Embodiments of the present invention use radar technology to detect features or conditions in a well. A radar unit having an electronics subsystem and an antenna subsystem is positioned downhole in the well. The radar unit is coupled receive power from and communicate with to a surface system. The electronics subsystem generates RF signals which are provided to the antenna subsystem, generating radar wavefronts that are propagated toward areas of interest (e.g., farther downhole). The radar wavefronts may be electronically or mechanically steered in the desired direction. The antenna subsystem receives radar signals that are reflected back to the unit by features or conditions in the well. The received reflected signals are converted to electronic signals that are interpreted by the electronics subsystem of the radar unit or by the surface system to identify the features or conditions that caused the reflections.

A telemetry tool assembly for exploiting subsurface fluids and minerals through well construction and production. The assembly comprises a tube comprising a bore and a bore wall and first end and a second end. The respective ends each comprise internal and external upset portions welded to a pin end tool joint or box end tool joint, respectively. The upset portions comprise an internal and external conical transition section intermediate the respective tool joints and the tube. The external conical transition section comprises at least one socket comprising a removeable cover and side and bottom surfaces within the external conical transition section. The socket and cover comprise a seal between the cover and socket side walls. A telemetry adapter comprising electrical equipment is disposed within the one or more sockets and the assembly comprises a wired drill pipe (WDP). The socket surfaces comprise a hardness greater than the transition section.

A wellbore assembly includes a cable and a wellbore tool. The wellbore tool is coupled to the downhole end of the cable. The wellbore tool includes a housing, one or more sensors, a packer, and a controller. The one or more sensors are coupled to the housing or to the cable or both. The sensors detect one or more parameters of the wellbore tool or the cable or both. The controller is coupled to the housing. The controller is electrically coupled to one or more sensors and is operationally coupled to the packer. The controller determines, with the wellbore tool parted from the cable and based on information received from the one or more sensors, an indication of the wellbore tool in free fall. The controller activates, based on the determination, the packer to expand the packer and set the wellbore tool on a wall of the wellbore.

A wellbore assembly includes a cable and a wellbore tool. The wellbore tool is coupled to the downhole end of the cable. The wellbore tool includes a housing, one or more sensors, a packer, and a controller. The one or more sensors are coupled to the housing or to the cable or both. The sensors detect one or more parameters of the wellbore tool or the cable or both. The controller is coupled to the housing. The controller is electrically coupled to one or more sensors and is operationally coupled to the packer. The controller determines, with the wellbore tool parted from the cable and based on information received from the one or more sensors, an indication of the wellbore tool in free fall. The controller activates, based on the determination, the packer to expand the packer and set the wellbore tool on a wall of the wellbore.

A telemetry tool joint may comprise a tool joint body adapted for connection to a downhole tubular as part of a tool string. The tubular may be a drill pipe or a downhole tool such as a drill bit or component of a bottom hole assembly. The tool joint body may comprise an axial bore comprising a bore wall having an interior wall surface and a tapered outer wall surface. The tapered outer bore wall surface may comprise a first continuous thread form having multiple turns comprising a first thread start and a first thread end and a second continuous thread form having multiple turns comprising a second thread start and a second thread end. The respective thread forms may be separated by a gap along the tapered outer bore wall surface. The gap may comprise one or more annular recesses adapted for housing a radially oriented inductive coupler.

A telemetry tool joint may comprise a tool joint body adapted for connection to a downhole tubular as part of a tool string. The tubular may be a drill pipe or a downhole tool such as a drill bit or component of a bottom hole assembly. The tool joint body may comprise an axial bore comprising a bore wall having an interior wall surface and a tapered outer wall surface. The tapered outer bore wall surface may comprise a first continuous thread form having multiple turns comprising a first thread start and a first thread end and a second continuous thread form having multiple turns comprising a second thread start and a second thread end. The respective thread forms may be separated by a gap along the tapered outer bore wall surface. The gap may comprise one or more annular recesses adapted for housing a radially oriented inductive coupler.

A boring tool is movable through the ground. A transmitter supported by the boring tool transmits an electromagnetic homing signal. A portable device monitors the electromagnetic homing signal and receives the electromagnetic homing signal in a homing mode for guiding the boring tool to a target position. A processor generates steering commands for guiding the boring tool based on a bore plan in a steering mode such that at least some positional error is introduced without using the electromagnetic homing signal. Switching from the steering mode to the homing mode is based on monitoring of the electromagnetic homing signal as the boring tool approaches the portable device to then guide the boring tool to the target position location in compensation for the positional error. Intermediate target positions are described as well as guiding the boring tool based on the homing signal so long as the portable device receives the signal.

A boring tool is movable through the ground. A transmitter supported by the boring tool transmits an electromagnetic homing signal. A portable device monitors the electromagnetic homing signal and receives the electromagnetic homing signal in a homing mode for guiding the boring tool to a target position. A processor generates steering commands for guiding the boring tool based on a bore plan in a steering mode such that at least some positional error is introduced without using the electromagnetic homing signal. Switching from the steering mode to the homing mode is based on monitoring of the electromagnetic homing signal as the boring tool approaches the portable device to then guide the boring tool to the target position location in compensation for the positional error. Intermediate target positions are described as well as guiding the boring tool based on the homing signal so long as the portable device receives the signal.

A method includes attaching a sensor calibration tool to a drill string. The sensor calibration tool includes a first tool sensor configured to measure a first operational parameter. A first tool sensor measurement of the first operational parameter is received from the first tool sensor, where the drill string is disposed at least partially within a wellbore and supported by a surface rig system and the sensor calibration tool is positioned on the drill string at a surface location proximate to the surface rig system. A first rig sensor measurement of the first operational parameter is received from a first rig sensor positioned on a first surface component of the surface rig system. The first rig sensor is calibrated based on a comparison of the first tool sensor measurement with the first rig sensor measurement.

A method includes attaching a sensor calibration tool to a drill string. The sensor calibration tool includes a first tool sensor configured to measure a first operational parameter. A first tool sensor measurement of the first operational parameter is received from the first tool sensor, where the drill string is disposed at least partially within a wellbore and supported by a surface rig system and the sensor calibration tool is positioned on the drill string at a surface location proximate to the surface rig system. A first rig sensor measurement of the first operational parameter is received from a first rig sensor positioned on a first surface component of the surface rig system. The first rig sensor is calibrated based on a comparison of the first tool sensor measurement with the first rig sensor measurement.