Techniques for determining properties of a spotting fluid include positioning a member of a test apparatus into a prepared mudcake sample at a specified depth, the mudcake sample associated with a drilling fluid and including a specified thickness; circulating a flow of the spotting fluid to contact the prepared mudcake sample in a test cell; soaking the prepared mudcake sample in the spotting fluid for a specified time duration; subsequent to the specified time duration, detecting a force exerted on the member relative to a displacement distance of the member from the specified depth in the mudcake sample during removal of the member from the mudcake sample; recording, with the test apparatus, the detected force relative to the displacement distance; and determining, with the test apparatus, one or more properties associated with the mudcake sample based on the recorded force relative to the displacement distance.

Provided are systems and methods for freeing differentially stuck pipe via the in-situ release of fluids from fluid-releasing tanks coupled to a centralizer or stabilizer of a pipe. Fluid-releasing tanks may be coupled to a centralizer or stabilizer of a pipe and located around the circumference of the pipe. Nozzles may be connected to the fluid-releasing tanks to enable the in-situ release of fluid from the fluid-releasing tanks. Various mechanisms may be used to open the nozzles and release the fluid from the fluid-releasing tanks.

A vortex-controlled variable flow resistance device ideal for use in a backpressure tool for advancing drill string in extended reach downhole operations. The characteristics of the pressure waves generated by the device are controlled by the growth and decay of vortices in the vortex chamber(s) of a flow path. The flow path is designed to produce alternating primary and secondary vorticesone clockwise and one counter-clockwisewhere the primary vortex is stronger and produces higher backpressure than the secondary vortex. This in turn generates alternating weak and strong pressure pulses in the drill string. The weak pulses may be barely perceptible so that the effective frequency of the pulses is determined by the stronger primary vortices.

Apparatus and methods for reducing differential pressure sticking of a drill string stuck against a sidewall of a wellbore by decreasing hydrostatic pressure around the drill string within the wellbore. Drilling fluid is displaced out of the wellbore by injecting a displacement fluid into an annulus defined between the sidewall and an exterior of the drill string, and pressure of the injected displacement fluid within the annulus is decreased by bleeding the injected displacement fluid out of the annulus.

A tubing string release apparatus includes a first mandrel configured to be fixed to an inner wall of a tubing string extended within a wellbore, the first mandrel defining a telescope chamber and a first port that facilitates fluid communication into the telescope chamber, a second mandrel slidably arranged against the first mandrel and defining a second port, and a telescoping cylinder arranged within the telescope chamber and including a telescoping base releasably coupled to the tubing string at an aperture defined in the tubing string, and a telescoping piston releasably coupled to the telescoping base. The telescoping base is advanced radially outward through the aperture when a pressure within the tubing string is increased to a first pressure, and the telescoping piston is advanced radially outward through the telescoping base when the pressure within the tubing string is increased to a second pressure greater than the first pressure.

An apparatus for controlling tool face and methods of use with a torque generator connected to a drill string for drilling linear and nonlinear subterranean bore segments. In some embodiments, the apparatus and methodologies of use comprise a tool controller having an outer housing independently rotatable from and extension conduit extending therethrough and forming an annulus therebetween. The tool controller may provide for a first fluid pathway for allowing a bypass portion of fluids to flow through the torque generator, and a second fluid pathway through the annulus for allowing a torque generator portion of fluids to flow through the annulus. In some embodiments, at least one fluid flow restrictor may be provided within the annulus to controllable cause a cascading reduction in torque generator fluid pressure as it flows through the annulus, allowing high resolution tool face control over a larger (and tunable) range of drill string speed (rpm) set points.

Aspects of drilling, production, hydraulic fracturing, and well work-over operations operations that create full seal magnetorheological down-hole packing elements are described. Some examples describe a system that includes a magnetorheological fluid and a magnetic assembly tool (installed on a work-string) configured to generate a magnetic field and create, in a flow of the magnetorheological fluid, a semi-solid packing element, and/or a magneto-rheological effect altering the fluid viscosity, in a drill pipe, casing, or hole. Various examples also include disclosure of methods for releasing stuck pipe, controlling fluid loss while drilling, open-hole packing, conforming, plugging and abandoning, and multistage fracturing that can reduce operational risks and non-productive time.

Improved drilling systems and methods may include piezoelectric actuator(s) in a drill string at one or more locations to minimize or eliminate stick-slip while drilling. For example, piezoelectric actuators may be incorporated into the rock bit or drill bit in the openings in the bit body for receiving the cutters. As another example, the piezoelectric actuators may be incorporated into an independent module that is place on or in the drill string. The independent module may be placed between the top drive and the drill bit or at the top of the drill string near a top drive.

A method for operating a drilling plant machine includes providing a drilling plant machine which includes a sensor which measures a parameter which is indicative of a jarring load acting on the drilling plant machine from a drill string, providing a set of values representing readings from the sensor, identifying a jarring event, and determining a magnitude of the parameter from the set of values.

Techniques for determining properties of a spotting fluid include positioning a member of a test apparatus into a prepared mudcake sample at a specified depth, the mudcake sample associated with a drilling fluid and including a specified thickness; circulating a flow of the spotting fluid to contact the prepared mudcake sample in a test cell; soaking the prepared mudcake sample in the spotting fluid for a specified time duration; subsequent to the specified time duration, detecting a force exerted on the member relative to a displacement distance of the member from the specified depth in the mudcake sample during removal of the member from the mudcake sample; recording, with the test apparatus, the detected force relative to the displacement distance; and determining, with the test apparatus, one or more properties associated with the mudcake sample based on the recorded force relative to the displacement distance.