Abstract: A flow rate control system includes a housing and a valve assembly slidingly disposed within a housing inner bore. The housing includes bypass openings. The valve assembly includes a valve and an orifice disposed in a valve inner bore. The valve includes a plurality of valve bypass bores extending axially through a valve collar. The valve assembly slides between closed and fully open positions. A spring biases the valve assembly toward the closed position in which the valve closes the housing bypass openings. In the open position, a bypass fluid path is formed including the valve bypass bores and the housing bypass openings. The valve assembly is flow rate controlled in the closed position and pressure controlled in the open position. The valve assembly may slide within a sleeve assembly including sleeve bypass openings, which connect the valve bypass bores and housing bypass openings in the bypass fluid path.

Abstract: A system for establishing a bypass flow path includes a plug assembly having bypass ports extending from the exterior to the interior; a wiper dart to engage and seal the first flow path and bypass flow path, and initiate release of the plug assembly from a first position, the plug assembly having a dart nose attached to the dart body; once the plug has moved to a second position, pressure applied through the bypass ports communicates to the dart nose to cause detachment of the dart nose from the dart body; a first flow path extends through the central bore of the plug assembly when the wiper dart is not present; and a second flow path extends through the bypass ports on the plug assembly below the dart body to the detachable dart nose, once detached, the bypass flow path is established thru the bore below the dart body.

Abstract: A seal section of a submersible well pump assembly has an expandable and contractible bag surrounded by a pressure equalizing chamber. A motor lubricant communication path communicates motor lubricant the bag interior. A well fluid port admits well fluid into the pressure equalizing chamber. A gas vent passage leads from the pressure equalizing chamber to the exterior of the enclosure. At least one membrane in the gas vent passage allows gas contained in the well fluid in the pressure equalizing chamber to vent. The membrane blocks liquid from flowing through the gas vent passage into and out of the pressure equalizing chamber.

Abstract: A downhole tool which allows the selective operation of a second fluid pressure activated tool below a first fluid pressure activated tool on a tool string in a well. The downhole tool has a piston sleeve moveable inside a cylindrical body between a first position in which a small flow area is provided through the tool and a second position in which a larger flow area is provided. The piston sleeve is held in the first position by a magnet and the first fluid pressure activated tool can be operated by increasing fluid pressure above the tool up to a cracking pressure level which matches the pulling strength of the magnet. Increasing fluid pressure to the cracking pressure therefore selectively moves the piston sleeve to the second position in which the second fluid pressure activated tool can be operated. The downhole tool is resettable.

Abstract: A smart jarring system for freeing stuck equipment downhole is disclosed. The smart jarring system comprises a set of jars, at least one laser source and at least one laser receiver that corresponds to the at least one laser source. The laser receiver intercepts a laser beam that is emitted from the laser source. This interception helps determine when the set of jars fired and in which direction the set of jars fired. The smart jarring system further comprises one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of vibration sensors, temperature sensors, and torque/tensile sensors. These sensors are configured to diagnose downhole conditions and help free the stuck equipment downhole.

Abstract: A method of blowing out debris or sand from a separation device comprises opening a second valve assembly such that the second valve assembly is not exposed to pressurized fluid from the separation device when opening. A first valve assembly is opened, wherein the first valve assembly is downstream of the separation device and upstream of the second valve assembly. Debris or sand from the separation device is blown through the first and second valve assemblies, and through a choke port of a third valve assembly. A method of closing fluid flow through a high integrity pressure protection system comprises closing a primary valve in response to detecting the over pressurization of fluid in the fluid line, and closing at least one secondary valve in response to detecting the closing of the primary valve.

Abstract: A completion assembly having a wireless adjustable electronic flow control node disposed along the sand screen base pipe to control flow of a fluid through a shunt tube assembly adjacent a sand screen. Each electronic flow control node includes a valve that can be adjusted by an electric actuator powered by a power harvesting mechanism disposed in a flow path of the completion assembly. A wireless transmitter receives a control signal to control the electric actuator. The control signal may be transmitted to open or close a packing tube or a transport tube of the shunt tube assembly.

Abstract: A spoolable array of sensors may be deployed within a wellbore and external a tubular string for measuring properties of a fluid in the central flow passage of the tubular string. A flow port may be made in the tubular string passing from the central flow passage to the external surface. Sensors of the spoolable array of sensors may be covered with a shroud and placed proximate the flow port, or such sensors may be isolated in a zone with packers along with the flow port. The spoolable array of sensors may additionally obtain pressure data to calculate a flow rate from a production zone. The spoolable array of sensors may also be employed in a non-flowing wellbore for monitoring nearby wellbores.

Abstract: Liner hangers and methods of use. An example method includes positioning a liner hanger in a wellbore; the liner hanger comprising: two sealing elements disposed on the exterior of the liner hanger and having a void space therebetween, and a pressure reducing metal element disposed between the two sealing elements. The method further includes trapping a wellbore fluid in the void space; wherein the wellbore fluid thermally expands in the void space creating an annular pressure in the void space; and reducing the annular pressure by materially altering the pressure reducing metal element.

Abstract: A deployment method and set of alternative tools for deploying, exchanging, and repairing an Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) and pipe strings utilizing a lubricator and standard pressure control equipment (valves, Blow Out Preventers); this method permits a rig less deployment of an ESP with well control maintained using a short length lubricator and standard pressure containment tools. This method defines a specific set of tools to be incorporated in the method to achieve the assembly of the ESP at surface and deployment in a single run to set the ESP at the pumping depth. This method facilitates the orientation and alignment of the terminals of the ESP motor and gauge and creates a pressure barrier through the ESP string during makeup and break out of the ESP.

Abstract: Devices that can be used to recover hydrocarbon production from closed-in oil wells capable of building up wellhead pressure and/or to sustain marginal oil production in oil wells are disclosed. Production in oil and natural gas producing wells in mature fields that have the ability to build up wellhead pressure and where the depletion of reservoir pressure has caused low or zero productivity may be automated. The devices include at least two bellows that facilitate their operation. The bellows may close the well to build up pressure in the wellhead and open the well to flow line pressure.

Abstract: A wellbore completion system includes an expandable liner hanger with a post-setting fluid flow path. The system includes an expandable liner hanger that can be expanded by a running tool prior to a completion operation in a wellbore. The system also includes a circulating sleeve that can be manipulated by the running tool. The circulating sleeve can provide a return path for fluid internal to the expandable liner hanger for the completion operation that is performed subsequent to releasing the running tool from the expandable liner hanger.

Abstract: A core barrel head assembly having at least one electronic instrument that is configured to obtain orientation data; a power source; and a communication means to receive and/or transmit orientation data for use in a core sample down hole surveying and sample orientation system that is configured to provide an indication of the orientation of a core sample relative to a body of material from which the core has been extracted, and also to a method of core sample orientation identification.

Abstract: A method of monitoring fluid outflow along a wellbore includes obtaining an acoustic signal from a sensor within the wellbore, determining one or more frequency domain features from the acoustic signal, and identifying one or more fluid outflow locations along the portion of the depth of the wellbore using the one or more frequency domain features. The acoustic signal includes acoustic samples across a portion of a depth of the wellbore.

Abstract: Systems and methods to maintain constant pressure within a chamber within a tool via a sliding seal, wherein the seal moves to increase or decrease the size of the chamber.

Abstract: A method for wellbore fluid flow control in which a frangible flapper is disposed in a wellbore. The frangible flapper is engaged to a flow tube disposed within the wellbore to keep the frangible flapper in a biased open position to allow fluid flow through the wellbore. The method includes moving the flow tube longitudinally in a first direction within the wellbore and relative to the frangible flapper. The method includes responsive to moving the flow tube longitudinally in the first direction, disengaging the flow tube from the frangible flapper. The method includes responsive to disengaging the flow tube from the frangible flapper, causing the frangible flapper to move from the biased open position to an unbiased shut position. The method includes responsive to the frangible flapper moving to the unbiased shut position, stopping fluid flow within the wellbore from a downhole location downhole of the frangible flapper.

Abstract: Horizontal wells and multi-completion vertical wells generally have a greater performance requirement on downhole gas separators to separate a gas portion from a liquid portion of the well fluid prior to entering an artificial lifting system (or pump). Implementations described and claimed herein provide a downhole gas separator comprising a dip tube extending from a tubing inlet to an open end, a tubing section extending around the dip tube, and a separator sleeve extending around the tubing section. A liquid component of the fluid stream makes a first u-turn at the open end of the separator sleeve, an s-turn at the openings in the tubing section, and second u-turn at the open end of the dip tube. A gaseous component of the fluid stream continues upwards at the open end of the separator sleeve.

Abstract: A valve assembly for use in a wellbore includes a housing defining a bore that extends axially therethrough, a valve seat positioned in the housing, and a valve element movably positioned in the housing. The valve seat and the valve element are concentric to one another, but non-concentric with the housing, such that a centerline defined through the valve seat and the valve element is offset from a central axis of the housing. The valve element is linearly actuatable relative to the housing between a closed position in which the valve element engages the valve seat and blocks the bore and an open position in which the valve element permits flow of fluid therethrough.

Abstract: Provided is an interval control valve. The interval control valve, in one aspect, includes a tubular housing, the tubular housing having one or more openings extending there through, and a sliding sleeve positioned within the tubular, the sliding sleeve configured to move between a closed position closing a fluid path between the one or more opening and an interior of the tubular housing, and an open position opening the fluid path between the one or more openings and the interior of the tubular housing. The interval control valve according to this aspect additionally includes a tubular overlapping with the sliding sleeve, the sliding sleeve and the tubular defining an overlapping space, and an expanded metal joint located in at least a portion of the overlapping space, the expanded metal joint comprising a metal that has expanded in response to hydrolysis.

Abstract: A main well bore is drilled. The main well bore is completed and stimulated. The main well bore is sealed. A lateral well bore is drilled off the main well bore. A junction that allows communication with the lateral well bore and that connects the main well bore is inserted. The lateral well bore is stimulated through the junction. The main well bore is unsealed, allowing comingled flow from the main bore and the lateral bore.