Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for dropping a frac ball, in which a rotating member defines a recess for receiving a single frac ball, and rotates in relation to a stationary member, which may be attached to a wellhead tubular. When the rotating member is rotated into a loading orientation, the recess receives a single frac ball. The frac ball may be gravity fed towards the recess. When the rotating member is rotated into a releasing orientation, the recess is oriented to allow the single one of the frac balls to drop out of the recess. A hydraulic gear and rack assembly actuates rotation of the rotating member. An inlet tube holds multiple frac balls and guides them sequentially, one at a time, into the recess. An outlet tube guides frac balls from the recess towards a desired location, such as an entry guide surrounding the wellhead tubular.

Abstract: A cutting head assembly uses multiple cutting heads directing ultra-high pressure fluid in different directions towards an inner surface of a pipe to be cut in order to complete a full cut of the pipe while rotating or revolving the multiple cutting heads less than 360 degrees relative to central axis. The ultra-high pressure fluid mixes with abrasive inside fittings on or near each of the nozzles to further assist with cutting through the pipe. Some cutting head assemblies have two nozzles, while other cutting head assemblies have three or four nozzles.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing, assembling, configuring, and/or using a hybrid drill bit is disclosed. An illustrative example includes inserting a rolling cutting structure into a central bore of a bit body through an upper connector section of the bit body toward a lower end portion of the bit body. The bit body has a rotational axis and a plurality of blades at the lower end portion. The upper connector section is configured to be coupled to a lower end of a drill string. Each of the plurality of blades extends radially from the bit body about the rotational axis at the lower end portion and includes a plurality of cutters embedded therein.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for displaying toolface orientation data including a surface steerable system for controlling drilling direction of a bottom hole assembly (BHA). The surface steerable system configured to receive toolface orientation data from the BHA and generate display data responsive thereto. A circular chart display is generated responsive to the display data responsive to the display data from the surface steerable system, the circular chart display representing current and historical toolface orientation data. The current and historical toolface orientation data is represented as an arc indicator defined on the circular chart illustrating a range in degrees of the current and historical toolface orientations.

Abstract: A perforation blocking sleeve is provided for use in well restimulation, the perforation blocking sleeve having a first anchoring device and one or more expandable members secured to an outer surface of the perforation blocking sleeve. The first anchoring device may be used to secure the perforation blocking sleeve over a perforation cluster within a perforated well casing. The perforation blocking sleeve defines a flow channel and may be remotely and individually uncoupled from a running tool. The perforation blocking sleeve flow channel is sized such that the running tool and a running tool driver are retractable through the flow channel of the perforation blocking sleeve. In one or more embodiments, the perforation blocking sleeve contains an organic polymeric material which expands on contact with a production fluid or an exogenous fluid introduced into the well.

Abstract: A safety plug for use in rock drilling operations. The safety plug includes a base part and one or more expander elements. The base part has a leading end and a trailing end and a generally cylindrical outer surface between the leading and trailing ends, on which one or more external spirals are formed. The external spirals are provided to engage the internal wall of a bore within which the safety plug is inserted to anchor the base part within the bore. The one or more expander elements have an inactive non-expanded condition and an active, laterally expanded condition. The safety plug is operable to absorb load applied to its leading end in two stages, whereby: in a first stage, load applied to the leading end of the one or more expander elements up to a predetermined load is transferred to the base part and the base part is operable to react the load by engagement of the spirals with the internal wall of the bore.

Abstract: A formation-tester tool may be positioned downhole in an openhole wellbore. The formation-tester tool may suspend proppant in fracturing fluid located in a chamber of the formation-tester tool. The formation-tester tool may generate a test fracture in an uncased wall of an area of interest of a subterranean formation adjacent to the openhole wellbore and inject the fracturing fluid and the proppant toward the uncased wall and into the test fracture. The formation-tester tool may retrieve a fluid sample from a reservoir within the area of interest of the subterranean formation by creating a drawdown pressure in the test fracture.

Abstract: Compression set downhole clutch (100) can include an upper body (201), a lower body (202), and a hydraulic member (205). The upper body (201) can include at least one engagement surface (204). The lower body (202) can include at least one engagement surface (203). The at least one engagement surface (204) of the upper body (201) and the at least one engagement surface (203) of the lower body (202) can each be configured to couple with one another and rotate in unison in an engaged configuration (102). The hydraulic member (205) can be configured to be responsive to a predetermined pressure; the hydraulic member (205) can also be configured to disengage the engagement surface (204) of the upper body (201) from the engagement surface (203) of the lower body (202).

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for retaining components in a downhole motor in the event of a mechanical separation or failure of one or more components therein. As described, the retention mechanism does not require a threaded connection to components of the mud motor drivetrain. Downhole motor assemblies including the new catch mechanism also include a structural element to engage the catch assembly and the components to which it is attached in the event of a mechanical failure within the mud motor assembly.

Abstract: A hole boring device includes a housing including a proximal end, an open distal end, and a bore extending longitudinally from the distal end to the proximal end. An inlet connectable to a pressurized water source is disposed on the proximal end of the housing. A spraying device in fluid communication with the inlet is disposed in the bore and is oriented towards the open distal end of the housing. The spraying device is configured discharge a stream of water passing therethrough so as to form a boring stream configured to bore a hole in a ground surface. In some embodiments, the spraying device is configured to rotatably discharge the pressurized stream of water. A depth collar disposed annularly about the housing defines the depth of the bored hole. A slot disposed along the housing allows debris from the boring process to exit the housing, leaving an empty bored hole.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removal of tools, tubulars, casing, or other components that become stuck in a well. An anchor includes a mandrel, a carrier disposed on the mandrel and movable relative to the mandrel between an extended position and a retracted position, and an insert configured to engage an internal surface of a tubular, the insert movably disposed in the carrier as the carrier moves between the extended position and the retracted position. A method for anchoring a tool in a wellbore includes deploying the tool into the wellbore through a tubular to a first position, the tool comprising an anchor having a carrier and an insert disposed in the carrier, extending the carrier towards the tubular, and moving the insert relative to the carrier while engaging the inserts with the tubular, thereby anchoring the tool in the wellbore.

Abstract: A downhole drilling tool and methods for using the tool include a body with a wall that defines an internal volume, and at least one arm attached to the wall, the at least one arm comprising a channel within a body of each arm. The at least one arm provides fluid paths connecting the internal volume to outside the wall, and the at least one arm is displaceable relative to the wall.

Abstract: A system for continuous determination of annulus pressure in subsurface wells comprises one or more electro acoustic technology sensor assemblies permanently installed in each annulus surrounding a subsurface well; and a fiber optic cable in close proximity to the electro acoustic technology sensor assemblies and in communication with a surface distributed acoustic fiber optic interrogator.

Abstract: A plug and pump system for routing pressurized fluid from a fluid source is disclosed. The system includes a platform and a docking station interface mounted on the platform and including multiple points of articulation. A wellhead interface is mounted on the platform and includes multiple points of articulation. The docking station interface and the wellhead interface are configured to route pressurized fluid from a fluid source.

Abstract: Methods for generating boreholes used for generating geothermal energy or other purposes include forming the borehole by accelerating a projectile into contact with geologic material. Interaction between the projectile and the geologic material generates an acoustic signal, such as vibrations within the formation, that is detected using acoustic sensors along a drilling conduit, at the surface, or within a separate borehole. Characteristics of the geologic material, such as hardness, porosity, or the presence of fractures, may be determined based on characteristics of the acoustic signal. The direction in which the borehole is extended may be modified based on the characteristics of the geologic material, such as to create a borehole that intersects one or more fractures for generation of geothermal energy.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a liquid injection type reamer bit, which comprises a drilling and reaming rod (1), a drilling tool (2) and reaming tools (3). The reamer bit is adopted to perform drilling and reaming operations respectively in a water pressure adjusting manner, has the advantages of simple structure, convenient operation, small volume, light weight, flexible and reliable technology, unified power sources for drilling and reaming, stable reaming, easy recovery of tools, and realization of reaming while drilling, greatly improves the anchoring reliability of anchor bolts, and ensures the safety of workers during underground work.

Abstract: A drilling bottom hole assembly for loss circulation mitigation includes a drill bit configured to drill a wellbore in a formation. The drill bit is attached to a drill string. The wellbore includes a high-loss circulation zone into which drilling fluid is lost during drilling the wellbore. An under reamer is attached to the drill string upstring of the drill bit. The under reamer is downhole of the high-loss circulation zone. The under reamer, in response to actuation, is configured to widen a diameter of the high-loss circulation zone. An expansion assembly is connected to the under reamer. The expansion assembly surrounds the drill string upstring of the under reamer. The expansion assembly is configured to cover the high-loss circulation zone after the diameter of the high-loss circulation zone is widened by the under reamer.

Abstract: A dust suction hood includes a tapered outer cover, a cylindrical outer cover, a tapered inner baffle plate disposed in the tapered outer cover, and a first blocking member matched with an opening in the other end of the cylindrical outer cover. A top opening of the tapered outer cover is matched with an opening in one end of the cylindrical outer cover. A side wall opening of the cylindrical outer cover serves as a dust outlet. A first gap is formed in the tapered outer cover. A first dust suction port is formed between bottom openings of the tapered inner baffle plate and the tapered outer cover. A first drill pipe connecting port is formed in the first blocking member. A drill pipe of the mine drill passes through the first drill pipe connecting port to penetrate the dust suction hood on the drill pipe.

Abstract: Methods and systems including a wellbore having a pipe string extending through a wellhead and into the wellbore, wherein an annulus is formed between the pipe string and the wellbore, an isolation device that closes the wellbore in a closed pressure loop, a choke line in fluid communication with an interior of the pipe string through an outlet port of the wellhead, a choke valve fluidly coupled to the outlet port of the wellhead, wherein the choke valve is manipulable to control fluid flow through the choke line, and a crossover tool in the wellbore to divert incoming fluid from the interior of the pipe string to the annulus.

Abstract: Systems and methods for managed pressure cementing and/or completions operations in subterranean well bores are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: placing a tubular string into a well bore, wherein an outer surface of the tubular string and an inner wall of the well bore define an annulus in a closed pressure loop and in communication with a choke valve; pumping a fluid into the annulus; and while pumping the fluid, determining a setpoint for the choke valve corresponding to a setpoint for a bottomhole pressure in the annulus, determine an actual bottomhole pressure in the annulus using data from a downhole sensor in the annulus, determining if the actual bottomhole pressure is greater than, less than, or equal to the setpoint, and if the actual bottomhole pressure is greater or less than the setpoint, manipulating the choke valve using a controller to decrease or increase the bottomhole pressure.