Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, an intercept well for penetrating an existing tubular is drilled. A casing entry tool is provided in the intercept well and operated to form at least one aperture in the wall of the existing casing. The casing entry tool may be oriented toward the target tubular. In some embodiments, a generally concave notch may be positioned on the casing entry tool and adapted to engage with the convex outer surface of the target tubular. In some embodiments, a locking mechanism may retain the orientation of the casing entry tool within the intercept well.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the disclosure, an intercept well for penetrating an existing tubular is drilled. A casing entry tool is provided in the intercept well and operated to form at least one aperture in the wall of the existing casing. The casing entry tool may be oriented toward the target tubular. In some embodiments, a generally concave notch may be positioned on the casing entry tool and adapted to engage with the convex outer surface of the target tubular. In some embodiments, a locking mechanism may retain the orientation of the casing entry tool within the intercept well.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an expansion device that is coupled to a support member and operable to be disposed within a tubular member. The expansion device is operable to radially expand the tubular member as the expansion device moves axially through the tubular member. A latch assembly is coupled to the support member and is operable to engage a corresponding latch receptacle disposed within the tubular member so as to limit the axial movement of the expansion device relative to the tubular member.

Abstract: A downhole releasable tubular connection includes a joint between two tubing strings, wherein one of the two tubing strings is radially expanded and plastically deformed by an expansion device. When the expansion device is moved adjacent to the joint, a threaded connection mechanism in the joint reacts to the radially outward forces of the expansion device and releasably expands, thereby decoupling the tubing strings.

Abstract: A downhole releasable tubular connection includes a joint between two tubing strings, wherein one of the two tubing strings is radially expanded and plastically deformed by an expansion device. When the expansion device is moved adjacent to the joint, a threaded connection mechanism in the joint reacts to the radially outward forces of the expansion device and releasably expands, thereby decoupling the tubing strings.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an expansion device that is coupled to a support member and operable to be disposed within a tubular member. The expansion device is operable to radially expand the tubular member as the expansion device moves axially through the tubular member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method according to which a tubular liner is positioned in a preexisting structure such as, for example, a wellbore, a wellbore casing, a pipeline or a structural support, and the tubular liner is anchored to the preexisting structure during radial expansion.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing or limiting the rotation of cementing plugs in a casing string during drillout. The apparatus includes an outer housing with a sleeve disposed therein. The sleeve has an inner surface configured to engage cementing plugs received therein to cause an interference fit. The sleeve will hold the cementing plugs when rotational forces, such as drilling forces, are applied so that during drillout, rotation of the cementing plug is prevented or is at least limited.

Abstract: A running tool for wiper plugs used in cementing well casings into a wellbore. The running tool and setting balls or darts used to launch the plugs are retrievable following deployment of the plugs. Flapper valve assemblies on the wiper plugs are activated after the plugs are displaced from the running tool to eliminate the requirement to maintain a setting ball or dart in engagement with the wiper plug as the assembly is pumped down the well casing. Because of being retrievable, the mandrel, setting sleeves and setting ball or dart may be constructed of any desirable high-strength material without regard to the need to drill up the material following completion of the cementing job. The use of high-strength steel permits large flow passages to be employed in the cementing plugs by eliminating the need for large volumes of drillable metals in the plugs. The running tool protects the flapper valve seal surfaces from circulating fluids prior to deployment of the plugs from the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing or limiting the rotation of cementing plugs in a casing string during drillout. The apparatus includes an outer housing with a sleeve disposed therein. The sleeve has an inner surface configured to engage cementing plugs received therein to cause an interference fit. The sleeve will hold the cementing plugs when rotational forces, such as drilling forces, are applied so that during drillout, rotation of the cementing plug is prevented or is at least limited.

Abstract: A downhole apparatus is described as having an upper mandrel shearably connected to a lower mandrel by a first set of shear pins. Each of the mandrels has an elastomeric cement plug formed around the mandrels. A sleeve is shearably connected within the lower mandrel. The operation of the apparatus, which includes a method for controlling the flow of fluid out of the end of a tubular string, involves dropping a first small diameter ball from the earth3 s surface. The ball is sized such that it travels through the upper mandrel and settles into the sleeve which is connected within the lower mandrel. By increasing pump pressure at the earth's surface, the lower mandrel is separated from the upper mandrel by shearing the first set of shear pins.

Abstract: An liner hanger setting mechanism is provided. The setting mechanism of the present invention is basically comprised of a tubular pump down plug receptacle having a plug seat defined therein. A cylindrical pump down setting plug having a central flow passage and a rupturable member disposed therein to prevent flow therethrough is dropped into a work string and the tubular plug receptacle. The pump down setting plug will engage the plug seat and pressure can be increased to the setting pressure required to set a hydraulically actuated liner hanger. The pressure can then be further increased to the rupture pressure of the rupturable member to provide for full bore flow through the pump down setting plug.

Abstract: Apparatus to generate electricity from energy in a flowing stream of fluid comprises a piezoelectric member and a flow restrictor connected with the member to cause portions of a flowing stream of fluid to flow past different sides of the member such that the member deforms to generate electricity in response thereto. A particular such apparatus includes a conduit to conduct a flowing stream of fluid; a divider disposed along at least a portion of the length of the conduit such that the divider divides that portion of the conduit into two flow channels; a piezoelectric member connected to the divider such that one side of the piezoelectric member is exposed to one of the two flow channels and another side of the piezoelectric member is exposed to the other of the two flow channels; and a flow restrictor disposed at a location between one end of the divider and the other end of the divider.

Abstract: A method of indicating the release of a plug, such as a cementing plug for an oil or gas well, includes releasing a plug from a retained position in a tube system, and in response to releasing the plug, opening an electrical circuit to which the plug was connected in the retained position. The method also includes generating, in response to opening the electrical circuit, a plug release indicator signal. The indicator signal can be generated in response to, for example, a low frequency electromagnetic signal.