Abstract: A downhole assembly includes a downhole tool including a degradable-on-demand material including: a matrix material; and, a unit in contact with the matrix material. The unit includes a core including an energetic material configured to generate energy upon activation to facilitate degradation of the downhole tool; and, an activator disposed in contact with the core, the activator including a triggering system having an electrical circuit and an igniter within the electrical circuit, the electrical circuit having an open condition and a closed condition, the electrical circuit configured to be in the closed condition after movement of an object downhole that engages directly or indirectly with the triggering system, and the igniter arranged to ignite the energetic material in the closed condition of the electrical circuit. In the open condition of the electrical circuit the igniter is inactive, and in the closed condition of the electrical circuit the igniter is activated.

Abstract: A downhole assembly includes a downhole tool including a degradable-on-demand material, the degradable-on-demand material including a matrix material, and a unit in contact with the matrix material, the unit including a core comprising an energetic material configured to generate energy upon activation to facilitate degradation of the downhole tool and, an activator disposed in contact with the core, the activator having a triggering system including an electrical circuit, an igniter in the electrical circuit arranged to ignite the energetic material, a sensor configured to sense a target event or parameter within the borehole, and a control unit arranged to receive sensed signals from the sensor and to deliver a start signal to the electrical circuit in response to the sensed signals indicating an occurrence of the target event or parameter wherein, after the start signal is delivered from the control unit, the electrical circuit is closed and the igniter is initiated.

Abstract: Wellbore flow-control assemblies define a flow-controlled fluid conduit that selectively conveys a fluid flow, including fluid outflow and fluid inflow, between a subterranean formation and a casing conduit. The wellbore flow-control assemblies include a sacrificial flow-control device that defines a first portion of the flow-controlled fluid conduit and a directional flow-control device that defines a second portion of the flow-controlled fluid conduit. The sacrificial flow-control device resists the fluid flow prior to a flow-initiation event and permits the fluid flow subsequent to the flow-initiation event. The directional flow-control device permits one of fluid outflow and fluid inflow and resists the other.

Abstract: A downhole assembly includes a matrix material and a unit in contact with the matrix material. The unit includes a core having an energetic material, an activator disposed in direct contact with the core, and at least one layer disposed on the core. The activator includes a triggering system having an igniter and a pre-set timer connected in an electrical circuit. The igniter is inactive in an open condition of the electrical circuit, and, after a pre-set time period, the pre-set timer closes the electrical circuit and the igniter is activated.

Abstract: A multi-layer downhole drilling tool designed for drilling a wellbore including a plurality of formations is disclosed. The drilling tool includes a bit body including a rotational axis extending therethrough. A plurality of blades are disposed on exterior portions of the bit body. A plurality of primary cutting elements and a plurality of back-up cutting elements are disposed on exterior portions of the plurality of blades. The back-up cutting elements are track set with corresponding primary cutting elements, and each back-up cutting element is disposed on a different blade than the corresponding primary cutting element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for wellbore control include a downhole facing ball stop and sealing area that can stop and seal with an actuator ball migrating toward surface with wellbore returns or production. The downhole facing ball stop operates with the returning actuator ball to create a seal against any returns or production migrating toward surface such that well control is provided until the ball is removed from the sealing area or a bypass is opened around the seal.

Abstract: Core sample catchers for use with coring tools for obtaining core samples from subterranean formations may include at least one flap catcher member configured to be movably coupled to an inner barrel of the coring tool and configured to move between an open position and a closed position. A piston member including a central bore may be disposed in a passageway extending through the inner barrel. The piston member may be configured to move between a first position and a second position, the piston member configured to retain the at least one flap catcher member in the open position when the piston member is in the first position, and allow flap catcher member to move into the closed position when the piston member is in the second position.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for a drilling tool. A thrust bearing assembly for use in a drilling tool may include a first thrust frame having a generally cylindrical hollow body with a first inner surface, where the first thrust frame includes: (i) first flow diverters protruding laterally from the first inner surface toward a longitudinal axis of the thrust bearing assembly and (ii) first flow ports formed along the first inner surface between adjacent first flow diverters. The thrust bearing assembly may also include a stationary thrust bearing having a generally cylindrical base with legs extending in an axial direction from the base, where the legs may be generally positioned within the first flow ports.

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC), which is attached or bonded to a substrate to form a cutter for a drill bit, is comprised of sintered polycrystalline diamond interspersed with a seed material which has a hexagonal close packed (HCP) crystalline structure. A region of the sintered polycrystalline diamond structure, near one or more of its working surfaces, which has been seeded with an HCP seed material prior to sintering, is leached to remove catalyst. Selectively seeding portions or regions of a sintered polycrystalline diamond structure permits differing leach rates to form leached regions with differing distances or depths and geometries.

Abstract: A multilayered unit includes a core comprising an energetic material and an activator; a support layer disposed on the core; and a protective layer disposed on the support layer, wherein the support layer and the protective layer each independently comprises a polymeric material, a metallic material, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing, provided that the support layer is compositionally different from the protective layer. The multilayered unit can be embedded in a component, attached to a component, or disposed between two components of a downhole assembly. The downhole assembly containing the multilayered unit has controlled disintegration in a downhole environment.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, a low stress rope socket for a downhole tool is disclosed. The rope socket includes a core, a groove cut in a helix shape on the core, and a rope wrapped around the core and inserted in the groove. The slickline attachment affixed to an uphole end of the core to attach the rope to the core. Additionally, the rope socket includes a housing surrounding the rope and the core. The housing secures the rope to the groove. The rope socket further includes a transition affixed to a downhole end of the core. The transition aligns the rope with an axis of symmetry of the socket. A portion of the rope downhole from the rope socket carries no load.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying power at the surface and in a wellbore may include a downhole tool conveyed into the wellbore and a battery bank conveyed by the downhole tool. The battery bank may include a plurality of battery cells, wherein at least two cells of the plurality of battery cells have substantially different power responses to a change in an ambient temperature at the downhole tool.

Abstract: A T-shaped slip is retained in an opening of a slip ring to drive the slip in opposed directions to and away from the surrounding borehole wall along a cone. The slip ring and cone do not come together when the slip is engaged. The opening allows release of a lock ring first with the slip engaged followed by release of the slip from the borehole wall. The slip ring and cone come together during removal from the borehole. A travel stop on the axial slip movement is provided to prevent guides on the slip from exiting a track or dovetail on the cone when the slip ring and cone are in contact during removal of the plug or packer. Extension of the guide from the cone track can happen if the slip moves through an enlarged portion of the borehole. The travel stop prevents this.

Abstract: A well tool includes a body defining an enclosed fluid passage. A bipolar electrode is provided in the well tool, changeable between a first, energized state, and a second, different state. The bipolar electrode in the first state produces an ion depletion zone that presents a flow restriction to saline fluids in the fluid passage.

Abstract: An alignment device for a sliding sleeve in a housing in a tubular string features a patterned alignment ring that remains stationary. The sliding sleeve in one of its end positions has a mating profile such that profile misalignment results in profile alignment as the sliding sleeve is axially advanced toward the alignment ring. In a choke application the fully closed position of the choke brings the profiles together to induce relative rotation into an aligned configuration of the ports on the sliding sleeve with the ports on the surrounding housing. Misalignment can occur when tools are run through the sliding sleeve for other downhole operations and the design parameters for the choke prevent the use of alignment lugs in axial slots. The mating profiles do not reduce the drift dimension through the sliding sleeve and allow higher housing pressure ratings for deep set applications with large operating differential pressures.

Abstract: A method includes introducing a proppant slurry into a first end of a hydraulic energy transfer system, introducing a clean fluid into a second end of the hydraulic energy transfer system opposite the first end, operating the hydraulic energy transfer system to retain a portion of the proppant slurry in the hydraulic energy transfer system while transferring pressure of the clean fluid to the proppant slurry, and forming a fluid plug that separates the proppant slurry and the clean fluid, the fluid plug being formed by increasing a viscosity of the portion of the proppant slurry to be higher than a viscosity of the clean fluid and a viscosity of the proppant slurry in the hydraulic energy transfer system.

Abstract: A tool for making up and breaking out a drill string at an exit side of a bore. The tool includes a fixed vise and a moveable vise for torqueing a pipe joint, a roller assembly for threading and unthreading adjacent sections of pipe, and a retainer assembly to retain a detached pipe section. The components of the tool are mounted on a frame, which is pivotally connected to a hydraulic machine such as an excavator. Thus, the tool may be manipulated to remove and add sections of pipe to a drill string remote from the primary horizontal directional drill.

Abstract: A thread compensation apparatus including a drive connection. The drive connection portion includes an outer portion coupled to a drive apparatus and a rotating inner portion with a drive interface configured to couple to a rotating shaft of the drive apparatus. The thread compensation apparatus also includes a sleeve being rotatable with the inner portion of the drive connection, the sleeve being rotatable relative to the outer portion of the drive connection. The thread compensation apparatus includes a lower shaft which engages the sleeve, such that the sleeve can impart rotation to the lower shaft. Additionally, the lower shaft also includes a lower connection interface, such as to couple to a tubular gripping apparatus. Further, the lower shaft is displaceable relative to the sleeve and an actuator coupled to the outer portion of the drive connection operates to displace the lower shaft with respect to the sleeve.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for isolating and switching lower voltage pulses from high voltage pulses in electrocrushing and electrohydraulic drills. A transformer with a high permeability core acts as a magnetic switch or saturating inductor to switch high voltage pulses to initiate an electrocrushing arc and lower voltage pulses to sustain the arc. The transformer isolates the lower voltage components from the high voltage pulses, and switches to deliver the low voltage current when the core saturates. The transformer enables impedance matching to the arc during all stages of drilling. The saturation time of the transformer core is the time delay between initiation of delivering the high voltage pulse and initiation of delivering the lower voltage current.

Abstract: An assembly for use in subsurface drilling includes a downhole probe supported by a locking mechanism with a bore of a drill string section. The probe comprises a first spider and a second spider at the uphole and downhole sections of the probe. The locking mechanism secures the probes in the bore against axial and rotational movement relative the drill string section.