Apparatus and methods for energizing well operations fluids, including a fluid energizing device directly or operatively connected between first and second conduits. The fluid energizing device includes a chamber. A first fluid enters the chamber from the first conduit, and a second fluid enters the chamber from the second conduit and energizes the first fluid within the chamber. A third conduit conducts the energized first fluid from the chamber to a wellhead.

A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system is provided, the shaft enlargement arrangement comprising a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system; a first cutter head that is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with first drive means being provided to rotate the first cutter head relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head; and a boring head arrangement fitted to an operatively lower end of the column, the boring head arrangement terminating in a second cutter head to bore a leading hole as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly. In an embodiment, the first cutter head comprises a support body carrying a winged arrangement, the support body being rotatably fitted to the column, the winged arrangement comprising a plurality of wings extending from the support body, each wing being fitted with, or comprising, a plurality of first cutter elements.

A shaft enlargement arrangement for a boring system is provided, the shaft enlargement arrangement comprising a hollow column proximate a lower end of the boring system; a first cutter head that is rotatably fitted to the hollow column, with first drive means being provided to rotate the first cutter head relative to the hollow column so as to bore downwardly a hole having a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the first cutter head; and a boring head arrangement fitted to an operatively lower end of the column, the boring head arrangement terminating in a second cutter head to bore a leading hole as the boring system proceeds to bore downwardly. In an embodiment, the first cutter head comprises a support body carrying a winged arrangement, the support body being rotatably fitted to the column, the winged arrangement comprising a plurality of wings extending from the support body, each wing being fitted with, or comprising, a plurality of first cutter elements.

A testing apparatus for testing a fluid and a loss control material (LCM) is provided. The testing apparatus includes a testing chamber having an upstream end, a downstream end, a device central axis, and a general flow direction. The testing chamber includes a chamber body having an upstream cap, a downstream cap, a first chamber wall, and a second chamber wall. The first chamber wall has a first diameter and in part defines a first chamber interior, the second chamber wall has a second diameter, the first diameter is less than the second diameter, and both the first chamber wall and the second chamber wall are positioned relative to one another such that an annulus is defined in part in between. The traversal of the fluid and the LCM along the fluid flow path is restricted by a flow restriction.

Systems and methods for drilling in a subterranean formation are disclosed. A method comprises providing a drilling fluid, wherein the drilling fluid comprises an aqueous fluid; a first polymer comprising 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, vinylpyrrolidinone, pentaerythritol allyl ether, and methylenebisacrylamide; and a second polymer comprising acrylate. 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid, methacrylic acid, and allyloxy 2-hydroxy propane sulfonic acid. The method further comprises placing the drilling fluid into the subterranean formation and drilling a wellbore in the subterranean formation.

On the basis of a bitstream (P), an n-channel audio signal (X) is reconstructed by deriving an m-channel core signal (Y) and multichannel coding parameters (α) from the bitstream, where 1≤m<n. Also derived from the bitstream are pre-processing dynamic range control, DRC, parameters (DRC2) quantifying an encoder-side dynamic range limiting of the core signal. The n-channel audio signal is obtained by parametric synthesis in accordance with the multichannel coding parameters and while cancelling any encoder-side dynamic range limiting based on the pre-processing DRC parameters. In particular embodiments, the reconstruction further includes use of compensated post-processing DRC parameters quantifying a potential decoder-side dynamic range compression. Cancellation of an encoder-side range limitation and range compression are preferably performed by different decoder-side components. Cancellation and compression may be coordinated by a DRC pre-processor.

A plugging assembly includes a plug and a setting tool attached directly to the plug, wherein the plug includes an elongate core with an uphole end and a downhole end opposite the uphole end, and a sealing element disposed fully around the core to seal against the casing. The plug additionally includes an anchoring system for anchoring the plug to the casing in a fixed position, a compression fitting disposed around the core at or near the uphole end of the core, and a nose at the downhole end of the core. The setting tool includes an elongate housing extending between an uphole end and a downhole end opposite the uphole end, an open passageway extending from the uphole end to the downhole end of the housing, and the downhole end of the housing is aligned to directly engage the compression fitting of the plug.

A two-component lost circulation material (LCM) is provided having a polymer component and a sodium hydroxide component. The polymer component may include a carrier fluid such as water, a particulate material such as fly ash, a fibrous material such as polypropylene fibers, and an acrylic polymer. The sodium hydroxide component may include water and sodium hydroxide. The sodium hydroxide component is introduced to contact the polymer component to form the two-component LCM. Methods of lost circulation control and manufacture of a two-component LCM are also provided.

An additive composition includes a rheology modifier selected from alcohol ethoxylates, amine ethoxylates, or ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, wherein the rheology modifier has an HLB ranging from about 4 to 10; and a winterizing agent that is at least one aliphatic non-ionic surfactant that has a branched structure and/or includes at least one unsaturation, wherein the winterizing agent has an HLB value between about 8 and 10.5.

An additive composition includes a rheology modifier selected from alcohol ethoxylates, amine ethoxylates, or ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers, wherein the rheology modifier has an HLB ranging from about 4 to 10; and a winterizing agent that is at least one aliphatic non-ionic surfactant that has a branched structure and/or includes at least one unsaturation, wherein the winterizing agent has an HLB value between about 8 and 10.5.