Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for plasma blasting comprises a borehole for water, oil or gas extraction, an in hole capacitor bank for powering a blast probe, the probe comprising a high voltage electrode and a ground electrode separated by an insulator, wherein the high voltage electrode and the insulator constitute an adjustable probe tip, and an adjustment unit coupled to the adjustable probe tip, wherein the adjustment unit is configured to selectively extend or retract the adjustable probe tip relative to the ground electrode and a blasting media, wherein at least a portion of the high voltage electrode and the ground electrode are submerged in the blast media. The blasting media comprises water. The adjustable tip permits fine-tuning of the blast.

Abstract: A buoyancy assist tool has an outer case and a sleeve disposed in the outer case. The sleeve is movable from first to second positions in the outer case. A permeable membrane is attached to the movable sleeve at a lower end thereof. A rupture disk is mounted in the outer case. Fluid flow through the permeable membrane detaches the sleeve from the outer case and moves the sleeve from the first to the second position. In the second position, the sleeve creates an open bore for the passage of downhole tools therethrough.

Abstract: Disclosed is a drilling system for rock drilling with a drill string, wherein the drill string includes at least one bendable drill pipe. The drilling system further includes at least two block and tackle systems for driving an end of the drill string in a first direction; and at least two conveyor devices adapted to guide and bend the drill string between the first direction and a second direction, so as to convert a motion of the drill string between the first direction and the second direction.

Abstract: A system and method for exploiting deepwater shallow low-abundance unconventional natural gas by artificial enrichment is provided. The system includes a metallogenic system, a transport system and a collection system. The metallogenic system is used for clustering and enriching the deepwater shallow low-abundance nonconventional natural gas to form a natural gas hydrate reservoir. The metallogenic system includes an artificial foundation pit and a dome cap covering the top of the artificial foundation pit. The transport system is used for transporting low-abundance natural gas in a deepwater shallow low-abundance nonconventional natural gas stratum to the metallogenic system to provide a gas source for synthesizing the natural gas hydrate reservoir for the metallogenic system. The transport system includes oriented communication wells connecting the artificial foundation pit and the deepwater shallow low-abundance nonconventional natural gas stratum and filled with gravel particles.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating power includes a fluid chamber configured to receive borehole fluid, one or more conductive coils surrounding the fluid chamber, a reciprocating magnetic shuttle disposed in the fluid chamber and dividing the fluid chamber into a first volume and a second volume, a first conduit connected to the first volume, and a second conduit connected to the second volume, the first conduit and the second conduit extending from a tubular conduit to an annulus. The apparatus includes a switching assembly configured to alternate between a first operating state where the first volume is in fluid communication with the annulus and a second operating state where the first volume is in fluid communication with the tubular conduit, to alternate a direction of differential pressure between the first volume and the second volume and cause the magnetic shuttle to move in a reciprocating motion and generate an electric current.

Abstract: Provided is a wellbore tractor and method for operating a well system. The wellbore tractor, in one aspect, includes a base member, a hydraulically powered drive section coupled to the base member, and one or more turbines coupled to the hydraulically powered drive section for powering the hydraulically powered drive section based upon fluid flow across the one or more turbines. The wellbore tractor, according to this aspect, further includes one or more wellbore engaging devices radially extending from the hydraulically powered drive section, the one or more wellbore engaging devices contactable with a surface of a wellbore for displacing the wellbore tractor axially downhole.

Abstract: An overshot assembly for operative coupling to a wireline and a head assembly within a drilling system. The overshot assembly has a proximal body portion, a distal body portion, and a spindle received within the distal body portion. The distal body portion is moveable axially relative to the spindle to effect movement of a latching assembly about and between a deployed position in which the latching assembly extends radially outwardly from the distal body portion and a retracted position in which the latching assembly is received within the distal body portion.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells and methods of interrogating fluid flow within hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells include a wellbore and downhole tubing that defines a tubing conduit and extends within the wellbore. The hydrocarbon wells also include an interrogation device. The interrogation device is configured to indicate at least one property of fluid flow within the hydrocarbon wells. The hydrocarbon wells also include a downhole location at which the interrogation device is released into the tubing conduit and a detection structure configured to query the interrogation device to determine the at least one property of fluid flow within the hydrocarbon wells. The methods include releasing an interrogation device at a downhole location within a hydrocarbon well and flowing the interrogation device from the downhole location to a surface region. The methods also include querying the interrogation device to determine at least one property of fluid flow within the hydrocarbon well.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a cable head assembly with a cable head stinger connected to a weak link, and a release assembly including a bushing that radially outwardly supports a dog in engagement with an internal groove formed in an outer housing. A method can include connecting a bottom hole assembly to a wireline, the connecting including connecting the wireline to a cable head stinger of a cable head assembly; deploying the wireline and bottom hole assembly into the well; applying a tensile force to the wireline, thereby breaking a weak link of the cable head assembly; and then displacing the cable head stinger into engagement with a bushing of the release assembly, thereby permitting a dog to displace radially inwardly out of engagement with an internal groove in the release assembly.

Abstract: A borehole tool can include a frangible degradable alloy that includes an oxidizable base element and at least one alloying element.

Abstract: A pressure control device can include an outlet, an inlet secured to well equipment, and a swivel mechanism that permits relative rotation between the outlet and the inlet in an unlocked configuration and prevents relative rotation between the outlet and the inlet in a locked configuration. A lock device of the swivel mechanism can include circumferentially distributed teeth, and an engagement member that engages at least one of the teeth in the locked configuration. A method of operating a pressure control device can include securing an inlet of the pressure control device to well equipment, rotating an outlet of the pressure control device about a longitudinal axis of the inlet, locking a swivel mechanism of the pressure control device, thereby preventing rotation of the outlet relative to the inlet, and sealing off an annulus surrounding a tubular string extending through the inlet.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic jet breaking tool for solid fluidization exploitation of natural gas hydrate, which mainly includes an upper joint, an outer cylinder, an inner sliding sleeve, a lockup sliding sleeve, a thrust bearing, a spring, a jet joint, a telescopic jet sprinkler, a plug block and an extrusion seal ring. The present invention mainly adopts the principle of throttling control pressure to control the position of the inner sliding sleeve by controlling a flow rate of a drilling fluid, so as to turn on and turn off the jet breaking tool. The application of the present invention can realize automatic jet breaking of solid fluidization exploitation of the natural gas hydrate, reduce procedures of a round trip operation, and effectively improve the efficiency and safety of the exploitation operation of the natural gas hydrate.

Abstract: A method includes spraying acid onto an inner wall of a wellbore formed in a subterranean zone with entrapped hydrocarbons that flow into the subterranean zone. Spraying the acid forms a subterranean cavern within a portion of the wellbore, the subterranean cavern being wider than the wellbore. The entrapped hydrocarbons flow into the subterranean cavern. The entrapped hydrocarbons include liquid hydrocarbons and water. The liquid hydrocarbons and the water separate under gravity within the subterranean cavern. The method also includes drawing the liquid hydrocarbons from the subterranean cavern to a surface of the wellbore.

Abstract: A composite nitrogen huff and puff method for a bounded fault block reservoir comprises: selecting the reservoir to be developed, wherein the reservoir to which the development method is applicable is roughly screened according to the following conditions: the reservoir is a bounded fault block reservoir, buried depth<5000 m, residual oil saturation>0.5, reservoir thickness>10 m, horizontal permeability>100 mD, vertical permeability to horizontal permeability ratio>0.35, reservoir porosity>0.20, and stratigraphic dip>8°; and sequentially performing the following huff and puff phases: a nitrogen huff and puff phase, a nitrogen and water composite huff and puff phase, a nitrogen and foaming agent composite huff and puff phase, and a nitrogen and carbon dioxide composite huff and puff phase.

Abstract: An instrumented cutting element, an earth-boring drilling tool, and related methods are disclosed. The instrumented cutting element may include a substrate base, a diamond table disposed on the substrate base, a sensor disposed within the diamond table, a lead wire coupled to the sensor and disposed within a side trench formed within the substrate base, and a filler material disposed within the side trench. The earth-boring drilling tool may include securing the instrumented cutting element to a blade of a bit body. A related method may include forming the instrumented cutting element and earth-boring drilling tool.

Abstract: A system and method to protect downhole tools and equipment used in transporting fluids with erosional and/or corrosive characteristics is disclosed according to one or more embodiments. The protection assembly engages with a latch coupling or other surface in need of protection to form a barrier between the latch coupling surface and any erosional or corrosive fluids. The protection assembly comprises a barrier sleeve portion and a support sleeve portion disposed in the barrier sleeve. The support sleeve is moveable between a first and second position within the barrier sleeve. In a first position of the support sleeve, collet fingers in the barrier sleeve may flex to allow movement through the latch coupling while in a second position of the support sleeve, the collet fingers may not flex and the barrier sleeve is engaged and protecting the latch coupling.

Abstract: A rotary steerable drill string (16) employs a drill bit (10) selected to positively contribute to underpressure in a preselected azimuthal segment of the borehole relative to an opposing azimuthal section. Generally, a high flow velocity of drilling fluid in the selected azimuthal segment relative to in other segments will result in a more pronounced underpressure in the selected azimuthal segment. Drill bit designs which locally enhance the drilling fluid flow velocity are proposed to be employed in the present rotary steerable drill string.

Abstract: A method of obtaining geological data pertaining to a bore hole that comprises supporting a ground drill and a separate geological instrument (30) on a vehicle (52), the instrument (30) being capable of acquiring geological data including one or more of geophysical data, petro physical data, mineralogical and compositional data and hole geometry data from within the bore hole; drilling a bore hole using a ground drill, the bore hole having an exposed circumferential wall; moving the ground drill out of the bore hole and subsequently out of alignment with the bore hole; lowering and subsequently retrieving the instrument (30) from the bore hole; and, operating the instrument (30) while in the bore hole to acquire geological data of the ground in which the bore hole is drilled.

Abstract: A perforating gun orienting system. The orienting system comprises a first perforating gun and a second perforating gun, with each defining a gun barrel housing having a first end and an opposing second end. The orienting system also includes a tandem sub, with the tandem sub having first and second opposing ends defining a threaded connector, and each end having a side port configured to receive an alignment screw. A first slot resides at the second end of the first perforating gun, and a second slot resides at the first end of the second perforating gun. The slots are configured to align with the side ports, allowing the operator to access alignment screws within the side ports while aligning charges of the two guns. A method of aligning shots in a perforating gun assembly using the orienting system is also provided.

Abstract: A method of perforating a subterranean formation may comprise: inserting into a wellbore a perforating gun assembly comprising: a first gun assembly comprising a first perforating explosive and a first ballistic transfer element; a transfer assembly comprising a second ballistic transfer element; and a second gun assembly comprising a second perforating explosive, wherein the first gun assembly and the second gun assembly are separated from the transfer assembly by a discontinuity; detonating the first perforating explosive; propagating a ballistic signal from the first gun assembly, across the discontinuity, to the transfer assembly; propagating a ballistic signal though the transfer assembly to the second ballistic transfer element; propagating a ballistic signal from the transfer assembly, across the discontinuity, to the second gun assembly; and detonating the second perforating explosive.