Abstract: Provided is an electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve, and a method of operating an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve. The electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, in one aspect, includes a fluid chamber and an electro/mechanical pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and further wherein an inlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the fluid inlet and an outlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid outlet and a hydraulically controlled actuation member.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining fluid density include receiving calibration data for a fluid density measurement tool. The fluid density measurement tool can include a cantilever beam and at least one strain sensor that is coupled to the cantilever beam. The cantilever beam can be housed in the fluid density measurement tool and is buoyed by a fluid that enters the fluid density measurement tool. The systems and methods measure strain values at the at least one strain sensor and determine a density of the fluid based on the calibration data, and the strain values measured at the at least one strain sensor.

Abstract: Systems of the present disclosure relate to metal-to-metal seals for oilfield tubulars. A pin for a metal-to-metal seal, comprises a pin nose and a support structure. A gap extends between the pin nose and the support structure.

Abstract: Provided is a wellbore tractor and method for operating a well system. The wellbore tractor, in one aspect, includes a base member, and one or more turbines fixed to the base member for rotating the base member in a first rotational direction based upon a first direction of fluid flow. The wellbore tractor, according to this aspect, further includes one or more wellbore engaging devices radially extending from the base member, the one or more wellbore engaging devices contactable with a surface of a wellbore for displacing the base member and one or more turbines axially downhole as the one or more turbines rotate in the first rotational direction.

Abstract: Systems of the present disclosure relate to metal-to-metal seals for oilfield tubulars. A pin for a metal-to-metal seal, comprises a pin nose and a support structure. A gap extends between the pin nose and the support structure.

Abstract: Seal elements for establishing fluid seals in a wellbore may be constructed of expandable metal materials. For example, an elongated gland of expandable metal may replace some or all the components in a packing stack of a locking mandrel. The gland may be recessed within the locking mandrel, or narrower than a seal bore of a landing nipple, such that the gland is protected from damage as the locking mandrel passes through landing nipples to reach a target landing nipple. The expandable metal may be induced to chemically react with a brine or other water-based fluid to form metal hydroxides and may thus create a seal with the target landing nipple. Once an intended purpose of the locking mandrel has been achieved, a pressure reversal may be employed to break the seal and/or a mild acid may be introduced to accelerate dissolving of the expandable metal seal.

Abstract: Provided is a wellbore tractor and method for operating a well system. The wellbore tractor, in one aspect, includes a base member, and one or more turbines fixed to the base member for rotating the base member in a first rotational direction based upon a first direction of fluid flow. The wellbore tractor, according to this aspect, further includes one or more wellbore engaging devices radially extending from the base member, the one or more wellbore engaging devices contactable with a surface of a wellbore for displacing the base member and one or more turbines axially downhole as the one or more turbines rotate in the first rotational direction.

Abstract: A threaded joint (200) provides for metal-to-metal sealing on the ends of concentrically positioned inner and outer tubes when joining the concentric tubes to a single tube (107). A threaded coupling (105) secures the inner and outer tubes and joins both tubes to a single tube. The threaded connection leverages metal-to-metal sealing on the ends of each tube. The inner tube (102) may differ in length from the outer tube (101) and contains a single thread (211) at its for receiving the threaded coupling. Threading the coupling onto the inner tube establishes four flexing metal-to-metal seals (209A-D) between the threaded joint components. The inner and outer tubes maintain contact at the internal shoulder (104) as a result of preloading. If the tubes are of varying thicknesses, a nut (407) is placed between the internal shoulder and the threaded coupling to preserve contact between the tubes at the internal shoulder.

Abstract: A subsurface tool adapted to extend within a wellbore includes an integrally formed single-component body that defines an external surface and an internal chamber isolated from the external surface. When the tool is subjected to one or more stresses, a stress concentration is created within a stress zone of the single-component body, the stress zone being adjacent the internal chamber.

Abstract: Provided is an electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve, and a method of operating an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve. The electro/hydraulic valve for use in a hydrocarbon production well, in one aspect, includes a fluid chamber, and an electro/thermal expansion pump having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, and further wherein an inlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid chamber and the fluid inlet and an outlet check valve is positioned in fluid communication between the fluid outlet and a hydraulically controlled actuation member.

Abstract: A safety valve for a wellbore can include a piston, a flapper valve, a flow tube, a series of outer magnets, and a series of inner magnets. The piston can displace the flow tube, which can operate the flapper valve. The series outer magnets can be attached to an outer wall of the piston. The series of inner magnets can be attached to a flow tube of the safety valve. The series of outer magnets and the series of inner magnets can be arranged in a non-alternating polarity pattern. The non-alternating polarity pattern can be ordered in such a way that a first force to decouple the series of inner magnets from the series of outer magnets is larger than a second force to recouple the series of inner magnets to the series of outer magnets.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve assembly that includes a valve housing comprising a valve seat with a circumference and a seat seal surface. The valve assembly also includes a flapper rotatably connected to the valve housing and comprising a flapper seal surface. The flapper is rotatable into sealing engagement with the seat seal surface in a closed position to form a circumferential surface-to-surface seal. The valve assembly also includes a dovetail groove cut into the seat seal surface or the flapper seal surface and a seal ring held within the dovetail groove and positioned to form a seal against the seal ring when the flapper is in the closed position. The seat seal surface, the flapper seal surface, the dovetail groove, and the seal ring are shaped such that the load on the seal ring is uniform around the seal ring when the flapper is in the closed position.

Abstract: Provided is an electrically surface-controlled subsurface safety valve (ESCSSV). The ESCSSV, in one example, includes an outer housing comprising a central bore extending axially through the housing that is configured to convey production fluids there through. The ESCSSV, in this embodiment, further includes a valve closure mechanism disposed proximate a downhole end of the central bore, and a bore flow management actuator disposed in the central bore and configured to move between a closed state and a flow state to engage or disengage the valve closure mechanism to determine a flow condition of the production fluids through the central bore. The ESCSSV, in this embodiment, additionally includes an electric valve assembly fluidically coupled to the bore flow management actuator and configured to select between a section pressure or the annulus pressure to control the bore flow management actuator and determine the flow condition of production fluids through the central bore.

Abstract: Seal elements for establishing fluid seals in a wellbore may be constructed of expandable metal materials. For example, an elongated gland of expandable metal may replace some or all the components in a packing stack of a locking mandrel. The gland may be recessed within the locking mandrel, or narrower than a seal bore of a landing nipple, such that the gland is protected from damage as the locking mandrel passes through landing nipples to reach a target landing nipple. The expandable metal may be induced to chemically react with a brine or other water-based fluid to form metal hydroxides and may thus create a seal with the target landing nipple.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a patch with a wall configured to be seated in a well casing. A sensor is mounted to the wall of the patch. The wall of the patch can define a central passage therethrough configured to allow passage of downhole tools therethrough. The wall of the patch can be expandable from a first compressed diameter to a second expanded diameter. The wall of the patch can include at least one of a corrugated expandable structure, a stretchable structure, and/or an internally trussed expandable structure, for example.

Abstract: A resilient seal includes an annular body portion and a seating surface defined by the annular body portion and configured to interface with a seat of a subsurface safety valve. The resilient seal further includes a plurality of sealing surfaces defined by the annular body portion. Each sealing surface of the plurality of sealing surfaces is positioned to interface with a flapper of the subsurface safety valve in a closed position of the flapper of the subsurface safety valve. Additionally, the resilient seal includes at least one annular channel defined by the annular body portion between adjacent sealing surfaces of the plurality of sealing surfaces.

Abstract: A resilient seal includes an annular body portion and a seating surface defined by the annular body portion and configured to interface with a seat of a subsurface safety valve. The resilient seal further includes a plurality of sealing surfaces defined by the annular body portion. Each sealing surface of the plurality of sealing surfaces is positioned to interface with a flapper of the subsurface safety valve in a closed position of the flapper of the subsurface safety valve. Additionally, the resilient seal includes at least one annular channel defined by the annular body portion between adjacent sealing surfaces of the plurality of sealing surfaces.

Abstract: A downhole chemical reactor can be placed in a downhole environment to generate gas in-situ. This gas can pressurize an inner pressure chamber of the downhole chemical reactor to create a pressure-on-demand source or to maintain a constant pressure reservoir, depending on the configuration of a reactor controller coupled to an inlet of the inner pressure chamber. The inner pressure chamber contains one or more desired chemical reactants and the reactor controller operates to permit well fluid to flow from the wellbore and into the inner pressure chamber. The well fluid reacts with the desired chemical reactants and generates one or more gases such as hydrogen or carbon dioxide. The generated gases pressurize the inner pressure chamber and a pressure regulator coupled to the inner pressure chamber maintains a maximum pressurization of the inner pressure chamber. For a constant pressure reservoir, the reactor controller repeats this cycle indefinitely.

Abstract: A subsurface safety valve assembly that includes a valve housing comprising a valve seat with a circumference and a seat seal surface. The valve assembly also includes a flapper rotatably connected to the valve housing and comprising a flapper seal surface. The flapper is rotatable into sealing engagement with the seat seal surface in a closed position to form a circumferential surface-to-surface seal. The valve assembly also includes a dovetail groove cut into the seat seal surface or the flapper seal surface and a seal ring held within the dovetail groove and positioned to form a seal against the seal ring when the flapper is in the closed position. The seat seal surface, the flapper seal surface, the dovetail groove, and the seal ring are shaped such that the load on the seal ring is uniform around the seal ring when the flapper is in the closed position.

Abstract: A downhole chemical reactor can be placed in a downhole environment to generate gas in-situ. This gas can pressurize an inner pressure chamber of the downhole chemical reactor to create a pressure-on-demand source or to maintain a constant pressure reservoir, depending on the configuration of a reactor controller coupled to an inlet of the inner pressure chamber. The inner pressure chamber contains one or more desired chemical reactants and the reactor controller operates to permit well fluid to flow from the wellbore and into the inner pressure chamber. The well fluid reacts with the desired chemical reactants and generates one or more gases such as hydrogen or carbon dioxide. The generated gases pressurize the inner pressure chamber and a pressure regulator coupled to the inner pressure chamber maintains a maximum pressurization of the inner pressure chamber. For a constant pressure reservoir, the reactor controller repeats this cycle indefinitely.