Abstract: A magnetic assembly is used in wells that are lined with a metal casing so as to attract and collect resulting metal debris after perforation of the metal casing by a perforating tool. When the perforating tool was activated in the past, the metal debris typically fell downward inside of the metal casing and needed to be retrieved by a flushing or similar procedure. The present invention involves attaching a magnetic assembly to the bottom end of the perforator tool to collect the metal debris as it falls after perforation of the metal casing. The magnetic assembly includes a steel pipe filled with spaced magnetic discs, and also includes a guide shoe on one end of the pipe and a thread adaptor on the other end. The guide shoe facilitates insertion of the magnetic assembly into the mouth of the well casing, and centres the assembly once inside. The thread adaptor is used to attach the magnetic assembly to the bottom end of the perforator tool.

Abstract: A system for pumping high gas-to-liquid ratio well fluids. The system includes a submersible pumping system having a submersible motor and a submersible pump driven by the motor. The system further includes deployment tubing, such as production tubing or coiled tubing, through which wellbore fluid is produced. A bypass is connected into the system to conduct a portion of the wellbore fluid intaken by the submersible pumping system to a position upstream of the pump intake. Because this recirculated fluid has a lower gas-to-liquid ratio and a lower viscosity, its reintroduction into the new wellbore fluid promotes efficiency of pumping and decreased wear on pumping system components.

Abstract: A roller for use in a spinner apparatus for installing a pipe segment in a well pipe including a core member having a central aperture, and a plurality of annular members arranged in stacked relation over the core member. The plurality of annular members are secured together. The core member includes a generally tubular section having a first end and a second end, and a flange section extending radially outwardly of the tubular section between the first and second ends. The flange section has a greater diameter than the tubular section. The flange section includes a plurality of holes formed therein. Each of the annular members has a plurality of holes formed therein. The holes of the annular member are aligned with the holes of the flange section. Fasteners extending through the holes in the flange section and the plurality of annular members. A first cap member is positioned at one end of the plurality of annular members.

Abstract: The present invention, in certain embodiments, discloses a method for moving a conduit, e.g. a cable, in certain wellbore operations, the method, in certain aspects, including a method for introducing cable into a wellbore, the method including providing wellbore cable through a pressure control device to a capstan drive system above an earth wellbore, and pulling the wellbore cable through the pressure control device with the capstan drive system.

Abstract: In a broad aspect, the present invention is a downhole hydraulic multiplexer, which is comprised of one or more piloted shuttle valves, and method of using. The invention takes one or more input signals from a surface control panel or computer, said signals may be electric or hydraulic, and converts said signals into a plurality of pressurized hydraulic output channels. The invention is shown in a variety of preferred embodiments, including a tubing deployed version, a wireline retrievable version, and a version residing in the wall of a downhole completion tool. Also disclosed is the use of multiple shuttle valves used in parallel or in series to embody a downhole hydraulic fluid multiplexer, controllable by and reporting positions of said shuttle valves to said surface control panel or computer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to reverse-cementing apparatus. The reverse-cementing apparatus is a float apparatus connected in a pipe string to be cemented into a wellbore. The float apparatus includes an outer housing connected to the casing string. A check valve for preventing flow from the wellbore into the pipe string is disposed in the housing. The check valve is releasably disposed in the housing so that it can be removed from the housing once the pipe string is in place. A flow path for fluid from the wellbore into the pipe string is therefore provided. Cement displaced into the annulus will cause fluid in the wellbore to enter the pipe string through the housing so that the pipe string can be cemented in place utilizing a reverse-cementing method.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for providing a top entry electrical connection from a bottom location in the mandrel comprised of cylindrically shaped parts (119a-119g) connected end to end to form an elongated housing having an offset full opening bore where said housing has 1) a laterally offset upper recess (167) in communication with the full opening bore for receiving a well tool (117) moved laterally from the full opening bore, 2) a lower laterally offset pocket bore (125a, 125b) for receiving the well tool, 3) a laterally offset lower recess (127), 4) at least one laterally offset, longitudinally extending and separately located pipe bore (140) extending alongside of the offset pocket bore for connecting the upper recess to the lower recess, and 5) at least one outlet bore (168) extending between the upper recess and the housing's exterior.

Abstract: A milling roller module for a surface miner, includes a milling roller operating with undershot for loosening the material from the block being mined, a support frame for fastening the milling roller to the surface miner, and a takeup chute for supporting the intermediate conveying of the loosened material in the area of the milling roller and for transferring the material to the downstream discharge belt in a specific manner. The drives are placed into the milling roller and the feed lines are led into the milling roller together with the support frame for fastening the milling roller from the side in the upper third of the milling roller diameter. As a result, it is possible to perform mining operations up to a cutting depth that is equal to half the roller diameter. A takeup chute is provided to transfer the material from the milling roller onto the downstream discharge belt in a specific manner.

Abstract: A drill bit has a plurality of cemented carbide buttons embedded in a front end of the drill body. Each button includes a cemented carbide body having a rear mounting portion embedded in the drill body, and a symmetrically shaped crushing end protruding from the drill body. The buttons are oriented at a first acute angle of from about 35° to about 55° relative to the rotational center axis of the drill bit. The crushing end of the button includes at least one annular groove defining axially spaced local maximum points at each side of the groove. An imaginary line touching the maximum points defining a second acute angle relative to the center line of the button. The second angle is smaller than the first acute angle.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a first zone through a wellbore while simultaneously injecting gas into a second zone through the same wellbore. The production stream is produced to the surface through a string of tubing where gas is separated therefrom. The separated gas and/or gas from another source is then mixed with a carrier fluid (e.g. produced water, etc.) to form a mixture which, in turn, is pumped down the well annulus and through a downhole separator (e.g. an inverted hydrocyclone) where at least a portion of the gas is separated from the mixture. The separated gas is injected into the second zone while the remaining mixture is commingled with the production stream before the combined streams flow to the surface through the tubing.

Abstract: In a broad aspect, the invention may include a nipple, a deflector, and a conveying tool. The nipple may include an upper sealing surface and a lower sealing surface. The nipple may also include a discriminator/muleshoe having an alignment profile and an alignment slot. A protuberance/bump may be disposed in the alignment slot. The deflector may include an upper seal and a lower seal adapted for engagement with the upper and lower sealing surfaces, respectively, on the nipple. When the upper and lower seals are engaged with the upper and lower sealing surfaces, fluid circulation is substantially restricted thereby resulting in a increase in pressure that is detectable at the earth's surface. This pressure increase provides a signal that the deflector is properly positioned in the nipple. The conveying tool may include a flexible arm having a latching finger that is releasably engageable with a latching profile in the deflector. The latching profile may be on an inclined, concave surface of a whipstock.

Abstract: A system and method for perforating and gravel packing a wellbore casing in a single trip into the wellbore comprising a gravel packer assembly having a production screen and at least one packer. A perforating apparatus connected to the gravel packer assembly, wherein the perforating apparatus is detachable from the gravel packer assembly after the system is placed in the wellbore and before a detonation of the perforating apparatus. A tool having at least one casing engaging slip segment, wherein the tool is matable with the perforating apparatus and is settable in the wellbore casing.

Abstract: A cutting element for use in drilling subterranean formations. The cutting element includes a superabrasive table mounted to a supporting substrate. The superabrasive table includes a two-dimensional cutting face having a cutting edge along at least a portion of its periphery, and a first surface extending forwardly and inwardly from a location radially interior of the cutting edge at a first angle of orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the cutting element. The cutting face also includes at least a second surface located between the first surface and the cutting edge and oriented at a different, greater angle to the longitudinal axis than the angle of orientation of the first surface.

Abstract: A thermal compensating apparatus and method for maintaining a substantially constant fluid pressure within a subterranean well tool of the type that includes a bladder that is selectively expandable upon the introduction of pressurized actuation fluid for actuating said tool at a location in a well. A multi-stage piston is movable in a housing. The piston includes a first surface in contact with the actuating fluid and a plurality of second surfaces in contact with well fluid surrounding the apparatus. The combined surface areas of the second surfaces are greater than the surface area of the first surface, so that expansion or contraction changes in the volume of the actuating fluid caused by temperature changes in the vicinity of the tool will result in movement of the piston for maintaining the actuating fluid at a relatively constant pressure.

Abstract: A downhole cutting separator is disclosed. The separator can be mounted anywhere on the drillstring. The separator employs a seal which directs the normally circulating fluid during the cutting or milling operation in through an internal passage in the tool. The cutting-laden fluid passes through a slotted liner where the cuttings drop out and are collected in a compartment within the tool. The circulating fluid exits the tool into the annulus. The tools can be used in series so that the lowermost tool takes out the large cuttings, while an upper tool takes out finer cuttings. Provisions can be made to bypass the tool should it become plugged with cuttings by using rupture discs or movable sleeves responsive to pressure differential. A portion of the body assembly can be magnetic to further assist in removal of cuttings as the circulating flow passes through the tool.

Abstract: A cutting structure for a rotary drag-type drill bit includes a cutting element mounted on a member on the bit body, which may be a carrier secured to the bit body or part of the bit body itself. The surface of the member on which the cutting element is mounted is formed with a groove, adjacent the cutting element. The downstream end of the groove is located near a nozzle in the bit body through which a jet of drilling fluid emerges, so that the groove directs to the front of the cutting element the flow of drilling fluid which impinges on the groove. An array of separate grooves may lead from the nozzle to different cutting elements. The flow of drilling fluid directed towards each cutting element serves to break up cuttings removed from the formation by the cutting element and to carry the cuttings away from the element.

Abstract: A process for the enhanced recovery of oil with the injection of treated water is described, the process comprising the previous and controlled precipitation of the precursor chemical species present in the injection water or sea water and formation or produced water, followed by the withdrawal of such species by filtration. The resulting treated water shows low amounts of precursor ions and is perfectly suited for use as injection water in secondary oil recovery processes. In view of the fact that the process uses huge amounts of produced water, it is of deep environmental interest since it avoids discarding into the marine environment the produced water which is high in brine content. The equipment used are simple and of low cost.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for perforating and stimulating a subterranean formation which is penetrated by a well bore having casing positioned therein so as to establish fluid communication between the formation and the well bore. Substantially rigid, flexible, or liquid propellant is interposed between the casing and at least one shaped charge in a subterranean well bore and is ignited due to the shock, heat and/or pressure generated from the detonated charge. Upon burning, the propellant material generates gases which clean perforations formed in the formation by detonation of the shaped charge(s) and which extend fluid communication between the formation and the well bore.

Abstract: The steel drill string attached to a drilling bit during typical rotary drilling operations used to drill oil and gas wells is used for the second purpose as the casing that is permanently installed in the wellbore for the final completion of oil and gas wells. The rotary drill bit is attached to the drill string, the well drilled, and the well is completed leaving the drill bit attached to the drill string to make a steel cased well. The steel coiled tubing attached to a coiled tubing conveyed mud motor driven rotary drill bit is used to drill oil and gas wells that is used for a second purpose as the tubing that is permanently installed in the wellbore to make a tubing encased well for the final completion of oil and gas wells.

Abstract: An inflatable packing device for use in a subterranean well provides a sophisticated bladder, either alone or in combination with a sophisticated cover, which results in a uniform expansion profile and exceptionally low angles of expansion propagation during inflation of the bladder to set the device, whereby well fluids between the wall of the well bore and the exterior of the cover of the device are swept away from the area of subsequent sealing of the cover. The propensity for rib kinking and rib cutting, pinching, folding, cracking and tearing of the bladder during inflation are eliminated. Correspondingly, reduced stresses and strains in cover segments combined with near ideal inflation profiles result in enhanced expansion propagation of the inflation element and improved service performance and reliability of the downhole device.