Abstract: Back pressure control devices used to control fluid pressure in a wellbore require various utilities for operation, such as an air supply. With the use of an air supply, the continued operation of one or more back pressure control devices may be achieved when supply of utilities for operation of the back pressure control devices are intentionally or unintentionally interrupted.

Abstract: A system and method for lifting reservoir fluids from reservoir to surface through a wellbore having a first tubing string extending through a packer in a wellbore casing. The system includes a bi-flow connector in the first tubing string, a second tubing string in the first tubing string below the bi-flow connector, and a third tubing string in the first tubing string above and connected with the bi-flow connector. A fluid displacement device in the third tubing string is configured to move reservoir fluids to the surface. The first tubing string allows pressured gas to move from the surface through the bi-flow connector to commingle with and lift reservoir fluids through annuli defined by the first and second tubing strings and defined by the casing and the first tubing string. The bi-flow connector is configured to allow simultaneous and non-contacting flow of the downward pressured gas and lifted reservoir fluid.

Abstract: An improved gripper shoe for a coiled tubing injector having a gripper shoe having a plurality of arcuate gripper elements spaced apart at predetermined intervals, a gripper carrier having a base having an upper surface and a lower surface, a first wall and a second wall located on the upper surface of the base, a mechanism for securing the gripper carrier to a continuous chain of a coiled tube injector located on the lower surface of the gripper assembly, and a mechanism for securing the gripper shoe to the gripper carrier, such that the gripper shoe is securely received by, and releasable from, the gripper carrier.

Abstract: A flexible milling assembly for milling an orifice through a well casing. The milling assembly can include a drive yoke, and a plurality of straight and split yoke assemblies—all linked together and to a cutter head with universal blocks that enable the components to pivot relative to each other. A string of joint tubing connected to a prime mover on the surface is used to lower the milling assembly into a well and supply the driving torque. A split shoe coupled to a guide tube is positioned within the well casing where the orifice is to be milled. The milling assembly is guided through a curved passage within the split shoe to bring the cutter head into contact with the well casing. A protector assembly can be provided to enclose and protect the milling assembly when it is tripping into and out of the well casing.

Abstract: In one aspect, a drill bit is disclosed that in one embodiment may include a bit body, a rotating cutter on the bit body, and a metallic seal between the bit body and the rotating cutter that includes a first seal member, a second seal member having a first end in sealing contact with the first seal member, a second end fixed relative to the first end and a bias member between the first end and the second end that adjusts the load on the first seal member in response to external load applied on the drill bit.

Abstract: A pump collects waste fluid and debris from the drilling of a borehole in a mine and for disposing of the waste fluid in a controlled manner. The pump collects the waste fluid into the pump housing through a grate. The pump also includes a centrally located hole which allows a drilling shaft to pass through the body of the pump. The pump further includes a funnel-shaped collar for collecting waste fluid that is dispersed from the mine borehole. A drill head may be attached to the pump for powering the drilling shaft, and for powering an impeller within the pump.

Abstract: A cutter assembly includes a substrate and at least one island. The substrate includes a surface circumscribed by a peripheral edge, a flank surface extending from the peripheral edge, and at least one pocket with an opening on the surface and spaced apart from the peripheral edge. The at least one pocket extends from the opening towards an interior of the substrate. The at least one island is in the at least one pocket, and the at least one island includes a cutting surface that is exposed by the opening of the at least one pocket.

Abstract: A tool assembly including an equalization valve allowing for continuous equalization of pressure above and below a sealing element includes a housing having a fluid passageway that is fluidically continuous across a sealing element disposed on a mandrel. The mandrel is part of a sealing assembly that contains the sealing element. The equalization valve includes a valve plug moveable from an open to a seated position wherein the valve plug is seated against the sealing mandrel. The valve plug defines a conduit that provides minimal fluid flow across the sealing element when the valve plug is seated against the sealing mandrel. The equalization valve further includes an outer port for permitting lateral flow of fluid from the tubing string to the annulus defined between the tubing string and the wellbore. The equalization valve may be part of a downhole tool assembly which includes the equalization valve and a sealing assembly.

Abstract: A wireline extension assembly includes a first tubing string housing a wireline extension electrically interconnecting wet connects at the upper and lower ends of the first string, with the lower wet connect being electrically connected to a downhole tool. The assembly is pushed into the horizontal leg of a deviated wellbore by forming a second tubing string extending upward from the upper end of the first string, thereby positioning the tool within the horizontal leg while leaving the upper wet connect disposed within the vertical leg. A primary wireline is then run from a surface wireline unit into the upper string and connected to the upper wet connect, thus providing electrical power, data communication, and/or other facilities to the tool. The tool can be repositioned within the horizontal leg by withdrawing the primary wireline, removing or upper string tubing sections, and then reinstalling the primary wireline.

Abstract: An apparatus and method conducting downhole measurement operations in a borehole penetrating an earth formation. The apparatus may include a module configured to be conveyed in a borehole and to receive at least one device. The module may receive the device internally or in one or more recessed areas. A housing with at least one opening may encompass the exterior of the module. The apparatus may have a first position that allows access to the module through the at least one opening, and a second position that isolates the module from the exterior of the housing. The method may include conducting downhole measurement related operations using the apparatus. The method may include moving the housing and module between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: An assembly to be run within a well tubular includes a first fluid controller in a first section of the tubular and a second fluid controller in a second section of the well tubular. The assembly includes a set of packers for sealing of the space between the well tubular and a well bore surface of the well. The set-of packers are positioned such that a part of the well tubular having both the first fluid controller and the second fluid controller is located between the set of packers. The first fluid controller is configured to selectively block fluid flow from the interior of the well tubular to the space between the well tubular and the well bore surface. The second fluid controller is configured to selectively block fluid flow.

Abstract: A modular ball drop made up of two or more identical ball drop modules that are vertically stacked in a desired number. Each ball drop module can drop one or more frac balls into a fluid stream being pumped into a well.

Abstract: An apparatus for activating or cleaning filter tube wells with a filter tube includes a first and second volume bodies, which are substantially adapted to the inside diameter of the filter tube and on the outer circumferential surfaces thereof are designed radially flexibly with respect to the well longitudinal axis such that a sealing effect is achieved between the outer circumferential surfaces of the respective volume bodies and the inside wall of the filter tube. A removal chamber, which can be hydraulically connected to a pump device, is formed between the first and second volume bodies and the inside wall of the filter tube. At least one equalizing tube completely penetrates the removal chamber in the longitudinal direction of the apparatus such that a hydraulic connection is established between the respective regions that adjoin the outer faces of the two volume bodies disposed opposite of the removal chamber.

Abstract: A well drilling sub has a body with a threaded upper end for connection into a drill pipe string and a threaded lower end for connection and rotation with an earth boring bit. An axial passage in the body conveys drilling fluid to an outlet in the earth boring bit. Diverting nozzles in the body are in fluid communication with the axial passage. Each nozzle diverts and discharges a portion of the drilling fluid being pumped down the axial passage. Each diverting nozzle has a nozzle axis that points upward and outward and also at a oblique angle. The oblique angle lags a radial plane considering a direction of rotation of the body.

Abstract: A method includes inserting a vibration damper tool in a drill string, the damper includes a tubular housing having an exterior surface and a longitudinal passageway, and at least one fluid actuated piston assembly. The piston assembly includes an extendable piston, a transverse passageway, a spring chamber in the transverse passageway, and at least one spring disposed in the spring chamber. The spring biases the piston in a refracted position. The drill string and dampening tool are inserted into a wellbore, fluid is flowed down the drill string and exerts pressure on a proximal end of the piston, and creates a fluidic force sufficient to overcome a biasing retractable force of the spring to extend the piston longitudinally until a distal end of the piston contacts a sidewall of the wellbore.

Abstract: A well completion method provides for monitoring of reservoir pressure and saturation levels for two reservoirs from a single monitoring well. The well completion extends vertically through an upper and a lower reservoir. The well is cased, cemented, and perforated across the lower reservoir. A cement free zone is formed by cementing the casing string within the wellbore above an external casing packer above the upper reservoir. The casing string is perforated to allow fluid from the upper reservoir to flow through the cement free zone. A tubing string is landed and set within the casing string. The tubing string is sealed above and below the perforation at the cement free zone to prevent communication between fluid from the upper reservoir and the lower reservoir. The upper reservoir is monitored at the cement free zone, and the lower reservoir is monitored below an end of the tubing string.

Abstract: A cartridge-type wellbore screen includes a fluid tracing material carried by the wellbore tubular and mounted at a mounting site spaced from an opening through the screen wall to the screen's inner diameter and outwardly of the inner diameter, the mounting site being positioned such that a fluid flow path is restricted to be from the mounting site, along the outer surface of the screen and through the opening before entering the inner diameter. The screen can be used for treating wellbore fluids.

Abstract: A method for preventing damage to a downhole pump impeller of a downhole pump includes setting a rotatable part of a downhole pump to a selected depth, monitoring the depth of the rotatable part, determining that the depth of the rotatable part has significantly changed, and taking a corrective action to return the depth of the rotatable part to said selected depth in order to prevent damage to an impeller that is liable to be caused by a change in depth of the rotatable part. The downhole pump further has a line shaft, an impeller engaged with the line shaft for pressurizing fluid to be extracted from a well, and monitoring apparatus for monitoring the depth of a distal end of the line shaft in order to prevent damage to the impeller that is liable to be caused by a change in depth of the distal end.

Abstract: An assembly to be run within a well tubular includes a first fluid controller in a first section of the tubular and a second fluid controller in a second section of the well tubular. The assembly includes a set of packers for sealing of the space between the well tubular and a well bore surface of the well. The set-of packers are positioned such that a part of the well tubular having both the first fluid controller and the second fluid controller is located between the set of packers. The first fluid controller is configured to selectively block fluid flow from the interior of the well tubular to the space between the well tubular and the well bore surface. The second fluid controller is configured to selectively block fluid flow.

Abstract: Tunable down-hole stimulation arrays feature closed-loop control of spatial arrays comprising several connected stimulators. Each stimulator is responsive to a timed activation signal. Stimulators periodically transmit bursts comprising a plurality of vibration frequencies, each burst having an adjustable power spectral density (PSD) that is tunable via an adjustable rebound cycle time. Rebound cycle times also affect vibration interference among array stimulators, while simultaneous or sequential timed activation signals from a programmable controller affect directional propagation of combined vibration wave fronts from an array. Stimulator PSD's are adjusted for resonance excitation and fracturing of adjacent geologic materials. Closed-loop feedback control incorporates backscatter vibration from stimulated geologic material. As fracturing proceeds to smaller (proppant-sized) fragments having higher resonant frequencies, PSD's are up-shifted, increasing relative power in higher vibration frequencies.