Abstract: A milling machine for milling a surface of a roadway includes a frame and a milling assembly having a cutter drum that is mounted for rotation with respect to the frame. The cutter drum has a drive shaft on which a sheave is mounted. A primary drum drive assembly is adapted to rotate the cutter drum with respect to the frame. The primary drum drive assembly includes a drive belt that cooperates with the sheave on the drive shaft for the cutter drum to rotate the cutter drum. A belt lift assembly may be operated to selectively disengage the drive belt from the sheave of the drive shaft for the cutter drum.

Abstract: A plug (10) for blocking off mining exploration drill holes. The plug (10) comprises an elongate body (12) of solid impervious material, and an engineered surface (14) is provided on an external circumference of the elongate body (12). The engineered surface (14) comprises an annular anchoring groove (16) having a ramp (18) extending from a maximum diameter to a minimum diameter of the engineered surface (14) in a braking direction, in which it is intended to prevent movement of the plug (10) in the drill hole. The plug (10) also comprises an O-ring (20) received in the anchoring groove (16) and having a thickness whereby it protrudes slightly above the maximum diameter of the engineered surface (14) and engages with a wall (22) of the drill hole.

Abstract: A wellbore formation system includes a downhole cutting tool having a body and at least one cutting element. A sensor is coupled to the downhole cutting tool, and the sensor includes a transmitter configured to transmit a signal prior to wear on a portion of the downhole cutting tool reaching a first amount. The sensor ceases transmission of the signal when the wear on the portion of the downhole cutting tool reaches the first amount.

Abstract: A system for measuring and control of shock and vibration is disclosed. The system may include a bottomhole assembly having a downhole end and an uphole end opposite the downhole end. A drill bit may be located at the downhole end of the bottomhole assembly and a powered rotary steering system may be located in the bottomhole assembly. The system may also include a first drilling mechanics module located in the bottomhole assembly, proximate the powered rotary steering system and the drill bit. The first drilling mechanics module may be coupled in electronic communication to the power rotary steering system. The system may also include a plurality of drilling dynamics measurement units distributed along a length of the bottomhole assembly, between the downhole end and the uphole end. The plurality of drilling dynamics measurement units may be coupled in electronic communication with the first drilling mechanics module.

Abstract: A rotating bit with cutters used in drilling operations to advance a borehole in the earth. The bit includes column cutters in the bit body in a recessed central area. The column cutters contact a column of borehole material that is formed during operation. The column cutters are oriented to fracture the column, producing larger cuttings or chips, and to exert a force on the column to limit lateral movement of the bit during operation.

Abstract: A centralizer assembly installed on a casing section. A bow spring assembly having bow spring members is installed around the outer surface of the casing section and can rotate about the outer surface of the casing section. A portion of the casing section that is aligned with the bow spring assembly is swaged to increase the outer diameter of that section. Bow spring heel supports prevent bow spring members from contacting the outer surface of the central casing section when compressed. Non-abrasive materials prevent damage to wellhead or other polished bore receptacles.

Abstract: Multiple wires run parallel to one another. Each of wires is spaced apart from each adjacent wire at a distance less than a width of an encased microchip. Each of the plurality of wires includes a plurality of straight segments in a plane and bent segments that connect two of the plurality of straight segments. For each of the wires, each bent segments includes a first end, a second end, and a curved portion curved away from the plane. The first end is connected to at least one of the straight segments and separated from the second end a distance greater than the width of the encased microchip. The curved portion includes a diameter greater than the width of the encased microchip.

Abstract: Systems and methods divide flow in a wellbore into a plurality of flow paths. A first one of the flow paths extends to a down-hole turbine that is responsive to fluid flow to provide rotational motion to an electric generator or other down-hole tool. A second flow path may extend to an independent down-hole tool, to a port communicating with the wellbore, to a bypass channel extending around the turbine, or to any other down-hole location. The turbine includes a stator having adjustable blades such that an open flow area through the turbine may be selectively controlled. A flow distribution between the first and second flow paths can be controlled where specific flow areas are needed at specific flow rates, for example.

Abstract: Multiple wires run parallel to one another. Each of wires is spaced apart from each adjacent wire at a distance less than a width of an encased microchip. Each of the plurality of wires includes a plurality of straight segments in a plane and bent segments that connect two of the plurality of straight segments. For each of the wires, each bent segments includes a first end, a second end, and a curved portion curved away from the plane. The first end is connected to at least one of the straight segments and separated from the second end a distance greater than the width of the encased microchip. The curved portion includes a diameter greater than the width of the encased microchip.

Abstract: A device for the installation of rock bolts includes a supporting structure and first and second bolting units mounted to the supporting structure. Each bolting unit is configured for drilling an installation hole and/or for installing a rock bolt into a rock face, wherein the supporting structure is configured for rotatably moving the first and second bolting units about a common axis of rotation. At least one actuator is mounted to the supporting structure and configured for additionally moving at least one of the first and second bolting units.

Abstract: A pressure pulse tool includes a tool housing, a valve disposed in the housing and having first and second valve components that are each rotatable relative to the housing and that cooperate to open and close a fluid flow path through the valve. The tool may include first and second power section coupled to the first and second valve components, respectively, for rotating the respective valve components. The power sections may each include a turbine rotor and the first and second rotors may have different geometries or may be powered by different amounts of fluid flow therethrough. Flowing fluid through the tool generates a pressure pulse having a desired pressure pulse frequency that may be lower than the first or second turbine rotor would generate alone.

Abstract: A machine includes a work implement and at least one camera arranged to capture a video image of a viewed area and provide a video signal related to the viewed area to a controller. The controller compiles a visual display in which the current position and a current direction of the work implement relative to the viewed area is displayed in real time. The controller also calculates a trajectory of the work implement based on machine speed and steering signals to compile a visual trajectory representation of the work implement relative to the viewed area, which is combined with the visual display into a combined visual representation that is presented to an operator through a video display.

Abstract: A splice connects segments of coiled tubing and power cable together. The splice has a base and a head, each having an interior conical surface and a collet with fingers that deflect inward in gripping engagement with one of the segments in response to axial movement of the head collet and the base collet. A compression sleeve extends between the base collet and the head collet and exerts forces on the collets while the base and head are being secured together. An insulator tube slides over each of the power conductors. A retainer ring for each insulator tube grips one of the power conductors and abuts a shoulder in the insulator tube to prevent movement of the insulator tube along the power conductor.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a well includes an inner tubular member with a flow path formed therethrough and an outer tubular member configured to be positionable about the inner tubular member to define an annulus between the outer tubular member and the inner tubular member. The apparatus further includes a crossover assembly coupled to the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member and configured to enable fluid flow between the flow path of the inner tubular member and an exterior of the outer tubular member, and a flow control device coupled to the crossover assembly and configured to control fluid flow through the crossover assembly.

Abstract: A downhole cutting tool includes a tool body and a plurality of cutter knife sets, each of the plurality of cutter knife sets configured to extend outwardly to separately perform a pipe cutting operation. A first cutter knife set has a diameter in an extended position larger than a diameter in an extended position of a second cutter knife set. A method includes running the downhole cutting tool into a wellbore, deploying the first set of expandable cutting arms to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a first work piece, rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the first work piece, deploying the second set of expandable cutting arms during a single trip into the wellbore to an extended position and engaging the extended expandable cutting arms with a second work piece, and rotating the downhole cutting tool and cutting the second work piece.

Abstract: A system and method of wellbore operations that uses an eductor unit for introducing additives into a moving fluid stream to form a mixture. The mixture is used as a completion drilling fluid for drilling through plugs installed in a wellbore. Example additives include polymers, such as friction reducers, viscosifiers, potassium chloride, polysaccharide, polyacrylamide, biocides, lubricants, long chain polymer molecules, and the like. The fluid is primarily fresh water and/or brine water, and acts as a motive fluid in the eductor unit for drawing the additive into the eductor unit. Forming the mixture in the eductor unit which is injected into the wellbore.

Abstract: A housing mount assembly for a TBM disc cutter assembly having a shaft and cutter wheel assembly includes a housing half with a body and opposite edge portions extending away from the body. A removable seat block is fixed to the housing half in a space between the edge portions, and is configured to transmit forces received from the cutter shaft to the housing half in shear. A first face of the seat block is pressed against a face of one of the edge portions, and second face is pressed against the housing half body. The seat block may be preloaded against the housing half with first and second pluralities of bolts arranged perpendicularly. The seat block is configured to be removable in the field without removing the housing half from the TBM. The seat block may be hardened to a Rockwell C hardness in the range of Rc 58 to 60.

Abstract: A technique facilitates control over production flow from a well in a manner which increases the longevity of the well. A sand screen assembly or a plurality of sand screen assemblies may be constructed for use in a production operation. Each sand screen assembly comprises a base pipe, a screen, an inflow control device, and a plurality of plugs located between the base pipe and the screen. The plurality of plugs is held initially by corresponding release mechanisms at a position upstream of a bypass. The bypass comprises a plurality of flow passages which route inflowing fluid through the inflow control device and into an interior of the base pipe. The plugs are sized to at least partially plug corresponding flow passages of the bypass upon the occurrence of a trigger event which causes a release mechanism or release mechanisms to release corresponding plugs.

Abstract: A rotary steerable drilling tool and a method according to which a universal joint is sealed. In one embodiment, the method includes providing the collar, the shaft, the universal joint, and first and second shoulders between which the universal joint is positioned; providing first and second self-energizing seals between the collar and the shaft on opposite sides of the universal joint; rotating the collar and the shaft; seating the first self-energizing seal against the first shoulder; and seating a second self-energizing seal against the second shoulder. In one embodiment, the universal joint includes a convex surface formed on the shaft; a first concave surface extending circumferentially about the shaft and adapted to mate with the convex surface to carry a first axial load; and a spacer ring defining a second concave surface adapted to mate with the convex surface to carry a second axial load.

Abstract: An annular barrier has a tubular part, and a downhole expandable tubular to be expanded in an annulus downhole from a first outer diameter to a second outer diameter to abut against an inner face of a casing or borehole. The downhole expandable tubular has a first end section, a second end section and an intermediate section between the first end section and the second end section, the downhole expandable tubular surrounding the tubular part. Each end section of the downhole expandable tubular is connected with the tubular part and extends along a longitudinal axis, and defines an annular barrier space between the tubular part and the downhole expandable tubular. The tubular is made from one metal tubular blank of one metal material, the metal material of the end sections having a higher yield strength than the metal material of the intermediate section.