A system includes a tubular disposed within a borehole, a sleeve disposed around the tubular, and an isolation element bounded to an outer diameter of the sleeve. The inner diameter of the sleeve is connected to an outer diameter of the tubular via a plurality of seals. The isolation element is configured to conform to a surface of the borehole when the isolation element is in an expanded configuration. The sleeve compensates for movement of the tubular by being able to freely move across the tubular.

Provided is a solid-state lost circulation apparatus that may comprise a drillable tube with one or more fluid ports, an expandable layer, and an isolation layer. Upon introduction of the expandable layer to an activation agent through one or more fluid ports, the expandable layer may activate, expand, and harden into a hardened and expanded expandable layer, while rupturing the isolation layer. Further provided is a lost circulation assembly system that may include a drill pipe and a solid-state lost circulation apparatus. Further provided is a method of mitigating a lost circulation zone with a lost circulation assembly system. Further provided is a solid plug that may be positioned in a wellbore and may include a hardened and expanded expandable layer and a drillable tube. Further provided is a remnant of a solid plug that may form a fluid-tight seal across a face of a lost circulation zone.

A screen assembly includes a tubular having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion including an outer surface provided with a plurality of openings extending therebetween. At least one screen arranged at the plurality of openings. At least two deformable members are mounted to the tubular between the first end and the second end. The at least two deformable members are selectively radially outwardly expandable relative to the at least one screen forming a plurality of screen compartments on the tubular, the plurality of screen compartments being substantially fluidically isolated from one another externally of the tubular.

A method of making a downhole swellable seal with a passageway therethrough includes, perimetrically surrounding a first tubular with a first substantially nonswellable material, perimetrically surrounding at least one second tubular with a second substantially nonswellable material, positioning the at least one second tubular adjacent the first tubular, perimetrically surrounding the first tubular and the at least one second tubular with a swellable material, curing the first substantially nonswellable material, curing the second substantially nonswellable material, and curing the swellable material.

A downhole coupling mechanism for use in downhole tools that find application in wells exploited by a hydraulic refracturing process. The downhole coupling mechanism connects first and second tubular sections via a tensile load arrangement of wires located in complimentary grooves, a torque arrangement of interlocking lugs and notches on opposite ends, and a seal arrangement. The downhole coupling mechanism provides a thin walled coupling where a screw-threaded connection could not achieve the required tensile load, torque and sealing properties needed. Embodiments of a thin walled anchor and packer including the downhole coupling mechanism are described.

The present invention relates to a downhole method for providing a zonal isolation at a predetermined position in an annulus between a wall of a borehole and a well tubular metal structure having a longitudinal extension in an existing well, comprising inserting a downhole tool in the well tubular metal structure, positioning the downhole tool opposite the predetermined position, separating a first section of the well tubular metal structure from a second section of the well tubular metal structure by machining into and along a circumference of the well tubular metal structure, inserting an unexpanded annular barrier between the first section and the second section, and expanding the annular barrier for providing zonal isolation at the predetermined position.

A downhole tool includes a sleeve configured to be disposed around a tubular. An expandable sealing member is coupled to and positioned at least partially around the sleeve. An end ring is coupled to and positioned at least partially around the sleeve and axially-adjacent to the expandable sealing member.

A hydrated inorganic oxide material capable of elongating from a planar shape to a fiber shape along a thickness direction of the planar shape, wherein the fiber shape is at least about 25 times greater in the thickness direction than the planar shape, and wherein during elongating a radial dimension of the hydrated inorganic oxide material changes by less than about 10% may be useful in a plurality of wellbore operations. For example, a method may include introducing a wellbore fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a hydrated inorganic oxide material into a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation; and swelling the hydrated inorganic oxide material by contacting the hydrated inorganic oxide material with a polar amine compound such that the hydrated inorganic oxide material elongates from a planar shape to a fiber shape along a thickness direction of the planar shape.

A multi-expansion packer is deployed in a borehole. The multi-expansion packer includes an outer part and an inner part disposed within the outer part. An outer part pump expands the outer part with a first fluid to engage the outer part with an inner surface of the borehole. A leakage sensor is configured to detect a leakage of the first fluid from the outer part which causes at least a portion of the outer part to disengage from the inner surface. An inner part pump expands the inner part with a second fluid. A controller responds to the detected leakage to control the inner part pump to pump the second fluid into the inner part until at least the disengaging portion of the outer part re-engages the inner surface of the borehole. A method comprises steps performed during operation of the system.

A shear tester for in-situ determination of rock formation geomechanical properties is provided. The tester has a radially expandable cylindrical membrane, a metal sheath covering at least a portion of the outer surface of the membrane, at least one stud fixed on the sheath, at least one cone fixed on each of the at least one stud, and a piston operable to apply an upward axial force on the metal sheath. A device for the same use comprises the shear tester and a pressuremeter. A method of using the shear tester comprises applying a normal force to the formation by expanding the membrane until at least one of the at least one cone penetrates the rock formation and applying an upward axial force to the at least one of the at least one cone by operating the piston until at least a portion of the rock formation shears.