Abstract: The present invention provides a method and composition for sealing pipe in wellbores. The composition includes cement, water, gel and laminate particles. The laminate particles are added in a proportion to the cement to provide a weight to the slurry of between 12.5-14.5 pounds per gallon. The cement slurry is pumped down through pipe, such as casing, into the annulus and back up towards the surface. The cement slurry can extend from the producing formation to a location above the producing formation to form a seal. By utilizing the light weight cement slurry, the pipe such as casing can be sealed in a single stage operation.

Abstract: A gravel packing apparatus (310) has an outer tubular (312) having a plurality of openings (314) therethrough and a sand control screen assembly (318) disposed within the outer tubular (312). The sand control screen assembly (318) prevents the flow of particulate material of a predetermined size therethrough but allows the flow of production fluids therethrough. Sensors (354–360) are operably coupled to the outer tubular (312), the sand control screen assembly (318) or both. An instrument line (348) disposed between the outer tubular (312) and the sand control screen assembly (318) is operably associated with the sensors (354–360) such that power, signals and data may be transmitted between the sensors (354–360) and the surface or other downhole systems.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for varying an operating parameter for a nuclear gamma ray tool for evaluating the integrity of gravel packing. The gamma ray outpat intensity and area of investigation are altered by changing a source housing geometry and the material from which the source housing is made. An actuator is provided to slide a variable electron density sleeve over the source and to vary the area of investigation by changing the distance between the source and a detector.

Abstract: A technique that is usable with a subterranean well includes communicating a fluid into a region of the well and monitoring a level of the fluid communicated via a downhole sensor. The communication is controlled in response to the monitoring.

Abstract: A method for the measurement of the stresses and pressure perturbations surrounding a well, and a system for computing the optimum location for initiating a hydraulic stress fracture. The technique includes using sensors attached to the wellbore casing connected to a data analyzer. The analyzer is capable of analyzing the stresses on the well system. Using an inverse problem framework for an open-hole situation, the far field stresses and well departure angle are determined once the pressure perturbations and stresses are measured on the wellbore casing. The number of wellbore measurements needed for the inverse problem solution also is determined. The technique is also capable of determining the optimal location for inducing a hydraulic fracture, the effect of noisy measurements on the accuracy of the results, and assessing the quality of a bond between a casing and a sealant.

Abstract: An intelligent well system and method has a sand face completion and a monitoring system to monitor application of a well operation. Various equipment and services may be used. In another aspect, the invention provides a monitoring system for determining placement of a well treatment. Yet another aspect of the invention is an instrumented sand screen. Another aspect is a connector for routing control lines. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: An intelligent well system and method has a sand face completion and a monitoring system to monitor application of a well operation. Various equipment and services may be used. In another aspect, the invention provides a monitoring system for determining placement of a well treatment. Yet another aspect of the invention is an instrumented sand screen. Another aspect is a connector for routing control lines. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for determining the location of an apparatus in a wellbore. The method includes lowering the apparatus with a conveying member and measuring a parameter associated with the conveying member. Thereafter, the measured parameter is used to determine the location of the apparatus as well as other conditions in the wellbore. The apparatus includes a conveying member operatively connected to an object released downhole. The apparatus may also include a dispensing apparatus coupled to one end of the conveying member. Preferably, the conveying member is a fiber optics line capable of transmitting optical signals. Other types of conveying members include a wire, a tube, and a cable. Additionally, a sensor may be disposed on the object and connected to the conveying member.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and method for varying an operating parameter for a nuclear gamma ray tool for evaluating the integrity of gravel packing. The gamma ray output intensity and area of investigation are altered by changing a source housing geometry and the material from which the source housing is made. An actuator is provided to slide a variable electron density sleeve over the source and to vary the area of investigation by changing the distance between the source and a detector.

Abstract: An annulus collar around a well production tube is cast in cement by a procedure that axially delineates the collar between two expandable well packers in the production tube string. Between the packers are a pair of cementing valves. An ingress valve is most proximate to the lower packer whereas an egress valve is most proximate to the upper packer. Additionally, the egress valve is modified to enclose the egress valve with a screen having mesh or slot openings that correspond with a screen plugging material that is mixed with the cement.

Abstract: A system for cementing a tubular member in a well bore includes a cementing plug. The cementing plug includes at least one sensor. The system transmits a value measured by the sensor to a surface location. The system may transmit the value measured by the sensor through a cable connected between the plug and the surface location. Alternatively, the system may transmit the value measured by the sensor acoustically to the surface location.

Abstract: A system and method for the measurement of the stresses and pressure perturbations surrounding a well, and a system for computing the optimum location for initiating a hydraulic stress fracture. The technique includes using sensors attached to the wellbore casing connected to a data analyzer. The analyzer is capable of analyzing the stresses on the well system. Using an inverse problem framework for an open-hole situation, the far field stresses and well departure angle are determined once the pressure perturbations and stresses are measured on the wellbore casing. The number of wellbore measurements needed for the inverse problem solution also is determined. The technique is also capable of determining the optimal location for inducing a hydraulic fracture, the effect of noisy measurements on the accuracy of the results, and assessing the quality of a bond between a casing and a sealant.

Abstract: Tracing hydraulic fractures, stimulations, selective cement jobs, etc. in oil and gas wells includes introducing into a well in a zone of interest a plurality of radio frequency transmitting elements each having an identification, moving in the well a reader tool operative for transmitting radio waves so as to generate and send a radio frequency signal for activating the radio frequency transmitting elements and thereafter to receive a signal returned from the corresponding radio frequency transmitting elements together with the identification of each radio frequency transmitting element, and analyzing data related to the sending of the radio frequency signal from the reader tool to the radio frequency transmitting element and the receiving of the radio frequency signal from the radio frequency transmitting elements with the identification of the radio frequency transmitting elements, so as to trace a corresponding hydraulic fracture, stimulation, selective cement job, etc., in the zone of interest.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting and localizing unwanted matter, e.g., cement deposits, internally in a drill string. A sleeve-shaped indicator body is dropped down through the drill string while the same occupies an operative position. Then, the indicator body lands either in a seat at the lower end of the drill string, or the indicator body becomes stuck within a pipe section at a higher level in the drill string. The drill string overlying the position of the indicator body may be considered free of deposits formed on the pipe section walls thereof, and these pipe sections thus may be re-used without any further examination or cleaning. If stuck at a higher level, the indicator body is subsequently localized at the surface through examination in context of disassembling the drill string. The indicator body also may comprise an indicator element that provides a detection signal or sign for its detection and localizing on the surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and method for evaluating the integrity of gravel packing. A screen is disposed in an annulus between the wellbore and a production tubing. A tubing, such as a wash pipe, is placed inside the production tubing to provide a fluid path for the gravel slurry for gravel packing the screen. A self-contained memory logging nuclear tool is located in the tubing below (downhole) the screen. After gravel packing, the tubing with the tool is retrieved from the well at a selected speed. The tool is activated to record data in the memory carried by the tool as it passes across the screen. The data stored in the memory is downloaded at the surface to produce a log which provides a measure of the integrity of gravel packing of the screen.

Abstract: Tracing hydraulic fractures, stimulations, selective cement jobs, etc. in oil and gas wells includes introducing into a well in a zone of interest a plurality of radio frequency transmitting elements each having an identification, moving in the well a reader tool operative for transmitting radio waves so as to generate and send a radio frequency signal for activating the radio frequency transmitting elements and thereafter to receive a signal returned from the corresponding radio frequency transmitting elements together with the identification of each radio frequency transmitting element, and analyzing data related to the sending of the radio frequency signal from the reader tool to the radio frequency transmitting element and the receiving of the radio frequency signal from the radio frequency transmitting elements with the identification of the radio frequency transmitting elements, so as to trace a corresponding hydraulic fracture, stimulation, selective cement job, etc., in the zone of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of monitoring the diameter of columns made in the ground by jet grouting. In the method, a measuring instrument is provided which is constituted by a tubular element of length substantially equal to the length of the column, said tubular element being fitted with a plurality of emission electrodes for creating an electric field, and with a plurality of measurement electrodes for measuring the resulting potential differences; a reference borehole is made in the ground; an axial borehole is made in the column to be tested; said measuring instrument is inserted in the borehole in said column and voltage measurements are performed at different depths; and said measurements are processed.

Abstract: A method and system is shown to passively monitor cement integrity within a wellbore. Different types of sensors (pressure, temperature, resistivity, rock property, formation property etc.) are “pumped” into place by placing them into a suspension in the cement slurry at the time a well casing is being cemented. The sensors are either battery operated, or of a type where external excitation, (EMF, acoustic, RF etc.) may be applied to power and operate the sensor, which will send a signal conveying the desired information. The sensor is then energized and interrogated using a separate piece of wellbore deployed equipment whenever it is desired to monitor cement conditions. This wellbore deployed equipment could be, for example, a wireline tool.

Abstract: A method is provided which, in an embodiment described herein, permits a location and/or displacement of a cementing plug to be determined during a cementing operation. In this embodiment, one or more pressure pulses are transmitted through displacement fluid being used to pump the plug through the casing string. The pressure pulses are reflected off of the plug and received by a pressure sensor. Information regarding the timing of the reflected pressure pulses may be used to determine the location and/or displacement of the plug.

Abstract: A method of maintaining the integrity of a sheath, in particular a cementing sheath in a well consists in calculating or estimating variations in well pressure and/or in well temperature and/or in the variations in in-situ stresses, which may occur during the lifetime of the well, evaluating the stresses in the sheath as a function of the above variations, determining the nature of the stress likely to be first in causing deterioration of the sheath, and the risk thereof, and evaluating the influence of the elastic properties of the sheath, of the rock and/or of the casing on this stress, in order to select a sheath which is capable of attenuating this deterioration. The method is of particular application to oil, water, gas, and geothermal wells.