbore includes a housing and an insert disposed within the housing. A method of using the catcher includes disintegrating at least a portion of the insert while the insert is held rotationally stationary with respect to the housing by a taper connection between the insert and the housing.

Abstract: A well tool assembly can include a well screen configured to filter fluid flow between an interior and an exterior of a tubular string, and an outflow control section that permits the fluid flow in an outward direction and prevents the fluid flow in an inward direction, the outflow control section including at least two outflow control valves arranged in series. A method can include installing a well tool assembly including a well screen, flowing a fluid from an exterior to an interior of a tubular string through the well screen and an inflow control valve of the well tool assembly, and flowing another fluid from the interior to the exterior of the tubular string through the well screen and at least one outflow control valve of the well tool assembly.

Abstract: A tong for handling a tubular includes a jaw carrier having an active jaw movable from a retracted position to an extended position relative to the jaw carrier; a cam body disposed about the jaw carrier and rotatable relative to the cam body; and a brake assembly including an first brake member for engaging an upper surface coupled to the jaw carrier.

Abstract: A riser extending from a floating rig has a riser manifold. A rig manifold can be manipulated by an arm to couple in an automated manner to the riser manifold when running the riser from the rig. The riser and rig manifolds have mechanical connectors that mechanically connect them. Additionally, the manifolds have flow couplings mating together for conducting flow in at least one flow connection, and the manifolds control couplings mating together for conducting control in at least one flow connection. At least one of the manifolds has at least one valve controllable with the at least one control connection and configured to control fluid communication for the at least one flow connection between at least one rig flow line and an internal passage of the riser.

Abstract: A rotating control device can include a bearing housing, an inner mandrel rotatably supported in the bearing housing, and a barrier having upper and lower portions, the upper portion being secured against rotation relative to the inner mandrel, the lower portion being secured against rotation relative to the bearing housing, the lower portion including annular recesses, the recesses being progressively deeper in a radially outward direction. Another barrier can include upper and lower portions, the lower portion including multiple annular walls, an upper surface of each wall being inclined downward in a radially outward direction. Another barrier can include upper and lower portions, the upper and lower portions having annular walls, the upper portion walls being interdigitated with the lower portion walls, and the upper and lower portion walls being circumferentially discontinuous, whereby gaps are formed between circumferential ends of the upper and lower portion walls.

Abstract: A fluid design with enhanced proppant-carrying capacity utilizes a low-viscosity fluid with high proppant carrying capacity and low required power for injection into a hydrocarbon-bearing, subterranean formation. A preferred viscosifying agent that comprises a copolymer polymerized from an acrylic acid monomer and a monomer selected from: a) at least one carboxylic acid monomer; b) at least one C1 to C5 alkyl ester and/or at least one C1 to C5 hydroxyalkyl ester of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid; c) one crosslinking monomer; and optionally d) at least one ?,?-ethylenically unsaturated monomer, may be used to produce a fracturing fluid that has the pumpability of a slick water fluid and the proppant-carrying ability of a cross-linked gel. An optimization process to optimize hydraulic fracture design evaluates and quantifies the proppant-carrying capacity of the invented fluid and its impact in the proppant transport during fracturing.

Abstract: A wiper plug is used in an operation to cement tubing in a borehole. The wiper plug is pumped down the tubing to separate an advancing fluid from a following fluid of the cementing operation, and an internal pressure chamber is maintained in a throughbore of the wiper plug between uphole and downhole barriers. The wiper plug eventually lands in the tubing, and the uphole barrier is removed by applying a first predetermined pressure against the uphole barrier. Removal of the uphole barrier is facilitated by the known and controlled internal pressure of the plug's chamber. The downhole barrier is also removed so that flow is permitted through the throughbore of the wiper plug. To perform a tubing pressure test, the downhole barrier can be removed due to pressure, and the chamber may have a temporary valve to hold applied pressure to a test level. Alternatively, the downhole barrier can hold the applied pressure. The temporary valve and the downhole barrier can then be self-removing in response to a stimulus.

Abstract: A method of positioning a bottom hole assembly in a wellbore includes lowering the bottom hole assembly into the wellbore. The bottom hole assembly has a whipstock, a downhole tool, and a cleaning tool having a cleaning element. The method also includes cleaning at least a portion of a wall of the wellbore using the cleaning tool, and activating the downhole tool to engage the cleaned portion of the wall.

Abstract: A choke can include a variable flow restrictor, external ports in communication with a flow passage respectively upstream and downstream of the flow restrictor, and sensor(s) in communication with the external ports. A method can include flowing a well fluid through a flow passage in a body of a choke including a variable flow restrictor, measuring a pressure differential between external ports in communication with respective upstream and downstream sides of the flow restrictor, and operating the flow restrictor, thereby varying a restriction to the flow through the flow passage, in response to the measured pressure differential. A well system can include a well fluid pump, a flow choke including a variable flow restrictor operable by an actuator that includes a displaceable stem and a stem seal that isolates the actuator from the well fluid in the flow choke, and a control system that operates the actuator.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for making armored cables. An example method for making an armored cable includes forming a strip stock into an armor tubing; welding a seam of the armor tubing in a welding zone; inserting at least one of a first optical fiber or a first wire into a first end of a first guide tube, wherein: the first guide tube extends through the welding zone; the first guide tube protects the at least one of the first optical fiber or the first wire during the welding of the seam; and the first guide tube is not part of the armored cable after the making of the armored cable; and supporting the first guide tube within the armor tubing by a plurality of support legs such that the first guide tube does not contact the armor tubing.