Abstract: A system for monitoring fluid flow conditions on a return flow line including a return flow line in fluid communication with a wellbore, a shaker, and a header box. The system includes a contactless flow sensor facing an interior of the header box or an outlet of the return flow line, a data gathering and analyzing unit coupled to the contactless flow sensor, and a control panel to display data and notify when hazardous conditions occur. A method for monitoring fluid flow conditions on a return flow line including flowing a drilling mud into the header box through the return flow line and monitoring the height of the drilling mud in the header box and/or return flow line to determine the fluid level using the contactless flow sensor. The fluid level is used to determine a fluid flow rate and indicate a current operational or a hazardous operational status.

Abstract: An assembly comprises a downhole tool and a gripper. The downhole tool is configured to be set in a wellbore and milled after a scheduled period, wherein the downhole tool has a first tool end and a second tool end along a longitudinal direction. The gripper is positioned opposite the first tool end along the longitudinal direction, wherein the gripper comprises a slider and an activator. The activator is configured to be moved by the downhole tool relative to the slider between an inactivated position and an activated position when the downhole tool is milled from the second tool end. The slider remains unmoved when the activator is in the inactivated position, and the slider moves radially to engage with an internal wall of the wellbore and stop the downhole tool from rotation when the activator is in the activated position.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, embodiments relate to a perforating gun that includes a gun body, a bulkhead assembly for coupling the perforating gun to an uphole perforating gun, where the bulkhead assembly is at least partially disposed in the gun body, and where the bulkhead assembly includes a bulkhead and electrical feedthrough formed in the bulkhead, and a charge tube assembly attached to the bulkhead assembly, where the charge tube is disposed in the gun body, and where the charge tube assembly includes a charge tube, a detonator housing interlocked with the charge tube, an end alignment interlocked with the charge tube, and a detonation cord extending from the detonator housing to the charge tube.

Abstract: A ranging system having magnets positioned at various locations along the drive system. Location of the magnetics is shifted to different points on the drilling string to remove the need for a nearby bit sub that would detrimentally affect the steerability of the drilling system.

Abstract: A compact drill assembly, a drilling system and a method for automatically drilling small diameter holes of arbitrary depth. The compact drill assembly includes a housing having a geometry that allows insertion into the confined space and a rotatable drilling spindle that includes an actuated locking collet assembly arranged and disposed to selectively secure and release a composite bit. A bit conveying arrangement is configured to convey the composite bit along the non-confined dimension and along the confined dimension through the actuated locking collet assembly. A drill drive is arranged and disposed to advance the rotatable drilling spindle along the confined dimension. The method includes conveying a composite bit along the non-confined dimension and along the confined dimension through the compact drill assembly and advancing the composite bit along the confined dimension to drill into a surface along an edge of the confined space.

Abstract: An evaporative cooler for cooling drilling fluid includes a flow pipe having an inner surface in contact with drilling fluid and an outer surface in contact with an evaporative medium. The flow pipe has a serpentine configuration within a transportation frame. A system for cooling a drilling fluid includes a mud circulation system connecting the drilling fluid between a well and a surface where an evaporative cooler is coupled to the mud circulation system and has a serpentine flow pipe in a transportation frame. A method includes pumping heated drilling fluid from a wellbore to an evaporative cooling system, with an evaporative cooler to cool the heated drilling fluid, and sending the cooled drilling fluid back to the wellbore. Another method includes using an intermediate cooler, wherein the intermediate cooler comprises a heat exchanger and an intermediate fluid.

Abstract: This disclosure may generally relate to operations performed in a wellbore. More particularly, systems and methods may be provided for measuring the position of a tool and/or tubular string downhole. The present disclosure may be able to determine an accurate position change in a downhole tool without requiring surface equipment manipulation during measurement acquisition. A position measurement system may comprise a position measurement tool, wherein the position measurement tool comprises a sensor module and a telemetry module; and a marker, wherein the marker emits a signal measured by the sensor module.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing a wellbore operation. A thermal compensator is introduced into a wellbore having a temperature. The thermal compensator comprises an outer layer comprising a first material, an inner layer comprising a second material, and a core disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer; wherein the core comprises a third material. The third material has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion than the first material and the second material. The core contracts when the wellbore temperature is decreasing and the contraction of the core moves the outer layer such that it applies a force to a structure adjacent to the outer layer.

Abstract: Provided is a keyed running tool for use with a slotted orientation apparatus. The keyed running tool, in one aspect, includes a housing, and two or more keys extending from the housing, the two or more keys movable between a radially retracted state and a radially extended state, wherein adjacent ones of the two or more keys are laterally offset from each other and radially offset from each other by Y degrees, wherein Y is 180 degrees or less.

Abstract: A downhole catcher for wellbore plunger includes an elongate, hollow body, a plunger catcher plate and a hydraulic actuation assembly. The body can be installed within a wellbore, and defines an interior volume through which a plunger of a plunger lift system can travel from the surface toward the subsurface reservoir. The plunger catcher plate is attached to a downhole end of the body. The plate can transition between a first and plate positions in which a plate axis is perpendicular to and parallel to the body axis, respectively. The plate can, in the second plate position, catch the plunger traveling from the surface toward the subsurface reservoir. The hydraulic actuation assembly is connected to the plunger catcher plate and can transition the plunger catcher plate from the first plate position to a second plate position in response to being hydraulically actuated.

Abstract: The method describes a way of improved oil recovery by the action of the electric field of the DC current and the electromagnetic field on the oil deposit (6) that is on the oil, the mentioned method comprises the following steps: a) Selection of the submerged rock clusters formations that contain the oil; b) Selection of one or more boreholes wells where the method will be applied; c) Extracting oil from at least one well borehole; Considering that the afore mentioned steps of the method further comprise of the following steps: A. Connected steel (17) and/or the upstream production tubing (16) of the boreholes wells with the DC electricity source 1 where the steel casings (17) and/or the upstream production tubing (16) assume the roles of the electrodes (7, 8); B. Connecting an electrical current source (1) with an electromagnetic field source (2); C.

Abstract: Methods and systems for managing dielectric properties of a pulsed power drilling fluid are provided. In one embodiment, the methods include introducing a drilling fluid into a drilling pipe that extends into a portion of a wellbore; separating the drilling fluid into a solids rich portion and a solids lean portion in the drilling pipe at a location proximate to a pulsed power drill bit; allowing the solids lean portion of the drilling fluid to flow through the pulsed power drill bit; and drilling at least a portion of a wellbore. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include passing the drilling fluid through one or more hydrocyclones. In some embodiments, the methods and systems include passing the drilling fluid through one or more centrifuges.

Abstract: A mechanical autonomous pipe cutting system for cutting a pipe in a wellbore includes a locking unit that prevents the system from moving within the pipe when engaged to an inner surface of the pipe, a punching unit that moves a plurality of punching elements radially relative to an axis of the system, and a cutting unit that is designed to sever the pipe. The locking unit, the punching unit, and the cutting unit are attached to a body of the mechanical autonomous pipe cutting system. The body includes a motor that rotates the cutting unit. The mechanical autonomous pipe cutting system further includes a sensor module that detects interactions between the pipe and walls of the wellbore and a control unit in electronic communication with the sensor module, the locking unit, and the punching unit.

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: Systems and methods for steam fracking may provide for fracking at a lower cost, providing faster cycles, higher pressure, and more perforation, thereby making a safer system and less expensive method. A high-energy spark initiator may be maneuvered into a horizontal drill hole where a petroleum-bearing formation is fractured for trapped petroleum to flow out through cracks and into the horizontal borehole and pumped to the surface for collection. The horizontal borehole may be flooded with slickwater which may submerge the spark initiator. A high-energy electric charge may be sparked across the contacts on the spark initiator, followed by a high energy steam explosion caused by the heat of the spark. This may heat the water in the borehole near the initiator into high-pressure live steam which forces slickwater into the formation's cracks, opening the cracks wider where the slickwater sand will pack into cracks to hold them open.

Abstract: A wellbore positioning system includes a first wellbore casing element bearing a first magnetic pattern that encodes first information associated with the wellbore or a drone. The first wellbore casing element is configured for placement down-hole in the wellbore. The first wellbore casing element extends along a central axis and defines an axially oriented passage. Also, the system includes an untethered drone configured for relative movement in the passage of the first wellbore casing element. The drone is configured to detect the first magnetic pattern and determine a position of the drone within the wellbore based on the first information.

Abstract: A drilling rig may include a mast and a top drive system. The mast is aligned with a wellbore, the wellbore defining a wellbore centerline. The top drive system may include a top drive. The top drive is movable vertically relative to the mast. The top drive is movable horizontally between a position aligned with the wellbore centerline and a position out of alignment with the wellbore centerline.

Abstract: A method of removing wellbore water from a production wellbore includes determining a production flow rate. The method also includes determining a target production flow rate of the production fluid and comparing the production flow rate to a flow rate threshold associated with the target production flow rate. The method also includes determining, based on a result of comparing the production flow rate to the flow rate threshold, that the production flow rate satisfies the threshold. The method also includes activating a fluid moving device fluidly coupled to a wellbore string extending from a terranean surface to the water to inject, into the water, at least one of i) a surfactant, ii) a gas, or iii) a foaming agent, allowing the water and the production fluid to emulsify together and thereby allowing a mixture of water and production fluid to flow to the terranean surface of the wellbore.

Abstract: A system may include a control system disposed on a well surface, a casing disposed in a wellbore, a first electrical wiring coupled to the control system and the casing within a first section of the wellbore, and a second electrical wiring coupled to various flow control devices in a second section of the wellbore. The first section of the wellbore may be disposed at a first predetermined direction that is different than a second predetermined direction of the second section of the wellbore. The system may further include an electrical connector coupled to the first electrical wiring and the second electrical wiring. The electrical connector may include a mechanical receiver that couples with the first electrical wiring, and a stinger assembly coupled with the second electrical wiring and that connects to the mechanical receiver.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes deploying a jet pump assembly from a surface location into a production tubing of a depleted volatile oil reservoir, the jet pump assembly including retractable tubing, a jet pump and a retractable packer operatively connected with the retractable tubing. The jet pump assembly is positioned within the production tubing, the retractable packer is engaged to bridge a space between the jet pump assembly and a surface of the production tubing, and the jet pump is activated to pump toward the surface location a mixture comprising a power fluid and reservoir fluid. The method further includes disengaging the retractable packer and determining whether there is an underbalance condition. Also disclosed are a related jet pump assembly and bi-directional valve arrangement. The valve arrangement includes upper and lower valves, and retains power fluid in retractable tubing during retraction of a jet pump assembly from production tubing.