Abstract: A gravel pack assembly for a borehole has first and second joints and a foil. The basepipes of the joints connect end-to-end, and both of the basepipes having filters for filtering fluid passage from a borehole into bores of the basepipes. Transport tubes are disposed along the first and second joint, and a jumper tube expands across the connected ends of the basepipes and connects the transport tubes together. The foil encloses an area across the connected ends. The foil has an external surface defining an annulus thereabout with the borehole. The foil has end rings abutting the filters of the joints. At least a section of the foil leaks fluid from the borehole to the area enclosed by the foil, and at least a filter portion of the assembly filters the leaked fluid from the area to at least one of the first and second bores.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel, serum-stable lipid particles comprising one or more active agents or therapeutic agents, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles. More particularly, the present invention provides serum-stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALP) comprising a nucleic acid (e.g., one or more interfering RNA molecules), methods of making the SNALP, and methods of delivering and/or administering the SNALP (e.g., for the treatment of cancer). In particular embodiments, the present invention provides tumor-directed lipid particles that preferentially target solid tumors. The tumor-directed formulations of the present invention are capable of preferentially delivering a payload such as a nucleic acid to cells of solid tumors compared to non-cancerous cells.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in a well borehole packing operation takes the form of a downhole packer and comprises a body and a seal member. In use, the apparatus is run into a borehole as part of a downhole completion assembly. On reaching the desired location, the apparatus is activated to urge the seal member into sealing engagement with the borehole, and thereby isolate an annular region between the apparatus and the borehole. A conduit is disposed within the body and is offset from a central longitudinal axis of the apparatus, the conduit configured to transport a borehole packing material, such as gravel slurry, through the apparatus.

Abstract: A lock ring for use as a one way movement restrictor between two telescopingly arranged tubulars to permit movement in one direction and prevent movement in the other direction of one tubular relative to the other tubular; the lock ring comprising: a profile having one or more formations formed on the outer circumference for engagement with a suitable formation profile formed on the inner circumference of the outer telescopic tubular; and one or more teeth formed on its inner circumference, the teeth being adapted to dig into the outer surface of the inner telescopic member; such that the profile having one or more formations on the outer circumference and/or the said one or more teeth permits the lock ring to be pushed along the outer surface of the inner telescopic tubular when pushed by the outer telescopic tubular in one direction; and is further adapted to dig the teeth into the outer surface of the inner telescopic tubular when the push in said one direction is removed or when it is pushed by the outer

Abstract: The present invention provides novel, serum-stable lipid particles comprising one or more active agents or therapeutic agents, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles. More particularly, the present invention provides serum-stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALP) comprising a nucleic acid (e.g., one or more interfering RNA molecules), methods of making the SNALP, and methods of delivering and/or administering the SNALP (e.g., for the treatment of cancer). In particular embodiments, the present invention provides tumor-directed lipid particles that preferentially target solid tumors. The tumor-directed formulations of the present invention are capable of preferentially delivering a payload such as a nucleic acid to cells of solid tumors compared to non-cancerous cells.

Abstract: A downhole slip apparatus that includes a radially extendable slip assembly. The radially extendable slip assembly including a primary slip arrangement and a secondary slip arrangement. The downhole slip apparatus is arranged such that during a first phase of operation the primary and secondary slip arrangements are radially extendable simultaneously from a retracted configuration towards and/or into a first extended configuration. The downhole slip apparatus is also arranged such that during a subsequent second phase of operation the secondary slip arrangement is radially extendable relative to the primary slip arrangement towards and/or into a second extended configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use in wellbore completion and/or for operating a downhole tool, such as a downhole tool associated with well fracturing, include a tool assembly having a lower packer, an upper packer, a first downhole tool in the form of a flow control device, a second downhole tool in the form of a fracture tool, a plurality of production tools and a plurality of screens. Each tool assembly includes or is associated with a downhole actuator in the form of a shifting tool which is operable to actuate one or more of the first downhole tool, second downhole tool or production tools in use. The actuator may be disposed on, or operatively associated with a string, such as a tubular string. All operations are performed with a body of the shifting tool in tension.

Abstract: An anchoring apparatus (110) for use in a wellbore, comprises at least one movable wall engaging member (120) for engaging a wall of a wellbore, wherein the at least one movable wall engaging member (120) is movable from a retracted position to an expanded position to engage the wall, and from the expanded position to a retracted position to disengage the wall. Provision of one or more wall engaging members (120) being movable from an expanded position to a retracted position allows the anchoring apparatus to be retrieved from the wellbore, and in particular, from an open hole.

Abstract: A screen assembly, such as a downhole/sand screen assembly, comprising first and second screen portions or screens longitudinally coupled together, wherein there is provided a fluid flow path between the first and second screen portions or screen. Optionally, the first and second sleeves are coupled or connected by a centraliser or further sleeve or screen, and/or optionally by or via first and second support ring.

Abstract: A lock ring for use as a one way movement restrictor between two telescopingly arranged tubulars to permit movement in one direction and prevent movement in the other direction of one tubular relative to the other tubular; the lock ring comprising: a profile having one or more formations formed on the outer circumference for engagement with a suitable formation profile formed on the inner circumference of the outer telescopic tubular; and one or more teeth formed on its inner circumference, the teeth being adapted to dig into the outer surface of the inner telescopic member; such that the profile having one or more formations on the outer circumference and/or the said one or more teeth permits the lock ring to be pushed along the outer surface of the inner telescopic tubular when pushed by the outer telescopic tubular in one direction; and is further adapted to dig the teeth into the outer surface of the inner telescopic tubular when the push in said one direction is removed or when it is pushed by the outer

Abstract: A lock ring for use as a one way movement restrictor between two telescopingly arranged tubulars to permit movement in one direction and prevent movement in the other direction of one tubular relative to the other tubular; the lock ring comprising: a profile having one or more formations formed on the outer circumference for engagement with a suitable formation profile formed on the inner circumference of the outer telescopic tubular; and one or more teeth formed on its inner circumference, the teeth being adapted to dig into the outer surface of the inner telescopic member; such that the profile having one or more formations on the outer circumference and/or the said one or more teeth permits the lock ring to be pushed along the outer surface of the inner telescopic tubular when pushed by the outer telescopic tubular in one direction; and is further adapted to dig the teeth into the outer surface of the inner telescopic tubular when the push in said one direction is removed or when it is pushed by the outer

Abstract: Apparatus and method for completing a wellbore including providing a packer having an inner mandrel, alternate flow channels along the inner mandrel, and a sealing element external to the inner mandrel, including connecting packer to tubular body, then running the packer and connected tubular body into the wellbore. In one aspect, the packer and connected tubular body may be placed along an open-hole portion of the wellbore. Tubular body may be a sand screen, with the sand screen comprising a base pipe, a surrounding filter medium, and alternate flow channels. The method includes setting a packer and injecting a gravel slurry into an annular region formed between the tubular body and the surrounding wellbore, and then further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow the gravel slurry to at least partially bypass sealing element of the packer.

Abstract: Completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation with packer assembly having first mechanically-set packer as first zonal isolation tool, and second zonal isolation tool comprises internal bore for receiving production fluids, and alternate flow channels. First packer has alternate flow channels around inner mandrel, and sealing element external to inner mandrel and includes operatively connecting packer assembly to a sand screen, and running into wellbore. First packer set by actuating sealing element into engagement with surrounding open-hole portion of the wellbore. Thereafter, injecting a gravel slurry and further injecting the gravel slurry through the alternate flow channels to allow it to bypass the sealing element, resulting in a gravel packed wellbore within an annular region between sand screen and surrounding formation below packer assembly.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for use in communicating between a vehicle and a remote application server. An application message is received from a vehicle. A computer system determines whether an uplink connection can be established between the computer system and a remote application server that provides a remote software application associated with the application message. The application message is redirected to a local software application executed by the computer system when an uplink connection cannot be established. Data may be subsequently synchronized between the local software application and the remote software application.

Abstract: Method for completing a wellbore in a subsurface formation includes providing a sand control device representing one or more joints of sand screens, and a packer assembly along the joints with at least one mechanically-set packer with at least one alternate flow channel therein. Running the packer assembly and connected sand screen into the wellbore, setting a mechanically-set packer into engagement with the surrounding wellbore, injecting gravel slurry into the wellbore to form a gravel pack. An elongated isolation string is run into the sand control device across the packer assembly with valves that serve as an inflow control device. Thereafter, seals are activated around the isolation string and adjacent the packer assembly. A zonal isolation apparatus allows flow control to be provided above and below packer assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel, serum-stable lipid particles comprising one or more active agents or therapeutic agents, methods of making the lipid particles, and methods of delivering and/or administering the lipid particles. More particularly, the present invention provides serum-stable nucleic acid-lipid particles (SNALP) comprising a nucleic acid (e.g., one or more interfering RNA molecules), methods of making the SNALP, and methods of delivering and/or administering the SNALP (e.g., for the treatment of cancer). In particular embodiments, the present invention provides tumor-directed lipid particles that preferentially target solid tumors. The tumor-directed formulations of the present invention are capable of preferentially delivering a payload such as a nucleic acid to cells of solid tumors compared to non-cancerous cells.

Abstract: A flow restrictor for restricting flow in an annulus, the flow restrictor comprising a body and a restrictor assembly mounted on the body, wherein the restrictor assembly is actuatable between a run-in configuration and a set configuration in which at least a portion of the restrictor assembly is radially splayed to thereby substantially restrict flow in the annulus, and wherein the flow restrictor is actuatable by fluid flow over the restrictor assembly above a threshold flow rate to actuate the restrictor assembly from the run-in configuration to the set configuration.

Abstract: An activation apparatus (10) for activating a downhole tool comprising a top sub (12), a bottom sub (14), an outer sleeve (16) having a port (18) and an inner sleeve (20) having a port (22). The apparatus (10) is configurable between a run-in configuration in which the ports (18, 22) are not aligned and an activated configuration in which the ports (18, 22) are aligned and permit lateral passage of fluid through the apparatus (10), the activation apparatus (10) being configured such that application of at least two forces to the activation apparatus (10) transitions the activation apparatus (10) from the run-in configuration to the activated configuration.

Abstract: A gravel pack assembly for a borehole has first and second joints and a foil. The basepipes of the joints connect end-to-end, and both of the basepipes having filters for filtering fluid passage from a borehole into bores of the basepipes. Transport tubes are disposed along the first and second joint, and a jumper tube expands across the connected ends of the basepipes and connects the transport tubes together. The foil encloses an area across the connected ends. The foil has an external surface defining an annulus thereabout with the borehole. The foil has end rings abutting the filters of the joints. At least a section of the foil leaks fluid from the borehole to the area enclosed by the foil, and at least a filter portion of the assembly filters the leaked fluid from the area to at least one of the first and second bores.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing aircraft software parts. An aircraft software part is received at a library. The received part is stored in the library with other aircraft software parts. A user interface is provided to manipulate the aircraft software parts. Responsive to receiving a user input from the user interface to uplink a selected aircraft software part to a target aircraft data processing system, a command is created to send the selected part to an aircraft in which the target aircraft data processing system is located. The uplink command is stored in a queue in the storage in the library. The uplink command is distributed to a proxy server application in response to a request for commands. Responsive to receiving a request from the proxy server application processing the stored uplink command, the selected part is sent to the proxy server application.