Abstract: Oil-based drilling fluid compositions comprising an oil phase comprising a base oil, an aqueous phase comprising water, at least one emulsifier, and one or more additives. The at least one emulsifier comprises an amino amide comprising the formula R—CO—NH—R?—NH—R?—NH2, where R is a fatty acid alkyl and R? and R? are alkyl groups. The one or more additives are chosen from a wetting agent, a rheology modifier, a fluid-loss control additive, and a weighting additive. Methods of making the oil-based drilling fluid compositions and methods of drilling a subterranean well utilizing the oil-based drilling fluid compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Oil-based drilling fluid compositions comprising an oil phase comprising a base oil, an aqueous phase comprising water, at least one emulsifier, and one or more additives. The at least one emulsifier comprises an amino amide comprising the formula R—CO—NH—R?—NH—R?—NH2, where R is a fatty acid alkyl and R? and R? are alkyl groups. The one or more additives are chosen from a wetting agent, a rheology modifier, a fluid-loss control additive, and a weighting additive. Methods of making the oil-based drilling fluid compositions and methods of drilling a subterranean well utilizing the oil-based drilling fluid compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Oil-based drilling fluid compositions comprising an oil phase comprising a base oil, an aqueous phase comprising water, at least one emulsifier, and one or more additives. The at least one emulsifier comprises an amino amide comprising the formula R—CO—NH—R?—NH—R?—NH2, where R is a fatty acid alkyl and R? and R? are alkyl groups. The one or more additives are chosen from a wetting agent, a rheology modifier, a fluid-loss control additive, and a weighting additive. Methods of making the oil-based drilling fluid compositions and methods of drilling a subterranean well utilizing the oil-based drilling fluid compositions are also provided.

Abstract: Quaternary ammonium compounds and compositions comprising the compounds are disclosed. The compositions are valuable as gas hydrate inhibitors in the oil and gas exploration, recovery and processing industries. The compounds and compositions may have improved biodegradability and reduced toxicity when compared with benchmark materials. Quaternary ammonium compounds of the present disclosure have the formula (I) in which R is C1-4 alkyl, C6-10 aryl, or C1-4alkyl-C6-10aryl; R1 is hydrogen or a group of formula —C(?O)X; and R2 is hydrogen or a group of formula —C(?O)Y, provided that R1 and R2 are not both hydrogen; X and Y are each independently a hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl or C1-6 alkenyl group, and Z is a C4-24 alkyl or C4-24 alkenyl group; each D is independently C1-4 alkylene; and A? is an anion.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a downhole tool comprises a generator for generating electricity; a rotor connected to the generator; an electronic circuit electrically connected to the generator; a sensor for sensing movement of the rotor, the sensor being electrically connected to the electronic circuit; and a valve for wellbore fluid and for activating or deactivating a tool or function of the downhole tool, the valve being controllable by being electrically connected to the electronic circuit. The generator is configured to generate electricity to at least the electronic circuit when a flow of wellbore fluid drives the rotor. A corresponding method of controlling a downhole tool comprises configuring the electric circuit to open or close the valve depending on a variation or pattern of a flow rate, controlling the downhole tool.

Abstract: A protective device for a blow out preventer stack (B.O.P.), and a sidetracking method using same during an oil-field milling or drilling operation requiring a window to be formed in casing to access a formation, the device having a sleeve assembly and a running tool releasably attached to the sleeve assembly, wherein the running tool comprises a running tool housing connected to the sleeve assembly and a separable running tool body connectable within the length of a work string having a BHA with a mill or bit, the running tool housing being shear pinned to the running tool body for running in hole, wherein the running tool housing is configured to shear from the running tool body during deployment into a cased wellbore to sealingly seat the sleeve assembly within a B.O.P. and form a barrier to ingress of swarf into the B.O.P.

Abstract: Methods for reducing loss of wellbore fluid to formation may include pumping an oil-based wellbore fluid into the wellbore, where the wellbore includes an oleaginous continuous phase and a plurality of modified brine phases dispersed in the oleaginous continuous phase.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a desulphurization agent for removing sulphurous species from a diluent or process stream, and a use of such agent. In some examples, the agent may include a compound of manganese, pore forming particles and a compound of copper. The agent may be introduced into or mixed with the diluent or process stream to effectuate removal of sulphurous species from the diluent or process stream.

Abstract: A method includes scanning an interior of a tank to obtain a tank rendering. Based on the tank rendering, a minimum number of tank cleaning machines and a corresponding position for each of the tank cleaning machines is determined such that substantially all of the interior of the tank is reachable by the tank cleaning machines.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a reactor, the method including circulating a fluid inside the reactor, pumping the fluid from the reactor into an inlet of a tank cleaner, and removing solids from the fluid to produce a clean fluid. The method further includes transferring the clean fluid to the reactor and transferring pneumatically the removed solids to a pressurized vessel. Also, a method for transferring spent granular material, the method including providing a vacuum system disposed at a hydrocarbon production site to remove spent material from a reactor, transferring the spent material through the vacuum system into a pressurized vessel, and conveying pneumatically the spent material from the pressurized vessel to a second pressurized vessel.

Abstract: A downhole packer for providing a seal in a well bore to allow integrity testing of well bore with drill ahead capability immediately thereafter has a disengageable packer assembly wherein the packer element may be rendered disengageable by mounting the packer to the string using a tool body (61) provided with a sleeve (62) bearing a packer element (55), wherein the body is initially restrained from movement within the sleeve by engagement of an internal selectively movable retaining element (64). A method of testing a well bore with follow on drilling after disengaging the packer element is described.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a desulphurisation agent for removing sulphurous species from a diluent or process stream, and a use of such agent. In some examples, the agent may include a compound of manganese, pore forming particles and a compound of copper. The agent may be introduced into or mixed with the diluent or process stream to effectuate removal of sulphurous species from the diluent or process stream.

Abstract: A cleaning tool (1) for use in cleaning ferrous material from a wellbore has a magnetic cleaning functionality by provision of magnets (5) in an Halbach array on a downhole tool component of a workstring. The Halbach array may be an Halbach cylinder positioned on a mandrel wherein the magnetic field is external to the cylinder with substantially zero magnetic field within the tool.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a desulphurization agent for removing sulphurous species from a diluent or process stream, and a use of such agent. In some examples, the agent may include a compound of manganese, pore forming particles and a compound of copper. The agent may be introduced into or mixed with the diluent or process stream to effectuate removal of sulphorous species from the diluent or process stream.

Abstract: A sealing means for debris chambers of a debris extraction tool and a method for dismantling and handling a debris extraction toll using such sealing means are disclosed. The sealing means for a debris chamber for a debris extraction tool may include a cylindrical body sealed at one end and open at the other end. The open end may be connectable to an end of the debris chamber. The method for dismantling a debris extraction tool, wherein the debris extraction tool comprises a plurality of connected debris chambers, may use the sealing means and may include connecting the sealing means to the topmost debris chamber of the debris extraction tool.

Abstract: A work string tool to be operably associated with a weight-set packer tool uses pressure applied by fluid circulated from the surface above the weight-set packer, to deploy a hydraulic hold-down anchor mechanism above the packer to reduce the risk of unsetting during a high pressure “positive” wellbore integrity test. An axial bore of a tool tubular body houses first and second inner sleeves, and is configured to accommodate independent axial movement of the sleeves to provide multiple fluid flowpath configurations through the tool which allow use of circulation fluid pressure to circulate a ball obturator to a valve seat in a sleeve when a configuration change is required to deploy or release the anchor mechanism.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a desulphurisation agent for removing sulphurous species from a diluent or process stream, and a use of such agent. In some examples, the agent may include a compound of manganese, pore forming particles and a compound of copper. The agent may be introduced into or mixed with the diluent or process stream to effectuate removal of sulphorous species from the diluent or process stream.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wellbore fluid, such as a drilling, completion or workover fluid, said wellbore fluid comprising a glucomannan additive. Further provided is a method of forming a gel plug from the wellbore fluid, a method of modifying the properties of a wellbore fluid, a method of drilling a subterranean hole with such a fluid and the use of glucomannan in wellbore fluids.

Abstract: A wear detector comprising, a pressure vessel, a hydrocyclone, within the pressure vessel, a vibration or strain sensor, coupled to the hydrocyclone, for producing a data signal representative of a physical parameter of the hydrocyclone, means for transmitting the data signal out of the pressure vessel, and data analysing means, for collecting and analysing the data signal.

Abstract: A method for treating contaminated sand from a production waste pit, the method includes pre-treating the contaminated sand to recover at least one non-radioactive contaminant from the contaminated sand, washing the contaminated sand with a dissolver solution and water to remove naturally occurring radioactive material from the sand, recovering the dissolver solution from the sand, treating the water to remove all contaminants, and collecting the treated sand.