Abstract: A method of determining fluid inflow rates within a wellbore comprises determining a plurality of temperature features from a distributed temperature sensing signal originating in a wellbore, determining one or more frequency domain features from an acoustic signal originating the wellbore, and using at least one temperature feature of the plurality of temperature features and at least one frequency domain feature of the one or more frequency domain features to determine a fluid inflow rate at one or more locations along the wellbore.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods for operating a gas-lift plunger, of which the apparatus includes a controller configured to perform operations including receiving a signal from a sensor representing that a gas-lift plunger has reached a position is proximate to a top of a well. The operations include, in response to receiving the signal, causing a compressor to unload, and positioning a valve such that a gas flows from the compressor to a pressure vessel, and not into the well, and from the pressure vessel to the compressor. The operations include determining that the plunger has descended in the well, and in response to determining that the plunger has descended in the well, causing the compressor to load, and positioning the valve such that gas flows from the compressor to the well via the valve, the gas flowing from the pressure vessel into the inlet of the compressor.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a cable head for a wireline tool that includes a housing that comprises an outlet opening for a wireline and an interface configured to connect the housing to the wireline tool; a spool rotatably mounted in the housing; an anchoring point configured for mechanical attachment to an end of the wireline; and a drive configured to rotate the spool and thereby wrap a portion of the wireline around the spool to and retract the wireline into the housing. A wireline tool and a method of retrieving a lost wireline tool are also described.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a device and method of sealing perforations on a well casing inside a subterranean well. The device comprises a generally cylindrical sleeve having an open top and a closed bottom; a heater located inside the sleeve, the heater comprising a thermite mixture; an ignition mechanism that ignites the thermite mixture upon actuation; and a string connected to the heater ignition and detachably engages the sleeve.

Abstract: The embodiments include methods and tools to activate downhole apparatuses. In one embodiment, a hydrostatic pressure intensifier includes a housing having at least two different internal cross-sectional surface areas. The housing includes a device mounted on the housing and operable to actuate in response to being subject to a threshold amount of pressure. The housing also includes a first piston housed in a first chamber of the housing, where the first piston has a first cross-sectional area and a first stroke length, and a second piston housed in a second chamber of the housing, where the second piston has a second cross-sectional area and a second stroke length, and where the first cross-sectional area is greater than the second cross-sectional area. The hydrostatic pressure intensifier also includes a fluid flow restrictor that restricts fluid flow through the valve to control an amount of pressure applied by the first piston.

Abstract: A system with multiple spinners in a spinner assembly, each spinner comprising a drive shaft, a sleeve with arcuate segments surrounding the drive shaft, a first cap that receives a first end of the sleeve and a second cap that receives a second end of the sleeve, which secures the sleeve to the drive shaft. A system with two spinner subassemblies in a spinner assembly, and with a coupling assembly that moves the subassemblies a same distance in opposite directions relative to a center axis of the spinner assembly. A method can include securing multiple arcuate segments of the sleeve to a drive shaft of the spinner by inserting a first end of the sleeve into a first recess of a first cap and inserting a second end of the sleeve into a second recess of a second cap.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described that can be used for locating conductive bodies such as wellbore casing or piping disposed below the earth's surface. An electrical current can be excited in a conductive body in each wellbore in a given area to produce a magnetic field, and the magnetic field can be detected by a ranging tool. Location and current parameters can be determined for an estimated number of wellbores producing non-negligible contributions to the magnetic field, and the estimated number of wellbores can be adjusted until the number of contributing wellbores is determined. Location solutions can be returned for each of the contributing wellbores, and the location solutions can be employed to facilitate exploration of drilling applications such as well avoidance, well intersection and/or steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) steering operations.

Abstract: A whipstock assembly includes an inner body having a bore and an inclined surface at an upper portion; and an outer body disposed around the inner body and releasably attached to the inner body, the outer body having an inclined surface and an upper portion closed to fluid communication.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic cleaning tool (100) for removing ferrous debris from within a BOP, riser or wellbore, the tool comprising: a tool body having a longitudinal axis, and one or more magnets (104) configured to rotate around an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis from a first position to a second position. In the first position the one or more magnets attract ferrous debris to a debris gathering surface, and in the second position the one or more magnets do not attract ferrous debris to the debris gathering surface.

Abstract: A hybrid rotary drill bit having at least one fixed blade and at least one rolling cutter assembly is configured for reverse fluid flow from an annulus, through junk slots and into a fluid pathway system located substantially centrally to a bit body. The fluid pathway system may be located underneath a portion of the at least one fixed blade.

Abstract: An earth-boring tool includes a tool body configured to rotate in a wellbore and carrying at least one extendable element. The at least one extendable element is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position projecting radially beyond the tool body. The at least one extendable element has a mating surface. The earth-boring tool includes a support structure located in the tool body and having a support surface that is located and configured to face the mating surface of the at least one extendable element when the at least one extendable element is in the extended position. The support surface of the support structure is configured to bear at least a portion of the tangential forces acting on the extendable element during rotation of the earth-boring tool in the wellbore when the at least one extendable element is in the extended position.

Abstract: A well column pipe retrieval tool incorporating a “U” bracket having a lateral arm and an oppositely lateral arm, wherein the oppositely lateral arm has a fixed segment and a moveable segment; the column pipe retrieval tool further incorporating a column pipe receiving throat which is laterally bounded by the “U” bracket's lateral arm, and which is oppositely laterally bounded by the oppositely lateral arms' moveable segment; the column pipe retrieval tool further incorporating a plurality of pin and angled slide slot combinations which interconnect the oppositely lateral arm's fixed and moveable segments.

Abstract: Interventionless testing casing within a wellbore to determine a location where the casing is leaking. Testing systems include a casing disconnect tool to receive an object, such as a ball, allowing for pressurizing to test a backside between new casing associated with the disconnect tool and older casing associated with a cased hole or open hole.

Abstract: A roll-out apparatus, method, and system is disclosed for deployment in a subterranean well at a setting location. The roll-out apparatus, method, and system includes a load ring and an energizing ring. The load ring may include an outer surface having an outer circumference and a slot extending through the entire wall thickness that follows a circuitous path from a front face to a back face of the load ring. The energizing ring includes an outer surface configured to contact an inner surface of the load ring to enlarge the outer circumference of the load ring in a radial direction. This causes the outer surface of the load ring to seal to an inner surface of the subterranean well at the setting location.

Abstract: Steering mechanisms for use in RSS systems may be devoid of an elastomeric piston seal. Pistons of the steering mechanisms have a convex cross-section that permit the piston to pivot along with a steering pad while moving laterally or radially along a piston axis defined by a piston bore. Hydraulic pressure may be maintained as the pad is extended since a limited gap size between the piston and the bore may be maintained throughout the motion of the pistons. The pistons may be retained to the steering pad in a T-slot and may be elongated in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the piston bore. A groove may be provided around the piston for a receiving a back-up seal therein. The back-up seal may include wear resistant balls embedded in a matrix, and balls may be preloaded to serve as flow restrictors even when worn.

Abstract: A method of freeing a stuck pipe in a wellbore includes positioning a pipe freeing tool within an annulus of the stuck pipe, the pipe freeing tool including a body and two or more arms coupled to and extending from the body, and activating the two or more arms of the pipe freeing tool to extend outwards from the body to apply a force to the stuck pipe. Another method of freeing a stuck pipe in a wellbore includes determining a stuck point along a drillstring comprising the stuck pipe, and activating a pipe freeing tool coupled to the stuck pipe to apply a force to the stuck pipe, wherein the force moves the stuck pipe away from a surface of the wellbore and towards a center of the wellbore, and the pipe freeing tool includes a plurality of expandable disc elements.

Abstract: An isolation device can include a packer element that is actuated via a slip system to engage with an inner diameter of a tubing string to set the plug. The isolation device can be a frac plug. Top and bottom slip props of the slip system can be shaped such that the packer element is inhibited or prevented from engaging with an inner mandrel after the plug has been set within a wellbore. The slip props can be self-supporting; thus, the inner mandrel can be removed from the isolation device after setting and can be reused in other downhole tools. The isolation device can be used for zonal isolation to treat a zone of interest within a subterranean formation. The treatment can be a fracturing operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling fracturing operations include monitoring pressure within a monitor well poroelastically couplable to an active well. In response to pressure changes observed in the monitor well, operational parameters of the fracturing operation are modified to, among other things, encourage or inhibit fracture initiation and propagation. For example, modifications to properties of the fracturing fluid, modification to pumping parameters, rate cycling, and diversion operations may each be undertaken in response to observed pressure changes within the monitor well. Single-well applications are also provided in which pressure measurements are obtained from an isolated section of a well poroelastically couplable to an uphole section of the same well. The pressure measurements are subsequently used to control fracturing operations of the uphole section.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a tubular having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flowbore having a longitudinal axis, and a backpressure valve arranged in the flowbore. The backpressure valve includes a flapper valve having a first side and an opposing second side pivotally mounted to the inner surface to selectively extend across the flowbore and a locking system mounted to the inner surface in the flowbore and snap-fittingly engageable with the flapper valve. The flapper valve is pivotable between a first position, wherein the flapper valve is free to pivot relative to the inner surface, and a second position, wherein the flapper valve is pivoted away from the flowbore and locked open by the locking system such that the first side forms part of the flowbore.

Abstract: This disclosure describes various implementations of a downhole-blower system that can be used to boost production in a wellbore. The downhole-blower system includes a blower and an electric machine coupled to the blower that can be deployed in a wellbore, and that can, in cooperation, increase production through the wellbore.