Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing gas from a hydrate formation includes the use of at least one wellbore which penetrates the hydrate formation and further extends into an aquifer below the hydrate formation. The aquifer provides relatively warm water which may be produced up and into the hydrate formation thereby causing the release of gas from the hydrate. Suitable flow control and monitoring equipment may be included to control the flow of water produced from the aquifer and gas produced from the hydrate formation.

Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing method is disclosed that includes designing a fracture treatment including a fluid pumping schedule to fracture a subterranean formation according to a design model that accounts for cumulative filter cake thickness, including polymer concentrated at the fracture surfaces, to provide a propped fracture width effectively greater than the cumulative filter cake thickness, and injecting fluids through a wellbore into the formation essentially according to the fluid pumping schedule of the fracture treatment design. A fracturing method is also disclosed that includes placing a high breaker loading in the filter cake. A composition is disclosed which comprises a fluid viscosified with a polymer and a fluid loss additive comprising a delayed breaker.

Abstract: A method is given of fracturing a subterranean formation including the step of a) pumping at least one device actively transmitting data that provide information on the device position, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the positions of said at least one device, or b) pumping metallic elements, preferably as proppant agents, and further locating the position of said metallic elements with a tool selected from the group consisting of magnetometers, resistivity tools, electromagnetic devices and ultra-long arrays of electrodes, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the positions of said metallic elements. The method allows monitoring of the fracture geometry and proppant placement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing gas from a hydrate formation includes the use of at least one wellbore which penetrates the hydrate formation and further extends into an aquifer below the hydrate formation. The aquifer provides relatively warm water which may be produced up and into the hydrate formation thereby causing the release of gas from the hydrate. Suitable flow control and monitoring equipment may be included to control the flow of water produced from the aquifer and gas produced from the hydrate formation.

Abstract: A method is given of fracturing a subterranean formation including the step of a) pumping at least one device actively transmitting data that provide information on the device position, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the positions of said at least one device, or b) pumping metallic elements, preferably as proppant agents, and further locating the position of said metallic elements with a tool selected from the group consisting of magnetometers, resistivity tools, electromagnetic devices and ultra-long arrays of electrodes, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the positions of said metallic elements. The method allows monitoring of the fracture geometry and proppant placement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving reservoir communication includes, in one arrangement, causing creation of tunnels in surrounding formation of a well interval, and applying treatment fluid to the tunnels. A local transient underbalance condition is created in the well interval after creation of the tunnels in the formation and application of the treatment fluids.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of fracturing a subterranean formation including the step of pumping at least one device actively transmitting data that provide information on the device position, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the positions of said at least one device or pumping metallic elements, preferably as proppant agents, and further locating the position of said metallic elements with a tool selected from the group consisting of magnetometers, resistivity tools, electromagnetic devices and ultra-long arrays of electrodes. The invention allows monitoring of the fracture geometry and proppant placement.

Abstract: Herein is described a fluid that is useful in consolidating a formation without the use of a gravel pack and screen. In particular, the fluid is useful in consolidating heterogeneous formations where the permeability is not uniform over-the total formation thickness, e.g. a formation having at least a first layer and a second layer, wherein the permeability of the first layer is greater than that of the second layer. The fluid comprises at least one of a resin, a curing agent, and a surfactant, wherein the fluid is self-diverting. Optionally, a catalyst or other additives, such as an oil wetting agent, can be used. Fluids of the present invention are self-diverting, i.e.

Abstract: In accordance with illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a method of determining fracture behavior from downhole pressure measurements that are made during a hydraulic well fracturing operation includes pumping fracturing fluids at a constant rate under high pressure against a formation to create fractures therein, and obtaining measurements representative of downhole pressures as pumping progresses. The logarithmic derivatives of such pressure measurements are used to determine the type of fracture behavior, as well as the onset of screenout where the fracturing fluid carries a proppant. In-situ stress or closure pressure also can be determined by finding a value thereof which makes a logarithmic net pressure plot have the same slope as the logarithmic plot of the values of the pressure derivatives.

Abstract: The invention relates to a well test method for determining the physical characteristics of a system made up of a well and a subsurface formation containing a fluid such as a hydrocarbon. A change in the flow rate of said fluid is produced for a short period (duration t.sub.P of the order of a few minutes) so as to obtain a flow pulse resembling a Dirac pulse; the variations .DELTA.P of the down-hole fluid pressure is measured during said short period and then during the subsequent period of return to the initial state of the well-formation system, and the experimental pressure curve thus obtained is compared with the curves of a double network of type curves representing, as a function of a common parameter, the pressure P.sub.D and its derivative P'.sub.D with respect to time, by matching the branch of the experimental curve corresponding to the short period with a curve P.sub.D and the branch of this curve corresponding to the subsequent period with the curve P'.sub.D of the same parameter.