Abstract: Forming an anchored plug in a wellbore utilizing grain-like solids to transfer an axial force to a radial force to dissipate the axial force within an effective screening length.

Abstract: A method and system for removing solids or displacing a fluid from a wellbore wherein a plurality of resilient rubber-like flexible reticulated open cell foam elements are dispersed in a fluid and pumped through drill pipe and into the annulus between the wellbore and the drill pipe. In the annulus, the foam elements impact and dislodge solids such as proppants, gravels, drilled cuttings and other solids or a fluid to be displaced and the proppants, etc. or the fluid are carried by the fluid containing the foam elements back to the surface or a different location in the wellbore. At the surface, the fluid containing the foam elements and the proppants, etc., is carried to a shale shaker where the solids and the foam elements are separated from the fluid. The separated solids and foam are collected for disposal and, after adding new foam elements, the fluid can be recirculated down hole.

Abstract: The disclosure teaches a method of sealing fractures in a wellbore wherein the steps comprise pumping a first sealing fluid into a wellbore under pressure, monitoring the hydraulic pressure of the sealing fluid in the wellbore for an indicator of seal initialization, stopping the pumping of fluid into the wellbore, monitoring the hydraulic pressure of the sealing fluid in the wellbore, and pumping a second sealing fluid into the wellbore. The disclosure also includes the method wherein the concentration of sealing materials in the first fluid is greater than the concentration of sealing materials in the second fluid and the method wherein the first sealing fluid contains a higher concentration of larger diameter sealing materials than the second sealing fluid. The disclosure also includes a method wherein the pumping rate change between the first pumping of sealing fluid and the pumping of the second sealing fluid. The first and second sealing fluids can be the same.