Abstract: A method for inverting dielectric logging tool measurement data to estimate an electrical characteristic of an earth formation includes: receiving measurement data from the logging tool having a transmitter antenna and receiver antennas spaced known distances from the transmitter antenna; establishing an equation relating magnetic field measurements made by the receiver antennas to the distances and a wave vector; establishing an error equation that quantifies a difference between the magnetic field measurements made by the receiver antennas to magnetic field measurements made by the receiver antennas that would be obtained with an estimated formation electrical characteristic; calculating an error using the error equation for an initial estimated value of the wave vector that comprises a term having a first number multiplied times a second number of radians to provide a plurality of calculated errors; and determining a minimum error from the plurality of calculated errors to estimate the electrical character

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for evaluation of an earth formation including evaluating a core sample obtained from the formation. Methods include using a change in measurements of at least one stress parameter of the core sample, such as radial strain, axial stress, and acoustic emission counts, over time responsive to an applied stress to estimate imminent rock failure in the core sample. This may include estimating the imminent rock failure using differences between portions of a curve generated based on the measurements. A method employing calculating a rate of change between a plurality of measurements of at least one stress parameter of the core sample over time responsive to an applied stress; and determining a point of imminent failure using the rate of change in the plurality of measurements of the at least one stress parameter is also included.

Abstract: A corrosion inhibitor for use in aqueous fluids, e.g. brine, which contact a metal surface, contains a blend or cross-linked reaction product of a main chain type polybenzoxazine (MCTPB) and a chitosan component selected from the group consisting of chitosan, chitosan glycol, and combinations thereof. The MCTPB can be made by reacting formaldehyde, bisphenol A, and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). The corrosion inhibitor may contain a small amount of an inorganic acid and/or an organic acid.

Abstract: Various illustrative embodiments of a cement composition for use in subterranean formations are disclosed. The cement composition can comprise water and cement. The cement powder can be mixed with water on-site to create a cement slurry or mixed with water off-site and transported to the well site. The cement composition can be pumped into the subterranean formation and allowed to penetrate the formation. For example, the cement slurry can be pumped into the wellbore, such as into the annulus, to displace fluids in the wellbore and replace them with cement.

Abstract: An apparatus for estimating a viscosity or density of a fluid downhole includes a carrier configured to be conveyed through a borehole penetrating the earth. A pump is disposed at the carrier and configured to pump the fluid. A flow restriction element is configured to receive a flow of the fluid pumped by the pump and to reduce pressure of the fluid flowing through the flow restriction element. A sensor is configured to measure a differential pressure across the flow restriction element and to provide an output that is used to estimate the viscosity or density.

Abstract: A high-frequency data and/or power transmission system suitable for downhole use including signal/power couplers, transmission line segments and signal repeaters. Signals and power are/is transmitted between couplers and/or between couplers and repeaters by means of electromagnetic resonance coupling. In at least a portion of the system, the transmission line segments form parallel data paths and the repeaters provide crossover capability between the data/power paths, thereby significantly improving reliability. The invention also includes methods of transmitting data and/or distributing high-frequency power through a downhole transmission system including multiple data/power paths and multiple crossovers wherein a fault location in one data/power path is bypassed by routing data and/or power to a parallel data/power path by means of electromagnetic resonance coupling.

Abstract: An acoustic transmitter includes: an acoustic diaphragm configured to transmit acoustic waves into a medium; a piezoelectric actuator assembly configured to deform in an axial direction in response to an applied electrical signal; and a highly incompressible elastic material disposed between the piezoelectric actuator and the acoustic diaphragm and configured to transmit pressure waves to the acoustic diaphragm in response to motion of the piezoelectric actuator.

Abstract: A method of enhancing conductivity within a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir by building proppant pillars in a spatial arrangement in fractures created or enlarged in the reservoir. Two fluids of differing viscosity and stability are simultaneously pumped into the reservoir. The fluids contain identical proppants which include a proppant which is neutrally buoyant in the fluid and a proppant which is not neutrally buoyant in the fluid. Vertically extending pillars are created within the formation when the fluids are destabilized and the heavier proppant is then released from the destabilized fluids. The area between the pillars may be held open by the presence of the neutrally buoyant proppant in the remaining fluid. Fluid produced from the hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir is then flowed at least partially through channels between the vertically extending pillars.

Abstract: A downhole system includes a safety valve system. The safety valve system includes a tubular housing having a hydraulic control chamber, and a lock-open communication sleeve within the tubular housing. The sleeve is longitudinally movable with respect to the tubular housing. The sleeve has a downhole end portion configured to abut and enact downhole movement of a flow tube. The sleeve further has a radial communication sort alignable with the hydraulic control chamber. A method of communicating and locking open the safety valve includes using the sleeve.

Abstract: Methods, systems, devices, and products for making formation resistivity measurements including reducing the resistivity of the fluid proximate the electrode using ionizing radiation to induce a transient increase in electrical conductivity of the fluid for the resistivity measurement. The fluid may include oil-based mud. Methods include making the downhole measurement using the electrode during the transient increase. An electrode may be disposed on a pad having a bremsstrahlung assembly disposed thereon. Methods may include mitigating effects of an electrical resistivity of the fluid on the formation resistivity measurement by using the radiation to induce a transient increase in electrical conductivity of the fluid for the formation resistivity measurement. Methods may include using the ionizing radiation to generate at least one of: i) free ions; and ii) free electrons.

Abstract: A pressure test and actuation tool includes a housing; an insert disposed in operable communication with the housing. A metering head initially in sealed relation to both the housing and insert. A damper relief shoulder operably positioned relative to the metering head to initially support the metering head in sealed relationship with the housing and the insert and movable to unsupport the metering head defeating the sealed relationship with the housing and the insert. A method actuating a tool.

Abstract: Treatment of hydrocarbon streams, and in one non-limiting embodiment refinery distillates, with reducing agents, such as borohydride and salts thereof, alone or together with at least one co-solvent results in reduction of the sulfur compounds such as disulfides, mercaptans, thiophenes, and thioethers that are present to give easily removed sulfides. In one non-limiting embodiment, the treatment converts the original sulfur compounds into hydrogen sulfide or low molecular weight mercaptans that can be extracted from the distillate with caustic solutions, hydrogen sulfide or mercaptan scavengers, solid absorbents such as clay or activated carbon or liquid absorbents such as amine-aldehyde condensates and/or aqueous aldehydes.

Abstract: An equalizer valve is configured to stay shut when pressure on one side or the other goes up. A dynamic seal and a metal to metal seal are located within the housing. Pressure from above is directed uphole of the metal to metal seal and downhole of the larger dynamic seal for a net closing force. Pressure from downhole is directed between the metal to metal and dynamic seals for a net force uphole to keep the metal seal closed. Normal operation is from a control line moving a rod piston to move a valve member to open the metal to metal seal for flow through the valve body.

Abstract: A method and computer-readable medium for establishing an uncertainty for obtained values of a one-dimensional logging parameter mapped to a three-dimensional volume is disclosed. A relation is formed between the obtained values of the logging parameter and a volumetric parameter of the three-dimensional volume. A set of representative data points is obtained that relates the obtained values of the logging parameter to the volumetric parameter by binning the obtained values. A plurality of regression curves are then determined, wherein each regression curve is obtained by adding a random error to the set of representative data points to obtain a set of randomized data points and performing a regression analysis using the set of randomized data points. The plurality of regression curves are used to establish the uncertainty for the values of the logging parameter in the three-dimensional volume.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating direct current (DC) electrical energy downhole at a selected voltage includes a drill tubular, a turbine to convert drilling fluid flow energy into rotational energy, an alternator coupled to the turbine to provide AC electrical energy, and an active rectifier configured to rectify the AC electrical energy into DC electrical energy at a controllable voltage. The active rectifier includes (a) a bridge circuit having a circuit branch having first and second rectifier sets including a semiconductor switch in parallel with a diode for each phase of the AC electrical energy and (b) a feedback control loop having a micro-processor and configured to receive an output voltage measurement and a voltage measurement and/or a current measurement in at least one circuit branch as an input and to provide a control signal to each semiconductor switch in order to provide the DC electrical energy at the selected voltage.

Abstract: A pump is driven by rotation of an electrical motor drive shaft. An eccentric drive unit includes an eccentric member coupled between the motor drive shaft and the pump drive shaft. The eccentric member has an offset portion parallel to and offset from the motor axis for orbiting around the motor axis. A flexible boot encloses the offset portion. A pump end static seal seals a pump end of the boot at an interface between the eccentric member and the pump drive shaft. A motor end static seal seals a motor end of the boot at a motor end of the eccentric member.

Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing composition includes: a superabsorbent polymer in an expanded state and configured to break in response to a breaking condition; a plurality of proppant particles disposed in the superabsorbent polymer prior to release of the plurality of proppant particles from the superabsorbent polymer in response to breaking the superabsorbent polymer; and a fluid to expand the superabsorbent polymer into the expanded state. The hydraulic fracturing composition can be made by contacting a superabsorbent polymer with a fluid to expand the superabsorbent polymer into an expanded state; and disposing a plurality of proppant particles in the superabsorbent polymer to make the hydraulic fracturing composition.

Abstract: An arrangement for accelerating a workpiece including a system inductor configured to be supplied a current, a workpiece positioned magnetically proximate to the system inductor, a workpiece inductor associated with the workpiece and configured to magnetically interact with the system inductor. A method for moving a workpiece in a magnetic pressure arrangement comprising increasing inductance of a workpiece subsystem of the arrangement by disposing a workpiece inductor at the workpiece. A method for moving a workpiece in a magnetic pressure system comprising tuning one or more of a resistor, capacitor or inductor of the system to adjust a phase angle of a magnetic pressure produced in the system.

Abstract: A water extraction process for separating bitumen from tar sands comprises slurrying tar sands in water, mixing the aqueous slurry with a magnetic substance for a time sufficient to release bitumen from tar sands and to uniformly disperse the magnetic substance with the bitumen, and subjecting the resulting slurry to froth flotation for recovery of a bitumen product and production of sand tails. The magnetic substance may comprise a magnetic surfactant. Alternatively, the magnetic substance comprises a magnetic nanoparticle together with a frother having the characteristics of methyl-isobutyl-carbinol and can be mixed with the aqueous slurry by attrition scrubbing or by flotation cell mixing. The magnetic substance may be recovered for further reuse by applying a magnetic or electromagnetic field to the tailings. The process may suitably applied in both so-called hot water extraction processes as well in an “ambient” temperature (from about freezing to 35° C.) process.

Abstract: A method for installing a tool in a downhole system including running the tool to a target location within a tubular structure, creating a magnetic pulse, and urging the tool toward the tubular structure at a minimum velocity of 200 meters per second with the magnetic pulse. A method for actuating a downhole tool including creating a magnetic pulse, coupling the magnetic pulse to a workpiece and moving the workpiece with the pulse, the workpiece achieving a minimum velocity of 200 meters per second.