Abstract: A particulate screen suitable for use in a wellbore. The particulate screen is expandable and may be at least partially formed of a bistable tubular. Also, a filter media may be combined with the bistable tubular to limit influx of particulates.

Abstract: A retrievable packer (50) for establishing a sealing and gripping engagement between a tubing string and a well casing (34) disposed in a wellbore is disclosed. The retrievable packer (50) comprises a collet member (64) that is slidably disposed about a packer mandrel (52). The collet member (64) has a first operating position wherein the collet member (64) applies an axial force on a support ring (76) to positively position the support ring (76) at least partially between a first slip wedge (90) and the packer mandrel (52) to set a seal assembly (96, 98, 100). In addition, the collet member (64) has a second operating position wherein the collet member (64) applies an axial force on a slip assembly (80) to set the slip assembly (80).

Abstract: A method of providing a downhole seal, such as a packer, in a drilled bore between inner tubing and outer tubing comprises: providing an intermediate tubing section defining a seal arrangement for engaging with the inner tubing; and radially plastically deforming the intermediate tubing section downhole to form an annular extension. The extension creates a sealing contact with the outer tubing.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for pressure testing a tubing string. A valve is utilized within the tubing string to enable selective application of pressure in the tubing above the valve. However, between pressure tests, the valve may be opened to allow fluid flow into the tubing. Thus, the tubing string may readily be moved, for example, downhole into a wellbore with periodic application of pressure to test the tubing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for advancing a rotating motorized downhole tool for operations in oil/gas wells. The apparatus is adapted for drilling and milling away of casing sections in the wells, as preparation for plugging the same. The apparatus includes a rotating tool and a driving motor indirectly suspended on coiled tubing. The apparatus also includes a carriage connected to the motor adapted to absorb torques that occur during use. The carriage is connected to the coiled tubing via a swivel coupling such that a tensile force on the coiled tubing provides an advancing force for the tool and motor.

Abstract: A down hole heating system for use with oil and gas wells which exhibit less than optimally achievable flow rates because of high oil viscosity and/or blockage by paraffin (or similar meltable petroleum byproducts). The heating unit the present invention includes shielding to prevent physical damage and shortages to electrical connections within the heating unit while down hole (a previously unrecognized source of system failures in prior art systems). The over-all heating system also includes heat retaining components to focus and contain heat in the production zone to promote flow to, and not just within, the production tubing.

Abstract: A method for preparing casing for use in a wellbore such as for example, in preparation, for use to line a borehole through a formation or to act as a drill string and thereafter to remain in hole. In the method, a device supporting the use of the wellbore casing is crimped onto the outer surface of the casing. The device supporting casing use can be to facilitate run in through the borehole, to maintain positioning relative to the borehole, to accommodate wear against the wall of the borehole into which the casing is run or to enhance the results of cementing. The devices supporting the use of the casing are attached by crimping to the casing to create a connection having structurally significant axial and torque load transfer capacity.

Abstract: A garden earth auger operating by repeated twisting its handle is comprised of a drive mechanism at the center of the handle, a gear shaft erected inside the drive mechanism and extending downward to connect to a tooling feeder; a circular yoke inserted onto the gear shaft to control two mobile pawls on one side or both sides of the turning gear shaft to engage or disengage in or from the ratchet for the pawls to drive the ratchet for the tooling feeder to continue circulating for earth excavation in an effort saving fashion while the auger can be easily replaced with a fork or other forms of tooling head to excavate for a pit or scrap soil as desired.

Abstract: A unitary, forward buckling rupture disc is provided that is adapted to be mounted in a holder in which the disc is in closing relationship to a tubing string in an oil well and has greatest utility for testing the integrity of the connection between the sections of oil well tubing strings. The disc is designed to withstand the fluid pressure head in the string and a leak test pressure, and to then burst and fully open under a predetermined overpressure. The concavo-convex bulged section of the disc has a non-circular, continuous score line formed in the concave face thereof. The score line is of continuously varying depth around its circumference and includes an outwardly projecting cam segment which is of greatest depth that ruptures first and is in direct opposition to a lesser depth score line portion forming a hinge area for the burst region of the disc.

Abstract: A downhole electrical power system provides long term electrical power in a downhole environment. In a described embodiment, a downhole electrical power system includes a power source which supplies electrical power to a well tool interconnected in a tubular string. The power source includes a voltaic cell.

Abstract: Specific methods are described for use in tracking and/or guiding the movement of an underground boring tool. In one aspect, an improvement is provided forming part of an arrangement for tracking the position and/or guiding the boring tool using an electromagnetic locating signal which is transmitted from the boring tool as the boring tool moves through the ground. At least two detectors are located at fixed positions within the region, each being operable in a transmit mode and in a receive mode such that each one of the detectors in the transmit mode is able to transmit a relative locating signal to the other detector for use in determining the relative position of one detector in relation to the other and such that both detectors receive the electromagnetic locating signal in the receive mode for use in determining the position of the boring tool within the region.

Abstract: A wellbore junction isolation method and associated apparatus provide convenient isolation of a wellbore junction while permitting certain operations to be performed in a main or branch wellbore below the junction. In described embodiments, formations intersected by a main or branch wellbore below a wellbore junction may be stimulated by fracturing after installing an assembly at the wellbore junction, in a straddling and sealing relationship therewith, to isolate it from pressures applied during the fracturing operation. The illustrated isolation assembly may be installed in a single trip into the main wellbore.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for milling a window in a downhole structure, such as a casing or a liner, includes a mandrel that supports milling elements arranged in a predetermined pattern. In one example, the milling elements are arranged in one or more continuous channels each having a generally helical pattern. The milling elements are able to cut the window in the downhole structure substantially continuously to the desired size.

Abstract: An electric submersible pumping system provides for the production of fluids from a well and for limiting the amount of sediment accumulation in the well. The apparatus includes an electric submersible pumping system lowered into a well on a production tubing. The electric submersible system includes an electric submersible pump having an intake at or near a lower end thereof. A seal is connected to the intake and a motor is connected to a lower end of the seal. The apparatus further includes an auxiliary pump having an auxiliary pump discharge at an upper end thereof and an auxiliary pump intake at a lower end thereof. The auxiliary pump is connected to the motor. The system is lowered into the well so that it is positioned below the perforations in a well which communicate a producing formation with the interior of the well. The auxiliary pump intake will receive fluid along with sediments that may be produced by the formation.

Abstract: A wellhead isolation tool comprises a threaded drive rod coaxially aligned with a tubular mandrel having a smooth outer surface. A motor displaces the threaded drive rod vertically without rotating the drive rod to move the tubular mandrel through a wellhead into a tubular element in a well. The lower end of the tubular mandrel will sealingly engage the tubular element in the well so that treating fluids or other substances such as, but not limited to, chemicals and erosive flows, can be displaced therethrough at high pressures into the well to fracture or otherwise treat the well without damaging the wellhead.

Abstract: A completion system for a subsea well includes a tree having a generally cylindrical wall forming an internal bore therethrough and a production port extending laterally through the wall in communication with the internal bore. The internal wall has a landing arranged to support a tubing hanger having seals for sealing the production port between the tubing hanger and the internal wall, the production port being arranged to communicate with a lateral production fluid outlet port in the tubing hanger. A workover port extends laterally from an opening in the internal wall below the production port and the production port seals and a tubing annulus seal sealing the workover port from the tubing annulus. A tubing annulus port extends from an opening in the tree below the tubing annulus seal and the tubing annulus port and workover port being arranged to be in fluid communication externally of the internal bore.

Abstract: A communication tool (100) for communicating hydraulic fluid through a tubing retrievable safety valve (50) is disclosed. The tool (100) has a first section (102) and a second section (132) that are initially coupled together. A set of axial locating keys (112) is operably attached to the first section (102) and is engagably positionable within a profile (62). A radial cutting device (148) is radially extendable through a window (152) of the second section (132). A circumferential locating key (140) is operably attached to the second section (132) and is engagably positionable within a pocket (66) of the safety valve (50) when the first and second sections (102, 132) are decoupled, thereby circumferentially aligning the radial cutting device (148) with the non annular hydraulic chamber (60).

Abstract: A well logging instrument is disclosed which includes a housing operatively coupled to a well logging conveyance and movable within the wellbore. The housing has therein a formation testing system and an axial extension mechanism. The axial extension mechanism controllably extends and retracts to allow the formation testing system to perform tests and take samples in an axially fixed position in the wellbore while the housing moves through the wellbore.

Abstract: An earth boring bit for boring a hole having a predetermined depth into the earth. The earth boring bit includes a cylindrical drum for being mounted for rotation on the end of a boom of a mobile machine and connected to and rotated by a power supply mounted on the boom. The drum includes an exterior for defining the diameter of the hole being bored and an interior adapted for receiving upturned earth therein as the hole is being bored. A plate is carried by the drum adjacent a lower end thereof for movement between a closed position for cooperating with the interior of the drum for retaining the upturned earth therein and an open position for dispensing the upturned earth out of the interior of the drum at a predetermined location away from the hole being bored. A cutting member is carried on the plate for cutting the earth in a progressive slice and directing the earth into the drum, thereby boring the hole into the earth.

Abstract: A fracture and wear resistant rock bit is disclosed, which includes a bit body, and at least one roller cone disposed on the bit body adapted such that at least one row of cutting elements disposed on the at least one roller cone defines a gage row. At least one cutting element disposed on the gage row has a fracture toughness of at least 20 ksi (in)0.5 and a wear number of at least 1.5.