Abstract: An actuation ball for a downhole tool, the actuation ball includes a ball body having an outer surface defining a seating surface with a substantially circular shape in section encircling an axis of the actuation ball; and a flexible protrusion attached to the ball body and extending substantially coaxially relative to the seating surface. Another actuation ball for a downhole tool, the actuation ball includes a body having an outer surface defining a seating surface, the body having a specific gravity less than 2.6.

Abstract: A wellbore tubing string assembly comprises: a string including an inner bore having an inner diameter and a plurality of tools installed along the string including a first tool and a second tool axially offset from the first tool along the string; the first tool includes: a first sleeve in the inner bore having an inner surface, the inner surface defining a first restriction diameter smaller than the inner diameter; a first sensor mechanism in communication with the first sleeve and responsive to an application of force against the first sleeve; the second tool includes; a second sleeve in the inner bore having an inner wall surface, the inner wall surface defining a second restriction diameter smaller than the inner diameter; a second sensor mechanism in communication with the second sleeve and responsive to an application of force against the second sleeve; and a sealing device having a diameter greater than the second restriction diameter and being deformable to be pushable through the second restriction

Abstract: An apparatus for fluid treatment of a borehole includes: a tubular body having a long axis and an upper end, a first port extending through the wall of the tubular body, a second port extending through the wall of the tubular body, the second port having a fluid inflow control mechanism positioned to control the flow of fluid into the tubular body through the port, the first port being configurable from an open position to a closed position; and a controller to actuate the first port into the closed position, a set time after the first port is placed into the open position.

Abstract: A kobe sub includes a kobe installed in a port of the sub, the kobe includes a cap portion accessible in the inner bore, a base mounted in the port and connected to the cap portion, a channel extending through the base and closed by the cap portion; and an inflow controller positioned to control fluid flowing through the channel toward the inner bore when the cap portion is opened; and a port opening tool for opening the cap portion. The kobe may be employed with a frac port.

Abstract: A sliding sleeve valve for wellbore operations includes: a tubular body including a tubular wall including an outer surface and an inner surface defining an inner bore; a fluid port extending through the tubular wall and providing fluidic communication between the outer surface and the inner bore; a sliding sleeve in the inner bore slidably moveable between a port closed position and a port open position, the sliding sleeve including a ball seat on which a plug is landed to move the sleeve from the port closed position to the port open position; an initial sleeve holding mechanism for holding the sliding sleeve in the port closed position, the initial sleeve holding mechanism selected to be overcome by landing a plug on the ball seat to move the sliding sleeve; and a second sleeve holding mechanism for holding the sliding sleeve in the port closed position after the sliding sleeve is reclosed from the port open position to the port closed position, the second sleeve holding mechanism selected to be overcome b

Abstract: To address concerns of kobe plug cap portions being inadvertently removed, for example, by abutment with strings or tools passing thereby, a shielding structure may be employed to protect the cap against inadvertent removal. The port opening tool useful with the kobe plug is selected to overcome the shielding structure to open the kobe plug. To address concerns of a portion of the kobe plug becoming loose in the tubing string inner bore, a capturing mechanism may be provided that captures the cap portion after it is removed to open the kobe plug and prevented the cap portion from becoming loose in the inner bore of the tubing string.

Abstract: To address concerns of kobe plug cap portions being inadvertently removed, for example, by abutment with strings or tools passing thereby, a shielding structure may be employed to protect the cap against inadvertent removal. The port opening tool useful with the kobe plug is selected to overcome the shielding structure to open the kobe plug. To address concerns of a portion of the kobe plug becoming loose in the tubing string inner bore, a capturing mechanism may be provided that captures the cap portion after it is removed to open the kobe plug and prevented the cap portion from becoming loose in the inner bore of the tubing string.

Abstract: An actuator switch for actuation of a downhole tool, the actuator switch comprising: a rheomagnetic fluid having a state convertible between a liquid and a solid by the application of a magnetic field thereto, a change in the state of the rheomagnetic fluid acting to actuate the downhole tool; and a magnet installed in the tool and moveable relative to the rheomagnetic fluid to apply or remove the magnetic field to the rheomagnetic fluid, the magnet being moved by through tubing operations in an inner diameter of the downhole tool.

Abstract: A wellbore packer for setting one or more packing elements in a borehole having an open hole section. The wellbore packer comprises a port-less mandrel configured with one or more packing elements and one or more setting mechanisms. The setting mechanism is responsive to a to a driving force and configured to set the packing elements in the borehole, wherein the driving force is not tubing string pressure.

Abstract: An actuation dart for actuating a target tool in a tubing string, the actuation dart includes: a body conveyable through the tubing string to reach the target tool; a control module configured to respond to contact with at least one downhole tool in the tubing string to locate the target tool; and an actuation mechanism for actuating the target tool when it is located.

Abstract: A wellbore fluid treatment apparatus includes a tubing string including a first port with a first closure disposed thereover to close the first port to fluid flow and a second port spaced axially uphole from the first port and having a second closure disposed thereover to close the second port to fluid flow; and an actuator tool configured to move through the tubing string and (i) to set a seal in the tubing string downhole of the first port; (ii) to actuate the first closure to open the first port; and (iii) to actuate the second closure to open the second port. A method for treating a well may employ the tool.

Abstract: A method for wellbore treatment includes running a liner into a wellbore, the liner including a wall, an inner bore defined by the wall, a first port through the wall, a second port though the wall spaced axially from the first port, a first removable closure for the first port and a second removable closure for the second port; positioning the liner in an open hole section of the wellbore to create an annulus between the liner and a portion of the wellbore wall and with the second port downhole of the first port; inserting a treatment string assembly into the liner, the treatment string assembly including a tubing string and an annular seal about the tubing string and being insertable into the inner bore of the liner; setting the annular seal to create a seal between the tubing string and the liner downhole of the second port; and while the first port is closed to fluid flow therethrough, pumping wellbore treatment fluid into an annular area between the tubing string and the liner such that the fluid passes

Abstract: A ball catching device has been invented that catches an actuator ball used in a wellbore to actuate a downhole tool. The device catches the ball downhole as it begins to flow back with fluids toward surface. The device is configured such that when a ball flows back with wellbore fluids, the ball can flow through the device and if the ball reverses direction, as by falling back due to decreased or stopped production back flow, then the device will catch the ball and keep it from falling back past the device into the well.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for seating a whipstock. The apparatus comprises an expandable seat, or nipple, configured to receive a whipstock. The seat is run into a cased wellbore, and is set by expanding it into frictional contact with the inner surface of the casing. Thereafter, a whipstock is seated onto the seat. The seat includes a keyway configured to receive an orientation member extending from the whipstock. In this manner, the orientation of the seat can be determined. An orientation member of the whipstock can be adjusted to properly orient the face of the whipstock in the seat, and the whipstock lowered onto the seat so that it automatically seats in the proper direction. The whipstock then serves as a diverter tool for drilling a lateral wellbore such as a horizontal well.

Abstract: The present invention provides an expandable packer, and methods for seating an expandable packer. The apparatus comprises an expandable seating body configure to receive a packer body. The seating body is tubular in configuration, and is run into a cased wellbore. The seating body is then set by expanding it into frictional contact with the inner surface of the casing. Thereafter, a packer body is lowered into the seating body. In this respect, the inner surface of the seating body is configured to receive the outer surface of the packer body. The expandable packer can then seal the annulus between one or more tubulars and the casing within the wellbore.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for seating a whipstock. The apparatus comprises an expandable seat, or nipple, configured to receive a whipstock. The seat is run into a cased wellbore, and is set by expanding it into frictional contact with the inner surface of the casing. Thereafter, a whipstock is seated onto the seat. The seat includes a keyway configured to receive an orientation member extending from the whipstock. In this manner, the orientation of the seat can be determined. An orientation member of the whipstock can be adjusted to properly orient the face of the whipstock in the seat, and the whipstock lowered onto the seat so that it automatically seats in the proper direction. The whipstock then serves as a diverter tool for drilling a lateral wellbore such as a horizontal well.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for seating a whipstock. The apparatus comprises an expandable seat, or nipple, configured to receive a whipstock. The seat is run into a cased wellbore, and is set by expanding it into frictional contact with the inner surface of the casing. Thereafter, a whipstock is seated onto the seat. The seat includes a keyway configured to receive an orientation member extending from the whipstock. In this manner, the orientation of the seat can be determined. An orientation member of the whipstock can be adjusted to properly orient the face of the whipstock in the seat, and the whipstock lowered onto the seat so that it automatically seats in the proper direction. The whipstock then serves as a diverter tool for drilling a lateral wellbore such as a horizontal well.

Abstract: A method for creating a seal between two tubulars in a wellbore is provided. In one aspect, the method allows for the top end of a first tubular to be sealingly mated to the bottom end of a second tubular. The first tubular is positioned at a selected depth within the wellbore. An expander tool is then run into the wellbore, and the top end of the first tubular is expanded along a desired length. The inner surface of the top end is expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter which will mate with the lower end of the second tubular. The expander tool is removed, and the second tubular is run into the wellbore. The bottom end of the second tubular is then sealingly mated with the top end of the first tubular. In one embodiment, the first tubular defines a string of casing which is expanded to create a polished bore receptacle for receiving a string of production tubing.

Abstract: A method for creating a seal between two tubulars in a wellbore is provided. In one aspect, the method allows for the top end of a first tubular to be sealingly mated to the bottom end of a second tubular. According to the present invention, the first tubular is positioned at a selected depth within the wellbore. An expander tool is then run into the wellbore, and the top end of the first tubular is expanded along a desired length. The inner surface of the top end is expanded from a first diameter to a second diameter which will mate with the lower end of the second tubular. The expander tool is removed, and the second tubular is run into the wellbore. The bottom end of the second tubular is then sealingly mated with the top end of the first tubular. In one embodiment, the first tubular defines a string of casing which is expanded to create a polished bore receptacle for receiving a string of production tubing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a seal between two coaxial strings of pipe. The method and apparatus have utility in one embodiment for sealing the annulus between the tubing and the casing within a hydrocarbon wellbore. According to the method of the present invention, an expander tool is positioned at a selected depth within the tubing, and then actuated in order to expand the tubing against the inner wall of the casing wall. The expander tool is rotated in order to provide a fluid seal in the annulus. In this way, the tubing string becomes its own packer. In the preferred embodiment, an elastomeric seal is provided around the outer surface of the tubing to enhance the fluid seal. Further, a slip ring is provided around the outer surface of the tubing to provide a gripping means between the tubing and the casing. In the preferred embodiment, rollers of the expander tool are aligned with the seal ring and slip ring before expansion.