Abstract: A sealing system for a flow channel includes a mandrel, a swellable element disposed about the mandrel, and a degradable polymeric element disposed on a surface of the swellable element and configured to delay swelling of the swellable element. The degradable polymeric element comprises one or more of the following: polyurethane; cured cyanate ester; an epoxy; polyimide; unsaturated polyester; or nylon.

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: An apparatus that may reduce friction of a tubular structure in a horizontal or deviated well. The apparatus is for mounting on a tubular structure, such as a casing or drill string having a longitudinal axis. The apparatus comprises a tubular segment for mounting over the casing or drill string such that the apparatus is freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis. The apparatus also includes a plurality of ridges on the outer face of the tubular segment, the ridges being at an angle to an axial direction of the tubular segment to cause the apparatus to rotate responsive to movement of the apparatus against a wall of the wellbore as the apparatus traverses the wellbore. The raised ridges have a non-uniform height from the outer face of the tubular segment.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the inflow of materials into a production well during recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir. The system includes a flow control device configured to limit steam flow and hot water flow from the hydrocarbon-containing reservoir.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus comprises a piston mounted within a bore and being reconfigurable from a lock configuration to an unlock configuration in response to a pressure sequence applied within the bore. When the piston is in its lock configuration, a lock is supported by the piston such that the lock partially extends into the bore and engages a lock profile of the piston to restrict movement of the piston in a first direction towards its unlock configuration. In response to a first event of the pressure sequence, the piston is moveable in a second direction to desupport the lock and permit the lock to be wholly received into the bore and allow the piston to move in the second direction towards its unlock configuration in response to a subsequent event of the pressure sequence.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for utilizing a valve with a pump rotor passage with a downhole production string, the pump rotor being on a rotatable rod with a bobbin moving along the rod between a position for opening the passage to fluid flow, when the bobbin is not seated on a shuttle seat, and a position for closing the passage to fluid flow, when the bobbin is seated on the shuttle seat. The pump rotor and rod are removable through the passage while leaving the pump stator in place upstream of the valve.

Abstract: A sidetracking assembly employs a running tool for engaging the whipstock. A cement tube flows low-viscosity fluid through the whipstock to set a hydraulically actuable anchor and to transmit fluid cement further downhole in order to set a cement plug. A latch dog releasably associates the running tool with the whipstock. The latch dog disengages the running tool from the whipstock after the anchor is set. The running tool and cement tube can be raised a designed distance using a first pull tension, indicating that the cement tube is not restrained and that therefore an operation to pump cement to form a cement plug below the assembly may be executed. Following the cementing operation, a greater pull tension can be applied to release the cement tube from the whipstock, permitting complete withdrawal of the reusable running tool and cement tube from the wellbore.

Abstract: The use of an environmental sensing wireline standoff may improve operations during borehole logging procedures. An environmental sensing wireline standoff may comprise a lower body, an upper body, and a cable insert. The cable insert may further comprise a first segment and a second segment, wherein the cable insert is disposed between the lower body and the upper body, and wherein the cable insert is configurable to clamp directly onto a wireline cable. The environmental sensing wireline standoff may further comprise a sensor package. A method of assembling an environmental sensing wireline standoff may comprise securing a first segment of a cable insert into a lower body, securing a second segment of the cable insert into an upper body, attaching the sensor package to the upper body, and securing the lower body to the upper body.

Abstract: A dimensional characteristic of a borehole is determined from a rotary drilling system having a housing and an anti-rotation device with one or more drag members that engage a borehole wall. A sensor detects a biasing force on the drag members and transmits a signal representative of the force on the drag member to a control unit. The control unit determines a dimensional characteristic of the borehole based on the force on the drag member of the anti-rotation device.

Abstract: A fluid injection system is configured to inject a fluid into a well. A sensor is separate from the fluid injection system. A first controller is configured to adjust at least one parameter of the fluid injection system in response to feedback from the sensor. The fluid injection system includes a housing having an electrical connector, a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a fluid path between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, a valve disposed along the fluid path, and a flow meter disposed along the fluid path.

Abstract: A dual-action hydraulically operable anchor includes a hydraulic anchor body for positioning a whipstock in a wellbore. A split clamp retains an upper sub and the hydraulic anchor body. A lower cap guides the hydraulic anchor within the wellbore. The floating mandrel transmits a hydraulic fluid into the fixed housing, transmitting compressive force from the upper hydraulic piston or from mechanical force applied to the whipstock above and adjoining the hydraulic anchor. The lower hydraulic piston operates along the floating mandrel using transmitted hydraulic fluid. A T-slot adapter and a slip move from a flush position along the fixed housing to an extended position along the fixed housing such that the slip firmly engages the wellbore to hold the hydraulic anchor and the whipstock in a fixed position for providing a path for lateral drilling outside the wellbore.

Abstract: An apparatus disposed on a drillstring deviates a borehole advanced by a drill bit. At least one director is disposed on a housing to rotate therewith. The director at least includes a piston movable in a chamber, a pad pivotable about a pivot point between an extended condition and a retracted condition relative to the housing, and a linkage arm pivotably connected between the piston and the pad. At least one actuator disposed on the housing in fluid communication with a housing bore is operable at least between a first condition (directing communicated fluid from the bore or other source to the chamber of the director) and a second condition (at least permitting the director to retract toward the retracted condition).

Abstract: A subsea compact cutting system operable for cutting pipe utilizing two gates. Each gate preferably has a blanking portion and an opening through the gate. A first gate is moveable only between an open throughbore position and a partially open throughbore position. A second gate is moveable between an open throughbore position and a closed throughbore position. To cut pipe and seal off the throughbore, the first gate is moved to a position where a cutting element on the first gate is centrally located in the throughbore. The second gate moves to seal the throughbore. A cutting element on the second gate interacts with the cutting element on the first gate to cut pipe in the throughbore.

Abstract: A duplex snubbing jack and method of snubbing pipe into a well bore which includes first and second gripping units that alternately and synchronously grip and release a length of pipe to be attached to a pipe string. The first and second gripping units are synchronously movable upward and downward toward and away from each other to push or pull the pipe through a BOP stack and into or out of a wellbore. Linear actuators are used to synchronously move the first and second gripping units. Guide rails are provided to laterally support the pipe as the pipe is pushed or pulled through the BOP stack into or out of the wellbore. The first and second gripping units are preferably slip-type spiders.

Abstract: Downhole component support systems and methods including a housing having a housing cavity therein, the housing cavity configured to contain a hydraulic frame and a hydraulic frame configured to support at least one component package removably disposed within the housing cavity. At least one master hydraulic assembly is in hydraulic communication with the hydraulic frame and at least one slave hydraulic assembly is coupled to the hydraulic frame and hydraulically coupled to the at least one master hydraulic assembly. Adjustment of the at least one master hydraulic assembly urges the at least one slave hydraulic assembly between a first position and a second position, and, when in the second position, the hydraulic frame is secured to an interior surface of the housing.

Abstract: A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly comprising a latch bracket and a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket comprises a sensor arranged to sense the orientation of the latch and a wireless, optical or other communication unit arranged to communicate the orientation of the latch sensed by the sensor. The sensor unit may be mountable on the latch and comprise an orientation sensor arranged to take measurements that are dependent on the orientation of the sensor unit, and a processor arranged to derive an orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch from the measurements, the communication unit being arranged to communicate the orientation signal. A monitoring system receives the sensed orientations from plural sensor units.

Abstract: A method of automated preventive and predictive maintenance for downhole valves in a well system includes receiving, at a plurality of first times, first diagnostics data of the plurality of downhole valves, where each downhole valve is at a respective first valve position at a respective first time, and the diagnostics data represents a valve condition of each downhole valve at a respective valve position and at a respective time. The method also includes receiving, at a plurality of second times, second diagnostics data of the plurality of downhole valves, where each downhole valve has been moved from the respective first valve position at the respective first time to a respective second valve position at a respective second time. The first diagnostics data and the second diagnostics data are compared. Based on results of comparing, a valve maintenance operation is selected for each downhole valve.

Abstract: A cutting element comprises a supporting substrate, and a cutting table attached to the supporting substrate and comprising a substantially planar apex, opposing flat surfaces extending upwardly and inwardly toward the substantially planar apex from locations proximate an interface between the cutting table and the supporting substrate, primary edge surfaces between the substantially planar apex and the opposing flat surfaces and exhibiting one or more of a radiused geometry and a chamfered geometry, opposing semi-conical surfaces intervening between the opposing flat surfaces and extending upwardly and inwardly toward the substantially planar apex from other locations proximate the interface between the cutting table and the supporting substrate, and secondary edge surfaces between the substantially planar apex and the opposing semi-conical surfaces and exhibiting one or more of another radiused geometry and another chamfered geometry.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes a sleeve configured to be disposed around a tubular. An expandable sealing member is coupled to and positioned at least partially around the sleeve. An end ring is coupled to and positioned at least partially around the sleeve and axially-adjacent to the expandable sealing member.

Abstract: The invention provides a control system and method for limiting vibrations in a tool string system, comprising a relatively heavy rotatable device, such as a pump system or a bottom hole assembly, connected to a long rotatable tool string driven by a drive system. The control system comprises feedback of both torque and rotational speed signals to correct the set rotational speed. An objective is to maintain the drive speed over torque ratio equal to the connected tool string impedance. A secondary objective, for lower frequencies, is to approach and maintain a setpoint speed as drive rotation speed. The system may include a rotational speed sensor and a torque sensor, with the latter optionally replaced by a motor torque signal already available from a variable frequency drive (VFD) for an AC motor and the current safeguarding signal for a DC motor.