Abstract: A wellbore isolation device comprises: a first composition, wherein the first composition comprises: (A) a first substance; and (B) a second substance, wherein the first composition has a solid-liquid phase transformation temperature less than the solid-liquid phase transformation temperatures of at least the first substance or the second substance at a specific pressure. A method of removing a wellbore isolation device comprises: increasing the temperature surrounding the wellbore isolation device; and allowing at least a portion of the first composition to undergo a phase transformation from a solid to a liquid. A method of inhibiting or preventing fluid flow in a wellbore comprises: decreasing the temperature of at least a portion of the wellbore; positioning the wellbore isolation device in the at least a portion of the wellbore; and increasing the temperature of the at least a portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: A wellbore isolation device comprises: at least a first material, wherein the first material: (A) is a metal or a metal alloy; and (B) is capable of at least partially dissolving when an electrically conductive path exists between the first material and a second material and at least a portion of the first and second materials are in contact with an electrolyte, wherein the second material: (i) is a metal or metal alloy; and (ii) has a greater anodic index than the first material. A method of removing the wellbore isolation device comprises: contacting or allowing the wellbore isolation device to come in contact with an electrolyte; and allowing at least a portion of the first material to dissolve.

Abstract: A system for variably resisting flow of a fluid composition can include a flow passage and a set of one or more branch passages which intersect the flow passage, whereby a proportion of the composition diverted from the passage to the set of branch passages varies based on at least one of a) viscosity of the fluid composition, and b) velocity of the fluid composition in the flow passage. Another variable flow resistance system can include a flow path selection device that selects which of multiple flow paths a majority of fluid flows through from the device, based on a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid in the composition. Yet another variable flow resistance system can include a flow chamber, with a majority of the composition entering the chamber in a direction which changes based on a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid in the composition.

Abstract: A separating system for separating a fluid mixture incorporates a smart surface having reversibly switchable properties. A voltage is selectively applied to the smart surface to attract or repel constituents of a fluid mixture, such as oil and water produced from a hydrocarbon well. The smart surface can be used in a conditioner to increase droplet size prior to entering a conventional separator, or the smart surface and other elements of the invention can be incorporated into an otherwise conventional separator to enhance separation. In a related aspect, a concentration sensor incorporating smart surfaces senses concentration of the fluid mixture's constituents.

Abstract: A system and method for selecting a training data set from a set of multidimensional geophysical input data samples for training a model to predict target data. The input data may be data sets produced by a pulsed neutron logging tool at multiple depth points in a cases well. Target data may be responses of an open hole logging tool. The input data is divided into clusters. Actual target data from the training well is linked to the clusters. The linked clusters are analyzed for variance, etc. and fuzzy inference is used to select a portion of each cluster to include in a training set. The reduced set is used to train a model, such as an artificial neural network. The trained model may then be used to produce synthetic open hole logs in response to inputs of cased hole log data.

Abstract: Reservoir characterization based on observations of displacements at the earth's surface. One method of characterizing a reservoir includes the steps of: detecting a response of the reservoir to a stimulus, the stimulus causing a pressure change in the reservoir; and determining a characteristic of the reservoir from the response to the stimulus. The response may be the pressure change which varies periodically over time, or a set of displacements of a surface of the earth. In another example, a method includes the steps of: detecting a set of displacements of the earth's surface corresponding to a pressure change in the reservoir; and determining a characteristic of the reservoir from the surface displacements. In yet another example, a method includes the steps of: detecting a set of displacements of the earth's surface corresponding to a change in volume of the reservoir; and determining a characteristic of the reservoir from the surface displacements.

Abstract: A system for variably resisting flow of a fluid composition can include a flow passage and a set of one or more branch passages which intersect the flow passage, whereby a proportion of the fluid composition diverted from the passage to the set of branch passages varies based on at least one of a) viscosity of the fluid composition, and b) velocity of the fluid composition in the flow passage. Another variable flow resistance system can include a flow path selection device that selects which of multiple flow paths a majority of fluid flows through from the device, based on a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid in the fluid composition. Yet another variable flow resistance system can include a flow chamber, with a majority of the fluid composition entering the chamber in a direction which changes based on a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid in the fluid composition.

Abstract: Construction of well screens utilizing pre-formed annular-shaped elements. A well screen includes a filter layer configured to filter fluid flowing through the well screen and a drainage layer which radially supports the filter layer, the drainage layer including multiple individual annular-shaped elements. Another well screen includes a drainage layer configured to support the filter layer, with the drainage layer including at least one cavity molded therein. Another well screen includes a base pipe and a layer made up of multiple individual annular-shaped elements stacked coaxially on the base pipe. A cavity is formed in at least one of the elements.

Abstract: Structures can be formed downhole by accumulating already existing materials and/or materials introduced into a well to perform a specified function. The formed structures may be used to obstruct fluid flow of production or injection fluids, carry mechanical loads, control electrical or magnetic properties of components, mechanically actuate a component, as well as others. The materials may be induced to form the specified structure, such as by application of a potential downhole. For example, electrical, magnetic, sonic, biological potentials, or a combination thereof may be established downhole to form specified structures in specified locations to perform specified functions.

Abstract: A system for variably resisting flow of a fluid composition can include a flow passage and a set of one or more branch passages which intersect the flow passage, whereby a proportion of the fluid composition diverted from the passage to the set of branch passages varies based on at least one of a) viscosity of the fluid composition, and b) velocity of the fluid composition in the flow passage. Another variable flow resistance system can include a flow path selection device that selects which of multiple flow paths a majority of fluid flows through from the device, based on a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid in the fluid composition. Yet another variable flow resistance system can include a flow chamber, with a majority of the fluid composition entering the chamber in a direction which changes based on a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid in the fluid composition.

Abstract: A separating system for separating a fluid mixture incorporates a smart surface having reversibly switchable properties. A voltage is selectively applied to the smart surface to attract or repel constituents of a fluid mixture, such as oil and water produced from a hydrocarbon well. The smart surface can be used in a conditioner to increase droplet size prior to entering a conventional separator, or the smart surface and other elements of the invention can be incorporated into an otherwise conventional separator to enhance separation. In a related aspect, a concentration sensor incorporating smart surfaces senses concentration of the fluid mixture's constituents.

Abstract: A system for completing a wellbore (38) having multiple zones. The system includes a completion (42) having a plurality of landing points defined therein positioned within the wellbore (38). A service tool is axially movable within the completion (42). The service tool is coupled to a pipe string (36) extending from the surface and selectively supported by a movable block (30) above the surface. A subsurface model is defined in a computer operably associated with the wellbore (38). The model is operable to predict the position of the service tool relative to the landing points of the completion (42) based upon a dynamic lumped mass model of the service tool and a dynamic lumped capacitance thermal model of the wellbore environment.

Abstract: A separating system for separating a fluid mixture incorporates a smart surface having reversibly switchable properties. A voltage is selectively applied to the smart surface to attract or repel constituents of a fluid mixture, such as oil and water produced from a hydrocarbon well. The smart surface can be used in a conditioner to increase droplet size prior to entering a conventional separator, or the smart surface and other elements of the invention can be incorporated into an otherwise conventional separator to enhance separation. In a related aspect, a concentration sensor incorporating smart surfaces senses concentration of the fluid mixture's constituents.

Abstract: Construction of well screens utilizing pre-formed annular-shaped elements. A well screen includes a filter layer configured to filter fluid flowing through the well screen and a drainage layer which radially supports the filter layer, the drainage layer including multiple individual annular-shaped elements Another well screen includes a drainage layer configured to support the filter layer, with the drainage layer including at least one cavity molded therein. Another well screen includes a base pipe and a layer made up of multiple individual annular-shaped elements stacked coaxially on the base pipe. A cavity is formed in at least one of the elements.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for controlling the flow rate of a fluid during downhole operations. The apparatus (100) includes a tubular member (134) having a flow path (136) between inner and outer portions of the tubular member (134). The flow path (136) includes an inlet (138) in an inner sidewall (140) and an outlet (142) in an outer sidewall (144) of the tubular member (134). The inlet (138) and the outlet (142) are laterally offset from each other. A fluidic device (146) is positioned in the flow path (136) between the inlet (138) and the outlet (142). The fluidic device (146) is embedded within the tubular member (134) between the inner sidewall (140) and the outer sidewall (144). The fluidic device (146) includes a nozzle (154) having a throat portion (156) and a diffuser portion (158) such that fluid will flow through the nozzle (154) at a critical flow rate.

Abstract: A model is disclosed that includes an intelligent ligent linear programming (“ILP”) member to produce a ILP result, a member selected from the group consisting of a feed-forward neural network (“FNN”) to produce a FNN result and a geochemical normative analysis (“GNA”) model to produce a GNA result. The model also includes a result generator to combine the ILP result with the result from the other member to produce the estimates of the mineral content of the sample.

Abstract: Construction of well screens utilizing pre-formed annular-shaped elements. A well screen includes a filter layer configured to filter fluid flowing through the well screen and a drainage layer which radially supports the filter layer, the drainage layer including multiple individual annular-shaped elements. Another well screen includes a drainage layer configured to support the filter layer, with the drainage layer including at least one cavity molded therein. Another well screen includes a base pipe and a layer made up of multiple individual annular-shaped elements stacked coaxially on the base pipe. A cavity is formed in at least one of the elements.

Abstract: Various neural-network based surrogate model construction methods are disclosed herein, along with various applications of such models. Designed for use when only a sparse amount of data is available (a “sparse data condition”), some embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods: create a pool of neural networks trained on a first portion of a sparse data set; generate for each of various multi-objective functions a set of neural network ensembles that minimize the multi-objective function; select a local ensemble from each set of ensembles based on data not included in said first portion of said sparse data set; and combine a subset of the local ensembles to form a global ensemble. This approach enables usage of larger candidate pools, multi-stage validation, and a comprehensive performance measure that provides more robust predictions in the voids of parameter space.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) for controlling the flow rate of a fluid during downhole operations. The apparatus (100) includes a tubular member (134) having a flow path (136) between inner and outer portions of the tubular member (134). The flow path (136) includes an inlet (138) in an inner sidewall (140) and an outlet (142) in an outer sidewall (144) of the tubular member (134). The inlet (138) and the outlet (142) are laterally offset from each other. A fluidic device (146) is positioned in the flow path (136) between the inlet (138) and the outlet (142). The fluidic device (146) is embedded within the tubular member (134) between the inner sidewall (140) and the outer sidewall (144). The fluidic device (146) includes a nozzle (154) having a throat portion (156) and a diffuser portion (158) such that fluid will flow through the nozzle (154) at a critical flow rate.

Abstract: A system for variably resisting flow of a fluid composition can include a flow passage and a set of one or more branch passages which intersect the flow passage, whereby a proportion of the fluid composition diverted from the passage to the set of branch passages varies based on at least one of a) viscosity of the fluid composition, and b) velocity of the fluid composition in the flow passage. Another variable flow resistance system can include a flow path selection device that selects which of multiple flow paths a majority of fluid flows through from the device, based on a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid in the fluid composition. Yet another variable flow resistance system can include a flow chamber, with a majority of the fluid composition entering the chamber in a direction which changes based on a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid in the fluid composition.