Abstract: An energy harvester, including a cyclical impulse device, and a piezoelectric generator deformably connected to the device. A method for harvesting energy from a flowing fluid including inducing a selected flow regime, causing a cyclical impulse device to cycle based upon the flow regime, and physically deforming a piezoelectric generator with the device. A wellbore system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and an energy harvester disposed within or as a part of the string.

Abstract: An energy harvester arrangement including a housing, a port in the housing, a first member whose position relative to the housing depends upon a Bernoulli effect on the member from a fluid flow through the port, and a piezoelectric voltage generator operably connected to the member. A method for generating electricity, comprising flowing a fluid past a member, the fluid creating pressure change dependent upon flow velocity, causing a movement of the member by the pressure change, physically deforming a piezoelectric generator with the movement, and generating a voltage with the deforming. A system including a structure having a flow path for a fluid, an energy harvesting arrangement, disposed within at least a portion of the flow path. A borehole system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and an arrangement disposed within or as a apart of the string.

Abstract: An energy harvester, including a housing, an impeller supported in the housing, an agitator operably connected to the impeller, and a piezoelectric member supported by the housing, the member deflectable by the agitator due to rotation of the impeller. A method of generating power from a flowing fluid, including rotating an impeller with the flowing fluid, actuating an agitator with the impeller, and deflecting a piezoelectric member with the agitator. A borehole system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and an energy harvester disposed within or as a part of the string.

Abstract: An expandable annular seal tool including a cone having an actuation surface, a seal member disposed in the actuation surface, and an annular seal element disposed on the actuation surface. An embodiment of a borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, and a tool disposed in the borehole.

Abstract: An expandable annular seal tool including a cone having an actuation surface, a seal member disposed in the actuation surface, and an annular seal element disposed on the actuation surface. An embodiment of a borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, and a tool disposed in the borehole.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for placing a member in a wellbore. The apparatus includes member conveyable downhole, a component of the member configured to perform an action in the wellbore, a potential energy source, a locking device and a heat source. The potential energy source is capable of activating the component. The locking device constrains the potential energy source from activating the component when the locking device is in a first state. The heat source changes the locking device from the first state to a second state in which the locking device allows the potential energy source to activate the component.

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: An apparatus for generating electrical power includes at least one power generation assembly having a housing including a fluid chamber, one or more conductive coils surrounding the fluid chamber, a reciprocating magnetic shuttle dividing the fluid chamber into a first volume and a second volume. The apparatus also includes at least one switching assembly configured to alternate between a first operating state where the first volume is in fluid communication with a first fluid pressure source, and a second operating state where the first volume is in fluid communication with a second fluid pressure source. The switching assembly is configured to alternate between the first operating state and the second operating state 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 in the one or more conductive coils.

Abstract: A fluid ejection system may include a first fluid ejection module and a second fluid ejection module. The first fluid ejection module may include a first end, a first module face and a first row of first ejection heads having first ejection faces along the first module face. The second fluid ejection module may include a second end opposite the first end, a second module face and second ejection heads having second ejection faces along the second module face. The first module face and the second module face are spaced by an inter-module mesoscale gap.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for placing a member in a wellbore. The apparatus includes member conveyable downhole, a component of the member configured to perform an action in the wellbore, a potential energy source, a locking device and a heat source. The potential energy source is capable of activating the component. The locking device constrains the potential energy source from activating the component when the locking device is in a first state. The heat source changes the locking device from the first state to a second state in which the locking device allows the potential energy source to activate the component.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electrical power includes at least one power generation assembly having a housing including a fluid chamber, one or more conductive coils surrounding the fluid chamber, a reciprocating magnetic shuttle dividing the fluid chamber into a first volume and a second volume. The apparatus also includes at least one switching assembly configured to alternate between a first operating state where the first volume is in fluid communication with a first fluid pressure source, and a second operating state where the first volume is in fluid communication with a second fluid pressure source. The switching assembly is configured to alternate between the first operating state and the second operating state 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 in the one or more conductive coils.

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: A method of isolating a section of a drilled bore containing a problem zone comprises: providing a section of tubing; locating the tubing in the section of the bore; and expanding the tubing and forming at least an outer portion of the tubing to conform to irregularities in the bore wall, to isolate the problem zone. The tubing may feature a formable outer section, and the expansion of the tubing may be achieved using a compliant rotary expander.

Abstract: There are disclosed methods and apparatus for expanding tubing downhole. In one embodiment, there is disclosed a method of expanding downhole tubing such as a liner (10), the method comprising the steps of locating the liner (10) in a borehole (12), expanding a part (16) of the liner (10) in the borehole (12), locating an expansion device such as an expandable cone (18) in said expanded part (16) of the liner (10), and translating the cone (18) relative to the liner (10) to expand a further part (20) of the liner (10).

Abstract: In one embodiment, there is disclosed a method of expanding tubing comprising providing an assembly 40 comprising a section of expandable tubing (42) and an expansion device in the form of an expansion mandrel (44) located at least partially externally of the tubing (42), running the assembly (40) into a bore, translating the expansion mandrel (44) relative to the tubing (42) to expand an end section of the tubing (42), and further translating the expansion mandrel (44) relative to the tubing (42) to expand a further section of the tubing (42).

Abstract: There is disclosed an expandable seal for sealing at least part of a wall of a well borehole, an expandable seal assembly comprising at least two such expandable seals, and a method of sealing at least part of a well borehole using such a seal. In one embodiment, the expandable seal (32) comprises an expandable tubular support member (34) and an inflatable seal element (36) mounted externally of the expandable tubular support member (34) for inflation radially outwardly into sealing engagement with at least part of a wall (50) of a well borehole (10). There is also disclosed a sealing apparatus for sealing at least one flow port in an expandable downhole tubular, in one embodiment, the sealing apparatus (332) comprising a sealing member (384) coupled to an expandable tubular (334), the sealing member (384) including a deformable portion (387) movable between a closed position preventing fluid flow through a flow port (356) and an open position permitting fluid flow through the flow port (356).

Abstract: There is disclosed a tubing expansion device and a method of expanding tubing. In one embodiment, an expansion device (10) is disclosed which comprises at least one expansion member (14) adapted to expand a tubing (12) by inducing a hoop stress in the tubing (12), and at least one further expansion member (16) adapted to expand the tubing (12) by inducing a compressive yield of the tubing (12); and a method of expanding tubing (12) comprising the steps of expanding the tubing (12) at least in part by inducing a hoop stress in the tubing (12), and expanding the tubing (12) at least in part by inducing a compressive yield of the tubing (12).

Abstract: A method for joining ductile iron with steel includes the steps of depositing a metallic material between a first ductile iron component, and a second steel component. The joint formed by the method has an interface disposed between the two components and the first and second components are welded thereto. The interface includes the metallic material. The metallic material preferably includes nickel sprayed to the joint area. The resulting interface material is a weld bead zone that preferably includes nickel at a concentration ranging from about twenty-two percent to about thirty-two percent, most preferably between about thirty percent and about thirty-two percent. The welding step of the present invention preferably includes the use of laser energy to localize fusion of the components and the metallic material.