Abstract: A method and apparatus operable on a wireline logging cable for sampling and testing bore hole fluids, transmitting the results obtained from such testing to the surface for determination whether or not the particular sample undergoing testing should be collected and brought to the surface. The apparatus comprises a downhole tool having an inflatable double packer for isolating an interval of the bore hole coupled with a hydraulic pump, the pump being utilized sequentially to inflate the double packer and isolate an interval of the bore hole and to remove fluids from the isolated interval to test chamber means where resistivity, redox potential (Eh) and acidity (pH) are determined, and finally to dispose of selected samples to one or more sample container chambers within said tool or to reject them into the bore hole if not selected.

Abstract: A system for controlling the vertical movement of a drillstring and which is removably interconnected with a conventional drill rig. The system includes at least one fluidic cylinder and piston assembly removably connected at an upper end to a support, such as the rig's traveling block assembly, and at a lower end to the drillstring. A pump is operatively connected to the cylinder and piston assembly and a control valve device is provided to control the flow of the fluid to and from the cylinder and piston assembly. A computing device is in operative communication with a data measurement system and the control valve device and is used to automatically control the movement of the drillstring in response to data, such as WOB, received from the data measurement system.

Abstract: A method of completing a wellbore is disclosed wherein a low density spacer fluid is introduced into a wellbore and then a completion fluid, such as a cement slurry, to displace the spacer fluid. The spacer fluid comprises a nonagglomerating carrier fluid, such as water or the like, and discrete dispersible density reducing bodies, such as hollow spheres. The density reducing bodies aid in reducing the hydrostatic head of the spacer fluid, completion fluid, and existing wellbore fluids to prevent the hydrostatic head of such fluids from exceeding the fracture gradient of a highly porous, easily fractured formation.

Abstract: A water-based drilling fluid preparation system having an enclosed mixing chamber, a salt barrel, and piping means for selectively directing fluids exiting the mixing chamber means through the salt supply and to and from a suction pit. The mixing chamber has a first inlet for supplying a first fluid, such as drilling muds, into the mixing chamber, a second inlet for supplying water into the mixing chamber, and a third inlet means for supplying a heated fluid into the mixing chamber, wherein the drilling fluids are mixed in a selectively heated environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and related apparatus for desurging and degassing a liquid stream having hydrocarbon, aqueous and gaseous components, such as from at least one production well. Within the method, the liquid stream is introduced into a vessel or degasser unit through a sparger device which is disposed therein, to distribute the flow of the liquid stream into the vessel, as well as to partially degas the liquid. Upon exiting the sparger device, the liquid passes downward through a body of packing elements within the vessel to further degas the liquid and also to desurge the flow of the liquid stream. Thereafter, any separated gas is removed from an upper portion of the vessel and the degassed liquid is removed through a lower portion of the vessel. The degassed liquid can then be passed to an oil-water separator, such as a vortex separation tank.

Abstract: This invention is an improvement over the simple terminator, which has been applied at the mudline, and at the platform level, to resist very large stresses in the riser pipes when the vertically moored platform (VMP) is subjected to wind, tide and current. A second or short terminator is used with the terminator to form a multiterminator which results in the length and weight of the terminator assembly for a given site being greatly reduced from that of the prior art terminator. Thus, the cost of construction of the terminator assembly is drastically reduced with the use of our invention. Also disclosed is a novel bearing arrangement between the VMP and the terminator assembly.

Abstract: A pump-out plug catcher is disclosed for use within a wellbore to contain a released pump-out plug. The catcher includes a body, pump-out plug retention devices, and an extension member which extends into the body. The body is provided with an axial bore extending therethrough and an enlarged hollow portion in communication with the bore. Pump-out plug retention devices are provided in an upper portion of the body and retain a pump-out plug across the bore until subjected to a predetermined pressure. The extension member is provided with an axial bore extending therethrough which is of a diameter less than pump-out plug. The released pump-out plug catcher apparatus is lowered into a wellbore and set below a retrievable packer assembly. A pump-out plug is connected to the catcher and fluid is introduced down the tubing to force the pump-out plug from its position.

Abstract: Disclosed are compositions and related methods of use for reducing the viscosity of a fluid introduced into a subterranean formation. The compositions are introduced into the subterranean formation and are non-reactive to the fluid until activated by the closing of any fractures in the subterranean formation upon the compositions. The compositions are comprised of a viscosity reducing chemical, such as an enzyme, oxidizing agent, acid, catalyst, or mixtures thereof, encapsulated in dry or liquid form within hollow or porous, crushable beads. The beads can be formed from glass, ceramics, plastics, gels, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: Method of logging a plurality of underground formations wherein a first and a second gamma ray emitting radioactive tracers with different energy levels are introduced into the formations. Logs are produced of the tracers as the traced fluids pass through the formations and thereafter the logs are analyzed to determined changes in effective permeabilities and sweep of the formations.

Abstract: To control adverse vertical height growth of the fracture created during hydraulic fracturing treatments of subterranean formations, a nonproppant fluid stage is injected during the treatment. The nonproppant stage comprises a transport fluid and a flow block material. The flow block material can be any particulate used as a fracture proppant, and has a particle size distribution which is sufficient to form a substantially impermeable barrier to fluid flow into the vertical extremities of the fracture. The particle size distribution preferably comprises at least two different particles sizes.

Abstract: An improved method of oil recovery for use within an underground formation having an ion exchange capacity. An aqueous micellar fluid bank containing a surfactant is injected into the formation followed by an injection of the bank with a mobility control fluid, such as a polymer-thickened aqueous solution, into the formation. The mobility control fluid has a salt level lower than or equal to the salt level of the micellar fluid, but a greater divalent cation-to-monovalent cation ratio than the micellar fluid make-up brine, preconditioning brine or original in-place brine in a reservoir in order to reduce the hardness of the formation fluids in situ generated at the trailing edge of the micellar fluid which in turn reduces the surfactant loss from the micellar fluid.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for making a sharp separation of solids into components which are finer than the screen mesh and coarser then the screen mesh. The solids ladened fluid is introduced onto a screen to separate coarse solids from fine solids. A tray containing a body of aqueous liquid is vibrated causing the aqueous liquid to repeatedly contact the solids while on the screen to provide the needed mobility for fine particles to pass through the screen with the liquid. The aqueous liquid returns to the tray and the vibration of the tray aids in removal of the fine solids which have passed through the screen from the tray. Aqueous liquid is continuously added to the tray or sprayed above the screen to keep accumulated solids from increasing the viscosity of the aqueous liquid in the tray.

Abstract: An automated borehole gravity meter system for measuring gravity within a wellbore. The gravity meter includes leveling devices for leveling the borehole gravity meter, displacement devices for applying forces to a gravity sensing device within the gravity meter to bring the gravity sensing device to a predetermined or null position. Electronic sensing and control devices are provided for (i) activating the displacement devices, (ii) sensing the forces applied to the gravity sensing device, (iii) electronically converting the values of the forces into a representation of the gravity at the location in the wellbore, and (iv) outputting such representation. The system further includes electronic control devices with the capability of correcting the representation of gravity for tidal effects, as well as, calculating and outputting the formation bulk density and/or porosity.

Abstract: An apparatus and its use for measuring the differences in gravity at spaced locations in a wellbore. The apparatus includes first and second gravity measuring devices mounted at spaced vertical positions from each other and encapsulated for movement through a wellbore. A first electrical control current, proportional to the force of gravity acting upon the first gravity measuring device, is provided as a bias current to a second electrical control current. The second electrical control current is indicative of differences in gravity forces detected by the first and second gravity measuring devices, thereby providing a gravitational gradient reading.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing the functioning of a float-activated liquid level control device comprises a float for activating a liquid level control device, a float cage enclosing said float, an entry port accessible from outside a separating tank through which fluid may be input directly into the float cage enclosure, and a flange connection for mounting the test apparatus inside a fluid separation tank. The method comprises connecting a fluid source to the input port of the apparatus of the instant invention, injecting fluid directly into the float cage enclosure to activate the float of the instant invention, monitoring the liquid level control device to insure that it is functioning correctly and then withdrawing the input fluid to return the float to its normal operating position.

Abstract: In the displacement of crude oil through a subterranean reservoir with an aqueous displacement fluid, improved oil recovery is obtained by providing a salinity contrast between the displacement fluid and aqueous formation fluid. The salinity of the displacement fluid is selected such that at least one mixture of the aqueous displacement and the aqueous formation fluid will have the minimum interfacial tension between the displaced crude oil and mixtures of these fluids. The minimum interfacial tension between crude oil and mixtures of aqueous displacement and formation fluids can be determined by mixing these fluids such that some mixtures contain from essentially none to essentially all displacement fluid and determining the interfacial tension between the mixtures and the crude oil. The displacement fluid is a micellar fluid followed by a polymer-containing aqueous fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus is described whereby the side force on a drill bit can be measured during drilling operations and transmitted to the surface where it can be used in predicting trajectory of the hole and taking corrective action in the drilling operation. A downhole assembly using a downhole motor is modified to include means to detect the side thrust or force on a bit driven by the motor and the force on the deflection means of the downhole motor. These measured forces are transmitted to the surface of the earth during drilling operations and are used in evaluating and controlling drilling operations. Means are also provided to measure magnitude of the force on a downhole stabilizer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fracturing a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore, the fracturing being accomplished by first injecting into said formation a low leakoff, high efficiency fluid followed by a controlled viscosity fluid carrying propping agents.

Abstract: A diverter tool and method of use thereof for use in setting a cement plug in a well. The tool comprises a hollow cylindrical body provided with a plurality cylindrical ports, the axes of which form a plane essentially perpendicular to the axis of the tool.

Abstract: This is a special downhole multi-layer sand screen for oil and other fluids containing sand. The preferred embodiment of the sand filter includes an outer screen, an intermediate screen and an inner screen although another embodiment may have only an outer and an inner screen. The outermost screen is of larger spacing to retain only the coarser sand particles and the openings in the inner two screens are progressively smaller to retain the less coarse sand material. The coarser sand particles bridge about the larger openings in the outer screens and progressively finer sand materials bridge across the intermediate and inner screens.