Abstract: A system, apparatus and methods for delivering high power laser energy to perform laser operations in oil fields and to form a borehole deep into the earth using laser energy. A laser downhole assembly for the delivery of high power laser energy to surfaces and areas in a borehole, which assembly may have laser optics and a fluid path.

Abstract: A safety valve can be disposed in a wellbore that is through a fluid-producing formation. The safety valve can include a flow tube that is allowed to move at least partially independent, or free, from a piston assembly to avoid negative effects from forces on the flow tube from a closing assembly, such as one including a flapper. For example, the flow tube may not be required to be rigidly connected to a piston assembly such that the flow tube can move more than the piston assembly moves.

Abstract: A bushing for positioning within a core barrel assembly during an up-hole drilling operation. The bushing has a wall with an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface defines an inlet, an outlet, and a central bore of the bushing. The central bore surrounds a longitudinal axis of the bushing and extends between the inlet and the outlet. The outer surface has a first portion positioned proximate the inlet and a second portion positioned proximate the outlet. The first portion of the outer surface of the wall projects outwardly from the second portion of the outer surface relative to the longitudinal axis of the bushing such that the first portion of the outer surface defines opposed first and second shoulder surfaces extending substantially perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal axis. Core barrel head assemblies including such bushings are also described.

Abstract: A downhole perforating system having a cemented-in lower completion including one or more orienting nipples, each orienting nipple having a recess key, and one or more lines or tools carried on the exterior of the lower completion and oriented relative to the recess key. The downhole perforating system also includes a perforating string having one or more blank sections oriented relative to an orienting key that is brought into alignment with the recess key when the perforating string is landed in the orienting nipple. Upon landing, the perforating string can be fired without damaging the lines or tools outside the lower completion.

Abstract: A gas separator assembly generates an artificial sump in a production casing receiving a production tubing string with a downhole pump at the bottom end thereof. The assembly includes an inner casing in series with the production casing of the well and an outer casing supported externally of the inner casing. First and second ports at opposing top and bottom ends of the outer casing communicate from a primary passage in the inner casing to a secondary passage between the inner and outer casings. A barrier supported in the primary passage between the first and second ports diverts flow through the secondary passage and effectively defines the sump area in the primary passage between an inlet of the downhole pump adjacent the barrier and the first port thereabove.

Abstract: A coiled tubing tractor assembly including a hydraulically powered tractor coupled to a coiled tubing having a fiber optic therethrough to provide communicative means, for example, to a monitor coupled to the tractor. The fiber optic may also be employed to control movement of the coiled tubing tractor. Additionally, a diagnostic tool may be coupled to the tractor wherein the tractor provides a communicative link between the diagnostic tool and the monitoring device.

Abstract: This Application addresses maintaining a hydrostatic pressure exerted on a wall of a wellbore in different intervals of the wellbore. This is done by flowing a liquid through at least a pressure regulator in each interval, and wherein each pressure regulators regulates the amount of pressure exerted by the liquid on the wall of the wellbore. The amount of pressure may be maintained for a specific period of time. The wellbore is part of a soft subterranean formation.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump device has a pump and a motor. The motor can be adjacent to the pump. A support member supports the sensor and has a length so that the sensor is located a first distance downhole from a downhole distal end of the motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for radially expanding a tubular element. The method comprises the steps of bending the tubular element radially outward and in axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around an unexpanded tubular section, wherein bending occurs in a bending zone; increasing the length of the expanded tubular section by pushing the unexpanded tubular section in axial direction relative to the expanded tubular section; operating a drill string, which extends through the unexpanded tubular section and is provided with a drill bit at a downhole end thereof, to drill a borehole; and operating directional drilling means, which are coupled to the drill string, to deviate the borehole and direct the borehole along a predetermined path.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for a casing-while-drilling operation utilizes a tethered float valve to retrieve the bottom hole assembly after the casing string has been positioned at a desired wellbore depth.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling a wellbore in a material, such as rock, is provided. The apparatus can include a microwave source, a first fluid source, and a second fluid source. The microwave source can be configured to transmit microwave energy to a surface of the material to alter the material. The first fluid source can be configured to emit a first fluid to the surface of the material to alter the material. The first fluid can be substantially absorptive to the microwave energy. The second fluid source can be configured to emit a second fluid to the surface of the material to flush the first fluid from the surface of the material. The second fluid can be substantially transparent to the microwave energy.

Abstract: A self-orientating fracturing system including a swivel sub having opposing sections rotatable relative to one another; at least one ported sleeve defining a flowpath and having a ported housing with an outer surface that includes at least one planar engagement surface and at least one port providing a communication path to the interior of said housing, and an insert moveable within the ported housing between a first position and a second position, for opening and closing the ported sleeve. The system includes a centralizer having an outer surface configured to impart rotational force to the centralizer when the centralizer is pushed or culled alone the surface of a wellbore. The sorted sleeve and the centralizer are installed in the assembly on the same side of the swivel sub such that the rotational force imparted to the centralizer is also imparted to the swivel sub.

Abstract: A formation evaluation system and method. A formation evaluation system includes an assembly interconnected as part of a tubular string and displaceable to multiple positions proximate each of multiple zones intersected by a wellbore. The assembly includes at least one formation evaluation instrument for determining a characteristic of formation fluid, and a pump which draws the fluid into the assembly. A method of evaluating multiple subterranean zones during a single trip into a wellbore includes the steps of: interconnecting a formation evaluation assembly in a coiled tubing string; for each of the multiple zones, displacing the formation evaluation assembly to a position proximate the respective zone, receiving formation fluid from the respective zone into the formation evaluation assembly, and determining at least one characteristic of the formation fluid; and performing the multiple displacing, receiving and determining steps during the single trip of the coiled tubing string into the wellbore.

Abstract: The present invention relates to sealing method for sealing a zone of a casing in a well, the zone comprising several leaks, perforations and/or weakened casing parts, or other irregularities having a casing characteristic which, when measured, is found to be outside a predetermined interval. The sealing method comprises the steps of measuring the characteristics of the casing, determining a position of the zone, determining an extent of the zone in a longitudinal direction of the casing, determining a part of the zone and an extent of the part whose casing characteristic when measured is within the predetermined interval, the part extending in the longitudinal direction of the casing, positioning a first liner overlapping the first area of the part of the casing, positioning a second liner overlapping the second area of the part of the casing, expanding the first liner, and expanding the second liner.

Abstract: A downhole well screen has a base pipe with a filter mounted thereon with the filter comprising plurality of spaced layers including a screen layer. A longitudinally extending channel is formed in the well screen by plastically deforming the filter. The channel is selected to be of a size and shape to accommodate well control lines.

Abstract: A method of hydraulic fracturing of an oil producing formation includes the provision of a heating apparatus which is transportable and that has a vessel for containing water. A water stream of cool or cold water is transmitted from a source to a mixer, the cool or cold water stream being at ambient temperature. The mixer has an inlet that receives cool or cold water from the source and an outlet that enables a discharge of a mix of cool or cold water and the hot water. After mixing in the mixer, the water assumes a temperature that is suitable for mixing with chemicals that are used in the fracturing process, such as a temperature of about 40°-120° F.+(4.4-48.9 C+). An outlet discharges a mix of the cool and hot water to surge tanks or to mixing tanks In the mixing tanks, a proppant and an optional selected chemical or chemicals are added to the water which has been warmed.

Abstract: A sensor flap for a downhole tool. The downhole tool is positionable in a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation. The sensor flap includes a sensor housing and at least one sensor. The sensor housing is operatively connectable to the downhole tool. The sensor housing is movably positionable between a retracted position in the downhole tool and an extended position in contact with a wall of the wellbore. The sensor is positionable in the sensor housing, and may include a seismic detector to measure seismic activity when the sensor housing is in contact with the wall of the wellbore.

Abstract: Methods of actuating a well tool can include releasing chemical energy from at least one portion of a reactive material, thermally expanding a substance in response to the released chemical energy, and applying pressure to a piston as a result of thermally expanding the substance, thereby actuating the well tool, with these steps being repeated for each of multiple actuations of the well tool. A well tool actuator can include a substance contained in a chamber, one or more portions of a reactive material from which chemical energy is released, and a piston to which pressure is applied due to thermal expansion of the substance in response to each release of chemical energy. A well tool actuator which can be actuated multiple times may include multiple portions of a gas generating reactive material, and a piston to which pressure is applied due to generation of the gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for the continuous treating of a water well with chlorine or hydrogen peroxide includes an inlet pipe, which is mounted in the cover on a water well and an elongated tube extending downwardly from the bottom end of the pipe into the well, preferably beyond any pitless adaptor, for depositing chlorine pellets or chlorine or hydrogen peroxide solution in the well. The pellets or solution are added roughly on a weekly basis which prevents a chlorine or hydrogen peroxide smell in the water.

Abstract: A mandrel harnesses torque from a progressing cavity pump stator to which it is coupled. Operation of the pump rotor induces a torque on the pump stator, and that torque is harnessed by the mandrel. A rate of rotation of the mandrel due to the torque from the pump stator is controlled, and the rotation rate is hydraulically reduced in an embodiment. A rotation in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the mandrel due to the torque from the pump stator is applied to a production tubing string. The direction of rotation of the mandrel could be reduced and applied to the production tubing string by a planetary gear system, for example.