Abstract: The invention is a sealing system, such as a packer, that is used in a wellbore to seal against an exterior surface, such as a casing or open wellbore. The sealing system includes a swellable material that swells from an unexpanded state to an expanded state thereby creating a seal when the swellable material comes into contact with a triggering fluid.

Abstract: In downhole apparatus for an oil well, components (26) are installed in tubes (28) received in a space defined between an outer case (20) and an inner length of cylindrical production column (24) that is eccentric relative to the case (20). Each tube (28) is fixed at one end to an interconnection box (30) that is also received in said space, and that has electrical conductors passing therethrough. The tubes (28) are fixed to the box (30) by welding, and the ends of the tubes remote from the box are closed by plugs that are welded on.

Abstract: An actuator (14) designed to remain without maintenance down a well for a prolonged period comprises at least one sealing bellows (44) and preferably a compensation bellows (46) between the well fluid and an internal chamber (30) that is full of hydraulic fluid. The bellows (44, 46) serve to make it possible either to omit dynamic elastomer gaskets altogether or at least to protect them from the well environment. The actuator (14) e.g. of the electromechanical type, can serve in particular to control a valve (12) having an opening of adjustable size. Both bellows (44, 46) are advantageously made of stainless steel. They can be mounted end-to-end or they can be quite separate.

Abstract: A method for use with equipment located downhole in a subterranean well includes providing a model describing behavior of the equipment and measuring a state of the equipment downhole. An indication is received of the state at a surface of the well, and the model is modified based on the indication. The system includes a communication link, a circuit and a machine. The communication link is adapted to furnish an indication of a state of the equipment to the surface of the well. The circuit is located downhole and is adapted to detect the state and produce the indication. The machine is adapted to provide a model describing behavior of the equipment and modify the model based on the indication.

Abstract: A flow rate control device (18) placed down an oil well in production comprises holes (24) formed in the production tubing (16), a closure sleeve (26) suitable for sliding facing the holes (24), an actuator (31) disposed eccentrically relative to the tubing (16), and an intermediate part (29). The intermediate part (29) is guided on the tubing (16) in a manner such as to withstand the tilting torque due to the eccentricity of the actuator (31). A coupling (46) that is flexible except in the direction in which the sleeve is moved connects the part (29) to the closure sleeve (26) symmetrically about the axis of the tubing (16). The resulting decoupling guarantees that the sleeve (26) is self-centering, which improves the life-span of the device (18) significantly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring the flow rate Q of a fluid in a fluid passage, in a well, the device comprising a first venturi section and first means responsive to the pressure difference .DELTA.P.sub.1 across the first venturi section between two points that are separate from each other in the flow direction. It comprises a second venturi section, and second means responsive to the pressure difference .DELTA.P.sub.2 across the second venturi section between two points that are separate in the flow direction, the two venturi sections being disposed relative to each other in such a manner that for a given direction of fluid flow, the diameter of one of them increases whereas the diameter to the other one of them decreases, said venturi sections being further arranged in such a way that the static pressure components present in said pressure differences .DELTA.P.sub.1 and .DELTA.P.sub.2 can be cancelled out.