Abstract: Novel hydraulic actuators and hydraulic setting assemblies are provided for use in downhole, oil and gas well tools. The novel hydraulic actuators include a cylindrical mandrel and an annular stationary sealing member connected to the mandrel. A hydraulic cylinder is slidably supported on the mandrel and stationary sealing member and is releasably fixed in position on the mandrel. The stationary sealing member divides the interior of the cylinder into a bottom hydraulic chamber and a top hydraulic chamber. An inlet port provides fluid communication into the bottom hydraulic chamber, and an outlet port provides fluid communication into the top hydraulic chamber. A balance piston is slidably supported within the top hydraulic chamber of the actuator. The piston includes an axially extending passageway. Fluid communication through the piston and between its upper and lower sides is controlled by a normally shut valve in the passageway.

Abstract: A directional-control apparatus for a drilling tool, in which the direction of the drilling tool during the drilling of a borehole is controlled by means of at least one steering body which is moved radially against the wall of the borehole, the movement of the at least one steering body relative to the center axis of the directional-control apparatus being adjustable in order to steer the drilling tool in a desired direction and at a desired deflection, and at least one electrically operated actuator being connected via at least one set of transmission elements to the at least one steering body and arranged to move the at least one steering body into a position relative to the center axis of the directional-control apparatus, the relative position having the effect that the drilling tool is steered in the desired direction and at the desired deflection.

Abstract: A downhole, hydraulically actuated drilling stabilizer that provides versatility in a bottom-hole assembly. The drilling stabilizer can be used in a directional drilling application to help control the inclination in an extended reach or horizontal well. The drilling stabilizer has stabilizer blade members with an angular design portion that provides versatility in a bottom-hole assembly. The stabilizer could also be used in a conventional rotary bottom-hole assembly, or positioned below a steerable motor.

Abstract: A drill bit includes a floating journal bushing, a seal, a cutter having a seal gland for the seal and a cutter bearing surface proximate to the journal bearing, wherein the cutter bearing surface has a first inner diameter, and a journal, wherein the cutter is rotatably coupled about the journal, wherein the journal bearing is rotatably coupled about the journal, wherein the journal has a seal boss having a first diameter, and a journal bearing surface having a second diameter, and wherein the first diameter is less than the first inner diameter.

Abstract: A method according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure comprises disposing a tool in a wellbore, the tool comprising a displacement unit for pumping a fluid at least partially through the tool, a first flowline hydraulically connected to the displacement unit through a valve network, and a second flowline hydraulically connected to the displacement unit; pumping a fluid from the first flowline to the second flowline; monitoring a pressure at a chamber of the displacement unit; and monitoring flowing pressure in the first flowline across the valve network from the displacement unit.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a blowout preventer (BOP) system with a ram having a shear blade with a shear blade profile to shear a tubular member disposed in the BOP. The shear blade profile can include a stress concentrator and centering shaped surface. The stress concentrator and the centering shaped surface can be laterally offset from a centerline of ram travel and on opposite sides of the centerline. An opposing second shear blade can have a mirror image of the shear blade profile with the stress concentrator and centering shaped surface reversed to the orientation of the first shear blade. Further, the ram can include a mandrel with a mandrel profile for the tubular member to deform around during the shearing process and to reduce an overall lateral width of the sheared tubular member in the BOP through-bore to allow retrieval of the deformed sheared tubular member from the BOP.

Abstract: A rock drill system may include a support arrangement including a feed channel, a rock drill assembly movably associated with the feed channel, and a fluid conductor having a first end connected to the rock drill assembly and a second end associated with the support arrangement. The system may further include a tensioning arm pivotally coupled to the support arrangement, wherein the tensioning arm is engageable with the fluid conductor to tension the fluid conductor.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a blowout preventer (BOP) system with a ram having a shear blade with a shear blade profile to shear a tubular member disposed in the BOP. The shear blade profile can include a stress concentrator and centering shaped surface. The stress concentrator and the centering shaped surface can be laterally offset from a centerline of ram travel and on opposite sides of the centerline. An opposing second shear blade can have a mirror image of the shear blade profile with the stress concentrator and centering shaped surface reversed to the orientation of the first shear blade. Further, the ram can include a mandrel with a mandrel profile for the tubular member to deform around during the shearing process and to reduce an overall lateral width of the sheared tubular member in the BOP through-bore to allow retrieval of the deformed sheared tubular member from the BOP.

Abstract: A drill bit assembly comprising a bit body connectable to a tubular drill string, and provided with a longitudinal passageway for an operating tool; an externally removable closure element for closing the passageway for the operating tool; and a passage tool attached to or connectable to the closure element in its closing position, wherein the passage tool comprises a lower part to which the closure element is attached or connectable, which lower part is arranged so that it can be moved out of the bit body together with the closure element, and an upper tubular part which is arranged so that it can be moved along the passageway in the bit body, the upper tubular part forming a passage with a downstream opening for the operating tool when the lower part of the passage tool has been moved out of the bit body.

Abstract: A method of drilling and completing a well can include drilling a section of a wellbore, positioning a perforated shroud in the section of the wellbore, securing the perforated shroud by setting a hanger, and isolating the section of the wellbore from a remainder of the wellbore vertically above the section of the wellbore. The drilling, positioning, securing and isolating steps can be performed while the section of the wellbore is not exposed to a liquid column extending to a surface location. The drilling, positioning, securing and isolating steps can be performed in a single trip of a drill string into the wellbore.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for securement of lines to downhole well tools. A method of securing one or more lines to a well tool includes the steps of: installing the one or more lines in a groove formed longitudinally along an outer surface of the well tool, the groove having a width at the outer surface of the well tool which is narrower than a width of the groove at a position radially inward relative to the outer surface; and securing the one or more lines in the groove. A well tool includes a groove formed longitudinally along an outer surface of an outer housing of the well tool. The groove has a width at the outer surface of the well tool which is narrower than a width of the groove at a position radially inward relative to the outer surface. One or more lines are secured in the groove.

Abstract: Cutting elements for downhole cutting tools comprise a top surface having a cutting surface portion and a cutting profile asymmetrically disposed across the top surface. The cutting elements comprise first and second longitudinal side surfaces and first and second lateral side surfaces, each having a respective cross-section. The cross-section of one of the longitudinal side surfaces can have one beveled portion and the cross-sections of the other longitudinal side surface and the first and second lateral side surfaces can have two beveled portions. A cutting end of a downhole cutting tool comprises two cutting elements disposed facing each another with a portion of the cutting surface portion of a first cutting element being disposed opposite the cutting profile of the second cutting element and the cutting surface portion of the second cutting element being disposed opposite the cutting profile of the first cutting element.

Abstract: A method of radially expanding a tubular element in a wellbore formed in an earth formation comprises arranging the tubular element in the wellbore such that a lower end portion of the wall of the tubular element extends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction so as to form an expanded tubular section extending around a remaining tubular section of the tubular element, whereby an annulus is defined between said expanded and remaining tubular sections, and axially extending the expanded tubular section by moving the remaining tubular section downward relative to the expanded tubular section so that said lower end portion of the wall bends radially outward and in an axially reverse direction. A diameter of the expanded tubular section is controlled by controlling a fluid pressure in the annulus.

Abstract: A plug (20) is described for carrying out tests of a well (30), a pipe or the like, comprising an explosive charge (55) with an activation mechanism (50, 51, 53) and which is detonated to remove the plug when the test is completed, and the plug is characterized in that the explosive charge elements are arranged internally in the plug. The plug preferably comprises a boring (54) that holds said explosive charge (55) with the activation mechanism, and it can alternatively comprise two or more borings (54) for the placing of a corresponding number of explosive charges (55) with activation mechanisms. The explosive charge (55) with ignitor (56) and ignition pin (57) is preferably arranged in the plug boring (54) while the other parts (50, 51, 53) of the activation mechanism are integrated in the wall of the pipe bundle (10) that holds the plug.

Abstract: Systems and methods usable to operate on a plurality of wells through a single main bore are disclosed herein. One or more chamber junctions are provided in fluid communication with one or more conduits within the single main bore. Each chamber junction includes a first orifice communicating with the surface through the main bore, and one or more additional orifices in fluid communication with individual wells of the plurality of wells. Through the chamber junctions, each of the wells can be individually or simultaneously accessed. A bore selection tool having an upper opening and at least one lower opening can be inserted into the chamber junction such that the one or more lower openings align with orifices in the chamber junction, enabling selected individual or multiple wells to be accessed through the bore selection tool while other wells are isolated from the chamber junction.

Abstract: System for drilling boreholes into subsurface formations. A gyrotron injects millimeter-wave radiation energy into the borehole and pressurization apparatus is provided for pressurizing the borehole whereby a thermal melt front at the end of the borehole propagates into the subsurface formations. In another aspect, a system for fracturing a subsurface formation is disclosed.

Abstract: A subsoil automatic rotary drilling system for drilling oil, mineral and water wells, characterized in that said system comprises, on a single system substructure, at least a triple-transmission hydraulic arrangement for lowering and raising a plurality of pipe elements to be introduced into and removed from a wellbore, said arrangement including a plurality of operating cables, each said cable having a dead end fixed to a cylinder carriage also supporting a plurality of transmission pulleys to handle together, while providing a triple stroke of pulling and pushing cylinders, two, three, four drilling pipe elements, having each a length of about 9.20 m (range 2).

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for one trip perforating and treating a wellbore, the bottom hole assembly including: a tool body including an outer surface and an upper end; a fluid passage extending into the tool body from the upper end; a valve to provide (i) in one orientation fluid access from the fluid passage to an outlet port opening to the outer surface and (ii) in another orientation fluid access from the fluid passage to a perforating gun actuation fluid supply channel while sealing fluid access from the fluid passage to the outer surface; an annular sealing member encircling the outer surface below the outlet port; and a perforating gun carried below the resettable, annular sealing member and hydraulically actuable to detonate by fluid communication through the perforating gun actuation fluid supply channel.

Abstract: A launching tool with interlock system for a downhole cement plug includes a mandrel having one or more windows therein; an interlock system disposed at the mandrel, the interlock system having a release member; one or more dogs extending from the release member through the one or more windows; a collet disposed at the mandrel and restrained by a restrainer, the restrainer releasable only after release of the interlock system and method.

Abstract: An underreamer that can be assembled easily is formed from a tubular body having a flow tube running to a distal end delivering fluid which moves an actuator against the underreamer arms which are hinged to a moveable stop block and stopped to positively seat the arm at the end of a key slot to rigidly hold the underreamer arm in full extension during operations. Once hydraulic pressure is released, a spring moves the arm down the slot to a position where the arm can be removed from the slot in the underreamer body. A lower sub assembly is affixed to the underreamer body to prevent premature back off of the lower sub. Jets are disposed on either side of the underreamer to remove cuttings from the well bore. The tool is adaptable in the field for several hole sizes by adjustment in the length of the stop block and the angle of the flat on the top side of the key.