Disclosed herein are a control method and system. The system includes: a deactivation control; a control centre controller for storing an association between the deactivation control and a selected set of mine sites; a plurality of autonomous drill rigs, each drill rig having a drill shutdown module to disable a function of the respective drill rig upon receipt of a deactivation command; and a mine site controller associated with each mine site, each mine site controller being coupled to all autonomous drill rigs located at the respective mine site with which the mine site controller is associated. Activating the deactivation control transmits a deactivation command from the deactivation control to the control centre controller. The control centre controller forwards the deactivation command to a mine site controller associated with each mine site in the set of mine sites for distribution to all autonomous drill rigs at that mine site.

In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may include a signal integrity monitor that senses the signal transmitted between a surface device and a downhole device. The signal integrity monitor is adapted to disconnect power from the communication system if a fault in the communication line is detected.

A system is provided that include a safety device configured to mount in a mineral extraction system and block axial movement of a plug in the mineral extraction system while the plug is released from a retainer. The safety device may be a sleeve configured to receive screws or other retention mechanism in a tubular. A method is provided that includes installing a plug safety catch into a tubular of a mineral extraction system in which the plug safety catch is configured to block axial movement of a plug in response to a pressure differential while the plug is released from a mount position.

Systems and methods for simulating the effects of syntactic foam on annular pressure buildup during annular fluid expansion in a wellbore to mitigate annular pressure buildup in the wellbore.

An improved rotating control device, having a spool and removable bearing assembly, provides a self-contained hydraulic reservoir that can be operated with standard air pressures from an air hose or other readily available source, eliminating traditional surface hydraulic power units (HPUs). Hydraulically operated pistons can be spring biased to close latching elements around the bearing assembly. Hydraulic fluid can be forced from the self-contained hydraulic reservoir through flow paths to hydraulic cylinders to force the pistons to retract radially outward to release the bearing assembly for removal. The bearing assembly can include a lubricant reservoir to supply gravity-fed or pressurized lubrication for internal roller bearings. The bearing assembly can further include a rotary seal in several embodiments that efficiently reduces risks of dropping bolts on personnel and in the wellbore.

A system for communicating with a drill rig includes a data acquisition board on the drill rig. A plurality of sensors are on the drill rig, and each sensor transmits data associated with the drill rig to the data acquisition board. A processor on the data acquisition board is configured to execute first logic stored in a first memory that causes the processor to format the data, store the data, and transfer the data to a mobile communications device. A method for communicating with a drill rig includes sensing an operating parameter on the drill rig and transmitting data reflective of the operating parameter to a data acquisition board on the drill rig. The method further includes formatting the data with the data acquisition board and transferring the formatted data from the data acquisition board to a mobile communications device.

A perforated filtration insert includes a head unit and a body portion having perforated side walls. The body portion is closed at one end by a cap such that fluid entering the body exits through the perforations in the side walls of the insert.

Apparatus and method for wellhead spill prevention are disclosed. The wellhead spill prevention apparatus includes a clamp-on portion that is configured to be clamped onto a tubular member of the wellhead, a crude oil reservoir for collecting oil coming from the wellhead, and a slanted wall slanting downwards and attached to the clamp-on portion on top and the crude oil reservoir at the bottom, thereby enabling oil coming from the wellhead to collect in the crude oil reservoir.

A selection of a hydrocarbon well of a hydrocarbon production system is received at a safety logic solver (SLS) for proof testing. Test mode pressure sensors attached to a common header of the hydrocarbon production system are activated to monitor a live process condition status of the common header from all wells of the hydrocarbon production system. A simulated overpressure condition is induced in the operation pressure sensors. An indication of overpressure is received at the SLS from at least two operation pressure sensors. Final elements associated with the hydrocarbon well are signaled to close while leaving other wells in the hydrocarbon production system in operation. The operation pressure sensors are restored to a normal pressure condition, and the final elements associated with the selected hydrocarbon well are signaled to re-open the hydrocarbon well.

A self-setting casing protector secured to a slip type casing elevator for grabbing a casing tubular and running the casing tubular into and out of a wellbore having two C-shaped setting plates each with a plurality of fastening holes; a plurality of support tubes positioned between aligned fastening holes; a plurality of bolts each penetrating pairs of fastening holes and a support tube, the second C-shaped setting plate simultaneously engaging (i) two aligned slip setting segments, and (ii) two aligned die retainers. As the slip type casing elevator is hoisted, the casing tubular drops while attached to the first C-shaped setting plate setting the casing tubular in the slip type casing elevator while simultaneously (i) protecting each casing tubular as it is sequentially lowered into or pulled from the wellbore, and (ii) protecting an upsetting box with premium connections as the tubular is run into and out of a wellbore.