Abstract: A multi-level deck system for a blowout preventer and a method, of which the system includes a first deck positioned at least partially around and coupled to the blowout preventer, a second deck positioned at least partially around and coupled to the blowout preventer and vertically spaced apart from the first deck, and a third deck positioned at least partially around the blowout preventer and vertically spaced apart from the second deck.

Abstract: An annular sealing assembly and method are disclosed. The assembly includes a mandrel and an expandable element disposed around the mandrel which expands to seal against the inner diameter of a tubing or casing string. The expandable element seals the mandrel from the annulus between the mandrel and the tubing string. The assembly includes at least one back¬up element having a plurality of pivoting blades circumferentially secured in a ring around the mandrel. The back-up element is capable of radially expanding and contracting upon longitudinal movement along, and engagement with, a generally ring-shaped ramp. A guide ring guides the back-up element along the guide ramp. The method is directed to expanding the expandable element to seal the annulus and the back-up element so the blades come in contact with the inner diameter of the tubing string preventing the expandable element from extruding outward into the annulus beyond the back-up element.

Abstract: A method of drilling multiple boreholes within a single caisson, for recovery of methane gas from a coal bed, including the steps of drilling first and second vertical boreholes from a single location within a single caisson; drilling at least one or more horizontal wells from the several vertical bore hole, the horizontal wells drilled substantially parallel to a face cleat in the coal bed; drilling at least one or more lateral wells from the one or more horizontal wells, the lateral wells drilled substantially perpendicular to one or more face cleats in the coal bed; continuously circulating water through the drilled vertical, horizontal and lateral wells to recover the water and entrained methane gas from the coal bed; applying friction or choke manifold to the water circulating down the well bores so that the water appears to have a hydrostatic pressure within the well sufficient to maintain an equilibrium with the hydrostatic pressure in the coal bed formation; and drilling at least a third vertical bore

Abstract: A surface steerable system coupled to a drilling rig receives BHA information from a bottom hole assembly (BHA) located in a borehole. The BHA information corresponds to a first location of the BHA with respect to a target drilling path and geological formation drift information. The surface steerable system calculates a toolface vector to create a convergence path from the first location of the BHA to the target drilling path that accounts for geological formation drift defined by the geological formation drift information such that the BHA will converge with the target drilling path by drilling in accordance with the toolface vector. The surface steerable system causes at least one control parameter to be modified in order to alter a drilling direction of the BHA based on the calculated toolface vector and transmits the at least one control parameter to the drilling rig to target the BHA in accordance with the calculated toolface vector.

Abstract: An outer casing string, including a surface casing head, and associated installation method. In some embodiments, the surface casing head includes an outer tubular member insertable through a diverter of an installed conductor system, an inner tubular member at least partially disposed within and moveable relative to the outer tubular member, and a sleeve ring rotatably coupled to the inner tubular. The outer tubular member has an annular recess. The sleeve ring includes a snap ring that is displaceable between an extended position and a retracted position. In the extended position, at least a portion of the snap ring is received within the annular recess, and the outer tubular member is axially immovable relative to the inner tubular member. In the retracted position, no portion of the snap ring is received within the annular recess, and the outer tubular member is axially moveable relative to the inner tubular member.

Abstract: A downhole support device for use in a wellbore is provided, where the device (200) is adapted to be run into the wellbore (202) through or on a workstring (204). The device (200) comprises an inflatable element (206) adapted to be selectively connectable to the workstring (204). The inflatable element (206) selectively applies a biasing force to an external structure such, for example, a wall (214) of the wellbore (202) when in an inflated state. The inflatable element (206) has an inlet (208) for receiving and being inflated by a flowing substance. The device (200) also comprises an inflation mechanism (210) and a disconnect mechanism (222) adapted to be selectively disconnectable from the workstring (204). A method of deploying a barrier in a wellbore which makes use of the support device is also provided.

Abstract: A wellhead assembly for use with a well that includes a production tree, a production line for carrying produced fluid from the production tree, and a choke in the production line. The choke assembly includes a turbine member that rotates in response to fluid flowing through the production line. The kinetic energy of the rotating turbine is converted into electricity by a generator that is coupled with the turbine member. Selectively impeding turbine rotation with a brake system introduces a pressure drop in the production line fluid, and which regulates flow of the production line fluid. The turbine member can be disposed in a straight run of the production line, or adjacent a bend in the production line.

Abstract: Downhole assemblies and methods for isolating a wellbore. A downhole tool can include a body having a bore or flowpath formed therethrough, and one or more sealing members disposed therein. The one or more sealing members can include an annular base and a curved surface having an upper face and a lower face, wherein one or more first radii define the upper face, and one or more second radii define the lower face, and wherein, at any point on the curved surface, the first radius is greater than the second radius. The sealing members can be disposed within the bore of the tool using one or more annular sealing devices disposed about the one or more sealing members.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a casing windowing method and tool using coiled tubing; the windowing method comprises the steps of: a) preparing a borehole, including drifting a casing, and scraping an inner wall of the casing; b) hanging a positioning assembly in the casing, including seating the positioning assembly at a wellhead of the borehole, and after the positioning assembly is put down to a predetermined position in the casing, hanging a hanger of the positioning assembly at the inner wall of the casing; c) fixing a whipstock at a down-hole of the borehole, including seating the whipstock at the wellhead, and inserting a guiding assembly of the whipstock into the hanger so that an orientation of a window inclined plane of the guiding assembly meets a requirement of window orientation; and d) windowing the casing, including seating a tapered windowing mill at the wellhead, and after the tapered windowing mill is put down to the window inclined plane of the guiding assembly, starting the tapered windo

Abstract: A system and apparatus for treating and disposing of produced water in conjunction with flared gas, thereby avoiding problems associated with injecting produced water back into subsurface strata. The system is installed at or near the wellhead where produced water being treated is at a higher temperatures. Produced water is treated in a scrubber with heat applied through a flare gas field burner, which uses field gas from oilfield operations. A wet scrubber unit with scrubber packing is used to clean emissions. A produced water pump is used to circulate produced water, and pump produced water through spray nozzles in the scrubber unit for use as the wet scrubbing agent. As produced water evaporates, evaporated salts and solids are continuously removed from the evaporator/scrubber unit by appropriate means, such as an auger system. The evaporated salts and solids are then treated via chemical stabilization in a mixing system with chemical reagents to prevent the residual form from being hazardous.

Abstract: Provided herein are portable apparatus as well as methods of analyzing an injection fluid using these portable apparatus. In some embodiments, the injection fluid can contain a polymer, but a polymer is not necessary. For example, the portable apparatus and methods may be used to determine viscosity, long term injectivity, filter ratio, or any combination thereof of the injection fluid.

Abstract: A system and method for conveying a tool to a target sub within a tubular string having a number of subs. Each sub may include at least one ledge or shoulder in or on its interior surface that can be used as a latch stopper or stopper, for receiving and engagement with a latch. The subs may also have a latch deflector or deflector. In one embodiment, the latch deflector is a latch-deflection shoulder protruding into the internal diameter (ID) of the string for deflecting a latch, to be subsequently introduced, out of or into the latch-stopping shoulder. The distance between the latch stopper and the latch deflector, referred to as the “deflection radius,” may be used as an address that uniquely identifies each sub, and can vary from sub to sub.

Abstract: A weir assembly system comprises an insert dimensioned to be inserted into a section of a wellbore and a plurality of weirs spaced within the insert so as to increase the separation of solids from fluid within the section of the wellbore when the fluid is flowing through the wellbore. The plurality of weirs may be oriented to create a tortuous fluid flow path, such that a flow opening of a first weir causes solids to deposit at a second weir without obstructing a flow opening of the second weir. Additional apparatus, methods, and systems are disclosed.

Abstract: A quick connect device for well tools that allows for the connection of two components, such as a setting tool and a plug, without the need for screwing the two components together.

Abstract: A downhole drilling tool designed for drilling a wellbore is disclosed. The drilling tool includes a bit body, and a first plurality of blades and a second plurality of blades on exterior portions of the bit body. A first group of cutting elements is located on exterior portions of the first plurality of blades. A second group of cutting elements is located on the second plurality of blades and under-exposed with respect to the first group of cutting elements. The first and second plurality of blades and the first group and second groups of cutting elements cooperate with each other to form a composite bit face profile such that each respective group of at least three neighbor cutting elements on the composite bit face profile is force balanced with respect to each other.

Abstract: A downhole tool and method for actuating a downhole tool, of which the downhole tool includes a housing having a housing port formed radially-therethrough, a shifter sleeve positioned within the housing, wherein the shifter sleeve has a port formed radially therethrough, and a drive sleeve positioned at least partially within an annulus between the housing and the shifter sleeve. Downward movement of the shifter sleeve causes the drive sleeve to move downward, and downward movement of the drive sleeve causes fluid to flow through the port in the shifter sleeve and into the annulus. The downhole tool also includes a filter coupled to the shifter sleeve and configured to prevent particles from flowing through the port in the shifter sleeve and into the annulus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole flow device for controlling a flow of fluid between an annulus and an inner bore of a well tubular metal structure arranged in a borehole. The downhole flow device comprises a tubular part comprising a first opening and an axial extension, and a sliding sleeve configured to slide within the tubular part between a first position covering the opening and a second position fully uncovering the opening, the tubular part comprising a first groove and a second groove, the first groove being arranged at a first distance from the second groove along the axial extension, and the sliding sleeve comprising a projecting part configured to engage the first groove in the first position and the second groove in the second position, wherein the tubular part comprises a third groove configured to be engaged by the projecting part and having a second distance to the second groove which is smaller than the first distance.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a string that extends into a well and a tool that is disposed in the string. The tool is adapted to form a seat to catch an object communicated to the tool via a passageway of the string in response to the tool being perforated.

Abstract: A cutting insert for milling wellbore casing in a downhole environment includes a body having a cutting face and a chip-breaking face. The cutting face and chip-breaking face are oriented at a face angle relative to each other, the face angle being between 75° and 130°. As the wellbore casing is milled, swarf is formed and work hardened. Further deformation of the swarf and movement along, or in contact with, the chip-breaking face breaks the swarf into chips that are readily flushed away or transported within the wellbore.

Abstract: A settable down hole tool is of increased drillability and/or of increased expansibility. The improvement in drillability can be caused by fracturing cast iron slips into a large number of small pieces that can be circulated out of a well without further reduction in size. The improvement in expansibility can be partially caused by providing an expander cone of increased hardness thereby allowing an increased angle on the expander cone and slips. The improvement in expansibility can be partially caused by increasing the thickness of the slips.