Abstract: A remotely operated lifting top drive cement head has a high tensile strength and the ability to swivel or rotate. The cement head permits selective launching of darts, setting plugs, balls or other objects which can be held in place within the cement head without being damaged or washed away by slurry flow, but which can be beneficially launched as desired. The cement head can be remotely operated without requiring personnel to be lifted off the rig floor to actuate the tool or observe tool status.

Abstract: Improvements to base beams and self-propelled derrick rigs are described. The base beam can have two or more stabilizer arms which can be deployed. The base beam is also designed to support the derrick rig. An optional counterweight assembly can be connected to the front of the rig. The self-propelled derrick rig can be easily and quickly mounted to the base beam, and when mounted, the assembly will be able to withstand high hook loads and wind loading without the danger of the rig coming off of its wheels or falling over.

Abstract: Systems and methods for removing fluids from a subterranean well are described. An example embodiment includes a system having a well casing surrounding at least one inner tubing string, where the inner tubing string has a distal section and a proximal section, an apparatus for removing a first fluid within the distal section of the inner tubing string, and an apparatus for removing a second fluid within the proximal section of the inner tubing string.

Abstract: Coupling members for coupling an earth-boring drill tool to a drill string, drilling tools including a coupling member attached to a body of an earth-boring drill tool, methods for forming drilling tools including a coupling member, and methods for forming coupling members are disclosed. A coupling member may include a distal region comprising a first material composition and a proximal region comprising a second, different material composition. A drilling tool may include a body that is attached to a coupling member with a varied material composition for coupling the body to a drill string.

Abstract: A valve on an inner string can only be closed with multiple movements in opposed directions that occur after a predetermined force is held for a finite time. Holding the force against resistance eventually allows movement that arms the valve. A set down and pickup force will then close the valve. The surrounding string has a constriction that interacts with a j-slot to rotate a wedge with a first peak into alignment with a peak on a second wedge that can only translate against a spring bias. The second wedge is eccentrically linked to a ball that rotates between and open and a closed position.

Abstract: A perforating system having annular connectors for attachment between adjacent perforating guns and connectors. The connectors include male and female connectors with respective outer and inner contact surfaces. The connectors also include attachment for electrical detonators and/or booster charges for transferring ballistic detonations between the perforating gun and connector sub.

Abstract: Seals and sealing members are formed from a composition generally comprising a first elastomeric material and a second elastomeric material, wherein the second elastomeric material comprises a dispersion of nanosized particles disposed within a polymer matrix of the second elastomeric material. Preferred first and second elastomeric materials are fluoroelastomers, and preferred nanosized particles are fluoropolymers. The nanosized particles are sized less than about 100 nm. The composition comprises about 0.2 to 65 percent by weight of first elastomeric material, about 20 to 95 percent by weight of second elastomeric material, and about 10 to 90 percent by weight particles based on the total weight of the particles and the second elastomeric material. The composition can be used to form annular O-ring seals placed within rotary cone bits used for drilling subterranean formations, and can be used to form a selected portion of the seal or the entire seal.

Abstract: A sealing system includes a first gland in a cone and a second gland in a shaft region. A first ring is mounted in the first gland, a second ring is mounted in the second gland and a third ring is positioned between the first and second rings. The first and third rings present a pair of opposed metal seal faces. A biasing spring is configured to exert an axial force against the third ring so as to keep the metal seal faces in sealing contact. A third gland is formed between the second and third rings, with an o-ring sealing member installed within the third gland and compressed in a sealing relationship between the second and third rings. The third ring includes a sealing region supporting the metal seal face and a body region supporting the third gland, with the sealing region pivotally coupled to the body region.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus for reaming a borehole incorporates two sets of cutting structures into two integral blade stabilizers, one oriented downhole and the other oriented uphole. The cutting structures comprise polycrystalline diamond cutters that are brazed into a wedge of steel that is inserted into the body of the reamers in an axial direction and retained by a stop block and retention cover that is bolted into the reamer. The two integral blade stabilizers have a combination left hand/right hand blade wrapping to provide 360° support around the circumference of the reamer. Between the two stabilizers, an impeller and a flow accelerator agitate cuttings on the low side of the borehole to mix the cuttings in with the drilling mud.

Abstract: A cutting element for an earth-boring tool includes an elongated body having a longitudinal axis, a generally planar volume of hard material attached to the elongated body, and a sensor affixed to the elongated body. The sensor may be configured to sense at least one of stress and strain. An earth-boring tool includes a cutting element disposed at least partially within a pocket of a body. Methods of forming cutting elements comprise securing a generally planar volume of hard material to an elongated body, attaching a sensor to the elongated body, and configuring the sensor. Methods of forming earth-boring tools comprise forming a cutting element and securing the cutting element within a recess in a body of the earth-boring tool. Methods of forming wellbores comprise rotating an earth-boring tool comprising a cutting element and measuring at least one of stress and strain.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously stimulating at least a first and second zone of a subterranean formation that includes flowing a fluid through multiple flow rate restrictors, with a first restrictor located adjacent the first zone, a second restrictor located adjacent the second zone, and the first and second restrictors are connected in parallel. As at least one of the fluid properties changes, the flow rates of the fluid exiting the first and second restrictors are similar within a flow rate range, and allowing the fluid to stimulate at least the first and second zones. As at least one of the properties of the fluid changes, the pressure differential between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet increases and as the pressure differential increases, the flow rate of the fluid exiting the fluid outlet is maintained within the flow rate range.

Abstract: Cutting elements for earth-boring tools may comprise a substrate, a polycrystalline table comprising superhard material secured to the substrate at an end of the substrate, and a non-planar interface defined between the polycrystalline table and the substrate. The non-planar interface may comprise a cross-shaped groove extending into one of the substrate and the polycrystalline table and L-shaped grooves extending into the other of the substrate and the polycrystalline table proximate corners of the cross-shaped groove. Transitions between surfaces defining the non-planar interface may be rounded. Methods of forming cutting elements for earth-boring tools may comprise forming a substrate to have a non-planar end. The non-planar end of the substrate may be provided adjacent particles of superhard material to impart an inverse shape to the particles. The particles may be sintered to form a polycrystalline table, with a non-planar interface defined between the substrate and the polycrystalline table.

Abstract: A system for treating a subterranean zone (110) includes a downhole fluid heater (120) installed in a wellbore (114). Treatment fluid, oxidant, and fuel conduits (124a, 124b, and 124c) connect fuel, oxidant and treatment fluid sources (142a, 142band 142c) to the downhole fluid heater (120). A downhole fuel control valve (126c) is in communication with the fuel conduit (124c) and is configured to change flow to the downhole fluid heater (120) in response to a change of pressure in a portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: An expandable downhole tool apparatus includes a body adapted to be incorporated into a drill string and at least one working member moveable relative to the body between an inward deactivated position and an outwardly deployed activated position in order to engage the wall of a borehole. An activation device moves at least one working member between the inward deactivated position and outwardly deployed activated position. At least one passage is formed through the body and extends from a location on the body adjacent at least one working member to a location remote from the respective working member to enable debris accumulating underneath the respective working member to move along the passage and exit the body.

Abstract: A downhole tester valve (100) includes a housing assembly (106) and a mandrel assembly (172, 174) that define therebetween an operating fluid chamber (176), a biasing fluid chamber (184) and a power fluid chamber (180). A valve assembly (126) disposed within the housing assembly (106) is operable between open and closed positions. A piston assembly (146) is operably associated with the valve assembly (126) such that annulus pressure entering the power fluid chamber (180) pressurizes operating fluid in the operating fluid chamber (176) which acts on the piston assembly (146) to shift the valve assembly (126) from the closed position to the open position and such that predetermined travel of the piston assembly (146) opens a bypass passageway (162) for the pressurized operating fluid to charge biasing fluid in the biasing fluid chamber (184), thereby enabling closure of the valve assembly (126) upon reducing annulus pressure by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A wellhead seal assembly forms a metal-to-metal seal between inner and outer wellhead members. A metal seal ring has inner and outer walls separated by a slot. An energizing ring has a C-ring captured on its outer surface. When the energizing ring is moved further into the slot, the C-ring is forced from its pocket and engages a profile on the seal ring, locking the energizing ring to the seal assembly.

Abstract: A fracturing and gravel packing tool has features that prevent well swabbing when the tool is picked up with respect to a set isolation packer. An upper or multi-acting circulation valve allows switching between the squeeze and circulation positions without risk of closing the low bottom hole pressure ball valve. The multi-acting circulation valve can prevent fluid loss to the formation when being set down with the crossover tool supported or on the reciprocating set down device and the multi-acting circulation valve is closed without risk of closing the wash pipe valve.

Abstract: A downhole tool actuation system has a fluid path defined by a bore formed within a tubular body of a tool. A reciprocating sleeve is located within the bore and the sleeve has a segmented seat with a fluid by-pass. At least one seat segment is positioned by an outer diameter of the sleeve to complete the seat, and a relief is formed in a wall adjacent the outer diameter of the sleeve. When the seat is occupied by an obstruction, only a portion of the fluid path is obstructed and fluid impinging the obstruction causes the sleeve to move in the direction of flow until the at least one segment is relieved by the relief thereby releasing the obstruction.

Abstract: A magneto-optic sensor for oilfield application, the sensor (1, 1?, 101, 101?) receives an incident beam IB, IBA, IBB, IBC, IBD and comprises a polarizing element (3, 103) for providing a determined state of polarization beam and a Faraday rotator (4, 104) for providing a response beam having a modified state of polarization. The sensor provides a response beam (RB, RBA, RBB, RBC, RBD having an intensity dependent on an external magnetic field representative of a particular characteristic of a well-bore casing CC, CR applied on the Faraday rotator (4, 104).

Abstract: A tractor assembly is provided for downhole advancement in a well. The assembly comprises an uphole tractor and a downhole tractor. Each tractor in turn comprises uphole and downhole housings to accommodate uphole and downhole anchors with the anchors configured for interchangeably engaging a wall of the well. Additionally, a hydraulically driven piston is disposed through each of the housings of each tractor for actuation of the engaging.