Abstract: A well configuration and method of increasing production from a hydrocarbon well having pre-existing production tube. A composite velocity string having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the production tube is installed in the production tube so that an annular gap is formed between the outer surface of the velocity string and the inner surface of the production tube. Production from the well is increased because the coefficient of fluid flow friction through the composite velocity string, and the amount of heat loss through the composite velocity string, are reduced compared to a steel velocity string. Installation efficiency is also increased because the composite velocity string is much lighter than a steel velocity string.

Abstract: A progressive cavity pump pumps liquid downhole to a lower formation past a packer set in a casing of a wellbore. The rotor of the pump is axially restrained by a bearing assembly spaced below the pump for controlling uphole reactive loading on the rotor. Preferably the rotor is releasably coupled to the bearing assembly for release and recovery of the rotor from the bearing assembly. Such a releasable coupling is a latch comprising a plunger telescopically and releasably coupled with a housing using a dog and track arrangement, the dog and track utilizing the telescoping action to actuate the coupling and releasing of the latch.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a directional apparatus is disclosed for orienting and maintaining a desired orientation of a drill bit, which will be attachable to a drill string and include an asymmetrically weighted outer sleeve that is susceptible to the earth's gravity in such fashion that the side of the sleeve having a higher specific gravity will be “down” when the directional apparatus is in a segment of non-vertical wellbore. A clutch is included for transmitting a desired amount of rotational energy from a rotating drill string to a drill assembly containing the drill bit. Sensors in the sleeve and/or other elements of the apparatus detect the orientation, which may be stored in memory. The apparatus may also include one or more anti-rotational elements.

Abstract: Self relieving seals of this invention comprise an elastomeric seal body having a first sealing surface and a second sealing surface for contact with respective drill bit sealing surfaces. The seal includes a pair of external surfaces that each extend along the seal body between the first and second sealing surfaces. The seal includes one or more relief ports that are disposed through the seal body and that have openings through each of the seal body external surfaces. The relief port can be specially configured, e.g., have different diameter sections of constant or variable dimensions, to provide a degree of control over pressure equalization through the seal body when the seal is loaded within the drill bit. The seal may include an element, e.g., solid, tubular, or porous, disposed within the relief port to provide a further desired degree of control over pressure equalization through the seal when the seal is loaded within the drill bit.

Abstract: A filter system for filtering drill bit cuttings, shavings, and other abrasive articles from a drilling mud that is passed through an oil or gas well drilling system is provided that includes an overhead drilling system, a drill string connected to the overhead drilling system, and a mud filter for filtering the drilling mud, wherein the mud filter is disposed within a drilling mud fluid passageway that extends from the entry point of the drilling mud into the overhead drilling system and the entry point of the drilling mud into the drill string.

Abstract: A method of installing a liner in a drilled bore below a section of bore previously lined with casing comprises the steps of: running a length of liner into the bore such that at least an upper end of the liner is positioned in overlapping relation with at least a lower end of the casing; and plastically deforming a portion of the liner such that an external face of the portion forms an interference fit with an internal face of a portion of the casing. The interference fit preferably provides both hanging support for the liner and a fluid-tight seal between the liner and casing.

Abstract: A drilling rig is provided which is adapted to selectively drill using coiled tubing and jointed-pipe. The rig includes a base, a mast, a top drive slidably mounted to said mast for performing jointed-pipe operations, and a tubing injector for performing coiled tubing operations, mounted on said mast for selective movement from a first position in which the injector is in line with the mast and a second position in which the injector is out of line with the mast to permit jointed-pipe operations by the top drive. The rig is uniquely suited to easily and quickly assemble bottom hole assemblies (BHA's), and to connect such BHA's to coiled tubing.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a borehole into an earth formation is provided. The drill bit has a central longitudinal axis and a bottom surface facing the borehole bottom during drilling with the drill bit, and comprises primary fluid injection means arranged at the bottom surface and located at a selected radial distance from the central longitudinal axis, the primary fluid injection means being arranged to eject a primary stream of fluid into the borehole, the primary stream having a component in a transverse plane of the drill bit, directed from the fluid injection means to the central longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to pumping engineering, mainly to downhole jet production units. The inventive downhole jet unit comprises a packer, a pipe column and a jet pump. An active nozzle is embodied in the body of the jet pump, and a pass channel provided with a mounting face for a sealing assembly with an axial channel is embodied therein. Said unit is also provided with an irradiator and a receiver transformer of physical fields which are mounted on a cable. The output of the jet pump is connected to a space around the pipe column. The input of a channel for feeding the pumped out medium of the jet pump is connected to the internal space of the pipe column below the sealing assembly. The input of a channel supplying a working medium to the active nozzle is connected to the internal space of the pipe column above the sealing assembly. The invention makes it possible to optimise dimensions of various elements of the unit, thereby increasing the operating reliability of the downhole jet unit.

Abstract: A drilling method in which a rotary drill bit is mounted on a tubular drillstring extending through a bore comprises: drilling through a formation containing fluid at a predetermined pressure; circulating drilling fluid down through the drill string to exit the string at or adjacent the bit, and then upwards through an annulus between the string and bore wall; and adding energy to the drilling fluid in the annulus at a location above the formation. The addition of energy to the fluid in the annulus has the effect that the pressure of the drilling fluid above the formation may be higher than the pressure of the drilling fluid in communication with the formation and that predetermined differential may be created between the pressure of the formation fluid and the pressure of the drilling fluid in communication with the formation.

Abstract: A drill bit consists of a bit body having a forward end and a slot in the forward end to hold a hardened cutting blade. The blade has a central slot extending into the forward end thereof such that the slot defines inner side wails and a bridge extending between the inner side walls. A protrusion along the leading face of each of the cutting sides of the blade with each protrusion extending to the forward edge extends the length of the cutting edges and by distributing the load along a greater length reduces the stress to the cutting edge. Protrusions along the trailing face of the blade also extern to the cutting edge and increase the strength of the blade.

Abstract: Devices and methods for fluid flow control within a production tubing string wherein a temporary flow blockage is established and selectively removed from the tubing string so that pressure testing or operation of a hydraulic tool within the string may be performed. A flow control device includes a housing that defines a flowbore therethrough with a restricted diameter portion. The restricted diameter portion presents a seating surface for a plug member and is provided by an annular shell that is shaped to project convexly inwardly. The shell may be fashioned of metal, elastomer or another suitable material, and it is capable of yielding to permit passage of a plug member upon application of a suitably great amount of fluid pressure. In operation, a plugging member is dropped in to the tubing string from the surface of the well and seats upon the seating surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and methods for completing a wellbore using expandable tubulars. Particularly, the invention relates to a system of completing a wellbore through the expansion of tubulars. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to the concurrent expansion of a first and second tubular, wherein the first tubular contains a polished bore receptacle configured to sealingly receive a portion of the second tubular thereby providing a sealable connection therebetween.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an apparatus and method for removing hydrocarbons and other material from a wellbore. In one aspect, a method of drilling a sub-sea wellbore is provided. The method includes circulating a drilling fluid through a drill string from a surface of the sea to a drill bit in the wellbore. The method further includes pumping the fluid and drill cuttings from the sea floor to the surface with a multiphase pump having at least two plungers operating in a predetermined phase relationship. In another aspect, a fluid separator system having a first and a second plunger assembly is provided. The fluid separator system includes at least one fluid line for removing a fluid portion from the at least one plunger assembly and at least one gas line for removing gas from the first and a second plunger assembly.

Abstract: A submersible pumping system is provided for the movement of fluids. The system utilizes a first electric submersible pumping system that cooperates with a second electric submersible pumping system. The arrangement enables increased horsepower in a space efficient package.

Abstract: A long lasting rotary drill bit for drilling a hole into variable hardness geological formations that has a self-actuating mechanism responsive to the hardness of the geological formation to minimize the time necessary to drill a borehole. A long lasting rotary drill bit for drilling a hole into variable hardness geological formations that has a mechanism controllable from the surface of the earth to change the mechanical configuration of the bit to minimize the time necessary to drill a borehole. A monolithic long lasting rotary drill bit for drilling a hole into a geological formation having hardened rods composed of hard material such as tungsten carbide that are cast into a relatively soft steel matrix material to make a rotary drill bit that compensates for wear on the bottom of the drill bit and that also compensates for lateral wear of the drill bit using passive, self-actuating mechanisms, triggered by bit wear to drill relatively constant diameter holes.

Abstract: A pipe severing tool is arranged to align a plurality of high explosive pellets along a unitizing support structure whereby all explosive pellets are inserted within or extracted from a tubular housing as a singular unit. Electrically initiated exploding wire detonators (EBW) are positioned at opposite ends of the tubular housing for simultaneous detonation by a capacitive firing device. The housing assembly includes a detachable bottom nose that permits the tool to be armed and disarmed without disconnecting the detonation circuitry. Because the tool is not sensitive to stray electrical fields, it may be transported, loaded and unloaded with the EBW detonators in place and connected.

Abstract: A method and a computer program for controlling a drilling cycle in a rock drilling apparatus, and a rock drilling apparatus. In accordance with the invention, each drilling unit in the rock drilling apparatus is monitored during a drilling period, and a drilling sequence of a control unit in the rock drilling apparatus is updated at predetermined intervals during the drilling period. The total time of the drilling and the time elapsed for different operations can be registered. In addition, according to an embodiment, the drilling sequence is changed during updating, if changes occur in the drilling conditions during the drilling period.

Abstract: Devices and methods are described for establishing an effective annular seal about between an active pressure differential device and a surrounding wellbore sidewall. In other aspects, the invention provides a means of selectively activating such a seal during drilling operations or other operations wherein drilling mud is flowed through the drill string and returns through the annulus. The annular seal assembly may include an inflatable packer element and a hydraulic inflation system. The hydraulic inflation system uses the fluid pressure provided by drilling mud that is returning to the surface via the annulus to inflate the packer element and set the seal. The hydraulic inflation system also buffers and regulates the fluid pressure setting the packer element to avoid overinflation of the element. In other aspects, the seal assembly may comprise a set of mud cups that are set against the borehole sidewall using a pressure differential across the seal assembly or a spring-biased seal element.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a well pressure activated pack off head comprising a hollow body formed for coaxial connection to the wellhead which provides for unobstructed passage of a data transmitting wireline therethrough. Disposed coaxially within the hollow body is a pack off rubber with a passage formed along its longitudinal axis for passage of a data transmitting wireline. Located below the pack off rubber is a piston in pressure communication with the wellbore. High pressure inside of the wellbore squeezes the piston against the pack off rubber and compresses it tightly around the wireline. A pressure seal is formed between the pack off rubber and the wireline when the pack off rubber is sufficiently compressed by the piston.