Abstract: A thermal expansion system for actuating a remote operated sleeve assembly to open and close ports in a housing for fluidly communicating between a bore of a tubular string in a wellbore to the formation utilizes actuation of a propellant charge to create expanding gas and heat in a combustion chamber to directly act on one side of a piston connected to an axially moveable sleeve supported in the housing to shift the sleeve in one direction. Ignition of another propellant charge in a combustion chamber on an opposing side of the piston is used to directly shift the sleeve in an opposing direction.

Abstract: A bottomhole assembly (BHA) having a shifting tool and housing for shifting an uphole-to-open sleeve of a sleeve of a shorter length downhole sleeve assembly to an open position, and optionally to a closed position. Sleeve-engaging elements of the BHA are coordinated to direct the sleeve-engaging elements into a tool-engaging profile of the sleeve, excluding other annular variations in the casing string. The BHA has an improved dual J-Mechanism situated between the shifting tool and housing to permit new additional shifting options which results in fewer overall shifting cycles of the BHA when used with the shift uphole-to-open, shorter-length sleeve assembly. The shortened sleeve assembly is incorporated into a casing string and is relatively short in length when compared with conventional sleeve assemblies.

Abstract: A sleeve assembly has a sleeve axially moveable within a housing, the sleeve being positively locatable within a wellbore for reliable axial shifting of the sleeve between an uphole position and a downhole position. Stops and shoulders, which delimit the shifting of the sleeve between open and closed positions, are located in an annulus between the sleeve and the housing. Uphole and downhole ends of the sleeve and the housing have opposing ramps formed thereon. Locating shifting tools run through the sleeve assembly are engageable only in a locating profile in the sleeve and cannot engage in the annular stops or in gaps formed in the bore, uphole and downhole of the sleeve, as the ramps act to guide the locating tool therethrough. As the uphole and downhole sleeve ramps converge toward either of the uphole or downhole housing ramps during shifting thereof, debris is diverted into the bore allowing the sleeve to shift fully uphole or downhole.

Abstract: One or more remote-operated sleeve valves are placed along a tubular string downhole. The sleeves can be opened and closed wirelessly, and in embodiments over and over again. Differential pressure between wellbore fluid pressure and an accumulator chamber enable repeated shifting. Each sleeve can have a unique actuation code removing constraints regarding sequence of operation and need for well intervention to access the sleeves. Hydraulic fracturing can be achieved without wellbore obstructions, and other operations benefit for reduced expense in service rigs and the ability or selectively shut off problem zones. Remote signals received downhole include those generated by percussive and seismic, distinguishable from background noise including during pumping.

Abstract: A flow monitoring system can have a plurality of sensors located at monitoring locations along a tubing string inserted into an injector well of a secondary recovery operation. The sensors are configured to monitor a measurable property of fluids flowing in a bore of the tubing string or in an annulus formed between the tubing string and injector bore to determine the presence of said injected fluids at each sensor. At least two fluids having different values of the measurable property are injected into the injector well in an alternating manner and at a known injection rate. The flow rates of the fluids out of various injection zones of the injection well can be calculated using the arrival times and the known injection flow rates of the fluids, cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit(s) through which the fluids travel, and distances between the sensors or between surface and the sensors.

Abstract: One or more remote-operated sleeve valves are placed along a tubular string downhole. The sleeves can be opened and closed wirelessly, and in embodiments over and over again. Differential pressure between wellbore fluid pressure and an accumulator chamber enable repeated shifting. Each sleeve can have a unique actuation code removing constraints regarding sequence of operation and need for well intervention to access the sleeves. Hydraulic fracturing can be achieved without wellbore obstructions, and other operations benefit for reduced expense in service rigs and the ability or selectively shut off problem zones. Remote signals received downhole include those generated by percussive and seismic, distinguishable from background noise including during pumping.

Abstract: Embodiments of a bottomhole assembly (BHA) for completion of a wellbore are deployed on electrically-enabled coiled tubing (CT) and permit components of the BHA to be independently electrically actuated from surface for completion of multiple zones in a single trip using a single BHA having at least two electrically-actuated variable diameter packers. One or both of the packers may be actuated to expand or retract for opening and closing off a variety of flowpaths between the BHA and the wellbore, in new wellbores, old wellbores, cased wellbores, wellbores with sleeves and in openhole wellbores. Additional components in the BHA, which may also be electrically—actuated or powered, permit perforating, locating of the BHA in the wellbore such as using casing collar locators and microseismic monitoring in real time or in memory mode.

Abstract: An apparatus having a shock-absorbing sleeve is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing, an axially moveable sleeve received in the housing and a sealed annular space having a fixed volume axially between the housing and the sleeve. A barrier axially moveable with the sleeve divides the annular space into a first and a second chambers. The first and second chambers are filled with uncompressible dampening fluid. One or more metering passages across the barrier fluidly connect the first and chambers. During the axial movement of the sleeve, the volume of the first chamber is reduced and that of the second chamber is increased, forcing the fluid in the first chamber to flow into the second chamber in a controlled manner to dampen the movement of the sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus having a shock-absorbing sleeve is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a housing, an axially moveable sleeve received in the housing and a sealed annular space having a fixed volume axially between the housing and the sleeve. A barrier axially moveable with the sleeve divides the annular space into a first and a second chambers. The first and second chambers are filled with uncompressible dampening fluid. One or more metering passages across the barrier fluidly connect the first and chambers. During the axial movement of the sleeve, the volume of the first chamber is reduced and that of the second chamber is increased, forcing the fluid in the first chamber to flow into the second chamber in a controlled manner to dampen the movement of the sleeve.

Abstract: A Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) tool and methods of downhole fluid management are disclosed. The BHA is deployed on a conveyance string to access a completion string and forming a tool annulus therebetween. A first assembly having a first bore fluidly connected to the conveyance string. A second assembly supports a packer for releasably sealing to the completion string, and a third assembly supporting a packer actuator thereon, the second assembly telescopically movable within the third assembly for forming a resettable packer releasably sealable to the completion string. A bypass valve is formed between the first and second assembly. Closing of the bypass valve directs fluid through a treatment port uphole of the resettable packer to the tool annulus and opening of the bypass valve bypasses fluid about the resettable packer. The packer actuator can further comprise an anchor for releasably anchoring to the completion string.

Abstract: A bottom hole actuator tool for locating and actuating one or more sleeve valves spaced along a completion string. A shifting tool includes radially extending dogs at ends of radially controllable, and circumferentially spaced support arms. Conveyance tubing actuated shifting of an activation mandrel, indexed by a J-Slot, cams the arms radially inward to overcome the biasing for in and out of hole movement, and for releasing the arms for sleeve locating and sleeve profile engagement. A cone, movable with the mandrel engages the dogs for positive locking of the dogs in the profile for sleeve opening and closing. A treatment isolation packer can be actuated with cone engagement. The positive engagement and compact axial components results in short sleeve valves.

Abstract: A resettable elastomeric packer element of a packer, compressed for sealing in a wellbore, is released from sealing engagement in the wellbore by applying tension to an end of the packer element. The elastomeric packer element stretches and releases from the wellbore forming an annular passageway between the packer element and the wellbore. In the absence of a pressure equalization valve or flow passages through the packer, the annular passageway equalizes pressure differentials across the packer element allowing a tool, in which the packer is incorporated, to be moved in the wellbore with little or no damage to the packer element and further, allows debris to flow from above the packer to below the packer.

Abstract: A shift uphole-to-open sleeve assembly is provided for insertion along a tubular string for multi-stage, selectable wellbore treatment. The sleeve assemblies are very short in length, being too short for in-sleeve engagement, and instead have a downhole shoulder engageable for opening using dogs of a conventional shifting tool. Use of a common J-mechanism having four axial inappropriately places the sealing packer of a downhole tool above the sleeve ports. Multiple extra J-mechanism cycles are required to position the packer downhole thereof. Herein a modified downhole tool is disclosed including a biased repositioning sub to eliminate many of the extra tool cycles. In embodiments the short sleeve can replace casing collars.

Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to apparatus for selecting between direct manipulations of a downhole tool and shifting of the operational mode of a downhole tool, and more particularly to a mode selector tool coupled with a J-Slot mechanism for the downhole tool, the selector enabling either an unimpeded shifting of, or a locking, of the J-Slot mechanism and connected downhole tool.

Abstract: A resettable elastomeric packer element of a packer, compressed for sealing in a wellbore, is released from sealing engagement in the wellbore by applying tension to an end of the packer element. The elastomeric packer element stretches and releases from the wellbore forming an annular passageway between the packer element and the wellbore. In the absence of a pressure equalization valve or flow passages through the packer, the annular passageway equalizes pressure differentials across the packer element allowing a tool, in which the packer is incorporated, to be moved in the wellbore with little or no damage to the packer element and further, allows debris to flow from above the packer to below the packer.

Abstract: A bottom hole actuator tool for locating and actuating one or more sleeve valves spaced along a completion string. A shifting tool includes radially extending dogs at ends of radially controllable, and circumferentially spaced support arms. Conveyance tubing actuated shifting of an activation mandrel, indexed by a J-Slot, cams the arms radially inward to overcome the biasing for in and out of hole movement, and for releasing the arms for sleeve locating and sleeve profile engagement. A cone, movable with the mandrel engages the dogs for positive locking of the dogs in the profile for sleeve opening and closing. A treatment isolation packer can be actuated with cone engagement. The positive engagement and compact axial components results in short sleeve valves.

Abstract: A ball-type selector valve is rotatably supported in a housing, for rotation therein between an open position, aligning a flow passage in the ball valve with a bore of the housing, to direct the flow of fluid therethrough and a closed position, wherein the flow passage is misaligned with the housing bore, for blocking the flow of fluid therethrough. The ball is rotated by a rack and pinion system. The ball is rotated about the pinion to align and misalign the flow passage with the bore when the rack is moved axially with an upper portion of the housing to which it is connected.

Abstract: Embodiments of a bottomhole assembly BHA for completion of a wellbore are deployed on electrically-enabled coiled tubing (CT) and permit components of the BHA to be independently electrically actuated from surface for completion of multiple zones in a single trip using a single BHA having at least two electrically-actuated variable diameter packers. One or both of the packers may be actuated to expand or retract for opening and closing off a variety of flowpaths between the BHA and the wellbore, in new wellbores, old wellbores, cased wellbores, wellbores with sleeves and in openhole wellbores. Additional components in the BHA, which may also be electrically-actuated or powered, permit perforating, locating of the BHA in the wellbore such as using casing collar locators and microseismic monitoring in real time or in memory mode.

Abstract: A shifting tool is provided for locating and actuating downhole tools in a downhole tubular string, such as sleeve valves spaced along a completion string. The shifting tool includes dogs at ends of two or more radially controllable, and circumferentially spaced support arms. The arms are manipulated with an axially movable arm-constrictor spider for engaging radially variable cams on the sides of the arms. The spider includes cam follower tabs to cam the arms radially inward for in and out of hole movement, and for releasing the arms for sleeve locating and sleeve profile engagement. The tabs are radially inset from the arms to minimize obstruction of a tool annulus and interference damage when travelling along the downhole string.

Abstract: Fracture imaging modules having one or more 3-component sensors, are incorporated into a tool comprising two or more of the modules for detecting microseismic events in a formation from the same wellbore as is being stimulated. The modules are locked together in a compact mode to permit injection into the wellbore through a conventional lubricator which has a fixed length. Once injected into the wellbore, the modules are spaced from one another in an extended mode to form an axially spaced sensor array which increases the measurement window in the wellbore compared to sensor arrays conventionally injected through a fixed length lubricator. Following the operation, the modules are actuated to return to the compact mode for pulling out of the hole through the lubricator.