Abstract: A method of removing cuttings includes the steps of disposing a pipe string in a high-angle wellbore, circulating mud through the wellbore and creating a viscous coupling layer of mud spiraling about a section of the pipe string. Wherein the wellbore may be deviated from vertical thirty degrees or greater. The viscous coupling layer desirably extends outwardly beyond the outside diameter of the tooljoint upsets in the section of the pipe string. A pipe joint for creating a viscous coupling layer of drilling fluid spiraling about the pipe to remove cuttings from high angle wells includes an elongated tubular having an outer surface extending between opposing tooljoints, tooljoint upsets and projections provided on substantially the entire outer surface.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for characterizing a drilling hazard. The method includes determining a well plan including at least a wellbore trajectory. A likelihood of occurrence of at least one drilling hazard is estimated. A severity of the at least one drilling hazard is estimated. The hazard is displayed on a representation of the wellbore trajectory, by indicating thereon a position of, the likelihood and the severity of the at least one drilling hazard.

Abstract: A method of sampling reservoir fluid includes establishing communication between a reservoir and an entry port of a flow line disposed in a borehole penetrating the reservoir. The method includes separating fluid received in the entry port into individual fluid components and sequentially flowing slugs of each individual fluid component along the flow line, observing the slugs as they move along the flow line in order to determine the composition of the slugs, estimating when a desired slug containing a desired fluid component would be in the vicinity of a sample chamber in the flow line, and opening the sample chamber to capture the desired slug when the desired slug is in the vicinity of the sample chamber. The method also includes checking that the sample chambers open and close successfully. Finally, the method further includes creating an accurate record of events, which can then be used to audit the sampling process.

Abstract: The invention refers to a drilling tool and method that, among other aspects, provides for a sleeve with expansible pads for positioning the drilling tool in the desired direction during drilling. The pads are hydraulically expanded and retracted by a valve system which selectively diverts mud flowing through the tool to the desired pads. The tool may also be provided with a flexible tube connecting the sleeve to drilling tool for maneuvering along deviations or curves in the wellbore.

Abstract: The invention refers to a rotary steerable drilling tool having a tool collar and a bit shaft. The bit shaft is supported within the tool collar for pivotal movement about a fixed position along the bit shaft. Moreover, the rotary steerable drilling tool includes a variable bit shaft angulating mechanism, located within the interior of the tool collar. The variable bit shaft angulating mechanism includes a motor, an offset mandrel, and a variable offset coupling. The motor is attached to the upper end of the offset mandrel and adapted to rotate the offset mandrel. The upper end of the variable offset coupling is uncoupleably attached to an offset location of the lower end of the offset mandrel, and the upper end of the bit shaft is rotatably coupled to the variable offset coupling. The rotary steerable drilling tool also includes a torque transmitting coupling adapted to transmit torque from the tool collar to the bit shaft at the fixed position along the bit shaft.

Abstract: A well optimization index WOI is an indicator for tracking trends and monitoring overall well performance. The WOI is a weighted average of two numbers reflecting operation execution performance (i.e., the Well Operation Time Ratio (WCTR)) and production result performance (i.e., the Productivity Index Ratio (PIR)). The WOI is calculated by a spreadsheet program used in a data-processing system. The spreadsheet program automatically generates the WOI for the well according to the expression: WOI = PI R ⁢ N + WCT R N + 1 ; wherein N is a weighting constant which represents a recovery of cost, that is estimated based on historical data.

Abstract: Method and system for subsurface logging utilizing a modified metallic tubular having an elongated body with tubular walls and a central bore adapted to receive a support member. The tubular including slotted stations to provide through-tubular signal transmission and/or reception. Pressure barrier means provide hydraulic isolation at the slotted stations. The support member is equipped with various sources and sensors, including an antenna adapted to generate a magnetic dipole moment with a transverse or controllable orientation, and adapted for engagement within the tubular. The apparatus is suitable for LWT, LWD, and TLC logging operations.

Abstract: Techniques for measuring a displacement include generating a magnetic field using a magnetic field source; measuring a first magnitude of a component of the magnetic field using a sensor disposed within the magnetic field; displacing the magnetic field source; measuring a second magnitude of the component of the magnetic field using the sensor; determining a distance that the magnetic field source is displaced using the first magnitude and the second magnitude. An apparatus for measuring a radius of a hole includes a support member having at least one arm, each having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the support member; a magnet moveably attached to the support member via the second end of the each of the at least one arm; and a first magnetic sensor fixed to the support member. An apparatus of the invention may further include a second and third sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining at least one downhole formation property is disclosed. The apparatus includes a probe and a pretest piston positionable in fluid communication with the formation, and a series of flowlines pressure gauges, and valves configured to selectively draw into the apparatus for measurement of one of formation fluid and mud. The method includes performing a first pretest to determine an estimated formation parameter; using the first pretest to design a second pretest and generate refined formation parameters whereby formation properties may be estimated.

Abstract: A method for identifying environmental effects in well log data includes selecting a plurality of models, each of the plurality of models including at least one parameter to be optimized; fitting the models to the well log data by optimizing the at least one parameter, the fitting producing a plurality of optimized models; determining an indicator of goodness of fit for each of the plurality of optimized models; and selecting a model representing a best fit of the well log data based on the indicator.

Abstract: A gooseneck for coiled tubing operations have a folding design to allow for a more compact design for storage and transport. The gooseneck may remain attached to the injector during transport, thereby decreasing the equipment required to move and set-up the coiled tubing equipment. The gooseneck includes a linkage mechanism for connecting a pair of support struts between the injector body and the tubing guide. The linkage allows the guide to follow a substantially parabolic path as it tracks the tubing from the reel to the injector.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for opposing pressure-induced forces acting on a mandrel of a downhole tool. The apparatus and method are particularly suited for use with a packer and include a piston engageable with the mandrel. Forces placed upon the piston by pressure communicated from the tubing bore are transferred to the mandrel.

Abstract: The invention is an interactive computer system for help in selecting well-services treatment fluid comprising a set of fluid families, a set of relevant fluid characteristics and a set of digital ratings of each fluid family with regard to these characteristics. The system further includes a set of job parameters pertaining to the treatment and qualitative ratings of said parameters estimating their relevance in the effective success of a treatment. An interface allows the user to enter the job parameters values known to him. Built in rules, associated with calculating means including an integrated spreadsheet, match fluid characteristics and job parameters and trigger the elimination of fluids that are not compatible with some value of the job parameters and compute a confidence index for the non-eliminated fluid families, said confidence index based on the one the sum of the products of the fluid families digital ratings and on the rating of the known job parameter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for collecting data downhole in a well bore, even during drilling operations, are disclosed. The apparatus generally comprises an antenna and some associated electronic circuitry. The antenna includes a plurality of arrayed transceiver elements and the electronic circuitry steers transmission or reception through the antenna by controlling the application of power to the array elements. In operation, a transceiver unit containing such an antenna is positioned proximate a remote sensor placed into a formation. An electromagnetic signal is then steered to communicate with the remote sensor over a wireless link.

Abstract: Pumps and valves with movable parts, such as a plunger, typically have seals around the part. The seals may isolate one chamber from another to prevent leakage across the seals. The pressure in one chamber may be different from the pressure in another adjacent chamber, thereby creating a pressure differential across the seal. When the seal is working properly, the pressures in the adjacent chambers remain constant approximately. However, when a seal leaks, pressure will leak across the seal. As such, the chamber with the lower pressure will show an increase in pressure due to seal leakage. Thus, monitoring pressure changes in the chamber with low pressure, or pressure differentials between chambers, serves as an indicator for leakage across the seal and impending seal failure.

Abstract: An electromagnetic well logging instrument is disclosed which includes at least one transmitter antenna oriented to have at least some magnetic dipole moment component transverse to an axis of the instrument. The instrument includes at least two receiver antennas oriented to have at least some magnetic dipole moment component transverse to the axis and parallel to the magnetic dipole moment component of the at least one transmitter antenna. The at least two receiver antennas are axially spaced apart from the transmitter antenna so that a response of the instrument to the transverse magnetic dipole moment component is axially substantially on one side of a more distant spaced one of the at least two receiver antennas.

Abstract: A plugging fluid for plugging a subterranean formation zone surrounding a drill hole consisting of an emulsion comprising an oil phase containing an oil, an emulsifier and 2.4 to 4 kg of cement per liter of oil and an aqueous phase containing water and 12-16 g of polysaccharide per liter of water, wherein the oil to water volume ratio ranges from 20:80 to 25:75. Upon shearing, the emulsion inverts so that the rupture of the emulsion droplets releases the cement into the water phase thus providing metallic divalent ion to crosslink with the polysaccharide and forming a gel structure.

Abstract: A visualization application will generate a Virtual Core representing a compilation of any formation property data, the compilation being a 2 and 1/2 D representation of any formation property. The compilation is generated by creating, in response to an integrated formation evaluation in 1D, a 2 and 1/2 D representation of each 1D formation property in the 1D formation evaluation, when the 1D property can be related to the 2 and 1/2 D physical magnitude combining the 2 and 1/2 D physical magnitude image with the 1D facies log thereby generating a 2 and 1/2 D facies image. The Software will also generate a Virtual Plug representing an average estimate of all formation properties over a prescribed surface or volume in the vicinity of a selection made on the compilation (i.e., on the Virtual Core). When an interaction with the Virtual Core occurs, all results generated by those interactions will be restored.

Abstract: A plugging fluid for plugging a subterranean formation zone surrounding a drill hole comprises an emulsion comprising a dispersed aqueous phase containing an aqueous base and a continuous hydrophobic phase containing a polymer consisting of a grafted cellulose ether derivative, a surfactant and a crosslinking activator of the polymer. The polymer is preferably 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose grafted with vinyl phosphonic acid. Upon shearing, preferably through the drilling bit, the emulsion inverts so that the rupture of the emulsion droplets releases the crosslinking activator into the water phase thus forming a gel structure.

Abstract: A method is provided for gathering information on the pore pressure in an earth formation surrounding a wellbore. The method includes the initial steps of selecting at least one suitable property (e.g., porosity, drilling fluid composition, etc.) of the drilling environment (which is defined by the wellbore and the surrounding formation) and at least one NMR parameter (e.g., T2 distribution) in an NMR measurement response. The method selects a suitable property for which values over a plurality of wellbore depths can be correlated with the characteristics or behavior of the pore pressure in the earth formation. The method further includes conducting an NMR measurement at a plurality of wellbore depths, thereby generating an NMR response from the drilling environment. The measured values of the NMR parameter in the NMR response are then correlated with values of the suitable property.