Abstract: Downhole gas separators, artificial lift systems including the downhole gas separators, hydrocarbon wells including the artificial lift systems, and methods of separating a gas from a liquid hydrocarbon within a hydrocarbon well. The downhole gas separators include an elongate outer housing that defines an enclosed volume, a fluid inlet port, and a gas outlet port. The downhole gas separators further include an elongate dip tube that extends within the enclosed volume, and the gas outlet port is configured to selectively provide fluid communication between the enclosed volume and an external region.

Abstract: Artificial lift apparatus, systems, and methods for use in a deviated or horizontal wellbore, including a downhole gas separators, hydrocarbon wells including the artificial lift systems, and methods of separating a gas from a liquid hydrocarbon within a hydrocarbon well. Included is a downhole gas separator positioned in a deviated or horizontal wellbore, further including a flow-regulating device configured to restrict fluid flow through the gas outlet during at least a portion of each intake stroke of a reciprocating pump and to permit the fluid flow during at least a portion of each exhaust stroke of the reciprocating pump.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for reducing the force required to pull a device from a tubular, the apparatus including a tubular sealing device for mating with a downhole tubular component, the tubular sealing device having an axial length and a longitudinal bore therethrough; and an elongated rod slidably positionable within the longitudinal bore of the tubular sealing device, the elongated rod having a first end, a second end, and an outer surface, the outer surface structured and arranged to provide i) a hydraulic seal when the elongated rod is in a first position within the longitudinal bore of the tubular sealing device, and ii) at least one external flow port for pressure equalization upstream and downstream of the tubular sealing device when the elongated rod is placed in a second position within the longitudinal bore of the tubular sealing device.

Abstract: A flushable well screen or filter assembly for placement within a tubular. The assembly includes a well screen or filter having an inlet end and an outlet end; and a velocity fuse positioned downstream of the outlet end of the well screen or filter, the velocity fuse in fluid communication with the well screen or filter. A system for removing fluids from a well and a method for back-flushing an upstream well screen or filter installed within a tubular are also provided.

Abstract: Wellbore plungers with non-metallic tubing-contacting surfaces and wells including the wellbore plungers. The wellbore plungers are configured to be utilized within a tubing conduit of the downhole tubing. The downhole tubing includes a non-metallic tubing material that defines a non-metallic tubing surface. The non-metallic tubing surface at least partially defines the tubing conduit. The wellbore plungers include an uphole region, which defines an uphole bumper-contacting surface, a downhole region, which defines a downhole bumper-contacting surface, and a plunger body. The plunger body extends between the uphole region and the downhole region and defines a downhole tubing-contacting surface. The downhole tubing-contacting surface is configured for sliding contact with the non-metallic tubing surface, defines a sealing structure configured to form an at least partial fluid seal with the downhole tubing, and is at least partially defined by a non-metallic tubing-contacting material.

Abstract: Disclosed techniques include a method of removing wellbore liquid from a wellbore that extends within a subterranean formation, comprising positioning a pump downhole in the wellbore, electrically powering the pump, expanding and contracting a membrane by pumping a fluid with the pump, wherein expanding and contracting the membrane creates a pressure for removing the wellbore liquid from the well, and removing the wellbore liquid from the well using the pressure.

Abstract: The disclosure includes a method of placing a wireline device in a deviated well having a hydrostatic column, the method comprising placing a positioning device in a wellbore of the deviated well, electrically powering the positioning device, moving the wireline device across a deviated region of the wellbore using the positioning device, wherein moving includes creating a driving force using the positioning device, and wherein the driving force is at least one of: a mechanical driving force and a fluid pressure driving force.

Abstract: A down-hole tool and method for pressure testing production tubing within a borehole of a well returning the well to production, including a valve having a first valve member positioned within the tool housing and a second valve member moveable between a closed position and an open position; and a valve catcher engaged with a distal end of a rotor of the progressive cavity pump, the valve catcher for securing the second valve member in the open position with the valve catcher during rotational operation of the rotor and securing the second valve member with the valve catcher during removal of the second valve member from within the progressive cavity pump when the rotor is removed through the progressive cavity pump stator; wherein the production tubing may be pressure tested when the second valve member is in the closed position with respect to the first valve member.

Abstract: A system for deploying and powering an electric submersible pump within a subterranean well. The system includes a tubing string having a wall forming a hollow interior, one end of the tubing string connected to the electric submersible pump; a flowable conductive material at least partially filling the hollow interior of the tubing string, the flowable conductive material forming a first conductive path; and a second conductive path, wherein the first conductive path and the second conductive path form a circuit for supplying power to the electric submersible pump. A method for deploying and powering an electric submersible pump within a subterranean well is also provided.

Abstract: A system for removing wellbore liquids from a wellbore, the wellbore traversing a subterranean formation and having a tubular that extends within at least a portion of the wellbore. The system includes a positive-displacement solid state pump comprising a fluid chamber, an inlet and an outlet port, each in fluid communication with the fluid chamber, at least one solid state actuator, a first one-way check valve positioned between the inlet port and the fluid chamber, and/or a second one-way check valve positioned between the outlet port and the fluid chamber, the at least one solid state actuator configured to operate at or near its resonance frequency, the solid state pump positioned within the wellbore; and means for powering the solid state pump. A method for removing fluids from a subterranean well is also provided.

Abstract: A nested bellows pump including a housing having a first end and a second end, the housing having a cylindrical body, the cylindrical body having an inner wall; a traveling bulkhead, the traveling bulkhead sealingly positionable along the inner wall of the cylindrical body; a first inner bellows, the first inner bellows connected to the housing, and the second bellows is connected to the traveling bulkhead; a second inner bellows connected to the traveling bulkhead, and the second end of the second inner bellows is connected to the housing; a first outer bellows connected to the housing, and the second end of the first outer bellows is connected to the traveling bulkhead; and a second outer bellows connected to the traveling bulkhead, and the second end of the second outer bellows is connected to the second end of the housing.

Abstract: System and methods for reducing the operating temperature of a solid state pumping system for lifting liquids from a wellbore, the pumping system utilizing a solid state electrical actuator system, the cooling systems and methods including a heat sink for cooling the solid state actuator, the heat sink comprising at least one of; (i) a dielectric oil bath, (ii) a thermoelectric cooling element, (iii) an aperture within the at least one solid state actuator for conveying a cooling fluid through the aperture, and (iv) combinations thereof; and an electrical power source for powering the solid state pump.

Abstract: A method of disposing of fluids produced from a wellbore extending into a subsurface formation, the subsurface formation having a production zone and a disposal zone, at least a portion of the wellbore lined with a string of production casing. The method includes placing a wellbore tubular conduit within the casing; placing a pump in fluid communication with the wellbore tubular conduit, the pump having an inlet and a discharge, the inlet in fluid communication with a source of produced fluids; and injecting the produced fluids through a plurality of perforations positioned about the casing into a disposal zone of the subsurface formation. A system for disposing of fluids produced from a wellbore extending into a subsurface formation is also provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for artificial lift via a downhole piezoelectric pump including methods of removing a wellbore liquid from a wellbore that extends within a subterranean formation and/or methods of locating the downhole piezoelectric pump within the wellbore. The systems include hydrocarbon wells that include the wellbore, a casing, the downhole piezoelectric pump, and a liquid discharge conduit and the systems may be utilized with and/or configured to perform the methods.

Abstract: Evaluating annulus-tubing communication points in a production well having an annulus between a production string and a surrounding string(s) of casing. Determining a composition of production fluids produced from the well, and injecting one or more tracer materials into the annulus of the well under pressure as part of a lift gas. Each of the one or more tracer materials defines a material that is not native to the production fluids, and each has a different rate of diffusivity in the lift gas. The tracer materials are detected upon being produced at the surface. A mass spectrometer or other analyzer capable of detecting tracer materials at concentrations of less than 1,000 ppm is used. Determining injection points of the one or more tracer materials, and determining whether each of the injection points represents a gas lift valve along the production tubing.

Abstract: A system for removing fluids from a subterranean well. The system includes a housing comprising a hollow cylindrical body, the hollow cylindrical body having a first end and a second end; a pump for removing fluids from the subterranean well, the pump positioned within the hollow cylindrical body; and a battery-powered driver for driving the pump, the driver positioned within the hollow cylindrical body; and an apparatus for releasably securing and sealing the first end of the housing. A method for removing fluids from a subterranean well is also provided.

Abstract: A method of optimizing the operation of a gas lift well including the steps of: collecting data from at least one surface mounted sensor, the at least one surface mounted sensor including a skin-mounted temperature sensor, the at least one surface mounted sensor mounted to the gas lift well's surface equipment; collecting ambient temperature data; and determining gas lift performance from data so obtained. A system and field test kits for optimizing the operation of a gas lift well.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon wells and methods cooperatively utilizing a gas lift assembly and an electric submersible pump, the hydrocarbon wells including a wellbore extending between a surface region and a subterranean formation, a downhole tubular defining a tubular conduit and extending within the wellbore, an electric pumping assembly, an electric power source, and a gas lift assembly. The methods include generating a pumped reservoir fluid stream, generating a gas lifted reservoir fluid stream, conveying the pumped reservoir fluid stream to a surface region via an ESP conduit, and conveying the gas lifted reservoir fluid stream to the surface region via an annular space that is distinct from the ESP conduit.

Abstract: Selectively actuated plungers and systems and methods including the same are disclosed herein. The methods include flowing a wellbore fluid stream in fluid contact with a plunger and in an uphole direction within a wellbore conduit while the plunger is located within a target region of the wellbore conduit. The methods further include maintaining the plunger in a low fluid drag state while a variable associated with the wellbore fluid stream is outside a threshold range and transitioning the plunger to a high fluid drag state responsive to the variable associated with the wellbore conduit being within the threshold range. The methods further include conveying the plunger in the uphole direction within the wellbore conduit. The systems include the plungers and/or hydrocarbon wells that include the plungers.

Abstract: Pump-through standing valves, wells including the pump-through standing valves, and methods of utilizing a pump-through standing valve to deploy a downhole device are disclosed herein. The pump-through standing valves include a valve body, a standing valve at least partially formed within the valve body, and a flow-through valve at least partially formed within the valve body. The standing valve includes a standing valve fluid conduit and a standing valve flow control device. The flow-through valve includes a flow-through valve fluid conduit and a flow-through valve flow control device. The wells include a wellbore, which extends within a subterranean formation, a wellbore tubular, which extends within the wellbore, and the pump-through standing valve, which is operatively attached to the wellbore tubular.