Abstract: Certain aspects are directed to a testable isolation packer that sets and provides the ability to test upper and lower packer elements. In one aspect, the testable isolation packer includes at least two packer elements, a packer element setting system, a bypass system, and a testing subassembly. The testing subassembly generally includes a moveable element with an outer port and a sealing element, an inner mandrel with an inner port, and a shear mechanism to cause travel of the moveable element close the bypass system and to open the testing subassembly.

Abstract: A cutting element assembly may include a sleeve; an inner cutting element in the sleeve; and a blocker retained in the sleeve with at least one locking device and covering a portion of a cutting face of the inner cutting element. Cutting tools may include a tool body; a plurality of blades extending radially from the tool body, each blade comprising a leading face and a trailing face; a plurality of cutter pockets on the plurality of blades; at least one cutting element in one of the cutter pockets; and at least one blocker positioned adjacent to a cutting face of the at least one cutting element and the leading face of the blade, the blocker being retained to the cutter pocket with at least one locking device.

Abstract: Rotary steerable drilling apparatus and methods utilizing apparatus comprising a shaft, a multi-angle strike ring axially repositionable along the shaft, an articulated member coupled to the shaft, and a steering member carried by the articulated member. An actuator is operable to maintain an angular offset of the articulated member relative to the shaft by maintaining azimuthally-dependent contact between the multi-angle strike ring and the steering member.

Abstract: In one aspect, a flow control device is disclosed that in one embodiment may include a sand screen that includes adjacent wraps of a longitudinal member, wherein the longitudinal member has a width, a first axial side and a second axial side, the longitudinal member further including spaced apart standoffs along the first axial side and spaced apart channels that provide fluid paths from the second axial side to the first axial side.

Abstract: A valve assembly, and related system and method, with a sleeve having an inner surface with a diameter, an outer surface, and a plurality of openings extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. A split ring having one or more segments and an expandable or collapsible body with a seating surface and an outer diameter extending from the body is at least partially within the inner surface of the sleeve. The split ring and sleeve may be placed in a variable diameter housing such that contact of the outer diameter with a smaller diameter section of the housing causes the split ring to close, whereas contact with an larger diameter of the housing allows the split ring to open. In certain embodiments, a spring element, which may be the split ring itself, applies force to move the split ring from an open to closed position. A spring may be positioned around a portion of the sleeve and in an annular space at least partially defined by an annular body and the second cylindrical outer surface.

Abstract: An injection valve assembly for use in a well, where pressurized gas or fluid from uphole in the well displaces a perforated valve head from a valve seat, allows for fluid flow of the pressurized gas or fluid into the valve head and further downhole in the well toward an electric submersible pump. A compression spring is coiled around a valve stem connected to the valve head, pushing the valve stem and valve head in an uphole direction opposite to the force from pressurized gas or fluid. The compression spring is in a chamber filled with hydraulic fluid, where the hydraulic fluid can pass through a dampening system assembly and a flow restrictor assembly, thereby regulating the speed at which the valve stem and valve head can move relative to the valve seat.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly to enable reperforation and refracturing a cased hole has a bottom end anchor seal to allow a larger drift dimension in the zones to be perforated and fractured between spaced external seals that preferably set by swelling. A separable section has a seal bore to protect lower pressure rated casing in the upper annulus from overpressure during the refracturing operations. Either existing perforations can be refractured or new perforations made and fractured. With a multiple shot perforating gun all the zones can be perforated and fractured in a single trip with a service string that supports a releasable plug, a gun and frac ports. The BHA can be remove with a line cut above the anchor seal at the bottom and a pull on the tubular sting that takes all the swelling packers out. Location devices can be employed for proper gun placement before firing.

Abstract: A guide device and associated methods for forming a hole in the ground using compression or other means. In one example, the guide device includes a compression hammer having a hammer tip; a guide frame member for guiding the compression hammer into one or more positions along the guide frame member; and a movement control assembly securing the compression hammer to the guide frame, the movement control assembly selectively moving said compression hammer along said guide frame, so that said compression hammer forms the hole in the ground. By compressing soil materials, which has the effect of increasing soil density around the hole, a more rigid and accurate hole (i.e., within higher dimensional tolerances) is created when compared with holes created by drilling/boring/excavation.

Abstract: A jar assembly for use downhole includes a housing, a piston assembly slidable within and selectively coupled to the housing, a mandrel assembly coupled on a lower end of the piston assembly, and an anvil coupled to an end of the mandrel assembly opposite the piston assembly. The jar assembly is deployed in a wellbore by a conveyance means that couples with the housing. A hydraulic circuit in the piston assembly activates a latch for decoupling the piston assembly from the housing; when decoupled, the housing slides downward and impacts the anvil to generate a jarring force. The jar assembly is re-cocked by raising it with the conveyance means.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a carriage movable along a drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage, at least one actuator extending between the carriage and the linking member to pivot the linking member between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive pivotally coupled to the linking member. According to another aspect, an apparatus includes a drilling tower, a carriage movably coupled to the drilling tower, a linking member pivotally coupled to the carriage to permit the linking member to pivot between first and second pivot positions, and a top drive extending longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower, the top drive being pivotally coupled to the linking member to permit the top drive to continue to extend longitudinally in a parallel relation to the drilling tower when the linking member pivots between the first and second pivot positions.

Abstract: A well tool apparatus for damping torsional vibration of a drill string comprises stabilizing members projecting radially outwards from a housing that is, in operation, rotationally integrated in the drill string, to stabilize the drill string by engagement with a borehole wall. The stabilizing members are displaceably mounted on the housing to permit limited angular movement thereof relative to the housing about its rotational axis. The well tool apparatus includes a hydraulic damping mechanism to damp angular displacement of the stabilizing members relative to the housing, thereby damping torsional vibration of the housing and the connected drill string, in use.

Abstract: An electromagnetic perforation device for well casings includes a coil disposed around a core carried by a mandrel. The device further includes a power supply coupled to a current supply device, which is coupled to said coil. A stabilizing member extends from the mandrel and spaced apart on the mandrel from the coil core. The electromagnetic performance device may be positioned in a well casing, and the current supply device may rapidly supply a current to the coil to created an electromagnetic field in the coil and simultaneously induces a magnetic field in the well casing. The coil, current, and well casing may be selected such that electromagnetic field and the magnetic field produce repulsive magnetic forces that are sufficient to overcome a yield strength of the well casing and perforate the well casing.

Abstract: An underground directional drilling system can comprise a plurality of elongated dual-shaft segments coupled together end-to-end in a drilling string. The segments include an inner shaft that is independently rotable relative to an annular outer shaft, with the inner shafts being coupled together and the outer shafts being coupled together. The plurality of dual-shaft segments can comprise a communication segment that comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a gap portion between the first and second electrodes that provides electrical insulation therebetween, and an electronic communication controller electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes. The communication controller is configured to generate voltage differences between the electrodes that cause electrical pulses to periodically transfer between the electrodes through the gap portion to wirelessly communicate drilling related data from underground to the surface.

Abstract: A set of manifold string members usable to selectively control separate flowing fluid streams of varying velocities for operations of well construction, injection or production of fluid mixtures of liquids, gases and/or solids, that can be injected into, or taken from, one or more proximal regions of a subterranean passageway, underground cavern, hydrocarbon or geothermal reservoir. Fluid communicated through a manifold string radial passageway of a manifold crossover, between conduit strings and at least one other conduit, can be controlled with at least one flow controlling member, communicating with a passageway member from an innermost, concentric, and/or annular passageway. Fluid communication can be selectively controlled for various configurations of one or more substantially hydrocarbon and/or substantially water wells, below a single main bore and wellhead.

Abstract: A subterranean tool can drop multiple objects to landing locations in a tubular string. The tool can keep at least one ball out of the fluid stream until ready for release. A dart or wiper plug can be kept in the fluid stream with an open bypass until axial mandrel movement allows release of the plug or dart. The tool is rotationally locked at a lower location for run in and then can rotationally lock at an upper location upon release of the dart or ball shifting relative rotation capabilities to different members. Axial movement that releases the dart also aligns a ball with a decreasing depth groove so that relative part rotation can cam the ball against a leaf spring detent and into the mandrel flow path.

Abstract: A swellable packer for use with a subterranean well can include a swellable seal having a circumferentially extending recess formed on a surface of the seal. Another swellable packer can include a swellable seal having a helically extending recess formed in the seal. A method of constructing a swellable packer can include forming a circumferentially extending recess on a surface of a swellable seal.

Abstract: Adjustable drill string housings are described for use in the directional drilling of wellbores, e.g. wellbores for hydrocarbon recovery wells. The adjustable drill string housings permit adjustment of a bend angle in the housings without removing the housings from a wellbore. In some exemplary embodiments, the bend angle can be adjusted by changing the internal stresses in a support member carried by the housings. In other embodiments, the bend angle may be adjusted by causing failure of sacrificial support members carried by the housings, and the failure may be caused by delivering chemicals through a chemical delivery system to the sacrificial support members. Methods of operating the adjustable drill string housings include multi-lateral drilling operations wherein the bend angle is adjusted when a casing window has been detected.

Abstract: A wellbore servicing system disposed at a wellbore, the wellbore servicing system comprising at least one wellbore servicing equipment component, wherein a flow path extends from the wellbore servicing system component into the wellbore, and a flow-back control system, wherein the flow-back control system is disposed along the flow path, and wherein the flow-back control system is configured to allow fluid communication via the flow path in a first direction at not less than a first rate and to allow fluid communication via the flow path in a second direction at not more than a second rate, wherein the first rate is greater than the second rate.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earthen formation includes a connection member having a pin end. In addition, the drill bit includes a bit body coupled to the connection member and configured to rotate relative to the connection member about a central axis of the bit. The bit body includes a bit face. Further, the drill bit includes a blade extending radially along the bit face. Still further, the drill bit includes a plurality of cutter elements mounted to a cutter-supporting surface of the blade. Moreover, the drill bit includes a depth-of-cut limiting structure slidably disposed in a bore extending axially from the cutter-supporting surface. The depth-of-cut limiting structure is configured to move axially relative to the bit body in response to rotation of the bit body relative to the connection member.

Abstract: A connection assembly for automated lifting and positioning of a chiksan or other fluid conduit in proximity to a fluid inlet of a device such as, for example, a cement head. Once a chiksan or other flow line is positioned in a desired location, a secure connection is made between the outlet of the chiksan or other fluid conduit and the fluid inlet of a cement head including, without limitation, when the cement head is positioned at an elevated location above a rig floor.