Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling fluid flow in a well bore is provided. A base pipe having an outer surface and an inner bore is provided. A first screen jacket is placed therearound. A second screen jacket is positioned adjacent the first screen jacket around the base pipe. An annular space is defined between the outer surface of the base pipe and each screen jacket. A sleeve is disposed between the adjacent screen jackets and an isolated fluid flow path is created between the annular space defined by the first screen jacket and the annular space defined by the second screen jacket.

Abstract: A rotary-percussion device for directional drilling in rock comprises a substantially cylindrical, rotatable body portion (15) housing a percussion hammer, and a frustroconical head (2) eccentrically mounted on the front of the body portion. The minimum diameter face (3) of the head is adjacent to the body portion. The axis (6) of the head is parallel to but offset from the axis (5) of the body. The front face (4) of the head is chisel-shaped and comprises at least one oblique plane (11) sloping forwardly in the same direction as the offset of the head axis relative to the body axis.

Abstract: A mill is provided for grinding and cutting objects in various wells, such as oil wells, which will typically have a cement plug or a metallic item of debris which must be ground into small enough particles to be circulated out of the hole by circulation fluid pumped through the mill. Helical watercourses have been added to the body of the mill that improves the ability of the circulation fluid to move milled particles beyond the mill. Reverse ports are also provided which divert a portion of the pressurized circulation fluid from the mill interior to the annulus adjacent the mill. The reverse ports are threaded to be closable by a corresponding set screw. An optimized configuration of carbide cutting inserts, attached as part of the mill's grinding tips, is also provided.

Abstract: Coatings for well screens that protect the screens from damage as they are inserted into the wellbore and once in the well, release reactive materials to react with and degrade potentially plugging materials such as drill solids, fluid filtercakes, fluid loss additives, and drilling fluids. The coatings can be specifically designed for individual well conditions and are comprised of a binder that either melts or dissolves within the wellbore and one or more reactive materials such as acids, enzymes, surfactants, chelants, oxidizers or free radical generators and the like which are released into the screen and the near wellbore area and which are effective in degrading or dissolving materials which could potentially plug the screen.

Abstract: A method of creating a downhole sealing and hanging device comprising the steps of lowering a first tubular in a well bore, then lowering through the first tubular a second tubular with slightly smaller external diameter than the internal diameter of the first tubular, and made of formable steel, in such a way that the upper section of the second tubular remains within the lower section of the first tubular, and finally plastically expanding at least the upper section of the second tubular by application of a radial force to the interior of the upper section of the second tubular thereby creating an interference fit capable of forming a bond and a hydraulic seal between the first and second tubular.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and fluid for drilling or servicing a well in a subterranean formation containing lost circulation zones or depleted, low pressure reservoirs. The fluid comprises an aqueous liquid having dispersed therein a polymer which increases the low shear rate viscosity of the fluid to the extent that the thixotropic index of the fluid is at least about 10 and a surfactant, and wherein the fluid contains less than about 15% by volume of aphrons preferably generated by the turbulence and pressure drop as the fluid exits the drill bit in the vicinity of the formation. The method of drilling a wellbore in a subterranean formation comprises continuously circulating, while drilling, such a drilling fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a feed apparatus for feeding capsular cartridges into a drilled hole, the apparatus being intended to be used in conjunction with a rock drill apparatus. The feed apparatus comprises a rotatable roll-like cartridge magazine (1) with charge tubes (2) which are arranged on at least one perimeter and into which the capsular cartridges can be loaded in advance. The apparatus further comprises means for indexing a magazine, whereby the desired charge tubes (2) can be rotated to align with the feeding line. In an embodiment of the invention the feed is performed by feeding pressure air into the rear end of the charge tube at a high pressure, whereby the cartridge loaded into the charge tube moves from the charge tube to a connecting pipe (7) positioned at the firing line at the front end of the cartridge magazine and further along a feed hose 86) to a hole drilled in advance. The apparatus can also comprise a control apparatus for automatic control of the feed apparatus from the cabin.

Abstract: A down hole hammer comprising a cylindrical casing defining a piston chamber between a top sub at one end and a drill bit support at the other end, a piston within the piston chamber for reciprocation between the one and other end, the piston having a central portion which is sealingly engaged with the internal wall of the casing, one end portion of the piston being intended to impact on the drill bit with movement to an impact position at which position the one end portion sealingly defines a first space at the one end of the piston chamber, the internal wall of the casing adjacent the top sub having two sets of axially spaced fluid ports, the piston adapted to cooperate with a first set of the fluid ports to admit fluid into the first space when the piston is in the impact position and cause movement of the piston to a raised position where the piston is in spaced relation from the drill bit support, the piston adapted to cooperate with a second set of said set of fluid ports to admit fluid into a second sp

Abstract: A snubbing unit drilling system which includes a power tong and a hydraulically activated back-up tong. A mounting structure having a rotating slip assembly positioned thereon such that the rotating slip assembly rotates relative to the mounting structure. A plurality of support legs are attached between the power tong, the back-up tong, and the mounting structure such that the support legs prevent relative rotation between the power tong and the mounting structure.

Abstract: A procedure for treating the perforations of a well, in particular by intervention of a cable, in order to plug them or consolidate them comprises the successive steps of: (a) arranging, close to the perforation to be treated (50, 54), a dehydration powder chamber (32) that produces a large volume of high pressure gas at a high temperature, as well as a composite powder chamber (40) designed to treat the perforation (50, 54); (b) igniting the dehydration powder; and (c) once the combustion of the dehydration powder is completed, igniting the composite powder so the treatment of the perforation (50, 54) can take place. The invention also relates to a device for implementing this procedure.

Abstract: A downhole tool includes an improved expandable, elastomeric component having a pre-disposed expansion profile. The expansion profile is pre-disposed by surrounding at least a portion of the elastomeric component with a shaping tool having an inner diameter that defines a profiled limit. Fluid under pressure is applied to the elastomeric component for expanding it into contact with the inner diameter of the shaping tool. The pressure of the fluid may be reduced to allow the elastomeric component to return generally to its original shape.

Abstract: A centralizer for guiding a well servicing tool through the bore of a BOP stack or the like and into a radially eccentric position within a wellhead assembly, the centralizer comprising a mandrel having a top end which is connected to a running string and a bottom end to which the well servicing tool is connected, a collar having at least one eccentric hole through which the mandrel extends, the collar being rotatably connected to the mandrel, and an energy absorbing bumper supported above the collar and having at least one opening in alignment with the hole in the collar through which the top end of the mandrel projects; wherein the distance between the center of the collar and the center of the eccentric hole is selected to correspond to the radial distance between the center of the BOP bore and the eccentric position within the wellhead assembly; and wherein the outer diameters of both the collar and the bumper are selected to be only slightly smaller than the diameter of the BOP bore; such that the collar

Abstract: A vessel for laying rigid tubular pipes has two vertically upright wheels for storing tubular pipe which is wound with plastic deformation. An inclinable laying davit is arranged approximately above a moon pool. An arched chute deflects the pipe at the top of the davit, followed down the davit by a pipe-straightener and tensioner. The mid-planes of the two adjacent wheels face approximately towards the davit, and the mid-planes intersect in the vertical longitudinal mid-plane of the vessel.

Abstract: There is provided a rotary drag-type drill bit comprising a bit body having a leading surface comprising a plurality of pads, at least some of the pads each having a wearable abrasive surface including particles of superhard material and defining an outer profile of the pad, at least a part of the outer profile of at least one of the pads being disposed inwardly or outwardly of the outer profile of the other pads. With this arrangement, during initial drilling through softer formation, most of the removal of formation will be effected by the outermost of the abrasive pads and little or no formation will be removed by the more inward pads. Accordingly, the bit will act as a lighter set bit and good rates of penetration may be achieved.

Abstract: A drill steel-chuck assembly which includes a drill steel which has a plurality of faces and opposite ends. The drill steel has one portion adjacent one of the opposite ends thereof and a mediate portion spaced apart from the one portion. The drill steel further has one transition portion between the one portion and the mediate portion so as to join the one portion and the mediate portion. The one portion of the drill steel presents a first orientation of the faces. The mediate portion of the drill steel presents a second orientation of the faces. The one transition portion of the drill steel presents a twisted orientation of the faces comprising a generally constant twist of the faces from the first orientation of the one portion to the second orientation of the mediate portion. There is a chuck for attachment to the drill steel through engagement with the transition portion of the drill steel.

Abstract: A pressure reducing assembly for high pressure oil wells is disclosed. The assembly includes a metallic body having inlet, outlet, and directional changing flow channels that are lined with ceramic inserts. The assembly also includes a removable pressure reducing device that is preferably formed of a ceramic material. Pipe spool pieces associated with the pressure reducing assembly transition the narrow interior flow diameter of the assembly to the larger interior flow diameter of downstream oil process piping. The spool pieces have metallic bodies, with flow channels that are lined with ceramic inserts. The ceramic inserts are disposed within the metallic spool, and are preferably designed with a flow channel taper that gradually increase the interior flow diameter from that of the outlet channel of the pressure reducing assembly to that of the process piping.

Abstract: An emulsion with flow-initiated gelling properties is described, comprising at least two discontinuous phases with a polymer and cross-linking agent separated by two phase boundaries. The novel emulsion is preferably used for remedial operations in a subterranean formation or wellbore.

Abstract: Improvements for a downhole flexible drive system for drilling high angle well holes or curved holes from the vertical to the horizontal with an ultra short radius to drill a horizontal drain hole. The improvements include a flexible shaft that connects the drive train of the system to a swivel joint attached inside the uphole tool joint of the system, that provide the drive train of the system the capability to carry part or all the tension loads on the system. An exhaust collar is provided with deflectors that direct excess drilling fluid up a well hole. A pump section is provided to insure drilling fluid flow over the face of a drill bit and the transport of cuttings. To increase flexibility and limit the length of inflexible sections of the system, a flexible tube to carry drilling fluids connects the bearing pack to the system.

Abstract: An earth-boring bit has hardfacing that has multiple grades and an overlapped portion. One of the layers is of a different grade than the other so as to provide more wear resistance. The other provides more toughness than the wear resistant layer. The more wear resistant layer has a greater volumetric density of carbide particles. The greater density is primarily achieved by using a majority of the particles of smaller dimension than in the less wear resistant hardfacing. The overlapped portion may be on an outer or gage end of the outer row of teeth.

Abstract: A system for use in a well such as an intelligent completion system, includes an electrical cable and a plurality of communication modules positioned in the well. At least a first one of the communication modules is connected to the electrical cable. At least a second one of the communication modules is positioned in a remote location in the well past separately installed downhole equipment. A communications link mechanism that includes an inductive coupler mechanism provides communication between the first and second ones of the communication modules.