Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to fluidly couple to a casing string. The apparatus may include a fill-up and circulating tool having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the fill-up and circulating tool may be configured to fluidly seal internally within an upper end of the casing string. The apparatus may further include a cementing head assembly having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the flow path of the cementing head assembly is fluidly coupled to the flow path of the fill-up and circulating tool, and a releasing mechanism coupled to the cementing head assembly, in which the releasing mechanism is configured to release a fluid-conveyed sealing device through the cementing head assembly and into the fill-up and circulating tool.

Abstract: This stuffing box (46) defines a circulation passage (66) of a cable working line (28), a packer (70), and a back-pressure resistant valve (74). The passage (66) extends between an upstream end (62) of the stuffing box (46), intended to be connected to a well, and a downstream end (64). The back-pressure resistant valve (74) is arranged in the passage (66) to prevent, in case of break of the line (28), the back-pressure of a fluid from the upstream end (62) towards the downstream end (64). The or each packer (70) is situated between the upstream end (62) of the stuffing box (46) and the back-pressure resistant valve (74). No packer (70) is arranged between the back-pressure resistant valve (74) and the downstream end (64).

Abstract: A cement head, comprising a first module comprising a first module outer profile, a second module comprising a second module outer profile, a bridge comprising a bridge profile engaged with each of the first module outer profile and the second module outer profile.

Abstract: A well head lubricator assembly including an elongated rigid tubular body defining an interior chamber open at a lower end to receive a plunger at a well head. The plunger is slidably positioned within the chamber in response to forces or loads acting thereon and has a seat arranged toward an upper end thereof. An upper end of the tubular body is closed. An axially elongated one-piece thermoplastic ether ester elastomer spring is slidingly positioned within the interior chamber of the tubular body. One end of the spring is seated on the seat of the plunger. The spring defines an elongated bore opening to opposed ends thereof. Moreover, the spring is provided with a plurality of axially spaced flange sections along a length thereof for guiding the spring for endwise sliding movement on an inside diameter of the tubular body. Any two flange sections on the spring are axially separated by an energy absorbing section for allowing the spring to react to energy imparted to the plunger.

Abstract: A top drive-pumpable cement head is provided for cementing a casing into a wellbore comprising a top sub portion with a top drive connection connectable to a top drive shaft to receive cement and impart translational and rotational forces to the casing simultaneously during cementing, and a ball launching assembly for housing and launching one or more launching balls. A bottom sub portion comprises a casing sleeve for housing one or more hollow wiper plugs and a tattle tale wire. The cement head also comprises a hammer union. The ball launching assembly is pre-loadable with the launching balls, the bottom sub is pre-loadable with the one or more hollow wiper plugs and a tattle tale wire and the top sub and the bottom sub are connectable via the hammer union for storage, prior to cementing operations. A method is also provided for assembling a cement head for completing a casing in a wellbore.

Abstract: An activation-device launching system, mounted on a cementing head, allows the deployment of a combination of darts, balls, bombs, canisters in order to activate downhole equipment, launch cementing plugs, deliver chemical products, or the like. A valve controls the flow of process fluid, and holds an activation device in place until it is time for launching. The valve also has a hollow axle through which balls may be launched into the process-fluid stream at any time.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to an apparatus to fluidly couple to a casing string. The apparatus may include a fill-up and circulating tool having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the fill-up and circulating tool is configured to fluidly couple to an upper end of the casing string, a cementing head assembly having a flow path extending therethrough, in which the flow path of the cementing head assembly is fluidly coupled to the flow path of the fill-up and circulating tool, and a releasing mechanism coupled to the cementing head assembly, in which the releasing mechanism is configured to release a fluid-conveyed sealing device through the cementing head assembly and into the fill-up and circulating tool.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation.

Abstract: An apparatus for reverse circulation cementing of surface casing in subterranean formations and associated methods are provided. One example of a method may involve a method of reverse circulation cementing a surface casing in a well bore with a conductor casing positioned therein comprising: providing a tool comprising at least one isolation device coupled to the surface casing; positioning the isolation device in the well bore to isolate an annulus between the surface casing and the conductor casing; flowing cement through a port in the conductor casing in a reverse circulation direction; and allowing the cement to set therein.

Abstract: A system used to remove multiple isolation plugs from a wellbore. The system is efficient in fluidizing and circulating proppant located below an upper plug resting on top of proppant settled above a lower plug. The system uses a central port of the mill that is in communication with coiled tubing to fluidize and circulate the proppant around the perimeter of the upper plug. Once the proppant has been circulated from underneath the upper plug, the upper plug may mate and rotationally lock with a lower plug set within the wellbore. Upon locking, the system is able to rapidly mill out the upper plug and the lower plug until the lower plug is no longer set within the wellbore. The system provides for the rapid removal of multiple plugs positioned within a wellbore where an amount of proppant is present between the plugs.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention provides a top drive supported tool for making up and running casing strings into a borehole. The tool comprises a fill-up and circulation assembly and a launcher assembly that is adapted to cooperate with a connectable cement wiper plug assembly for launching wiper plugs that control cement placement in the annulus between a casing string and a borehole containing the casing string. The tool of the present invention shortens or eliminates delays in well operations, thereby improving integrity of cement liners formed by placing cement slurry in a targeted interval.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for providing fluid and projectiles to downhole tubulars includes a manifold. The manifold may include a housing, a cartridge disposed within the housing, and an actuator. The cartridge includes multiple throughbores for selectively allowing a fluid flow to pass through, and storing a projectile. The actuator is adapted to move the multiple throughbores of the cartridge out of and into the fluid flow to release the stored projectile into the fluid flow. The manifold may include multiple projectiles that are stored laterally relative to each other for radial translation and release into the fluid flow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making real-time measurements of downhole properties during cement plug placement. A wired placement conduit is lowered downhole releasing a sensor package. The sensor package is capable of measuring downhole properties in real-time in the period while the cement plug sets.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple activation-device launching system for a cementing head, comprising a launcher body comprising at least one launching chamber and a device chamber, the launching chamber sized to receive one or more activation devices therein, the launching chamber in fluid communication with a power source for launching the activation device into the device chamber. Then the invention relates to various methods involving such system.

Abstract: A multiple activation-device launching system for a cementing head comprises a launcher body and at least one launching chamber that are sized to receive one or more activation devices therein. The activation devices are launched into the principal process-fluid stream inside the cementing head, and may be darts, balls, bombs, canisters and combinations thereof. The launching chambers are in fluid communication with an external power source for launching the activation device into the principal process-fluid stream.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in launching cement plugs in a well cementing operation, comprising: a cylinder (130); a piston (110) slideably received in the bore of the cylinder; and an actuator, operable by the piston, for launching a plug from the apparatus into the well; wherein the cylinder has a resiliently mounted latching member (132) positioned in the wall thereof and biased to project into the bore of the cylinder; and the piston has a profiled outer surface defining a recess (114) into which the latching member (132) can project to hold the piston in position in the cylinder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multiple activation-device launching system for a cementing head, comprising a launcher body comprising at least one launching chamber and a device chamber, the launching chamber sized to receive one or more activation devices therein, the launching chamber in fluid communication with a power source for launching the activation device into the device chamber. Then the invention relates to various methods involving such system.

Abstract: A well head lubricator assembly including an elongated rigid tubular body defining an interior chamber open at a lower end to receive a plunger at a well head. The plunger is slidably positioned within the chamber in response to forces or loads acting thereon and has a seat arranged toward an upper end thereof. An upper end of the tubular body is closed. An axially elongated one-piece thermoplastic ether ester elastomer spring is slidingly positioned within the interior chamber of the tubular body. One end of the spring is seated on the seat of the plunger. The spring defines an elongated bore opening to opposed ends thereof. Moreover, the spring is provided with a plurality of axially spaced flange sections along a length thereof for guiding the spring for endwise sliding movement on an inside diameter of the tubular body. Any two flange sections on the spring are axially separated by an energy absorbing section for allowing the spring to react to energy imparted to the plunger.

Abstract: A cement head used for performing cementing jobs in downhole operations is provided. The cement head includes wireless signaling means, an integrated energy supply, activating means for pneumatic operated valves in cement head, and controller means for controlling said energy supply for activation of at least one valve based on received signals through the wireless signaling means.

Abstract: A method for cementing a tubular in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, comprises connecting a circulating tool to a slip and a top drive; gripping a first tubular with the slip above the surface of the wellbore; sealingly engaging the first tubular with a seal member; fluidly connecting a wiper plug to the circulating tool; connecting the first tubular to a second tubular; and lowering the second tubular into the subterranean formation.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members.

Abstract: A downhole oilwell toolstring having an adapter having a male threaded portion, a longitudinally extending tubular female housing having a female threaded portion on an inner surface of the housing, a first end located proximate to the female threaded portion, a second end located distal to the female threaded portion, and a recessed groove extending around the circumference of the interior surface of the female housing at a location between the first end the female threaded portion. The adapter has a first end that is distal from the threaded portion and a second end that is proximate to the threaded portion, and a recessed groove extending around the outer circumference of the adapter at a location between the threaded portion and the first end of the adapter. The female housing is connected with the male adapter by way of the female threaded portion and the male threaded portion engaging one another. A ring is located in the recessed groove in the adapter and the recessed groove in the female housing.

Abstract: A remotely operated lifting top drive cement head is provided having a high tensile strength, as well as the ability to swivel or rotate about a central vertical axis. The cement head permits selective launching of darts, setting plugs, balls or other objects which can be held in place within the cement head without being damaged or washed away by slurry flow, but which can be beneficially launched into said slurry flow at desired point(s) during the cementing process. The internal components of the cement head can be easily accessed using interrupted thread connections that can be quickly and easy connected and disconnected in the field without requiring specialized equipment. The cement head can be rigged up and remotely operated without requiring the lifting of personnel off the rig floor to actuate the tool or observe tool status.

Abstract: An actuation system for a tubular handling mechanism of a tubular handling assembly has a mud flow path passing through rotating parts and non-rotating parts of the tubular handling assembly. A ball drop assembly has an opening to the mud flow path through which a ball is released. The ball drop assembly opening is positioned in a non-rotating part. A lateral passage joins the mud flow path downstream of where the ball is released. A valve is positioned in the mud flow path at the lateral passage for selectively directing a purge fluid from the mud flow path out the lateral passage.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention provides a top drive supported tool for making up and running casing strings into a borehole. The tool comprises a fill-up and circulation assembly and a launcher assembly that is adapted to cooperate with a connectable cement wiper plug assembly for launching wiper plugs that control cement placement in the annulus between a casing string and a borehole containing the casing string. The tool of the present invention shortens or eliminates delays in well operations, thereby improving integrity of cement liners formed by placing cement slurry in a targeted interval.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to equipment for servicing subterranean wells and in particular to a cementing head that is intended to drop a combination of darts, balls, bombs and canisters in order to activate downhole equipment, launch cementing plugs, deliver chemical products, or the like.

Abstract: A tool for dropping one or more balls and then one or more darts features a closable ball drop opening that works automatically after the ball release to minimize damage to the subsequently released dart. A retainer keeps the darts from coming back up above the dart launcher in the event of a pressure surge in the well. The dart launcher features a dedicated movable barrel for each dart that can be locked in a fully misaligned and fully aligned position with the casing or tubular. A handle is retained to the dart housing and can be manipulated to defeat the lock and rotate a given barrel. The darts may be inspected in their respective barrels before launch and the launch order is variable.

Abstract: A remotely operated lifting top drive cement head is provided having a high tensile strength, as well as the ability to swivel or rotate about a central vertical axis. The cement head permits selective launching of darts, setting plugs, balls or other objects which can be held in place within the cement head without being damaged or washed away by slurry flow, but which can be beneficially launched into said slurry flow at desired point(s) during the cementing process. The cement head can be remotely operated without requiring the lifting of personnel off the rig floor to actuate the tool or observe tool status.

Abstract: A cement head, comprising a first module comprising a first module outer profile, a second module comprising a second module outer profile, a bridge comprising a bridge profile engaged with each of the first module outer profile and the second module outer profile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pressure-driven apparatus for the sequential control of a multiphase operation, e.g. of a cementing head. A transmission arm (3) comprising a pawl (4) is supported on a cam shaft (9) connected to a pawl cylinder (1) having a built-in return force, directional control valves (8, 8?, 8?, and 8n) with a spring return member and roller (7), operated by the cam plates (6, 6?, 6?, and 6?) of the cam shaft (9), that are staggered relative to each other in a predetermined angle to a pawl disk (5) supported in bearings (10) and (10?).

Abstract: A method for cementing a tubular in a wellbore in a subterranean formation, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure, comprises connecting a circulating tool to a slip and a top drive; gripping a first tubular with the slip above the surface of the wellbore; sealingly engaging the first tubular with a seal member; fluidly connecting a wiper plug to the circulating tool; connecting the first tubular to a second tubular; and lowering the second tubular into the subterranean formation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a logging probe (2) supporting device (3) comprising connecting means (4) that can be plugged in at the bottom of the well with a logging cable contained in the inner space of rods (7) to which the supporting device is fastened, fluid communication means between the inner space of the rods and the outside of the supporting device, the communication means being arranged between the probe and the connecting means. The device comprises, between the communication means and the connecting means, shutoff means such as check valves allowing fluid circulation from the inside towards the outside and preventing circulation from the outside towards the inside of the supporting device.

Abstract: A shock absorber for use with a lubricator assembly comprises a body made substantially of a polymer material. An end of the body is supportable by a cup. Upon plunger strike, the cup can travel upward in the lubricator assembly and cause the polymer body to deform and dissipate a force of impact caused by the plunger. The body can resiliently compress and expand to substantially an original form. Equalization slots on the body can enable fluid carried to the surface by a plunger to flow from the lubricator assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for reverse circulation cementing of surface casing in subterranean formations and associated methods are provided. One example of a method may involve a method of reverse circulation cementing a surface casing in a well bore with a conductor casing positioned therein comprising: providing a tool comprising at least one isolation device coupled to the surface casing; positioning the isolation device in the well bore to isolate an annulus between the surface casing and the conductor casing; flowing cement through a port in the conductor casing in a reverse circulation direction; and allowing the cement to set therein.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for handling tubulars and drilling with tubulars such as casing into a formation. In one aspect of the invention, the apparatus comprises a circulating head and a cementing head operatively connectible to a gripping member. The circulating head is used to circulate drilling fluid while drilling with casing, and the cementing head is used to cement the casing string within the formation at a desired depth. The present invention also relates to methods and apparatus for isolating a tensile load from a drilling apparatus rotated by a top drive. In one aspect, the present invention provides a load isolator apparatus having an isolator body operatively connected to the top drive and a torque body at least partially disposed in the isolator body. In operation, the bearing assembly transfers the tensile load from the torque body to the isolator body.

Abstract: A release mechanism for incorporation into a logging head. The release mechanism may be a tensile release mechanism that employs a plurality of tensile members for interchangeable insertion into a plurality of tensile compartments. As a result, a weakpoint for the logging head may be user defined on location at the oilfield. Furthermore, for potentially deeper wells, a rotatable release mechanism may be alternatively or additionally incorporated into the logging head. The rotatable release mechanism may be employed to effectuate a release of the logging head upon signaling from surface equipment. Additionally, the rotatable release mechanism may be powered to achieve the release solely from a downhole power source.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member or around the periphery of the valving member.

Abstract: A well servicing tool storage system for subsea well intervention is disclosed which provides a tool storage means as part of the intervention system and which has a plurality of tool storage arms deployed around the tool storage means. Each arm has a clamp capable of clamping a tool, and moving the clamped tool between a stored position near the perimeter of the tool storage means, and a deployed position in the centre of the tool storage means where the tool can be made up into a wireline connection.

Abstract: A chemical dispensing apparatus includes a housing and a cartridge support within the housing. A rotating cartridge with chemical stick receptacles is rotatably supported about an axis of rotation by the cartridge support. An injection passage at the bottom of the housing permits chemical sticks to pass from the housing when one of the chemical stick receptacles is in a chemical dispensing position in axial alignment with the injection passage. A drive system rotates the rotating cartridge. The drive system includes a rotational stop biased into engagement with the rotating cartridge, and a pneumatic cylinder having first and second ends. The first end is stationary at a point off-axis from the axis of rotation of the cartridge. The second end has an engagement member, such that as the pneumatic cylinder extends, the engagement member applies a force to one of the chemical stick receptacles to selectively rotate the rotating cartridge.

Abstract: A wiper plug release tool uses a first pump down plug that lands in the tool to pressurize an internal chamber to slide a sleeve that undermines a set of dogs to allow the lower wiper plug to be decoupled from support. The shifting of this sleeve cams a second set of dogs into an internal passage in the tool to act as a landing location for a second pump down plug. Landing the second pump down plug on the now extended dogs allows a net pressure to be applied to an upper piston which shifts a sleeve to release the support for the second wiper plug. The upper piston remains in pressure balance unless the second pump down plug can be landed on the dogs that only extended because the sleeve that released the lower wiper plug had shifted.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for launching spheres into a gas riser in order to reduce the risk that the output from the riser is lost. The apparatus comprises a rotatable body that is rotated to a first position to receive an object from an object storage means in an aperture and the rotatable body is then rotated to a second position such that the object received in the aperture is received within a riser.

Abstract: A gas lift production apparatus is provided for use in flushing and snubbing well operation. The apparatus comprises upper production string and lower production string. The upper production string includes at least one side pocket mandrel carrying a gas lift valve, tubular strings connected with every side pocket mandrel, a sliding sleeve installed as part of the production string below side pocket mandrels and a latch seal assembly threaded in the tubular string below the sliding sleeve. The lower production string includes a single bore packer below the latch seal assembly, tubular strings, a landing nipple and a bell mouth at the bottom of the production string. The upper production string are run in and removed as a single unit from the packer which is anchored within the well casing. It is emphasized that this apparatus is provided with three functions such as producing a gas lift well, flushing well and snubbing well operation.

Abstract: A subsurface lubricator facilitates well completion, re-completion and workover while increasing safety and reducing expense. The subsurface lubricator includes telescopic hydraulic cylinders to lubricate a lubricator tube into the well. For very long tool strings, extension rods and stay rods are used to extend a reach of the telescopic hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: A lubricator system for receiving the intervention tool string is described. The system includes a tubular body defining a tubular bore, and the tubular bore having a wall portion defining an aperture with a tool guide disposed in said aperture. A first sleeve surrounds the tubular body and is moveable between a first position where said aperture is covered by the first sleeve and a second position where said aperture is uncovered whereby access is provided to said tubular bore via said aperture. The system also includes a seal to allow the lubricator system to withstand operating pressures when the first sleeve is in the first position. Embodiments of the invention are described.

Abstract: A fiber optical sensing cable is inserted into an underwater well by: connecting a housing (12A) comprising a coiled or spooled U-shaped fiber optical sensing cable (21) to the wellhead (2) of the well (1) such that an opening (14) in the wall of the housing (12A) is connected to a guide tube (15) extending into the underwater well (1); —inserting the U-shaped nose section (21A) of the fiber optical sensing cable (21) via the opening (14) into the guide tube (15), thereby uncoiling at least part of a pair of substantially parallel sections of the fiber optical sensing cable of which the lower ends are interconnected by the U-shaped nose section; and connecting the upper ends (21B) of the substantially parallel sections of the fiber optical sensing cable to an optical signal transmission and/or receiving unit via e.g. a pair of wet mateable connectors that are connected to a pair of underwater fiber optical transmission cables (14).

Abstract: This invention relates to a flowline-riser production system for the recovery of hydrocarbons from offshore wells, and a method for pigging the interior surfaces of the riser and flowlines. More particularly, this invention is a piggable flowline-riser system in which a pig is launched from or near a host production facility, down a riser into a looped flowline and returned up through the same riser. According to one embodiment of the invention, there is a piggable flowline-riser system for producing hydrocarbons comprising a riser, a “Y” joint and a looped flowline, wherein the looped flowline is in fluid communication with at least one subsea well.

Abstract: An example of a method for cementing a casing within an earthen formation includes the steps of providing a gripping mechanism connected to a cementing assembly and a top drive; gripping the casing with the gripping mechanism; sealingly engaging the casing with a seal member; moving the casing to a position within the formation; and cementing the casing within the formation while maintaining a gripping and sealing engagement of the casing. The step of cementing may also include the step of remotely releasing a plug into the casing from the cementing assembly.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cleaning tool for use in cleaning ferrous material from a wellbore, a cleaning assembly comprising a plurality of such wellbore cleaning tools, and a method of cleaning ferrous materials from a wellbore. In one embodiment, a cleaning tool (12) is disclosed which comprises a tool main body (19) and a number of magnets (20) mounted for selective movement relative to the main body between deactivated and activated positions. When in the activated positions, the magnets serve for attracting ferrous material present in a wellbore (10), to collect such material during passage of the tool along the wellbore, so that the ferrous material may be returned to surface to thereby clean the wellbore.