Abstract: A system for cementing a wellbore having a casing string disposed in the wellbore is provided. The system includes a cement tool, a fiber optic cable, and a computing device. The cement tool is operable to be deployed down the wellbore through a casing string from a surface during cementing process of the wellbore. The cement tool includes a tool sensor. The fiber optic cable is coupled with the cement tool such that the fiber optic cable spans the wellbore from the cement tool to the surface. The fiber optic cable is communicatively coupled with the tool sensor. The computing device is communicatively coupled with the fiber optic cable and is operable to receive and process signals from the tool sensor via the fiber optic cable during the cementing process.

Abstract: A sensor module can be used to make measurements during a single trip into and out of a wellbore in connection with a cement operation. The sensor module can include a detachment mechanism to detachably couple to a cement dart. The sensor module can also include a sensor to make measurements in a run-in-hole configuration prior to detaching from the cement dart and in a come-out-of-hole configuration subsequent to detaching from the cement dart in a wellbore. The sensor module can also include a transceiver to transmit the measurements to a processing device via a communication medium and to receive commands from the processing device via the communication medium.

Abstract: Various embodiments include nuclear magnetic resonance (MR) sensor array systems and methods are disclosed. One such system includes a downhole casing having at least one MR sensor array peripherally coupled to an outside of the casing. At least one MR sensor array can include an MR sensor configured to monitor a cement/fluid mix composition while the cement is setting.

Abstract: A system for cementing a wellbore having a casing string disposed in the wellbore is provided. The system includes a cement tool, a fiber optic cable, and a computing device. The cement tool is operable to be deployed down the wellbore through a casing string from a surface during cementing process of the wellbore. The cement tool includes a tool sensor. The fiber optic cable is coupled with the cement tool such that the fiber optic cable spans the wellbore from the cement tool to the surface. The fiber optic cable is communicatively coupled with the tool sensor. The computing device is communicatively coupled with the fiber optic cable and is operable to receive and process signals from the tool sensor via the fiber optic cable during the cementing process.

Abstract: Methods and systems are presented in this disclosure for determining information (e.g., visual information) about locations of different fluids flowing along a casing in a wellbore. A plurality of radio frequency (RF) micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) tags is placed in a plurality of fluids flowing through an annulus region between a casing string in the wellbore and a reservoir formation. At a plurality of sensing nodes located along the casing string, information about the fluids is gathered by communicating with the RF MEMS tags placed in the fluids. The information about fluid locations along the casing gathered by the sensing nodes is communicated to a receiving device, and appropriate operation in relation to the wellbore is performed based on the communicated information.

Abstract: Methods for using treatment fluids comprising synthetic silicates in subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods may comprise introducing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a synthetic silicate into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation comprising a loss zone; allowing the treatment fluid to displace at least a portion of a first fluid present in the wellbore; and allowing the treatment fluid to at least partially plug the loss zone.

Abstract: Determining a type of annular material in a wellbore comprises measuring an acoustic noise of one or more reference materials and thereby generating a corresponding one or more acoustic profiles, monitoring the annular material with an acoustic sensor positioned in the wellbore and thereby obtaining an acoustic response of the annular material, comparing the acoustic response with the one or more acoustic profiles using a processor communicably coupled to the acoustic sensor, and characterizing the annular material based on the comparison of the acoustic response and the one or more acoustic profiles.

Abstract: A method for use with a subterranean well can include modeling multiple fluid types in an annulus formed between casing and an earth formation penetrated by a wellbore, inverting electromagnetic data acquired by sensors in the well, and selecting at least one of the fluid types based on the inverting. A system for use with a subterranean well can include multiple sensors longitudinally spaced apart along a casing in a wellbore, each of the sensors imparting electromagnetic impulses to a fluid present in an annulus formed between the casing and the wellbore, and each of the sensors providing observed data indicative of at least one physical property associated with the fluid.

Abstract: Compositions, methods, and systems for mitigating annular pressure buildup in a wellbore. A method comprises introducing a spacer fluid into an annulus of the wellbore, wherein the spacer fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid, an acid swellable polymer, and a hydrolysable ester. The method further comprises allowing or causing to allow at least a portion of the spacer fluid to remain in the annulus; and allowing or causing to allow a temperature to increase in the annulus to the temperature sufficient to hydrolyze the hydrolysable ester; wherein hydrolysis of the hydrolysable ester produces an acid; wherein the acid reacts with the acid swellable polymer to produce a salt; and wherein the produced salt has a thermal expansion coefficient less than that of the aqueous base fluid.

Abstract: A variety of systems, methods and compositions are disclosed, including, in one method, a method of cementing may comprise providing a cement composition comprising a hydraulic cement, water, and a microcellulose additive, wherein the microcellose additive may comprise microcellulose with a metal deposited on a surface of the microcellose, wherein the metal may be selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, and combinations thereof; placing the cement composition in a selected location; and allowing the cement composition to set.

Abstract: Disclosed are telemetry systems and methods that employ a plurality of electromagnetic transceivers disposed outside a well casing string at a corresponding plurality of depths along the casing string. Each transceiver includes one or more toroidal inductors circumferentially surrounding the casing string and inductively coupled thereto to allow signal transmission between transceivers via currents induced in the casing. In some embodiments, signals are relayed via a chain of transceivers to facilitate indirect communication between a surface facility and other transceivers located too deep for direct communication to the surface.

Abstract: A method of detecting the presence of a downhole fluid at a particular location in a wellbore including pumping an activating fluid into a wellbore; contacting a flow controlling device in a pipe string casing with the activating fluid, the flow controlling device comprising at least one swellable element; activating the at least one swellable element in the flow controlling device; blocking fluids or controlling the flow of fluids entering or leaving the casing with the activated flow controlling device; allowing the pressure to change; and detecting the pressure change. An apparatus includes a pipe string in a wellbore and a flow controlling device in the pipe string casing, wherein the flow controlling device includes at least one swellable element, wherein upon activation, the at least one swellable element swells and fully or partially seals off the flow area of the flow controlling device.

Abstract: A well casing is cemented in a well bore in a subterranean formation by pumping cement slurry down into the well casing so that the cement slurry flows up into an annulus surrounding the well casing. While pumping the cement slurry, the position of the top of the cement slurry in the annulus is sensed, and the rise of the sensed position of the top of the cement slurry in the annulus is recorded as a function of time. The recording is analyzed to evaluate the cement job. For example, the analysis may indicate a problem addressed by adjusting a cement plan for a future cement job, and the analysis may indicate a need to repair a location of the set cement by perforating the well casing at the location to be repaired, and pumping cement slurry down the well casing to fill the location to be repaired.

Abstract: A sensor module can be used to make measurements during a single trip into and out of a wellbore in connection with a cement operation. The sensor module can include a detachment mechanism to detachably couple to a cement dart. The sensor module can also include a sensor to make measurements in a run-in-hole configuration prior to detaching from the cement dart and in a come-out-of-hole configuration subsequent to detaching from the cement dart in a wellbore. The sensor module can also include a transceiver to transmit the measurements to a processing device via a communication medium and to receive commands from the processing device via the communication medium.

Abstract: Radio frequency Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (“MEMS”) tags are geometrically shaped using protective structures. The MEMS tags may be added to wellbore cement, and pumped downhole. In addition to protecting the MEMS tags from the harsh downhole environment, the protective structures produce a more rounded shape which, in turns, increases the flow efficiency of the MEMS tags. An interrogation tool may be deployed downhole to interrogate the MEMS tags, to thereby perform a variety of wellbore operations such as assessing the integrity of the cement seal.

Abstract: A communication system that is positionable in a wellbore can include a first transceiver positioned externally to a casing string. The first transceiver can be operable to detect a presence or an absence of a surface wave; determine a location of a fluid in the wellbore based on the presence or the absence of the surface wave; and transmit data indicative of the location to a second transceiver. The surface wave can include an electromagnetic wave that has a magnetic field or an electric field that is non-transverse to a direction of propagation of the surface wave. The communication system can also include the second transceiver, which can be positioned externally the casing string and operable to receive the data.

Abstract: Included are compositions, methods, and systems for mitigating annular pressure buildup in a wellbore. An example method comprises introducing a spacer fluid into an annulus of the wellbore, wherein the spacer fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid, an acid swellable polymer, and a hydrolysable ester. The method further comprises allowing or causing to allow at least a portion of the spacer fluid to remain in the annulus; and allowing or causing to allow a temperature to increase in the annulus to the temperature sufficient to hydrolyze the hydrolysable ester; wherein hydrolysis of the hydrolysable ester produces an acid; wherein the acid reacts with the acid swellable polymer to produce a salt; and wherein the produced salt has a thermal expansion coefficient less than that of the aqueous base fluid.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing positive and/or negative pressure testing in managed pressure operations in subterranean well bores are provided. In some embodiments, the methods comprise: performing a positive or negative pressure test in a well bore in a subterranean formation, wherein the well bore is maintained in a closed pressure loop, and at least one choke valve is provided in communication with the well bore, the choke valve being coupled to a controller, and during the test in the well bore, monitoring an actual bottomhole pressure in the well bore using data from at least one downhole sensor in the well bore, and if the actual bottomhole pressure in the well bore increases or decreases, manipulating the choke valve using the controller to increase or decrease the bottomhole pressure in the well bore.

Abstract: A method and system for treating a subterranean formation involves detecting the displacement and position of a downhole fluid having a pH through the fluids reaction with a pH-sensitive material, mobilizing a plug assembly comprising the material to contact one or more constrictions in a wellbore casing.

Abstract: Methods for using treatment fluids comprising synthetic silicates in subterranean formations are provided. In some embodiments, the methods may comprise introducing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid and a synthetic silicate into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation comprising a loss zone; allowing the treatment fluid to displace at least a portion of a first fluid present in the wellbore; and allowing the treatment fluid to at least partially plug the loss zone.