Abstract: An integrated control system (ICS) for a well drilling platform is provided, which well drilling platform has a plurality of control systems and devices. The ICS includes an ICS controller is in communication with a master control. The ICS controller includes a memory device coupled to a processor. Instructions executed by the processor cause the ICS controller to: communicate with each of the control systems to determine a status of each of the control systems; cause the master control display to display status information for at least one of the control systems; in response to an operator input perform a well drilling platform function, the function requiring a coordinated state between a first control system and at least a second control system, configure the first control system and the second control system into a coordinated state.

Abstract: A lifting plug is for lifting a tubular column in a gas and/or oil well. The lifting plug is a one-piece component capable of being manipulated by a jaw of an oil platform elevator. The plug includes a body to be screwed onto the tubular column. The body includes two outer flanges: an upper flange and an intermediate flange. The flanges are such that the jaw of the elevator can be arranged between these two flanges. The upper flange forms a bearing shoulder for the jaw to bear on and the intermediate flange includes a bore for manipulating the plug allowing the insertion through the body of a pin emerging at two different points of the intermediate collar. The plug can be rotated by the pin while remaining engaged in the jaw.

Abstract: A casing string includes an uphole section, a downhole section, and a sealed chamber that is fluidically isolated from the uphole and downhole sections. The sealed chamber extends between the uphole and downhole sections. The casing string further includes a tube that is disposed within the sealed chamber and that fluidically connects the uphole and downhole sections to provide a fluid flow path that extends past the sealed chamber and through the casing string.

Abstract: A non-explosive downhole tool for creating openings in tubulars and or earthen formations includes a carrier holding a non-explosive material, such as thermate, a head connected with the carrier and having a port to eject a product of the ignited material from the head and a communication path extending from the material to the port and a moveable member in a closed position blocking the communication path and in an open position opening the communication path.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dual interlocking v-shaped shear ram assembly comprising an upper ram and lower ram, each defining a v-shaped cutting surface. A plurality of angled surfaces on the upper ram and lower ram engage to form an interlocking connection that prevents rotation of either the upper ram or lower ram in the ram cavity and seals the wellbore. The upper ram has a surface along 90% to 100% of the length thereof that conforms to the surface of the corresponding ram cavity.

Abstract: An open tip downhole expansion tool including a frustoconical member having a base at a diametrically smaller portion of the frustoconical member and a tip at a diametrically larger portion of the frustoconical member, the member having a radially outer zone and a radially inner zone and having an axial length extending from the base to the tip; an outer void in a material of the member along a length of the radially outer zone; and an inner void in a material of the member along a length of the radially inner zone, the outer and inner voids being located at different positions along the axial length of the frustoconical member, the outer and inner voids each causing the frustoconical member to present a first resistance to deformation when the voids are open and a higher resistance to deformation of the frustoconical member when the voids are collapsed.

Abstract: A member that is a single element for controlling flow through an inflow control device, has anisotropic density configured to move the member relative to the inflow control device such that the inflow control device allows, fully blocks, or partially blocks flow from a zone to a production string based on a density of a fluid flowing into the inflow control device from the zone.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first clamping mechanism configured to grip a tubular member at a first location along the tubular member. The apparatus also includes a second clamping mechanism configured to grip the tubular member at a second location along the tubular member that is axially-offset from the first location. The apparatus also includes a base positioned between the first and second clamping mechanisms. The apparatus also includes a strain gauge coupled to the base.

Abstract: A multilateral well access system includes a directional guide and a mating surface profile. The directional guide includes a main body and an outer surface profile disposed on the main body. The main body defines a guide surface oriented non-parallelly to an elongate axis of the main body and a bore passing through the main body along the elongate axis. The mating surface profile is formed complementary to the outer surface profile of the directional guide and is engaged with the outer surface profile to secure the directional guide in a fixed position.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic force adjustment control system for mobile drilling machines and methods for automatically adjusting a force on a down-the-hole drill bit of a drill string of a mobile drilling machine. A method may include: monitoring bit air pressure of the down-the-hole drill bit during an automatic down-the-hole drilling operation; and automatically adjusting a force provided to the drill string based on the monitored bit air pressure so that the bit air pressure approaches a target air pressure value.

Abstract: An acquisition system is configured to acquire seismic data representing a subsurface formation during a fracking process. The system includes at least one acoustic sensor that is configured to obtain vibration data representing vibrations relating to three orthogonal directions relative to the at least one acoustic sensor. The system is configured to receive the vibration data from the at least one acoustic sensor, identify one or more resonance frequencies represented in the vibration data, determine, based on the identified one or more resonance frequencies, a stage of a fracking process being performed, identify, based on the stage of the fracking process that is identified, a feature of one or more fractures in a borehole that is configured for the fracking process, and generate a seismic image of the subsurface formation based on the feature of the one or more fractures.

Abstract: A release mechanism for a jarring tool is formed by a plurality of segmented release lugs. Each lug includes a plurality of axial spaced projections on an inner surface and a plurality of grooves on an outer surface. The projections have either different widths or are separated by varying distances and releaseably engage corresponding grooves in a mandrel located within a housing of the tool. The release lugs are positioned between a trigger sleeve and the mandrel. The release lugs may be supported by an annular ring member.

Abstract: A method for thermally insulating a power cable or other temperature sensitive equipment from a wellbore tool comprising a heater. The wellbore tool is deployed at an end of the power cable in a well. A flow restrictor is deployed in an annular space between the heater and a wellbore tubular. The heater is axially spaced apart from the power cable such that the heater is disposed on one side of the flow restrictor and a connection to the power cable is disposed on another side of the flow restrictor. A thermal insulator is introduced into the annular space on the one side of the flow restrictor and the heater is operated.

Abstract: A wellbore reamer tool for use in downhole oil well operations includes two helical impellers, two cutting portions, and an integral blade stabilizer. The first helical impeller is positioned at a downhole end for cleaning the wellbore of formation cuttings in advance of reaming by the cutting portions, and directing the formation cuttings to a desired position on the first cutting portions. The first and second cutting portions include radially insertable cutter inserts having cutters for reaming the wellbore to yield the formation cuttings. An integral blade stabilizer is positioned between the cutting portions for supporting the tool while driving uphole flow of the formation cuttings. A second helical impeller is positioned above the second cutting portions for cleaning the wellbore and boosting newly incorporated formations cuttings uphole towards surface.

Abstract: An assembly for driving excavating equipment for an excavating machine includes a drive assembly sliding along a mast of a machine, for driving the drilling equipment; and an actuator. The drive assembly includes a first structure with guide members for sliding along the mast; and a second support structure to support the drilling equipment. The first and second support structures are mutually movable. The drive assembly has at least two operating configurations, for setting at least two excavation center-to-center distances. In the operating configurations of the drive assembly, the first and second support structures are mutually rigidly and directly constrained. While switching between operating configurations, the first and second support structures are always directly mechanically constrained to each other.

Abstract: Provided is a junction, a method for forming a junction, and a well system including a junction. The junction, in one aspect, includes a first threaded member, the first member formed of a first material, and a second threaded member threaded with the first threaded member, the second threaded member formed of a second material. In one or more aspects, the first and second threaded members define an overlapping space. In one or more other aspects, an expandable metal joint is located in at least a portion of the overlapping space, the expandable metal joint comprising a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.

Abstract: A sand lift tool for use in a subterranean well can include an outer housing, an inner production tube positioned in the outer housing, and a dart received in the inner production tube. An annulus is positioned between the outer housing and the inner production tube. The dart can reciprocate in the inner production tube in response to variations in fluid flow between the annulus and an interior of the inner production tube. Another sand lift tool can include an outer housing, an inner production tube, and a sand collection annulus between the outer housing and the inner production tube. A flow area for fluid flow between the annulus and an interior of the inner production tube increases in response to an increase in a flow rate of the fluid flow.

Abstract: A system for handling drill pipe on the exit side of the borehole in horizontal directional drilling operations. The system pulls the drill string out of the borehole and uses a top drive and pipe wrench to disconnect the individual segments of drill pipe from the drill string. Pipe gripping arms lift the disconnected drill pipe segment away from the rest of the drill string and release it into a nearby pipe rack. The components of the system are collapsible and can nest in one another during transport.

Abstract: A fracturing fluid delivery system is provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a fracturing manifold and a fracturing tree. A fluid conduit is coupled between the fracturing manifold and the fracturing tree to enable receipt of fracturing fluid by the fracturing tree from the fracturing manifold through the fluid conduit. The fluid conduit includes a flexible pipe segment between rigid ends of the fluid conduit. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of directionally steering a bottom hole assembly (“BHA”) from a drilling rig to a target location including by receiving data indicative of a directional trend of the BHA and a projection to bit depth; determining a location of the BHA based on a directional trend and the projection; identifying an amount of deviation from a drilling path; automatically creating a modified drilling path that intersects the planned drilling path based on the amount of deviation exceeding a first threshold amount of deviation and being less than a second threshold amount of deviation, automatically creating a modified drilling path that does not intersect the planned drilling path in response to the amount of deviation exceeding the second threshold amount of deviation, and determining a curve profile of the modified drilling path having the smallest rate of curvature to avoid drilling overshoot; and steering the BHA.