Abstract:
The invention relates to systems for inspection of mainline and flowline oil pipelines, gas pipelines and oil product pipelines and may be used for tracking in-line diagnostic tools passing inside the inspected pipelines and for determining of locations of pipeline features. The technical result consists in an improved accuracy of determining the time when the pipeline tool passes near the reference points and thus accuracy of determining the location of pipeline features. This result is achieved by passing the tool inside the pipeline, measuring physical quantities characterizing the status and/or characteristics of the tool and/or of the pipeline by a measurement system, and recording them in a tool data storage such that they are associated with time determined by a tool clock. A logger installed near a reference point in the pipeline is used to measure physical quantities that allow to identify the passing of the tool near the logger, characteristics that identify the respective time instants of the passing of the tool according to the logger clock are generated and recorded onto the logger data storage. A transmitter arranged in one of the tool and the logger is used to transmit a signal having a temporal characteristic associated with the clock time on the transmitter side; the transmitted signal is received by a receiver arranged in the other one of the logger and the tool, and a characteristic related to the temporal characteristic of the received signal is recorded onto the data storage on the receiver side such that it is associated to the clock time on the receiver side. A difference between the clock times on the transmitter side on the receiver side is determined, and hence a value of time difference according to the logger clock and the tool clock, and is used in the reference point to determine the characteristics of the pipeline.
Abstract:
A downhole tool has a housing, mandrel, and ball seat. The housing defines a first bore, and the mandrel defines a second bore. The mandrel is disposed in the first bore of the housing and defines an annular space with the housing. The ball seat is rotatably disposed in the second bore of the mandrel and defines an interior passage with a seat profile. First and second pistons are disposed in the annular space on opposing sides of the ball seat. These first and second pistons are movable along an axis of the tool in the annular space in opposing directions and are adapted to rotate the ball seat. Additionally, first and second biasing members are disposed in the annular space and bias the first and second pistons toward one another to reset the ball seat in the absence of pressure.
Abstract:
A device and method allow a longer sealing element to be used on a packer or other downhole tool while providing an increase in the total amount of setting force that can be used and providing for more uniform or balanced setting of the sealing element. The packer may be first set using internal bore pressure to radially expand one end of the sealing element with a first hydraulic setting mechanism. The packer may then be set a second time using annulus pressure to continue the radial expansion of the sealing element with a second hydraulic setting mechanism.
Abstract:
A downhole tool with a swellable mantle is configured for insertion of a cable into a longitudinal slit in the mantle. An arcuate groove is formed in an outer surface of the mantle corresponding to a displacement caused by the inserted cable, so that the displacement is counteracted and the outer surface of the mantle remains smooth.
Abstract:
A slip assembly for a downhole tool, such as a bridge plug, has a slip body composed of independent segments. The segments are affixed together along their longitudinal sides by a bond, which can be composed of thermoplastic or thermoset resins, an elastomer, epoxy adhesives, bonding agent manufactured using ceramic, metallic agent, or a combination of these. The surface area over which the bonding agent is applied can be controlled for a particular implementation. Thus, more or less of the longitudinal sides of the segments can be bonded to other segments. This provides greater control of the required force to break the bond itself, which can be tailored as desired.
Abstract:
A slurry mixing system calculates a density of a slurry using measured pressure differential and bulk velocity of the slurry. Slurry from mixing of dry blend and mix fluid enters a one or more tanks having agitators. A pump then pumps the slurry from the tank(s) to the well, and a portion of the slurry is recirculating back to a mixer. From the recirculated path, a direct slurry weight sensor measures a pressure differential of the slurry between two vertical measurement points of a known volume, and the sensor measures a velocity of the recirculated slurry. Based on these measures, the controller calculates a density of the slurry, monitors a ratio of the dry blend and the mix fluid, and adjusts the ratio based on the calculated density of the slurry if there is a discrepancy.
Abstract:
A ball is used for engaging in a downhole seat and can be milled out after use. The ball has a spherical body with an outer surface. An interior of the spherical body is composed of a metallic material, such as aluminum. The spherical body has a plurality of holes formed therein. The holes extend from at least one common vertex point on the outer surface of the spherical body and extend at angles partially into the interior of the spherical body.
Abstract:
A jetting tool includes a tubular housing having: couplings formed at each longitudinal end thereof, and one or more ports formed through a wall thereof and in fluid communication with an upper portion of a bore of the housing. The jetting tool further includes a valve mechanism isolating the housing bore upper portion from a lower portion thereof in a closed position and operable to an open position where the valve mechanism provides fluid communication between the housing bore portions.
Abstract:
In one embodiment, the first casing string is releasably coupled to a second casing string using a latch assembly. The second casing string is released from the conductor after the first casing string is properly positioned in the wellbore. The latch assembly is configured to release the coupling by manipulating the second casing string relative to the first casing string.
Abstract:
A sliding sleeve opens with a deployed ball. The sleeve has a seat disposed in the housing, and the seat has segments biased outward from one another with a C-ring or other biasing element. Initially, the seat has an expanded state in the sliding sleeve so that the seats segments expand outward against the housing's bore. When an appropriately sized ball is deployed downhole, the ball engages the expanded seat. Fluid pressure applied against the seated ball moves the seat into the inner sleeve's bore. As this occurs, the seat contracts, which increases the engagement area of the seat with the ball. Eventually, the seat reaches the shoulder in the inner sleeve so that pressure applied against the seated ball now moves the inner sleeve in the housing to open the sliding sleeve's flow port.