Patents Assigned to M-I LLC
-
Patent number: 7770665Abstract: A system for preparing a slurry in-transit including a first cuttings storage vessel disposed on a transport vehicle, a module configured to operatively connect to the first cuttings storage vessel, and a fluid supply line in fluid communication with the first cuttings storage vessel, the module including, a grinding device configured to facilitate the transfer of fluids and reduce particle size of drill cuttings, wherein the system is operated while the transport vehicle is moving. A method of operating an in-transit slurrification system including using a first vessel disposed on a moving transport vehicle for cuttings storage, and operating the first vessel in a slurrification process while the transport vehicle is moving.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2008Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: M-I LLCInventors: Jan Thore Eia, Gordon M. Logan
-
Publication number: 20100193409Abstract: A shaker apparatus including a basket having an upstream side, a downstream side, and two side walls, at least one wedge guide and one support rail disposed on each side wall, and at least one screen assembly. The support rails and the wedge guides may be configured to engage the screen assembly. The screen assembly may have one or more layers of screen mesh mounted on a screen frame. The screen frame may include a first and a second side rail, each having an upstream end, a downstream end, a top surface, and a bottom surface. A slope of the top surfaces intermediate the upstream end and the downstream end may be different than a slope of the bottom surfaces intermediate the upstream end and the downstream end.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: M-I LLCInventor: Eric Cady
-
Publication number: 20100186957Abstract: A pill for wellbore operations, that includes a base fluid; and at least two polymers that interact to form a gelatinous structure characterized as isolating and controllably transmitting hydrostatic pressure between a first wellbore fluid above the pill in a wellbore and a second wellbore fluid below the pill in the wellbore is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2008Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Ole Iacob Prebensen, Monica Norman, Anne-Marie Friestad, Egil Ronaes
-
Publication number: 20100190664Abstract: A method of cleaning a wellbore prior to the production of oil or gas, wherein the wellbore has been drilled with an invert emulsion drilling mud that forms an invert emulsion filter cake is disclosed. The method may include circulating a breaker fluid into the wellbore, where the breaker fluid includes a non-oleaginous internal phase and an oleaginous external phase, where the non-oleaginous phase includes a water soluble polar organic solvent, a hydrolysable ester of a carboxylic acid, and a weighting agent, and the oleaginous external phase includes an oleaginous fluid and an emulsifier, and where the hydrolysable ester is selected so that upon hydrolysis an organic acid is released and the invert emulsion of the filter cake breaks.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2010Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Charles Svoboda, Raymond D. Ravitz, Mark Luyster
-
Patent number: 7753213Abstract: A screen support frame for a shale shaker includes a first end, a second end disposed opposite the first end, a first side disposed substantially perpendicular the first and second ends, a second side disposed opposite the first side and a plurality of transverse ribs disposed between the first end and the second end and between the first side and the second side, wherein at least one transverse rib extends downwardly below a lower plane of the screen support frame. A method of forming a screen support frame for a shale shaker includes forming a screen support frame and forming integrally a gasket along a perimeter of a lower plane of the screen support frame.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2007Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: M-I LLCInventor: James F. Nogalski
-
Patent number: 7753990Abstract: The present invention provides a system for reducing entrained and dissolved gasses from a well fluid. The system includes a well fluid, at least one process tank into which the well fluid flows, wherein a first process tank comprises a weir arrangement over which the well fluid spills, a mechanical degasser coupled to the at least one process tank and configured to receive the well fluid, and an aeration device disposed in the at least one process tank that generates bubbles in the well fluid. The present invention also provides a method of reducing entrained and dissolved gases from a well fluid that includes flowing a well fluid into a process tank, exerting a centrifugal force on the well fluid, and generating bubbles in the well fluid in the process tank.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: M-I LLCInventors: Michael A. Freeman, Eric Hand
-
Publication number: 20100163255Abstract: A method for treating a wellbore in a hydrogen sulfide-containing formation that includes injecting a first slug in the wellbore, the first slug comprising: at least one of primary amine and ammonia; and a base fluid; injecting a second slug in the wellbore, the second slug comprising: a triazine scavenger; and a base fluid; and allowing the triazine scavenger to react with the hydrogen sulfide is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2008Publication date: July 1, 2010Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Robert L. Horton, Randy Stoker, Paul Davis
-
Patent number: 7740068Abstract: A method for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore that includes injecting an alkali silicate into the wellbore; injecting a solid micronized silicate-precipitating agent into the wellbore; and allowing the alkali silicate and the solid micronized silicate-precipitating agent to react to form a silicate gel is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2008Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: M-I LLCInventor: David Antony Ballard
-
Publication number: 20100139914Abstract: A drilling fluid test device including a cell body having a pressurization inlet configured to allow for pressurization of the cell body, a fluid inlet configured to provide a test fluid, a filtrate outlet configured to discharge a filtrate, and a fluid outlet configured to discharge the fluid. The device also including a filter medium disposed in the cell body and a cleaning system disposed in the cell body and configured to clean the filter medium. Additionally, a method of testing a drilling fluid including injecting a drilling fluid into an automated testing cell, the automated testing cell having a filter medium. Furthermore, pressurizing the automated testing cell, forming a filter cake on the filter medium, and separating the drilling fluid into a filtrate and a residual drilling fluid. Additionally, transferring the filtrate to a filtrate collection vessel and determining a volume of filtrate in the filtrate collection vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2008Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Mostafa Ahmadi Tehrani, Jacqueline Joan Cameron
-
Publication number: 20100140145Abstract: A system for separating hydrocarbons from a solid source including a primary separation tank including a first hydrocarbon removing device to remove hydrocarbons from a slurry of water and solids. Further, the system including a transfer device between the primary separation tank and a secondary separation tank, wherein the transfer device is configured to transfer solids from the slurry to the secondary separation tank. Further still, the system including a second hydrocarbon removal device, a fine particle separation device to remove remaining solids in the secondary separation tank, and a product collection tank to receive hydrocarbons removed from the primary and secondary separation tanks.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2010Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Michael A. Freeman, Alex Stoian, Lewis J. Dutel, Cory C. Melancon, Richard Bingham, Paul Newman
-
Publication number: 20100133204Abstract: A reusable filter for testing drilling fluids including a non-porous filter medium configured to be disposed in a drilling fluid testing device. The non-porous filter medium having a plurality of perforations extending therethrough. Additionally, a method of cleaning a reusable filter medium for a drilling fluid test device including exposing the reusable filter medium to a washing fluid, and agitating the washing fluid with a mechanical agitator to break up solids disposed on the reusable filter medium. Also, a drilling fluid test device including a cell body having a fluid inlet configured to provide a test fluid, a filtrate outlet configured to discharge a filtrate, and a fluid outlet configured to discharge the fluid. The drilling fluid test device also having a non-porous filter medium disposed in the cell body.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2008Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Mostafa Ahmadi Tehrani, Jacqueline Joan Cameron
-
Patent number: 7717177Abstract: A process for generating and subsequently breaking a filter cake, including dissolving a non-reactive gas in a wellbore fluid to form an energized fluid; pumping the energized fluid into a formation at a downhole pressure, wherein the pumping is at overbalanced conditions; producing a filter cake; and decreasing the down hole pressure to below a cut point of the dissolved gas in the energized fluid to form a vapor phase, wherein the vapor phase compromises the integrity of the filter cake is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2007Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: M-I LLCInventor: Frederick B. Growcock
-
Patent number: 7704299Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a process fluid that includes assembling a modular system, flowing the process fluid through the modular system, the flowing the process fluid through the modular system including degassing the process fluid, neutralizing the process fluid, reducing an amount of one of the group consisting of entrained gases, oil and solids in the process fluid, monitoring and analyzing the process fluid for at least one of the group consisting of engrained gases, oil, and solids, and flowing the process fluid out of the modular system for disposal.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: M-I LLCInventors: Frank Mueller, Michael A. Freeman, Eric Hand
-
Publication number: 20100004145Abstract: A fluid loss pill that includes a crosslinked polymer gel, a brine, and solid salt particles disposed in said gel is described. Further, a method for reducing fluid loss that includes pumping a selected amount of a fluid loss pill into a wellbore leading to an oil-condensate-, or gas-producing formation, the fluid loss pill including a crosslinked polymer gel, a brine, and solid salt particles disposed in said gel is described.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2006Publication date: January 7, 2010Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Robert L. Horton, Bethicia B. Prasek
-
Publication number: 20090321074Abstract: A down hole tool including a compression surface, a compression surface axis, and at least one support member configured to attach the compression surface to a well drilling tool assembly, wherein the extendable support member is extendable by an extension force provided to the support member. The down hole tool is rotable relative to an axis of the well drilling tool assembly, and as the well drilling tool assembly rotates, the at least one compression device exerts a lateral force along a sidewall of a wellbore. Also, a method of forming filter cake comprising releasing a drilling fluid and contacting the drilling fluid with a mechanical pressure on the sidewall of the wellbore and the drilling fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2009Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: M-I LLCInventor: Michael A. Freeman
-
Publication number: 20090260698Abstract: A fluid control system, including: a housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a pressure chamber; a shuttle assembly adapted to reciprocate in the pressure chamber to regulate the flow of an operating fluid from the inlet to the outlet; the operating fluid applying an opening force to a first end of the shuttle assembly; a control fluid to apply a closing force to an opposite end of the shuttle assembly; wherein an operating fluid pressure area of the first end of the shuttle assembly when in a closed position is at least 65 percent of the operating fluid pressure area of the first end of the shuttle assembly when in an open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2008Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: M-I LLCInventor: Roger Suter
-
Publication number: 20090260826Abstract: A system for injecting a fluid into a formation including a fluid, and at least one injection pump configured to receive the fluid, the at least one pump including a centrifugal pump having at least two stages configured to increase the pressure of the received fluid is disclosed. The system further includes a drive device coupled to the injection pump. A method of injecting a fluid downhole including providing a fluid to an injection pump, the injection pump including a centrifugal pump having at least two stages, pumping the fluid through the at least two stages of the centrifugal pump, thereby increasing the pressure of the fluid, and injecting the fluid from the injection pump into a wellbore is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: October 22, 2009Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Joe Sherwood, Greg McEwen, Gary Woolsey, Katerina Newman
-
Publication number: 20090258799Abstract: A wellbore fluid that includes a base fluid; a weighting agent having a d90 greater than 30 microns; and a micronized weighting agent having a d90 less than 25 microns, the micronized weighting agent comprising less than 30 percent by volume of the total weighting agents is disclosed herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2008Publication date: October 15, 2009Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Mike Hodder, Andy Popplestone
-
Patent number: 7563424Abstract: The present invention relates to a compressed metal oxide composition particle comprised of metal oxide and an organic binder, with the binder preferably being a water insoluble cellulose composition. The present invention also relates to a method for forming a compressed metal oxide composition particle, with the preferred method including compressing a metal oxide and binder mixture to form compressed metal oxide composition particles having a final particle size of between about 0.1 mm and about 200 mm.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2004Date of Patent: July 21, 2009Assignee: M-I, LLCInventors: Delbert C. Scranton, Jr., Thomas G. Braga, Alan D. Johnson, Alvin Samuels
-
Publication number: 20090151443Abstract: A screen test apparatus includes a test cell disposed within a pressure vessel, a piston disposed within the pressure vessel, wherein the piston is in sealing contact with an inner surface of the pressure vessel, and a screen assembly disposed in an end of the test cell. The screen assembly includes a mount collar, a screen disposed in the mount collar, and an end cap adjacent the screen which includes grooves in a face adjacent the screen and passages extending through the end cap, wherein the screen assembly is configured to fully support the screen while allowing a fluid to pass through the screen.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: M-I LLCInventors: Kenneth Slater, Michael T. Darring, Marian Baranowski