Abstract: A stage cementing system includes a stage cementing assembly having a stage tool. The stage tool has an outer mandrel, an inner mandrel coupled to and disposed inside of the outer mandrel, an annular chamber between the outer mandrel and the inner mandrel, a first outer port through the outer mandrel, and longitudinally spaced first and second inner ports through the inner mandrel. The stage cementing system further includes an inner string assembly configured to be located inside the inner mandrel. The inner string assembly has a tubular body having a central throughbore and longitudinally spaced first and second side ports, a lower external seal element below the first and second side ports, a middle external seal element between the first and second side ports, and an upper external seal element above the first and second side ports.

Abstract: A stop collar assembly includes a collar having inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface includes a taper. The outer surface includes a slope such that an outer diameter at a start of the slope is greater than an outer diameter at an end of the slope. The stop collar assembly further includes a slip having a bottom end and a taper adjoining the bottom end. The slip taper is configured to contact the collar taper. When the collar taper is in contact with the slip taper, a distance from a central radial axis of the collar to the start of the slope is less than a distance from the central radial axis to the slip bottom end, and the distance from the central radial axis to the slip bottom end is less than a distance from the central radial axis to the end of the slope.

Abstract: A stage cementing system includes a stage cementing assembly having a stage tool. The stage tool has an outer mandrel, an inner mandrel coupled to and disposed inside of the outer mandrel, an annular chamber between the outer mandrel and the inner mandrel, a first outer port through the outer mandrel, and longitudinally spaced first and second inner ports through the inner mandrel. The stage cementing system further includes an inner string assembly configured to be located inside the inner mandrel. The inner string assembly has a tubular body having a central throughbore and longitudinally spaced first and second side ports, a lower external seal element below the first and second side ports, a middle external seal element between the first and second side ports, and an upper external seal element above the first and second side ports.

Abstract: A stop collar assembly includes a collar having inner and outer surfaces. The inner surface includes a taper. The outer surface includes a slope such that an outer diameter at a start of the slope is greater than an outer diameter at an end of the slope. The stop collar assembly further includes a slip having a bottom end and a taper adjoining the bottom end. The slip taper is configured to contact the collar taper. When the collar taper is in contact with the slip taper, a distance from a central radial axis of the collar to the start of the slope is less than a distance from the central radial axis to the slip bottom end, and the distance from the central radial axis to the slip bottom end is less than a distance from the central radial axis to the end of the slope.

Abstract: A stage cementing system includes a stage cementing assembly having a stage tool. The stage tool has an outer mandrel, an inner mandrel coupled to and disposed inside of the outer mandrel, an annular chamber between the outer mandrel and the inner mandrel, a first outer port through the outer mandrel, and longitudinally spaced first and second inner ports through the inner mandrel. The stage cementing system further includes an inner string assembly configured to be located inside the inner mandrel. The inner string assembly has a tubular body having a central throughbore and longitudinally spaced first and second side ports, a lower external seal element below the first and second side ports, a middle external seal element between the first and second side ports, and an upper external seal element above the first and second side ports.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for wet shoe applications in cementing tubing in a wellbore. A wet shoe tool has a seat and an insert in a flow bore of the tool. A first wiper plug is deployed down the tubing at least behind the cement and seats on the insert, which can then be moved in the flow bore to a bypass position allowing for fluid flow through the tool to produce a wet shoe track. A second plug is deployed down the tubing behind the second plug and seats on the seat in the flow bore of the tool. The seated second plug isolates applied pressure from passing downhole end of the tool so the integrity of the tubing can be tested. The second plug is self-removable (e.g., dissolvable) in the tool to reestablish fluid communication through the flow bore of the tool.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for wet shoe applications in cementing tubing in a wellbore. A wet shoe tool has a seat and an insert in a flow bore of the tool. A first wiper plug is deployed down the tubing at least behind the cement and seats on the insert, which can then be moved in the flow bore to a bypass position allowing for fluid flow through the tool to produce a wet shoe track. A second plug is deployed down the tubing behind the second plug and seats on the seat in the flow bore of the tool. The seated second plug isolates applied pressure from passing downhole end of the tool so the integrity of the tubing can be tested. The second plug is self-removable (e.g., dissolvable) in the tool to reestablish fluid communication through the flow bore of the tool.

Abstract: A first RFID tag arrangement for actuating a downhole tool includes a non-metallic housing enclosing a passive RFID tag, power source, pulsed oscillator circuit, and energizer coil. The pulsed oscillator circuit drives the energizer coil to stimulate and activate the tag such that it can be read by an external reader. A second RFID tag arrangement includes a non-metallic housing enclosing a power source, a transmission circuit, and a transmitter coil. The transmission circuit can drive the transmitter coil to transmit a payload stored in the transmission circuit such that the payload is delivered to an external reader. A method of actuating a downhole tool includes placing the tool's RFID tag reader in listen only mode, introducing into the wellbore an active RFID tag that transmits its payload to the reader, and optionally configuring the reader to reprogram the tag when it receives the payload therefrom.

Abstract: A sealing device includes a tubular body having a bore; a collet seat having a plurality of collets; a frangible sealing element disposed in the collet seat and blocking fluid communication through the bore; and a releasable sleeve releasably attached to the tubular body and retaining the collet seat against the tubular body. In one embodiment, the plurality of the collets includes threads mated with threads on the tubular body. In another embodiment, the plurality of the collets is attached to the sleeve.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus includes a housing having a bore extending and a port formed through a wall of the housing; and a port sleeve disposed in the housing and having a port in communication with the port of the housing. The apparatus also includes a first sleeve releasably attached to the housing, wherein the first sleeve is movable from a first position preventing axial movement of the port sleeve relative to the housing to a second position allowing axial movement of the port sleeve relative to the housing. The apparatus further includes a second sleeve releasably attached to the port sleeve, wherein the second sleeve is movable from a first position blocking fluid communication through the port of housing and the port of the port sleeve to a second position allowing fluid communication through the ports.

Abstract: A first RFID tag arrangement for actuating a downhole tool includes a non-metallic housing enclosing a passive RFID tag, power source, pulsed oscillator circuit, and energizer coil. The pulsed oscillator circuit drives the energizer coil to stimulate and activate the tag such that it can be read by an external reader. A second RFID tag arrangement includes a non-metallic housing enclosing a power source, a transmission circuit, and a transmitter coil. The transmission circuit can drive the transmitter coil to transmit a payload stored in the transmission circuit such that the payload is delivered to an external reader. A method of actuating a downhole tool includes placing the tool's RFID tag reader in listen only mode, introducing into the wellbore an active RFID tag that transmits its payload to the reader, and optionally configuring the reader to reprogram the tag when it receives the payload therefrom.

Abstract: A first RFID tag arrangement for actuating a downhole tool includes a non-metallic housing enclosing a passive RFID tag, power source, pulsed oscillator circuit, and energizer coil. The pulsed oscillator circuit drives the energizer coil to stimulate and activate the tag such that it can be read by an external reader. A second RFID tag arrangement includes a non-metallic housing enclosing a power source, a transmission circuit, and a transmitter coil. The transmission circuit can drive the transmitter coil to transmit a payload stored in the transmission circuit such that the payload is delivered to an external reader. A method of actuating a downhole tool includes placing the tool's RFID tag reader in listen only mode, introducing into the wellbore an active RFID tag that transmits its payload to the reader, and optionally configuring the reader to reprogram the tag when it receives the payload therefrom.

Abstract: A sealing device includes a tubular body having a bore; a collet seat having a plurality of collets; a frangible sealing element disposed in the collet seat and blocking fluid communication through the bore; and a releasable sleeve releasably attached to the tubular body and retaining the collet seat against the tubular body. In one embodiment, the plurality of the collets includes threads mated with threads on the tubular body. In another embodiment, the plurality of the collets is attached to the sleeve.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus includes a housing having a bore extending and a port formed through a wall of the housing; a port sleeve disposed in the housing and having a port in communication with the port of the housing; a first sleeve releasably attached to the housing, wherein the first sleeve is movable from a first position preventing axial movement of the port sleeve relative to the housing to a second position allowing axial movement of the port sleeve relative to the housing; and a second sleeve releasably attached to the port sleeve, wherein the second sleeve is movable from a first position blocking fluid communication through the port of housing and the port of the port sleeve to a second position allowing fluid communication through the ports.

Abstract: A system for operating a downhole tool includes a tag carrier; a RFID tag coupled with the tag carrier; and a control sub having a bore extending therethrough, the control sub comprising: an antenna located adjacent to the bore; and a stop for catching the tag carrier, wherein: the radio frequency identification tag is coupled with the tag carrier in relation to the stop and the antenna such that the radio frequency identification tag is aligned with the antenna when the tag carrier is caught in the stop, and the stop is operable to allow passage of the tag carrier through the stop after the tag carrier is caught by the stop.

Abstract: A first RFID tag arrangement for actuating a downhole tool includes a non-metallic housing enclosing a passive RFID tag, power source, pulsed oscillator circuit, and energizer coil. The pulsed oscillator circuit drives the energizer coil to stimulate and activate the tag such that it can be read by an external reader. A second RFID tag arrangement includes a non-metallic housing enclosing a power source, a transmission circuit, and a transmitter coil. The transmission circuit can drive the transmitter coil to transmit a payload stored in the transmission circuit such that the payload is delivered to an external reader. A method of actuating a downhole tool includes placing the tool's RFID tag reader in listen only mode, introducing into the wellbore an active RFID tag that transmits its payload to the reader, and optionally configuring the reader to reprogram the tag when it receives the payload therefrom.

Abstract: A system for operating a downhole tool includes a tag carrier; a RFID tag coupled with the tag carrier; and a control sub having a bore extending therethrough, the control sub comprising: an antenna located adjacent to the bore; and a stop for catching the tag carrier, wherein: the radio frequency identification tag is coupled with the tag carrier in relation to the stop and the antenna such that the radio frequency identification tag is aligned with the antenna when the tag carrier is caught in the stop, and the stop is operable to allow passage of the tag carrier through the stop after the tag carrier is caught by the stop.

Abstract: A system for operating a downhole tool includes a tag carrier; a RFID tag coupled with the tag carrier; and a control sub having a bore extending therethrough, the control sub comprising: an antenna located adjacent to the bore; and a stop for catching the tag carrier, wherein: the radio frequency identification tag is coupled with the tag carrier in relation to the stop and the antenna such that the radio frequency identification tag is aligned with the antenna when the tag carrier is caught in the stop, and the stop is operable to allow passage of the tag carrier through the stop after the tag carrier is caught by the stop.

Abstract: A system for operating a downhole tool includes a tag carrier; a RFID tag coupled with the tag carrier; and a control sub having a bore extending therethrough, the control sub comprising: an antenna located adjacent to the bore; and a stop for catching the tag carrier, wherein: the radio frequency identification tag is coupled with the tag carrier in relation to the stop and the antenna such that the radio frequency identification tag is aligned with the antenna when the tag carrier is caught in the stop, and the stop is operable to allow passage of the tag carrier through the stop after the tag carrier is caught by the stop.

Abstract: Systems and methods for locking a sliding sleeve valve in an open position and/or a closed position to prevent inadvertent operation of the sleeve valve during other operations. A sliding sleeve valve locking assembly includes an outer housing defining a locking bore portion with a first locking groove formed therein, a sliding sleeve collet member having a collet finger with a tab shaped and sized to reside within the first locking groove. The sliding sleeve valve locking assembly also includes a collet locking member that is moveably disposed within the sliding sleeve collet member to selectively lock the sliding sleeve collet member within the locking bore portion.