Abstract: A side pocket mandrel is configured for use within a gas lift system deployed in a well that has an annular space surrounding the gas lift system. The side pocket mandrel includes a central body that includes a central bore, a gas lift valve pocket, and a gas lift valve installed within the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include a motorized choke valve assembly to selectively cover some or all of an internal tubing port extending between the central bore and the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include an automatic closing valve assembly configured to automatically close the gas lift valve port when the gas lift valve is removed from the side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use within a gas lift system is configured to permit the exchange of valve pockets. The side pocket mandrel has a central body, a receiver that is laterally offset from the central body, and a valve pocket that is removably secured to the receiver. The valve pocket can be configured for a threaded connection with the receiver to permit the facilitated exchange of modular valve pockets at the receiver. Gas from the valve pocket can be carried to the central body of the side pocket mandrel through one or more external gas lines or one or more internal gas injection passages.

Abstract: A valve including a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a piston disposed in the housing, the piston having a first end and a second end, the piston movable between a position blocking fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet and a position allowing fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet, a pressure balance pathway through the housing porting the same pressure to both first and second ends of the piston, an actuator responsive to applied pressure on the valve, the actuator attached to the piston and a biasing arrangement configured to bias the actuator toward a closed position of the valve. A method for injecting a sequestration fluid including maintaining the fluid at a supercritical phase upstream of a valve, opening the valve by increasing pressure of the fluid, delaying phase change of the fluid from supercritical to gas.

Abstract: A gas lift system improves the recovery of petroleum fluids from a well to the surface through production tubing. The gas lift system has a packer and a lower injection mandrel connected to the production tubing below the packer. The gas lift system further includes a gas lift module connected to the production tubing above the packer, and an injection line that carries pressurized gas from the surface to both the lower injection mandrel and the gas lift module. An upper injection line valve assembly is configured to provide a source of pressurized gas from the injection line to the gas lift module, while an injection line gas lift valve assembly is configured to provide a source of pressurized gas from the injection line to the lower injection mandrel.

Abstract: A valve including a housing having an inlet and an outlet, a piston disposed in the housing, the piston having a first end and a second end, the piston movable between a position blocking fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet and a position allowing fluid flow between the inlet and the outlet, a pressure balance pathway through the housing porting the same pressure to both first and second ends of the piston, an actuator responsive to applied pressure on the valve, the actuator attached to the piston and a biasing arrangement configured to bias the actuator toward a closed position of the valve. A method for injecting a sequestration fluid including maintaining the fluid at a supercritical phase upstream of a valve, opening the valve by increasing pressure of the fluid, delaying phase change of the fluid from supercritical to gas.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel is configured for use within a gas lift system deployed in a well that has an annular space surrounding the gas lift system. The side pocket mandrel includes a central body that includes a central bore, a gas lift valve pocket, and a gas lift valve installed within the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include a motorized choke valve assembly to selectively cover some or all of an internal tubing port extending between the central bore and the gas lift valve pocket. The side pocket mandrel may also include an automatic closing valve assembly configured to automatically close the gas lift valve port when the gas lift valve is removed from the side pocket mandrel.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use within a gas lift system is configured to permit the exchange of valve pockets. The side pocket mandrel has a central body, a receiver that is laterally offset from the central body, and a valve pocket that is removably secured to the receiver. The valve pocket can be configured for a threaded connection with the receiver to permit the facilitated exchange of modular valve pockets at the receiver. Gas from the valve pocket can be carried to the central body of the side pocket mandrel through one or more external gas lines or one or more internal gas injection passages.

Abstract: A selectively two directional check valve is located on a string with a packer and is either held open for running in so that the string can fill and doesn't become buoyant or includes a closable ported sub to allow string filling for running in that can then be closed. Pressure is applied from the surface to drive an object down to a seat so that a packer can be set. Further pressure increase shifts the object and the seat and locks the seat in the shifted position. A spring return force pushes the object to an upper seat to prevent uphole flow. Flow in the downhole direction is possible by overcoming the spring bias to move the object off the upper seat while preventing the object from moving down far enough to engage the shifted lower seat. Flow downhole just goes around the object.

Abstract: A plug for a seal bore in a packer mandrel has a shiftable annular member that can selectively open bypass ports to facilitate latching and then be shifted as part of a release from the plug by a running tool to close the bypass passage that go around a frangible barrier that will later be broken by impact force. The annular member has minimal structure internally to allow attachment of the running tool. The annular member drillout proceeds quickly with minimal cuttings and the frangible member is broken by impact. On an assembly with multiple packers getting plugs a trip is saved as a plug is delivered into a lower packer with a string supporting the packer above. The plug is set in the lower packer allowing release of the running string for subsequent placement and setting of the next packer in the same trip.

Abstract: A selectively two directional check valve is located on a string with a packer and is either held open for running in so that the string can fill and doesn't become buoyant or includes a closable ported sub to allow string filling for running in that can then be closed. Pressure is applied from the surface to drive an object down to a seat so that a packer can be set. Further pressure increase shifts the object and the seat and locks the seat in the shifted position. A spring return force pushes the object to an upper seat to prevent uphole flow. Flow in the downhole direction is possible by overcoming the spring bias to move the object off the upper seat while preventing the object from moving down far enough to engage the shifted lower seat. Flow downhole just goes around the object.

Abstract: A plug for a seal bore in a packer mandrel has a shiftable annular member that can selectively open bypass ports to facilitate latching and then be shifted as part of a release from the plug by a running tool to close the bypass passage that go around a frangible barrier that will later be broken by impact force. The annular member has minimal structure internally to allow attachment of the running tool. The annular member drillout proceeds quickly with minimal cuttings and the frangible member is broken by impact. On an assembly with multiple packers getting plugs a trip is saved as a plug is delivered into a lower packer with a string supporting the packer above. The plug is set in the lower packer allowing release of the running string for subsequent placement and setting of the next packer in the same trip.

Abstract: A flow control valve including, a tubular housing having a valve port, a piston disposed in the tubular housing having an orifice, the piston being slidable in the tubular housing to align the orifice with the valve port, a combustion portion at least partially defined by the tubular housing and the piston, and a propellant disposed in the combustion portion and method.

Abstract: A flow control device is provided that in one embodiment includes a flow-through region configured to receive formation fluid at an inflow region and discharge the received fluid at an outflow region and a setting device configured to adjust the flow of the fluid through the flow-through region to a selected level. The setting device includes a coupling member configured to be coupled to an external latching device adapted to move the coupling member to cause the setting device to alter the flow of the fluid from the flow-through region to the selected level.

Abstract: A flow control valve including, a tubular housing having a valve port, a piston disposed in the tubular housing having an orifice, the piston being slidable in the tubular housing to align the orifice with the valve port, a combustion portion at least partially defined by the tubular housing and the piston, and a propellant disposed in the combustion portion and method.

Abstract: A handheld computing device comprises a thin enclosure having two opposing major faces. A display screen is disposed on a first one of the major opposing faces of the enclosure and a touch-sensitive object position detector input device is disposed on a second one of the major opposing faces of the enclosure. Computing device circuitry, circuitry for interfacing the touch-sensitive object position detector to the computing device circuitry, and circuitry for driving the display screen are all disposed within the enclosure.

Abstract: A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by analog circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e, its position in the X and Y dimensions. The profile of position may also be integrated to provide Z-axis (pressure) information.

Abstract: A proximity sensor system includes a sensor matrix array having a characteristic capacitance on horizontal and vertical conductors connected to sensor pads. The capacitance changes as a function of the proximity of an object or objects to the sensor matrix. The change in capacitance of each node in both the X and Y directions of the matrix due to the approach of an object is converted to a set of voltages in the X and Y directions. These voltages are processed by analog circuitry to develop electrical signals representative of the centroid of the profile of the object, i.e., its position in the X and Y dimensions. The profile of position may also be integrated to provide Z-axis (pressure) information.