Abstract: A gripping apparatus for supporting a tubular includes a longitudinal opening extending therethrough. A bowl is formed on an inner wall of the housing to provide an incline surface for one or more gripping members. As the gripping members are move down along the incline, the incline causes the gripping members to move radially toward the tubular and contact the tubular. In one embodiment, the housing comprises two body portions coupled together using one or mores hinges. In one aspect, the bowl is formed as a recess in the inner wall of the housing. The hinges of the housing are progressively curved to accommodate the recess bowl, thereby increasing the tubular size handling capacity of the gripping apparatus. In another embodiment, the apparatus may include guide keys that mate with guide slots formed on an outer surface of the gripping members to minimize the rotational movement of the gripping members relative to the housing.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for gravel packing a hole in a subterranean formation including the step of pumping into the hole a gravel pack composition comprising gravel and a carrier fluid comprising a brine-in-oil emulsion, said emulsion being stabilized by an emulsifier based on at least one sorbitan fatty acid ester presenting a shoulder peak before the peak depicted to be the monomer peak when analyzed by gel permeation chromatography. The emulsifiers that exhibit the shoulder exhibit good stability without causing formation damage.

Abstract: An apparatus is used with an impact hammer penetration assemble such as standard penetration test (SPT) in geotechnical engineering. The impact hammer penetration assembly comprises a penetration sample, a series of rods coupled together and an impact hammer apparatus. The drop of the hammer from a constant height hits the coupled rods and sampler in series and forces the sampler deeper into the ground. The apparatus includes a tip depth transducer and sampler to output a first electrical signal that is a function of the sampler tip position. A shock force transducer communicates the axial shock force in the rod to output a second electrical signal that is a function of the rod shock force and hammer blows. A shock penetration transducer communicates the movement of the coupled rods and sampler to output a third electrical signal that is a function of the sampler penetration due to the hammer blows. A micro-process controller monitors and processes the first, second and third signals in real time.

Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a slurry of liquid and a plurality of impactors are introduced into at least one cavity formed in a body member and are discharged from the cavity so that the impactors remove a portion of the formation. The impactors are separated from at least a portion of the fluid and the materials removed from the formation, so that the impactors can be reused.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a reamed hole below the surface are disclosed. The reaming apparatus is arranged to be connected to one or more boring stems and has an interior section and an exterior section. The interior section is rotatable independently of the exterior section. Reamed holes of various cross-sections can be produced by appropriate selection of the cross-section of the exterior section.

Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors are introduced into at least one cavity formed in a body member and are discharging from the cavity so that the impactors remove a portion of the formation. The impactors are separated from at least a portion of the fluid, and are passed to a conduit so that the impactors accumulate in the conduit before being removed from the conduit.

Abstract: The invention is a composite masonry block having a front surface and a back surface which are adjoined by first and second side surfaces, as well as a top surface and a bottom surface. Each of the side surfaces has an inset extending from the block top surface to the block bottom surface. The block top surface has one or more protrusions positioned adjacent the first and second insets on the block top surface. The block also has a protrusion which has an angled side wall, the angle being at least about 20° from vertical. The protrusion is positioned on the block so that it will mate with any opening of an adjacently positioned course. In use, the blocks may be stacked to provide an interlocking structure wherein the protrusions of one block interfit or mate within the insets of another block.

Abstract: A hydraulically actuated anchor and a mechanically actuated packer are used in combination to secure a production tubing system in a lateral prior to injection of a cement to line the lateral borehole in which the production tubing is positioned. The packer is expanded to prevent fluid cement material from flowing past the packer into a junction area of the lateral with other laterals and aid the removal of superfluous cement material after hardening of the injected cement material around the production tubing system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a downhole tool actuation arrangement. The arrangement includes a housing having a chamber, at least one piston in operable communication with the chamber and at least one electrode exposed to the chamber. The electrodes are receptive to a power source. Further disclosed is a method for actuating a downhole tool. The method includes discharging a voltage source through at least one electrode to cause a pressure wave in a fluid surrounding the at least one electrode and moving at least one piston in response to the pressure wave.

Abstract: A sand control completion (100) for installation in a wellbore (102) includes first and second packers (114, 116) that define a first zone (110) in the wellbore (102). A production tubing (120) extends substantially through the first zone (110). Positioned between the first and second packers (114, 116) are a sand control screen (130), an inflow control valve (122) and a crossover valve (126). The sand control screen forms a first annulus (152) with the production tubing (120) and a second annulus with the wellbore (102). The inflow control valve (122) is operable to selectively allow and prevent fluid communication between the first annulus (152) and the interior of the production tubing (120). The crossover valve (126) is operable to selectively allow and prevent fluid communication between the production tubing (120) and the second annulus.

Abstract: A wireline coupler, for use in oil wells and gas wells to connect a perforating gun to the wireline from which the perforating gun is suspended, is designed to eliminate jamming of the wireline between the casing and the perforating gun when the perforating gun is propelled upward by the gases from the explosion of the perforating gun or by the natural gas, oil, or other fluids released through the new perforations.

Abstract: A drilling device is composed so as to drill a drilled object composed of a brittle material with the end of a rotating core bit by using a core bit in which a bit, formed by dispersing and arranging a cemented carbide or super abrasive in a binder phase, is provided on the end of a cylindrical tube, and rotating the core bit around an axis with a direct motor. The drilling device is composed so that the core bit is rotated such that the peripheral velocity at the outer periphery of the bit is 300 m/min or more while the core bit presses against the drilled object at a pressure of 0.6 N/mm2 or more during drilling.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for drilling with casing. In an embodiment, methods and apparatus for deflecting casing using a diverter apparatus are disclosed. In another embodiment, the apparatus comprises a motor operating system disposed in a motor system housing, a shaft operatively connected to the motor operating system, the shaft having a passageway, and a divert assembly disposed to direct fluid flow selectively to the motor operating system and the passageway in the shaft. In another aspect, methods and apparatus for directionally drilling a casing into the formation are disclosed. Methods and apparatus for measuring the trajectory of a wellbore while directionally drilling a casing into the formation are also described.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods allow a downhole anchor device to be cut, released, and retrieved using a single one-trip cutter and removal assembly. The assembly preferably includes a cutter head recessed behind an anchor latch. The latch is landed to the anchor device to be removed and the cutter head is extended therefrom and activated. Once cut by the cutter head, the anchor device is retrieved upon a distal end of the assembly.

Abstract: A subterranean electro-thermal heating system including one or more heater cable sections extending through one or more heat target regions of a subterranean environment and one or more cold lead sections coupled to the heater cable section(s) and extending through one or more non-target regions of the subterranean environment. A cold lead section delivers electrical power to a heater cable section but generates less heat than the heater cable section. The heater cable section(s) and the cold lead section(s) are arranged to deliver thermal input to one or more localized areas in the subterranean environment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for operating an electrically powered device in a packer using the piping structure of the well as an electrical conductor for providing power and/or communications. The electrically powered device may comprise an electrically controllable valve, a communications and control module, a modem, a sensor, and/or a tracer injection module.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for measuring solids in wellbore that include a bottom hole assembly having a sensor to measuring a characteristic indicative of solids in the wellbore. The measurement may be used to measure solids or solids suspended in fluid flow. The invention is useful for use in wellbore cleanouts. A computer model may be used and updated based on the measured characteristic. The input of measured characteristic and the updating of the computer model may be performed in real time whilst the wellbore cleanout operation is ongoing.

Abstract: The invention is comprised of (see FIG. 1) an inner pipe (2), and an outer pipe (3), and two end subs (1). An isolated circular hollowed space is contained in between these components. The isolated space can be used for transport of different medias down into the well, this can be vacuum, air, gas, acids, solids, tracers, or other well stimulating medias. The end subs (1) can be connected to the casing in the well and become an integrated part of the casing. The invention can be cemented on the outside like the casing can. The invention can be perforated after installed in the well.

Abstract: A method of acidizing a subterranean formation with a diverting agent composed of a gelled or thickened viscoelastic foam or fluid generated from (i.) an amidoamine oxide gelling agent and (ii.) an acid or foam, water and/or brine. The gelled or thickened foam or fluid may be generated in-situ or introduced directly into the formation by mixing of the amidoamine oxide gelling agent and acid or foam, water and/or brine. As the acid spends, the acidizing fluid thickens. When the acid is further spent, the fluid viscosity declines eventually returning to a low viscosity state, allowing for easy cleanup. The process allows for selective acidizing of less permeable zones of the formation and more uniform stimulation of the hydrocarbon bearing formation.

Abstract: A heat exchanging apparatus including a gas fuelled flameless heater and a heat exchanger loop. The heat exchanger loop includes a heat absorbing section which is contained within the flameless heater so that the flameless heater provides a heat source for the heat exchanger loop, and the heat exchanger loop further includes a heat transferring section for transferring heat from the heat exchanger loop to a heat sink.