Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing oil recovery through improved injection well performance is provided, wherein a fluid is injected into the well bore at a pressure Pi, and a downhole fluid-actuated engine and pump assembly is employed as a booster in order to generate a high pressure output at pressure Ph greater than Pi and a low pressure output at pressure Pl lower than Pi; the respective output streams are directed to lower and higher permeability geological strata adjacent the well bore in order to increase production.

Abstract: A wellbore tubular handling system and method is provided for operation in holding and lowering tubulars, such as tubing strings, casing strings, pipe strings, and the various components thereof, at a rig site. The handling system utilizes a shock table with a compressible support surface that compressively moves with a selected compression rate in response to the weight of the wellbore tubular string. The shock table preferably has a shock table body mounted below the rig floor and may conveniently replace the rotary table master bushing except for a flange which supports the shock table on the rig floor. A split-sectioned landing spear can be split open to an open position to thereby allow large items such as collars or other string components to pass through the shock table.

Abstract: The well reference apparatus and method of the present invention includes a reference member preferably permanently installed within the borehole at a preferred depth and orientation in one trip into the well. The reference member provides a permanent reference for the location of all operations, particularly in a multi-lateral well. The assembly of the present invention includes disposing the reference member on the end of a pipe string. An orienting tool such as an MWD collar is disposed in the pipe string above the reference member. This assembly is lowered into the borehole on the pipe string. Once the preferred depth is attained, the MWD is activated to determine the orientation of the reference member. If the reference member is not oriented in the preferred direction, the pipe string is rotated to align the reference member in the preferred direction. This process is repeated for further corrective action and to verify the proper orientation of the reference member.

Abstract: The side tracking system includes a window mill having a full diameter cutting surface and a reduced diameter tapered cutting surface and a whipstock having a ramp engaging the reduced diameter cutting surface. The materials of the whipstock have a first cutablity and the materials of the casing have a second cutability. The reduced diameter cutting surface contacts the whipstock ramp at a first contact area and the full diameter cutting surface contacts the wall of the casing at a second contact area. As weight is applied to the mill, there is a first contact stress at the first contact area and a second contact stress at the second contact area. A cutability ratio is the first cutability divided by the second cutability and a contact stress ratio is the first contact stress divided by the second contact stress. The mill cuts the casing rather than the whipstock by maintaining the product of the cutability ratio and the contact stress ratio less than one.

Abstract: For a spar type floating platform having risers passing vertically through the center well of a spar hull, there is provided apparatus for supporting the risers from a gimbaled table supported above the top of the spar hull. The table flexibly is supported by a plurality of non-linear springs attached to the top of the spar hull. The non-linear springs compliantly constrain the table rotationally so that the table is allowed a limited degree of rotational movement with respect to the spar hull in response to wind and current induced environmental loads. Larger capacity non-linear springs are located near the center of the table for supporting the majority of the riser tension, and smaller capacity non-linear springs are located near the perimeter of the table for controlling the rotational stiffness of the table. The riser support table comprises a grid of interconnected beams having openings therebetween through which the risers pass.

Abstract: A system for controlling fluid flow from multiple isolated producing zones in a well is provided. Components of the system are placeable in and retrievable from bottom entry side pocket mandrel sections permanently installed in a production tubing string in the well. These components include retrievable isolation valve modules. Control signals for modules are developed either downhole or at the surface and modules may be placed or retrieved through the production tubing without pulling the production tubing from the well. In high flow rate applications the sliding sleeve flow control valve of the present invention provides a variable aperture valve having a fully open cross sectional area equal to that of the production tubing, thereby achieving a minimal pressure drop across the valve.

Abstract: A technique for connecting expandable tubulars. The technique comprises an expandable connector system that facilitates the connection of tubular components, such as tubulars used in wellbore environments.

Abstract: An apparatus and accompanying method for monitoring and reporting downhole bit failure. Individual sensors are placed on a sub which is separate from the drill bit itself, and are powered by a vibration driven power system. The sensor readings are used to compute values which represent the ratios of sensor readings on one sensor in relation to the readings of one or more other sensors. This creates a self-calibrating sensor system that accounts for changes in downhole conditions which might cause sensor readings to fluctuate, but which do not indicate failure.

Abstract: The invention concerns a core barrel, in particular for oil exploration, comprising a string, an external tube (2) fixed at the front end of the string, a core bit mounted on a front section (3A) of the external tube, and an internal tube assembly (8) mounted in the external tube and comprising hydrodynamic means transforming a core sampling line pressure into a load thrusting said assembly towards the core barrel front, the front section of the external tube being mounted axially sliding, limited by front and rear stop elements (12A, 12P), in a rear section (3P) of the same external tube to project therefrom longitudinally, the assembly comprising a support stop (14) arranged to thrust selectively forward the front section of the external tube, means being arranged between the inner tube (9) proper and said front section such that the latter can be driven in rotation about its longitudinal axis independently of said internal tube, a motor (7) capable of driving the core bit in rotation relative to the string

Abstract: A device for connecting a tool to a mechanical drive contains as the coupling element a spring washer coupling or clutch, which is made in one piece from metal and at least in the rotation direction has a limited resilience. Use is made thereof for preventing torque peaks in the case of a sudden deceleration of the tool, e.g. if a screw strikes a wood surface.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanical oil recovery method and system with a sucker-rod pump. The method calculates the lowest power loss or the lowest cost. The method comprises sequentially arranging internal diameter, steel grade of rod, pump diameter, pumping depth and stroke amplitude, searching the combinations of rods to calculate pump efficiency and the number of strokes, on the basis of Pinput=Pactive−Pexpansion+Ploss, and calculating, corresponding to the input power Pinput, active power Pactive, expansion power Ppeng, ground power loss Pd, sliding power loss Ph and viscose power loss Pv and the sum of losses Ploss. The mechanical oil-recovering cost is then calculated for each combination, and each mechanical oil-recovering parameter is chosen.

Abstract: A portable mapping tool for use in a horizontal drilling system and associated methods use a boring tool configured for transmitting a locating signal. The mapping tool also includes at least one electromagnetic field detector which is configured for measuring the locating signal from a fixed position proximate to the surface of the ground in a drilling area. The mapping tool includes a housing and a transmitter arrangement supported by the housing for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region for use in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling. The associated methods include the step of configuring the mapping tool for transmitting a setup locating signal for reception by the detector in the region and using the received setup locating signal in determining certain initial conditions at least prior to drilling.

Abstract: An automated high speed drill cuttings processing and injection module having a relatively small foot print, capable of operation in zone one hazardous environments, for injecting drill cuttings into an earth formation, capable of handling high drilling rate cuttings surges. The process including conveying systems, holding and slurry tanks, circulating pumps, high speed grinding mill, high pressure injection pump, fragmentation system and automation system for controlling electrically driven injection pump having automatic speed control regulation with torque and horsepower limiting features. Thereby allowing high-speed injection without plugging the formation while still allowing for high-pressure formation fracturing when necessary. The processing system further insures cuttings slurry homogenization and entrained particle size to less than 100 micron for both hard and soft particles. The system reduces installation cost dramatically.

Abstract: Plunger lift operations are difficult to optimize due to lack of knowledge of tubing pressure, casing pressure, bottom-hole pressure, liquid accumulation in the tubing and location of the plunger. Monitoring the plunger position in the tubing helps the operator (or controller) to optimize the removal of liquids and gas from the well. The plunger position can be tracked from the surface by monitoring acoustic signals generated as the plunger falls down the tubing. When the plunger passes by a tubing collar recess, an acoustic pulse is generated that travels up the gas within the tubing. The acoustic pulses are monitored at the surface, and are converted to an electrical signal by a microphone. The signal is digitized, and the digitized data is stored in a computer. Software processes this data along with the tubing and casing pressure data to display plunger depth, plunger velocity and well pressures vs. time.

Abstract: Drill string sections are provided comprising internal passages that may be used to facilitate the electrical or hydraulic connection of multiple devices, such as sensors, arranged at spaced apart positions along the length of the drill sections. Methods of manufacturing the drill string sections are also provided, wherein the internal passages are formed by a first passage, a second passage, and a connecting passage therebetween.

Abstract: A lifting top drive sub sea staging cement head in which cement slurry flows from outside into its central bore, thru a rotating swivel connection. The cement head has a rotatably indexable reservoir cylinder with multiple cells which may be loaded with balls, and/or darts, and/or staging bombs. One first cell is kept open for circulation. The cylinder is rotatably aligned, at will to the flow path, so that the staging elements may be washed down the drill string. In addition, the cement head is hydraulically remotely controlled such that no operators protrude from the smooth body, yet the remote system may be manually over-ridden.

Abstract: For an orbit boring to be performed by a tool (10) in an orbital motion along an orbit (A), a permissible range of an acceleration (a) of the orbital motion is provided to meet a criterion of a machining precision of the orbit boring, and the acceleration (a) is controlled to be suppressed within the permissible range.

Abstract: A method and a system for testing a borehole in an underground formation by the use of so-called closed chamber testing. When carrying out the method, a test or production pipe (5) is carried down the borehole, where the test pipe can be closed at its upper end and at its lower end is provided with a downhole assembly (6) comprising equipment for testing of fluid flow from the formation (3), the annulus (23) between the test pipe (5) and a casing (20) in the borehole being shut off during the test by a gasket (22) at a desired depth, and fluid from the formation being allowed to flow through the test pipe (5) to a collecting tank (9) coupled to the test pipe via a flow head (4) at the upper end of the test pipe (5).

Abstract: An anti-plugging oscillating shear valve system for generating pressure fluctuations in a flowing drilling fluid comprising a stationary stator and an oscillating rotor, both with axial flow passages. The rotor oscillates in close proximity to the stator, at least partially blocking the flow through the stator and generating oscillating pressure pulses. The rotor passes through two zero speed positions during each cycle, facilitating rapid changes in signal phase, frequency, and/or amplitude facilitating enhanced data encoding. The rotor is driven by a electric motor disposed in a lubricant filled housing. In one embodiment, the housing to shaft seal is a flexible bellows. In one embodiment, a torsional spring is attached to the motor and the resulting spring mass system is designed to be near resonance at the desired pulse frequency. The torsion spring may be a solid torsion bar or a magnetic spring.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for improving the formation of multiple lateral wells in a new wellbore and positive, selective reentry of each lateral well. The apparatus functions as an orienting sleeve which is attached to the lower end of the casing used to line the wellbore. The orienting sleeve includes a first end connected to one end of the casing, a second end having a plunger valve, a longitudinal reference point and a lateral reference point. The orienting sleeve cooperates with a sealing member and an orienting member. The sealing member is used to transfer cement from a surface above the wellbore to an area between the casing and the wellbore. The orienting member is used to effectively form multiple lateral wells through the casing or pre-formed openings in the casing. Thus, the orienting sleeve effectively secures the casing to the wellbore and improves the formation of multiple lateral wells using one or more pre-formed openings in the casing.