Abstract: A screen section has a valve assembly to control flow through it. The valve is open and has a closure spring held compressed by a shape memory material that responds to the presence of a specific well fluid or fluids so that its property changes to allow the spring to deliver the stored potential energy to the valve member to close it when the specific well fluid or fluids are detected. The preferred material is a shape memory polymer that, for example, is sensitive to the presence of water or methane and gets softer to release the potential energy source to operate the downhole tool.

Abstract: A modular screen system allows connection of screens using couplings that connect the annular space in each module between the screen material and the base pipe. A series of connected screens and couplings feed into a single valve to control the flow through many screens. The valve is preferably located in a coupling and the passages through the coupling or the screen can also accommodate instrumentation to detect, store or transmit well data or flows through the various screen modules.

Abstract: In aspects, the disclosure provides an apparatus that may include a member having fluid flow passages and a filter member placed proximate the member with the fluid flow passages, the filter member including an array of three-dimensional elements configured to inhibit flow of solid particles of a selected size when a fluid containing such solid particles flows from the filter member to the member with the fluid flow passages.

Abstract: A liner hanger has a housing with a pocket disposed on an inner wall surface and a slip slidingly engaged within the pocket. A moveable cover is disposed interior to the slip thereby restricting movement of the slip from a unset position to a set position. The liner hanger housing is secured in the string of casing and an actuator is mounted on the liner. As the liner is moved through the casing coupler, the actuator actuates the cover, causing the cover to be moved so that the slip can move axially downward from its unset position to its set position. As the cover is moved, the slip moves radially inward and grips the liner to secure the liner within the casing string of the wellbore.

Abstract: Downhole tools for gravel pack completion processes in wellbores comprise a screen, an isolation device comprising a sealing element disposed above the screen, and an artificial lifting device disposed above the isolation device. Upon actuation, the sealing element divides the wellbore into an upper zone and a lower zone so that the screen is disposed in the lower zone and the artificial lifting device is disposed in the upper zone. The two zones are in fluid communication with each other through a longitudinal bore within the downhole tool. In operation, the artificial lifting device of the downhole tool creates a negative pressure so wellbore fluid is transported from the lower zone into the upper zone. Due to this flow of fluid through the downhole tool, gravel disposed within the wellbore becomes sufficiently fluidized to facilitate the screen being inserted into the gravel form the gravel pack completion.

Abstract: A wellbore tubular has openings in its wall. An outer sleeve has ridges on which openings are located so that they communicate with the tubular openings. The tubular can be expanded to plant the ridges against the formation while any space between the ridges and the borehole wall can be used for pumping cement without fouling the aligned openings between the tubular and the sleeve. Optionally the sleeve can swell with or without tubular expansion. The openings can be initially sealed for delivery to the desired location and then opened using well or added fluids or well conditions.

Abstract: A packer or bridge plug uses a sealing element made from a shape memory polymer (SMP). The packer element receives heat or other stimulus to soften the SMP while the element is compressed and retained. While so retained, the heat or other stimulus is removed to allow the SMP to get stiff so that it effectively seals a surrounding tubular. High expansion rates are possible as the softness of the material under thermal input allows it to be reshaped to the surrounding tubular or to the surrounding open hole from a smaller size during run in and to effectively retain a sealed configuration after getting stiff on reduction in its core temperature while longitudinally compressed. The SMP or equivalent material whose modulus is changeable can be covered on the outside, the inside or both with an elastic material that protects the SMP and enhances the seal in the wellbore and against the mandrel.

Abstract: A flapper type downhole valve is opened by flow against the flapper. The flapper and the housing contain magnets that hold the flapper open after it has been opened by flow to keep the flapper from chattering from the flow going past it. The strength of the force is not sufficient to hold the flapper open against a torsion spring on a pivot pin, when there is no flow through the valve. The valve can still be held in the locked open position with no flow through the housing by pressurizing the surrounding annulus to position another magnet to increase the holding force to a level greater than the force of the torsion spring. The additional magnet is spring biased so that upon removal of annulus pressure it shifts to allow the flapper to close. Alternative designs with and without a flow tube are possible. Fixed or movable restrictions can be associated with the flow tube to create a force to shift it to open a flapper with flow into the well.

Abstract: A spring for use in downhole tools delivers a high force over a long deflection in a relatively uniform fashion. The spring is a tubular shape that is preferably metallic and is preferably plastically deformed into an undulating walled tube either before assembly into a downhole tool or downhole after assembly to the downhole tool. Alternatively the shape can be machined. Spacer rings are used inside and outside the tube as it is compressed to obtain the desired corrugated wall pattern and to prevent localized buckling that can cause wall failure. The spring can conduct pressurized fluids and be rotationally locked to transmit torque and to facilitate milling out. Some machining internally and/or externally can assist in forming the desired corrugated wall shape.

Abstract: A seal is retrofit to an existing seal groove and made whole after being positioned in the groove. It can be an initial coil shape to allow it to slip over a shaft to get to the groove or it can be in a plurality of sections that are joined in place. The sections can be abutting or overlapping and are preferably coated with a brazing material that will ultimately join such ends. The ends can then have a nano-engineered coating that comprises alternating layers of aluminum and nickel that when initiated with applied heat becomes reactive exothermically to join the ends using the brazing material.

Abstract: A liner hanger has a housing with a pocket disposed on an inner wall surface and a slip slidingly engaged within the pocket. The liner hanger housing is secured in the string of casing. A setting mechanism connected to the slips is also located in the pocket. An actuator is mounted on the liner. As the liner is moved through the casing coupler, the actuator actuates the setting mechanism, causing the slips to move axially downward. As the setting mechanism moves downward, the slips move radially inward and grip the liner.

Abstract: Gas hydrates, particularly natural gas hydrates e.g. methane hydrates, may be formed and controlled within conduits and vessels by imparting energy to gas and water, for instance using agitation or vibration. The systems and methods allow for improved flow characteristics for fluids containing the gases, e.g. hydrocarbon fluids being transported, and for improved overall efficiencies. The gas and water within a gas flow path may be perturbed or agitated to initiate formation of relatively small hydrate particles. The hydrate particles continue to form as long as energy is imparted and water and hydrate guest molecules are available. High amplitude agitation of the gas and water will repeatedly break up agglomerated hydrate particles that form and encourage the formation of more and smaller particles. As more hydrate forms in this manner, less and less free water may be available proximate the gas and water contact.

Abstract: A spark-gap tool includes a plurality of electrodes, a mandrel, transductive element(s), and a force transmission configuration. Upon relative movement between components a physical distortion of one or more transductive elements occurs, whereby an electrical potential is generated. A method for powering the spark-gap tool is by physically distorting one or more transductive elements by moving components axially and/or rotationally. A method for treating a borehole is by physically distorting one or more transductive elements thereby creating sufficient voltage potential to cause an arc of selected magnitude across a spark-gap in the tool. A downhole power generation arrangement includes a first member and a second member that are movable and a piezoelectric element on one of the first member and the second member and in force transmissive communication with the other of the first member and the second member.

Abstract: A liner hanger has a housing with a pocket disposed on an inner wall surface and a slip slidingly engaged within the pocket. The liner hanger housing is secured in the string of casing. A setting mechanism connected to the slips is also located in the pocket. An actuator is mounted on the liner. As the liner is moved through the casing coupler, the actuator actuates the setting mechanism, causing the slips to move axially downward. As the setting mechanism moves downward, the slips move radially inward and grip the liner.

Abstract: A swelling element rate regulation technique and product features an outer coating on a core of an element. The core is reactive to hydrocarbons or water depending on how it is configured. The surrounding coating is preferably formed of fine ground particles of a non-swelling polymer mixed in a solvent such as methyl-ethyl-ketone that is applied in a thin layer to the core exterior. This uncured outer layer is then contacted by a patterned surface. The patterned surface is pressed firmly against the uncured polymer/solvent mixture and transfers an inverse of the pattern to the surface of the coating. As pressure is applied, heat may also be applied to cure the coating. The resulting pattern is designed such that openings in the coating are created that regulate infiltration of water or other fluids through it and, as a result, the rate of swelling in the wellbore. Swell rate in governed in part by the ratio of the exposed area of the swelling compound to the total volume of the swelling compound.

Abstract: A system for monitoring a wellbore including a parasitic power generation configuration, a signal source in operable connection with the parasitic power generation configuration, the source being permanently positioned within the wellbore and capable of providing a signal that is receivable by a separate device to query condition of the wellbore, and method for monitoring the wellbore.

Abstract: A completion mounted spark gap tool comprising a completion component housing; a spark gap device having a plurality of electrodes at the housing and configured to produce a shockwave having a frequency in the range of about 0.1 to about 100 HZ; a voltage source in operable communication with the electrodes and a method for far field stimulation.

Abstract: A liner hanger has a housing with a pocket disposed on an inner wall surface and a slip slidingly engaged within the pocket. The liner hanger housing is secured in the string of casing. A setting mechanism connected to the slips is also located in the pocket. An actuator is mounted on the liner. As the liner is moved through the casing coupler, the actuator actuates the setting mechanism, causing the slips to move axially downward. As the setting mechanism moves downward, the slips move radially inward and grip the liner.

Abstract: A liner hanger has a housing with a pocket disposed on an inner wall surface and a slip slidingly engaged within the pocket. The liner hanger housing is secured in the string of casing. A setting mechanism connected to the slips is also located in the pocket. An actuator is mounted on the liner. As the liner is moved through the casing coupler, the actuator actuates the setting mechanism, causing the slips to move axially downward. As the setting mechanism moves downward, the slips move radially inward and grip the liner.

Abstract: A liner hanger has a housing with a pocket disposed on an inner wall surface and a slip slidingly engaged within the pocket. The liner hanger housing is secured in the string of casing. Both a setting mechanism and a liner engagement member are connected to the slips and are also located in the pocket. A releasable latching mechanism maintains the slips in the run-in position until the releasable latching mechanism is actuated. As the liner is moved through the casing coupler, the liner engagement member engages the liner through frictional force to cause the setting mechanism to move with the liner so that the latching mechanism can be disengaged and the slips can move axially downward. As the setting mechanism moves downward, the slips move radially inward and grip the liner.