Abstract: A liner hanger seals with casing string 8 having mill scale and supports a liner 98 within a well. The liner hanger includes a tubular anchor 48 and a tubular expander 40. The tubular anchor 48 may be positioned in the casing string 8 using an inner mandrel 10. An actuator assembly 6 forcibly moves the tubular expander 40 into the tubular anchor 48, expanding the tubular anchor 48 to grippingly engage the expanded tubular anchor 48 against the casing string 8 and to form a circumferential seal between metal sealing elements 52 on the tubular anchor 48 and the interior wall of the casing string 8. The metal sealing element 52 is oversized to provide rigidity, heat shrunk onto the tubular anchor 48, and abrasively dressed to remove excess material prior to installation of the liner hanger.

Abstract: A system including a gripping tool and a rotary cutting tool may be used to grip a section of casing while cutting through a lower portion of the casing in a single trip. The gripping tool includes a mandrel with a flow bore extending therethrough, a slip actuator received on the mandrel, at least one slip corresponding to the slip actuator, a housing disposed around at least a proximal end of the mandrel, and a collet assembly disposed proximate the at least one slip. The rotary cutting tool is coupled to the mandrel. The gripping tool also includes a bearing assembly that enables the mandrel and the rotary cutting tool to rotate while the at least one slip is remains stationary engaging an interior wall of a casing. The system may include a hydraulic power section to help with setting the slips and removing the cut casing from the wellbore.

Abstract: A ball seat is expanded and held in place within a casing using an expander. The ball seat includes one or more gripping elements and one or more sealing elements. An apparatus for expandably installing a ball seat in a casing includes a ball seat having one or more gripping elements and one or more elastomeric sealing elements disposed on an exterior of an expandable sleeve portion of the ball seat that is expanded by pulling an expander into the bore of the expandable sleeve portion of the ball seat. A mechanical fuse is predisposed to fail at a level of force sufficient to move the expander to the installed position. Failure of the fuse and further movement of a pulling mandrel positions a channel on the mandrel into alignment with a distal end of the collet, enabling the collet to collapse and pass through the expander for removal.

Abstract: An expansion tool includes a housing and a hydraulic power section for stroking a first expander on a pulling mandrel through a bore of an expandable outer clad, the expansion tool including a ratcheting reaction assembly, having a ratchet rack and a ratcheting component thereon, that engages a proximal end of the outer clad to prevent axial movement of the outer clad as the first expander is drawn through a portion of the bore of the outer clad to expand the outer clad. The ratcheting reaction assembly remains engaged with the proximal end of the outer clad as the housing is repositioned uphole to permit staged expansion of the outer clad using the first expander.

Abstract: A gripping tool having a mandrel reciprocatable within a slide member, the mandrel having a top connector for connecting to a tubular string and a bottom connector for connecting to a cutting tool, the slide member having at least one radially outwardly biased friction member and a slip cage with at least one window through which a slip is deployable, by movement of the mandrel within the slide member, to engage and grip a section of casing to be removed from a well, the mandrel being rotatable by rotation of the tubular string to operate the cutting tool with the gripping tool in the gripping mode. After detachment of the section of casing by the cutting tool, the gripping tool and the gripped section of casing are pulled from the well. The gripping mode is restorable to a running position to reset the tool in the casing.

Abstract: A system including a gripping tool and a rotary cutting tool may be used to grip a section of casing while cutting through a lower portion of the casing in a single trip. The gripping tool includes a mandrel with a flow bore extending therethrough, a slip actuator received on the mandrel, at least one slip corresponding to the slip actuator, a housing disposed around at least a proximal end of the mandrel, and a collet assembly disposed proximate the at least one slip. The rotary cutting tool is coupled to the mandrel. The gripping tool also includes a bearing assembly that enables the mandrel and the rotary cutting tool to rotate while the at least one slip is remains stationary engaging an interior wall of a casing. The system may include a hydraulic power section to help with setting the slips and removing the cut casing from the wellbore.

Abstract: A liner hanger seals with casing string 8 having mill scale and supports a liner 98 within a well. The liner hanger includes a tubular anchor 48 and a tubular expander 40. The tubular anchor 48 may be positioned in the casing string 8 using an inner mandrel 10. An actuator assembly 6 forcibly moves the tubular expander 40 into the tubular anchor 48, expanding the tubular anchor 48 to grippingly engage the expanded tubular anchor 48 against the casing string 8 and to form a circumferential seal between metal sealing elements 52 on the tubular anchor 48 and the interior wall of the casing string 8. The metal sealing element 52 is oversized to provide rigidity, heat shrunk onto the tubular anchor 48, and abrasively dressed to remove excess material prior to installation of the liner hanger.

Abstract: An expansion tool includes a housing and a hydraulic power section for stroking an expander on a pulling mandrel through a bore of an expandable liner, the expansion tool including a ratcheting reaction assembly, having a ratchet rack and a ratcheting component thereon, that engages a proximal end of the liner to prevent axial movement of the liner as the expander is drawn through a portion of the bore of the liner to expand the liner. The ratcheting reaction assembly remains engaged with the proximal end of the liner as the housing is repositioned uphole to permit staged expansion of the liner using the expander. The expansion tool improves sealing and structure integrity of the expanded liner within the casing by maintaining the liner in a position throughout the staged expansion process.

Abstract: An expansion tool includes a housing and a hydraulic power section for stroking a first expander on a pulling mandrel through a bore of an expandable outer clad, the expansion tool including a ratcheting reaction assembly, having a ratchet rack and a ratcheting component thereon, that engages a proximal end of the outer clad to prevent axial movement of the outer clad as the first expander is drawn through a portion of the bore of the outer clad to expand the outer clad. The ratcheting reaction assembly remains engaged with the proximal end of the outer clad as the housing is repositioned uphole to permit staged expansion of the outer clad using the first expander. The expansion tool improves sealing and structure integrity of the expanded outer clad within the casing by maintaining the outer clad in a position throughout the staged expansion process.

Abstract: An expansion tool includes a housing and a hydraulic power section for stroking an expander on a pulling mandrel through a bore of an expandable liner, the expansion tool including a ratcheting reaction assembly, having a ratchet rack and a ratcheting component thereon, that engages a proximal end of the liner to prevent axial movement of the liner as the expander is drawn through a portion of the bore of the liner to expand the liner. The ratcheting reaction assembly remains engaged with the proximal end of the liner as the housing is repositioned uphole to permit staged expansion of the liner using the expander. The expansion tool improves sealing and structure integrity of the expanded liner within the casing by maintaining the liner in a position throughout the staged expansion process.

Abstract: A gripping tool having a mandrel reciprocatable within a slide member, the mandrel having a top connector for connecting to a tubular string and a bottom connector for connecting to a cutting tool, the slide member having at least one radially outwardly biased friction member and a slip cage with at least one window through which a slip is deployable, by movement of the mandrel within the slide member, to engage and grip a section of casing to be removed from a well, the mandrel being rotatable by rotation of the tubular string to operate the cutting tool with the gripping tool in the gripping mode. After detachment of the section of casing by the cutting tool, the gripping tool and the gripped section of casing are pulled from the well. The gripping mode is restorable to a running position to reset the tool in the casing.

Abstract: A ball seat is expanded and held in place within a casing using an expander. The ball seat includes one or more gripping elements and one or more sealing elements. An apparatus for expandably installing a ball seat in a casing includes a ball seat having one or more gripping elements and one or more elastomeric sealing elements disposed on an exterior of an expandable sleeve portion of the ball seat that is expanded by pulling an expander into the bore of the expandable sleeve portion of the bail seat. A mechanical fuse is predisposed to fail at a level of force sufficient to move the expander to the installed position. Failure of the fuse and further movement of a pulling mandrel positions a channel on the mandrel into alignment with a distal end of the collet, enabling the collet to collapse and pass through the expander for removal.

Abstract: Fluid circulation valve is provided for use with a well drilling operation, so that a drill joint may be added to or removed from the drill string while continuously circulating fluid into the well. Valve housing has a central flow path therein, a housing side port, and upper and lower threaded connectors for engagement with the drill joint and the drill string, respectively. A rotatable ball is positioned within the flow path in the valve housing and a port in the ball is in fluid communication with the housing side port when the ball is closed. A coupling is provided for engaging the valve housing and sealing between an interior of the valve housing and the radially external flow line, which passes fluid into the well when a drill joint is being connecting to the upper end of the valve.

Abstract: A downhole hydraulically powered tool (10) moves an expander (36) in a well to radially expand a downhole tubular. The tool includes a plurality of fluid-powered pistons (16, 20) for axially stroking the expander relative to a tool mandrel (12), and one or more slips (52) for axially securing the tool in the well. The tool mandrel is rotatably secured to the tubular to rotate with the tubular, thereby rotating a bit (60) at the lower end of the tubular. The expander is moved axially downward in response to axial movement of the pistons to radially expand the tubular after at least a portion of the well is drilled with the bit and while the slips secure the tool in the well.

Abstract: A hydraulically powered fishing tool is provided for retrieving another tool or tubular stuck in a well. A tool housing is supported in a well on a work string, and the housing encloses a plurality of pistons (16, 28, 34) each movable in response to pressurized fluid transmitted through the work string. An anchor (52) axially fixes the position of the tool in the well, and a tool mandrel (40) is axially movable relative to tool housing when the anchor is set. A fishing device (82) engages the another tool or tubular, so that axial movement of the mandrel in response to the plurality of pistons dislodges the stuck tool or tubular.

Abstract: A liner hanger (10) is provided for supporting a liner in a well. An expandable tubular hanger (90) is positioned within the well and a running tool with a tool mandrel (34) passes fluid through the running tool. An actuator (12) forcibly moves the tubular expander to an expanded position. Release of the running tool from the liner may be accomplished with a retainer (84) and downward movement of the mandrel, with fluid pressure acting on a hydraulic piston (28) coupled with rotation of the mandrel, or by safety joint (68) along the tubular mandrel.

Abstract: A tool 10 is provided for radially expanding a downhole tubular C, and includes a central tool mandrel 12 which functionally is part of a drill string or work string, a tubular expander 48 at the lower end of the tubular, and a downhole actuator 15 for forcibly moving the expander axially within the downhole tubular. Slips 20 are positioned for securing the tool within the tubular, so that the slips may be set, and the tool subsequently stroked to move the expander 48 and radially expand a length of the tubular. Upward pull on the work string may expand long portions of the downhole tubular.

Abstract: Fluid circulation valve (10) is provided for use with a well drilling operation, so that a drill joint may be added to or removed from the drill string while continuously circulating fluid into the well. Valve housing (12, 18) has a central flow path therein, a housing side port (87), and upper and lower threaded connectors for engagement with the drill joint and the drill string, respectively. A rotatable ball (30) is positioned within the flow path in the valve housing and a port (87) in the ball is in fluid communication with the housing side port (15) when the ball is closed. A coupling (60) is provided for engaging the valve housing and sealing between an interior of the valve housing and the radially external flow line, which passes fluid into the well when a drill joint is being connecting to the upper end of the valve.

Abstract: An overshot tool is provided for interconnecting and sealing between a lower tubular (C) in a well and an upper tubular (30). A tubular expander sleeve (36) and an overshot sleeve (26) are supported in a well on an upper tubular. The tool housing (60) encloses a plurality of axially stacked pistons (58, 68, 74), which generate an axial force to move the expander sleeve downward and radially expand a portion of a lower tubular to seal between an outer diameter of the lower tubular and an inner diameter of the overshot sleeve.

Abstract: Fluid circulation valve (10) is provided for use with a well drilling operation, so that a drill joint may be added to or removed from the drill string while continuously circulating fluid into the well. Valve housing (12, 18) has a central flow path therein, a housing side port (87), and upper and lower threaded connectors for engagement with the drill joint and the drill string, respectively. A rotatable ball (30) is positioned within the flow path in the valve housing and a port (87) in the ball is in fluid communication with the housing side port (15) when the ball is closed. A coupling (60) is provided for engaging the valve housing and sealing between an interior of the valve housing and the radially external flow line, which passes fluid into the well when a drill joint is being connecting to the upper end of the valve.