Abstract: A method of pumping an oilfield fluid from a well surface to a wellbore is provided that includes providing a clean stream; operating one or more clean pumps to pump the clean stream from the well surface to the wellbore; providing a dirty stream including a solid material disposed in a fluid carrier; and operating one or more dirty pumps to pump the dirty stream from the well surface to the wellbore, wherein the clean stream and the dirty stream together form said oilfield fluid.

Abstract: A pump assembly with valve-seat interface architecture configured to extend the life of pump components and the assembly. A valve of the pump assembly is equipped with a conformable valve insert that is configured with a circumferential component having the capacity to reduce the radial strain of its own deformation upon its striking of a valve seat at the interface within the pump assembly. The circumferential component may include a concave surface about the insert, a rounded abutment at the strike surface of the insert, or a core mechanism within the insert that is of greater energy absorbing character than surrounding material of the insert. Additionally, the valve seat itself may be configured for more even wear over time and equipped with a conformable seat insert to reduce wear on the valve insert.

Abstract: A technique provides an electric submersible pumping system to facilitate a well treatment, such as a hydraulic fracturing well treatment. The electric submersible pumping system is positioned downhole and oriented to intake a fluid delivered downhole for use in the well treatment. Once the fluid is delivered downhole, the electric submersible pumping system pumps, pressurizes and discharges this fluid to perform the well treatment, e.g. the hydraulic fracturing treatment. The pumping system reduces the pressure at which the treatment fluid must be delivered downhole.

Abstract: Subterranean formation treatment methods incorporating a rheology model which enables prediction of fluid rheology properties during a treatment operation, where the foundation of the model is a description of the reaction chemistry which describes how the number of crosslinks and broken polymer linkages develops in time under the influence of crosslinkers, breakers, and/or thermally induced effects and pressure effects. In one aspect, when used as a tool for simulating the fluid viscosity, the model can help optimizing the fluid design and optional breaker schedule for a hydraulic fracturing treatment.

Abstract: A technique is provided to limit the number of vehicles required during a well project involving a plurality of well construction related procedures. The technique utilizes a modular unit, e.g. a vehicle, and a plurality of modules that may be interchanged on the modular unit according to the scheduled well procedure. A separate crane unit can be used to move the modules to and from the vehicle as required for specific phases of well construction.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of operating at least one pressure vessel to inject a particulate slurry into a high-pressure line, comprises a first operating cycle comprising: isolating the at least one pressure vessel from the high-pressure line; introducing particulate solids into the pressure vessel through a particulate solids inlet aperture; a second operating cycle comprising: providing high-pressure flow into the pressure vessel; and providing a high-pressure slurry flow from the pressure vessel into the high-pressure line. The method further comprises operating the at least one pressure vessel in the second operating cycle to create a heterogeneous flow of slurry into the high-pressure line.

Abstract: A technique includes providing a source in a first well and a seismic receiver in a second well to detect a seismic event that is caused by the source. The technique includes referencing clocks in the source and receiver to a common reference time frame and determining a time in the reference time frame at which the seismic source generates the seismic event.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for treating a near zone and/or a far zone of a well is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. (1) A tube that is permeable to a material is placed inside a wellbore, forming an annulus inside the wellbore. (2) A setting section surrounded by a sleeve is placed inside the tube. The sleeve is expandable and impermeable to the material. (3) The sleeve is inflated so that the sleeve is in contact with the tube, ensuring that the first zone of the tube is impermeable to the material, but leaving a second zone permeable to the material. (4) A treatment fluid is pumped to the zones that passes through the second zone still permeable to the material. (5) The near zone in the annulus and/or the far zone in the surrounding formation is treated with the treatment fluid.

Abstract: A cement composition resistant to carbon dioxide includes a hollow element for trapping carbonation products. The hollow element can be hollow spherical or quasi spherical particles including cenospheres, sodium-calcium-borosilicate glass microspheres, silica-alumina microspheres, or a combination thereof. Or the hollow element may be a spherical or quasi spherical void made in the set cement, for example by foaming the cement composition with a gas such as air, nitrogen or a combination thereof. The composition may be used to cement a subterranean well in which carbon dioxide is injected, stored or produced.

Abstract: A technique for subsea intervention operations enables pressure control to be accomplished at the surface while borehole fluid control is exercised at the seabed. A compliant guide extends between a subsea well installation and a surface location, such as a surface intervention vessel. A buffer fluid is deployed within the compliant guide to maintain the borehole fluids proximate the seabed. The buffer fluid also enables pressure control over the buffer fluid and the borehole fluid to be performed from the surface. Additionally, a flexible conveyance can be used to move intervention tools through the compliant guide.

Abstract: A packer for temporarily closing a well or a pipe including a support and an inflatable tubular element attached to the support, the element having a wall of elastic material that is deformable radially outwards under the action of internal pressure so as to press hermetically against the wall of the well or pipe and is reinforced with multistrand metal cables embedded in the wall of the material, wherein the spaces between the strands forming the metal cables contain a fluid impermeable material so that fluid is unable to flow through the spaces of the cables.

Abstract: A shaped charge comprises a shell, an explosive charge disposed inside the shell, and a first liner for retaining the explosive charge within the shell. The shaped charge further comprises an acid material disposed inside the shell on the first liner and retained by a second liner into the shell.

Abstract: A subsurface formation monitoring system comprises a conductive piping positioned within a borehole extending into the formation, a surface installed power and communication module, a downhole installed conductive casing or tubing sub comprising sensor(s) mounted on the sub, a data communication module for wireless communication of sensor measurements to the surface module, and a battery for providing power to the data communication module and the sensor. The surface module is coupled to the conductive piping and to a grounded return electrode coupled to the formation, and comprises an alternate current generator that defines an ingoing signal path along the conductive piping and sub, the ingoing signal flowing from the surface module to the sub and transmitting power from the generator to the sub. A return signal comprising sensor measurements is transmitted through a return signal path flowing from the sub to the surface module.

Abstract: A technique facilitates formation of connections between compliant tubular members and subsea facilities. A compliant tubular member is deployed to a subsea location in a manner that arranges the compliant tubular member in a curvilinear shape. The distal end of the compliant tubular member is drawn down into proximity with the subsea facility and then moved horizontally into alignment with the subsea facility. Subsequently, the distal end is lowered into engagement with the subsea facility without being detrimentally affected by motion of an upper end of the compliant tubular member.

Abstract: A subsea intervention system is disclosed comprising a floating vessel and a source of coiled tubing at the floating vessel. The system includes a seabed installation including a wellhead and compliant guide having one end operatively connected to the floating vessel and the second end operatively connected to the seabed installation. The compliant guide provides a conduit between the floating vessel and the wellhead for the coiled tubing. At least one injector is present at the floating vessel for inserting the coiled tubing into the compliant guide, and a carousel is proximate the wellhead which comprises a plurality of chambers with intervention tools in at least two of those chambers. The system may also include a plurality of sensing units that are disposed at spaced intervals along the compliant guide to monitor various aspects of the compliant guide and to transmit that information to a repositioning system.

Abstract: A gamma-ray detector comprising: a housing having a window through which gamma rays can enter; the housing comprising; a two-dimensional array of electrically conducting carbon nanotubes, which act as a cathode, on a substrate; a metal plate electrode, which acts as an anode, positioned opposite the substrate so that there is a gap containing a gas between the electrode and the nanotubes; and a voltage source connected to the substrate and the electrode such that when in use the voltage between the substrate and the electrode is maintained below the arc-threshold voltage so that no electric current can flow through the gap between the nanotubes and the electrode; wherein the electrode and the substrate are arranged such that when a gamma ray enters the housing and hits one of the nanotubes a spark discharge is triggered between the nanotubes and the plate electrode creating an electrical current that can be measured.

Abstract: A method and downhole tool are presented herein for driving completion equipment in a borehole. The method comprises the steps of positioning the completion equipment in the borehole; and moving the completion equipment along the borehole by operation of a downhole driving tool connected to the completion equipment. Operation of the driving tool comprises accumulating energy in the driving tool and releasing the energy to force a moveable member against an impact surface in the driving tool to provide a driving force which is applied to the completion equipment to move the completion equipment in the borehole, wherein the step of accumulating energy in the driving tool comprises providing energy to the driving tool by means of an energy source located at the surface selected from the group consisting of an electrical energy source provided by a wireline cable, a hydraulic energy source provided by a pipe, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A liner for inserting into a drain hole, comprising a resilient tubular member with a central bore; wherein the tubular member is formed from a first continuous helically wound wire provided with a passageway to allow fluid communication across the member.

Abstract: A system for passing an electromagnetic signal through a casing comprises a tool body that can be positioned inside the casing; means for magnetically saturating the casing in the vicinity of the tool; a transmitter for transmitting an electromagnetic signal from the tool antenna to the outside of the casing for reception at one or more sensors equipped with an antenna and electronic circuits located outside the casing; and a detector for detecting an electromagnetic signal at the tool from the sensor located outside the casing.

Abstract: A formation tester for determining the formation pressure of a subsurface formation traversed by a wellbore comprises of:—an elongate tester body;—a support plate (3) that is extendible outwardly from the surface of the formation tester body, said support plate carrying probe means (5) to establish a passageway between the inside of said formation tester body and said formation, and a sealing pad (6) connected to said probe means to isolate said passage way between the inside of said formation tester body and said formation;—anchoring means (7) to settle said tester body at a level within the wellbore. The elongate tester body comprises an eccentric portion (2) wherein said support plate is mounted such that a determined standoff is maintained between said elongate tester body and the wall of the wellbore when said tester body is settled at a level in the wellbore.