A pressure compensator including a housing, an electroactive polymer (EAP) disposed in the housing and defining a volume therein, the volume being changeable upon application of an electric signal. A method for managing pressure in a tool including applying an electrical signal to the pressure compensator and changing a shape of the EAP to change the volume of the compensator whereby the pressure in the tool is altered. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, a pressure compensator disposed within or as a part of the string.

An autonomous flow control device includes a valve assembly having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. A valve element is disposed between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The valve element has a viscosity dominant flow path configured to provide a first flow resistance and an inertia dominant flow path configured to provide a second flow resistance that is greater than the first flow resistance such that when the viscosity of the fluid flowing therethrough is greater than a first predetermined level, the fluid follows the viscosity dominant flow path with the first flow resistance and when the viscosity of the fluid flowing therethrough is less than a second predetermined level, the fluid follows the inertia dominant flow path with the second flow resistance, thereby regulating the production rate of the fluid responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid.

A multilateral junction comprising a y-block and a port seal member. The y-block comprises a main bore, a lateral bore, and lateral port formed in the y-block. The port seal member is integrated within the main bore and has at least one of an opened, closed, and choked position. The multilateral junction also includes one or more gaskets configured to hydraulically isolate the lateral bore when the port seal member is in a closed position. The multilateral junction may further include a controller coupled to the port seal member for performing at least one of an opening, closing, and choking operation on the port seal member. The y-block is a single, machined object with the main bore and the lateral bore formed therein. The multilateral junction is useful in applications that require pressure tight seals and minimal restriction of the internal diameter of a main bore.

A flow control system selectively regulates production of a fluid from a well. The flow control system includes a plurality of flow control devices, each flow control device rotatable by a portion of the fluid and selectively directing the portion of the fluid through an outlet of the flow control device based on the density of the fluid. The system further includes a regulator valve controlled at least in part by the portion of fluid exiting the outlet of the flow control device. The regulating valve regulates production of a remaining portion of the fluid from the well.

A method includes taking at least one image of a plurality of returned cuttings from a well using a fluorescent imaging camera, analyzing the at least one image with an imaging processing system to obtain detection data including a calculated percentage of a first emitted fluorescent light to formation cuttings, sending the detection data to an analysis and control program to correlate the returned cuttings with a depth in the well, and automatically controlling at least one drilling parameter for drilling the well based on the detection data.

Certain aspects and features relate to a drilling system usable to drill a borehole. The drilling system may include a first housing defining a main fluid flow path and a second housing defining a bypass flow path toward an annulus of a wellbore. A flow control choke may be positioned between the first housing and the second housing. The flow control choke may include a rotatable section and a stationary section that is stationary relative to the rotatable section. The stationary section may have a curved interface with the rotatable section for restricting a flow of a drilling fluid through the bypass flow path.

An adaptive fluid switch for regulating the production rate of a fluid. The adaptive fluid switch includes a fluid control valve having a fluid selector, a swirl chamber and a self-impinging valve element. When the fluid produced through the adaptive fluid switch has a viscosity greater than a first predetermined level, the fluid selector determines the fluid to be a selected fluid such that the fluid swirls in one direction in the swirl chamber and follows a low resistance flow path in the valve element. When the fluid has a viscosity less than a second predetermined level, the fluid selector determines the fluid to be a non-selected fluid such that the fluid swirls in the opposite direction in the swirl chamber and follows a high resistance flow path in the valve element, thereby regulating the production rate of the fluid responsive to changes in the viscosity of the fluid.

A system may include a control system disposed on a well surface, a casing disposed in a wellbore, a first electrical wiring coupled to the control system and the casing within a first section of the wellbore, and a second electrical wiring coupled to various flow control devices in a second section of the wellbore. The first section of the wellbore may be disposed at a first predetermined direction that is different than a second predetermined direction of the second section of the wellbore. The system may further include an electrical connector coupled to the first electrical wiring and the second electrical wiring. The electrical connector may include a mechanical receiver that couples with the first electrical wiring, and a stinger assembly coupled with the second electrical wiring and that connects to the mechanical receiver.

Oil recovery can include providing a tubing string and isolation devices to define isolated intervals for an existing well previously operated using plug-and-perf and primary production. Valve assemblies are installed in respective isolated intervals, each valve assembly including at least two valves. The valve can be operated in open and closed configurations, and at least one open configuration provides choked flow via an elongated passage. The valves can have a housing and a shiftable sleeve. The valve assemblies can be operated to provide a desired openness based on the injectivity or other properties by shifting the sleeves of the valves. Different flow resistance levels can be provided to facilitate enhanced operations for water flooding and other oil recovery processes.

A process control system for use in an oil and/or gas production and/or transportation system, comprises a controller configured to receive an input signal comprising measurement data relating to a production fluid flow in an oil and/or gas production and/or transportation system. The controller is configured to determine from the received input signal an adjustment in the configuration of a flow control arrangement of the production, and provide an output signal indicative of the adjustment in the configuration of the flow control arrangement. The system is configured to mitigate the formation of gas hydrates and/or the accumulation of paraffin wax, asphaltenes or other solids in an oil and/or gas production and/or transportation system by adjusting the flow control arrangement to vary the injection of a chemical into the production and/or transportation system.