Abstract: A method of abandoning a well, said well comprising at least two concentric conduits (28,30) defining a main bore and at least one annular chamber (40) there between, comprising the steps of providing a perforation in one or more of the conduits, pumping out the fluiti from the annular chamber and/or main bore to create a fluiti-free void, inserting sealing material in the annular chamber and/or main bore to seal it/them. There is also provided an apparatus for abandoning a well having at least two concentric conduits defining at least one annular chamber there between, the apparatus including a pump (50) and a perforation forming device (42).

Abstract: A method for connecting tubular elements (37,40), particularly pipe for strings to be used in oil and gas wells, comprises: (A) locating a portion of a first tubular element (37) within a portion of a second tubular element (40), (B) expanding the portion of the first tubular element and/or compressing the portion of the second tubular element to form a connection resulting from the interference between the external surface of the portion of the first tubular element and the internal surface of the portion of the second tubular element, in which, prior to assembly, one or both of the external surface of the portion of the first tubular element and the internal surface of the portion of the second tubular element is/are at least partially coated by plasma spraying with hard angular material. Preferably, protuberances (38) of plasma-sprayed hard angular material are formed on at least one of the mating surfaces of the connection.

Abstract: A method for sealing a hole in a tubular in a wellbore comprising: (A) locating the tubular patch adjacent the hole; (B) (i) plastically expanding a first portion of the tubular patch above the hole into annular sealing engagement with the tubular to form a first annular seal and (ii) plastically expanding a second portion of the tubular patch below the hole in the tubular into annular sealing engagement with the tubular or the open hole to form a second annular seal thereby sealing the hole in the tubular. The patch may be a corrugated tube prior to expansion in order to pass through restrictions and may have a section with an increased wall thickness including a resilient seal.

Abstract: A downhole drilling apparatus suspended by tubing includes a drill bit driven by an electric motor powered by a cable means. The motor is mounted upon a hollow shaft which allows fluid to pass through, so that a fluid circuit along the tube and back along the annulus between the borehole and the tubing via the drill bit is established. The state of the motor, particularly its speed and torque, can be monitored, and the motor may then be regulated as a result of the this data. Various sensors may be included in the drilling apparatus, and the data gathered similarly used to regulate the motor. Thrust means are included to urge the drill along the borehole. Supplementary pumps may be provided to assist the fluid flow. Both the thrust means and the pumps may be controlled by the control means.

Abstract: A system for installing a powered device in a downhole tube, comprising a power line disposed along a production tube which terminates in a first power connector, an orientation means disposed in the vicinity of the first power connector, and a powered device including a second power connector. The powered device is lowered down the production tube and oriented by the orientation means so that the first power connector means and second power connector means engage to connect the powered device to the power line. In another embodiment, the system comprises a power line disposed along a production tube, terminating in a first power connector, and a powered device including a second power connector, one or both of the connectors being radially displaced as the powered tool is lowered such that the connectors are aligned for engagement.

Abstract: A method of cutting through a tubular, in particular, a casing at a selected location in a wellbore using a remotely controlled electrically powered cutting tool that comprises (a) a tool body, (b) a cutting head provided with a cutting means, the cutting head pivotally mounted on the tool body at or near the lower end thereof, and (c) an electrically actuatable means for pivoting the cutting head with respect to the tool body, the method comprising the steps of: passing the cutting tool to the selected location in the wellbore with the longitudinal axis of the cutting head aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tool body; pivoting the cutting head with respect to the tool body to a position where the cutting means of the cutting head is adjacent the wall of the tubular; and actuating the cutting means to cut through the tubular of the wellbore.

Abstract: A generally tubular drill string has a conductive path over a plurality of drill pipe section (10). Each drill pipe section has a first end and a second end, and a wall, and the first end has a first radial sealing surfaces (11) and the second end has a corresponding second radial surfaces (59), such that when the first or second end of one drill pipe section is engaged with the second or first end respectively of another drill pipe section, at least one seal is formed. The drill pipe includes at least one conductor (21) disposed inside it, this conductor being connected to a first contact means at the first end and a corresponding contact means at the second end of each drill pipe section. Ingress protection means (240) are provided to protect the contact means from ingress from inside or outside of the drill pipe section. The ingress protection means comprises a sealed volume surrounding the contact means.

Abstract: A method of obtaining fluid, typically hydrocarbons, from a first production zone and a second production zone, the method comprising: (a) providing a first pump or valve to produce or control flow of fluid from the first production zone; (b) in a well, providing a first well connector proximate to, and in fluid communication with, the first production zone; (c) connecting the first device to the first well connector; (d) providing a second pump or valve to produce or control flow of fluid from the second production zone; (e) in the well, providing a second well connector proximate to, and in fluid communication with, the second production zone; (f) connecting the second device to the second well connector; (g) producing fluids from the first and second production zones through the well connectors.

Abstract: A seabed installation apparatus comprising a soil penetration means (2), a deployment line (4) from which the soil penetration means is suspended, a mooring line (6) attached to the soil penetration means, the mooring line being releasably secured to the deployment line. The mooring line (6) is shorter than the deployment line (4). The deployment line (4) supplies power to the soil penetration means (2) and is releasably attached to the soil penetration means. The mooring line (6) is releasably secured to the deployment line substantially along the length of the mooring line. The soil penetration means includes an auger and fins capable of resisting torque generated by the action of the soil penetration means. Measurement and control means capable of assessing the pressure characteristics of the soil penetration means and altering the action of the soil penetration means in response to the penetration characteristics are included.

Abstract: A protected conduit for use in a downhole environment, e.g. in a well, which has first and second metallic impermeable layers and an extrudate layer between the impermeable layers. A conductor extends between the two metal impermeable layers and serves for the transmission of power or telemetry data. A flow path is also present for a fluid through the first impermeable metal layer.

Abstract: An electric motor for powering downhole tools comprises a first stator (33) including a first set of coil windings (73), a second stator including a second set of windings, an axially located rotatable shaft (92) including a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element, a sealed annular chamber define by a first tube (96), and an second tube concentrically inside the first tube. The first and second stators are located in the annular chamber, and the first magnetic element being aligned with the first stator such that the first stator when energised can act upon the first magnetic element, and the second magnetic element being aligned with the second stator such that the second stator when energised can act upon the second magnetic element.

Abstract: A method of drilling a borehole from a selected location in an existing wellbore (1) penetrating subterranean earth formation having at least one hydrocarbon bearing zone (3) wherein the existing wellbore is provided with a casing (4) and a hydrocarbon fluid production conduit (6) is arranged in the existing wellbore in sealing relationship with the wall of the casing, the method comprising: passing a remotely controlled electrically operated drilling device (12) from the surface through the hydrocarbon fluid production conduit to the selected location in the existing wellbore; operating the drilling device such that cutting surfaces on the drilling device drill the borehole from the selected location in the existing wellbore thereby generating drill cuttings wherein during operation of the drilling device, a first stream of produced fluid flows directly to the surface through the hydrocarbon fluid production conduit and a second stream of produced fluid is pumped over the cutting surfaces of the drilling dev

Abstract: A pipe installation system, the pipe string being composed of pipe sections which are added and removed to increase and decrease the length=of the drillpipe, and a length of cable is disposed within the drillpipe string and attached thereto by anchoring means. The anchoring means are deployable with the cable means and may be provided by a magnetic attraction or suction or the like between the anchoring means and he wall of the pipe, and means of removal of the cable and the anchoring means.

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

Abstract: A generally tubular drill string has a conductive path over a plurality of drill pipe section (10). Each drill pipe section has a first end and a second end, and a wall, and the first end has a first radial sealing surfaces (11) and the second end has a corresponding second radial surfaces (59), such that when the first or second end of one drill pipe section is engaged with the second or first end respectively of another drill pipe section, at least one seal is formed. The drill pipe includes at least one conductor (21) disposed inside it, this conductor being connected to a first contact means at the first end and a corresponding contact means at the second end of each drill pipe section. Ingress protection means (240) are provided to protect the contact means from ingress from inside or outside of the drill pipe section. The ingress protection means comprises a sealed volume surrounding the contact means.

Abstract: A connection is formed to a cable for transmitting power or telemetry data in a down hole environment. The cable includes a conductor, and a tubular metallic impermeable layer around the conductor. The end of the conductor exposing, and the conductor introduced to a bore in a housing. The bore contains an electrical contact which abuts the conductor, the housing sealing against the metallic impermeable layer to isolate the bore of the housing. The cable includes an outer coating, this outer coating being removed to expose the metallic impermeable layer. One cable may introduced to a first bore of the housing, and a second cable is introduced to a second bore of the housing, the conductors of both cables abutting electrical contacts, so that these contacts are electrically connected to one another, the housing sealing against the impermeable metal layer of each cable.

Abstract: A downhole drilling apparatus suspended by tubing includes a drill bit driven by an electric motor powered by a cable means. The motor is mounted upon a hollow shaft which allows fluid to pass through, so that a fluid circuit along the tube and back along the annulus between the borehole and the tubing via the drill bit is.established. The state of the motor, particularly its speed and torque, can be monitored, and the motor may then be regulated as a result of the this data. Various sensors may be included in the drilling apparatus, and the data gathered similarly used to regulate the motor. Thrust means are included to urge the drill along the borehole. Supplementary pumps may be provided to assist the fluid flow. Both the thrust means and the pumps may be controlled by the control means.

Abstract: A variable orientation downhole actuation tool is made up of a first part which is adapted to be fixed with respect to the end of a down hole tube, and a second part which is adjustable with respect to the first part. The first and second parts are adjustable with respect to each other in any two of the three Euler angles possible angles, that is, the included angle or bend of a respective reference axis, the plane of included angle, or direction, and the rotation of the first body about its reference axis. It may also include a third part such that the third part is adjusted by at least one of the possible angles with respect to the second part, and the second part is adjusted by a further of the possible angles with respect to the first part. A passageway is provided between the first and second parts for the conveyance of material, gas, liquid, solid or some combination.

Abstract: A drillpipe line installation system, the drillpipe string being composed of drillpipe sections which are added and removed to increase and decrease the length of the drillpipe, and a length of cable is disposed within the drillpipe string. The length of this cable is greater than that of the drilipipe string when the cable is put in the drill pipe. The system includes a lower cable storage means which stows the cable in a compact manner and pays the cable out when the length of the drillpipe is increases, and an upper cable storage means which can take up the cable in a compact manner when the length of the drillpipe is decreased.

Abstract: A downhole drilling apparatus suspended by tubing includes a drill bit driven by an electric motor powered by a cable means. The motor is mounted upon a hollow shaft which allows fluid to pass through, so that a fluid circuit along the tube and back along the annulus between the borehole and the tubing via the drill bit is established. The state of the motor, particularly its speed and torque, can be monitored, and the motor may then be regulated as a result of this data. Various sensors may be included in the drilling apparatus, and the data gathered similarly used to regulate the motor. Thrust means are included to urge the drill along the borehole. Supplementary pumps may be provided to assist the fluid flow. Both the thrust means and the pumps may be controlled by the control means.