Abstract: A tool brake is provided for use in horizontal wells that is positionable between a setting tool and a setting sleeve in combination with a tool string. Upon activation of the setting tool to set a bridge plug in a well, the normal action of the setting tool causes activation of the tool brake that extends one or more arms from the tool brake to exert pressure against the wellbore casing of the well. The tool brake prevents reverse slippage caused by gravity's pull of the tool string in a horizontal well permitting accurate placement of downhole tools such as perforating guns. Moreover, inadvertent cutting of a cable that retrieves the downhole tools can be prevented such as due to slippage of downhole tools over-lapping the cable before perforating guns are detonated.

Abstract: Systems and methods can be used in connection with a wellbore environment for automatically controlling wire being spooled around a drum. A system comprising a spooler, a sensor assembly, and a communication link can be used to adjust the position of wire being spooled around a drum. A first motor can control the spooler and a second motor can control the sensor assembly. The spooler can be positioned to control spooling of wire around the drum as the drum rotates to reel in wire. The sensor assembly can be configured to detect a distance between the sensor assembly and the wire being spooled. A communication link can communicatively couple the sensor assembly with the first motor and the second motor to control movement of the spooler and the sensor assembly relative to the drum based on the distance detected by the sensor assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods can be used in connection with a wellbore environment for automatically controlling wire being spooled around a drum. A system comprising a spooler, a sensor assembly, and a communication link can be used to adjust the position of wire being spooled around a drum. A first motor can control the spooler and a second motor can control the sensor assembly. The spooler can be positioned to control spooling of wire around the drum as the drum rotates to reel in wire. The sensor assembly can be configured to detect a distance between the sensor assembly and the wire being spooled. A communication link can communicatively couple the sensor assembly with the first motor and the second motor to control movement of the spooler and the sensor assembly relative to the drum based on the distance detected by the sensor assembly.

Abstract: A tool brake is provided for use in horizontal wells that is positionable between a setting tool and a setting sleeve in combination with a tool string. Upon activation of the setting tool to set a bridge plug in a well, the normal action of the setting tool causes activation of the tool brake that extends one or more arms from the tool brake to exert pressure against the wellbore casing of the well. The tool brake prevents reverse slippage caused by gravity's pull of the tool string in a horizontal well permitting accurate placement of downhole tools such as perforating guns. Moreover, inadvertent cutting of a cable that retrieves the downhole tools can be prevented such as due to slippage of downhole tools over-lapping the cable before perforating guns are detonated.

Abstract: A downhole tool velocity control apparatus includes a body having a portion with static circumferential diameter and a portion with a variable circumferential diameter. The portion with variable circumferential diameter has at least one velocity control member extendible radially beyond the portion with the static diameter. A method of varying the force applied by a fluid to a tool string includes traversing a tool string through a well bore using a pump fluid, the pump fluid applying a force on the tool string, monitoring a tool string characteristic, and actuating a downhole tool velocity control apparatus of the tool string to variably expand radially in response to a change in the tool string characteristic.