Abstract: A lateral propulsion apparatus positioned onto a drillstring comprising a tubular housing, venturi nozzles, an impeller, and flow ports. The apparatus utilizes both the venturi effect as well as rotational forces to cause wellbore fluid to travel from an area of high pressure near a lower end toward an area of lower pressure near an upper end urging the apparatus further into a non-vertical wellbore.

Abstract: In downhole tools and methods related to stimulation of subterranean formations are provided. The tools and methods utilize electrically ignitable propellant to generate gas downhole that is used to generate or enhance fractures. The electrically ignitable propellant can be ignited applying electrical power to a pair of electrodes associated with the propellant. Subsequently, the ignition can be halted by ceasing to supply the electrical power. Thus, allowing for the control of the amount and location of generated gas.

Abstract: A coupling for joining a downhole pump to a sucker rod string is disclosed. The coupling includes a core having a first end, a central portion, and a second end. The first end and the second end each have an end surface. The first end tapers linearly inwards from the central portion to the first end surface. The second end has a rounded edge along the second end surface. The coupling is made from a spinodally-hardened copper-nickel-tin alloy and has a sliding coefficient of friction of less than 0.4 when measured against carbon steel.

Abstract: A drone conveyance system for deploying drones into an oil or gas wellbore is described. The system includes a platform, a drone magazine, a platform receiver, a conveyance, and a wellhead receiver. A drone magazine contains a plurality of the drones and selectively releases/feeds the drones into the platform receiver. More than one drone magazine, each containing different drone types, may supply drones to the platform receiver such that different drones may be ordered for disposal into the wellbore. The platform receiver prepared the drones to be moved from the platform to the wellhead by the conveyance. The wellhead receiver accepts the drones from the conveyance and prepares each received drone for dropping into the wellbore via the wellhead.

Abstract: A positioning device includes a shaped charge holder. A plurality of shaped charge receptacles formed in the shaped charge holder are configured to arrange a plurality of shaped charges in a desired orientation. The shaped charges are detonated by a detonator in response to an initiation signal. The positioning device may be secured in a perforating gun module, with vertical and horizontal movement of the positioning being inhibited in the perforating gun module.

Abstract: A setting tool for setting frac plugs and the like can include a mandrel having a chamber for housing expandable gas and a gas port in fluid communication with the chamber; a firing head secured to the mandrel for igniting a power charge to generate pressurized gas within the chamber; a barrel piston housing the mandrel and connected to a sleeve for setting the frac plug; and an expansion region defined between the mandrel and the barrel piston and receiving the pressurized gas which exerts force to cause a stroke of the barrel piston over the mandrel as the expansion region expands axially. The setting tool can include various features, such as certain gas bleed systems, an enhanced shear screw assembly, a bleed port and plug assembly, a scribe line, a particular gas port configuration, a liquid escape conduit, no-shoulder barrel configuration, and/or a low-force design for frac plugs.

Abstract: An installation apparatus for installing a liner in a subterranean formation includes a housing having an internally arranged flexible member operatively connected to a bore-forming device at one end and to a control module at another end. An opening is arranged in a housing wall through which the flexible member and device may be passed. A liner is arranged around at least a portion of the flexible member between the opening and a first support member. The first support member is arranged to move inside the housing in a direction towards the opening, and a second support member is configured to movably support at least a portion of the flexible member in the region between the control module and the first support member. A method of installing a liner in an inverted drainhole is disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanically perforated well casing collar has at least one machined-away area on a sidewall surface to facilitate mechanical perforation of the casing collar, and an internal guide and lock structure to guide at least one blade of a mechanical perforator into alignment with the at least one machined-away area and permit the mechanical perforator to lock in that alignment.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump assembly with integral heat exchanger, high-speed self-aligning bearings, and dual bearing thrust chamber is described. The described pump assembly, modules, and components may be used for operating an electric submersible pump at high speeds as well as over a wide range of speeds and flowrates without replacing downhole equipment. The described pump assembly may be shorter than comparable pump assemblies and may be assembled offsite, thereby leading to faster and easier installation with less down time. By operating over a wide range of speeds, the disclosed pump assembly allows the operator to reduce overall inventory, reduce down time for the well, and avoid other complications associated with replacing a pump assembly or other downhole components.

Abstract: A method for extracting thermal energy in an underground high temperature area of a coalfield fire area, including: determining a thermal extraction target area by a natural potential method and a ground detecting borehole; using an injection borehole to send a gaseous thermal medium to an underground high temperature area of the thermal extraction target area; after the thermal exchange between the gaseous thermal medium and a high temperature coal rock mass, the gaseous thermal medium is extracted through an extraction borehole; continuously monitoring a natural potential of the thermal extraction target area; arranging a casing-type borehole thermal exchanger in a potential anomaly region to complete the thermal exchange between the high temperature coal rocks and a liquid thermal medium; stopping the thermal extraction operations when the temperatures of the extracted gaseous thermal medium and the liquid thermal medium reach 70° C. or below.

Abstract: A technique facilitates actuation and use of a liner hanger in a wide variety of environments. Depending on the application, the liner hanger may be conveyed downhole within a casing located in a wellbore. The liner hanger comprises slips which may be set against the casing by applying a pressurized fluid through a liner hanger port to a liner hanger actuator. After the slips are set, the liner hanger may be actuated to form a metal-to-metal seal which blocks further fluid flow through the port, thus isolating the port during subsequent downhole operations.

Abstract: A modular safety apparatus adapted to allow the flow and create a mechanical seal for a series of electric conductors in wellheads, thus, ensuring pressure control and internal hydraulic integrity and allowing for a method to repair leaks and/or conductor cables that does not require the use of specialized well maintenance equipment, comprising a sealing case attached to a lower connector, joined to another main or intermediating sealing case. The case seals towards the pipe hanger and attaches to the upper connector that seals towards the upper section of the wellhead and attaches to the protective bushing or the upper sealing case to ensure control of well's pressure during its operation or reparation in case of leaks or failures.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a bottom-fire perforating drone for downhole delivery of a wellbore tool, and associated systems and methods, are disclosed. In an aspect, the wellbore tool may be a plurality of shaped charges that are arranged in a variety of configurations, including helically and in one or more single radial planes around a perforating assembly section, and detonated in a bottom-up sequence when the bottom-fire perforating drone reaches a predetermined depth in the wellbore. In another aspect, the shaped charges may be received in shaped charge apertures within a body of a perforating assembly section, wherein the shaped charge apertures are respectively positioned adjacent to at least one of a receiver booster, detonator, and detonating cord for directly initiating the shaped charges.

Abstract: A plug seat including a body having a lead in and a tooth, a flow feature disposed at the body, the feature providing fluid access directly to an area immediately adjacent the tooth. A plug seat including a tooth positioned relative to a body to be at an upstream most end of the body, a cage extending from the body immediately downstream of the tooth to an area radially outward of the tooth and upstream thereof.

Abstract: A flow control method and assembly for an oil or gas well comprises generating a pressure signature in the fluid in a bore of the well comprising a minimum rate of change of pressure, and transmitting the pressure signature to a control mechanism to trigger a change in the configuration of a flow control device in the bore in response to the detection of the pressure signature in the fluid. The flow control device can comprise a barrier, such as a flapper, sleeve, valve or similar. The pressure signature is transmitted via fluid flowing in the bore, typically being injected into the well, optionally during or before frac operations, via fluid being used for the frac operations. The control mechanism typically includes an RFID reader to receive RF signals from tags deployed in the fluid flowing in the bore.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting and quantifying proppant for optimized fracture treatment design in in-fill and new wells. Proppant is isolated from drilling fluids and then analyzed to determine whether a formation within the well has been properly stimulated based on the analysis. Placement of an in-fill well may be based upon the determination of whether the well has been properly stimulated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a downhole completion system for completing a well having a borehole, said downhole completion system comprising a well tubular metal structure arranged in the borehole forming an annulus and comprising a wall and a plurality of sensor units forming a mesh network, wherein at least a number of said sensor units is provided with a self-powering device configured to harvest energy downhole. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a sensor unit for use with a downhole completion system according to the present invention.

Abstract: A wiper dart includes one or more wiper elements disposed about a mandrel, each wiper element comprising a wiper cup that extends radially outward and rearwardly relative to the mandrel, and a nose assembly coupled to the mandrel. A drive element is disposed about the mandrel and includes a shoe and a cup coupled to the shoe. The cup extends radially outward and rearwardly from the shoe and exhibits a maximum diameter less than or equal to a maximum diameter of the one or more wiper elements, and the shoe provides at least one of axial and radial support to the cup.

Abstract: A crimping connection for an inner tube is disclosed. An inner barrel system includes a first coring inner barrel; a second coring inner barrel; and a crimp ring overlapping an end of the first coring inner barrel and an end of the second coring inner barrel and compressed to mechanically couple the first coring inner barrel with the second coring inner barrel.

Abstract: A method of actuating at least one of a plurality of downhole tools connected to at least one hydraulic fluid line is disclosed. The method includes the steps of:— a) providing each of the downhole tools with a control unit comprising a timer which permits fluid communication between the at least one hydraulic fluid line and the downhole tool during a window of time; and b) controlling the pressure in the at least one hydraulic fluid line for at least a sufficient period of time required to at least actuate the said downhole tool, wherein the said sufficient period of time coincides at least partially with the said window of time.