Abstract: A method and apparatus for exploiting oilfields involving the installation of a well network in the form of an open or non-open ring that is generally non-circular. Horizontal well sections (3) are drilled from vertical injection (1) or producing (2) wells that already exist, to interlink them. The vertical wells that are located in the same line are used as injection wells, thereby promoting oil sweeping in the reservoir (R) towards the ring-shaped producing wells (P1) or (P2). In another embodiment, vertical service wells are drilled for monitoring the characteristics of the reservoir (R). From these wells, horizontal wells are drilled in a ring-shaped form to obtain concentric well rings from the periphery to the central region of the reservoir (R). The outermost horizontal well is used as injection well and the innermost annular horizontal wells are used as producing wells.

Abstract: A method is described for the construction of an arrangement of Extended Reach Wells (ERW) for the production, transport, and exploitation of mineral layers, in that an offshore reservoir of fluids is initially penetrated by an initial well, followed by penetration by a multilateral well, close to or connected at the end of the drilling section of the multilateral well to the end of the drilling section of the initial well. A well of long distance is therefore formed, connected hydraulically at one end of the initial well to the production unit. The resulting long-distance well allows for the drainage of the reservoir in deep and extremely deep water from a platform in shallower water.

Abstract: A description is given of a system for exploiting oilfields, be these either already developed or to be developed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and equipment whereby a pig (11) launched into a gas injection line (5) can be inserted into a hydrocarbon flow line (2) in a position close to the subsea wellhead or manifold (1) without interrupting the flow of hydrocarbons and with minimum interference to the process of gas injection.

Abstract: A subsea primary separating vessel (2) is installed close to the wellhead (1) of an oil producing well to effect primary separation of the liquid and gas phases of the produced fluids. A line (3) connected to the top of the separating vessel allows the separated gases to flow to a collecting vessel (7) located at any gathering station. The liquid phase flows to the gathering center through a flow line (21) which distributes the fluids into a U-shaped pipe length (13), each end of which is connected to a flow line (4 or 5) along which the liquid phase flows to a surge tank (8). When the volume of liquid phase which has settled out within the flow lines begins to exert a back pressure which has a prejudicial effect on well production, high pressure gas can be injected into the flow lines for a specific period of time to promote flow of the liquid phase to the surge tank (8).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and equipment to assist the flow of offshore production of hydrocarbon mixtures containing a high concentration of gas. A primary separating vessel is used and production is diverted to it. This vessel is designed to allow primary separate of the gas, which flows to the gathering center via a special line. Within the primary separating vessel there is a U-shaped length of pipe whose arms are connected to two flow lines which extend to the gathering center. A mechanical interface driven by high pressure gas periodically travels along these lines, carrying with it to the gathering center the volume of liquid phase which has accumulated in the lines. If liquid phase passes into the gas flow line, a mechanical interface can be passed along this line to remove the volume of liquid which has accumulated within it.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and equipment to assist the flow of offshore oil production. At least three production flow lines are used, which are interconnected close to offshore well-heads or manifolds forming two U-shaped lengths of pipe acting as circuits for passage of the hydrocarbon mixture produced. A mechanical interface is periodically inserted into one flow line of the U-shaped branches of pipe and, driven by a volume of pressurized gas, travels along the one from among the two U-shaped pipe length to return to a gathering center. In its passage it pushes along the volume of hydrocarbon mixture which has accumulated in the flow lines.

Abstract: Two production strings extend downwardly from a well head of an oil well to a point adjacent a producing region. Lower ends of the two production strings are connected by a coupling which allows a mechanical interface launched adjacent the well head of one of the production strings to descend along the production string through the coupling and upwardly through the other production string to displace oil from the production strings to a surge tank. High pressure gas is utilized to move the mechanical interface through the production strings and suitable valves are provided for controlling the flow of gas and oil through the production strings.

Abstract: A process for the acquisition of an internal log of a parameter, throughout a pipeline, comprises traversing a pipeline (40) with a pig (30) having a housed in its interior a sensor (31) for continuously sensing and recording the parameter log throughout the whole extend of the pipeline (40). The body (36) of the pig (30) is essentially made up of foamed polymeric or elastomeric material of specific gravity less than 40 kg per cubic meter, thus allowing the passage of the pig (30) past any reduction in diameter of pipeline (40), and thus rendering possible the employment of the measurement of a parameter gradient by means of pigs in long pipelines which are of considerable extend and/or are located in sites of difficult access or even in highly deformed pipelines. The measurement of pressure gradient is used in the monitoring of clogs which hinder the flow of fluids.