Abstract: A method and apparatus for geotechnical soil sampling in conjunction with the Cone Penetration Test (CPT) is provided. The apparatus involves a tubular whipstock cell affixed between push rods and the lower elements of a cone penetrometer. The whipstock cell includes a whipstock having a beveled face. The whipstock face is oriented towards a sampling window pre-formed in the whipstock cell. The apparatus also includes at least one push rod connected to the proximal end of the whipstock cell, and an elongated sampling rod dimensioned to be slidably moved through the at least one push rod en route to the whipstock cell. The apparatus additionally comprises a soil sampler residing at a distal end of the push rod. A method of taking soil samples is also provided herein.

Abstract: A method of completing a wellbore involves placing a series of sliding sleeves along a string of production casing in the wellbore and includes dropping a frac ball into the wellbore and landing it on a seat associated with an uppermost sleeve. Pressure is applied to activate the sleeve, open ports along the casing, and fracture a surrounding subsurface formation at a selected zone. Ball sealers are pumped down the well and seated within the sleeve ports. Additional fluid pressure is applied to cause the sleeve to shift further down the well and to release the ball, whereupon the frac ball is pumped to a next lower sleeve. This process may be repeated for multiple sleeves at multiple zones for top-down, multi-stage perforations. A novel sliding sleeve that permits a single ball to be used for activating multiple of the sleeves in series, from heel-to-toe, is also offered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for geotechnical soil sampling in conjunction with the Cone Penetration Test (CPT) is provided. The apparatus involves a tubular whipstock cell affixed between push rods and the lower elements of a cone penetrometer. The whipstock cell includes a whipstock having a beveled face. The whipstock face is oriented towards a sampling window pre-formed in the whipstock cell. The apparatus also includes at least one push rod connected to the proximal end of the whipstock cell, and an elongated sampling rod dimensioned to be slidably moved through the at least one push rod en route to the whipstock cell. The apparatus additionally comprises a soil sampler residing at a distal end of the push rod. A method of taking soil samples is also provided herein.

Abstract: A uniform interval treatment method features a plug with a breakable member in a passage set above a perforated interval so that pressure above the plug can be build up to the desired pressure that is high enough when the rupture disc breaks to deliver a burst of pressure at a level to overcome differential breakdown stress in the interval. A ball is then dropped on a seat on the same plug and captured so that it will stay on the seat when a gun is removed above. Another gun with a plug are delivered and the gun fired with the previous plug having a landed ball in the seat. The plug is again positioned above the just made perforations and the gun is removed. The rupture disc breaks to uniformly treat the next interval with a pressure to overcome differential breakdown stress of heterogeneous rock in the treated interval.

Abstract: A uniform interval treatment method features a plug with a breakable member in a passage set above a perforated interval so that pressure above the plug can be build up to the desired pressure that is high enough when the rupture disc breaks to deliver a burst of pressure at a level to overcome differential breakdown stress in the interval. A ball is then dropped on a seat on the same plug and captured so that it will stay on the seat when a gun is removed above. Another gun with a plug are delivered and the gun fired with the previous plug having a landed ball in the seat. The plug is again positioned above the just made perforations and the gun is removed. The rupture disc breaks to uniformly treat the next interval with a pressure to overcome differential breakdown stress of heterogeneous rock in the treated interval.

Abstract: A down-hole tool for pressure testing production tubing within a borehole of a well returning the well to production, includes an anti-rotational device comprising a tubular housing having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and at least one anti-rotational wing disposed on the outer surface of the tubular housing, radially extendable to engage a radial surface of the borehole to anchor the production tubing thereto; a valve for controlling the flow of down-hole fluids within the production tubing, the valve comprising a first valve member fixedly positioned within the tubular housing of the anti-rotational device and a second valve member positionable between a closed position and an open position; and a reactivation device comprising means for axially engaging an axial surface of the borehole, the reactivation device affixed to the first end of the tubular housing, wherein the production tubing may be pressure tested when the valve is in the closed position.

Abstract: A method of completing a wellbore involves placing a series of sliding sleeves along a string of production casing in the wellbore and includes dropping a frac ball into the wellbore and landing it on a seat associated with an uppermost sleeve. Pressure is applied to activate the sleeve, open ports along the casing, and fracture a surrounding subsurface formation at a selected zone. Ball sealers are pumped down the well and seated within the sleeve ports. Additional fluid pressure is applied to cause the sleeve to shift further down the well and to release the ball, whereupon the frac ball is pumped to a next lower sleeve. This process may be repeated for multiple sleeves at multiple zones for top-down, multi-stage perforations. A novel sliding sleeve that permits a single ball to be used for activating multiple of the sleeves in series, from heel-to-toe, is also offered.

Abstract: A system for downhole telemetry employs a series of communications nodes spaced along a tubular body such as a pipe in a wellbore. The nodes allow for hybrid wired-and-wireless communication between one or more sensors residing at the level of a subsurface formation, and a receiver at the surface. The communications nodes employ electro-acoustic transducers that provide for node-to-node communication partially up a wellbore, and then high speed data transmission using a wire for the remaining distance up to the surface. A method of transmitting data in a wellbore uses a plurality of data transmission nodes situated along a tubular body to deliver wireless signals partially up the wellbore, and then wired signals the remaining distance.

Abstract: A down-hole tool for pressure testing production tubing within a borehole of a well returning the well to production, includes an anti-rotational device comprising a tubular housing having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and at least one anti-rotational wing disposed on the outer surface of the tubular housing, radially extendable to engage a radial surface of the borehole to anchor the production tubing thereto; a valve for controlling the flow of down-hole fluids within the production tubing, the valve comprising a first valve member fixedly positioned within the tubular housing of the anti-rotational device and a second valve member positionable between a closed position and an open position; and a reactivation device comprising means for axially engaging an axial surface of the borehole, the reactivation device affixed to the first end of the tubular housing, wherein the production tubing may be pressure tested when the valve is in the closed position.