Abstract: Compositions and methods of using of such compositions to, for example, inhibit shale are provided. In one embodiment, the methods include introducing an additive including a cationic clay stabilizer and an anionic clay stabilizer into a treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the methods include introducing an additive including a cationic shale inhibitor and an anionic shale inhibitor into a treatment fluid; and introducing the treatment fluid into a wellbore penetrating at least a portion of a subterranean formation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for separating paramagnetic material in wellbore return fluid. A quadrupole magnet system is disposed along conduit so that a paramagnetic field is symmetrically formed about a central axis of the conduit. A wellbore return fluid containing paramagnetic material is directed through the conduit. The paramagnetic field drives the paramagnetic material outward towards the perimeter of the conduit, thereby concentrating fluid with little or no paramagnetic material along the central axis of the conduit. An outlet is disposed along the flow path of a portion of the concentrated fluid. In some embodiments, the outlet is positioned along the central axis, while in other embodiments, the outlet is positioned along the conduit wall. The paramagnetic material may be weighting material used to prepare drilling mud.

Abstract: A method may comprise identifying one or more pressure dissipation mechanisms that drop pressure within a fluid handling system, identifying one or more open flowpath elements, performing a matching algorithm with an information handling system, and initializing the matching algorithm with an estimate of a coefficient. A system may comprise a fluid handling system and an information handling system. The fluid handling system may comprise a fluid supply vessel, wherein the fluid supply vessel is disposed on a surface, pumping equipment, wherein the pumping equipment is attached to the fluid supply vessel and disposed on the surface; a wellbore supply conduit, wherein the wellbore supply conduit is attached to the pumping equipment and disposed in a formation, and a flowpath element, wherein the flowpath element fluidly couples the wellbore supply conduit to the formation.

Abstract: A distributed control system can be used to implement failover capabilities for control units that control well equipment during a well operation. For example, a system can include first well equipment that performs a first physical task and second well equipment that performs a second physical task different from the first physical task. Additionally, the system can include a distributed control system with a first control unit coupled to the first well equipment and a second control unit coupled to the second well equipment. Both control units may include a first control module and a second control module for automatically controlling the first physical task and the second physical task, respectively. The distributed control system can detect a failure of the second control unit and initiate a failover process in which the first control unit takes over control of the second physical task by enabling the second control module.

Abstract: A sensing system utilizes multiple wavelengths communicated on a single pulse to a sensor, for example, an optical fiber. Backscattered or reflected light from a number of locations or depths along the sensor are analyzed to correct for 2? phase jump error. A phase sensing method detects the 2% phase jump error associated with one or more measurements from the sensor. Correcting for the 2? phase jump error provides increased accuracy of the one or more measurements, for example, improved vertical sensing profiling, production and fracture monitoring, and micro-seismic monitoring.

Abstract: Systems and methods for drilling a wellbore include delivering electrical energy to a downhole end of the wellbore. A tapered drill string, with larger drill pipes connected in an up-hole portion with a turbine and an electrical generator and a smaller drill pipes coupled in downhole portion may be used to deliver the electrical power. A turbine and generator may be sufficiently sized to harvest the necessary hydraulic energy and safely operated in a subterranean environment. An electrode carried by the downhole portion of the drill string is electrically coupled to the generator through the downhole portion of the drill string.

Abstract: A method and system for determining fluid contamination. The method may comprise monitoring a fluid sample, wherein the fluid sample comprises a reservoir fluid contaminated with a well fluid, and obtaining input parameters, wherein the input parameters comprise fluid properties obtained from measurement of the fluid sample and mud filtrate composition. The method may further comprise representing a mud composition as a Gaussian distribution, selecting a plurality of input data during a pumpout, determining calculated fluid properties of the reservoir fluid using an equation of state filtrate analysis, and further obtaining updated values of iterative parameters for use in a mole fraction distribution function.

Abstract: A system for generating a cement composition comprising: a plurality of cementitious components; and a computer system configured to accept input from a user and generate concentrations of the cementitious components for the cement composition, wherein the computer system is configured to generate the concentrations of the cementitious components based on a target lime to silica correlation.

Abstract: Methods for determining water-filled porosity using a general volumetric mixing law and the measurements of a dielectric tool are described. The water-filled porosity estimates are used to obtain water salinity estimates and the optimal parameters of the volumetric mixing law. These estimates are in turn used to generate novel quality indicators.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for performing a sealing operation in a wellbore. An example method introduces a sealant composition into the wellbore while the sealant composition is under shear. The sealant composition comprises a thixotropic material, a conformance gel system, and an aqueous base fluid. The sealant composition is placed into a target location, and applied shear is reduced to the sealant composition when in the target location thereby allowing the sealant composition to thicken in the target location. Fluid flow across the target location is reduced by a fluid seal formed by the thickened sealant composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects of an expandable metal wellbore anchor for use in a wellbore. The expandable metal wellbore anchor, in one aspect, includes one or more expandable members positionable on a downhole conveyance member in a wellbore, wherein the one or more expandable members comprise a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, and wherein a combined volume of the one or more expandable members is sufficient to expand to anchor one or more downhole tools within the wellbore in response to the hydrolysis.

Abstract: A float for use with a fluid flow control device. The float, in at least one aspect, includes a fluid impermeable exterior, and a base material having one or more cavities positioned within the fluid impermeable exterior, the base material formed using an additive manufacturing process.

Abstract: A cable comprises a protective jacket and a plurality of conductor bundles symmetrically arranged within the protective jacket. The cable comprises optical fibers arranged within the protective jacket relative to the plurality of conductor bundles such that an orthogonal mode electrical field symmetry for the plurality of conductor bundles is retained.

Abstract: Hardfacing is used to protect wear surfaces of drill bits and other downhole tools. A hardfacing member can be formed by heating a metal matrix material, e.g., via a laser process, injecting a plurality of particles into the heated metal matrix material, disposing the mixture on at least a portion of a substrate thereby forming a hardfacing member having a particle-embedded metal matrix material, and attaching the hardfacing member to a main body.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a pulsed-power drilling system that includes downhole mixers for restoring optimal electrical properties in drilling fluid. The downhole mixer may include a housing having an uphole and downhole end, a channel to convey the drilling fluid through the housing, and a flow restrictor including an orifice having a fixed diameter positioned in the channel between the entrance and the exit of the channel to create a pressure drop between the entrance and the exit of the channel during a drilling operation. The pressure drop increases shear stress in the drilling fluid to manage electrical properties, such as a dielectric constant, of the drilling fluid. The electrical properties of the drilling fluid facilitate the formation of an electrical arc on a drill bit of the pulsed-power drilling system.

Abstract: An actuator of a downhole tool used in oil and gas exploration and production operations is operable to actuate a first implement in a first direction. A biasing device of the downhole tool is operable to actuate the first implement in a second direction, opposite the first direction. A dampener of the downhole tool is operable to slow an actuation speed of the first implement in the first direction, the second direction, or both. Actuating the first implement in the first direction also actuates a second implement of a flow control device (“FCD”) of the downhole tool, to which the first implement is connected, in the first direction, placing the FCD in a first (e.g., open) configuration. Actuating the first implement in the second direction also actuates the second implement of the FCD in the second direction, placing the FCD in a second (e.g., closed) configuration.

Abstract: A system for a wellbore can include a tubing string positioned downhole in a wellbore and a porous gravel pack. The porous gravel pack can be positioned in an annulus defined at least in part by a surface of the tubing string. The porous gravel pack can be made up of a plurality of grains. Each grain can include a core surrounded at least in part by a sheath. The core can comprise an expandable material that can expand in response to coming in contact with a fluid. The sheath can surround the core and can be deformable in response to the core expanding in response being exposed to a fluid.

Abstract: A measurement tool may be positioned downhole in a wellbore for measuring formation properties and drilling mud properties during a drilling operation. The measurement tool may include a body and an antenna. The body may include magnets for generating a magnetic field and a transmitter for transmitting a radiofrequency pulse. The antenna may be positioned proximate to the body to measure properties using nuclear magnetic resonant frequencies. The antenna may measure formation properties in a first volume of a formation using a first frequency. The antenna may measure drilling mud properties in a second volume in a borehole using a second frequency.

Abstract: Provided, in one aspect, is a downhole magnetic debris removal apparatus. The downhole magnetic debris removal apparatus, in one aspect, includes a housing having a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of magnets arranged as one or more Halbach arrays of magnets coupled to the housing, the one or more Halbach arrays of magnets having a strong side and a weak side.

Abstract: A sensor device can be used to detect the presence of a cement composition in a reverse cementing operation. The sensor device can include a resistivity sensor, an acquisition and measurement apparatus, and an actuator. The actual derivative of resistivity of the drilling mud, spacer fluid, and cement composition to be used can be pre-determined. The acquisition and measurement apparatus can be pre-programmed with a slope change derivative of resistivity profile for the fluids. The resistivity sensor can measure the resistivity of the fluids as they flow past the resistivity sensor in the wellbore. When the acquisition and measurement apparatus receives a desired slope change reading within the slope change derivative of resistivity profile, instructions can be sent to the actuator to close a valve and block fluid flow through the casing or tubing string.