Abstract: A well treating composition containing a polysaccharide-based water-superabsorbent material has particularly applicability as a thermal insulating, fracturing or acid stimulation fluid. The water-superabsorbent material is capable of absorbing, at a minimum, its own weight. Particularly effective are biodegradable materials containing guar gum and carrageenan. The composition may further contain a crosslinking agent, brine and/or a viscosifying polymer or a gelling agent. As an oil-based fluid, the crosslinking agent is absorbed onto the water-superabsorbent material and serves to effectively delay crosslinking.

Abstract: A combination jarring tool and disconnect device is disclosed in which the jarring events may be followed by separate disconnect event, or in which the jarring events may coincide with disconnect events. The tool generally comprises a housing and a sleeve in concentric arrangement and a disconnect interface. A plurality of axial and rotational locks is used to prevent premature energization of the jarring and disconnect events.

Abstract: A biodegradable water-in-synthetic oil base emulsion, effective in the removal of filter cakes, consists of an external phase of a surfactant emulsified in a paraffinic base oil. The emulsion is particularly effective in breaking-down the interfacial rheological properties of oil base mud and synthetic oil base mud filter cakes and acts as a demulsifier to break the water-in-oil emulsions present in such oil base and synthetic oil base muds.

Abstract: A method of treating a well consists of introducing into the wellbore a biodegradable fluid system containing a fatty acid ester, such as methyl soyate. The fluid system may further contain a lactic acid ester, such as ethyl lactate, and/or a nonionic surfactant. The fluid system may be used in displacement, well remediation and stimulation as well as additional, alternative applications such as the cleaning of surface and/or downhole equipment.

Abstract: A well system comprising an improved cross-over tool is provided. The tool may comprise a debris shield for substantially preventing sand, proppant or other well debris from fouling a flow port closing sleeve located below the cross-over tool fracture ports; a return port cover adapted to close or open a return port upon contact with a designated downhole surface regardless of tubing movement caused by stretching or contracting under stress or other induced pipe movement from downhole conditions; or a collet-type circulation valve adapted to mechanically indicate the position or flow status of the cross-over tool.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for gravel packing is provided. The apparatus includes a substantially tubular-shaped base pipe having a plurality of apertures disposed along part of its length and a dual-wall sand screen coaxially secured to the base pipe. The dual-wall screen is substantially permeable to fluids and impermeable to sand. The apparatus provides a plurality of fluid permeable channels formed within the sand screen, which are disposed along the entire length of the screen. Each channel has an associated plurality of ports spaced along discrete intervals of the screen, which communicate with an annulus formed between the apparatus and the wellbore. The method provides for injecting a sand and fluid slurry mixture through the screen and out of the ports. This design reduces the incidence of sand bridge formation, and packs gravel around any sand bridges, which may be formed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for substantially cleaning fill from a borehole is described variously including running a coiled tubing assembly into the wellbore, creating a fluid vortex by circulating cleaning fluid through the coiled tubing, and pulling the coiled tubing and coiled tubing assembly out of the hole at a speed sufficient to substantially clean the particulate solids from the wellbore. An apparatus for substantially cleaning fill from a hole, including vertical, horizontal, or deviated wells also is provided.

Abstract: A composition for treating wellbore formations is provided consisting of a hydratable polysaccharide, an anionic surfactant, and an aqueous solvent where the hydratable polysaccharide is soluble in the aqueous solvent. The concentration of the anionic surfactant is sufficient to scavenge greater than about 50%, and preferably greater than 90% of the cations contained in the aqueous solvent. The hydratable polysaccharide is preferably anionic and may be a guar, guar derivative, galactomannan, cellulose, or cellulose derivative. The composition may also be a slurry used for preparing aqueous well treatment fluid. A method is also provided for utilizing the composition for fracturing a formation by pumping the fluid into the formation.

Abstract: A cement composition is provided including a cement and a low reactivity particle coated with a swellable polymeric material. The low reactivity particle is coated with a swellable polymeric material at a concentration of about 10 weight percent to about 50 weight percent, based on the weight of the cement. The swellable polymeric material swells to a larger volume when exposed to one or more hydrocarbons, depending on the selected polymeric material. The cement composition is used in a method as a self-sealing cement for cementing an oil and gas well, thereby minimizing or mitigating the unwanted migration of water or hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A device for use with components for a downhole tool—such as a throat, a nozzle, or a diffuser—used for cleaning a wellbore, are disclosed which decreases the erosion of the components. The device may be comprised of a hardened material, such as stack of pure diamond disks brazed to form an insert for a throat. The device may also be comprised of polycrystalline diamond (PCD) washers stacked together and mechanically secured within the component such as a throat. The device may also be comprised of diamond grown on a mandrel into a trumpet shape, which may then be brazed or epoxied into the component. As each of these materials is harder than materials previously utilized, erosion performance is enhanced. A method of improving erosion performance of components utilized to clean a wellbore is also disclosed.

Abstract: A high temperature blocking gel contains a blend of an aqueous fluid and carboxymethyl guar and a crosslinking agent. The gel exhibits excellent hydration capability in brines and positive viscosity generation and controls fluid loss from an oil well during drilling, completion and/or workover operations.

Abstract: An annular fracturing combo tool and method for perforating and annular fracturing multiple zones of a wellbore on a single trip, the tool being releasably connected to coiled tubing. The annular fracturing combo tool may include a locating device connected beneath a packing device used to hydraulically isolate a portion of the wellbore. The packing device may be connected beneath a sand jetting sub. The sand jetting sub may be releasably connected to an end of coiled tubing, which is used to run the annular fracturing combo tool into the well bore and to supply the sand jetting sub with abrasive material to perforate the wellbore. The coiled tubing may also supply the sand jetting sub with fluid to circulate out of the sand jetting sub during the fracturing process. A yo-yo disconnect tool may releasably connect the annular fracturing combo tool to the end of coiled tubing.

Abstract: Presented is a subsurface safety valve in which the flapper mount, hard seat and spring housing have been integrated into a single assembly. To accommodate a “soft seat insert,” a special retainer soft seat ring and soft seat seal are provided. The soft seat seal fits over a conical protruding surface (hard seat) that surrounds the main bore of the safety valve on the bottom side of the spring housing. The retainer ring fits over the soft seat seal and holds it in place against the conical surface. Notches along the perimeter of an upper flanged end of the soft seat seal prevent gases, such as nitrogen, from becoming trapped behind the seal and potentially damaging it during a rapid decompression event. A gap between the upper flanged end of the soft seat seal and the lower spring housing allow the seal to move up and down the conical protruding surface as the flapper opens and closes, reducing compression of the seal and the risk of a compression set due to repeated opening and closing of the flapper.

Abstract: A method for completing a well in a single trip is described, which includes inserting a completion tool assembly into the wellbore. The completion tool assembly includes a gravel packing assembly having a central channel substantially therethrough and a service tool assembly slidably positioned within the central channel. The service tool includes a pressure pulsating rotating jetting tool, connectable to a washpipe via a differential valve. By selectively dropping a plurality of plugging devices into the completion tool, multiple operations may be selectively performed in the wellbore in a single trip. In this way, the gravel packing and stimulating operations may be performed by a single completion tool assembly in a single trip into the wellbore, thus reducing the cost and time for performing the gravel packing and stimulating operations.

Abstract: A well service fluid comprising one or more anionic viscoelastic surfactants and one or more polymers is described. The fluids can contain an aqueous or non-aqueous fluid and/or a buffer for adjusting the pH of the fracturing fluid. The well service fluid can be used as a fracturing fluid in order to control water production from a well, while simultaneously increasing the oil production from the well.

Abstract: A coil tubing hanger includes a hanger body having a hanger base with a lower end for connection to a well tree, an upper end for connection of a hanger cap and an internal cylindrical cavity for receiving an annular, externally actuated, pack-off element for selectively providing a high-pressure fluid seal against the coil tubing. The hanger cap seals the cylindrical cavity and provides a slip bowl. Slips received in the slip bowl suspend the coil tubing. An injection nipple mounted to the slip bowl includes an injection nipple port through which the coil tubing extends, and a surface pack-off provides a high pressure fluid seal around the coil tubing above the slips, so that the pack-off element may be released from the coil tubing after the coil tubing is landed and the surface pack-off is secured.

Abstract: A method of fracturing using deformable proppants minimizes proppant pack damage, without compromising the fracturing fluid's proppant transport properties during pumping, by use of deformable proppants. Selection of proppant is dependent upon the mechanical properties of the formation rock. The strength of the deformable proppant is dependent upon the modulus of the formation rock being treated such that the proppant is capable of providing, at the very least, a minimum level of conductivity in in-situ stress environments. The maximum elastic modulus of the deformable proppant is less than the minimum modulus of the formation rock which is being treated. The method is particularly applicable in fracturing operations of subterranean reservoirs such as those comprised primarily of coal, chalk, limestone, dolomite, shale, siltstone, diatomite, etc.

Abstract: A well treating composition containing a polysaccharide-based water-superabsorbent material has particularly applicability as a thermal insulating, fracturing or acid stimulation fluid. The water-superabsorbent material is capable of absorbing, at a minimum, its own weight. Particularly effective are biodegradable materials containing guar gum and carrageenan. The composition may further contain a crosslinking agent, brine and/or a viscosifying polymer or a gelling agent. As an oil-based fluid, the crosslinking agent is absorbed onto the water-superabsorbent material and serves to effectively delay crosslinking.

Abstract: The invention is directed to controlling sand production in an oil and/or gas well. A preferred embodiment of the invention is directed to repairing a downhole screen by pumping neutrally buoyant resin coated material into a damaged portion of a gravel pack screen and also into any void behind the damaged portion of the screen. The neutrally buoyant resin provides for the repair of a portion of the screen even if the damaged portion is located on the uphole side of a deviated well. Any excess resin coated material may subsequently be removed from the central passageway of the screen and then circulated to the surface because the resin coated material is neutrally buoyant. Neutrally buoyant resin may be pumped into a well that does not have a sand control system. The porous neutrally buoyant resin allows production of hydrocarbons, but prevents production of sand into the well.

Abstract: Bypass assembly 100 includes stinger 150 received by receptacle bore 172 of tubular receiver 120 attached to tube 106. Bypass pathway 140 connects stinger port(s) (158, 158?) to slip hanger 122 supported hydraulic conduit 108 to bypass the tube 106. Tube 106 can be a subsurface safety valve or hydraulic nipple anchored within production tubing. Bypass assembly 200 includes upper 202 and lower 203 hydraulic nipples in production tubing 210, with respective tubular anchor seal assemblies (220, 230) engaged therein. Bypass pathway 214 connects hydraulic conduit 208 to slip hanger 242 supported hydraulic conduit 216 to bypass tubular anchor seal assemblies (220, 230). Bypass assembly 300 includes upper 302 and lower 303 hydraulic nipples in production tubing 310, with respective tubular anchor seal assemblies (320, 330) engaged therein. Bypass passage 318 connects stinger 350 to slip hanger 342 supported hydraulic conduit 316 to bypass tubular anchor seal assemblies (320, 330).