Abstract: A method of forming a wired pipe transmission line includes: providing an assembly that includes an inner conductor surrounded by an insulating material; attaching a fixation element to the assembly at or near an end thereof; providing a tubular outer conductor; disposing the assembly and the fixation element within the outer conductor; and fixedly attaching the fixation element to the inner portion of the tubular outer conductor.

Abstract: A self-contained module for actuating an element of an earth-boring tool comprises a drive unit configured to be coupled to at least one actuatable element of the earth-boring tool. The drive unit is configured to be disposed at least partially within a compartment of a body of the earth-boring. The compartment is radially decentralized within the earth-boring tool. The drive unit includes a drive element configured to be coupled to the at least one actuatable element. The drive unit is configured to move the drive element in a manner moving the at least one actuatable element from a first position to a second position in a direction having a component parallel with a longitudinal axis of the earth-boring tool. The self-contained module is configured to be repeatedly attached to and detached from the earth-boring tool. Such a module may be attached to a tool body carrying extendable elements to form an earth-boring tool for borehole enlargement or stabilization within an enlarged section of the borehole.

Abstract: A tubular section and a system including the tubular section include a first tubular member including a threaded pin section and a second tubular member, the second tubular member including a threaded box section configured to mate with the threaded pin section. The tubular section also includes a shoulder ring disposed between the first tubular member and the second tubular member, wherein a wall thickness of at least a portion of the shoulder ring is greater than a smallest wall thickness of the threaded pin section of the first tubular member.

Abstract: The invention relates to ballistic resistant article having a multilayered material sheet which includes a consolidated stack of unidirectional monolayers of drawn polymer, whereby the draw direction of two subsequent monolayers in the stack differs. At least one monolayer comprises a plurality of unidirectional tapes of the drawn polymer, aligned in the same direction, whereby adjacent tapes do not overlap. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the multilayered material sheet, and to a ballistic resistant article comprising the multilayered material sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus for drilling curved and straight sections of a wellbore is disclosed that in one non-limiting embodiment includes a drilling assembly configured to include a drill bit at an end thereof that can be rotated by a drive in the drilling assembly and by the rotation of the drilling assembly, and wherein the drilling assembly includes: a deflection device that (i) tilts a section of the drilling assembly within a selected plane when the drilling assembly is substantially rotationally stationary to allow drilling of a curved section of the wellbore by rotating the drill bit by the drive; and (ii) straightens the section of the drilling assembly when the drilling assembly is rotated to allow drilling of a straight section of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method and system of predicting behavior of a drill bit is disclosed, including generating a mathematical representation of a characteristic of at least one of a plurality of components of a drill bit, the plurality of components including at least one moveable cutter; at least one moveable rubbing element; and at least one moveable gage pad; simulating one or more operating conditions incident on the mathematical representation, and simulating an interaction between the plurality of components and an earth formation; and predicting physical responses of the mathematical representation to the one or more operating conditions.

Abstract: A wired pipe coupler includes a coupler carrier having a first side and a second side opposite the first side, first and second metal plates carried by the first side and one or more antennas supported by the second side. The coupler also includes one or more electrical connectors electrically coupling the metal plates to one or more of the one or more antennas, a grounding plate formed of a conductive material and a layer of insulating material disposed between the metal plates and the grounding plate. The first metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a first capacitor and the second metal plate, the grounding plate and the layer of insulating material form a second capacitor.

Abstract: A method of forming a wired pipe transmission line includes: providing an assembly that includes an inner conductor surrounded by an insulating material; attaching a fixation element to the assembly at or near an end thereof; providing a tubular outer conductor; disposing the assembly and the fixation element within the outer conductor; and fixedly attaching the fixation element to the inner portion of the tubular outer conductor.

Abstract: In one aspect, a drill bit is disclosed, including: a bit body; a pad associated with the bit body; a rate control device coupled to the pad that extends from a bit surface at a first rate and retracts from an extended position to a retracted position at a second rate in response to external force applied onto the pad, the rate control device including: a piston for applying a force on the pad; a biasing member that applies a force on the piston to extend the pad at the first rate; a fluid chamber associated with the piston; and a pressure management device for controlling a fluid pressure within the fluid chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a transmission line in a downhole component includes: an element coupled to an exterior surface of the transmission line, the transmission line configured to be disposed in a communication conduit that extends through the downhole component, the element configured to restrict axial movement of the transmission line within the communication conduit.

Abstract: A method of forming a wired pipe transmission line includes: providing an assembly that includes an inner conductor surrounded by an insulating material; attaching a fixation element to the assembly at or near an end thereof; providing a tubular outer conductor; disposing the assembly and the fixation element within the outer conductor; and fixedly attaching the fixation element to the inner portion of the tubular outer conductor.

Abstract: A method and an arrangement for magnetically determining a position using a permanent magnet are described, wherein the vector and local gradient of the magnetic flux density of the permanent magnet are measured using a position sensor, and the position and orientation of the magnetic dipole of the permanent magnet relative to the position sensor are calculated from the measured values. A spherical permanent magnet having homogenous magnetization is used in the method and the arrangement, preventing previously present cross-sensitivity between the position and orientation determination, and allowing measurement without prior calibration.

Abstract: In one aspect, a drill bit is disclosed, including: a bit body; a pad associated with the bit body; a rate control device coupled to the pad that extends from a bit surface at a first rate and retracts from an extended position to a retracted position at a second rate in response to external force applied onto the pad, the rate control device including: a piston for applying a force on the pad; a biasing member that applies a force on the piston to extend the pad at the first rate; a fluid chamber associated with the piston; and a pressure management device for controlling a fluid pressure within the fluid chamber.

Abstract: A wired pipe segment includes a body extending from a box end to a pin end and a coupler located in one of the box end or the pin end, the coupler including a communication element and a coupler connector in electrical communication therewith and extending away from the communication element. The segment also includes a transmission line extending away from the coupler towards the other of the box and pin end, the transmission line including an inner conductor surrounded by an insulating material, the inner conductor of the transmission line having an end with a non-cylindrical shape. The segment also includes a connector that electrically connects the coupler to the transmission line.

Abstract: A wired pipe segment includes a body extending from a box end to a pin end and a coupler located in one of the box and pin ends, the coupler including a communication element and a coupler connector in electrical communication therewith and extending away from the communication element. The segment also includes a transmission line extending away from the coupler towards the other of the box and pin end, the transmission line including an inner conductor surrounded by a dielectric material, the inner conductor extending beyond an end of the dielectric material. The segment also includes a connector that electrically connects the coupler to the transmission line, the connector including an inner conductive connection having first and second ends that are, respectively, in contact with the inner conductor and the coupler connector.

Abstract: An apparatus for communicating a signal downhole includes a downhole pipe configured to be coupled to another downhole pipe and a protection tube secured to the downhole pipe. A transmission line is disposed in the protection tube and configured to communicate the signal. A communication device is disposed in the downhole pipe and configured to communicate the signal to another downhole pipe. An end of the transmission line is configured to be axially movable with respect to the downhole pipe in order to have the end of the transmission line extending from the protection tube to establish a connection between the transmission line and the communication device.

Abstract: An electronic frame for use in a downhole component coupling mechanism in a segmented wired pipe system includes a first frame element including at least one retaining structure configured to retain an electronic component. The frame also includes a sealed chamber disposed in the frame element, the sealed chamber including inputs to receive input signals from communication elements and either couple the inputs together or direct the input signals to control electronics.

Abstract: An apparatus for communicating a signal downhole includes a drill pipe configured to be rotated to drill the borehole and a tube under axial tension and secured in the drill pipe, wherein the axial tension occurs at least with the drill pipe not under axial tension. The apparatus further includes a connector sleeve sealed to an end of the tube and configured to secure the tube under the axial tension to the drill pipe and to provide a sealing surface for a connector to seal to. The apparatus further includes a transmission line configured to communicate the signal. The transmission line is disposed in the tube and has a length greater than the length of the tube and extending past the connector sleeve.

Abstract: A tubular section and a system including the tubular section are described. The tubular section includes a first tubular member including a threaded pin section and a second tubular member, the second tubular member including a threaded box section configured to mate with the threaded pin section. The tubular section also includes a shoulder ring disposed between the first tubular member and the second tubular member, wherein a wall thickness of at least a portion of the shoulder ring is greater than a smallest wall thickness of the threaded pin section of the first tubular member.

Abstract: A device for generating pressure pulses in flowing fluid includes a valve having a stem movable linearly relative to a passageway. The valve is configured to vary restriction to flow through the passageway in response to changes in relative position between the stem and the passageway. The device also includes a rotatable member in operable communication with the valve such that rotation of the rotatable member causes the stem to move, and a motion translation arrangement that is in operable communication with the rotatable member and the stem such that the stem linearly reciprocates in response to the rotatable member rotating in a single direction of rotation.