Abstract: In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a seal assembly for sealing and locking a casing hanger to a wellhead includes a lower seal body, an upper seal body connected to the lower seal body, an inner lock ring disposed between the upper seal body and the lower seal body, an external lock ring engaging the upper seal body, and an energizing ring. The lower seal body is structured and arranged to form a seal with the casing hanger and the wellhead. The upper seal body includes a load portion that overhangs a load shoulder of the casing hanger. At least a portion of the energizing ring is disposed within an inner groove disposed within the upper seal body. The energizing ring locks the inner lock ring into forcible engagement with the casing hanger, and locks the external lock ring into engagement with the wellhead.

Abstract: A wellhead housing has a bore with an inner seal surface. A hanger with an outer seal surface lands in the bore. Wickers are formed on at least one of the seal surfaces. A metal seal ring lands between the seal surfaces, the seal ring having annular inner and outer legs separated by an annular slot. An energizing ring has inner and outer diameter surfaces that slide against the inner and outer legs of the seal ring when the energizing ring is moved downward in the slot to radially deform the inner and outer legs into sealing engagement with the wellhead housing and hanger. The energizing ring has an inner diameter relief and an outer diameter relief, each being a partially circumferential groove extending upward from a lower rim. The reliefs define a bridge of narrower radial thickness in the lower rim.

Abstract: An improved hold-down assembly for a well tie-back string and methods of use of the same are disclosed. The improved hold-down assembly includes a tie-back string and a hold-down assembly coupled to the tie-back string. The hold-down assembly includes one or more slips and a packer assembly disposed about the tie-back string.

Abstract: Well operating elements and related methods are described. One embodiment may take the form of a method that includes deploying a well operating element having first and second components into a well bore, wherein the second component is soluble in the selected wellbore environment and whose rate and/or location of dissolution is at least partially controlled by structure of the first component. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: An example downhole tool for use in a wellbore lined with casing includes a wellbore isolation device that provides a plurality of components including a mandrel that defines a central flow passage that allows fluid flow in at least one direction through the wellbore isolation device, the wellbore isolation device providing an inner diameter and an outer diameter. A minimum production flow area is provided across the wellbore isolation device and is determined by at least one of: a flow area across the wellbore isolation device that is at least 1/16 a total flow area of the casing at a location of the wellbore isolation device within the wellbore, and a flow area resulting from the inner diameter being at least 25% of the outer diameter. At least the mandrel is made of a slowly degradable material that degrades when exposed to a wellbore environment.

Abstract: A downhole system and method is disclosed for sealing a previously perforated section of casing and refracturing the subterranean formation in a region of the subterranean formation remote from those regions previously fractured. The system includes a truss structure radially expandable between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration and a sealing structure disposed radially external to the truss structure. The truss structure and the sealing structure are set in their expanded configurations so that the sealing structure is put into engagement with the perforated section of casing so as to restrict the flow of fluids from the perforated section of production tubing into the subterranean formation.

Abstract: Certain aspects are directed to devices for use in a wellbore in a subterranean formation. There is provided an intervention tool that may be used to set a self-assembling remedial screen, patch, plug, create a remedial isolation zone, conduct remedial securement, or otherwise provide a remedial fix to one or more components of the completion in a downhole configuration. The intervention tool may have a tool shaft, at least two magnets positioned with respect to the tool shaft, a carrier fluid containing magnetically responsive particles, one or more injection ports on the tool shaft, and a fluid deployment system to cause deployment of the carrier fluid out of the tool shaft through the one or more injection ports.

Abstract: A system for selectively treating zones in a cased well-bore, including a downhole tool, having a body, an inner bore, and an outer surface. The tool body has at least one treatment port disposed on the outer surface and a sliding sleeve disposed within the inner bore for selectively isolating the inner bore from the outer surface. The sliding sleeve can be positioned in a closed position or open position with respect to the treatment port. A collet disposed around an outer surface of the sliding sleeve is for maintaining the sliding sleeve in an open position. At least one finger on the collet engages the inner surface of the bore for maintaining the sleeve in an open position. The sliding sleeve also has a means for maintaining the inner sliding sleeve in a closed position.

Abstract: Disclosed are subsurface safety valves having an expanding piston used to increase the opening force for the safety valve. One disclosed safety valve includes a housing having a piston bore defined therein and configured to receive hydraulic fluid pressure, the piston bore providing a tapered portion having a first end and a second end, wherein a cross-sectional diameter of the tapered portion progressively increases from the first end to the second end, and a piston assembly movably arranged within the piston bore and comprising a piston rod that extends longitudinally within at least a portion of the piston bore and an expanding piston coupled to the piston rod, wherein the expanding piston is configured to move between a contracted configuration and an expanded configuration to sealingly engage the tapered portion as the piston assembly moves between the first and second ends.

Abstract: A pressure regulator for dirty fluid service includes: a body having a chamber, a pair of supply sockets, and an outlet port, each socket and the port formed through a wall of the body; a pair of supply seal plates disposed in the supply sockets and having supply passages formed therethrough; and a sliding seal assembly disposed in the chamber. The sliding seal assembly includes: a seal carrier having a piston and a supply gland; and a supply seal disposed in the supply gland. The piston is disposed in a pilot portion of the chamber. The outlet port and sockets are located adjacent to a regulated portion of the chamber. The piston is operable to move the sliding seal assembly between a supply position and a second position in response to pressure differential between the pilot portion and the regulated portion.

Abstract: There is provided a flow control apparatus comprising: a housing; a port extending through the housing; a housing passage defined within the housing and configured for fluidly communicating via the port; a flow control member displaceable relative to the port for effecting opening and closing of the port; a retainer housing space, disposed between the housing and the flow control member, and co-operating with the flow control member such that, at least while the flow control member is disposed in the closed position, a sealing interface is disposed between the retainer housing space and the housing passage; and a resilient retainer member, extending from the housing and into the retainer housing space, and configured to releasably engage the flow control member for resisting displacement of the flow control member.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for drilling deeper and wider well bores is provided. The apparatus includes a motorized drill head for cutting and shredding ground material; a separate excavation line; a separate fluid delivery line; a separate close loop engine cooling line; and a casing system. Excavation line includes repetitive stationary segments of the main pipe with periodical segments of an in-line excavation pump. The close loop cooling line includes a heat exchanger in the motorized drill head and in the in-line excavation pump and one on the ground surface in the binary unit where fluid is cooled and in process electricity produced. The diameter of the excavation line and rate of flow of mud and cuttings through it and the diameter of the fluid delivery line and rate of fluid flow through it are in balance requiring only limited fluid column at the bottom of the well bore.

Abstract: A downhole paraffin melting tool is provided, comprising a heating element housing having a cutting head and a heating element disposed within the heating element housing. A battery pack is disposed within a battery pack housing, wherein the battery pack is operatively connected to the heating element. A control board is disposed between the heating element and the battery pack, wherein the control board is adapted to control power delivered from the battery pack to the heating element. A top sub is connected to the battery pack housing, wherein the top sub includes a retrievable member. The battery pack, delivering power to the heating element through the control board, is adapted to maintain a predetermined temperature of the heating element during operation.

Abstract: A locking apparatus for attaching to an end of a valve actuator includes an assembly body, the assembly body releasably securable to a valve actuator. The assembly body has a stem bore for receiving an actuator stem, and a plunger orifice through a sidewall of the assembly body. An immobilizer assembly has a plunger extending through the plunger orifice, and biased radially outward and moveable between a radially inner position where the immobilizer assembly extends over the stem bore, and a radially outer position where an inner end of the immobilizer assembly is radially outward of the stem bore. A segmented housing circumscribes the assembly body and is moveable between a first position where the plunger is in the radially outer position and a second position where the plunger is in the radially inner position. A fusible band selectively retains the segmented housing in engagement with the immobilizer assembly.

Abstract: A system and method for the on-site separating and treating of a hydrocarbon liquid stream at an oil and gas production site is disclosed. The system comprises an oil and condensate distillation unit and a vapor recovery unit. In one embodiment, the oil and condensate distillation unit operates at low pressure or vacuum conditions to reduce the vapor pressure above the column of oil within the tubing, thereby increasing the production of oil and condensate and capturing entrained natural gas otherwise lost or burned off. The system further functions to improve the quality and volume of recovered natural gas and to decrease air pollution, in addition to increasing oil and condensate production at the well site.

Abstract: A quick connection for coiled tubing run tools eases the assembly and disassembly while deploying such tools. The quick connection utilizes a locking collet and an inner mandrel with locking sleeve system. Such a quick connection does not require perfect alignment between mating pieces.

Abstract: A subsea riser system with a gas-lift facility has a production riser having a riser conduit and at least one lift gas injection port communicating with the riser conduit. An umbilical is arranged to supply lift gas to the lift gas injection port. A heating unit is positioned to act on a downstream end region of the umbilical adjacent to the lift gas injection port. A method of providing lift gas to a subsea riser system includes the steps of conveying lift gas toward a production riser and, before injecting the lift gas into the production riser, heating the lift gas locally adjacent to the production riser.

Abstract: A flow meter well tool includes a volumetric well flow meter to be positioned in a wellbore. The volumetric well flow meter includes a hollow cylindrical tubing to be positioned in the wellbore. The tubing splits well fluid through the wellbore into an internal fluid through the volumetric well flow meter and an external fluid through an annulus between the wellbore and the volumetric well flow meter. The hollow cylindrical tubing includes an internal portion, where an internal cross-sectional area of the internal portion is less than an internal cross-sectional area of the hollow cylindrical tubing.

Abstract: A method for recovering crude oil from a reservoir that is penetrated by at least one injection well, the method comprising: injecting an aqueous displacement fluid comprising a solution of a zinc salt in an aqueous base fluid into the reservoir from the injection well wherein the aqueous base fluid has a total dissolved solids (TDS) concentration in the range of 200 to 250,000 ppmv (parts per million based on the volume of the aqueous base fluid), and a viscosity in the range of 1.00 to 2.00 centipoise (cP) at standard temperature and pressure; and wherein the aqueous displacement fluid has a dissolved zinc concentration in the range of 10 to 3,750 ppmv.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for configuring operating conditions for at least one of desalination equipment and fluid injection equipment to be used in a low salinity waterflood on a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir is provided. The reservoir is penetrable by an injection well and a production well. The method comprises deriving an ion diffusion distance value from: a diffusion coefficient indicative of a rate of diffusion of ions through relatively permeable layers of the reservoir when the low salinity water is present therein; and a residence time value indicative of the time required for the low salinity water to pass from the injection well to the production well through the reservoir; comparing the thickness of the relatively permeable layers to the derived ion diffusion distance value; generating an indication of the effectiveness of performing a low salinity waterflood; and configuring said operating conditions based on the indication of the effectiveness.

Abstract: A method of developing deposits of high-viscosity oil or bitumen using a pair of horizontal injection and production wells. The method includes the steps of, before the formation of the wells, selecting core samples for analyzing extracted water mineralization and determining composition of dissolved elements. Based on these data, the optimum mineralization is determined in order to maximize oil recovery from the reservoir. After warming up of the reservoir and creating a steam chamber, the mineralization of produced water is determined at least once a day by directly measuring in the stream of the product. After reaching a stable value of mineralization of the produced water, the injection of the heat-transfer agent in the injection well and the withdrawal of the product from the production well without break of the heat-transfer agent in the production well is controlled so that the mineralization of the water is as much as possible close to the optimum value.

Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing system and method for enhancing effective permeability of earth formations to increase hydrocarbon production, enhance operation efficiency by reducing fluid entry friction due to tortuosity and perforation, and to open perforations that are either unopened or not effective using traditional techniques, by varying a pump rate and/or a flow rate to a wellbore.

Abstract: A method of improving flow of liquids and gases from a subterranean fracture using a viscosified fracture fluid 1 formed by combining a solid proppant, a binding agent and an enzyme to form a proppant-immobilized enzyme 2, mixing the proppant-immobilized enzyme 2 with a second proppant 3 to form a heterogeneous proppant pack 4 and mixing said heterogeneous proppant pack 4 with a gelled liquid fracturing fluid 5 to form the viscosified fracture fluid 1 containing the heterogeneous proppant pack 4. The viscosified fracture fluid 1 containing the heterogeneous proppant pack 4 is pumped 6 into a subterranean zone 7 to form one or more fractures therein. The proppant-immobilized enzyme 2 that is part of the heterogeneous proppant pack 4 has the dual purpose of propping open the subterranean fractures and reducing the viscosity of the viscosified fracture fluid.

Abstract: A method for making dynamic gravity toolface measurements while rotating a downhole measurement tool in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes processing magnetic field measurements and accelerometer measurements to compute a toolface offset and further processing the toolface offset in combination with a magnetic toolface to obtain the dynamic gravity toolface. Methods for correcting dynamic and static navigational sensor measurements to remove sensor biases, for example, are also disclosed.

Abstract: In the present invention that considerable advantage is to be gained in the provision of apparatus and methods for spectral noise logging that exhibit improved frequency resolution and thus sensitivity over those systems known in the art since this would allow for improved detection and characterization of fluid flow through, or behind, a casing of a well penetrating subsurface formations.

Abstract: A device and method for wellbore inspection comprising a downhole tool. The downhole tool may comprise a wireline, a sensor cartridge, and a plurality of centralizers. The method for detecting defects within a wellbore may comprise inserting a downhole tool into a wellbore, wherein the downhole tool comprises a wireline, a sensor cartridge, and a plurality of centralizers. The method also includes producing an acoustic signal with the plurality of centralizers and recording the acoustic signal with a sensor, wherein the sensor records the acoustic signal within an aperture.

Abstract: Methods and related apparatus pertaining to downhole and surface telemetry, such as a method in which a telemetry system is provided with a communication path formed with an electrically conductive transport medium coupled across a plurality of downhole nodes. Such method includes operating on the communication path with a multi-drop system that provides telemetry to the downhole nodes in a wellbore, including employing modulation in a master-slave arrangement using binary differential phase shift keying or differential quadrature phase shift keying.

Abstract: A communication system for transmitting information via drilling rod linkages includes a drill drive, drilling rod linkages comprising a first drilling rod linkage and at least one second drilling rod linkage. The first drilling rod linkage comprises an electrical line, an upper end and a lower end which comprises a receptacle for a drill head. The second drilling rod linkage comprises at least one electrical line, an upper end and a lower end. A sensor and/or actuator is arranged at the lower end of the first drilling rod linkage and at the drill head and transmits data. A first communication unit and an electronics unit are arranged at a drive end. A further communication unit is arranged at the upper end of the first drilling rod linkage and at the upper and lower ends of the second drilling rod linkage. The first communication unit and the further communication units are radio modules which transmit/receive data.

Abstract: A wellbore servicing system comprising a controller node disposed within a wellbore, and a tool node configured for movement through the wellbore, wherein the tool node communicates with the controller node via a near field communication (NFC) signal, wherein prior to communication with the controller node, the tool node will not perform at least one function and, after communication with the controller node, the tool node will selectively perform the at least one function.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing acoustic waves below a surface of the earth includes an optical fiber disposed below the surface of the earth and having a series of sensing units along the optical fiber with each sensing unit having three or more reflectors and an optical interrogator in optical communication with the optical fiber. The reflectors in each sensing unit are positioned to provide a linearized response that approximates a sawtooth wave better than a sinusoidal wave to sense the acoustic waves in a desired dynamic range. The optical interrogator is configured to transmit an input light signal into the optical fiber and receive a reflected light signal from the optical fiber due to the input light signal in order to measure a strain on each sensing unit due to interaction with the acoustic waves and to determine a location of the sensing unit corresponding to the sensed strain.

Abstract: A tapered magnetorheological (MR) valve includes a first fixed housing that remains in a fixed position along a central axis of the tapered MR valve. The first fixed housing defines a first surface of a MR fluid channel that is at an angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve. A second housing moves linearly along the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The second housing defines a second surface of the MR fluid channel that is at the angle with respect to the central axis of the tapered MR valve. The first fixed housing and the second housing together define a first MR fluid chamber and a second MR fluid chamber interconnected by the MR fluid channel. The second housing moves linearly between a first position and a second position along the central axis of the tapered MR valve.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for generating fluid pulses in a fluid column, such as within a well. Various described example fluid pulse generators each have a valve structure including a plurality of rollers rotatable around axes that are oriented perpendicular or otherwise angled with respect to the flow direction, the rollers being arranged to collectively at least partially obstruct the cross-sectional area of the fluid conduit. The rotational positions of the rollers may be varied to change the degree of obstruction in the conduit, thereby to generate pressure pulses in the fluid column detectable at a location remote from the fluid pulse generator; these pressure pulses can be used to encode a signal received at the fluid pulse generator.

Abstract: Systems and methods are presented for communicating data representing formatted characteristics of a borehole from a downhole location to a surface location. A sensor array downhole produces a first data set from which a plurality of coefficients for use in a one-dimensional angular function are determined. The coefficients are transmitted to the surface to allow a second data set to be prepared representing the first data set. Other systems and methods are presented.

Abstract: A system of and method for determining whether a liquid moving in an oil-bearing reservoir rock formation is water or oil is provided. The oil-bearing rock formation includes at production well(s) and source(s) of injected water during normal oil production. A fluid pathway is identified, baseline number of passive microseismic events is established, passive microseismic events in the fluid pathway are monitored during oil production to sense microseismic events, the sensed microseismic events are compared to a baseline number of passive microseismic events. The fluid causing the microseismic events is determined to be water if the sensed number of microseismic events approaches the baseline number of passive microseismic events per the predetermined unit, and if the baseline number of passive microseismic is measured during a time period when the water injection is greater than the rate of water injection during normal oil production.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method pertaining to a bolting configuration (299) where a drilling unit and a bolting unit are arranged to be supported by a bottom carriage (330) via a respective top carriage (271; 272), wherein said bottom carriage (330) is arranged to be supported by a feed beam (230), relative to which said bottom carriage (330) is displaceable, wherein said top carriages (271; 272) are arranged to alternately be supported by said bottom carriage (330) to alternately be brought into operative engagement and hereby alternately be locked relative to said bottom carriage (330).

Abstract: A rock bolt includes an elongate metallic body having a first end and an opposed second end, a threaded portion at the second end, for attaching thereto and locating thereon, a nut and a bearing plate, a mechanical anchor at, or at least partially located on, a first end portion of the body and a first resistive anchor, located between the threaded portion and the mechanical anchor.

Abstract: A rotating liner driving mechanism for converting existing engines castings to a rotating liner configuration (RLE) with minor changes to the engine or casting. A pulley is connected to the main accessory belt in the front of the engine and drives a shaft parallel to the crankshaft but external to the engine. Via a 90 degree gearbox, the driving rotation is turned about normal to the crankshaft and block deck face. This shaft drives a driving gear through a gear cover, which then drives one of the liners. Gears in the liner flanges propagate the rotation to all liners. An inline engine needs only one set of pulleys and driving mechanisms, but a V-engine may require two, one for each bank of cylinders. The driving pulley can have mechanisms included so that the gear ratio between crankshaft and rotating liners can be varied during engine operation.

Abstract: Turbomachines having guide ducts are disclosed. One disclosed example turbomachine includes a rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation and having rotor blade ducts, a housing having housing ducts to allow the inflow or outflow of working medium and guide blade ducts fixed in the housing, where the rotor blade ducts are in fluid communication with the housing ducts via the guide blade ducts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for passing fluid flow through at least a portion of a blade of turbomachinery, such as a gas turbine or the like. The fluid flow is directed through a plurality of flow channels which are interwoven with each other. Each flow channel is non-intersecting with any other flow channel and thus does not contact fluid flowing within any other flow channel. The method and apparatus can be used to reduce heat transfer and thus reduce thermal stresses, particularly in the blade.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine flow path member is disclosed which includes an extending end portion capable of contacting a surface of the turbine engine. The flow path member includes openings to pass a cooling fluid to cool the extending end portion. The flow path member, furthermore, can be made using a variety of approaches. To set forth just two non-limiting examples, the flow path member can be cast and it can be a laminated construction.

Abstract: An airfoil structure for a gas turbine engine includes an airfoil which includes a leading edge and a trailing edge. A platform is located adjacent a first end of the airfoil and includes a core passage that extends through the platform, a mate-face for engaging an adjacent airfoil structure and a set of impingement cooling holes in communication with the core passage that extend through the mate-face adjacent the trialing edge of the airfoil.

Abstract: An airfoil of a gas turbine engine having a hollow body defining at least one airfoil cavity therein, the hollow body defining an inner diameter and an outer diameter and a baffle positioned within the at least one airfoil cavity and extending over less than an entire length between the inner diameter and the outer diameter, the baffle configured to reduce the cross-sectional area within the at least one airfoil cavity. The at least one airfoil cavity includes a first portion having a length that is defined by an open cavity having a full cross-sectional area and a second portion having a length that is defined by a reduced cross-sectional area, the second portion being the length of the baffle within the at least one airfoil cavity.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes gas turbine engine components which are cooled internally through the inclusion of lattice structures. Such structures may comprise a network of branches and nodes. Further, the branches may vary in size, shape, and configuration.

Abstract: The precipitation hardened martensitic stainless steel is characterized by containing, in percent by weight, 12.25 to 14.25% Cr, 7.5 to 8.5% Ni, 1.0 to 2.5% Mo, 0.05% or less C, 0.2% or less Si, 0.4% or less Mn, 0.03% or less P, 0.005% or less S, 0.008% or less N, 0.90 to 2.25% Al, the balance substantially being Fe, and the total content of Cr and Mo being 14.25 to 16.75%. A turbine moving blade and a steam turbine are manufactured by using this martensitic stainless steel.

Abstract: A part to modify the profile of an aerodynamic jet, including: a first face configured to be secured on the aerodynamic jet, and a second face defining a modified aerodynamic jet profile, configured to modify an initial profile of the aerodynamic jet.

Abstract: A guide mechanism for a gas turbine has a casing supporting on its interior a duct delimited by radially inner and outer duct segments. A variable guide vane located at least partially within the duct can rotate about an axis of rotation to guide flow of a fluid in the duct. The radially inner duct segment is fastened to the guide vane and is retained on the casing element via the guide vane, which is mounted on the casing element via a bushing inserted in the radial direction from outside to inside into a passage opening of the casing element.

Abstract: An airfoil extends between radially inner and radially outer platforms. The airfoil extends between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and merges into facing surfaces of the radially inner and outer platforms. A variable fillet merges a facing surface of one of the radially inner and outer platforms into a wall of the airfoil. The variable fillet has a length extending away from a surface of the airfoil and a height extending away from the facing surface of at least one of the radially inner and outer platforms outwardly on to the airfoil. The variable fillet has a greater length at one of the leading edge and the trailing edge. A spaced portion has a shorter length at locations spaced from at least one of the leading and trailing edges. A mid-turbine frame and a gas turbine engine are also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine stage includes a rotor having a slot. A blade has a root received in the slot, and a shank that extends radially outward from the root to a platform that supports an airfoil. A seal is supported on the shank and in engagement circumferentially between and with the shank and the rotor within the slot. A gas turbine engine includes compressor and turbine sections. The turbine section has a rotor with a slot. A combustor is provided axially between the compressor and turbine sections. A turbine blade in the turbine section includes a root received in the slot and a shank that extends radially outward from the root to a platform that supports an airfoil.

Abstract: A metal gasket bellows seal includes a first ply and a second ply coupled to the first ply at a first location via spot joining at one or more locations.

Abstract: A system for sealing an oil chamber from an adjoining exterior volume, and a turbo-machine including a sealing system. The system for sealing the oil chamber from the adjoining exterior volume, both of which are delimited by a mobile rotor in rotation about an axis and a part, fixed or mobile, includes: a first seal arranged between the rotor and the part; a second seal that is mounted between the rotor and the part and which is offset longitudinally relative to the first seal, to form with the first seal a sealing chamber delimited by the rotor, the part, and the two seals; and a mechanism for supplying gas to the sealing chamber, such that the gas can be compressed when the rotor begins to rotate, the chamber communicating with the oil chamber and/or the adjoining exterior volume via the first and second seals alone, respectively.