Abstract: A process and assembly for completing and providing sand control in a subterranean well and/or fracturing and preventing proppant flowback in a subterranean formation in a single trip. One or more perforating gun assemblies are juxtaposed and secured to one or more screen assemblies. Once positioned in a well adjacent a subterranean formation of interest, the explosive charges in each perforating gun assembly are detonated so as to penetrate the well and formation thereby initiating fracturing. The penetrations and the annulus defined between the well and screen assembly are then packed with gravel. Well fluid may be pressurized to in excess of the formation pressure prior to detonation of the explosive charges so as to enhance formation fracturing.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for maneuvering through a medium such as soil are disclosed. One such apparatus has a generally longitudinal body that can impel itself through the medium. This apparatus also has at least two independently-controllable packers arranged radially on its body to compress and grip the medium in order to provide forward, backward, and directional impulsion.

Abstract: A drill comprising a shank part (11), which is adapted to be received in a drill holder of a drilling machine, and an opposite cutting end part (13). An intermediate fluted part (12) is provided, which defines at least one helical flute or channel (16) having a bottom surface (19) and a pair of opposite side surfaces (20) defined by the ribs or lands (17). The shape of a cross-section of the at least one flute or channel, taken at right angles to the course of the flute or channel, is such that the distance from a reference plane (24) to the bottom surface or the flute is decreasing from a central part (22) of the bottom surface towards the adjacent side surface (20) of the flute. The reference plane is at right angles to a radial line (25) extending from the longitudinal axis of the drill and through the centre of the bottom surface width. A helically extending groove (21) is formed in the middle of the central part (22) of the bottom surface (19).

Abstract: Tools and methods are provided that determine the acoustic impedance of drilling fluid using reflections from a precise metal disk. Because the reverberation characteristics of an acoustic wave depend in part on the acoustic wave shape, the first reflection from the metal disk may be used to calibrate the measurement. A method for determining a borehole fluid property includes (i) generating an acoustic signal within a borehole fluid, (ii) receiving reflections of the acoustic signal from the fluid, and (iii) analyzing a reverberation portion of the acoustic signal to determine the property. The analyzing of the reverberation portion may include obtaining a theoretical reverberation signal and relating the measured reverberation signal with the theoretical reverberation signal to determine the borehole fluid property.

Abstract: Cement compositions having enhanced mechanical properties and comprising microspheres and carbon fibers are provided herein. Methods are provided herein for cementing in a subterranean formation using such cement compositions. The cement compositions comprise a cement material, carbon fibers, microspheres, sufficient water to form a slurry, and optionally other ingredients including an accelerant, a retardant, a surfactant, or the like.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for determining an electrical property a formation surrounding a borehole with a measuring-while-drilling device. The apparatus an antenna configuration disposed along the outer face of an extendable stabilizer joined to a rotatable drill collar. Typically, two receivers and two transmitters are spaced along the longitudinal axis of the drill collar, with the two receivers spaced symmetrically in between the two transmitters. Alternatively, receivers and transmitters can be spaced along the circumference, possibly over multiple stabilizers. Multiple assemblies can be used. Data can be obtained with the transmitter-receiver assembly held in a stationary position or rotating circumferentially. Apparatus can be operated in a “broadside” configuration, an “endfire” configuration, or a configuration in which transmitter coils and receiver coils are oriented orthogonally to each other.

Abstract: A limit clamp for securing a tool to a casing having a groove in its outer surface. The limit clamp comprises a block having a base and a flange. The base is positioned in the groove to contact at least one stop in the groove and the flange extends out of the groove. The limit clamp also comprise a lock ring encircling the block and the casing, wherein the lock ring engages the block.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon liquids are transported from a subsea welihead to an above-surface hydrocarbon processing facility along a pipe-in-pipe flowline. The flowline is a pipe placed coaxially within an outer carrier pipe and the annulus between the pipes is filled with thermally insulating material. The hydrocarbon liquids have their temperature maintained above solidification/precipitation temperature by heat from an active heating system. Hot liquid, preferably hot water, is passed along the annulus, either along a single pipe or multiple pipes installed in the insulation-filled annulus, or along an inner annulus formed by a water pipe added concentrically around the hydrocarbon-transporting inner pipe, inside the outer insulation-filled annulus. The water or other suitable liquid can be heated in a heater at or adjacent the subsea wellhead, or by a water heater in the above-surface hydrocarbon processing facility.

Abstract: An electrical actuator is particularly suited for driving a wellhead valve for regulating the flow of natural gas from a production well. The electrical actuator can be driven using the existing local power supply in wellhead valve systems, typically a solar panel and a battery. The electrical actuator may include a gear reduction train, a brake and a manual input override with clutch protection. The electrical actuator can be configured in three different operational modes that provides a predetermined position upon power loss including fail-bias fixed, fail open and fail bias closed.

Abstract: A method of isolating a subterranean zone using a sealant composition comprising a partially polymerized furfuryl compound selected from the group consisting of furfuryl alcohol, furfuryl aldehyde, and combinations thereof, and pumping the sealant composition into a well bore positioned adjacent to the subterranean zone. A conduit is placed in the well bore to allow the sealant composition to be pumped into the well bore. The sealant composition is pumped down through the conduit and up through an annulus disposed between the conduit and walls of the well bore. After the sealant composition has cured in the annulus, it isolates the interior of the conduit from the subterranean zone and attaches the conduit to the walls of the well bore. In an embodiment, the weight ratio of the polymerized furfuryl compound to the non-polymerized furfuryl compound in the sealant composition ranges from about 1:1 to about 10:1.

Abstract: A center vacuum rotary drill bit including a rotary drill bit body and an insert. The bottom surface of the slot has a projecting key that cooperates with a depression keyway of the insert. Generally vertical sidewall surfaces of a depression keyway and vertical surfaces of a projection key provide mechanical resistance against lateral movement of the cutting insert. This mechanical resistance reduces displacement of the insert with respect to the bit body during brazing and thus a high quality, accurately aligned drill bit assembly is provided by applicants' invention. The depression keyway is designed so as to minimize the effect of the axial load on the insert by avoiding sharp corners which tend to amplify nominal stress and provides an insert of a proper carbide density after pressing. Integral bit body protuberance means adequately separate the insert within the slot and permit braze flow between the insert and slot.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for placing particulate materials in subterranean zones penetrated by well bores. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: providing a compacted particulate material fluid that comprises a compacted particulate material, and a foam within the pore spaces of the compacted particulate material, the foam comprising a pressurized gas and a liquid solution of a foam forming surfactant; and pumping the compacted particulate material fluid into the subterranean zone.

Abstract: A heating tool used for heating cement and/or a ground formation zone and melting billets in a down hole application for sealing oil and gas wells from gas migration. The heating tool has a billet loader which allows a plurality of billets to be loaded into the top of the tool and which billets then pass downward into a magazine and the lowermost heating area of the tool to rest on a billet retainer.

Abstract: A method of determining the extent of detonation of a Well Perforating Gun is disclosed. The Perforating Gun is positioned in a borehole and the detonation is initiated at one point on the essentially curvilinear array of explosive charges. Seismic waves emanate from the series of explosions, propagate away from the Perforating Gun and are detected at a distance away from the Perforating Gun using seismic receivers consisting of single or arrayed transducers of conventional design. The seismic receivers may be placed at or near the earth's surface and/or in one or more boreholes. The recorded seismic waves are processed and analyzed, and may be decomposed through a novel inversion process. The combined results are further analyzed to determine the extent of detonation including whether the gun fired or not, and if there was a misfire or partial misfire, the quantitative extent of the detonation.

Abstract: An apparatus including a bore bit comprising a bottom part having an active bottom face and a top face substantially parallel to the active face; a top part fixed to suspension cables and having a bottom face facing the top face of the bottom part; a member for limiting the maximum spacing between the two parts; a cylindrical axial bore passing through both parts; a cylindrical guide penetrating into said bore; and at least one ramp-forming recess and at least one ramp-forming extension for co-operating with said ramp-forming recess in such a manner that movement of the top part towards the bottom part is converted into rotary movement of said top part about the vertical axis, with the end of said rotary movement of the top part imparting rotary movement to the bottom part.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for intermittently mitigating hazardous sulfur compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans and sulfur oxides, from a fluid in the head space of a wellbore. The method comprises contacting the fluid with a foamed aqueous stream comprising an active scavenging agent, such as a triazine, and a stiff foaming agent. The scavenging agent reacts with hazardous sulfur compounds to eliminate the compounds from the fluid stream in the vapor space of the wellbore without withdrawing the hydrocarbon from the wellbore and without releasing hazardous sulfur compounds to the environment.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. Additionally, the apparatus and methods can be used to for running in casing, running in wellbore components or for a drill string.

Abstract: An improved permeable cement composition for formation of downhole sand screens. The improved composition includes an effective amount of a surfactant. Addition of the surfactant to the permeable cement composition yields at least a pumpable slurry with a minimal amount of water or brine solution.

Abstract: A wellbore plunger retrieving tool including a substantially cylindrical retrieving plunger body having a reduced diameter top end and an opposed bottom end. The body bottom end has a threaded recess. A plunger receiving collet includes a threaded male top end engageable with the threaded recess and an opposed bottom end with a plurality of extending fingers. The fingers are capable of flexing to engage a downhole stuck plunger.

Abstract: Embodiments provide systems and methods in which a non-viscous fluid, having a heavy concentration of an appropriate breaker, is pumped into a well in front of viscosified fluid, such as a cross-linked polymeric fracturing fluid, to saturate permeable media with a breaker agent. When a polymer filter cake is subsequently formed on the surfaces of the media the breaker is provided good communication with the polymer filter cake for its breakdown and removal. Communication between the breaker and the polymer filter cake is substantially controlled by an operator in that the breaker remains saturated in the permeable media until such time as the operator decreases hydraulic pressure within the well to a point at which the hydraulic pressure of the media forces the breaker back into the well.