A single-pass type drilling machine includes a guide tower, a string of drilling rods, an extension element having an upper end and a lower end with the lower end being coupled with an upper end of the string of drilling rods, a rotary head slidably coupled with the guide tower, and a detection system. The rotary head and the extension element are mutually slidable and arranged to couple with each other in an upper end stop position, where the rotary head is coupled with the extension element substantially at the upper end of the extension element. The rotary head is coupled with the extension element at a lower position with respect to the upper end stop position in at least one locking position. The detection system detects the reaching of the at least one locking position by detecting at least the mutual axial position of the extension element and the rotary head.

An anti-vibration sub for a downhole drill string having a shortened section of steel drill pipe having a reduced diameter body portion with a plurality of axially spaced annular rings and a non-rotating protector sleeve molded to the smaller diameter body portion having an outside diameter that is equal to or greater than the drill string causing the sub to act as a nodal point to absorb vibrational energy from the drill string.

A string guide comprising an upper mandrel, a lower muleshoe guide concentric to a lower portion of the upper mandrel, and an annular fastener internal to the lower muleshoe guide that fastens the lower muleshoe guide to the upper mandrel. When the guide encounters an obstruction (e.g., a packer bore or liner top), the weight of equipment above the lower muleshoe guide elastically deforms the annular fastener which drives the lower muleshoe guide up the upper mandrel. As the lower muleshoe guide travels up the upper mandrel, internal lugs of the muleshoe guide ride a spiral groove on the upper mandrel to rotate the lower muleshoe guide around the upper mandrel.

A wellbore tool is conditioned between downhole deployments with a substantially continuous application of a conditioning fluid within the tool. Selectively removable caps connect to ends of the tool after its removal from the wellbore. If the tool is part of a downhole string, the caps are added after the tool is decoupled from the remainder of the string. The conditioning fluid is introduced into the tool through a fitting on one of the end caps; and while a fitting on the other end cap is opened to vent fluids resident within the tool. The caps are in sealing contact with a housing of the tool to retain the conditioning fluid inside the tool. A fluid supply system at the well site provides the conditioning fluid. Example conditioning fluids include a fracturing fluid, a completion fluid, a diluent, a solubilizing agent, an anti-scaling agent, a pH buffer, a liquid freezing point depressant, corrosion and oxidation inhibitors, oxygen scavengers, biocides, surfactants, and combinations thereof.

An apparatus for retaining a transmission line within a drill string component includes a drill string component comprising a bore having an internal diameter. A slot is formed in the internal diameter to receive a transmission line. A first feature within the slot is configured to engage a corresponding second feature on the transmission line and thereby retain an end of the transmission line. The first feature comprises a first angled surface configured to contact and engage a corresponding second angled surface of the second feature. The first and second angled surfaces are oriented such to keep the transmission line retained within the slot when tension is placed on the transmission line. A corresponding system is also disclosed.

The invention relates to a drill rod for transferring a torque comprising an elongate rod base body, along which runs at least one base line for a fluid and/or electric current and/or data, an upper suspension device for suspending the drill rod from a support element, a rotary bearing, which is arranged between the suspension device and the rod base body, wherein the rod base body is mounted rotatably relative to the suspension device about a rod longitudinal axis, and a rotary feedthrough, through which a line connection is formed between at least one feed line, which is fixed relative to the support element, and the at least one base line of the rotatably-mounted rod base body. The invention is characterized here in that the rotary bearing is arranged axially distanced from the rotary feedthrough, and in that the rotary bearing comprises an axial bearing which is arranged above or below the rotary feedthrough. The invention furthermore relates to a drilling apparatus comprising such a drill rod and to a method for retrofitting an existing Kelly bar arrangement.

A shaped charge assembly for selectively expanding a wall of a tubular includes first and second explosive units that are each symmetrical about an axis of revolution. Each explosive unit includes an explosive material that is liner-less. The first and second explosive units comprise a predetermined amount of explosive sufficient to expand, without puncturing, at least a portion of the wall of the tubular into a protrusion extending outward into an annulus adjacent the wall of the tubular.

Apparatus and methods for initiating the reaction of a reactive metal element of a downhole device. An example method introduces the downhole device into a wellbore; wherein the downhole device comprises the reactive metal element; wherein the reactive metal element has a first volume; and wherein the reactive metal element is separated from a reaction-inducing fluid by a frangible casing. The frangible casing is removed and the reactive metal element is contacted with the reaction-inducing fluid to produce a reaction product having a second volume greater than the first volume.

Disclosed embodiments relate to systems and methods for locating, measuring, counting or aiding in the handling of drill pipes 106. The system 100 comprises at least one camera 102 capable of gathering visual data 150 regarding detecting, localizing or both, pipes 106, roughnecks 116, elevators 118 and combinations thereof. The system 100 further comprises a processor 110 and a logging system 114 for recording the gathered visual data 150. The method 200 comprises acquiring visual data 150 using a camera 106, analyzing the acquired data 150, and recording the acquired data 150.

A guide assembly comprises a grooved mandrel having a first end adapted for coupling or connecting, a second end, and having a spiral groove and a set of ring grooves on an external surface of the grooved mandrel. The guide assembly comprises a guide shoe concentric to at least the second end of the grooved mandrel and an annular fastener that fastens the guide shoe to the grooved mandrel.