Abstract: A steam-assisted hydrocarbon recovery system includes a wellbore, a wellhead connected to the wellbore, and a steam plant. The steam plant includes a steam generator, one or more steam lines connected between the steam generator and the wellhead, and a sensor module configured to measure a steam characteristic in the steam line near the wellhead. The steam-assisted hydrocarbon recovery system may also include an artificial lift system. Measurements made by the sensor module can be used to optimize the production of steam and the operation of the artificial lift system.

Abstract: A downhole assembly is provided for use in well restimulation, the assembly having a plurality of perforation blocking sleeves each comprising an anchoring device; one or more expandable members secured to an external surface of each of the perforation blocking sleeves; a running tool for transporting the plurality of perforation blocking sleeves and expandable members within a perforated well casing; a running tool driver for moving the running tool, perforation blocking sleeves and expandable members within the well casing; and one or more sensors to detect perforation clusters within the well casing. The anchoring device is used to secure each sleeve over a perforation cluster within the well casing. Each perforation blocking sleeve defines a flow channel in fluid communication with the principal flow channel of the well casing.

Abstract: A system of sliding valves wherein the inserts of multiple sliding valves may be shifted to an open position using a single shifting ball. Each individual sliding valve has a movable insert that, depending upon the position of the insert within the sliding valve, may either block or permit fluid to radially flow between the interior and exterior of the sliding valve. The insert has a profile about the interior of the movable insert allowing a shifting tool to connect to and move the insert so that fluid may be prevented from entering the interior portion of the sliding sleeve.

Abstract: A system and method may be configured to support the evaluation of the economic impact of uncertainties associated with the planning of a petroleum production project, e.g., uncertainties associated with decisions having multiple possible outcomes and uncertainties associated with uncontrollable parameters such as rock properties, oil prices, etc. The system and method involve receiving user input characterizing the uncertainty of planning variables and performing an iterative simulation that computes the economic return for various possible instantiations of the set of planning variables based on the uncertainty characterization. The system and method may (a) utilize and integrate highly rigorous physical reservoir, well, production flow, and economic models, and (b) provide a mechanism for specifying constraints on the planning variables. Furthermore, the system and method may provide a case manager process for managing multiple cases and associated “experimental runs” on the cases.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to methods for monitoring directional flood front movement during oil recovery and more specifically to methods for monitoring flood front movement of flooding agent injected into subsurface formations. The method comprises detecting physical properties of subsurface formation and injection of a flooding agent into said formation through at least one injection well thus forcing reservoir oil movement toward at least one production well. The flooding agent is a highly dispersed gas-liquid mixture having size of gas bubbles not exceeding an average diameter of the pores of said oil-bearing reservoir. The method further comprises detecting the same physical properties of the formation at the same area after flooding and monitoring the flood front profile by registrating changes in the physical properties of the formation caused by the arrival of said flood front.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling an advancing water front in a reservoir toward a wellbore is provided. The system has a production control unit. The production control unit has a reservoir unit for producing a reservoir model and a production path unit for producing a production path model that determines at least one pressure parameter about the wellbore during a life of the wellbore. The production control unit has a production optimizer unit for producing a well plan that optimizes a function of the wellsite. The production control unit may be for controlling an advancing fluid front in the reservoir with at least one control device, and wherein a production path is constructed based on the well plan.

Abstract: A method comprising: estimating a change in a characteristic of a subterranean formation into which a fluid has been injected via a well extending into the subterranean formation; building a multi-dimensional model balancing mass of the injected fluid, wherein the model is based on the estimated characteristic change; utilizing the model to determine the sensitivity of a borehole gravity tool in the well; measuring gravity with the borehole gravity tool at a plurality of stations along the well; and utilizing the model and the gravity measurements to locate the injected fluid in the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method of testing the response of a subterranean formation to a formation treatment is described including the injection of a treatment fluid and the production of formation fluids from two separate boreholes or two boreholes from a single well such that the treatment fluid sweeps the formation between the two boreholes, and the use of downhole monitoring devices to determine a volume swept by the treatment fluid.

Abstract: The invention is a method for calculating the inter-cell absolute permeability values associated with a reservoir model at the scale of the flow simulations representative of the porous medium from the absolute permeability values associated with a geologic model representative of the same porous medium.

Abstract: A diagnostic tool which doubles as a sleeve shifting tool. The tool may include a diagnostic implement for measuring downhole conditions in a well such as flow-rate, pressure and temperature. Where the well includes a slidable or shiftable sleeve, the tool may be employed to slide such a sleeve for controlling communication between the well and an underground production region adjacent the location of the well. In this manner real time diagnostic assessment may occur at the well location in conjunction with means to affect the sleeve position. Thus, the need to run additional subsequent procedures with additional tools for affecting the sleeve position may be eliminated. As a result, substantial time and expense may be saved in conducting such well procedures.

Abstract: The invention is a method for simulating one or more characteristics of a multi-component, hydrocarbon-bearing formation into which a displacement fluid having at least one component is injected to displace formation hydrocarbons. The first step of the method is to equate at least part of the formation to a multiplicity of gridcells. Each gridcell is then divided into two regions, a first region representing a portion of each gridcell swept by the displacement fluid and a second region representing a portion of each gridcell essentially unswept by the displacement fluid. The distribution of components in each region is assumed to be essentially uniform. A model is constructed that is representative of fluid properties within each region, fluid flow between gridcells using principles of percolation theory, and component transport between the regions. The model is then used in a simulator to simulate one or more characteristics of the formation.

Abstract: The invention is a method for simulating one or more characteristics of a multi-component, hydrocarbon-bearing formation into which a displacement fluid having at least one component is injected to displace formation hydrocarbons. The first step of the method is to equate at least part of the formation to a multiplicity of gridcells. Each gridcell is then divided into two regions, a first region representing a portion of each gridcell swept by the displacement fluid and a second region representing a portion of each gridcell essentially unswept by the displacement fluid. The distribution of components in each region is assumed to be essentially uniform. A model is constructed that is representative of fluid properties within each region, fluid flow between gridcells using principles of percolation theory, and component transport between the regions. The model is then used in a simulator to simulate one or more characteristics of the formation.

Abstract: A method and system of monitoring the movement of at least one front in an inter-well region is comprised of: providing a first well representing the origination of at least one front (such as a saturation front or a salinity front); providing one or more monitoring locations, each equipped with at least one sensor; and monitoring the arrival of at least one front at one or more monitoring locations. The origination well may be any type of permanent or temporary well, but is preferably an injector well. Likewise, the monitoring location(s) may be any type of permanent or temporary well such as an observation well, a production well, an exploratory well, and an appraisal well. Information regarding front arrival times may be used to characterize or appraise the formation. Front arrivals may be monitored as a function of time to develop their respective time evolution and shape.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and system of monitoring the movement of at least one front in an inter-well region, comprising: providing a first well representing the origination of at least one front (such as a saturation front or a salinity front); providing one or more monitoring locations, each equipped with at least one sensor; and monitoring the arrival of at least one front at one or more monitoring locations. The origination well may be any type of permanent or temporary well, but is preferably an injector well. Likewise, the monitoring location(s) may be any type of permanent or temporary well such as an observation well, a production well, an exploratory well, and an appraisal well. Information regarding front arrival times may be used to characterize or appraise the formation. Front arrivals may be monitored as a function of time to develop their respective time evolution and shape.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon reservoir undergoing secondary recovery is subject to a first and then at least a second gravity gradient survey in which a gravity gradiometer takes gradient measurements on the surface above the reservoir to define successive data sets. The differences between the first and subsequent gravity gradient survey yields information as to sub-surface density changes consequent to displacement of the hydrocarbon and the replacement thereof by the driveout fluid including the position, morphology, and velocity of the interface between the hydrocarbon to be recovered and the driveout fluid.