Abstract: A rotary cutting tool for use in a wellbore has an instrumented cutter fitted into a cavity in the tool body. The instrumented cutter body has an outer end portion exposed at the open end of a cavity and is connected to the tool body through at least one connecting section having a smaller cross-section and greater compliance than the outer end portion. The outer end portion and the connecting section are slightly movable within the cavity but the cavity surrounds at least part of the outer end portion sufficiently closely to limit transverse movement to elastic strain of the compliant connecting portion. One or more sensors, which may be strain gauges, are used to measure force on the outer end portion in a plurality of directions transverse to the cavity and causing elastic strain of the at least one connecting section.

Abstract: A rotary tool for operation within an underground borehole or within tubing in a borehole has a tool body and at least one sensor-containing unit attached to the tool body and positioned to contact the conduit wall. The sensor-containing unit includes an exterior portion to contact the borehole or tubing wall and one or more sensors is located in a cavity between the exterior portion and the tool body. The sensor-containing unit may be formed from the exterior portion, an attachment portion for attachment to the tool body, and one or more connecting portions extending between the attachment and exterior portions, with the sensor-containing cavity between the attachment and exterior portions. Possible rotary tools include drill bits, reamers, mills, stabilizers, and rotary steerable systems.

Abstract: A rotary tool for operation within an underground wellbore or within tubing in a wellbore has at least one force-sensitive element attached to the tool body and positioned to contact the conduit wall, wherein the force-sensitive element comprises an outer portion to contact the wellbore or tubing wall, at least one connecting portion which is more compliant than the outer portion and through which the outer portion is connected to the tool body, and at least one sensor responsive to force on the outer portion transmitted through the force-sensitive element to the tool body. The sensors may resolve forces into measurable forces on three axes. Possible rotary tools include drill bit, reamer, mill, stabilizer and rotary steerable system for a drill bit.

Abstract: A rotary tool for operation within an underground borehole or within tubing in a borehole has a tool body and at least one sensor-containing unit attached to the tool body and positioned to contact the conduit wall. The sensor-containing unit includes an exterior portion to contact the borehole or tubing wall and one or more sensors is located in a cavity between the exterior portion and the tool body. The sensor-containing unit may be formed from the exterior portion, an attachment portion for attachment to the tool body, and one or more connecting portions extending between the attachment and exterior portions, with the sensor-containing cavity between the attachment and exterior portions. Possible rotary tools include drill bits, reamers, mills, stabilizers, and rotary steerable systems.

Abstract: A rotary tool for operation within an underground borehole or within tubing in a borehole has a tool body and at least one sensor-containing unit attached to the tool body and positioned to contact the conduit wall. The sensor-containing unit includes an exterior portion to contact the borehole or tubing wall and one or more sensors is located in a cavity between the exterior portion and the tool body. The sensor-containing unit may be formed from the exterior portion, an attachment portion for attachment to the tool body, and one or more connecting portions extending between the attachment and exterior portions, with the sensor-containing cavity between the attachment and exterior portions. Possible rotary tools include drill bits, reamers, mills, stabilizers, and rotary steerable systems.

Abstract: A rotary cutting tool for use in a wellbore has an instrumented cutter fitted into a cavity in the tool body. The instrumented cutter body has an outer end portion exposed at the open end of a cavity and is connected to the tool body through at least one connecting section having a smaller cross-section and greater compliance than the outer end portion. The outer end portion and the connecting section are slightly movable within the cavity but the cavity surrounds at least part of the outer end portion sufficiently closely to limit transverse movement to elastic strain of the compliant connecting portion. One or more sensors, which may be strain gauges, are used to measure force on the outer end portion in a plurality of directions transverse to the cavity and causing elastic strain of the at least one connecting section.

Abstract: A rotary tool for operation within an underground wellbore or within tubing in a wellbore has at least one force-sensitive element attached to the tool body and positioned to contact the conduit wall, wherein the force-sensitive element comprises an outer portion to contact the wellbore or tubing wall, at least one connecting portion which is more compliant than the outer portion and through which the outer portion is connected to the tool body, and at least one sensor responsive to force on the outer portion transmitted through the force-sensitive element to the tool body. The sensors may resolve forces into measurable forces on three axes. Possible rotary tools include drill bit, reamer, mill, stabilizer and rotary steerable system for a drill bit.

Abstract: A rotary tool for operation within an underground borehole or within tubing in a borehole has a tool body and at least one sensor-containing unit attached to the tool body and positioned to contact the conduit wall. The sensor-containing unit includes an exterior portion to contact the borehole or tubing wall and one or more sensors is located in a cavity between the exterior portion and the tool body. The sensor-containing unit may be formed from the exterior portion, an attachment portion for attachment to the tool body, and one or more connecting portions extending between the attachment and exterior portions, with the sensor-containing cavity between the attachment and exterior portions. Possible rotary tools include drill bits, reamers, mills, stabilizers, and rotary steerable systems.

Abstract: The operation of rotary equipment carried on elongate structure such as coiled tubing extending into a borehole from the Earth's surface is carried out by providing at least one optical fibre extending downhole to the rotary equipment from the surface, using optical time domain reflectometry to operating the optical fibre as a distributed vibration sensor while the rotary equipment is in operation, and thereby observing vibration created by the rotary equipment.

Abstract: The operation of rotary equipment carried on elongate structure such as coiled tubing extending into a borehole from the Earth's surface is carried out by providing at least one optical fibre extending downhole to the rotary equipment from the surface, using optical time domain reflectometry to operating the optical fibre as a distributed vibration sensor while the rotary equipment is in operation, and thereby observing vibration created by the rotary equipment.

Abstract: The present invention recites a method and apparatus, wherein said methods and apparatus comprises an actuator comprising a first plate, a pocket extending through the first plate, the pocket in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source and a second plate coupled to a component that is to be actuated, wherein the first plate, the second plate, and the pocket are dimensioned such that when a pressurized fluid is discharged through the pocket, the velocity of the fluid through a gap between the first plate and the second plate creates a pressure drop sufficient to pull the second plate toward the first plate.

Abstract: The present invention recites a method and apparatus, wherein said methods and apparatus comprises an actuator comprising a first plate, a pocket extending through the first plate, the pocket in fluid communication with a pressurized fluid source and a second plate coupled to a component that is to be actuated, wherein the first plate, the second plate, and the pocket are dimensioned such that when a pressurized fluid is discharged through the pocket, the velocity of the fluid through a gap between the first plate and the second plate creates a pressure drop sufficient to pull the second plate toward the first plate.

Abstract: A casing position locator for detecting structural features of a borehole casing, the locator including: a plurality of field generators for generating respective dynamic magnetic fields which combine to provide a dynamic test magnetic field to interact with the casing, where the test field includes a magnetic field null point located where the respective dynamic magnetic fields substantially cancel each other out; and a sensor for detecting a change in the position of the null point, relative to the sensor, due to the interaction.

Abstract: A casing position locator for detecting structural features of a borehole casing, the locator including: a plurality of field generators for generating respective dynamic magnetic fields which combine in use to provide a dynamic test magnetic field to interact with the casing, wherein the test field includes a magnetic field null point where the respective dynamic magnetic fields substantially cancel each other out; and a sensor for detecting in use a change in the position of the null point, relative to the sensor, due to said interaction.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for communicating information from a downhole location to the surface including a plurality of releasable vessels containing predetermined signal information affixed to the vessels prior to placement of the vessels downhole and indicative of the presence of at least one of three or more predetermined downhole conditions and a sensing and releasing system that senses the occurrence of the downhole condition, such as a simple threshold, and release the vessels in response to the sensing. The predetermined downhole condition can be characteristic of the fluid being produced in the borehole, such as water fraction, a certain level of mechanical wear or damage to downhole equipment such as bit wear, or the firing a one or more charges on a wireline deployed perforation tool.

Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for communicating information from a downhole location to the surface. A plurality of releasable vessels are positioned downhole, each containing signal information affixed to the vessels prior to placement of the vessels downhole. The signal information indicates the presence of at least one of three or more predetermined downhole conditions. A detecting system is positioned on the surface such that the signal information can be detected on one or more of the vessels. The predetermined downhole condition can be characteristic of the fluid being produced in the borehole, such as water fraction, a certain level of mechanical wear or damage to downhole equipment such as bit wear, or the firing a one or more charges on a wireline deployed perforation tool.