Abstract: In a process to design high temperature cement sluries, the temperature stable phases (anorthite, wairakite) are selected; aluminum modifiers and silica oxides are added to the dry cement so that the elemental composition of the blend corresponds to the phases selected; the control of the particle size distribution and the relative amount of those minerals allow their addition at high concentration while leaving the slurry easily mixable and pumpable; and the kinetics of the targeted phases formation is then controlled by adjusting the crystallinity and the particles sizes of the different solids.

Abstract: A system and a method for heterogeneous proppant placement in a fracture (12) in a subterranean formation (18) are disclosed. The system includes a delivery system (10) for delivering proppant and treatment fluid to the fracture (12), a sensor (20) for measuring geometry of the fracture and a computer (24) in communication with the sensor (20). The computer (24) includes a software tool for real-time design of a model (38) for heterogeneous proppant placement in the fracture (12) based on data from the sensor (20) measurements and a software tool for developing and updating a proppant placement schedule (42) for delivering the proppant and treatment fluid to the fracture (12) corresponding to the model. A control link between the computer (24) and the delivery system (10) permits the delivery system (10) to adjust the delivery of the proppant and treatment fluid according the updated proppant placement schedule.

Abstract: A method of designing a cement composition comprises determination of the temperature to which the composition will be exposed in situ; determination of a stable, thermodynamic equilibrium composition of a CaO—Al2O3—SiO2—H2O (CASH) mineral system in the [xonotlite/wollastonite]-grossulaire-anorthite or grossulaire-anorthite-quartz triangles of the Si—Ca—Al phase diagram with a possible contribution of iron and/or magnesium, analogous to the cement when set, at the determined temperature; determining proportions of cement and mineral oxides required to provide a mixture having the determined composition; and defining a series of particulate materials of predetermined particle sizes and densities, comprising cement and mineral oxides in the determined proportions.

Abstract: A technique that is usable with a well includes running an isolation device into the well and using the isolation device to form a seal to create a first region of the well isolating the surface of the well from a second higher pressure region of the well. The technique includes running an assembly into the first region and engaging the isolation device with the assembly to remove the seal. After removal of the seal, the isolation device and assembly are run together further into the well.

Abstract: Electrical cables formed from at least one insulated conductor, a layer of inner armor wires disposed adjacent the insulated conductor, and a layer of shaped strength members disposed adjacent the outer periphery of the first layer of armor wires. A polymeric material is disposed in interstitial spaces formed between the inner armor wires and the layer of shaped strength members, and the polymeric material is further disposed in interstitial spaces formed between the inner armor wire layer and insulated conductor. The polymeric material serves as a continuously bonded layer which also separates and encapsulates the armor wires forming the inner armor wire layer wire layer.

Abstract: A well cementing composition comprises an hydraulic cement and flexible, acrylonitrile-butadiene copolymer particulate material. A method of cementing a well comprises mixing the composition with sufficient water, and optionally, other additives to form a pumpable slurry, and pumping the slurry into the well and allowing it to set.

Abstract: Methods for treating a formation penetrated by a wellbore which improves fluid loss control during treatment. In some aspects, the treatments include preparing an aqueous fluid including one or more water inert polymers and an optional viscosifier, injecting the aqueous fluid into the wellbore at a pressure equal to or greater than the formation's fracture initiation pressure, and thereafter injecting into the wellbore a proppant laden fluid at a pressure equal to or greater than the formation's fracture initiation pressure. The water inert polymer may be a polymer such as an emulsion polymer or a latex polymer. Some methods of the invention use a fluid which may have a normalized leak off coefficient (Cw/sqrt(K)) equal to or less than about 0.0022, 0.0014, or 0.0010. A conventional fluid loss additive may or may not be used in conjunction with the treatment fluid and/or the proppant laden fluid. The water inert polymer may or may not substantially enter formation pores.

Abstract: A method for increasing the rate of shear rehealing of fluids made with cationic, zwitterionic, and amphoteric viscoelastic surfactant fluid systems by adding an effective amount of a polymeric rheology enhancer selected from polypropylene glycols and block copolymers of polypropylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. For applications in which rapid shear rehealing is required, the rheology enhancer allows fluids to be made and used at lower viscoelastic surfactant concentrations. Preferred surfactants are betaines and quaternary amines. The fluids are useful in oilfield treatments, for example fracturing and gravel packing.

Abstract: A composition useful for making gelled fluids by crosslinking hydratable polymers is an aqueous solution of zirconium complexed with carbonate and bicarbonate as the only multidentate ligands complexed with zirconium. The composition also provides pH modifying capability and the crosslinking is delayed, so that the single composition replaces several liquid additives previously necessary for generation of fluids used, for example, in hydraulic fracturing.

Abstract: Improved inflatable packers are provided. A packer may be constructed from hybrid structures including slat structures and weave structures. A packer may include a bladder and a cover, with a plurality of slats disposed therebetween, and/or a weave structure or anti-extrusion layer disposed therebetween. The slats may vary in width and thickness, and be provided with a plurality of reinforcement members. The reinforcement members may be longitudinally and/or transversely disposed in the slats. One or more of the various components of the packer preferably include a fiber, a wire, a cable, a nanofiber, a nanotube, and/or a nanoparticle modified elastomer. Anchors may be attached to or embedded in the outer cover. The packer may include a carcass having an end coupling including a plurality of slats. Improved packer cups are also disclosed, and preferably include a body member reinforced with a nanotube or similar material.

Abstract: A method of preventing or treating lost circulation during the drilling of a well comprises the addition, at concentration ranging between about 0.5 and 6 pounds per barrel, of water-dispersible fibers having a length between about 10 and 25 mm, for instance glass or polymer fibers, to a pumped aqueous base-fluid including solid particles having an equivalent diameter of less than 300 ?m The base-fluid with the solid particles can be the drilling fluid or a small-volume pill specially pumped for curing lost circulation.

Abstract: High strength cables formed from strength members. The strength members are formed from bimetallic filament wires which may be encased within a jacket of polymeric material. The bimetallic filament wires wherein the filaments include a high strength core and a corrosion resistant alloy clad forming the outer layer of the filament. The strength members may be used individually, as a central strength member, or even layered around a central axially positioned component or strength member, to form a layer of strength members. Cables of the invention may be of any practical design, including monocables, coaxial cables, quadcables, heptacables, slickline cables, multi-line cables, suspension cables, and the like.

Abstract: A cable which includes conductor bundles prepared from at least one optical fiber positioned either centrally or helically about the center axis of the bundle, metallic conductors helically positioned around the bundles center axis, and a polymeric insulation material. A method of making a cable including forming a conductor bundle by placing helically positioned conductors and optical fibers about the periphery of a central optical fiber or metallic conductor, encasing the conductors, optical fibers, in a polymeric insulation material, and grouping the conductor bundles together.

Abstract: A method for stimulating thick or multilayered heterogeneous or homogeneous formations in a single trip without packers involves perforating with tubing conveyed perforation, then injecting a self-diverting acid, then moving the tubing string and perforating at a new location, and then injecting additional self-diverting acid. The sequence may be repeated. The acid is preferably a viscoelastic diverting acid. The self-diverting acid may be alternated with conventional treatment fluid. The job is designed to treat the least permeable zone(s) first and maximizes acid efficiency.

Abstract: Disclosed are acid fracturing methods for subterranean siliceous formations employing a viscous dissolving fluid to create a permeable conduit that bypasses the near wellbore damage. The viscous dissolving fluids used according to the invention are acid-fracturing treatment fluids containing a dissolving agent viscosified with a material such as a viscoelastic surfactant, and the fluid is injected into a sandstone formation at a pressure sufficient to create a hydraulic fracture. Also, the viscous dissolving fluid leaks off into the faces of the fracture thus “stimulating” the formation. Hence when the hydraulic fracture has closed there is a part of the formation that has been effectively stimulated, creating a pathway for fluids to preferentially flow to the wellbore. The formation may then be flowed back to produce a substantial volume of the treatment fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is a composition for forming seals. The composition includes a base material and a hydrogel. The base materials is preferably an elastomer or a thermoplastic. Seals formed with the composition are particularly suited for use in a wellbore environment. The inclusion of hydrogel in the seals allows the seals to be manipulated or altered through certain environmental factors. For instance, temperature, oil/water ratio, pH and the electronic field may all be used to alter the characteristics of the hydrogel. In this way, the seal may be caused to swell in response to a specific stimulus, thereby preventing or sealing a leak without requiring additional work or input from the operator.

Abstract: Cables used with wellbore devices to analyze geologic formations adjacent a wellbore are disclosed. The cables include one or more armor wires formed of a high strength core surrounded by a corrosion resistant alloy clad. The cables may be employed as a slickline or multiline cables, where the armor wire is used to convey and suspend loads, such as tools, in a wellbore. The cables may also be useful for providing wellbore related mechanical services, such as, jamming, fishing, and the like.

Abstract: Treatment methods including preparation of an aqueous treatment fluid composition composed of a carboxy modified polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a viscosifying quaternary amine salt, and subsequently introducing the composition into a the formation to treat. The treatment method is particularly useful for fracturing a subterranean formation. The polymer and crosslinker may be premixed and injected into a wellbore, then mixed therein with the quaternary amine salt to treat the formation. In another aspect, the polymer, crosslinker, and quaternary amine salt are mixed, injected into a wellbore, and introduced in the formation for treatment.

Abstract: Disclosed are durable corrosion resistant wellbore electrical cables including a coated electrical conductor, a polymeric protective layer for trapping coating flakes, a first insulating jacket disposed adjacent to the polymeric protective layer and having a first relative permittivity. A second insulating jacket is disposed adjacent to the first insulating jacket and has a second relative permittivity that is less than the first relative permittivity. Another aspect of the invention is a method for manufacturing a cable that includes providing a coated electrical conductor, extruding a polymeric protective layer over the coated electrical conductor, extruding a first insulating jacket over the protective polymeric layer, and extruding a second insulating jacket thereon. Cables of the invention may further include armor wire layers or even current return conductors.

Abstract: Compression, stretch, and crush resistant cables which are useful for welibores. The cables include insulated conductors, a compression and creep resistant jacket surrounding the insulated conductors, a filler material and compression resistant filler rods placed in interstitial spaces formed between the compression and creep resistant jacket and the insulated conductors, and at least one layer of armor wires surrounding the insulated conductor and compression and creep resistant jacket. The filler material may be a non-compressible filler material.