Abstract: A system includes an aerial drone having a dispensing mechanism and a remote control for wirelessly controlling movement of the aerial drone and the dispensing mechanism. The dispensing mechanism includes a storage area for storing a frac ball and a device for remotely releasing the frac ball from the drone. The aerial drone is remotely controlled to position the drone over the open well bore and where the frac ball is released into the open well bore.

Abstract: Cutting elements for earth-boring tools may include a substrate and a polycrystalline superabrasive material secured to the substrate. The polycrystalline superabrasive material may include a first region including catalyst material in interstitial spaces among interbonded grains of the polycrystalline superabrasive material. A second region at least substantially free of catalyst material in the interstitial spaces among the interbonded grains of the polycrystalline superabrasive material may be located adjacent to the first region. An undulating boundary defined between the first region and the second region may include bumps and dimples formed by crests and troughs of a repeating pattern of concentric circles encircling a longitudinal axis of the cutting element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an annular barrier for being expanded in an annulus between a well tubular structure and a wall of a borehole or another well tubular structure downhole for isolating a first zone from a second zone in the annulus, the annulus having an annulus pressure, the annular barrier comprising: a tubular part for being mounted as part of the well tubular structure, the tubular part comprising an inside having an inside pressure, an expandable sleeve surrounding the tubular part and having an inner face facing the tubular part and an outer face facing the borehole or the wall, each end of the expandable sleeve being connected with the tubular part, an annular space between the inner face of the expandable sleeve and the tubular part, the annular space having a space pressure, and a valve system having a first system position in which fluid communication is provided between the inside of the tubular part and the annular space and a second system position in which fluid communication is p

Abstract: A hydraulic jetting assembly is provided herein. The jetting assembly includes a jetting hose, with a jetting nozzle at its distal end. The jetting nozzle comprises a tubular stator body having a fluid discharge slot, and a tubular rotor body residing within a bore of the stator body. The jetting nozzle has one or more bearings residing between the rotor body and the surrounding stator body to accommodate relative rotational movement. The jetting nozzle includes a proximal end configured to sealingly connect to an end of a jetting hose, and to receive a high pressure jetting fluid. Preferably, the nozzle has an outer diameter that is equivalent to or slightly larger than an outer diameter of the jetting hose. Preferably, the jetting assembly has at least three actuator wires configured to induce a controlled bending moment at its distal end, thereby providing for a steerable downhole tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cleaning an oil and gas well riser section or assembly. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for cleaning oil and gas well riser sections wherein a specially configured cap or pair of caps are fitted to the ends of the riser which enable pressure washing cleaning tools (or a camera) to be inserted into and through the riser cleaner fluid continuously recirculates so that relatively small volume of cleaning fluid (for example between about 700 and 1,000 gallons) is required. The cleaning process uses a volume of cleaning fluid that is discharged from the riser pipe at a relatively high temperature of about between 100 and 180° F. Such a high temperature cleaning fluid could possibly damage the pump that is used for supplying pressurized fluid to the cleaning tool.

Abstract: A packer for sealing in a tubular includes a mandrel on which a packing element is disposed between booster pistons. Each piston defines a sealed chamber with housed areas of the mandrel. A setting force compresses packing element between the booster piston, which shear free. Ratchet mechanisms including ratchet sleeves and body lock rings disposed between the pistons and the housed areas initially allow the pistons to move in a direction away from the packing element, which expands the respective sealed chamber. Thereafter, in response to a pressure differential across the respective sealed chamber, the ratchet mechanisms each permit urging of the respective piston toward the packing element while preventing retraction of respective piston in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A method for aligning a pump with a wellhead begins with the steps of attaching a target assembly to the pump and attaching an emitter assembly to the wellhead. The method continues with the step of emitting a beam of light from the emitter assembly to the target assembly. The method concludes with the step of determining the position of the pump with respect to the wellhead by evaluating the projection of the light beam on the target assembly. Based on this determination, the pump can be accurately aligned with the wellhead.

Abstract: A system for monitoring coring operations has a sensor 80 for detecting one or more drilling parameters relating to a down-the-hole coring operation. An indicative signal from the sensor is communicated to a signal transmitter (30) for transmitting the indicative signal to the surface. The signal transmitter is located in or adjacent the coring assembly. The signal transmitter can be a mud pulser (30) housed above a core barrel (14). Communication of the indicative signal to the signal transmitter can be wireless, hard wired or conducted through the material of an outer barrel (12) of a drilling assembly. The core barrel can include a core limit recognition/detection device (34). An adapter/sub (90) incorporates a check valve (92) to relieve excess fluid pressure if there is sufficient hydraulic lock immediately above a core sample within the core barrel as the core sample enters the core barrel.

Abstract: A downhole tool for use in a subterranean well having a casing therein. The downhole tool has a mandrel, a wedge, a slip bank and a pre-set mechanism. The wedge is disposed about the mandrel and in sliding relationship with the mandrel such that the wedge can slide between an unset position and a set position. The slip bank is associated with the wedge such that, when the slip wedge is in the unset position, the slip bank is in a radially inward position and does not engage the casing, and when the slip wedge is in the set position, the slip bank is in a radially outward position and engages the casing. The pre-set mechanism has a first detent ring located between the first wedge and the mandrel and positioned at least partially in a groove in the mandrel. The detent ring prevents the wedge from moving from the unset position to the set position until a load on the mandrel exceeds a predetermined force.

Abstract: Interrogation tools and methods are used to efficiently locate cable behind casing. The interrogation tool has at least one electromagnetic transmitter and receiver. An electromagnetic field is emitted from inside the tubular, whereby it interacts with the tubular and cable to produce a secondary electromagnetic field. The secondary electromagnetic field is measured by the receiver(s) from at least two different positions inside the tubular to produce corresponding response signals. The interrogation tool then compares the response signals to baseline response signals, whereby the position of the cable is determined. The electromagnetic measurements can be acquired simultaneously or sequentially.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assessing physical properties of a geological formation are disclosed. The systems and methods may use electrodes that include two conductive portions separated by an isolation gap positioned along a casing in a wellbore in the formation. The electrodes may be sequentially energized to provide excitation stimulus into the formation while the remaining, non-energized electrodes may substantially simultaneously receive excitation responses to the excitation stimulus from the formation. The excitation responses may be assessed to determine one or more physical properties of fractures in the formation.

Abstract: A sliding valve has a valve body, a sliding sleeve received in a longitudinal bore of the valve body, and a collet receivable in a longitudinal bore of the sliding sleeve. The valve body has one or more fluid ports on an uphole portion of the sidewall thereof. The sliding sleeve is movable between an uphole closed position closing the one or more fluid ports and a downhole open position opening the one or more fluid ports. The sliding sleeve has a sleeve-profile formed at least by one or more sleeve-grooves and one or more sleeve-ridges longitudinally distributed on an inner surface thereof. The collet has a flexible collet-profile formed by at least one or more collet-grooves and one or more collet-ridges respectively corresponding to the sleeve-grooves and sleeve-ridges. The length of each sleeve-ridge or collet-ridge is smaller than that of corresponding sleeve-groove or collet-groove.

Abstract: A tool for penetrating a tubular as described. The tool comprises at least one length of linear shaped charge, a carrier adapted to support the/each length of linear shaped charge, and at least one detonation mechanism for detonating the/each length of linear shaped charge. Upon detonation of the/each length of linear shaped charge, a length of material is projected outwardly from the/each length of linear shaped charge towards an internal surface of the tubular, which is thereby penetrated. The at least one length of linear shaped charge is arranged such that, upon detonation, the trajectory of at least one portion of the projected material intersects the trajectory of at least one other portion of projected material at or adjacent the internal surface of the tubular.

Abstract: The isolation valve assembly includes a ball member stabilized relative to a ceramic ring, an upper ball housing and a lower ball seat with a set of shifting bars, a set of locking bars, and a set of supporting bars. The shifting bars rotate the ball member between opened and closed configurations, while the locking bars and supporting bars stabilize the ball member. The supporting bars are off set from the shifting bars and locking bars, and the supporting bars are anchored to the assembly separate from the locking bars and shifting bars. The actuation of the shifting bars is independent from the locking bars and the supporting bars so that the ball member can be held in the opened or closed configuration with more stability.

Abstract: A device and method of repairing a damaged portion of a seal bore interconnected in a tubing string, where the device can include a chamber, a piston positioned within the chamber, and a filler material contained within the chamber. A force applied to the piston can cause the piston to move within the chamber, which can cause at least a portion of the filler material to be expelled from the chamber, with at least a portion of the expelled filler material filling a recess in the damaged portion of the seal bore, thereby repairing the sealing surface of the seal bore.

Abstract: Pulsed-electric drilling systems can be augmented with multi-component electromagnetic field sensors on the drillstring, at the earth's surface, or in existing boreholes in the vicinity of the planned drilling path. The sensors detect electrical fields and/or magnetic fields caused by the electrical pulses and derive therefrom information of interest including, e.g., spark size and orientation, bit position, at-bit resistivity and permittivity, and tomographically mapped formation strictures. The at-bit resistivity measurements can be for anisotropic or isotropic formations, and in the former case, can include vertical and horizontal resistivities and an orientation of the anisotropy axis. The sensors can illustratively include toroids, electrode arrays, tilted coil antennas, magnetic dipole antennas aligned with the tool axes, and magnetometers.

Abstract: A foamed treatment fluid comprising: an external phase, wherein the external phase comprises: (A) water; (B) a curable resin; and (C) a foaming agent; and an internal phase, wherein the internal phase comprises an inert gas. A method of treating particles of a particle pack located in a subterranean formation comprising: introducing the foam into the subterranean formation; and consolidating the particles of the particle pack after introduction into the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Compositions, treatment fluids, and methods for providing corrosion inhibition in subterranean operations, pipelines, and other related operations are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise providing a tagged corrosion-inhibiting additive that comprises an imidazoline-based compound bonded with a detectable moiety; and introducing the tagged corrosion-inhibiting additive into at least a portion of a subterranean formation or pipeline.

Abstract: A packoff device is disclosed for sealing an annulus within a wellbore, and for bypassing the sealed annulus. The packoff device may include a mandrel having a bore formed axially therethrough and first and second ports extending radially from the bore. A sealing element that extends radially-outwardly from the mandrel may be positioned axially between the first and second ports, and may create a seal within an annulus between the mandrel and a casing, to isolate a portion of the annulus above the sealing element from a portion below the sealing element. A sleeve within the bore may, with the mandrel, form a channel providing fluid communication between the first and second ports. The sleeve may be movable between open and closed states. The first and second ports may be unobstructed by the sleeve in the open state, one or more may be obstructed in the closed state.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for increasing the drift diameter and improving the well path of the well bore, accomplished in one embodiment by cutting away material primarily forming surfaces nearer the center of the drift, thereby reducing applied power, applied torque and resulting drag compared to conventional reamers that cut into all surfaces of the well bore.