Abstract: A gripper mechanism for a downhole tool is disclosed that includes an eccentric linkage mechanism. In operation, an axial force generated by a power section of the gripper expands the linkage mechanism, which applies a radial force to the interior surface of a wellbore or passage. A sliding portion allows the gripper to slide along a surface of the formation in response to the radial force applied to the interior surface of the wellbore or passage.

Abstract: A downhole rock debris extraction system is provided. The downhole rock debris extraction system includes a downhole marking component, a ground control component and a ground detection and extraction component. The downhole marking component is arranged at a drill bit for underground excavation or near the drill bit, and is configured to mark rock debris by spraying different types of markers in real time during the underground excavation performed by the drill bit; the ground detection and extraction component is configured to detect the types of the markers on the rock debris; and the ground control component is configured to manage and control the downhole marking component to mark the rock debris, and to manage and control the ground detection and extraction component to determine the types of the markers on the rock debris. Furthermore, a control method for the downhole rock debris extraction system is provided.

Abstract: A push-pull force control method for a horizontal directional drilling machine with the following steps is provided. According to a correspondence relationship between a motor displacement and a maximum push-pull force of a drilling machine, the motor displacement is first adjusted, so that the required push-pull force can be obtained through the adjustment of the subsequent steps. Then, an oil feeding pressure of the motor is controlled according to a relationship between the push-pull force and the working pressure difference of the motor. Finally, the push-pull force of the motor is controlled in real time according to the oil feeding pressure of the motor to be equal to the required push-pull force value.

Abstract: A connector system and method, of which the connector system includes a first conduit having a lower coupling and a first alignment feature, and a frame configured to be coupled to an oilfield tubular, and configured to receive the first conduit and a second conduit. The frame includes a second alignment feature configured to mate with the first alignment feature such that the lower coupling is aligned with the second conduit, and the first alignment feature is configured to slide vertically with respect to the second alignment feature such that the lower coupling is brought into engagement with the second conduit while the first and second alignment features are mated together.

Abstract: A method of drilling an uncompleted lateral wellbore in a subsurface formation includes drilling the uncompleted lateral wellbore with coiled tubing in the subsurface formation. The subsurface formation includes unconsolidated sand and the subsurface formation overlays a water-saturated reservoir. The method may further include introducing particles having an average particle size of from 8 mesh to 140 mesh into the uncompleted lateral wellbore, thereby supporting the uncompleted lateral wellbore and avoiding wellbore collapse and installing a screen in a vertical wellbore fluidly connected to the uncompleted lateral wellbore, wherein the screen has a mesh size of from 325 mesh to 1000 mesh. The subsurface formation may include hydrocarbons and the method may further include producing hydrocarbons from the subsurface formation.

Abstract: Generally, a sonde, associated components and methods are described which can be used in conjunction with an inground tool having an inground tool housing that defines an inground tool cavity such that the inground tool cavity is exposed to an ambient pressure environment which surrounds the inground tool during an inground operation. A sonde housing assembly includes an exterior configuration that is receivable within the inground tool cavity. The sonde housing assembly at least partially defines a sonde interior and is further configured for receiving the pressure sensor body of a pressure sensor in a pressure sealed engagement. A sonde electronics package is supported within the sonde interior and is at least configured to receive the pressure signal and transfer a corresponding pressure signal from the sonde.

Abstract: A downhole system includes a lower completion having at least one tubular including a first end and a second end terminating at a shoe. The at least one tubular defining a flow path. A packer is arranged at the first end. A fluid loss control valve (FLCV) is arranged between the packer and the shoe. A screen system is arranged between the FLCV and the shoe. The screen system includes a screen and a non-mechanically operated flow control valve that selectively isolates the flow path from formation fluids passing through the screen. A wellbore clean out string is insertable into the lower completion. The wellbore clean out string includes a selectively activated casing cleaner and a setting tool. The selectively activated casing cleaner is spaced from the setting tool.

Abstract: A wellbore surface assembly includes a slip assembly, vertical rails, linear actuators, and an iron roughneck. The slip assembly is attached to a floor surface of a wellbore and it includes movable slips that engage a first tube. The vertical rails are attached to the base of the automatic slip assembly. The iron roughneck is movable along the vertical rails. The automatic iron roughneck includes a frame, a rotary ring, die actuators, and dies. The iron roughneck is movable by the linear actuators along a length of the vertical rails, changing an elevation of the iron roughneck with respect to the automatic slip assembly and the floor surface of the wellbore. The dies engage the second tube and the rotary ring rotates the second tube, threadedly attaching or detaching the second tube from the first tube.

Abstract: The present invention is a rod jack apparatus with four vertical legs that form a framework and first and second lower brackets connected to the vertical legs. Two hydraulic cylinders extend upwardly from the lower brackets, pass through a first horizontal plate, and are connected to a second horizontal plate. A primary clamping mechanism is situated on top of each of the two horizontal plates, and a secondary clamping mechanism is attached to the underside of each horizontal plate. The apparatus is configured to receive a polished rod, and the primary and secondary clamping mechanisms are configured to grip the polished rod when activated. The sucker rod assembly is lifted out of the well when the first and second hydraulic cylinders are extended. The invention includes a method of using the apparatus described herein.

Abstract: A single use setting tool and associated method for actuating a tool in a wellbore may include an inner piston having a piston proximal end, a piston distal end, and a piston annular wall that defines a piston cavity. The setting tool may include a gas-generating power charge positioned within the piston cavity. The power charge may extend along a longitudinal axis from a proximal end to a distal end and have at least two different widths along its length. The power charge may further include a tapered portion. The setting tool may further include a piston extension connected to the piston distal end. The inner piston may further include a shear element groove circumferentially extending in an outer surface of the inner piston, for receiving a shear element.

Abstract: A mast assembly for a drilling rig includes a mast formed from a plurality of mast subunits. The mast assembly includes a lower drilling machine, upper drilling machine, and upper mud assembly, each of which is coupled to and movable vertically relative to the mast. The mast subunits are separable when the mast is in a transport configuration such that the LDM is positioned in a first subunit and the UDM is in a second subunit of the mast when the mast is in the transport configuration. The mast assembly may be used during a continuous drilling operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for positioning a non-expandable liner hanger in a wellbore. A liner is coupled to the liner hanger, wherein the liner hanger comprises: a conduit body; and a reactive metal sealing element disposed on the conduit body, wherein the reactive metal sealing element comprises a reactive metal having a first volume. An example method includes contacting the reactive metal with a fluid that reacts with the reactive metal to produce a reaction product having a second volume greater than the first volume; and contacting a surface adjacent to the reactive metal sealing element with the reaction product to form a seal against the surface and to anchor the liner hanger from the surface, wherein anchoring the liner hanger to the surface suspends the liner in the wellbore.

Abstract: A bottom hole assembly for use in a subterranean well can include a whipstock, a mill releasably secured to the whipstock, an antenna, and a release mechanism configured to release the mill from the whipstock in response to a predetermined radio frequency signal received by the antenna. A method can include positioning a bottom hole assembly in a well, the bottom hole assembly including a mill and a whipstock releasably secured to the mill, and then releasing the mill from the whipstock by displacing a radio frequency identification tag into the bottom hole assembly. A well system can include a bottom hole assembly comprising an anchor, a whipstock and a mill, and a radio frequency identification tag displaceable with fluid flow into the bottom hole assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body. The body includes first and second clamping mechanisms that are configured to grip a tubular member of a beam pump unit at first and second axially-offset locations along the tubular member, respectively. The body also includes a base positioned at least partially between the first and second clamping mechanisms. The apparatus also includes a strain gauge coupled to the base and configured to measure a strain on the tubular member as the tubular member moves. The apparatus also includes a gyroscope configured to measure an orientation, an angular velocity, or both of the beam pump unit as the beam pump unit operates. The apparatus also includes an accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of the beam pump unit as the beam pump unit operates.

Abstract: A liner hanger having one: or more enhanced Socking assemblies is provided. The liner hanger includes a liner hanger body, lower slips, upper slips, a packer cone, and a seal that seals an annulus between the liner hanger and an outer casing, The one or more enhanced locking assemblies may include: a packer cone locking assembly that prevents all components of the liner hanger from actuating until it is unlocked; a slips locking assembly that prevents the lower slips from being actuated until it is unlocked; guide rails that prevent. the lower slips and/or the upper slips from being wedged in a radially outward direction during run in; and a floating cone locking assembly that releases the packer cone from being coupled to a spacer of the liner hanger when it is unlocked.

Abstract: A stage cementing tool has a mandrel defining a central flow passage and a plurality of fully open cement flow ports. A packer disposed about the mandrel is movable from an unset to a set position. An opening sleeve is movable in the mandrel from a closed position to an open position in which the flow ports are exposed to allow flow therethrough. The opening sleeve is operable to move the setting sleeve to set the packer against the wellbore as it moves in the mandrel from the closed to the open position.

Abstract: A leak detection tool is positioned in in a tubing string that is disposed in a wellbore. The leak detection tool is attached to a downhole end of a line and includes a cup. An outside diameter of the cup is substantially the same as an inside diameter of the tubing string. An uphole end of the line is attached to a spool disposed proximate to an uphole end of the wellbore. The leak detection tool is propelled through the tubing string in a downhole direction by pumping a fluid down the tubing string such that a fluid pressure uphole of the cup is greater than a fluid pressure downhole of the cup. A flow of fluid from an interior of the tubing string uphole of the cup to an exterior of the tubing string through a leak in a wall of the tubing string is detected as the cup passes the leak. A depth of the leak is determined based on a length of the line from the spool to the leak detection tool when the flow of fluid from uphole of the cup through the leak is first detected.

Abstract: A downhole conveyance line cutter operable to be conveyed downhole within a wellbore along a conveyance line that conveys a tool string within the wellbore and then cut the conveyance line. The downhole conveyance line cutter may have a body, a fluid chamber within the body, a piston slidably disposed within the fluid chamber, a knife that is movable with respect to the body, an arm operatively connecting the piston and the knife, and a fluid source operable to pump a fluid into the fluid chamber to cause the piston to move the arm which moves the knife to cut the conveyance line.

Abstract: Methods for positioning an expandable metal sealing element in the wellbore. An example method includes an expandable metal sealing element having a reactive metal and disposed in a location. The method further includes actuating a washout prevention element, contacting the expandable metal sealing element with a fluid that reacts with the reactive metal to produce a reaction product having a volume greater than the reactive metal, and allowing the washout prevention element to prevent at least a portion of the reaction product from flowing away from the location.

Abstract: A drilling assembly comprises a drill bit and a cutting assembly. The drilling assembly forms a longitudinal center axis. The drill bit and cutting assembly fastened to a rotatable spline drive assembly. The cutting assembly being resiliently displaceable to the drill bit along the center axis such that in a first position the drill bit is surrounded by the cutting assembly and in a second position a free end portion of the drill bit projects beyond the cutting assembly along the center axis. The cutting assembly comprises an endmill which comprises a central through hole which is complementary to the outer diameter of the drill bit. A method for cutting swarfs created by drilling with the endmill is described.