Abstract: An apparatus for retaining electronic components in a downhole component coupling mechanism includes: a power supply frame including a first housing configured to retain a power supply therein and isolate the power supply from downhole fluids, the power supply frame configured to be disposed in and constrained axially by a coupling assembly of a first downhole component and a second downhole component; an electronic component disposed in a second housing in the coupling assembly, the electronic component located external to the power supply frame; and a connector configured to transmit electric power from the power supply to the electronic component to supply electrical power to the electronic component.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members.

Abstract: Cutters for a drill bit wherein the cutters have at least one groove in a face of a superabrasive table of the cutters. The cutters may also include ribs adjacent to the at least one groove.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for positively identifying wellbore projectiles introduced downhole. One well system includes at least one wellbore projectile configured to be introduced into a flow path associated with a work string arranged within a wellbore and extending from a wellhead installation, at least one optical computing device in optical communication with the flow path and having at least one integrated computational element configured to detect a characteristic of the at least one wellbore projectile and generate a resulting output signal indicative of the characteristic of the at least one wellbore projectile, and a computational system configured to receive the resulting output signal and associate the resulting output signal with a size or configuration of the at least one wellbore projectile.

Abstract: A packer deactivation system can include a packer and a safety joint. Activation of the safety joint can prevent setting of the packer. A method for use with a subterranean well can include activating a safety joint in the well, and deactivating a packer connected to the safety joint, in response to the safety joint activating. Another packer deactivation system can include a safety joint and a packer drag block locking mechanism. Activation of the safety joint can operate the drag block locking mechanism, thereby preventing a drag block from displacing in a certain direction relative to a mandrel of a packer.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for use in a wellbore gravel pack operation. The method comprises providing an apparatus in a downhole annulus. The apparatus comprises a mandrel and a swellable element formed from a material selected to increase in volume when exposed to a downhole stimulus. The method comprises placing a gravel pack below the apparatus via the downhole annulus in which the apparatus is located, and placing a gravel pack above the apparatus. Subsequent to placing the gravel packs, the swellable element is increased in volume to create an annular barrier in the wellbore. The invention allows isolation of multiple intervals of a well in a single gravel pack operation using swellable elastomers, and does not rely on the use of shunt tube alternate path systems.

Abstract: The need to have the housing of an ESP suspended by the discharge flange to allow room for downhole thermal expansion in a situation where there is no surface access to the lower end of the ESP when the discharge flange is bolted up is addressed by building the ESP on a support that is removable downhole without intervention. A controlled electrolytic material or CEM can be used or other materials that meet the structural support requirement for the ESP and then after a predetermined time lose their capacity to support leaving the ESP suspended by its discharge flange and capable of growing under thermal loading.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting and tallying pipe in a well completion system. In one embodiment, at least one sensor determines the length of a pipe and/or at least one thread protector sensor determines whether the thread protectors are removed from both ends of the pipe. The sensors may be located in a mast assembly, a pipe arm, a walkway adjacent said pipe arm used to urge pipe towards the pipe arm, or various other places as desired. A moveable control van with a control system receives signals from the sensors. The control van comprises a system which also keeps a tally of the total amount of pipe currently in the wellbore. In one embodiment, memory chips may be used on the pipe to store a history of the pipe. The sensors then communicate this information back to the control system.

Abstract: A friction reduction assembly for a downhole tubular. The friction reduction assembly includes an electrically activated friction reduction sub. The sub includes a flowbore fluidically connected to a flowbore of the tubular and remaining open for fluid flow therethrough during both activated and non-activated states of the friction reduction sub. A friction reducer responsive to an indication of lockup of the tubular, wherein friction between the tubular and surrounding casing or borehole is reduced in an electrically activated state of the friction reduction sub. A method of reducing friction in a downhole tubular is also included.

Abstract: A driveshaft assembly for a downhole motor comprises a housing and a driveshaft rotatably disposed within the housing. The driveshaft has a central axis and a first end. Further, the driveshaft assembly comprises a driveshaft adapter having a first end coupled to the first end of the driveshaft with a universal joint. The first end of the driveshaft adapter includes a counterbore. The first end of the driveshaft and the universal joint are disposed in the counterbore. Still further, the driveshaft assembly comprises an end cap disposed about the driveshaft and coaxially coupled to the adapter. Moreover, the driveshaft assembly comprises a seal boot disposed about the driveshaft and adapted to restrict fluid flow through a annular gap positioned between the driveshaft and the end cap. The driveshaft assembly also comprises a locking assembly adapted to restrict the end cap from moving axially relative to the adapter.

Abstract: A system for use with a subterranean well can include a magnetic sensor, a magnetic device which propagates a magnetic field to the magnetic sensor, and a barrier positioned between the magnetic sensor and the magnetic device. The barrier can comprise a relatively low magnetic permeability material. A method of isolating a magnetic sensor from a magnetic device in a subterranean well can include separating the magnetic sensor from the magnetic device with a barrier interposed between the magnetic sensor and the magnetic device, the barrier comprising a relatively low magnetic permeability material. A well tool can include a housing having a flow passage formed through the housing, a magnetic sensor in the housing, and a barrier which separates the magnetic sensor from the flow passage, the barrier having a lower magnetic permeability as compared to the housing.

Abstract: A variable flow resistance system for use with a subterranean well can include a structure which displaces in response to a flow of a fluid composition, whereby a resistance to the flow of the fluid composition changes in response to a change in a ratio of desired to undesired fluid in the fluid composition. Another system can include a structure which rotates in response to flow of a fluid composition, and a fluid switch which deflects the fluid composition relative to at least two flow paths. A method of variably resisting flow in a subterranean well can include a structure displacing in response to a flow of a fluid composition, and a resistance to the flow of the fluid composition changing in response to a ratio of desired to undesired fluid in the fluid composition changing. Swellable materials and airfoils may be used in variable flow resistance systems.

Abstract: A remotely operated lifting top drive cement head is provided having a high tensile strength, as well as the ability to swivel or rotate about a central vertical axis. The cement head permits selective launching of darts, setting plugs, balls or other objects which can be held in place within the cement head without being damaged or washed away by slurry flow, but which can be beneficially launched into said slurry flow at desired point(s) during the cementing process. The internal components of the cement head can be easily accessed using interrupted thread connections that can be quickly and easy connected and disconnected in the field without requiring specialized equipment. The cement head can be rigged up and remotely operated without requiring the lifting of personnel off the rig floor to actuate the tool or observe tool status.

Abstract: Sensor-enabled cutting elements for an earth-boring drilling tool may comprise a substrate base, and a cutting tip at an end of the substrate base. The cutting tip may comprise a tapered surface extending from the substrate base and tapering to an apex of the cutting tip, and a sensor coupled with the cutting tip. The sensor may be configured to obtain data relating to at least one parameter related to at least one of a drilling condition, a wellbore condition, a formation condition, and a condition of the earth-boring drilling tool. The sensor-enabled cutting elements may be included on at least one of an earth-boring drill bit, a drilling tool, a bottom-hole assembly, and a drill string.

Abstract: A reaming tool includes a body having a longitudinal axis and an upper end opposite a lower end and a plurality of blades located on said body. Each blade includes a reaming surface having reaming inserts arranged on at least a portion of the reaming surface such that substantially equal load is applied on the reaming inserts in the longitudinal and circumferential directions, and wherein the reaming inserts comprise a truncated dome having a substantially flat top as an exposed contact area.

Abstract: A steerable drilling apparatus includes a control system inside a cylindrical housing connected to a drill bit having radially-extendable pistons. A fluid-metering assembly directs a piston-actuating fluid into fluid channels leading to respective pistons. The control system controls the fluid-metering assembly to allow fluid flow to selected pistons, causing the actuated pistons to temporarily extend in the opposite direction to a desired wellbore deviation, thereby deflecting the drill bit away from the borehole centerline. An upper member in the fluid-metering assembly can be moved to stabilize, steer, and change TFA within the drill bit. The control system and drill bit are connected so as to facilitate removal to change the drill bit's steering section and cutting structure configuration or gauge simultaneously. The apparatus may incorporate a fluid filter module mounted to the control system. The pistons may incorporate auxiliary cutting elements to provide near-bit reaming capability.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for damping vibration, especially torsional vibration due to stick-slip, in a drill string, Sensors measure the instantaneous angular velocity of the drill string at one or more locations along the length of the drill string. One or more vibration damping modules are also spaced along the length of the drill string. When torsional vibration above a threshold is detected, the damping module imposes a reverse torque on the drill that dampens the torsional vibration. The reverse torque can be created by imparting a frictional resistance to the rotation of the drill string. The frictional resistance can be created externally, by extending friction pads from the damping module so that they contact the bore hole wall and drag along the bore hole as the drill string rotates, or internally by anchoring a housing mounted on the drill string to the wall of the bore hole and then imposing frictional resistance on a fluid, such as a magnetorheological fluid, flowing within the drill string.

Abstract: A system for identifying location of a plunger that moves along a length of a well, includes an acoustic source carried in the well configured to transmit an acoustic signal when the plunger reaches a sense location in the well. An acoustic receiver is positioned at a top of the well and is configured to receive the acoustic signal processing circuitry processes the received acoustic signal and provides an output indicative of the plunger reaching the sense location.

Abstract: Modular debris chambers of a debris extraction tool and a method for collecting debris using such modular debris chambers are disclosed. The modular debris chamber for a debris extraction tool may include a plurality of debris chambers. The modular debris chamber may include a bucket for collecting debris, an inner flow tube being concentrically arranged within the bucket, and a deflector arranged in a lower end of the bucket for deflecting a flow of debris from the inner flow tube of a subsequent modular debris chamber connectable to a lower end of the modular debris chamber. The method for collecting debris using a modular debris chamber may include a plurality of the modular debris chambers interconnected to form a debris extraction tool, and reflecting fluid off the deflector allowing solid debris in the flow of debris to deflect off the deflector into the bucket of a subsequent modular debris chamber.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are presented for removing a degradable barrier plug positioned in a downhole axial passageway. The degradable plug is initially isolated from fluid by at least one solid, non-degradable cover. A first electronic rupture disc assembly is actuated to open a passageway to the degradable plug. A second electronic rupture disc assembly is actuated to allow a fluid, such as water from a supply chamber, to flow into contact with the plug. The plug is substantially degraded, although the cover remains. A third electronic rupture disc assembly is actuated to bend and then cover the remaining solid cover, thereby opening the axial passageway and protecting later-introduced tools.