Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a system for installing a powered device in a downhole tube, the system comprising a power line disposed along a production tube and terminating in a first power connector and an orientation profile disposed in the vicinity of the first power connector. An assembly includes a powered device having a second power connector and an extending orientation means capable of radial outward movement from the assembly. The powered device being lowered down the production tube, causing the extending orientation means to be urged radially outwards to engage with the orientation profile and orient the device, so that the first power connector means and second power connector means engage to connect the powered device to the power line in an automatic manner.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a well pumping system comprising a length of coiled tubing extending to the surface of the well, a first electric pump, a first electric motor, and a sealing means that seals against the side of the well. The sealing means include a first fluid path through which coiled tubing is in fluid communication with the well beneath the sealing means, and a second fluid path through which first electric pump is in fluid communication with the well beneath the sealing means.

Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a sub surface safety valve in a well system comprising an upper support means, a sub surface safety valve, a sealing means that seals against the inside of the production path and a bore through the sub surface safety valve and sealing means which connects to an annular inlet beneath the sealing means and an annular outlet above the sub surface safety valve.

Abstract: A pump system for use in with a downhole pipe string has a pump comprising at least one cylinder with at least one piston inside the cylinder, the movement of the piston causing fluid to be drawn into the pump through a pump inlet before being pushed out through a pump outlet. The pump is housed in a tube having a cammed surface formed by internal wall of the tube, and the piston has a cam follower such that rotation of the piston relative to the tube causes the piston to move relative to the cylinder. Further, a pump system is shown which has two or more such pumps arranged along the downhole pipe string, the pump outlets feeding into a common manifold. The strokes of the piston or pistons of one pump may be out of step with the strokes of the piston or pistons of another pump such that the outlet stream is more uniform.

Abstract: A flow restrictor for controlling the flow of cement or other fluid in oil wells comprises a plurality of restrictor elements, each defining first and second apertures, which are assembled in a stacked configuration and slidingly inserted into the well casing or other tubing so that the first apertures define a direct flowpath, preferably including a non-return valve, and the second apertures define a second, indirect flowpath between the elements and the inner surface of the tubing. The elements include seals for fluidly sealing each element in the bore of the tubing which are preferably slidably retractable and resiliently radially outwardly biased so as to adapt conformably to different tubing types having different internal diameters. The restrictor may slide along the tubing in use.

Abstract: An electrical connection for use in boreholes or other remote environment has a a first connection assembly having a first (18) and second (34) connection assemblies having a first and second conductive members. The two conductive members are movable to form an electrical contact. Also provided is a means for urging dielectric fluid around the electrical contact formed by the first conductive member and second conductive member as the first and second conducting members are moved together.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump assembly (ESP) (21, 120) is deployed in a production tube (20, 100) in a borehole such that the motor (26, 41, 121) of the ESP is spaced from the inner wall of the production tube, defining a conduit (36, 111) through which the pumped well fluid can flow to cool the motor. The production tube may have an enlarged diameter portion (25, 76, 101) within which the motor is positioned. Alternatively or additionally, the ESP and/or the production tube may be provided with stabilising spacers (24, 45, 140, 141) which extend between the ESP and the tube to centralise the ESP in the tube and support it against vibrational movement, the spacers defining an annular conduit (36, 111) between the motor casing and the production tube.

Abstract: A sensor system for use in a well bore includes a metal-clad fiber-optic cable, the fiber optic cable include one or more Bragg gratings, and each Bragg grating is configured such that a value or change in a physical parameter to be measured results in a measurable value or change in the Bragg grating. The sensor system is included in a tool moveable through a drill string. The Bragg gratings are subjected to a strain related to the well bore's pressure, such that the pressure can be determined from the characteristics of the Bragg grating.

Abstract: A method of developing software capable of performing a task, the task comprising at least one task step required to perform the task. The task step has a resultant effect. The method comprises recording a use case comprising one or more scenarios, that comprise one of more further steps; recording the scenario or one of the scenarios as a main success scenarios such that the resultant effect of the main success scenario is the same as the resultant effect of the task step. Use cases which have been stripped of context-specific information may be re-used. Such information may be included in a reference to the re-used use case.

Abstract: A cable and coiled tubing suspends an electrically powered tool in a borehole and providing the tool with electrical power by the cable, the cable being disposed in the coiled tubing, the cable incorporating a conducting member which carries the majority of the tensile stress on the cable, and without the cable being secured along its length to the inside of the coiled tubing. The cable may be capable of supplying high voltage electrical power, in which case the cable comprises a conducting member having a steel core, an outer cladding of copper, and at least one insulating layer surrounding the outer cladding of copper, the copper making up between 20% and 40% of the total copper and steel content of the cable, the cable being able to support at least its own weight.

Abstract: A wet connection system suitable for use in hydrocarbon wells preferably comprises one or more elongate, small diameter conduits (50) which extend down the wellbore (2) and terminate adjacent a locating structure (11) on the production tubing (10). Equipment (70) deployed at the locating structure is connected to one or more self supporting conductors (30) which extend down the conduits from the wellhead (5). Preferably the conductors are retractable and the conduits are sealingly connected to the equipment, allowing the equipment and conductors to be deployed and recovered independently of each other and to be flushed with dielectric oil (99) pumped down the conduits after re-connection.

Abstract: A seal assembly (10?; 30?) comprises a plurality of deformable annular seals (10; 30), each having an annular recess (17) at one end, which are inserted one by one in a relaxed condition in coaxial stacked relation into an annular bore (54) and then compressed axially one by one so that an insert body (16; 32) enters into the recess in each seal, radially energising it. The insert body may comprise an opposite end (16) of the adjacent seal, or a body (32) of fluid or gel. The inner wall of each seal comprises a sealing surface and at least one sealing bead protruding radially inwardly from the sealing surface; the sealing surface limits the depth to which the bead can penetrate the casing of the cable.

Abstract: A drilling system for use in a well bore consists of a drill string, an electrically powerable pump (8), a connector (16) for supporting the pump (8) including a through bore (32) through which fluid can flow, and a power cable (15) to provide power to the electrically powerable pump. The cuttings are pumped up through the drillpipe (3). The drill bit (4) may also be powered by the pump. Part of the cable is disposed externally to the drill string where new pipe sections are added, before passing into the drill string through a cross-over means (40) further down the drillpipe to connect to the electrically powerable pump.

Abstract: An electric submersible pump and motor assembly for downhole applications has an electric motor having a stationary nonrotating through bore, a pump driven by the electric motor, a deployment line upon which the electric motor and pump may be lowered down through a production tube, and a seal for sealing the assembly against the production tube. An inlet upstream of the seal through which well bore fluid may flow extends through the pump and the stationary nonrotating through bore of the motor, and the fluid may exit through an outlet open to the well bore downstream of the seal.

Abstract: A sub surface deployment valve which is particularly suitable for use in underbalanced drilling operations which can be installed through an existing tubular string comprises a radially expandable body (1) having an internal bore and a valve element (2) capable of closing off the internal bore. The deployment valve can be installed by passing the valve through the existing tubular and then radially expanding the radially expandable body of the deployment valve to form a connection resulting from the interference between the external surface of the deployment valve and the tubular string.

Abstract: A downhole motor and pump assembly for use in a tube has a support that suspends the assembly downhole, a housing capable of forming a seal against an inside surface of the tube to divide the tube into a lower region below the seal and an upper region above the seal, an electric motor, and a power supply for the electric motor. A hydraulic pump driven by the electric motor has a high pressure output. A piston is operated by a directional valve such that the high pressure output from the hydraulic pump is directed by the directional valve alternately above and below the piston so as to reciprocate the piston. A fluid pump driven by the piston pumps well fluid from the lower region to the upper region.

Abstract: An assembly for downhole applications comprises has an electric motor, a pump driven by the electric motor and having a lower pump inlet and an upper pump outlet, and a deployment tube from which the assembly is suspended from and by means of which the assembly can be lowered through the well. A nonrotating hollow shaft forms a bore extending from the tube through the motor and the pump to an assembly opening at the bottom of the assembly such that a device suspended on a wireline or coiled tube may be lowered through the deployment tube and pass through the electric motor and pump to a part of the well below the pump inlet. The motor is linked outside the bore to the pump for driving the pump.

Abstract: A cable is installed in coiled tubing for use in. downhole wells; the cable having an expandable jacket (22) extruded around it. After being installed in the coiled tubing, and the expandable jacket is caused to expand, securing the cable in the coiled tubing. The expandable jacket is caused to expand by the application of heat or by the application of a liquid hydrocarbon. The expandable jacket may be discontinuous along the length of the power cable, discontinuous portions being provided by interspersing the expandable jacket with sections non-expandable material.

Abstract: A pump system for use in with a downhole pipe string has a pump comprising at least one cylinder with at least one piston inside the cylinder, the movement of the piston causing fluid to be drawn into the pump through a pump inlet before being pushed out through a pump outlet. The pump is housed in a tube having a cammed surface formed by internal wall of the tube, and the piston has a cam follower such that rotation of the piston relative to the tube causes the piston to move relative to the cylinder Further, a pump system is shown which has two or more such pumps arranged along the downhole pipe string, the pump outlets feeding into a common manifold. The strokes of the piston or pistons of one pump may be out of step with the strokes of the piston or pistons of another pump such that the outlet stream is more uniform.

Abstract: A system for installing a powered device in a downhole tube has a power line extending down a production tube and terminating in a power connector or contact. The powered device toolstring is down the tube and has a corresponding power connector or contact. The two connectors or contacts are aligned as the connector or contact of the line approaches the connector or contact of the tool. Then the two contacts are fitted together such that they make electrical connection when the powered device toolstring is located adjacent to the power connector or contact of the production tube.