Abstract: A bit for drilling a wellbore includes: a shank having a coupling formed at an upper end thereof; a body mounted to a lower end of the shank; and a cutting face forming a lower end of the bit. The cutting face includes: a blade protruding from the body; a leading cutter including: a substrate mounted in a pocket formed in a leading edge of the blade; and a cutting table made from a superhard material and mounted to the substrate; and a shock stud having a nonplanar working portion made from a composite material and mounted in a lower face of the blade at a position trailing the leading cutter. The composite material comprises a ceramic or cermet matrix impregnated with a superhard material.

Abstract: A downhole sub for injecting and detonating liquid explosive into a subterranean formation has a first fluid chamber, a second fluid chamber, a piston slidably disposed between and separates the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber, and a detonation unit affixed to the piston. It also has a third fluid chamber, a coupling disposed between the second fluid chamber and the third fluid chamber, and an annular sealing device disposed about the downhole sub. During operation, the downhole sub is filled with a liquid explosive and lowered into a well. A hydraulic fluid is injected into the downhole sub to initiate a process in which a portion of the well casing having a plurality of perforations in its wall is isolated from the rest of the well first, the liquid explosive is then injected into the isolated portion, and from there into the surrounding subterranean formation, and finally ignited to create fractures in the formation.

Abstract: An example liner hanger system includes a casing for lining a wellbore and a collar configured for connection to a part of the casing within the wellbore. The collar has a first shape and a liner hanger has a second shape that is based on the first shape. The liner hanger is configured to fit within, and to be supported by, the collar. The system also includes a screen connected to the liner hanger.

Abstract: A fracturing method wherein a foamed or energized fluid comprising natural gas is introduced into a subterranean formation to enhance or create fractures and to enhance production of hydrocarbons from a reservoir penetrated by a wellbore.

Abstract: The invention provides a downhole apparatus and method of use. The apparatus comprises a plurality of elements assembled together to form a ring structure oriented in a plane around a longitudinal axis and a drive mechanism for effecting rotation of the ring structure with respect to a wellbore or subterranean formation. The ring structure is operable to be moved between a collapsed condition and a first expanded condition by movement of the plurality of elements, and the ring structure comprises one or more surfaces or formations for cutting and/or removal of material from the wellbore or subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method for fracturing a formation includes positioning a fluid treatment string in the formation. The fluid treatment string includes a port configured to pass fracturing fluid from within the string's inner bore to outside the string, and a sliding sleeve located inside string and configured to move by fluid pressure within the inner bore of the fluid treatment string between (i) a first position in which the sliding sleeve covers the port and (ii) a second position in which the sliding sleeve exposes the port to the inner bore. The method also includes applying a fluid pressure within the inner bore such that the sliding sleeve moves from the first position to the second position without the sliding sleeve engaging a sealing device, and pumping fracturing fluid through the inner bore and through the port to fracture a portion of the formation.

Abstract: A system configured to provide thermal regulation and vibration isolation to one or more electronic components. The system includes a sensor chassis defining an interior chamber, an electronics housing in the interior chamber of the sensor chassis, a thermoelectric cooler coupled between the sensor chassis and the electronics housing, a thermal strap coupled to the sensor chassis, and at least one isolator coupled to the sensor chassis. The system may also include an insulating material, such as Aerogel, in the interior chamber of the sensor chassis and extending around the electronics housing.

Abstract: A method of establishing fluid communication between wellbores can include forming a flow path from one wellbore to another wellbore, a flow area of the flow path increasing in a direction from the first wellbore toward the second wellbore. An explosive assembly for use in a well can include an explosive device having multiple explosive charges, the explosive charges producing longitudinal shock waves that collide with each other and result in a laterally directed shock wave, and a shield that focuses the laterally directed shock wave into a predetermined angular range of less than 360 degrees. A method of establishing fluid communication between wellbores can include forming a flow path from one wellbore to another wellbore, the flow path intersecting an uncased portion of the second wellbore.

Abstract: A measurement while drilling (MWD) tool includes a sensor, an encoder operably connected to the sensor and a modulator operably connected to the encoder. The modulator includes a first stator, a rotor and a second stator. The rotor is optimally positioned between the first and second stator. The use of a second stator amplifies the pressure pulse signal produced by the modulator.

Abstract: The invention provides an expanding and collapsing ring apparatus and method of use. The expanding and collapsing ring comprises a plurality of elements assembled together to form a ring structure oriented in a plane around a longitudinal axis. The ring structure defines an inner ring surface configured to be presented to a surface of an object arranged internally to the ring structure. The ring structure is operable to be moved between a collapsed condition and a first expanded condition by movement of the plurality of elements. The plurality of elements is operable to be moved between the expanded and collapsed conditions by sliding with respect to one another in the plane of the ring structure. Applications of the invention include oilfield devices, connection systems, flow barriers and packers.

Abstract: A downhole valve having: a valve body with a longitudinal main passage; an annular chamber arranged in the valve body; at least one valve port extending from the main passage, through the annular chamber and to an outside of the valve. The downhole valve further includes a sleeve disposed at least partially within the chamber. The sleeve is movable in response to an application of fluid pressure to the annular chamber via a fluid channel extending from the main passage to the annular chamber. The sleeve is movable between a closed position in which the sleeve blocks the at least one valve port and an open position in which the sleeve does not block the at least one valve port.

Abstract: A downhole local solid particles counting probe (1) for counting solid particles (101) in a fluid (100) present in a hydrocarbon well in production comprising: an elongated and flexible protective tube (2) defining an internal cavity (5) terminating by a membrane wall (3) defining a tip (4), the protective tube (2) and the membrane wall (3) isolating the internal cavity (5) from the fluid (100) of the hydrocarbon well, the protective tube (2) and membrane wall (3) are made of metal or metal alloy and have a thickness (ei) such as to resist to the downhole hydrocarbon well pressure; a passive acoustic sensor (6) mounted inside the internal cavity (5), the passive acoustic sensor (6) having a front side (7) mechanically coupled on the membrane wall (3) of the tip (4); a characteristic dimension of the passive acoustic sensor (6) is similar to solid particles (101) average characteristic dimension, ranging from 0.5 mm to 1.

Abstract: A downhole cleanout tool includes a tool housing have a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and a filter between the inlet and the outlet. The tool includes a pump that is fluidly coupled to at least the fluid inlet to motivate fluid across the filter. The tool also includes a rotatable housing having a nozzle that is fluidly coupled to the pump outlet. The rotatable housing may rotate about a longitudinal axis of the rotatable housing, and the filter and pump may be disposed within the rotatable housing. Each nozzle may include a nozzle outlet oriented at an angle (a) from a radial axis extending from the longitudinal axis of the rotatable housing to a location where the nozzle outlet intersects the periphery of the rotatable housing such that motivation of fluid through the nozzle results in rotation of the rotatable housing.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting impact of induced micro-fractures in a subsurface formation are disclosed. The method includes determining an unloading effective stress (?ul) in a formation sample taken from a wellbore drilled into the subsurface formation, determining a fracture closure stress (?cl) of the formation sample, determining that the unloading effective stress (?ul) is greater than or equal to the fracture closure stress (?ul), and in response to determining that unloading effective stress (?ul) is greater than or equal to the fracture closure stress (?ul), operating the well system to inhibit impact of micro-fractures in the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore comprises: introducing into the subterranean formation a treatment fluid comprising coated polymeric particles having a polymeric core and a curable thermoset coating disposed on the polymeric core; allowing the curable thermoset coating to cure under downhole conditions; and forming a fluid-permeable pack from the coated polymeric particles, the fluid-permeable pack reducing or substantially preventing the passage of formation particles from the subterranean formation into the wellbore while allowing passage of formation fluids from the subterranean formation into the wellbore.

Abstract: A tool for screening unconventional reservoirs to determine the location of economically important accumulations of hydrocarbons early in a reservoir development process is described. Once the accumulations are identified, subsequent process such as drilling wells and producing hydrocarbons can begin.

Abstract: There is provided a method of producing hydrocarbon material. A first hydrocarbon material is produced from the formation, the first hydrocarbon material including a gaseous hydrocarbon material originally in place in the formation. At least a portion of the produced gaseous hydrocarbon material is injected into the formation to increase the formation pressure. A second hydrocarbon material is produced from the formation.

Abstract: A catalytic proppant and methods for making and using same are disclosed herein. The catalytic proppant can include a proppant support containing silica and alumina. The proppant support can have a macropore concentration of about 15% to about 45%, a mesopore concentration of about 20% to 50%, and a micropore concentration of about 8% to about 30% based on the total pore volume of the proppant support. The proppant support can also have a surface area of about 0.5 m2/g to about 50 m2/g. The catalytic proppant can have a long term permeability at 7,500 psi of at least about 10 D in accordance with ISO 13503-5.

Abstract: Drilling installation comprising a cantilever with a drilling floor for performing drilling operations; further comprising an independent operations handling system arranged for handling equipment underneath the drilling floor independent of the drilling operations on the drilling floor, wherein the independent operations handling system comprises a handling element for cooperation with the equipment to be handled, wherein the handling element is extendible underneath the cantilever.

Abstract: A method and a system for monitoring a condition of an elastic element used in a downhole tool are provided. The method comprises acquiring an output signal from a flexible-type sensor installed in the elastic element, the sensor sensing at least one of strain and stress of the elastic element, and estimating a condition of the elastic element based on the output signal from the sensor. The system comprises a flexible-type sensor installed in the elastic element, the sensor sensing at least one of strain and stress of the elastic element and a processor to acquire an output signal from the sensor and estimate a condition of the elastic element based on the output signal from the sensor.