Abstract: A sealing system for fluidly sealing a portion of a wellbore including a housing, a rupture disc disposed within a housing inner bore, and a plug disposed within the housing inner bore. The rupture disc includes a base and a central portion, which extends across the housing inner bore to fluidly seal the housing inner bore in a sealed state. The plug fluidly seals the housing inner bore in the sealed state. The plug is disposed an axial distance from the rupture disc in the sealed state. In some embodiments, a sleeve is disposed within the housing inner bore. A central bore of the sleeve retains the plug in the sealed state. Upon a release event, the plug is released from the sleeve. The release of the plug triggers a rupture event, which fractures the rupture disc. The plug clears rupture disc fragments.

Abstract: A plug used in the hydraulic fracking of hydrocarbon wells. The plug, known as a frac or bridge plug, contains one or more containers housing a chemical substance such as a solid, liquid, or gel composition. The composition may constitute or include a cleaning agent, friction reducer, suspending agent, or other wellbore additive. For example, the composition may constitute or include epoxy components, resins, thermoplastics, dry add friction reducers, dry add gel, dry add pipe on pipe, similar agents, or any combination thereof. The containers can include the same chemical substance or a variety of chemical substances. During drill out of the plug, the containers rupture and release the chemical substance into the wellbore. The released chemical substance, if a cleaning agent, assists in the cleaning of the milled-plug pieces from the wellbore.

Abstract: Tools for sealing a tubing in a downhole environment. The tools feature top and bottom slip assemblies and a monolithic sealing element. The monolithic sealing element includes a portion that is disposed between the top and bottom slip assemblies as well as portions that encapsulate the slip assemblies. When the tool is actuated from a run-in configuration to a set configuration, the slips move toward each other squeezing the sealing element so that it forms a fluid-tight seal with the tubing. Teeth of the slip assemblies penetrate the portions of the sealing element disposed thereon and bite into the tubing.

Abstract: A downhole separation system for use upstream of any tool through which a media flows. The separation system filters at least a portion of any solids from the media flowing through a filter flow path. The separation system flushes at least a portion of the filtered solids through a flush flow path, through a flush outlet on an outer surface of a housing, and into a space surrounding the housing. A screen and an activation mechanism are disposed within a housing inner bore. The filter flow path extends through a plurality of openings in the screen. The activation mechanism is configured to move between a default position in which it directs fluid through the filter flow path and an activated position in which it directs fluid through the flush flow path. Optionally, a spring within the housing inner bore is configured to bias the activation mechanism toward the default position.

Abstract: A drilling assembly includes a particle adjusting mechanism upstream of a positive displacement motor. The motor includes a metal stator, a metal rotor at least partially disposed within the metal stator, and a motor gap defined between the sealing line of the metal rotor and the lobes of the metal stator. The particle adjusting mechanism adjusts a solid particle condition of a media flowing therethrough into a treated condition in which any remaining solid particles will travel through the motor gap without widening the motor gap to a failure gap size that causes the metal rotor to lock up or to rotate inefficiently slow. The particle adjusting mechanism adjusts the solid particle condition by removing, reducing a size, reducing a dimension, deforming, modifying a shape, dissolving, or chemically reacting at least a portion of any solid particles contained in the media. The drilling assembly is suited for high temperature wellbores.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus with an internal surface defining a cavity. The cavity houses one or more sealed packs containing chemicals used in wellbore operations. The downhole apparatus optionally includes either fluid ports to equalize the wellbore pressure or one or more compensating pistons for adjusting the volume of the cavity in response to wellbore conditions such as temperature or hydrostatic pressure. The chemicals are released into the wellbore when the downhole apparatus is milled or when the sealed packs are dissolved.

Abstract: A drilling assembly includes a particle adjusting mechanism upstream of a positive displacement motor. The motor includes a metal stator, a metal rotor at least partially disposed within the metal stator, and a motor gap defined between the sealing line of the metal rotor and the lobes of the metal stator. The particle adjusting mechanism adjusts a solid particle condition of a media flowing therethrough into a treated condition in which any remaining solid particles will travel through the motor gap without widening the motor gap to a failure gap size that causes the metal rotor to lock up or to rotate inefficiently slow. The particle adjusting mechanism adjusts the solid particle condition by removing, reducing a size, reducing a dimension, deforming, modifying a shape, dissolving, or chemically reacting at least a portion of any solid particles contained in the media. The drilling assembly is suited for high temperature wellbores.

Abstract: A sealing system for fluidly sealing a portion of a wellbore including a housing, a rupture disc disposed within a housing inner bore, and a plug disposed within the housing inner bore. The rupture disc includes a base and a central portion, which extends across the housing inner bore to fluidly seal the housing inner bore in a sealed state. The plug fluidly seals the housing inner bore in the sealed state. The plug is disposed an axial distance from the rupture disc in the sealed state. In some embodiments, a sleeve is disposed within the housing inner bore. A central bore of the sleeve retains the plug in the sealed state. Upon a release event, the plug is released from the sleeve. The release of the plug triggers a rupture event, which fractures the rupture disc. The plug clears rupture disc fragments.

Abstract: A sealing system for fluidly sealing a portion of a wellbore including a housing, a rupture disc disposed within a housing inner bore, and a plug disposed within the housing inner bore. The rupture disc includes a base and a central portion, which extends across the housing inner bore to fluidly seal the housing inner bore in a sealed state. The plug fluidly seals the housing inner bore in the sealed state. The plug is disposed an axial distance from the rupture disc in the sealed state. In some embodiments, a sleeve is disposed within the housing inner bore. A central bore of the sleeve retains the plug in the sealed state. Upon a release event, the plug is released from the sleeve. The release of the plug triggers a rupture event, which fractures the rupture disc. The plug clears rupture disc fragments.

Abstract: A downhole separation system for use upstream of any tool through which a media flows. The separation system filters at least a portion of any solids from the media flowing through a filter flow path. The separation system flushes at least a portion of the filtered solids through a flush flow path, through a flush outlet on an outer surface of a housing, and into a space surrounding the housing. A screen and an activation mechanism are disposed within a housing inner bore. The filter flow path extends through a plurality of openings in the screen. The activation mechanism is configured to move between a default position in which it directs fluid through the filter flow path and an activated position in which it directs fluid through the flush flow path. Optionally, a spring within the housing inner bore is configured to bias the activation mechanism toward the default position.

Abstract: A plug used in the hydraulic fracking of hydrocarbon wells. The plug, known as a frac or bridge plug, contains one or more containers housing a chemical substance such as a solid, liquid, or gel composition. The composition may constitute or include a cleaning agent, friction reducer, suspending agent, or other wellbore additive. For example, the composition may constitute or include epoxy components, resins, thermoplastics, dry add friction reducers, dry add gel, dry add pipe on pipe, similar agents, or any combination thereof. The containers can include the same chemical substance or a variety of chemical substances. During drill out of the plug, the containers rupture and release the chemical substance into the wellbore. The released chemical substance, if a cleaning agent, assists in the cleaning of the milled-plug pieces from the wellbore.

Abstract: A downhole separation system for use upstream of any tool through which a media flows. The separation system filters at least a portion of any solids from the media flowing through a filter flow path. The separation system flushes at least a portion of the filtered solids through a flush flow path, through a flush outlet on an outer surface of a housing, and into a space surrounding the housing. A screen and an activation mechanism are disposed within a housing inner bore. The filter flow path extends through a plurality of openings in the screen. The activation mechanism is configured to move between a default position in which it directs fluid through the filter flow path and an activated position in which it directs fluid through the flush flow path. Optionally, a spring within the housing inner bore is configured to bias the activation mechanism toward the default position.

Abstract: A downhole separation system for use upstream of any tool through which a media flows. The separation system filters at least a portion of any solids from the media flowing through a filter flow path. The separation system flushes at least a portion of the filtered solids through a flush flow path, through a flush outlet on an outer surface of a housing, and into a space surrounding the housing. A screen and an activation mechanism are disposed within a housing inner bore. The filter flow path extends through a plurality of openings in the screen. The activation mechanism is configured to move between a default position in which it directs fluid through the filter flow path and an activated position in which it directs fluid through the flush flow path. Optionally, a spring within the housing inner bore is configured to bias the activation mechanism toward the default position.

Abstract: A rupture disc configured to fluidly seal a passageway. The rupture disc includes a base extending from a distal surface to a proximal end, and a central portion extending across the proximal end of the base. The central portion traverses a central axis defined by the base. At least one surface of the central portion, such as an outer surface or inner surface, includes a plurality of facets defined by a plurality of seams. The facets may include one or more flat surfaces and/or one or more conical surfaces. A rupture disc system for fluidly sealing a portion of a wellbore includes the rupture disc disposed within and extending across a housing central bore of a housing, with one or more sealing members engaging the rupture disc and an inner surface of the housing central bore to fluidly seal the housing central bore.

Abstract: A drilling system for use in drilling a wellbore including a driving mechanism and a separation device disposed upstream of the driving mechanism. The separation device filters at least a portion of any solids from drilling media flowing through a filter flow path of the separation device. The separation device flushes at least a portion of the filtered solids through a flush flow path, through a flush outlet on an outer surface of the separation device, and into an annulus between the outer surface of the separation device and the wellbore. Optionally, the drilling system includes a second driving mechanism and a second separation device disposed above the second driving mechanism.

Abstract: A drilling system for use in drilling a wellbore including a driving mechanism and a separation device disposed upstream of the driving mechanism. The separation device filters at least a portion of any solids from drilling media flowing through a filter flow path of the separation device. The separation device flushes at least a portion of the filtered solids through a flush flow path, through a flush outlet on an outer surface of the separation device, and into an annulus between the outer surface of the separation device and the wellbore. Optionally, the drilling system includes a second driving mechanism and a second separation device disposed above the second driving mechanism.

Abstract: Tools for sealing a tubing in a downhole environment. The tools feature top and bottom slip assemblies and a monolithic sealing element. The monolithic sealing element includes a portion that is disposed between the top and bottom slip assemblies as well as portions that encapsulate the slip assemblies. When the tool is actuated from a run-in configuration to a set configuration, the slips move toward each other squeezing the sealing element so that it forms a fluid-tight seal with the tubing. Teeth of the slip assemblies penetrate the portions of the sealing element disposed thereon and bite into the tubing.

Abstract: An integrated milling and production device. The device includes a production housing, a connector, a motor, and a milling bit. The production housing has a central bore with at least one flapper valve pivotally disposed therein and an actuator. Upon completion of milling operations, the connector may be disengaged from the production housing. The production housing may be repositioned in the well. Activation of the actuator permanently opens the flapper valve to permit the flow of production up the production housing to the well surface. The actuator may be a piston.

Abstract: A bit saver assembly having an inner valve sleeve that actuates upon the weight-on-bit (WOB) of the drill bit exceeding a threshold value to overcome the countervailing force provided by a spring contained within the bit saver assembly and the internal flow pressure of the drilling fluid at the area of the inner valve sleeve. Actuation of the inner valve sleeve opens a fluid passage to the wellbore annulus resulting in a reduction of drilling fluid flow pressure and the stretch of the drill string thereby reducing WOB of the drill bit without operator assistance.

Abstract: Degradable downhole tools, tool components, and balls are formed from a processed polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) compound that is degradable in a high-salinity environment. The PVA compound exhibits strength and elasticity properties that are comparable to existing degradable downhole polymers and further exhibits degradability properties that are superior to existing degradable downhole polymers, particularly in high-salinity fluids. For different components, the PVA compound may include a reinforcing material such as fiberglass. The PVA compound also includes a loading of degradable metal, such as a degradable magnesium alloy, rendering the material degradable at high salinity. Usage of tools, tool components, and balls formed from the disclosed materials eliminates the requirement that such equipment be drilled out after use as the PVA compound quickly degrades in high-salinity downhole fluids.