Abstract: An inflow control assembly. The inflow control assembly can include an inner tubular member comprising a hole formed therethrough. A cover assembly can encircle the hole. The cover assembly can include a first outer member disposed about at least a portion of the inner tubular member. The first outer member can be secured to the inner tubular member. A second outer member can be disposed about at least a portion of the inner tubular member, and the second outer member can be secured to the inner tubular member. A screen portion can be disposed between the outer members and between the inner tubular member and the outer members. An annulus can be formed between the outer members and the inner tubular member, and the annulus can provide a flow path between the hole and the screen portion.

Abstract: A gravel packing system, method and slurry. The system comprises a blending device to prepare a slurry comprising a carrier fluid suspending first, second and third particulates, wherein the carrier fluid comprises a brine and less than about 2.4 g/L (20 lb per 1000 gallons) of a viscosifier, and wherein the sum of the mass of the particulates is greater than about 2.4 kg/L (20 pounds per gallon), wherein the first average particle volume is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the second average particle volume, which in turn is between 27 and 3375 times larger than the third average particle volume. The system can also include tubing to position a screen in the wellbore and a slurry pump to circulate the slurry from the blending device in the wellbore in any order such that the particulates are deposited in the screen annulus to form a gravel pack.

Abstract: The completion assembly includes a conveyance device to bypass regions within a wellbore that may disrupt the desired distribution of gravel in a gravel pack. A packer is attached to an upper tubular, and generally run into wellbore until properly positioned and set near the lower end of upper section. Packer has an extension/crossover to which other lower completion equipment such as a conveyance device and a screen can attach. Conveyance device 22 may include an inner tubular within an outer tubular forming an annular flow path between the inner and outer tubulars. Conveyance device may include one or more discreet flow tubes placed around a lower tubular.

Abstract: This relates to a method and composition for forming and utilizing a fluid in the oilfield services industry including exposing a polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a preparation method, introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a fluid to form a treatment fluid, and treating a subterranean formation and/or a wellbore with the treatment fluid, wherein the viscosity of the treatment fluid is not observably reduced by introducing the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative to a treatment fluid. This also relates to a method and composition for use in the oil field services industry including a prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative, a fluid, and a viscosity control agent, wherein the viscosity of the composition is not observably lower than if the prepared polyacid and/or polyacid derivative were not present.

Abstract: A sand consolidation system and a method for use of the system is provided. The consolidation system includes an emulsion having an oil phase and an aqueous phase, wherein the emulsion contains a source of insoluble silica particles and a source of calcium hydroxide, wherein the calcium hydroxide particles are present in the oil phase, and the insoluble silica particles are contained in the aqueous phase. Both types of particles must have average particle sizes which will fit into the pores of the formations.

Abstract: A technique utilizes a tool to selectively shift flow control devices in a variety of well applications. In one application, the tool is delivered downhole via coiled tubing to selectively deliver treatment fluid and shift valves in a combined well treatment and sand control well system. The tool also can be used to carry a jetting device that can be employed to deliver a non-solids fluid to a desired region of a wellbore.

Abstract: A method for removing drilling damage from a formation in a wellbore that has not been produced includes injecting a chemical-acting cleanup fluid and contacting it with a filtercake on a face of a formation of interest for a period of time sufficient to loosen some of the solids embedded in the filtercake. The method further includes circulating a solids removal fluid at a high rate through the wellbore across the face of the formation of interest, the solids removal fluid including a viscosifier, and positioning a second treatment fluid having a fluid loss control pill in the wellbore at the formation of interest. The method further includes degrading particles of the fluid loss control pill and degrading remaining bridging agent from the drilling fluid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for controlling the flow of fluid between a downhole formation and a base pipe located in wellbore proximate the downhole formation. A plurality of chokes are established between the formation and the base pipe to regulate the flow of fluid between the formation and the base pipe. In one embodiment, each choke comprises a nozzle formed in the base pipe. In another embodiment, each choke comprises a nozzle in a housing arranged on the base pipe. A plurality of plugs are pumped downhole for engagement with the nozzles. The pressure in the wellbore is then increased until the plugs engage each nozzle. In an alternative embodiment, plugs are pumped downhole and stop up the housing containing the nozzles. Fluid flow between the base pipe and the downhole formation may be reestablished by dissolving the plugs or by back-flowing the production string to dislodge them.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for completing a well. The apparatus can include a packer located downhole of a sand control sliding sleeve extension device to create an upper annulus and a lower annulus. The apparatus can also include a formation isolation well control barrier device located downhole of both the sand control sliding sleeve extension and the packer to create a lower tubular region an upper tubular region.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The method includes combining a carrier fluid, a first amount of particulates, and a second amount of particulates into a slurry. The first amount of particulates have a first average size distribution and the second amount of particulates have a second average size distribution, and the first average size distribution is at least three times larger than the second average size distribution. The slurry includes particles which are at least partially degradable material, and with reactive solid constituents. The reactive solid reacts with the degradable material and/or a hydrolysis product of the degradable material. The method further includes positioning a screen in a wellbore, and circulating the slurry through the wellbore such that the first amount of particulates and the second amount of particulates are deposited on an outer surface of the screen.

Abstract: A technique enables simultaneous deployment of both treatment equipment and screen assemblies for use during production. The technique utilizes a multi-stage well treatment system deployed in a wellbore to enable treatment of a plurality of sections along the wellbore. Additionally, a plurality of screen assemblies are positioned at the plurality of sections, and each screen assembly comprises a valve to control the flow of fluids through the screen assembly.

Abstract: A treatment fluid and a method are disclosed for cleaning borehole filtercake using the treatment fluid, wherein the filtercake contains reservoir drilling fluid (RDF) solids. The method includes pumping the treatment fluid downhole in contact with the filtercake to be removed to establish a differential pressure between the treatment fluid and the formation adjacent the filtercake, and evenly propagating treatment of the filtercake during the differential pressure period to delay breakthrough by the treatment fluid for a period from 1 to 12 hours. The treatment fluid comprises a fluoride source providing a 1.2 to 5 molar fluoride concentration, and another acid or combination of acids to provide a pH between 1.8 and 5. The treatment fluid is balanced for a dissolving power high enough to have significant dissolution of the filtercake, but low enough for even propagation to avoid premature leak-off.

Abstract: A communications system for transmitting selected information to a registered mobile terminal in response to the reporting of a vehicle identification associated with the registered mobile terminal to a database system. The communications system includes a database system having a memory with registered vehicle identifications and associated information. The database system is coupled to a radio system for receiving a reporting signal including a vehicle identification sent by a reporting mobile terminal. In response to the inputted reported vehicle identification, the database system identifies a registered vehicle identification corresponding to the reported vehicle identification and selects associated information corresponding to the identified registered vehicle identification. In the first preferred embodiment, the selected associated information includes a selected phone number and the database system sends the selected message to a registered mobile terminal associated with the vehicle identification.

Abstract: A time-duplex wireless telephone for reducing magnetic coupling between the wireless telephone and a hearing aid to prevent hum pick-up in the hearing aid. The wireless telephone includes a battery, a radio circuit, and a humbucking coil. The radio circuit is connected to the battery and has a transmit mode where transmit signals are transmitted and a receive mode where received signals are received. The radio circuit intermittently is switched between the transmit mode and the receive mode. The radio circuit generates a transmission magnetic field when the radio circuit is transmitting transmit signals. A humbucking coil is connected in the radio circuit to generate a cancellation magnetic field that is directly proportional to the transmission magnetic field and in antiphase with the transmission magnetic field.

Abstract: A system and method for indicating to a user that an operable-connection or non-operable connection has been made between a portable radio and a vehicle kit forming a mobile communication system. The system determines if an operable-connection has been made by determining if a hands-free-request signal, an external power signal, and an external antenna signal are present. Detection of the hands-free-request signal, external power signal, and external antenna signal are indicative that the portable radio and vehicle kit are operably connected such that the mobile communication system is fully operational. An operable-connection alert indicative of an operable connection between the portable radio and vehicle kit is generated by a radio display and an external speaker in response to a determination that the hands-free signal, external power signal and external antenna signal are present.

Abstract: A portable radio includes a main housing having a first electrical circuit and a flip portion having a second electrical circuit. The flip portion is rotatively mounted with a hinge to the main housing for positioning the flip portion between a close position and an open position. The hinge includes a slot connected to the main housing and a rod connected to the flip portion. The slot includes a rod securing position where the rod is secured within the slot and a rod non-securing position where the rod is attachable and detachable from the slot to allow the flip portion to be detached from and reattached to the main housing. The radio further includes an electrical coupler mechanism that couples the first electrical circuit in the main housing with the second electrical circuit in the flip portion. The electrical coupler mechanism includes contacts that are freely separated from one another such that the electrical coupling mechanism is not damaged during the detachment and reattachment of the flip portion.

Abstract: A mobile-link system for a radio communication system including a first mobile-link assembly, a second mobile-link assembly, and a satellite feeder-link assembly located in a satellite; and an earth feeder-link assembly located in an earth station. The first mobile-link assembly receives mobile uplink signals including zone-one uplink signals transmitted from mobile stations located in a first zone of a coverage area and zone-two uplink signals transmitted from mobile stations located in a second zone of the coverage area, and outputs received zone-one uplink signals and received zone-two uplink signals. The second mobile-link assembly receives mobile uplink signals transmitted from mobile stations in the coverage area, and outputs received zone-two uplink signals and not zone-one uplink signals. The second mobile link assembly also transmits mobile downlink signals to at least the first and second zones of the coverage area.

Abstract: A portable radio having a transmitter power controller connected to the portable radio's receiver and transmitter for controlling the power transmission level of the portable radio, resulting in reduced power consumption by the portable radio and extended battery life. The transmitter power controller estimates the signal strength and quality of the down-link signal by determining a threshold adjustment parameter for the received signal. Thus, this invention eliminates false power adjustment caused by the interfering signals when RSSI (Received Signal Strength Level) is used as a means to estimate transmitter power level. The threshold adjustment parameter is an adjustment parameter used in adjusting the received signal to produce a degraded signal having a predetermined signal quality, and is determined by incrementally adjusting the received signal until the degraded signal is determined to have the predetermined signal quality.

Abstract: A coding system for error protecting both insignificant and significant symbols of a digital message to be transmitted from a transmitter to a receiver of a digital system. Error protection for both insignificant and significant symbols is provided by coding at the transmitter both significant and insignificant symbols of message blocks forming the digital message. The symbol rate of the coded signal to be transmitted is reduced and unequal error protection is provided to the significant symbols by puncturing a selected number of insignificant symbols of each codeword of the coded signal. At the receiver, a correction determination is made for each received codeword as to whether the erasures and errors of the received codeword are correctable. The correction determination is a function of the number of errors, number of erasures, and the minimum distance of the code. Based on this correction determination, the received codeword is depunctured and decoded.

Abstract: A radio receiver for a radio operable in a radio communication system utilizing either a wideband standard such as GSM or a narrowband standard such as IS-54. The radio receiver has a wideband mode for demodulating wideband signals and a narrowband mode for demodulating narrowband signals. The radio receiver uses a wideband filter apparatus having a wide filter bandwidth adapted to the wideband signals for filtering both the wideband and narrowband signals. When in the narrowband mode, a digitizer digitizes the filtered signals containing the narrowband signal and produces digital signals having amplitude and phase signals corresponding to the filtered signals. A digital signal processor is used to frequency shift the digital signals so as to shift the narrowband signals to the center frequency of the wideband filter apparatus. The frequency-shifted narrowband signals are then filtered to select the centered narrowband signals and the narrowband signals are then demodulated.