Abstract: Reservoir monitoring of a producing well consists of use of a tagged asphaltene inhibitor to determine deposition of asphaltene in the well. A renewable amount of tagged asphaltene inhibitor may be introduced into the well once the amount of tagged inhibitor in the well approaches a pre-determined minimum inhibitory concentration of the tagged asphaltene inhibitor.

Abstract: A wellbore system includes a hanger body with a recessed portion, a primary sealing surface, a secondary sealing surface, and a retaining skirt. The recessed portion receives a nose of an associated tool component to form at least two metal to metal seals between the hanger body and the associated tool component. The primary sealing surface may be formed at a radially outward position to resist bore pressure and the secondary sealing surface may be formed between the recessed portion and a face of associated tool component to resist a radially inward pressure.

Abstract: A method of imparting hydrophobicity and/or oleophobicity to a surface of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well during production of hydrocarbons from the well consists of pumping a surface modifying wettability agent into the well, the surface modifying wettability agent having an anchor, one or more hydrophobic and/or oleophobic functional groups attached to the anchor and one or more alkoxy groups as blocking moieties which increase stability of the agent in the presence of water by slowing down hydrolysis at the formation surface.

Abstract: A valve assembly includes a valve body, a bonnet coupled to the valve body, a stem within the stem bore, a bonnet cap axially aligned with the bonnet along a stem bore axis, and a valve drive train coupled to the stem. The valve assembly also includes a first eutectic ring, positioned between a bonnet cap interior surface and an upper shelf of the valve drive train, the first eutectic ring blocking axially upward movement of the valve drive train when in a solid state, and a second eutectic ring, positioned between a lower bonnet cap interior surface and a lower shelf of the valve drive train to fill a gap, wherein the bonnet cap is configured to move in an axially downward direction after the first and second eutectic ring transition to a flowable state.

Abstract: A downhole tool including a gravel pack assembly, a remotely addressable actuator connected to the gravel pack assembly, and a valve responsive to the actuator, the valve opening and closing a washdown path through the tool. A method for gravel packing a borehole including running a tool to a target depth in the borehole, flowing washdown fluid through the tool, sending an electric signal to the actuator to close the valve, and flowing through a cross over port of the gravel pack assembly. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a tool disposed within the borehole.

Abstract: A pumping system deployed in a wellbore is designed for producing two-phase fluids through production tubing to a wellhead, while protecting downhole tubulars and equipment from corrosive gases from the wellbore. The pumping system includes a pump, a gas separator upstream from the pump, a packer above the pump, and a gas evacuation module between the pump and the packer. The packer blocks the movement of gases through the annular space and forms a gas collection space between the packer and the pump. The gas evacuation module is configured to remove gas from the gas collection space and mix the gas with liquid-dominant fluids received from the pump. The gas separator includes an intake configured to receive the two-phase fluids, a gas discharge configured to eject gas-dominant fluids into the annular space, and a liquid discharge configured to provide the pump with liquid-dominant fluids.

Abstract: A treatment formulation for removing target impurities from a system can include a synergistic combination of a polymer and a nanoparticle compound. In one aspect, a treatment formulation includes a contaminant removal agent and a solvent. The contaminant removal agent of one embodiment includes at least one nanoparticle compound, and suitable nanoparticle compounds are nitrides, oxide nanoparticles, clays, and carbon-based nanoparticles. In another embodiment, the contaminant removal agent includes at least one polymer. Suitable polymers are sulfonated PEEK polymer, sodium carboxy cellulose, poly(ethylene glycol) diamine, polyvinyl pyrrolidone functionalized with sodium salt of chloroacetic acid, polyvinyl pyrrolidone functionalized with propyl sulfonate, polyethyleneimine, 4-aminonapthalenesulfonic acid, 3-(1-pyridino)-1-propanesulfonate, and octadecylphosphonic acid.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a fluid includes acquiring a sample of the fluid extracted from a subterranean region proximate to a borehole, the borehole including an injected fluid, applying light having a first excitation wavelength to the fluid sample, and measuring a first fluorescence spectrum. The method also includes comparing the first fluorescence spectrum to a reference fluorescence spectrum corresponding to a fluid having injected fluid contamination and/or to a second fluorescence spectrum based on applying light having a second excitation wavelength to the fluid sample. The method further includes estimating a level of contamination of the fluid sample with the injected fluid based on the comparing.

Abstract: A seal including a seal material and a temperature control material in thermal communication with the seal material. A method for producing a seal having temperature regulating properties including adding a dopant to a seal material in a quantity that supports electrical conductivity and disposing an electrical connector on the seal. A borehole system comprising a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a seal tool disposed within or as a part of the string.

Abstract: A side pocket mandrel for use in a gas lift system is configured to improve the recovery of petroleum fluids from a well, where the gas lift system is surrounded by an annular space within the well. The side pocket mandrel includes a central bore extending through the side pocket mandrel, a side pocket tube laterally offset from the central bore, a port that extends from the side pocket tube to the annular space, and a single actuation valve installed on the port. The single actuation valve prevents the passage of the petroleum fluids from the annular space into the side pocket tube until a high threshold pressure in the annular space is reached and then the pressure in the annular space is reduced so to a low threshold pressure.

Abstract: Non-acidic sulfur compounds can be extracted from a gas stream by contacting the gas stream with a carbonate solvent that contains at least one organic carbonate in an amount that is effective to solvate at least a portion of the non-acidic sulfur compounds. The gas steam can then be separated from the carbonate solvent that contains the non-acidic sulfur compounds. The carbonate solvent may optionally include a co-solvent and/or a mercaptan scavenger.

Abstract: A position sensor and a position sensor system, including a feeler, a force transfer element operably connected to the feeler, a force receiver operably connected to the force transfer element, and a force quantifier operably connected to the force receiver. A method for sensing position of a wet connector in a downhole environment, including running a position sensor on an upper wet connector to a target location, contacting a feeler block location on a lower wet connector, stroking the feeler, receiving a force at the force receiver, and communicating the received force to the force quantifier. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a position sensor disposed in the borehole.

Abstract: An inflow control device includes a first flow control structure that is porous and forms differing flowpaths for water and oil. A method of controlling flow includes flowing a fluid from a source to a destination through the inflow control device, and controlling flow via the first flow control structure such that oil flows through the inflow control device more easily than water. A method of controlling flow includes flowing a fluid from a source to a destination through the inflow control device, and flowing a portion of water in the fluid through the first flow control structure to impinge on an upstream surface of the second flow control structure. A wellbore system includes a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string disposed in the borehole, and the inflow control device disposed within or as part of the string.

Abstract: An apparatus for damping vibrations includes an inertial mass disposed in a cavity in a rotatable downhole component, the rotatable component configured to be disposed in a borehole in a subsurface formation, such as a resource bearing formation, the inertial mass coupled to a surface of the cavity by a damping fluid and configured to move within the cavity relative to the downhole component. The apparatus also includes a damping fluid disposed in the cavity between the inertial mass and an inner surface of the cavity, where rotational acceleration of the rotatable downhole component causes shear in the damping fluid to dissipate energy from rotational acceleration of the rotatable downhole component and causing the rotational acceleration to be reduced.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for identification of zones of high producibility in shale reservoirs. The method includes obtaining a Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content and an organic sulfur content of a formation interval using geochemical measurements and determining a dielectric dispersion response of the formation interval using dielectric measurements. The dielectric dispersion response is processed to obtain a pore system tortuosity parameter. The pore system tortuosity parameter is correlated with a ratio of the organic sulfur content to the TOC content to identify presence of zones of mature kerogen with high or low hydrocarbon producibility, immature kerogen with a presence of clay, and on-productive or over-mature zones within the formation interval. This correlation is performed by comparing the ratio of the organic sulfur content to the TOC to an organic matter maturity threshold and comparing the pore system tortuosity parameter to a pore system tortuosity parameter threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting one or more properties of a downhole fluid includes a housing. The apparatus also includes a location-sensitive optical detector, arranged within a chamber formed by the housing. The apparatus further includes a light source, arranged within the chamber. The apparatus also includes a lens, positioned at an end of the housing, the lens preferably having a flat side and a curved side, the flat side positioned proximate the chamber to position the flat side closer to the light source than the curved side. The apparatus further includes a mirror, arranged outside the housing.

Abstract: A water-based demulsifier includes two or more demulsifying resins, a surfactant, a hydrophilic linker, and a base solvent, which is water. In various embodiments, the two or more demulsifying resins include acid-catalyzed alkoxylated alkylphenol resins, base-catalyzed alkoxylated alkylphenol resins, polyol resins, and diepoxide resins. In one aspect, a method of using a water-based demulsifier with a desalter includes the steps of providing the water-based demulsifier and applying it at the desalter, where the water-based demulsifier includes an acid-catalyzed alkoxylated alkylphenol resin, a base-catalyzed alkoxylated alkylphenol resin, a surfactant, a hydrophilic linker, and a base solvent. In yet another aspect, a water-based demulsifier includes two or more demulsifying resins, a surfactant, a hydrophilic linker, and water as a base solvent, where the hydrophilic linker includes a C3-C18 branched linker, which may be a branched alkyl alcohol, a branched glycol, or a branched alkyl glycerin.

Abstract: In at least one embodiment, a compression plate to be used with a slip hanger or a packoff in oilfield equipment is disclosed. The compression plate includes one or more grooves or slots extending circumferentially with respect to an axis of the slip hanger or the packoff. The compression plate is to be associated with an annulus seal gland of the slip hanger or the packoff and is to enable a gland volume of the annulus seal gland to change with temperature applied to the slip hanger or the packoff.

Abstract: A slip subsystem, including a slip having wickers angled in a first direction and wickers angled in a second direction opposite the first direction, an engager disposed adjacent the slip to selectively engage the wickers, and a biaser to bias the engager into engagement with the wickers. An anchor including a housing having a slip ramp, a drive plate, a power spring to bias the drive plate, a slip subsystem operably connected with the housing. A method for setting an anchor in a borehole, including driving a drive plate into a slip, forcing the slip to climb a housing, engaging an activation block with the slip to prevent slip movement relative to the housing in an anti-setting direction. A borehole system, including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a slip subsystem disposed within or as a part of the string.

Abstract: A seal includes a seal body and a temperature controller in thermal communication with the seal material. A method for controlling temperature of a seal including applying an energy source to the temperature controller, and generating a temperature difference in the temperature controller. A borehole system including a borehole in a subsurface formation, a string in the borehole, and a seal tool disposed within or as part of the string.