Abstract: A technique facilitates the use of polymer materials in a downhole environment via utilization of a coating that can be applied to the polymer material. The methodology enables formation of a coating that sufficiently bonds with an underlying base structure of polymer material to withstand the harsh environment encountered in a downhole application. Additionally, the coating may utilize reactive chemistries to further protect the polymer material against the ingress of deleterious fluids while located in the downhole environment. Well tubulars formed of coated polymer are also described.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus (and corresponding method) for monitoring carbon dioxide dissolved in a liquid solution employs a crystal surrounded in part by a sample chamber such that, in use, the liquid solution is in direct contact with the crystal.

Abstract: An optical element, which may be part of a system for optical analysis of a material in contact with it, is kept clean by means of the vibrations of a high power acoustic resonator. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, in certain embodiments of the present invention, one or more optical interfacial elements may be integrated with a high power acoustic resonator to provide a robust sensing device that may provide for acoustic cleaning of the optical interfacial elements and/or combining optical and acoustic measurements made by the integrated system for analysis purposes. In certain aspects, the high power acoustic resonator may include an acoustic horn for focusing acoustic energy and the optical interfacial elements may be integrated with the acoustic horn.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for integrating optical interfacial elements with a high power acoustic resonator. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, in certain embodiments of the present invention, one or more optical interfacial elements may be integrated with a high power acoustic resonator to provide a robust sensing device that may provide for acoustic cleaning of the optical interfacial elements and/or combining optical and acoustic measurements made by the integrated system for analysis purposes. In certain aspects, the high power acoustic resonator may include an acoustic horn for focusing acoustic energy and the optical interfacial elements may be integrated with the acoustic horn.

Abstract: The present invention, in one set of embodiments, provides methods and systems for integrating conducting diamond electrodes into a high power acoustic resonator. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, in certain embodiments of the present invention, diamond electrodes may be integrated into a high power acoustic resonator to provide a robust sensing device that may provide for acoustic cleaning of the electrodes and increasing the rate of mass transport to the diamond electrodes. The diamond electrodes may be used as working, reference or counter electrodes or a combination of two or more of such electrodes. In certain aspects, the high power acoustic resonator may include an acoustic horn for focusing acoustic energy and the diamond electrodes may be coupled with the acoustic horn.

Abstract: The present invention, in one set of embodiments, provides methods and systems for integrating conducting diamond electrodes into a high power acoustic resonator. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, in certain embodiments of the present invention, diamond electrodes may be integrated into a high power acoustic resonator to provide a robust sensing device that may provide for acoustic cleaning of the electrodes and increasing the rate of mass transport to the diamond electrodes. The diamond electrodes may be used as working, reference or counter electrodes or a combination of two or more of such electrodes. In certain aspects, the high power acoustic resonator may include an acoustic horn for focusing acoustic energy and the diamond electrodes may be coupled with the acoustic horn.

Abstract: A gas separation and detection tool for performing in situ analysis of borehole fluid is described. A separation system such as a membrane is employed to separate one or more target gasses from the borehole fluid. The separated gas may be detected by reaction with another material or spectroscopy. When spectroscopy is employed, a test chamber defined by a housing is used to hold the gas undergoing test. Various techniques may be employed to protect the gas separation system from damage due to pressure differential. For example, a separation membrane may be integrated with layers that provide strength and rigidity. The integrated membrane separation may include one or more of a water impermeable layer, gas selective layer, inorganic base layer and metal support layer. The gas selective layer itself can also function as a water impermeable layer. The metal support layer enhances resistance to differential pressure. Alternatively, the chamber may be filled with a liquid or solid material.

Abstract: A seismic data acquisition assembly includes a cable; seismic sensors that are disposed along the cable; and a filler material inside the cable. The filler includes a hydrocarbon-based liquid and an agent to cause the filler material to have a rheological property that is substantially different than a corresponding rheological property of the hydrocarbon-based liquid.

Abstract: Described herein are compositions for reducing or preventing the degradation of equipment and articles exposed to hydrogen sulfide present in high concentrations in subterranean environments (e.g., oil and gas wells). The compositions are composed of a thermoplastic resin, a thermosetting resin, or a combination thereof, and at least one compound that interacts with hydrogen sulfide from the subterranean environment. In certain aspects, the compositions are coated on the article of interest. In other aspects, the composition is used to manufacture the article and, thus, is integrated throughout the article.

Abstract: The present invention, in one set of embodiments, provides methods and systems for integrating conducting diamond electrodes into a high power acoustic resonator. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, in certain embodiments of the present invention, diamond electrodes may be integrated into a high power acoustic resonator to provide a robust sensing device that may provide for acoustic cleaning of the electrodes and increasing the rate of mass transport to the diamond electrodes. The diamond electrodes may be used as working, reference or counter electrodes or a combination of two or more of such electrodes. In certain aspects, the high power acoustic resonator may include an acoustic horn for focusing acoustic energy and the diamond electrodes may be coupled with the acoustic horn.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for integrating optical interfacial elements with a high power acoustic resonator. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, in certain embodiments of the present invention, one or more optical interfacial elements may be integrated with a high power acoustic resonator to provide a robust sensing device that may provide for acoustic cleaning of the optical interfacial elements and/or combining optical and acoustic measurements made by the integrated system for analysis purposes. In certain aspects, the high power acoustic resonator may include an acoustic horn for focusing acoustic energy and the optical interfacial elements may be integrated with the acoustic horn.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detection of hydrogen sulfide in downhole operations. A downhole tool is provided with a coupon adapted to react at varying degrees to exposure to concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. The downhole tool is positioned in the wellbore with the coupon(s) exposed to downhole fluids. A reaction to a change in the coupon, such as coloration, is used to determine the presence and concentration of hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: A method to reduce water influx into a producing well is described comprising the steps of pumping a chemical composition into a production interval and into surrounding formation; said composition being capable of forming, firstly, a physically stabilized structure and, secondly, a chemically stabilized structure, wherein said physically stabilized structure being dissolvable by hydrocarbon containing fluids; letting said composition form said physically stabilized structure within the formation surrounding said production interval; changing pressure condition in said production interval such that the fluid flow within the surrounding formation is reversed; letting thereby in some portions of the formation hydrocarbon containing fluids dissolve said physically stabilized structure and chemically stabilize said structure in the remaining portions by a cross-linking reaction.

Abstract: The use of a hydrophobically modified water soluble polymer is described capable of being chemically cross-linked so as to produce a stable gel for blocking a water-bearing formation from a hydrocarbon-producing well. The polymer is essentially linear having hydrophilic side groups located at random positions along its backbone.

Abstract: The use of a hydrophobically modified water soluble polymer is described capable of being chemically cross-linked so as to produce a stable gel for blocking a water-bearing formation from a hydrocarbon-producing well. The polymer is essentially linear having hydrophilic side groups located at random positions along its backbone.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for detection of hydrogen sulfide in downhole operations. A downhole tool is provided with a coupon adapted to react at varying degrees to exposure to concentrations of hydrogen sulfide. The downhole tool is positioned in the wellbore with the coupon(s) exposed to downhole fluids. A reaction to a change in the coupon, such as coloration, is used to determine the presence and concentration of hydrogen sulfide.

Abstract: A composition, in particular a wellbore service fluid, comprising monomeric surfactants, preferably viscoelastic surfactants, in combination with a polymerization agent. Additionally, the fluid may contain a cross-linking agent to cross-link the polymerized surfactants.

Abstract: A tracer solution suitable for use in measuring flow velocities in a borehole, includes: a) a gadolinium salt of a carboxylic acid of general formula ##STR1## where R is an alkyl of not less than four carbon atoms, typically C4 or C5 alkyl, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen or an alkyl group, typically hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; b) a free branched-chain carboxylic acid such as an excess of the acid used to form the Gd salt; and c) a non-polar solvent such as hexane or heptane. The Gd content of the solution should be not less than about 50 g/l and is best when it is as high as possible, for example greater than 100 g/l, and the viscosity should be less than 20 cP.

Abstract: A tracer solution suitable for use in measuring flow velocities in a borehole, includes: a) a gadolinium salt of a carboxylic acid of general formula ##STR1## where R is an alkyl of not less than four carbon atoms, typically C4 or C5 alkyl, and R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are hydrogen or an alkyl group, typically hydrogen, methyl or ethyl; b) a free branched-chain carboxylic acid such as an excess of the acid used to form the Gd salt; and c) a non-polar solvent such as hexane or heptane. The Gd content of the solution should be not less than about 50 g/l and is best when it is as high as possible, for example greater than 100 g/l, and the viscosity should be less than 20 cP.

Abstract: A method of analysing the major and/or minor phase composition of a cement comprising a) preparing a calibration model from samples for which the phase composition has been determined and for which infra red spectra, typically Fourier transform infrared spectra, obtained by a diffuse reflectance technique, have been obtained so as to relate differences between spectra of the samples to differences in clinker phase composition of the samples; and b) obtaining the infra red spectrum of a sample of unknown phase composition and determining the phase composition of the sample from the calibration model typically using a multivariate statistical method.