Abstract: A method of estimating a velocity of a geological layer includes providing a first, initial model including an interval velocity associated with a subsurface location and an uncertainty associated with the interval velocity; providing data including an actual or approximated root-mean-square (RMS) velocity associated with a subsurface location and an uncertainty associated with the RMS velocity; and estimating a second model including an interval velocity associated with a subsurface location and an uncertainty associated with the interval velocity, based on the interval velocity and the uncertainty of the first model, and the RMS velocity and the uncertainty of the data.

Abstract: A method for estimating saturation using mCSEM data and stochastic petrophysical models by quantifying the average water saturation in a reservoir given the transverse resistance (TR) obtained from mCSEM data, including the following steps: a) obtaining mCSEM survey data from a subsurface region of interest, b) performing an inversion of the obtained mCSEM data, c) subtracting a background resistivity trend from the mCSEM inversion data from the resistivity trend of the mCSEM inversion data from inside a hydrocarbon reservoir, d) estimating the location of an anomaly in the mCSEM inversion data, e) estimating the magnitude of the transverse resistance associated with an anomaly from the mCSEM inversion data, f) estimating an initial average reservoir saturation corresponding to transverse resistance using a stochastic petrophysical model and Monte Carlo simulation connecting reservoir parameters to transverse resistance, and g) integrating the obtained saturation distribution as a function of transverse resis

Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a hydrocarbon bearing formation fascilitates temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method includes detonating one or more explosive charges within a tubular or tubulars extending through the well in order to remove, fragment and or cut one or more sections of the tubulars around the entire circumference of the well to expose the surrounding formation or cement. The well is then filled in the region of the exposed surrounding formation or cement with a sealing material so as to form one or more plugs within the well to seal the well.

Abstract: A method of plugging a well extending into a hydrocarbon bearing formation facilitates temporary or permanent abandonment of the well. The method includes forming two or more plugs within the well, the plugs being formed at longitudinally spaced apart locations whilst providing a fluid communication path from a region above the topmost plug to the or each space between adjacent plugs. This configuration facilitates pressure testing of one or more of the plugs by conducting fluid through said path.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring a property of settling of a first phase in a second fluid phase of a mixture. In order to measure the property of settling, the mixture may be contained in a chamber, an acoustic wave may be repeatedly passed vertically through the mixture, a transit time may be measured for each acoustic wave to traverse the mixture, and the property of settling using a change in the transit times of the acoustic waves may then be determined. In various embodiments, the property of settling can be a degree of settling.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining a physiochemical property of a drilling fluid at a drilling site during a drilling phase, said method comprising detecting a nuclear magnetic resonance signal from out-of-hole drilling fluid at said site and calculating therefrom a value indicative of said property.

Abstract: A method of introducing a CO2 composition into an aquifer for storage of CO2 therein, said method comprising injecting CO2 in a supercritical state into said aquifer at one or multiple first vertical positions; and withdrawing brine solution from said aquifer at one or multiple second vertical positions; wherein any one of said first vertical positions is distinct from any one of said second vertical positions is disclosed. An arrangement for introducing a CO2 composition into an aquifer is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gas compression system and a method of flow conditioning by a gas compression system are provided. A gas compression system includes a compact flow conditioner in a form of a flow conditioner tank and a combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit comprising an impeller configured to compress a mixture of gas and liquid, wherein the gas compression system is configured such that the gas and the liquid are separated in the flow conditioner tank, the separated gas and liquid are sucked up through the separate gas and liquid pipes and re-mixed again upstream of the impeller, and the liquid is distributed in a gas flow by Venturi effect, and wherein the Venturi effect is obtained by a constriction in the outlet pipe to the impeller, just upstream of the impeller.

Abstract: A combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit and a gas compression system are provided. The combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit functions on a centrifugal principle for transporting liquid and gas from a flow conditioner to a remote multi-phase receiving plant, wherein a rotating separator separates liquid and gas upstream of a compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, wherein the separated liquid is collected in a rotating annulus in such a way that the liquid is given kinetic energy which is converted to pressure energy in a static system, and wherein the pressurized liquid bypasses the compressor part of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit, and then is re-mixed with the gas downstream of the combined multi-phase pump and compressor unit.

Abstract: A method of modelling a subterranean region of the Earth at a first location comprises the steps of: providing geological data; selecting a plurality of facies; providing a distribution of rock physics probability with spatial dependencies; approximating the rock physics probability at the first location with at least one distribution per facies utilizing the spatial dependencies in the rock physics probability distribution; and performing a Bayesian inversion at the first location using the approximation of the rock physics probability distribution. The method may also employ a window comprising the first location and at least one further location.

Abstract: There is provided subsea repair apparatus for performing repair of a subsea cable located beneath the sea, said apparatus comprising: an environment capsule capable of providing a substantially water-free environment within the capsule; and repair equipment located within the environment capsule arranged to repair said subsea cable without the need for a person to be located within the environment capsule.

Abstract: A method of forming a geological model of a region of the earth includes obtaining seismic data relating to the region, the seismic data including seismic traveltime uncertainty. A seismic velocity model of the region may also be provided and includes velocity uncertainty. Three dimensional positions of a plurality of points of the region can then be determined. The three dimensional positional uncertainties of at least some of the points can be calculated from the traveltime uncertainty and the velocity uncertainty. This can be combined with the positions to form a geological model.

Abstract: A system for separating an input fluid flow comprising gas and liquid into separate gas and liquid flows, the system comprising: a primary inline separator configured to receive said input fluid flow and to separate said input fluid flow into a primary separator liquid output flow and a primary separator gas output flow; at least one secondary inline separator connected downstream from said primary inline separator to receive at least one of said primary separator output flows and to separate said received primary separator output flow into a secondary separator liquid output flow and a secondary separator gas output flow; a system gas outlet connected to at least one of said primary and secondary separators to output said respective gas output flow; a system liquid outlet connected to at least one of said primary and secondary separators to output said respective liquid output flow; and a control system configured to regulate flow through said primary and secondary separators to ensure a flow of gas from sai

Abstract: There is described a technique for drilling and controlling the fluid pressure of a borehole (2, 102) during drilling of the borehole. In embodiments of the invention, drill pipe (5) may be arranged in said borehole, the pipe being configured to provide drilling fluid in the borehole. Sealing means (14, 18, 114, 118) may be provided and arranged to sealingly abut an outer surface of the drill pipe to separate said drilling fluid in the borehole on a first side of the sealing means from a column of fluid on a second side of the sealing means. Furthermore, a subsea pump arrangement (12, 112) may be arranged under a sea surface where it receives a flow of said drilling fluid from the borehole.

Abstract: An expandable pipe section, intended to be joined with a corresponding pipe section for use in connection with a well casing of a production well for hydrocarbons, where the pipe section is configured to be screwed on or off an adjoining expandable pipe section, the pipe section at one end being provided with a male end having externally arranged threads and where the adjoining expandable pipe section is provided with a correspondingly shaped female end having corresponding internal threads. The distance between adjacent threads at their widest point is less than the maximum width of a thread. Those parts of the pipe being provided with threads are provided with at least two step wise arranged parts with a cylindrical surface being coaxially arranged with the pipe wall(s).

Abstract: The invention relates to a flexible pipe carcass comprising a flexible tubular wall structure comprising a helically wound wall strip; wherein interlocking sections of successive windings of said wall strip form the wall structure. The interlocking sections of adjacent wall strips define a length and are movable with respect to each other between a first position and a second, extended position for changing said length, the interlocking sections being formed such that in the extended position a carcass gap is provided between adjacent interlocking sections for accommodating relative movement there between upon flexure of the wall structure. An insert profile is located in the carcass gap of the tubular wall structure on an inside of the wall structure to at least partly cover the carcass gap.

Abstract: A subsea oil and/or gas production system comprises a host production facility and a plurality of subsea wells. A fluid conveying network is provided that connects each subsea well to the host production facility. A separate electrical power and data network is provided for conveying direct current electrical power and data, operatively connected to each subsea well for providing each subsea well with data transfer and electrical power services. The use of direct current ensures that the electrical power and data network can provide power over much greater distances than currently available, and the use of separate networks for conveying fluids and for providing electrical power and data transfer allows for a much more flexible system.

Abstract: A passive method for exploring a region below the surface of the earth. The method comprises using a single sensor located in turn at a plurality of locations to obtain seismic data obtained by recording ambient seismic interface waves in a frequency range whose lower limit is greater than 0 Hz, and whose upper limit is less than or equal to substantially 1 Hz. The data are processed so as to obtain a measure of the energy in a frequency band within the frequency range. For example, the seismic data may be filtered and may be subjected to amplitude normalization before being transformed into the frequency domain. The energy measure may then be calculated by integrating the spectrum in the frequency domain over a desired frequency range. The resulting calculated energy provides information about the region of the earth being explored.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for processing fluid from a well are described. A first wall portion may define a first region and a second wall portion may define a second region, fluid from said well being let through those regions. Heating of said first wall portion may be performed to release wax from said first wall portion into said fluid at said first flow region. During said heating, cooling of said fluid at said second flow region may be performed to cause wax from said fluid to deposit on said second wall portion.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the production of a lean liquid hydrate inhibitor composition from a rich liquid hydrate inhibitor composition in which the liquid hydrate inhibitor has a boiling point above that of water, which process comprises: (a) feeding said rich liquid hydrate inhibitor composition to a first distillation vessel; (b) withdrawing a water and inhibitor containing vapor from said first distillation vessel and feeding it to a second distillation vessel; (c) withdrawing water vapor from said second distillation vessel; (d) withdrawing a lean hydrate inhibitor composition from said second distillation vessel in liquid form; (e) withdrawing a lean hydrate inhibitor composition from said first distillation vessel in liquid form; (f) withdrawing liquid from said first distillation vessel and removing solids therefrom; wherein the withdrawal of steps (e) and (f) may be of a single liquid stream and wherein at least a portion of the lean hydrate inhibitor composition withdrawn from said first