Abstract: A method for drilling a geothermal well in a subterranean zone includes drilling, with a drill string, a wellbore of the geothermal well in the subterranean zone. An inherent temperature of the rock adjacent a rock face at a downhole end of the wellbore is at least 250 degrees Celsius. While drilling, a drilling fluid is flowed at a temperature at the rock face such that a difference between the inherent temperature of the rock adjacent the rock face and the temperature of the drilling fluid at the rock face is at least 100 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: An Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) is installed in a production branch of a Y-tool apparatus. A bypass branch of the Y-tool apparatus permits an intervention tool on a coiled tubing string to bypass the ESP for intervention operations in the wellbore. A permanent dynamic seal in the bypass branch includes an inflatable elastomeric chamber that forms a seal around the coiled tubing string while the coiled tubing is run-in and pulled out. A ball valve is also provided in the bypass branch. The dynamic seal and ball valve eliminate the need for blanking plugs to be retrieved and reset with slickline operations.

Abstract: An intervention apparatus for gaining lateral access to a well via a lateral access passage of the well is provided, including an outer pipe and a flexible guide pipe for guiding a flexible conduit towards the lateral access passage, the flexible guide pipe being arranged to be forwardly advanced in the outer pipe and to deform around a bend in the outer pipe as it is forwardly advanced.

Abstract: Provided is a liner hanger, a method, and a well system. The liner hanger, in one aspect, includes a liner hanger body having an expansion section movable from a radially unexpanded state to a radially expanded state in contact with an inside diameter (ID) of a wellbore tubular. The liner hanger may further include a support assembly coupled to the liner hanger body, the support assembly including a support housing, and a mechanical support structure positioned radially inside of the support housing. In one aspect, the mechanical support structure is movable from a first position radially misaligned with the expansion section when the expansion section is in the radially unexpanded state to a second position at least partially radially aligned with the expansion section when the expansion section is in the radially expanded state. The liner hanger, in one aspect, further includes expandable metal coupled to the mechanical support structure.

Abstract: A packer arrangement for a sealed passage of a drillstring therethrough. The drillstring has geometric differences between passing drill pipes and joint couplings. The packer arrangement includes a packer holder which forms a housing with an axially through-going center passage which has a flexible packer sleeve arranged in a portion thereof, an external annulus which encloses the packer holder, an internal annulus, and two actuators which apply an axial tensile force to the flexible packer sleeve. The flexible packer sleeve has a center portion and two end terminations which are axially displaceable in the packer holder. The internal annulus is delimited by the center portion of the flexible packer sleeve and by the packer holder. The internal annulus is in a fluid communication with the external annulus. Each of the two end terminations is coupled to one of the two actuators, respectively.

Abstract: A valve device having a valve with first connection elements for mounting the valve in a port of a wellhead, a spool unit having a through-channel, second connection elements arranged in the through-channel, and a flange, the flange configured for sealingly mounting the spool unit to the wellhead, aligning the through-channel with the port, and a plug comprising third connection elements configured for sealingly and removably engaging the second connection elements and attach the plug in the through-channel. A method for removing, replacing or arranging a valve located in a port of a wellhead is also provided.

Abstract: An asymmetric release configuration including a projection, a recess receptive to the projection the recess having a first shoulder that when brought into contact with the projection in a first direction loads the projection in a first way that results in a first release threshold, and a second shoulder that when brought into contact with the projection in a second direction loads the projection in a second way that results in a second release threshold, the second release threshold being different than the first release threshold. A method for operating a borehole including running a configuration into a borehole to a target depth, resisting a load on the configuration in a first direction to a first release threshold, and resisting a load in another direction to a second release threshold different than the first release threshold.

Abstract: A directional drill stem loader and associated methods are shown. In one example, the drill stem loader operates in a linear motion. In one example, a drill stem gripper is configured to move the completely to one side of a drill stem during a retraction operation.

Abstract: A downhole tool, a nozzle assembly for the downhole tool and a nozzle. The nozzle assembly includes an orifice in a housing of the downhole tool. The orifice has a housing groove. A nozzle is insertable into the orifice, the nozzle including a nozzle groove. A release member secures the nozzle to the housing by disposing a first portion of the release member in the housing groove and a second portion of the release member in the nozzle groove. The first portion is removable from the second portion upon applying a force to the nozzle above a release threshold. The nozzle includes a body having an outlet end, a nozzle groove on a surface of the body for receiving a release member to secure the nozzle within a housing, and a seal groove for isolating the nozzle groove from an environment at the outlet end.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of well control system for drilling an oil or gas well safely and efficiently by providing a mechanical actuator capable of transmitting a rotational force downhole, and converting the rotational force to an axial force for the purpose of operating downhole equipment, including subsurface safety valves, compressible bladder valves, and sliding sleeve valves. Because the actuator is mechanical and not hydraulic as in conventional equipment, the force applied is independent of the depth at which it is applied, overcoming a major deficiency seen in comparable hydraulic systems.

Abstract: Provided is a multilateral leg bore, a multilateral junction, and a well system. The multilateral leg bore, in one aspect, includes a unitary housing having a first end and a second opposing end defining a length (L). In accordance with this aspect, the multilateral junction includes three or more bores formed in the housing and extending along the length (L).

Abstract: A self-erecting launcher assembly includes a mobile unit, and a magazine positioned in a receptacle of the mobile unit. The magazine includes a plurality of drones. A rail unit is secured to the mobile unit and moves between a closed position and an elevated position. A platform may be secured to the rail unit and is movable in an upward direction and a downward direction along a length of the rail unit. The platform is movable when the rail unit is in its elevated position. The magazine or the plurality of drones may be positioned on the platform, such that the platform moves the magazine or the plurality of drones from the mobile unit to at least one wellhead. A manipulator arm is secured to the platform and selects a drone of the plurality of drones and delivers the selected drone into a lubricator positioned at the wellhead.

Abstract: A casing rotation system permits rotation of a casing string through a telescoping ring that selectively engages a casing hanger. When the telescoping ring is in a first axial position, it engages the casing hanger such that rotational force is transmitted from a running tool to the casing string. When the telescoping ring moves to a second axial position, it disengages the casing hanger such that rotational force is no longer transmitted to the casing string. The casing rotation system may include an inward-biased locking ring disposed about the casing hanger and optionally a bearing surface that reduces friction on the hangar.

Abstract: A cutter head arrangement comprising a cutter head portion including a cutter head side wall to define a chamber (or cavity) surrounded by the cutter head side wall. A substantially circular rim portion extends from (a distal end of) the cutter head side wall, the rim portion defining a working, contact face of the cutter head portion. A recessed wall portion extends away from the rim portion inwardly into the chanber so as to be surrounded by the cutter head side wall, with the rim portion and/or the recessed wall portion being fitter with a plurality of cutter elemenets, to enable the cutter head portion to blind bore a pilot hole in use. The recessed wall portion that extends away from the rim portion inwardly into the chamber is a substantially conical body so as to define a conical recess.

Abstract: A buckle having an adjustable loop end forming a primary plane with opposing side walls. The adjustable loop end has a central bar positioned between a first strap opening and a second strap opening. A pair of slots operable to receive the terminal ends of the central bar are recessed into the interior surface of the opposing side walls with the bottom edges of the slots being longer than the top edges. A pair of tabs on opposite ends of the central bar extend outward from the central bar along a longitudinal axis of the primary plane and towards the second strap or belt opening. Optionally, a protrusion extends from a lower surface of the fixed loop end wherein the protrusion is positioned at a right angle with respect to a vertical axis of the primary plane.

Abstract: A method of controlling a horizontal directional drill having a rotary drive system. The rotary drive system includes a variable displacement pump providing pressurized fluid to a motor, a displacement control that adjusts motor displacement, a torque limiter valve that opens at a torque limit to provide pressurized fluid to the displacement control to allow the system to limit torque, and cross-port relief valves that open at a cross-port relief pressure to limit pressure applied across a motor inlet and a motor outlet. The method includes adjusting the torque limiter pressure to vary the maximum torque applied to a drill string based on operating parameters of the horizontal direction drill, and adjusting the cross-port relief pressure to be higher than the torque limiter pressure each time that the torque limiter pressure is adjusted.

Abstract: A production well has nested casings including a first production casing and a first production tubing installed within the first production casing, which extends from a surface to a depth within the wellbore. Before implementing a gas-lift operation in the production well, the first production tubing is removed. A second production casing is lowered within the first production casing. The second production casing has a smaller outer diameter than an inner diameter of the first production casing. From the surface of the wellbore to the depth within the wellbore to which the second production casing extends, the inner diameter of the second production casing is expanded until an outer wall of the second production casing forms a gas-tight seal with an inner wall of the first production casing.

Abstract: A twist-tie includes a fastener having a malleable material surrounded by an outer coating having a longitudinal axis and extending between a first end and a second end; and an indicia portion extending at least partially along the longitudinal axis, the indicia portion including at least a portion that is attached to the fastener and at least a portion that is separated from the fastener, wherein a separation between the indicia portion and the fastener defines a slit that extends from an open end toward a closed end in a direction of at least one of the first end toward the second end and the second end toward the first end.

Abstract: An apparatus for convenient tightening and loosening of strings such as those found in shoelaces of footwear is provided. The apparatus includes a rotating portion within a base portion. A cover portion, when operated in a first position, provides a ratchet movement that allows rotation in a tightening direction while preventing movement in a loosening direction. When the cover is moved to a second position, the ratchet mechanism disengages, and the strings can then be easily loosened.

Abstract: A drilling assembly is disclosed for drilling a borehole in a rock body and inserting a rock bolt within the borehole in a single pass. The drilling assembly includes an elongated drill string having a downhole end. A drill bit is detachably joined to the downhole end of the drill string, with the drill bit having an external screw thread extending in an axial direction of the drill string. The drill string is surrounded by a rock bolt sleeve that has a thread engaging formation at or near its downhole end and that is arranged to cooperate with the external screw thread of the drill bit so that the drill bit is able to be screwed into the rock bolt sleeve.