Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and method for securing together longitudinal members for use in a well. A common application of the invention is for securing an electric submersible pumping assembly to a bypass tubing. Embodiments of the invention resist rotation of the members but allow the members a degree of axial movement with respect to each other. Thus differential thermal expansion of the members does not result in tension between the connections. During assembly of the members before deployment in the well, the various components which can make up the members can be moved and aligned axially with respect to each other in order fit together. This simplifies assembly of the various components.

Abstract: An apparatus for radially expanding tubular members.

Abstract: Progressive cavity (PC) pump drive heads require a stuffing box to seal crude oil from leaking onto the ground where the polish rod passes from the crude oil passage in the wellhead to the drive head. Because crude oil typically contains fine sand particles, alignment between the stuffing box and the polished rod is imperfect, and PC drive heads run continuously, it is very difficult make stuffing boxes that last as long as desirable by oil production companies. By using a flexibly mounted standpipe in various configurations, around which is a bearing supported shaft carrying the sealing means, long term durability of the stuffing box can be achieved. By using a pressurization system such that the pressure output exceeds the pressure at the wellhead, stuffing box seal life can be extended and external leakage from the stuffing box can be eliminated. A double wall standpipe may be provided in some applications as part of the pressurization system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a well safety valve set in a production tubing, comprising a body (17) including shutoff means (18) for shutting off a passage inside the body, anchor means (19) for anchoring the body in the tubing, sealing means (20) between the body and the wall of the tubing, the valve comprising communication means (14) for a hydraulic pressure between the valve and the surface of the well. According to the invention, the shutoff, anchor and sealing means include hydraulic activation means such that the hydraulic pressure transmitted from the surface activates the means so as to open the passage, anchor the valve in the tubing and activate the sealing means on the wall of the tubing. The invention also relates to a method for setting the valve.

Abstract: In a subsea wellhead assembly, a collet ring assembly is used with a hanger for suspending a string of conduit in a subsea wellhead assembly. The ring assembly includes a collet that extends around an outer surface of the hanger. The collet has an upper portion that rotates radially between locked and unlocked positions. The ring assembly has a protruding lower portion extending radially outward from the hanger for engaging an interior surface of the wellhead assembly, which causes the upper portion of the collet to rotate radially outward to engage the interior surface of the wellhead assembly in a locked position. The ring assembly includes a back-up ring that engages the interior of the collet, which the collet rotates around between its locked and unlocked positions.

Abstract: A cabled communication link for a drill string includes spaced apart adapter subs within the drill string and a cable connecting the adapter subs for communication of a signal therebetween. The cabled communication link may be drill pipe joints are interconnected within the drill string between adapter subs to form a piped communication link, whereby the cabled communication link establishes a pathway to the piped communication link for transmitting a signal through the drill string. The cabled communication link may also be in a non-wired section of the drill string is disposed between adapter subs, whereby the cabled communication link establishes a pathway for transmitting a signal through the non-wired section of the drill string. Inductive couplings are preferably used for communication across the adapter subs and wired drill pipe joints. Another aspect of the cabled communication employs wireless transceivers at or near the surface of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating a portion of a subsea structure is provided. The method includes pumping a fluid through a length of tubing such that the temperature of the fluid increases. The temperature increase of the fluid is created by friction in the tubing, and may be also be created by at least one pressure reducing device such as an orifice, pressure reducing valve, or relief valve. A subsea structure may be heated by transferring heat from fluid circulating in a closed loop configuration or by direct application of fluid to the subsea structure using a nozzle. A remotely operated vehicle may be utilized to transport some or all of the equipment necessary, including pumps, tubing, heat exchangers, nozzles and tanks. The remotely operated vehicle provides power to the pumps used for circulating fluid through the tubing.

Abstract: A sonde (transmitter) housing having a one-piece design for improved housing rigidity. The housing includes a mechanically-adjustable mounting configuration adaptable to a variety of sonde applications. A method of making the sonde housing in a one-piece design and infinitely orienting the sonde clocking electronics.

Abstract: A bridge plug for isolating portions of a downhole casing is provided comprising a retrievable upper mandrel assembly and a lower mandrel assembly coupled to the upper mandrel assembly, wherein the lower mandrel assembly comprises a drillable material.

Abstract: An expandable reamer apparatus and methods for reaming a borehole, wherein a laterally movable blade carried by a tubular body may be selectively positioned at an inward position and an expanded position. The laterally movable blade, held inwardly by blade-biasing elements, may be forced outwardly by drilling fluid selectively allowed to communicate therewith by way of an actuation sleeve disposed within the tubular body. Alternatively, a separation element may transmit force or pressure from the drilling fluid to the movable blade. Further, a chamber in communication with the movable blade may be pressurized by way of a downhole turbine or pump. A ridged seal wiper, compensator, movable bearing pad, fixed bearing pad preceding the movable blade, or an adjustable spacer element to alter expanded blade position may be included within the expandable reamer. In addition, a drilling fluid pressure response indicating an operational characteristic of the expandable reamer may be generated.

Abstract: An insert for a rock bit that includes tungsten carbide particles, and a cobalt binder disposed around the particles, wherein a grain size of the tungsten carbide particles and a content of the cobalt binder are selected to provide a fracture toughness of at least about 18 ksi (in)0.5, a wear number of at least about 2, and a hardness of 85 to 87 Ra is disclosed.

Abstract: An expansion cone for radially expanding tubular members.

Abstract: Methods of operating a downhole tool comprise thermally-controlling the tool by sensing a temperature and controlling the tool in response to the sensed temperature. Thermally-controlled downhole tools comprise a control element responsive to a change in temperature that control flow into, out of, or through a wellbore. Methods and systems for servicing a wellbore comprise using a thermally-controlled tool comprising a thermally-controlled valve (TCV) in a wellbore. The TCV includes a valve body comprising an injection port for allowing material to flow into or out of the wellbore and an opening/closing mechanism for regulating flow of the material through the injection port in response to a change in temperature. The valve body may be coupled to a downhole conduit. A plurality of TCV's may be arranged in the wellbore to control the injection of steam into the wellbore or the recovery of oil from the wellbore.

Abstract: A system includes a drill string made up of a plurality of connectable pipe sections. An assembly is provided for use with each pipe section including contact arrangement for forming an isolated electrical connection between attached pipe sections at each end of each pipe section. An electrically conductive arrangement is located in the innermost passage of each pipe section and is in electrical communication with the contact arrangement to extend therebetween in a way which provides an electrically conductive path that is arranged against the inner wall of the innermost passage of each pipe section in cooperation with the contact arrangement to form an overall electrically isolated conductive path through the drill string. The electrically conductive arrangement resiliently biases the electrically conductive path against the inner wall, which path may take the form of a helix.

Abstract: A fluid system component is provided that is implemented as a section of metal pipe having a predetermined wall thickness and including a sacrificial element intended to preferentially fail upon the occurrence of certain predefined conditions. The sacrificial element takes the form of a window of predetermined geometry that covers an opening defined in the wall of the pipe. The window is configured to have a thickness substantially less than the wall thickness of the pipe, but nonetheless sufficiently great that the window remains materially unaffected by normal system operating conditions to which it is exposed. When the window is exposed to a pressure differential of predetermined magnitude, typically much greater than normal system operating pressures, the relatively thin window ruptures and permits the pressurized material, either inside or outside the pipe, to flow through the rupture.

Abstract: Wear sleeve for a drill pipe coupling (10), where a sleeve (18) is arranged in a drill pipe coupling on one of the two adjoining, coupled together drill pipes (12, 14) in a drill string, where the sleeve has an outer diameter that is larger than the outer diameter of the drill pipe coupling (10) and which comprises an inner continuous bore. The inner bore comprises a threaded section (22a) arranged for joining together with a corresponding outer threaded section (22) at the one end of the drill pipe coupling (10), whereupon the sleeve (18) is arranged to be securely fastened in the drill pipe coupling to form a wear sleeve.

Abstract: A tool for reducing torque on work string, eg for gas or oil production, comprises an upper clamp (2), a lower clamp (3) and connection means (4), the three components formed as a unitary structure (1). The tool also comprises bearing means, preferably made from an elastomeric compound, and an annular body (7) (see FIG. 4) held in place over the connection means by the clamps. The clamps may comprise spigots (5) for retaining the connection means. In a preferred embodiment the annular body is in two semi-annular components connected at one end to allow them to pivot, and the other end comprises mating castellations for receiving a fastening pin. The annular body may comprise a number of replaceable wear pads (14) which may be made of bronze or an elastomer. The unitary structure of the tool enhances the integral strength and efficiency of the clamps.

Abstract: The invention includes a method of increasing of the well rate of exploitation and recharge wells, comprising a means of decreasing the stress state in the well area by constructing of slot-like discharge key seats, wherein the slot-like key seats have a screw-like shape, wherein preliminary internal rock friction angles ? are determined for a rock composing a productive strata, and a pitch of the slot key seat screw is selected such that the tangent of the angle of deviation of the slot surface from the ? vertical will be between tg(45??/2)?tg(?)?1/?3, where 92 —is the internal rock friction angle where the key slot is being made.

Abstract: A retrievable pig apparatus having a substantially cylindrical body portion, the body portion having a central flow bore therethrough, and secured to coiled tubing, including a central fluid flow bore in fluid communication with the interior bore of the coiled tubing; a plurality of flow bores spaced equally apart within the body, with the flow bores allowing fluid flow to be injected at a certain predetermined pressure through the flow bores, so as to be emitted on the front end of the pig for defining a high pressure spray of fluid or the like material to break up blockages of debris in the pipeline, such as paraffin or the like; the debris retrieved through the central bore back into the coiled tubing to be stored in a tank or the like on the surface.

Abstract: An axial force generating tool for applying a force on a structure positioned within a borehole is taught. The tool includes a housing (19) sized to fit within the borehole in which the tool is required to act; an outer seal (38) disposed about the housing and selected to create a seal between the housing and the borehole; an inner bore (32) through the housing including a seal to prevent flow from the inner bore out through the lower end; an opening (34) to the inner bore above the seal; a bracing means (36) for maintaining the housing against axial movement in the borehole once the housing is in a selected position within the borehole; a piston (27) mounted in sliding engagement wiht the housing for axial movement relative to the housing, the piston positioned to act between a pressure differential establishable between the inner bore and the borehole between the seal and the lower end to drive the piston axially relative to the housing; and a grapple connected to the piston for axial movement therewith.