Abstract: A window mill is positionable in a wellbore having an annulus. The window mill includes a mill body having an outer surface, a conduit extending axially through the mill body, and a flow port extending from the conduit through the outer surface. A nozzle shuttle including a nozzle is arranged in the conduit. The nozzle shuttle selectively extending over the flow port. A selectively openable port adapter extends between the flow port and the nozzle shuttle. The selectively openable port adapter is responsive to fluid pressure to fluidically expose the conduit to the annulus through the flow port.

Abstract: A snubber device for reducing shocks and vibrations in a downhole tool. The snubber includes a main body extending between upper and lower connector ends. The main body is defined by one or more cut-out portions. One or more elastomeric elements are held within the one or more cut-out portions. The cut-out portions provide flexibility to the main body. The elastomeric elements absorb shocks and vibrations and are conveniently replaceable when excessive wear reduces their shock and vibration absorbing capacity.

Abstract: Provided are tractor wheels for a downhole tractor. An example tractor wheel comprises a series of continuous springs disposed on the circumference of the tractor wheel, wherein the individual continuous springs in the series of continuous springs are separated by a gap, and a void disposed on the interior of the tractor wheel and that is continuous about the circumference of the tractor wheel.

Abstract: Techniques for plugging at least one zone of a hydrocarbon well are disclosed herein. The techniques include methods for deploying a wellbore dart configured for plugging the at least one zone of the hydrocarbon well, receiving, by a first node, location information indicating a first location of the wellbore dart, receiving, by a second node, location information indicating a second location of the wellbore dart, and detecting, an arrival of the wellbore dart at an intended location for the dart to plug the zone of the hydrocarbon well. In some aspects, the method further includes sending a command to a firing module of the wellbore dart, the command effective to cause the wellbore dart to plug the zone of the hydrocarbon well. Systems and computer-readable media are also provided.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided removing the functionality of a ceramic disk installed in a wellbore during oil and gas well completion and production activities. More specifically, the disclosure relates to rupturing a ceramic disk with a jet of fluids. The jetting fluid is directed towards the disk with a jetting device lowered into the wellbore. The jetting fluid comprising a fluid with entrained solids.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically digging a hole using a digger assembly on the end of a boom. A controller is configured to receive signals from a plurality of sensors distributed throughout the digging system, along the boom and the digger assembly. Based on the information from the sensors, the controller automatically adjusts one or more parameters of the digging system while digging the hole. The system and method prevent corkscrewing of the digging member, while also allowing for a specific hole depth and hole angle to be dug. Specifically, the system allows for easily and accurately digging a plumb hole.

Abstract: The systems, devices, and methods described herein relate to tubular detection on a gripperhead system for a drilling rig. The gripperhead system includes a grabber and a gripper each having first and second grabber arm and pistons connected to the first and second arms. Each arm may also include an inwardly facing gripping surface forming at least a portion of a chamber sized to receive a portion of a cylindrical tubular. One or more sensors may be disposed on the gripperhead system, including proximity sensors disposed on the arms, inductive sensors disposed within the pistons, and ultrasonic sensors disposed on other features of gripperhead system. The one or more sensors may be configured to determine the position of the tubular in relation to the arms, measure the size of the tubular, measure the compression force of the grabber, and ensure that the tubular is secured within the grabber.

Abstract: Tools, for example, fixed cutter drill bits, may be manufactured to include hard composite portions having reinforcing particles dispersed in a continuous binder phase and auxiliary portions that are more machinable than the hard composite portions. For example, a tool may include a hard composite portion having a machinability rating 0.2 or less; and an auxiliary portion having a machinability rating of 0.6 or greater in contact with the hard composite portion. The boundary or interface between the hard composite portion and the auxiliary portion may be designed so that upon removal of the most or all of the auxiliary portion the resultant tool has a desired geometry without having to machine the hard composite portion.

Abstract: A well cleaning tool (100) comprising: an elongate body (102) having a longitudinal axis; a central fluid bore (120) aligned with the longitudinal axis; and a cleaning element (110) mounted on the elongate body (102) and being displaceable with respect to the elongate body (102) in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis, wherein the cleaning element (102) comprises at least one fluid channel (150) in fluid communication with the central fluid bore (120) and extending through the cleaning element (110) in a direction inclined to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A method of drilling a wellbore to a target includes measuring attitudes at two adjacent survey stations along a wellbore using a downhole surveying tool. An actual change in wellbore position over a survey leg linking the two survey stations is determined. Corrections are applied to the measured attitude at one or both of the survey stations such that a modeled well path joining the survey stations reflects the determined actual change in wellbore positon between the two survey stations.

Abstract: Provided, in one aspect, is a lateral locating assembly. The lateral locating assembly may include, in one aspect, a housing, as well as a piston positioned within the housing. The lateral locating assembly according to this aspect may further include a mandrel extending from a distal end of the housing, the mandrel configured to rotate and translate angularly in response to the piston moving from a first position to a second position, and a deflection tip coupled with a distal end of the mandrel, the deflection tip configured to rotate and angularly translate with the mandrel relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method of modeling a wellbore path in an earth model, including receiving, from an electronic drilling recorder coupled to a bottom hole assembly (BHA), a set of BHA data, and a set of operating parameters data and receiving, a set of rock formation data; generating, a representation of a wellbore path in a first section of the earth model, by assessing the set of BHA data, the set of operating parameters data, the set of rock formation data, and a first set of parameters quantifying bit steerability, walk, coefficient of friction, and overgauge borehole information. The method includes modifying, based on data received from a survey corresponding to the first section of the earth model, the first set of parameters to generate a second set of parameters, and generating a future wellbore path in a second section of the earth model by applying the second set of parameters.

Abstract: A method for determining a screen break may include obtaining a fluid stream after a screening system in a drilling process; placing the fluid stream into a screen break detector; obtaining a pressure within a well of the screen break detector when the screening system is in a first state; obtaining a pressure within the well of the screen break detector when the screening system is in a second state; determining a differential pressure within the well of the screen break detector obtained when the screening system is in the second state compared to the pressure when the screen break is in the first state; and transmitting a notification to an operator when the pressure within the screen break detector obtained when the screening system is in the second state is greater than the pressure within the screen break detector when the screening system is in the first state.

Abstract: Methods and systems are described that can be used for locating conductive bodies such as wellbore casing or piping disposed below the earth's surface. An electrical current can be excited in a conductive body in each wellbore in a given area to produce a magnetic field, and the magnetic field can be detected by a ranging tool. Location and current parameters can be determined for an estimated number of wellbores producing non-negligible contributions to the magnetic field, and the estimated number of wellbores can be adjusted until the number of contributing wellbores is determined. Location solutions can be returned for each of the contributing wellbores, and the location solutions can be employed to facilitate exploration of drilling applications such as well avoidance, well intersection and/or steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) steering operations.

Abstract: A method includes running a lock mandrel into a subterranean wellbore, setting the lock mandrel in a landing nipple located at a specified depth in the subterranean wellbore, acquiring data within a control unit, the data including information regarding a position of the lock mandrel in the landing nipple, transmitting the data in real time from the control unit to a surface of the wellbore, and determining a position of the lock mandrel in the landing nipple based on the transmitted data. An apparatus includes a landing nipple having an internal locking profile, a lock mandrel having an external locking profile configured to engage the internal locking profile of the landing nipple, a sensor coupled to the landing nipple, and a control unit coupled to the landing nipple and configured to receive data from the sensor and transmit the received data to a surface of the wellbore in real time.

Abstract: A system and method of drilling a wellbore to a target may include measuring attitudes at two adjacent survey stations along a wellbore using a downhole surveying tool. An actual change in wellbore position over a survey leg linking the two survey stations may be determined. Corrections may be applied to the measured attitude at one or both of the survey stations such that an estimated well path joining the survey stations indicates the determined actual change in wellbore position between the two survey stations.

Abstract: A diverter assembly may include a diverter body assembly. The diverter body assembly may also include a diverter body, the diverter body fluidly coupled to the annulus of a wellbore via a casing or riser, and the diverter body including one or more diverter outlet ports fluidly coupled to the annulus of the wellbore. The diverter body assembly may also include an upper packer assembly. The upper packer assembly may include a packer sleeve, the packer sleeve mechanically coupled to the diverter body. The packer sleeve may include one or more breach lock slots. The upper packer assembly may also include an upper packer body having one or more packer breach lock tabs engaged with the breach lock slots of the packer sleeve. The diverter assembly may also include a diverter support housing, the diverter support housing coupled to the diverter body assembly.

Abstract: A downhole tool system includes a downhole tool. The downhole tool includes a body having a bore formed axially-therethrough. An inner surface of the body defines an asymmetric shoulder. The downhole tool also includes an upper cone configured to be received within the bore of the body from an upper axial end of the body. The upper cone is configured to move within the body in a first direction from the upper axial end toward the shoulder in response to actuation by a setting assembly, which forces at least a portion of the body radially-outward.

Abstract: Steering mechanisms for use in RSS systems may be devoid of an elastomeric piston seal. Pistons of the steering mechanisms have a convex cross-section that permit the piston to pivot along with a steering pad while moving laterally or radially along a piston axis defined by a piston bore. Hydraulic pressure may be maintained as the pad is extended since a limited gap size between the piston and the bore may be maintained throughout the motion of the pistons. The pistons may be retained to the steering pad in a T-slot and may be elongated in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the piston bore. A groove may be provided around the piston for a receiving a back-up seal therein. The back-up seal may include wear resistant balls embedded in a matrix, and balls may be preloaded to serve as flow restrictors even when worn.

Abstract: A method of condition monitoring of tubing (10) in an injection well (12). A baseline measurement of friction loss in the tubing is taken by obtaining pressure responses at the wellhead (34) and downhole for a number of injection rates. After a period of time, pressure responses at the wellhead and downhole are taken when the well is shut-in. Analysis of the Instantaneous Shut-In Pressure (ISIP) at the wellhead and downhole on shut-in provide the friction loss in the tubing for the last injection rate before shut-in. A comparison can be made with the baseline measurement of friction loss to indicate deterioration of the inner surface of the tubing if the friction loss has increased. The baseline measurement may be made using a step rate test or by analysis of the combined ISIP.