Abstract: It may be desirable to join two surfaces of a roadway using a dowel bar retrofit. Various embodiments contemplate creating a cavity for a dowel bar using a cutting head to create a cavity with scalloped walls. The system and methods may provide for an improved structural joint.

Abstract: A method is for isolation of a permeable zone in a subterranean well, wherein the well is provided with a pipe body. The method comprises lowering a perforation tool into the pipe body; forming holes in the pipe body along a longitudinal section; pumping a flushing fluid out through outlets in a flushing tool, into the pipe body and further out into an annulus; pumping a fluidized plugging material out through the flushing tool, into the pipe body and further out into the annulus; placing the fluidized plugging material along the longitudinal section so as to form a plug across the cross section of the well, whereby the plug fills the pipe body and the annulus; wherein at least one outlet in the flushing tool is angled non-perpendicularly relative to a longitudinal axis of the flushing tool, whereby a corresponding discharge jet also will be non-perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A drill stem safety valve actuator that eliminates the need for a hydraulic union. The actuator can include a mounting sleeve that can be affixed to the valve, that can further have a pinion gear that can rotate a ball valve. The actuator can include a rack sleeve slidably disposed on the mounting sleeve, having a rack configured to engage the pinion wherein sliding the rack sleeve linearly along the length of the mounting sleeve rotates the pinion, thus, the ball valve.

Abstract: A directional drilling sub comprises a housing, a coupling mechanism arranged within the housing, and a tilt drive shaft extending within the housing and has a first end coupled to the coupling mechanism and a second end coupled to a drill bit. The sub further comprises an upper eccentric assembly arranged within the housing to support the tilt drive shaft at the first end which includes an upper inner eccentric ring nested within an upper outer eccentric ring and a lower eccentric assembly arranged within the housing to support the tilt drive shaft at the second end which includes a lower inner eccentric ring nested within a lower outer eccentric ring, wherein rotational movement of at least one of the upper and lower inner or outer eccentric rings tilts the tilt drive shaft within the housing and thereby alters an azimuthal tool face orientation of the drill bit.

Abstract: The microstructure of braze joints in polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) cutters may be tailored to increase the shear strength of the braze joint, for example, by increasing the amount of a dispersed particulate microstructure therein. A method for forming a dispersed particulate microstructure may include brazing a polycrystalline diamond table to a hard composite substrate with a braze alloy at a braze temperature between 5° C. above a solidus temperature of the braze alloy and 200° C. above a liquidus temperature of the braze alloy; and forming a braze joint between the polycrystalline diamond table and the hard composite substrate that comprises at least 40% by volume of the dispersed particulate microstructure composed of a particulate inter-metallic phase having a diameter of 0.5 ?m to 2.0 ?m and an aspect ratio of 1 to 5 dispersed in a ductile matrix.

Abstract: In some aspects, injection fluid is flowed into a closed wellbore in a subterranean region. Wellbore pressure in response to flowing the injection fluid into the closed wellbore is measured. A plot representing a wellbore pressure in response to cumulative injection fluid volumes is substantially linear is determined. After determining the plot is linear, a first injection fluid pressure measured in response to flowing the injection fluid deviates from the substantially linear plot by a first variance greater than a threshold variance is determined. A second injection fluid pressure measured in response to flowing the injection fluid deviates from the substantially linear plot by a second variance greater than the threshold variance is determined. In response to the above two determinations, flow of injection fluid into the closed wellbore is stopped.

Abstract: A coiled tubing system includes a first section of coiled tubing, a second section of coiled tubing, a first insert assembly attached at an end of the first section of coiled tubing, a second insert assembly attached at an end of the second section of coiled tubing, and a connector disposed between the first and second sections of coiled tubing and removably coupled to the first and second insert assemblies. A portion of the connector is configured to pivot with respect to a longitudinal axis of the connector.

Abstract: A milling tool includes a cutting insert coupled to a movable blade. The movable blade may change from a retracted to an expanded state to engage and cut downhole casing. A cutout initiation region of the movable blade makes contact with the downhole casing, and cutting inserts with turning portions designed to cut in a turning manner may be located in the cutout initiation region. Cutting inserts with milling portions designed to cut in a face-milling manner may be located outside the cutout initiation region. Some cutting inserts may include both turning portions and milling portions.

Abstract: An extendable drilling tool, the extendable tool moving in a drilling direction and including a body with a longitudinal axis and at least one arm that is mobile relative to the body in a direction of movement that forms a first angle with the longitudinal axis that is non-zero, less than 45°, and open upstream according to the direction of drilling. The extendable tool includes a piston that is mobile in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, the piston being located downstream according to the direction of drilling relative to the arm, the piston including at least one bearing surface that works with at least one arm and that forms with the longitudinal axis a second angle that is non-zero, less than 90°, and open downstream according to the direction of drilling.

Abstract: A system and method for moving directional drill pipe with vacuum power. The system is used with a vacuum beam mounted on a boom. It has a vacuum pad that is pivotally attached at one end by a hinge to the vacuum beam. The other end of the vacuum pad is attached to the vacuum beam via an actuatable cylinder. Operation of the cylinder causes the vacuum pad to rotate about the hinge and change the angle of the vacuum pad relative to the vacuum beam. Lateral movement of the vacuum pad relative to the vacuum beam is provided by one or more pinned connections located adjacent to the hinge. Vacuum pressure from the vacuum pad is used to grasp and release drill pipe.

Abstract: A scalping insert includes a scalping surface having a plurality of scalping slots therethrough, and a vertical base portion. A shaker screen assembly includes a screen frame having at least one slot. A scalping insert is positioned in the at least one slot of the screen frame. Processing fluid using a shaker screen assembly includes providing a flow of fluid to the shaker screen assembly and flowing the fluid through both a scalping surface and a screen surface of a single shaker screen deck.

Abstract: A smooth bore toe valve includes a first sub defining a through bore and a fluid flow path through a wall thereof; a second sub; a housing mechanically engaged with the first and second subs to define a valve cavity axially between the first and second subs and to define a chamber radially between the first and second subs and the housing, the housing further defining a plurality of openings in a wall thereof; and a sleeve disposed within the chamber between the housing and the first and second subs to close the openings and, upon application of fluid pressure horn the through bore through the fluid flow path, open the openings to fluid flow from the valve cavity to the exterior of the housing. A method for using such a valve is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pump system and a method for pumping viscous or partially viscous media out of a borehole. The pump system includes a well pipe which is installed in the borehole and a motor which is coupled to an eccentric screw pump, the eccentric screw pump including one or more stators and one or more rotors which are received in the stator(s) so as to rotate eccentrically. One or more connection mechanisms fix the eccentric screw pump in the well pipe in a force-fitting and/or formfitting manner. For the purpose of removing the eccentric screw pump from the borehole, the eccentric screw pump is held by means of the one or more connection mechanisms with an axial freedom of movement.

Abstract: An apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may include operating a positive displacement motor having a pair of output orifices including a selectably movable outer output orifice disposed proximate to a fixed inner output orifice. Operation may include rotating the outer output orifice about the longitudinal axis of the motor when drilling fluid is flowing through the pair of orifices to control fluid pressure pulse amplitude from the outer output orifice. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A self-contained module for actuating an element of an earth-boring tool comprises a drive unit configured to be coupled to at least one actuatable element of the earth-boring tool. The drive unit is configured to be disposed at least partially within a compartment of a body of the earth-boring tool. The compartment is radially decentralized within the earth-boring tool. The drive unit includes a drive element configured to be coupled to the at least one actuatable element. The drive unit is configured to move the drive element in a manner moving the at least one actuatable element from a first position to a second position in a direction having a component parallel with a longitudinal axis of the earth-boring tool. The self-contained module is configured to be repeatedly attached to and detached from the earth-boring tool. Such a module may be attached to a tool body carrying extendable elements to form an earth-boring tool for borehole enlargement or stabilization within an enlarged section of the borehole.

Abstract: An overpressure safety system for use with a distribution of pressurized fluid associated with hydrocarbon production operations includes a safety valve in fluid communication with a main bore of a fluid control manifold assembly. The safety valve has a blocking condition where the safety valve blocks a flow of pressurized fluid through the safety valve, and a venting condition where the safety valve provides a fluid flow path for the pressurized fluid at a set overpressure to pass through the safety valve. A valve member is moveable within the safety valve between a first position where a pressure side of the valve member blocks the flow of the pressurized fluid at a pressure below the set overpressure from passing through the safety valve, and a second position where the valve member provides a fluid flow path for the pressurized fluid at any pressure to pass through the safety valve.

Abstract: A configurable composite bridge plug apparatus and method for converting bridge plugs into frac plugs in the field of operation is disclosed. The bridge plug apparatus includes a body with a cylindrical hollow inner mandrel, an upper threaded end and a lower threaded end. A release ring with threads disposed on an outer surface is attached to the upper threaded end. An upper restriction element and a lower restriction element plug both ends of the hollow inner mandrel so that flow is restricted in either directions. A stand-off pin holds the lower restriction element in place. A ball seat inserted proximally to the upper restriction element towards the upper threaded end. A cage retainer is attached to the ball seat with a ball. The configurable bridge plug transformed to a frac plug by removing the upper restriction element and the lower restriction element from the bridge plug.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for mounting and/or removing carrier blocks from coiled tubing injector chains are needed. The carrier blocks are operable for supporting coil tubing grippers. The method and/or apparatus utilizes an assembled coiled tubing injector head chain assembly and/or mounting or removing the carrier blocks with respect to the coiled tubing injector head chain assembly.

Abstract: The apparatus for evaluating a wellbore while drilling includes a logging toolheld on a drill string and is adapted to obtain data from the wellbore while moving the drill string including the logging tool uphole and out of the wellbore. The logging tool includes a memory for storing obtained data and an on-board power supply battery. A computer being positioned at a surface level of the wellbore is adapted to obtain the data from the memory when the logging tool is also positioned at the surface level. The logging tool is adapted to perform a minimum power-consuming sleep mode with a data obtaining and storing function being disabled and the computer is adapted to transmit a wake-up signal downhole to enable the data obtaining and storing function of the logging tool just prior to tripping out the drill string from the wellbore. The wake-up signal preferably is a mud pulse signal sent through the drilling fluid used when drilling the wellbore.

Abstract: A trip speed table is created containing records. Each record contains a step location, wherein a step is defined to be the location in a well of a deepest end of a drill string, a minimum trip speed for the step location, wherein the minimum trip speed is defined to be the maximum trip speed less than or equal to a default trip speed at which the drill string can be tripped without exceeding a fracture gradient or falling below a pore pressure at a slice depth, and the slice depth where the minimum trip speed for the step location occurred.