Abstract: A battery pack can include a plurality of battery cells arranged adjacent one another in a row. The battery pack can include a first spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the first cell of the plurality of battery cells, a second spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the last cell of the plurality of battery cells, and a housing enclosing the plurality of battery cells. The housing can include a first sidewall positioned adjacent the first spacer plate and a second sidewall positioned adjacent the second spacer plate such that the plurality of battery cells can be positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The battery pack can include a cover. A layer of adhesive can be disposed between the battery cells and the cover. Various techniques can be employed to improve the durability of the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery pack can include a plurality of battery cells arranged adjacent one another in a row. The battery pack can include a first spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the first cell of the plurality of battery cells, a second spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the last cell of the plurality of battery cells, and a housing enclosing the plurality of battery cells. The housing can include a first sidewall positioned adjacent the first spacer plate and a second sidewall positioned adjacent the second spacer plate such that the plurality of battery cells can be positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The battery pack can include a cover. A layer of adhesive can be disposed between the battery cells and the cover. Various techniques can be employed to improve the durability of the battery pack.

Abstract: A battery pack can include a plurality of battery cells arranged adjacent one another in a row. The battery pack can include a first spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the first cell of the plurality of battery cells, a second spacer plate aligned with and positioned adjacent the last cell of the plurality of battery cells, and a housing enclosing the plurality of battery cells. The housing can include a first sidewall positioned adjacent the first spacer plate and a second sidewall positioned adjacent the second spacer plate such that the plurality of battery cells can be positioned between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The battery pack can include a cover. A layer of adhesive can be disposed between the battery cells and the cover. Various techniques can be employed to improve the durability of the battery pack.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, an array of elements forms an artificially-structured material. The artificially-structured material can also include an array of tuning mechanisms included as part of the array of elements that are configured to change material properties of the artificially-structured material on a per-element basis. The tuning mechanisms can change the material properties of the artificially-structured material by changing operational properties of the elements in the array of elements on a per-element basis based on one or a combination of stimuli detected by sensors included in the array of tuning mechanisms, programmable circuit modules included as part of the array of tuning mechanisms, data stored at individual data stores included as part of the array of tuning mechanisms, and communications transmitted through interconnects included as part of the array of elements.

Abstract: An article comprises a plurality of micro-sized or nano-sized galvanic cells, wherein the article has a seamless structure encompassing a plurality of empty spaces of different sizes, geometries, distributions, or a combination thereof, and one or more of the following properties of the article vary in different directions: tensile strength; compressive strength; electrical resistance; thermal conductance; modulus; or hardness.

Abstract: A method of deploying an apparatus in a wellbore comprises positioning a device at a predetermined location; wherein the device comprises a composition that contains an expandable graphite, and a metallic binder, and wherein the composition has a first shape; and exposing the composition to a microwave energy to cause the composition to attain a second shape different from the first shape. Alternatively, the composition further comprises an activation material comprising a thermite, a mixture of Al and Ni, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing and a method of deploying an apparatus comprising such a composition includes exposing the composition to a selected form of energy.

Abstract: A tubular string is run into a wellbore with a remotely actuated valve near a lower end adjacent a cementing shoe. The valve is triggered to operate without intervention such as by mud pulses generated at the surface and recognized by a sensor linked to a processor adjacent the valve to trigger the valve to close. Alternative actuation systems are envisioned for the valve that is located near the cementing shoe.

Abstract: Fracking ports are initially obstructed with respective biased sleeves that have an associated release device responsive to a unique signal. The signal can be electronic or magnetic and delivered in a ball or dart that is dropped or pumped past a sensor associated with each release device. Each sensor is responsive to a unique signal. When the signal is received the release device allows the bias to shift the sleeve to open the fracture port and to let a flapper get biased onto an associated seat. The flapper and seat are preferably made from a material that eventually disappears leaving an unobstructed flow path in the passage. The method calls for repeating the process in an uphole direction until the entire zone is fractured. The flapper and seat can dissolve or otherwise disappear with well fluids, thermal effects, or added fluids to the well.

Abstract: A sealing element is flanked by wedge-shaped extrusion ring assemblies. The rings climb a ramp on an adjacent pedestal ring on the way out to the borehole wall. Depending on the dimension of the gap to be spanned the extrusion rings slide part way up the pedestal ring ramp or to the top of the pedestal ring. An anchor ring is initially forced up an opposite ramp of the pedestal ring. If the sealing gap is short the anchor ring touches the borehole wall to act as an anchor for the plug while remaining spaced apart from the extrusion ring assembly. For larger gaps the anchor ring moves out far enough to the borehole wall and in contact with the extrusion ring located on top of the pedestal so that reaction forces are directed to keep the anchor ring wedged in position for support of the extrusion ring assembly.

Abstract: A method of hanging a liner in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes: conveying a liner having a liner hanger and a liner hanger actuator into the wellbore by a service string that includes controller that determines a downhole parameter of interest relating to setting of the liner hanger; determining by the controller the parameter of interest relating to setting of the liner hanger in the wellbore; and sending a wireless liner hanger command signal from the controller in response to the determined parameter of interest to cause the liner hanger actuator to set the liner hanger in the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of conducting multiple stage treatments. The method includes running a string into a borehole. The string having at least a first sleeve assembly and a second sleeve assembly. The first sleeve assembly in a position closing a port in the string; communicating from a radial exterior of the string or from a location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to a first electronic trigger of the first sleeve assembly to trigger the first sleeve assembly into moving longitudinally relative to the string to open the port. Performing a treatment operation through the port; communicating from the radial exterior of the string or from a location downhole of the first and second sleeve assemblies to a second electronic trigger of the second sleeve assembly to trigger the second sleeve assembly into moving longitudinally relative to the string to close the port.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a tubular having an inside and an outside, a sensor on the outside of the tubular that provides a sensor signal in response to a strain induced in the tubular, and a processor that provides a signal responsive to the sensor signal to operate a device in the wellbore.

Abstract: A downhole communication and control system configured for use in a non-sequential order of treating a borehole, the system includes a string having at least three ports including first, second, and third longitudinally spaced ports arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string; at least three frac sleeve systems including first, second, and third frac sleeve systems arranged sequentially in a downhole to uphole manner in the string and arranged to open and close the first, second, and third ports, respectively, each frac sleeve system having self-powered, electronically triggered first and second sleeves; and, communication signals to trigger the first, second, and third frac sleeve systems into moving the first and second sleeves to open and close the ports. Also included is a method of completing downhole operations in a non-sequential order.

Abstract: A well with existing perforations is re-fractured by positioning isolators at locations offset from the existing perforations and perforating through those isolators. The isolators are part of a bottom hole assembly that can be delivered on coiled or rigid tubing. The initial fractures can be straddled by the isolators with no mandrel openings between them to effectively isolate the existing perforations as new perforations take place through the isolators. The elements of the isolators can have internal gaps to allow for axial shifting after perforation that is thermally induced. The gaps assure remaining alignment with the new perforations despite some axial shifting. The bottom hole assembly can alternatively have an anchor to resist thermally induced forces that can cause axial shifting.

Abstract: A sealing element is flanked by wedge-shaped extrusion ring assemblies. The rings climb a ramp on an adjacent pedestal ring on the way out to the borehole wall. Depending on the dimension of the gap to be spanned the extrusion rings slide part way up the pedestal ring ramp or to the top of the pedestal ring. An anchor ring is initially forced up an opposite ramp of the pedestal ring. If the sealing gap is short the anchor ring touches the borehole wall to act as an anchor for the plug while remaining spaced apart from the extrusion ring assembly. For larger gaps the anchor ring moves out far enough to the borehole wall and in contact with the extrusion ring located on top of the pedestal so that reaction forces are directed to keep the anchor ring wedged in position for support of the extrusion ring assembly.

Abstract: An article comprises a plurality of micro-sized or nano-sized galvanic cells, wherein the article has a seamless structure encompassing a plurality of empty spaces of different sizes, geometries, distributions, or a combination thereof, and one or more of the following properties of the article vary in different directions: tensile strength; compressive strength; electrical resistance; thermal conductance; modulus; or hardness.

Abstract: A tubular string is run into a wellbore with a remotely actuated valve near a lower end adjacent a cementing shoe. The valve is triggered to operate without intervention such as by mud pulses generated at the surface and recognized by a sensor linked to a processor adjacent the valve to trigger the valve to close. Alternative actuation systems are envisioned for the valve that is located near the cementing shoe.

Abstract: A tubular string is run into a wellbore with a remotely actuated valve near a lower end adjacent a cementing shoe. The valve is triggered to operate without intervention such as by mud pulses generated at the surface and recognized by a sensor linked to a processor adjacent the valve to trigger the valve to close. Alternative actuation systems are envisioned for the valve that is located near the cementing shoe.

Abstract: Fracking ports are initially obstructed with respective biased sleeves that have an associated release device responsive to a unique signal. The signal can be electronic or magnetic and delivered in a ball or dart that is dropped or pumped past a sensor associated with each release device. Each sensor is responsive to a unique signal. When the signal is received the release device allows the bias to shift the sleeve to open the fracture port and to let a flapper get biased onto an associated seat. The flapper and seat are preferably made from a material that eventually disappears leaving an unobstructed flow path in the passage. The method calls for repeating the process in an uphole direction until the entire zone is fractured. The flapper and seat can dissolve or otherwise disappear with well fluids, thermal effects, or added fluids to the well.

Abstract: The method allows a pressure test of a string with external packers without having the packer setting apparatus exposed to tubing pressure so that at a later time and at a lower pressure than the pressure test pressure, the external packers can be set with annulus pressure opened to a piston that references a low pressure chamber. The packers can be set in any desired order. Thereafter, a circulation sub can be triggered to open to allow the fracking to start. Fracking each interval beyond the first in an uphole direction can be accomplished with pumping ever increasing balls to seats associated with sliding sleeves to open the sleeves in order. In cemented completions, after a pressure test, a ported sub can open on a timer or other signal to allow pumping a combination of a bridge plug and a perforating gun to the desired location.