Abstract: A system for detecting fluid influxes and losses can include a sensor which detects floating vessel movement, and a neural network which receives a sensor output, and which outputs a predicted flow rate from a wellbore. A method can include isolating the wellbore from atmosphere with an annular sealing device which seals against a drill string, inputting to a neural network an output of a sensor which detects vessel movement, the neural network outputting a predicted flow rate from the wellbore, and determining whether the fluid influx or loss has occurred by comparing the predicted flow rate to an actual flow rate from the wellbore. Another method can include inputting to a neural network actual flow rates into and out of the wellbore, and an output of a sensor which detects vessel movement, and training the neural network to output a predicted flow rate from the wellbore.

Abstract: A method includes deploying an object inside a casing installed in a well, and transmitting a pulse conveyed by fluid in the casing. The method also includes receiving a reflection in response to the pulse, and analyzing a travel time for the reflection determine a position of the object in the well. A related system includes a casing installed in a well, and a pulse transmitter in fluid communication with the casing and configured to transmit pulses via fluid in the casing. The system also includes a receiver in fluid communication with the casing and configured to receive pulse reflections, and a processor in communication with the receiver. The processor analyzes a travel time for at least one pulse reflection to determine a position of an object in the well.

Abstract: An acoustic telemetry method for use with a subterranean well can include positioning a well tool in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor, and an acoustic receiver in the well receiving an acoustic signal transmitted by the transmitter, the acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor. A system for use with a subterranean well can include a well tool positioned in the well, the well tool including an acoustic transmitter and a sensor, the acoustic transmitter transmits an acoustic signal including information representative of a measurement by the sensor to an acoustic receiver positioned in the well.

Abstract: Optical computing devices including a light source that emits electromagnetic radiation into an optical train that extends from the light source to a detector, a substance arranged in the optical train and configured to optically interact with the electromagnetic radiation and produce sample interacted radiation, an integrated computational element (ICE) array arranged in the optical train and including a plurality of ICE cores arranged on a substrate, and a variable weighting array arranged in the optical train and including a plurality of weighting devices arranged on a weighting substrate, the plurality of weighting devices being configured to optically apply corresponding weighting factors to beams of modified electromagnetic radiation prior to being received by the detector, wherein the detector generates an output signal indicative of a characteristic of the substance based on the plurality of beams of modified electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A method of freeing a pipe stuck in a subterranean well can include determining a location of a portion of the pipe stuck in the well, and penetrating and/or heating a sidewall of the pipe portion with a beam of light. A system for freeing a pipe stuck in a subterranean well can include a tool deployed into a portion of the pipe stuck in the well by a differential pressure from a wellbore to a formation penetrated by the wellbore. A beam of light emitted from the tool penetrates the pipe portion. Another method of freeing a pipe stuck in a subterranean well can include determining a location of a portion of the pipe which is biased against a wall of a wellbore by differential pressure, and directing a beam of light to the pipe portion.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring oil field operations with a fiber optic distributed acoustic sensor (DAS) that uses a continuous wave laser light source and modulates the continuous wave output of the laser light source with pseudo-random binary sequence codes.

Abstract: A method of controlling electrical power delivery to a well tool can include transmitting trigger light via an optical waveguide to a circuit in a well, and the circuit delivering the electrical power to the well tool in response to the circuit receiving the trigger light. A circuit for supplying electrical power to at least one well tool can include a photodiode which receives light from an optical waveguide in a well, a voltage increaser which increases a voltage output by the photodiode, and an electrical energy storage device which receives electrical energy via the voltage increaser, whereby the electrical power can be supplied to the downhole well tool from the storage device.

Abstract: Optical computing devices including a light source that emits electromagnetic radiation into an optical train extending from the light source to a detector, a substance arranged in the optical train and configured to optically interact with the electromagnetic radiation and produce sample interacted radiation, a processor array arranged in the optical train and including a plurality of ICE arranged on a substrate and configured to optically interact with the electromagnetic radiation. The detector receives modified electromagnetic radiation generated through optical interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with the substance and the processor array. A weighting device is coupled to one or more of the ICE to optically apply a weighting factor to the modified electromagnetic radiation prior to being received by the detector, wherein the detector generates an output signal indicative of a characteristic of the substance based on beams of modified electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A well tool can include an outer housing and a vibratory transmitter disposed in the outer housing. The vibratory transmitter transmits a vibratory signal to an optical line disposed in the outer housing. A well system can include an optical line extending in a wellbore, and at least one well tool secured to the optical line and including a vibratory transmitter which transmits a vibratory signal to the optical line. The optical line conveys the well tool into the wellbore. A method of telemetering data from a well tool to an optical line can include securing the well tool to the optical line without optically connecting the well tool to the optical line, and conveying the well tool in a wellbore on the optical line.

Abstract: A disclosed system for downhole time domain reflectometry (TDR) includes a surface electro-optical interface, a downhole electro-optical interface, a fiber-optic cable that couples the surface electro-optical interface and the downhole electro-optical interface, and an electrical transmission line that extends from the downhole electro-optical interface into a wellbore environment to enable TDR operations. A described method for downhole TDR includes transmitting an optical signal to a downhole environment, converting the optical signal to an electrical signal in the downhole environment, reflecting the electrical signal using an electrical transmission line in the downhole environment, analyzing data corresponding to the reflected electrical signal, and displaying a result of the analysis.

Abstract: A gaseous fuel monitoring system can include a gaseous fuel supply enclosure, an optical line extending along the gaseous fuel supply enclosure, and a relatively highly thermally conductive material contacting both the gaseous fuel supply enclosure and the optical line. The relatively highly thermally conductive material can comprise a pyrolytic carbon material. A method of detecting leakage from a gaseous fuel supply enclosure can include securing an optical line to the gaseous fuel supply enclosure, the securing comprising contacting a pyrolytic carbon material with the optical line and the gaseous fuel supply enclosure. A gaseous fuel monitoring system can include an optical interrogator connected to the optical line, which interrogator detects changes in light transmitted by the optical line due to changes in vibrations of the enclosure.

Abstract: Optical computing devices including a light source that emits electromagnetic radiation into an optical train that extends from the light source to a detector, a substance arranged in the optical train and configured to optically interact with the electromagnetic radiation and produce sample interacted radiation, an integrated computational element (ICE) array arranged in the optical train and including a plurality of ICE cores arranged on a substrate, and a variable weighting array arranged in the optical train and including a plurality of weighting devices arranged on a weighting substrate, the plurality of weighting devices being configured to optically apply corresponding weighting factors to beams of modified electromagnetic radiation prior to being received by the detector, wherein the detector generates an output signal indicative of a characteristic of the substance based on the plurality of beams of modified electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring a characteristic of a fluid are provided. The system includes a plurality of waveguides embedded in a substrate, and an exposed surface of the substrate comprising a portion of a side surface of at least one of the plurality of waveguides. The system also includes a sensitized coating in the at least one of the plurality of waveguides. The exposed surface is curved in a direction perpendicular to a light propagation in the waveguide. A method of fabricating a system as above is also provided.

Abstract: A method and device for monitoring oil field operations with a fiber optic distributed acoustic sensor (DAS) that uses a continuous wave laser light source and modulates the continuous wave output of the laser light source with pseudo-random binary sequence codes.

Abstract: A rotating control device can include a housing assembly, a body and a clamp device which releasably secures the housing assembly to the body. The clamp device can include a piston which radially displaces a clamp section. A well system can include a rotating control device which includes at least one seal which seals off an annulus between a body of the rotating control device and a tubular string which extends longitudinally through the rotating control device. The rotating control device can also include a piston which displaces longitudinally and selectively clamps and unclamps a housing assembly to the body.

Abstract: A method of verifying a substance interface location during a cementing operation can include optically measuring vibrations caused by substances flowing across structures distributed along a wellbore, the vibrations being caused at each structure, and the vibrations changing at each structure as the interface displaces across the structure. A method of determining a property of at least one substance flowed in a wellbore can include optically measuring vibrations caused by the substance flowing across structures distributed along a wellbore, the vibrations being caused at each structure, and the structures having different shapes, thereby causing the vibrations at the structures to be different from each other when the substance flows across the differently shaped structures.

Abstract: Optical computing devices including a light source that emits electromagnetic radiation into an optical train extending from the light source to a detector, a substance arranged in the optical train and configured to optically interact with the electromagnetic radiation and produce sample interacted radiation, a processor array arranged in the optical train and including a plurality of ICE arranged on a substrate and configured to optically interact with the electromagnetic radiation. The detector receives modified electromagnetic radiation generated through optical interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with the substance and the processor array. A weighting device is coupled to one or more of the ICE to optically apply a weighting factor to the modified electromagnetic radiation prior to being received by the detector, wherein the detector generates an output signal indicative of a characteristic of the substance based on beams of modified electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: A method of operating an isolation valve can include continuously transmitting a signal to a detector section, and a control system operating an actuator in response to the detector section detecting cessation of the signal transmission. A well system can include an isolation valve which selectively permits and prevents fluid communication between sections of a wellbore, a remotely positioned signal transmitter, and the isolation valve including a control system which operates an actuator in response to detection of a signal by a detector section. Another well system can include an isolation valve interconnected in a tubular string, and the tubular string being cemented in a wellbore, with cement being disposed in an annulus formed radially between the isolation valve and the wellbore.

Abstract: A system for detecting fluid influxes and losses can include a sensor which detects floating vessel movement, and a neural network which receives a sensor output, and which outputs a predicted flow rate from a wellbore. A method can include isolating the wellbore from atmosphere with an annular sealing device which seals against a drill string, inputting to a neural network an output of a sensor which detects vessel movement, the neural network outputting a predicted flow rate from the wellbore, and determining whether the fluid influx or loss has occurred by comparing the predicted flow rate to an actual flow rate from the wellbore. Another method can include inputting to a neural network actual flow rates into and out of the wellbore, and an output of a sensor which detects vessel movement, and training the neural network to output a predicted flow rate from the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of freeing a pipe stuck in a subterranean well can include determining a location of a portion of the pipe stuck in the well, and penetrating and/or heating a sidewall of the pipe portion with a beam of light. A system for freeing a pipe stuck in a subterranean well can include a tool deployed into a portion of the pipe stuck in the well by a differential pressure from a wellbore to a formation penetrated by the wellbore. A beam of light emitted from the tool penetrates the pipe portion. Another method of freeing a pipe stuck in a subterranean well can include determining a location of a portion of the pipe which is biased against a wall of a wellbore by differential pressure, and directing a beam of light to the pipe portion.