Abstract: The invention relates to a rod section of a ground drilling rod, wherein the rod section is configured at the end to form a plug connection and has (a) a male connector or (b) a female connector at at least one end, wherein the male connector has at least one circular portion and at least one more straight-line-like portion in cross section on the outside, or the female connector has at least one circular portion and at least one more straight-line-like portion in cross section on the inside.

Abstract: A downhole actuator (16) includes a piston (15) within a chamber (17) on which fluid can act on either side to hydraulically activate the actuator. A hydrostatic equilibrium device (18) and a valve (14) are mounted around the hydraulic actuator. With a radial port (28) of the hydrostatic equilibrium device closed and the valve closed to seal the string, pumping fluid through the string operates the actuator. Pressure overbalance prevents movement of the piston (15). The radial port (28) is opened to drain fluid from the string until equilibrium is reached with the annular volume and the piston (15) can be moved.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump (ESP) assembly. The ESP assembly comprises an electric motor; a seal section; a fluid intake; a charge pump assembly located downstream of the fluid intake and having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the fluid intake, having a fluid mover coupled to a drive shaft, and having a fluid reservoir located downstream of the fluid mover; a gas separator located downstream of the charge pump assembly and having an inlet in fluid communication with an outlet of the charge pump assembly; an inverted shroud coupled at an upper end to the gas separator or to the charge pump assembly and coupled at a lower end to the ESP assembly below the fluid intake; and a production pump assembly located downstream of the gas separator and having an inlet in fluid communication with a liquid phase discharge port of the gas separator.

Abstract: Device and method for protecting a submersible pump. The device can include a housing for connecting to a downhole pump, and a plurality of shelves disposed throughout the housing, wherein at least two shelves are axially spaced from one another, and each shelf provides a surface for supporting and collecting sand or other solids within the housing. A restrictor assembly can be disposed at one end of the housing and configured to allow fluid flow through the housing in one direction and at least partially restrict flow through the housing in an opposite, second direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for cooling a drilling mud in a drilling operation. In aspects, the disclosure includes drawing the drilling mud from a last active volume mud tank of a plurality of active volume mud tanks and conducting the drilling mud to a heat-exchanger apparatus and then returning the drilling mud to the last active volume mud tank. In other aspects, the disclosure includes a variable frequency drive (“VFD”) for controlling a pumping rate of an electrically driven pump for the drilling mud, wherein the VFD is capable of adjusting the pumping rate for pumping of the drilling mud through a heat-exchanger apparatus. In further aspects, systems and methods are provided that use a tube-and-shell heat exchanger. The aspects are independently capable of providing improved efficiency. These and other aspects are preferably used in combination for greater efficiency.

Abstract: A frac system including a frac tree. The frac tree includes a frac head. The frac head defines a first inlet, a second inlet, and an outlet. The frac head receives frac fluid through the first inlet and directs the frac fluid to the outlet fluidly coupled to a wellhead. A valve couples to the second inlet of the frac head. A flapper valve is within the frac head. The flapper valve moves between an open position and a closed position to control fluid flow to the valve through the second inlet. The flapper valve aligns with a first axis of the outlet and the second inlet in the closed position and aligns with a second axis of the first inlet in the open position.

Abstract: A traveling valve assembly for a downhole pump includes a traveling valve housing comprising a shouldered lower section; a valve seat within the traveling valve housing and adjacent to the shouldered lower section; a traveling valve cage insert within the traveling valve housing and adjacent to the valve seat; and a valve ball adjacent to the valve seat and within the traveling valve cage insert.

Abstract: A downhole separator separates solids from an inflow of downhole fluid resulting in a cleansed fluid which is directed to the intake of a subsurface pump. The downhole separator has a separator unit which has a sleeve member with a liner member disposed within the sleeve member, the liner member having an exterior surface immediately adjacent the inner surface of the sleeve member. The sleeve member has an opening which is aligned with an opening in the sleeve liner to form an inlet. A vortex guide is disposed inside an inner surface of the liner member. The vortex guide has a helical exterior which is in engaging contact of the inner surface, wherein a single helical passage is formed which extends from the inlet to a second end of the vortex guide.

Abstract: A well production system may include a production tubing string, a submersible pump, a Christmas tree, a pressure control flowline, one or more control valves, and a control system. The production tubing string may include a production bore and an annulus and be disposed within a wellbore. The submersible pump may be disposed within the wellbore and include an inlet and an outlet. The Christmas tree may have an inlet configured to receive produced fluids from the submersible pump and an outlet in fluid communication with a production flowline. The pressure control flowline may fluidly connect the production flowline with the annulus. The one or more control valves may be configured to control a flow of produced fluids in the production flowline and the pressure control flowline. The control system may be configured to control a position of the one or more control valves.

Abstract: During extension, the reamer block of an expandable reamer pushes on an upper plate. Extension is limited by contact with a spring retainer. To adjust the maximum extension of the expandable reamer, a spacer is placed between the expandable block and the spring retainer. The spacer reduces the amount of longitudinal travel of the expandable reamer, thereby reducing the extension of the expandable reamer.

Abstract: An intelligent oil extraction system using an all-metal screw pump includes: the all-metal screw pump, an oil collecting unit (43), and a steam generating unit (45); wherein an internal threaded curve surface and an external threaded curve surface of the all-metal screw pump are both tapered spiral structures with equal tapers; the oil extraction system comprises a lifting mechanism and monitoring and control mechanism; the monitoring and control mechanism comprises: a controller (34), a torque sensor (35), a flow sensor (36), a pressure sensor (39), a liquid level detector (38), and a backup power source (37); the controller (34) is electrically connected to the torque sensor (35), the flow sensor (36), the pressure sensor (39), the liquid level detector (38), the backup power source (37), a drive motor (48), a servo motor (33), a first valve and a second valve.

Abstract: An apparatus for retaining a transmission line within a drill string component includes a drill string component comprising a bore having an internal diameter. A slot having a shoulder is formed in the internal surface to receive an electromagnetic transmission line. A tension anchor is configured to be attached to the electromagnetic transmission line. The tension anchor comprises an inner sleeve configured to be crimped onto an outer diameter of the electromagnetic transmission line, and an outer sleeve configured to be coupled with the inner sleeve. The outer sleeve comprises an electrical connector device configured to be electrically coupled with the electromagnetic transmission line. The tension anchor is further configured to be received in the slot in engagement with the shoulder.

Abstract: An integrated detonation assembly of a perforating unit includes a detonator assembly and a charge assembly. The detonator assembly is positioned in the outer housing and comprises a bulkhead connected to the outer housing; a charge connector connected to the bulkhead, the charge connection having a connection end; a detonator carried by the charge connector; and a trigger coupled to the detonator and to a remote actuator. The charge assembly is insertable into the outer housing, and comprises a charge tube to support shaped charges therein; a charge feedthru; and a receiver. The receiver is at an opposite end of the charge tube, and has a receptacle shaped to matingly receive the connection end of the charge connector and to engage the trigger whereby, upon insertion of the charge assembly into the outer housing, the receiver is oriented and communicatively secured to the detonator assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an expanding and collapsing apparatus and methods of use. The apparatus includes a plurality of elements assembled together to form a ring structure about a longitudinal axis. The ring structure is operable to be moved between an expanded condition and a collapsed condition by movement of the plurality of elements. At least one set of structural elements are operable to move between the expanded condition and the collapsed condition by movement of a first end in an axial direction, and by movement of a second end in a radial dimension. In certain embodiments, the plurality of elements includes at least one set of structural elements extending longitudinally on the apparatus and operable to slide with respect to one another. Applications of the embodiments described herein include oilfield devices, including anti-extrusion rings, plugs, packers, locks, patching tools, connection systems, and variable diameter tools run in a wellbore.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism of a downhole assembly and a method of operating the assembly in a borehole. The clutch mechanism includes a plug including a mandrel and a wall-engaging component, a sub of a ball valve, the sub coupled to the mandrel, a torque lock nut of the ball valve, the torque nut coupled to the wall-engaging component, and a clutch of the ball valve. The clutch is moved axially against the torque lock nut to engage the torque lock nut to the sub. A torque is applied on the clutch to rotate the sub of the ball valve via transmission of the torque from the clutch to the ball valve via the torque nut. Application of the torque against the sub actuates the ball valve.

Abstract: A downhole valve, such as a safety valve or sub-sea safety valve (SSSV). The downhole valve comprising: a housing; a flow path between a valve inlet and a valve outlet; a valve mechanism; and a piston member; wherein the valve mechanism is operable by actuation of the piston member to selectively open and close the flow path between the valve inlet and valve outlet; and the piston member is actuatable by a pressure differential between an annulus pressure at the valve and a pressure at the valve outlet and/or in a portion of the flow path closest to the valve outlet. The valve can comprise an opening for receiving the annular pressure that is isolated from the valve inlet and valve outlet. The downhole valve can be configured such that it prevents operation of the valve mechanism to open and/or close the flow path by a pressure differential between the valve inlet and valve outlet.

Abstract: A controllable downhole scraper includes a fluid reservoir having a pressure wall positioned and movable within the fluid reservoir defining a first portion of the fluid reservoir including a first fluid. The pressure wall exerts a force on the first fluid to maintain a first pressure. A scraper blade is movable between a retracted and an extended position. A sleeve is positioned on a tubular and slidable between a first position engaging the scraper blade to move into the retracted position, and a second position engaging the scraper blade to move into the extended position. The sleeve is configured to move between the two positions through a reduction in the first pressure in the first fluid. A restrictor is fluidly coupled between the fluid reservoir and a pressure reservoir. A gas reservoir, fluidly coupled to the first fluid, is selectively operable to reduce the first pressure in the first fluid.

Abstract: A section mill for milling wellbore tubulars has a tubular mill body, a pivotally mounted mill carrier having a beveled interior profile and a cutter blade on its exterior profile, and a translatable piston having an elongated driveshaft with a radially extending nose cone with a compression spring positioned around the elongated driveshaft. A hook on the elongated driveshaft configured to mate with a corresponding hook catch in the mill carriers maintains the mill carrier in a retracted position. The nose cone of the translatable piston moves upward and downward along the beveled interior profile of the mill carrier in response to fluid pressure. Rotation of the mill body rotates the attached mill carrier and cutter blade for milling.

Abstract: The invention relates to variation of concentrations of abrasive particles in a stream of drilling fluid mixed with abrasive particles, passed as an abrasive jet through abrasive nozzle(s) of a drill bit along rotations thereof, to vary the erosive power of the stream along angular sections of the borehole for directional drilling. During subsequent time periods majorities of abrasive particles are alternately deflected into two parallel channels with a different flow resistance. A resulting velocity difference between said majorities makes that the subsequently deflected majorities recombine downstream of the channels, so that high concentration stream portions of the combined majorities are formed which alternate low concentration stream portions. Synchronising the frequency of the stream portions with the rotational velocity of the drill bit results in a consistently higher erosive power of the abrasive jet within a selected angular section of the borehole than outside thereof.

Abstract: A screen assembly, such as a downhole/sand screen assembly, comprising first and second screen portions or screens longitudinally coupled together, wherein there is provided a fluid flow path between the first and second screen portions or screen. Optionally, the first and second sleeves are coupled or connected by a centraliser or further sleeve or screen, and/or optionally by or via first and second support ring.