Abstract: An improved free piston assembly for use in combination with a plunger lift assembly is provided. The piston assembly includes a sleeve member, a retention sleeve, and a flow restriction member. The sleeve member has an inner surface defining an opening for the flow of formation fluids. The opening includes a first section and a second section. The retention sleeve is configured to be affixed to the first section of the opening. The flow restriction member is not latched to the sleeve member and is configured to have an interference fit with the retention sleeve. The interference fit provides a force that is sufficient to overcome the force of gravity on the flow restriction member when formation fluid forces acting on the flow restriction member are decreased or removed. The second section of the opening is configured to prevent the passage of the flow restriction member.

Abstract: Provided is an improved bypass durable dart plunger that descends faster in a hydrocarbon well, is capable of lifting more fluids and has a durable and replaceable clutch assembly. The various components of the durable dart plunger includes a sleeve, a dart body with a one or more flow ports (chokes) cut at right angles through the dart body, a pin and a replaceable clutch assembly (also referred to a retention assembly). The chokes can be of varying sizes. In one embodiment, the clutch assembly includes a plurality of clutch mechanisms wherein each mechanism includes a ball, a socket screw and a resilient spacer.

Abstract: An improved free piston assembly for use in combination with a plunger lift assembly is provided. The improved free piston assembly includes a sleeve member, a flow restriction member, and retention means. In some embodiments of the invention the sleeve member has an inner surface that is contoured to provide a seat for the flow restriction member during lifting operations. The flow restriction member can be a ball held in the interior of the sleeve by retention means capable of overcoming the force of gravity but at the same time designed to release the flow restriction member when a rod of the plunger lift assembly contacts the flow restriction member. In one embodiment of the invention the retention means is a plurality of inwardly biased spring loaded held in place by a retention ring that is fittably received by a groove in the exterior surface of the sleeve. In other embodiments of the invention the retention means are in the form of a raised lip or a retention sleeve.

Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation. The method may include providing a well treatment including a treatment complex formed of a treatment agent encapsulated, entrapped, or embedded in a polysaccharide, introducing the treatment complex into a wellbore through a subterranean formation, and allowing the treatment complex to release the treatment agent over a release time period. The method may include allowing the treatment complex to release the treatment agent after a delay time period from the introduction of the treatment complex into the wellbore.

Abstract: A method of providing pressure containment of a well having a well annulus. The well annulus contains a set cement, and the cement contains flow paths which communicate a well pressure to the surface. The method includes placing a containment cement slurry in a reception area at the top of the well and installing an injection delivery system within the reception area. The method may further include preparing a settable fluid for injection into the flow paths and injecting the settable fluid through the injection delivery system into the flow paths. In one disclosed embodiment, the injection delivery system may include a series of injection tubulars configured to deliver the settable fluid to the flow paths. The injection delivery system may include a template having a first, second, third and fourth injection tubular.

Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation. The method may include providing a fluid loss control pill that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a gelling agent, and an internal breaker that is selected from the group consisting of inorganic delayed acids or inorganic salts. The method can include introducing the fluid loss control pill into a subterranean formation, allowing the internal breaker to reduce the viscosity of the pill after a delay period, and allowing the fluid loss control pill to break.

Abstract: A method of treating a subterranean formation. The method may include providing a fluid-loss control pill that comprises an aqueous base fluid, a gelling agent, and an internal breaker that is selected from the group consisting of inorganic delayed acids or inorganic salts. The method can include introducing the fluid-loss control pill into a subterranean formation, allowing the internal breaker to reduce the viscosity of the pill after a delay period, and allowing the fluid-loss control pill to break.

Abstract: An apparatus for allowing fluid flow inside at least one screen and outside a span of pipe disposed in a well bore includes at least one flow path for fluid entering at least one screen. The flow path extends from the screen(s) along the outside of the pipe at least one desired entry inlet into the pipe without at least substantial entry at any point therebetween.

Abstract: A radial flow valve includes a plurality of flow openings, a first piston and a second piston, the first and second pistons being independently actuable relative to one another, and a sleeve operatively coupled to the second piston, the sleeve adapted to be positioned so as to cover the plurality of flow openings. A method includes positioning a radial flow valve in a subterranean well bore having an upper zone pressure and a lower zone pressure, increase a pressure within the valve to a value above the upper zone pressure to release a first piston within the valve and, after releasing the first piston, reducing the pressure within the valve to a value that is less than the lower zone pressure to thereby cause a second piston within the valve to move and thereby permit fluid flow through the valve.

Abstract: In some embodiments, apparatus for assisting in reducing flowback of debris from an earthen formation into an underground fluid injection system includes a screen member disposed around and longitudinally moveable relative to a base pipe and shielded from direct contact with fluid as it is ejected from the base pipe.

Abstract: A pre-stressed annular sealant and method of creating a durable seal in a well bore annulus which is based on hydraulic cement that is designed to be easily pumped and placed into a casing-wellbore annulus, to set into a hardened mass, and to then undergo post-set crystal growth and phase changes in the crystalline matrix to combat inherent volumetric shrinkage and to create internally-generated compressive stress in the cement matrix. This internally-generated compressive pre-stressing compensates for tensile stress induced by well operations. The tensile stress must be greater in magnitude than the magnitude of the compressive pre-stress plus the magnitude of the cement's tensile strength before the cement sheath will fail in tension. This expansion and pre-stressing also creates significantly higher shear bond strengths than those developed with ordinary hydraulic cement.

Abstract: A method of mitigating proppant settling in a hydraulic fracture in order to better suspend the proppant as well as ensure a more uniform pack, by mixing a pre-determined volume percent of low density additive, such as glass beads or other suitable material, such as polylactic acid particles, into the fracturing slurry along with the standard high-density proppant, it is anticipated that density gradients can be induced inside the fracture. Upward movement of low density additive due to them having density lower than the carrier fluid will interfere with downward movement of high-density proppant and vice versa. This mutual interference between the two proppants confined in the narrow fracture will significantly hinder the settling/segregation of the high-density proppant. The low density material has a specific gravity of about 0.3, particle size distribution similar to that of standard proppant, and sufficient mechanical strength to survive fracture closure stress.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which inserts and withdraws tubing from pipes without bending or kinking the tubing. The method and apparatus may be employed to insert and withdraw tubing to depths greater than ever possible before. The method involves using skate apparatuses to reduce coiling and friction of the tube. Advantageously, the apparatus is portable, easily handled, and adaptable to handle tubing of differing diameters.