Abstract: A composite particle that incorporates a material and is designed to undergo a reaction and/or mechanical or chemical change with the environment to increase in volume. The composite particle can be combined with a constraining matrix to create an expandable particle upon reaction. These particles can be used in stimulating wells, including oil and gas reservoirs.

Abstract: A heterogeneous composite consisting of near-nano ceramic clusters dispersed within a ductile matrix. The composite is formed through the high temperature compaction of a starting powder consisting of a core of ceramic nanoparticles held together with metallic binder. This core is clad with a ductile metal such that when the final powder is consolidated, the ductile metal forms a tough, near-zero contiguity matrix. The material is consolidated using any means that will maintain its heterogeneous structure.

Abstract: A syntactic metal foam composite that is substantially fully dense except for syntactic porosity is formed from a mixture of ceramic microballoons and matrix forming metal. The ceramic microballoons have a uniaxial crush strength and a much higher omniaxial crush strength. The mixture is continuously constrained while it is consolidated. The constraining force is less than the omniaxial crush strength. The substantially fully dense syntactic metal foam composite is then constrained and deformation worked at a substantially constant volume. This deformation causes at least work hardening and grain refinement in the matrix metal. The resulting deformed syntactic metal foam composite has an energy absorption capacity that is at least 1.5 to 2 or 3 times or more the energy absorption capacity of the precursor substantially fully dense syntactic metal foam composite.

Abstract: A castable, moldable, or extrudable structure using a metallic base metal or base metal alloy. One or more insoluble additives are added to the metallic base metal or base metal alloy so that the grain boundaries of the castable, moldable, or extrudable structure includes a composition and morphology to achieve a specific galvanic corrosion rates partially or throughout the structure or along the grain boundaries of the structure. The insoluble additives can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the structure, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The insoluble particles generally have a submicron particle size. The final structure can be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final structure as compared to the non-enhanced structure.

Abstract: An engineered composite system designed to be passive or inert under one set of conditions, but becomes active when exposed to a second set of conditions. This system can include a dissolving or disintegrating core, and a surface coating that has higher strength or which only dissolves under certain temperature and pH conditions, or in selected fluids. These reactive materials are useful for oil and gas completions and well stimulation processes, enhanced oil and gas recovery operations, as well as in defensive and mining applications requiring high energy density and good mechanical properties, but which can be stored and used for long periods of time without degradation.

Abstract: A syntactic metal foam composite that is substantially fully dense except for syntactic porosity is formed from a mixture of ceramic microballoons and matrix forming metal. The ceramic microballoons have a uniaxial crush strength and a much higher omniaxial crush strength. The mixture is continuously constrained while it is consolidated. The constraining force is less than the omniaxial crush strength. The substantially fully dense syntactic metal foam composite is then constrained and deformation worked at a substantially constant volume. The deformation working is typically performed at a yield strength that is adjusted by way of selecting a working temperature at which the yield strength is approximately less than the omniaxial crush strength of the included ceramic microballoons. This deformation causes at least work hardening and grain refinement in the matrix metal.

Abstract: A pressure pulse generating tool may include an upper valve assembly disposed within the bore of a housing, where the upper valve assembly is configured to allow a fluid to flow through the upper valve assembly when in an open state. The upper valve assembly may also be configured to restrict the fluid from flowing through the upper valve assembly when in a closed state. The pressure pulse generating tool may further include a lower valve assembly disposed within the bore of the housing, where the lower valve assembly is configured to receive the fluid flow from the upper valve assembly. The lower valve assembly may also be configured to separate from the upper valve assembly in response to an increase in fluid pressure in an annulus defined between the upper valve assembly and the housing.

Abstract: A syntactic metal foam composite that is substantially fully dense except for syntactic porosity is formed from a mixture of ceramic microballoons and matrix forming metal. The ceramic microballoons have a uniaxial crush strength and a much higher omniaxial crush strength. The mixture is continuously constrained while it is consolidated. The constraining force is less than the omniaxial crush strength. The substantially fully dense syntactic metal foam composite is then constrained and deformation worked at a substantially constant volume. The deformation working is typically performed at a yield strength that is adjusted by way of selecting a working temperature at which the yield strength is approximately less than the omniaxial crush strength of the included ceramic microballoons. This deformation causes at least work hardening and grain refinement in the matrix metal.

Abstract: An embodiment of a system for preventing the loss of a spooled device into a wellbore comprises a housing defining an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture sized for allowing the spooled device to pass therethrough, a sensor to measure at least one condition of the system, and a gripper device to engage with the spooled device and the housing to prevent the loss of the spooled device when the condition of the system is a failure condition.

Abstract: An embodiment of a system for preventing the loss of a spooled device into a wellbore comprises a housing defining an aperture extending therethrough, the aperture sized for allowing the spooled device to pass therethrough, a sensor to measure at least one condition of the system, and a gripper device to engage with the spooled device and the housing to prevent the loss of the spooled device when the condition of the system is a failure condition.

Abstract: A wireline cable winch drum is provided that includes a core having a longitudinal axis; a pair of flanges spaced apart and extending radially outwardly from the core; and a wireline cable wrapped around the core in the space between the flanges. In one embodiment, at least one of the flanges includes an inner surface that contacts the wireline cable and forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core.

Abstract: A wireline cable winch drum is provided that includes a core having a longitudinal axis; a pair of flanges spaced apart and extending radially outwardly from the core; and a wireline cable wrapped around the core in the space between the flanges. In one embodiment, at least one of the flanges includes an inner surface that contacts the wireline cable and forms an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the core.