A mudline closure device is lowered between tensioners coupled to a deck of a vessel or rig onto a subsea wellhead. A tensioner platform is then attached to the tensioners. The tensioner platform includes a platform opening having an inner diameter through which an emergency disconnect system may pass. The tensioner platform also includes rotation bearings secured in the platform opening. A split support includes outer surfaces disposed along its circumference. The outer surfaces are seated on the rotation bearings. The split support includes a support opening having an inner diameter through which a marine riser may pass. The split support also includes a landing shoulder secured in the support opening to suspend a surface blowout preventer to the deck. As the vessel or rig changes direction, the split support rotates relative to the tensioner platform without imparting excessive torsion on the marine riser.

Fixed-cutter matrix bits comprising hardfaced elements on the gauge pads, and methods of manufacture and using. An example fixed-cutter matrix bit comprises a matrix bit body, a plurality of cutter elements secured at fixed locations to the matrix bit body, and a plurality of gauge pads disposed on the matrix bit body; wherein at least one of the gauge pads includes a hardfaced exterior surface. The hardfaced exterior surface may comprise a material selected from the group consisting of tungsten, niobium, vanadium, molybdenum, silicon, titanium, tantalum, zirconium, chromium, yttrium, boron, carbon, carbides thereof, nitrides thereof, borides thereof, oxides thereof, silicides thereof, and combinations thereof. The hardfaced exterior surface may be fused to the at least one gauge pad during the infiltration process of manufacturing the matrix bit body.

Systems and methods for performing a radial drilling operation using a shaft are disclosed. The shaft can be flexible and can be made of a series of links, each of which can have a hexagonal or other suitable shape to impart a torque along the linkage. A cable system can be run through the middle of the links and can be resiliently tensioned to permit a different degree of flexure according to the amount of tension in the cable and resilient member. Accordingly, the shaft can be rigid, selectively permitted to flex, or can be brought back to a straight or at least a less-bent position.

Aspects of the disclosed technology provide techniques for facilitating hydrocarbon extraction from a wellbore. In some aspects, the disclosed technology encompasses a novel casing string that includes at least one casing section, an aperture disposed on a surface of the casing section, and an insert affixed around a periphery of the aperture. The casing string can further include a plug disposed within the insert, wherein the plug is configured to be selectively removable to allow fluid communication between an interior volume of the casing string and an exterior of the casing string, e.g., adjacent to a geologic formation.

Layered coating applications for sensing telemetry are provided. An example method can include depositing, on a surface of a tool, a waveguide including a first layer of low refractive-index material, a second layer of high refractive-index material applied to a surface of the first layer, and a third layer of low refractive-index material applied to a surface of the second layer; configuring an evanescent wave interaction region on the waveguide, the evanescent wave interaction region including the first layer of low refractive-index material, the second layer of high refractive-index material, and an outer layer of low refractive-index material having a reduced thickness; configuring, at a second location of the waveguide, a non-uniformity configured to reflect light; determining characteristics of the reflected light after traveling through the evanescent wave interaction region; and based on the characteristics of light reflected by the non-uniformity, detecting characteristics of an environment of the tool.

A method of lining a tube using a spoolable liner includes connecting a connector to a distal end of the spoolable liner. The connector and spoolable liner are inserted into the tube and are advanced to a tube engagement point. A distal connection is formed between the spoolable liner and the tube by attaching the connector to an engagement mechanism at the tube engagement point. A proximal end of the spoolable liner is established and a proximal connection is formed between the proximal end and the tube. The spoolable liner is plugged with a deployable plug in a vicinity of the distal end and with a termination in a vicinity of the proximal end. An interior area is filled with a fluid such that the fluid expands the spoolable liner against an interior wall of the tube.

Systems and method for providing a soft landing of a wellhead connector onto a subsea wellhead are provided. One such system includes a wellhead connector configured to be coupled to a subsea wellhead, and a soft landing system disposed on a body of the wellhead connector. The soft landing system includes one or more cylinder assemblies coupled to the body of the wellhead connector, and one or more valve assemblies coupled to the body of the wellhead connector. Each cylinder assembly includes a barrel, a rod disposed within the barrel and extending in one direction from the barrel, and a pad attached to an extended end of the rod. The one or more valve assemblies are each fluidly coupled to the one or more cylinder assemblies.

A method for maintaining a constant bottom hole pressure during wellbore drilling operations, the method comprising supplying drilling fluid to the drill string via a top drive at a first pressure while flow of drilling fluid out of a wellbore annulus is restricted by a choke to hold pressure in a wellbore annulus and supplying drilling fluid to the drill string via the top drive at a second pressure lower than the first pressure and to a circulation coupler at a third pressure while flow of drilling fluid out of a wellbore annulus is restricted by a choke to hold pressure in the annulus, wherein the sum of the second and third pressures is approximately the same as the first pressure. The method also comprises supplying drilling fluid to the drill string via the circulation coupler at the third pressure while pumping drilling fluid into the wellbore annulus by a back pressure pump, wherein the bottom hole pressure at the bottom of the wellbore is maintained substantially constant during all steps of supplying drilling fluid to the drill string.

A multi-layer friction reducing tape, including: a foil layer including a metal, polymer, or hybrid-metal-polymer; an under layer disposed on the foil layer; an adhesion promoting layer contiguous with a surface of the under layer; a functional layer that includes a fullerene based composite, a diamond based material, diamond-like-carbon (DLC), or combinations thereof, wherein the functional layer is contiguous with a surface of the adhesion promoting layer; and a tape, including an adhesive layer and a backing material, wherein the adhesive layer is attached to a surface of the foil layer opposite the under layer.

Embodiments relate generally to preventing wear to a nominal thickness of a wall of a drill pipe during a downhole operation. A drill pipe may include a first tool joint; a second tool joint; and a tubular section between the first tool joint and the second tool joint, wherein the tubular section comprises a wall with an overall thickness comprising a nominal thickness and a secondary thickness, wherein the secondary thickness is outer to the nominal thickness and is configured to abrade against a wall of the wellbore, thereby reducing the secondary thickness and maintaining the nominal thickness, wherein an ID of each tool joint is less than an ID of the tubular section to accommodate for threaded connectors.