Abstract: An electric stator surrounds an electric rotor. A magnetic coupling is attached to an end of the electric rotor. The magnetic coupling is configured to transmit rotational force to or from a separate rotational device. A housing surrounds and isolates the electrical rotor, the electric stator, and a portion of the magnetic coupling from a wellbore fluid. A pressure within the housing is lower than a pressure within a wellbore environment.

Abstract: A packing system comprising an anti-extrusion plugging system is described. The system includes a plugging tool and an elastomeric packing element carried by the plugging tool. Both the tool and the packing element are independently coupled to different anti-extrusion assemblies that work together to prevent the elastomeric material from extruding.

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 cutter including: a substrate mounted in a pocket formed in the blade; and a cutting table made from a superhard material, mounted to the substrate, and having a non-planar working face with a cutting feature; and a cutter orienting system including: a keyway formed in the substrate and angularly located opposite from the cutting feature; and a key formed in or mounted to the pocket and engaged with the keyway.

Abstract: A steerable drilling system in accordance to an embodiment includes a bias unit integrated with the drill bit to form a steering head and an electronic control system located remote from the steering head and electrically connected to a digital valve of the bias unit.

Abstract: A chemical injection valve can include a valve stem reciprocably disposed relative to a primary seal, and a variable flow restrictor upstream of the primary seal relative to a direction of flow through the chemical injection valve. The variable flow restrictor restricts the flow when the valve stem is disengaged from the primary seal. A chemical injection system can include a chemical treatment pumped through a chemical injection valve and into an interior of a tubular string in a well, the chemical injection valve including a valve stem, a primary seal sealingly engaged with the valve stem in a closed position and disengaged from the valve stem in an open position, and a flow restrictor that restricts the flow of the chemical treatment downstream from the primary seal in the open position.

Abstract: There is provided apparati and systems for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation, when reservoir pressure within the subterranean formation is insufficient to conduct hydrocarbons to the surface through a wellbore. The apparati and systems utilize a downhole pump and, in some cases, combine a downhole pump with a gas lift apparatus, in order to effect artificial lift of the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated Jack And Pull (JAP) tubular expansion tool string comprises: an annular non-return valve arranged in the wall of the JAP string, which allows mud to flow from a surrounding annulus into the bore of the expansion tool string when the pressure in the bore of the tool string is lower than that in the annulus; a second non-return valve arranged in the JAP string below the annular valve which allows fluid to move down only; wherein during the cycling of the jack the annular non-return valve is continuously open and the second non-return valve cycles with the jack movement to inhibit curing of cement in the expansion tool string.

Abstract: A leak-detecting assembly can include an array of hydrophones. The array can be moved within a hydrocarbon well. A variation in the Doppler shift caused by a stationary acoustic source (such as a leak) while the array moves towards and away from that source can be determined based on information from the array of hydrophones. The assembly can be associated with a passive system that captures acoustic signals directly from the source or leak and estimates a location of the source or leak based on measurement of Doppler shift in each receiver.

Abstract: A whipstock interconnection body including a whipstock interface, a bottom hole assembly (BHA) interface, the BHA interface including a feature configured to inherently grip the BHA. A whipstock interconnection body including a whipstock interface, a bottom hole assembly (BHA) interface, the BHA interface configured for attachment to a back surface of the whipstock. A whipstock/BHA assembly including a whipstock, a BHA, a whipstock interconnection body releasably securing the whipstock to the BHA, the whipstock interconnection body including a whipstock interface, a bottom hole assembly (BHA) interface, the BHA interface including a feature configured to inherently grip the BHA. A whipstock/BHA assembly including a whipstock, a BHA, a whipstock interconnection body releasably securing the whipstock to the BHA, the whipstock interconnection body including a whipstock interface, a bottom hole assembly (BHA) interface, the BHA interface configured for attachment to a back surface of the whipstock.

Abstract: A plunger for a gas producing well having a production tubing string has a plunger body with a pad receiving profile defined by first and second pad retainers. A plurality of pads is engaged between the first and second pad retainers, which permit limited radial movement of the pads sufficient to contact an inner surface of the production tubing string. A sheet of resilient material, acting as a spring member, is positioned within the pad receiving profile and between the plurality of pads and the plunger body. The spring member defines an annular chamber between the spring member and the plunger body in fluid communication with the downhole end of the plunger body and provides an outward force to the pads. In use, the openings and pressure chamber allow for a pressure differential across the pads.

Abstract: A drill bit assembly, of a type useful for forming a borehole in the earth, may comprise a chassis, separate from a drill bit, housed within a cavity of the drill bit. A drill string may be secured to the drill bit and retain the chassis within the cavity. This chassis may comprise two pairs of interfacing exchange surfaces, a first pair disposed between the chassis and the drill string and a second pair disposed between the chassis and the drill bit. Both of the first pair are annular in shape and fixed together independent of rotational orientation. The second pair are fixed together in a specific rotational orientation. These pairs of interfacing exchange surfaces may allow for various types of signals, such as electrical, hydraulic, optical or electromagnetic for example, to be exchanged and passed through the chassis or to electronics disposed on the chassis.

Abstract: In an oilwell produced by a downhole pump operated by the reciprocation of a string of rods disposed within a string of tubing, a system connects an upper section of the string of rods to a plunger assembly. The system has an upper mechanism attached to the upper section of the string of rods, where the upper mechanism has a housing member having an internal bore section having an approximate inverted conical profile. The upper mechanism has a slip member which is configured to be received into the inverted conical profile. A lower mechanism attaches to the plunger assembly. The lower mechanism has an upward end comprising a pin which, upon engagement by the upper mechanism, is received into the slip member and firmly retained within the slip member. Once the pin is engaged within the slip member, the pin is retained within the slip member until it can be manually released.

Abstract: The invention relates to a downhole tool for use in a petroleum well. The downhole tool (100) comprises a first part (110) comprising a driving unit (8), and second part (120) comprising a driven unit (9), wherein the drive unit (8) is configured for driving the driven unit (9).

Abstract: A downhole circulation tool includes: a housing having an axially extending delivery bore for conveying a drilling mud flow therethrough, the housing having a circulation port for discharging drilling mud; and a valve member rotatably disposed within the housing, the valve member comprising a through-flow channel and a circulation channel. The valve member is rotatable between a through-flow position in which the through-flow channel is arranged to convey drilling mud flow from an upstream portion of the delivery bore to the downstream portion of the delivery bore, and a circulation position in which the circulation channel is arranged to convey drilling mud from the upstream portion of the delivery bore to the circulation port to discharge drilling mud from the housing. There is also disclosed a downhole tool comprising a unidirectional drive mechanism, an actuation element for a downhole tool, and a method of operating a downhole tool.

Abstract: A drilling device for drilling a hole in the ground and/or rock and having in its drilling head a plurality of drilling wing bits arranged at equal distribution with their mutual position being adjustable such that the wing bits are located within a minimum diameter dimension and, on the other hand, adjustable such that they are located to drill a hole with a maximum size diameter and that the drilling device is arranged to pull, during drilling, a protective pipe into the hole at least when drilling the hole in the ground. An outer circumference of the wing bits includes a circumferential groove arranged to receive a ring belonging to a front part of the protective pipe, to an inner surface thereof, when the wing bits are adjusted to a diameter size substantially larger than the minimum diameter dimension in order to pull the protective pipe via the wing bits.

Abstract: This invention provides a hose for conveying an emulsion explosive together with an annular stream of aqueous solution around the emulsion explosive as a lubricant, wherein the hose comprises an internal surface that reduces disruption of the annular stream during conveying of the emulsion explosive. Also provided is a method of producing this type of hose and practical applications of the hose in commercial mining and blasting operations.

Abstract: Procedures include designing parameters for cementation jobs based upon the wellbore geometries and loading conditions. The cementation parameters such as Young's modulus are selected such that longitudinal crack propagation is inhibited. Procedures also include determining critical loading conditions for an already-cemented casing annulus based upon the specified cement properties and wellbore conditions. The critical loading conditions are determined such that longitudinal crack propagation in the cement is inhibited. Techniques are used to improve the friction coefficients between the casing and cement to inhibit longitudinal crack propagation. The treatments can include forming surface patterns that enhance friction and/or making the casing surface oleophopic and/or hydrophilic.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for selectively actuating sliding sleeves in sub members which are placed downhole in a wellbore, to open ports in such sub members to allow fracking of the wellbore, or to detonate explosive charges thereon for perforating a wellbore, or both. A simplified dart and sleeve is used which reduces machining operations on each. The dart is preferably provided with coupling means to permit a retrieval tool to be coupled thereto, which upon the retrieval tool being so coupled allows a bypass valve to operate to assist in withdrawing the dart from within the valve subs. Upward movement of the retrieval tool allows a wedge-shaped member to disengage the dart member from a corresponding sleeve to allow the dart to be withdrawn.

Abstract: A flow system comprises a system flow path extending from a system inlet to a system outlet. A pressure module is provided within the system flow path to establish a differential pressure between upstream and downstream sides thereof during flow from the system inlet to the system outlet The system also comprises a valve provided within the system flow path, and a valve actuator in pressure communication with the system flow path on upstream and downstream sides of the pressure module. The valve actuator is driven by a differential pressure established by the pressure module to move between a first position in which the valve is closed, and a second position in which the valve is opened.

Abstract: A vortex-controlled variable flow resistance device ideal for use in a backpressure tool for advancing drill string in extended reach downhole operations. The characteristics of the pressure waves generated by the device are controlled by the growth and decay of vortices in the vortex chamber(s) of a flow path. The flow path includes a switch, such as a bi-stable fluidic switch, for reversing the direction of the flow in the vortex chamber. The flow path may include multiple vortex chambers, and the device may include multiple flow paths. A hardened insert in the outlet of the vortex chamber resists erosion. This device generates backpressures of short duration and slower frequencies approaching the resonant frequency of the drill string, which maximizes axial motion in the drill sting and weight on the bit. Additionally, fluid pulses produced by the tool enhance debris removal ahead of the bit.