Abstract: A laser cutting apparatus conveyable within a casing lining at least a portion of a wellbore that extends into a subterranean formation. The laser cutting apparatus includes a housing, a deflector, a motor, a sensor, and a processing device. The deflector rotates relative to the housing to direct a laser beam to form a radial slot extending through the casing and into the subterranean formation. The motor rotates the deflector. The sensor generates information related to depth of the radial slot in real-time as the radial slot is formed by the laser beam. The processing device receives the information generated by the sensor and causes the motor to rotate the deflector based on the received information.

Abstract: A laser cutting apparatus operable in a wellbore to form radial slots in a subterranean formation penetrated by the wellbore. The laser cutting apparatus includes a housing, a deflector disposed for rotation about an axis within the housing, and an optical member conducting a laser beam incident upon the deflector. The deflector has at least one convex surface.

Abstract: A laser cutting apparatus conveyable within a casing lining at least a portion of a wellbore that extends into a subterranean formation. The laser cutting apparatus includes a housing, a deflector, a motor, a sensor, and a processing device. The deflector rotates relative to the housing to direct a laser beam to form a radial slot extending through the casing and into the subterranean formation. The motor rotates the deflector. The sensor generates information related to depth of the radial slot in real-time as the radial slot is formed by the laser beam. The processing device receives the information generated by the sensor and causes the motor to rotate the deflector based on the received information.

Abstract: A laser cutting apparatus operable in a wellbore to form radial slots in a subterranean formation penetrated by the wellbore. The laser cutting apparatus includes a housing, a deflector disposed for rotation about an axis within the housing, and an optical member conducting a laser beam incident upon the deflector. The deflector has at least one convex surface.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus for drilling boreholes in an underground formation includes a tool body that can be positioned in a borehole where drilling is to take place. The apparatus further includes a gas cutting torch having a nozzle, a supply of a cutting gas connected to the gas cutting torch. In some embodiments, the gas cutting torch and supply of cutting gas may be connected by an umbilical link. The tool body may be advanced through the borehole as drilling takes place. In some embodiments, the tool body may be advanced via a tractor device that forms part of the tool body or attached to the tool body.

Abstract: A method for determining water saturation in a subsurface formation include determining an invasion depth in the formation from a plurality of measurements made within a wellbore drilled through the formation. The measurements have different lateral depths of investigation into the formation. Carbon and oxygen in the formation are measured at substantially a same longitudinal position as at a position of the determining the invasion depth. The measured carbon and oxygen and the invasion depth are used to determine the water saturation in a substantially uninvaded part of the formation.

Abstract: Evaluating a formation by lowering a downhole tool in a wellbore penetrating the formation, injecting a fluid into the formation at an injection zone via the downhole tool, and using a formation evaluation sensor to perform a measurement at each of a plurality of locations in the wellbore each proximate the injection zone. At least two of the plurality of measurements are compared, and a formation property is determined based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method for determining the water saturation of an underground formation traversed by a borehole, the method composing: determining a first parameter (?) that is representative of the critical exponent of the electrical conductivity of the formation: determining a second parameter (Wc or Sc or ?c) that is representative of the formation percolation threshold; measuring a first set of formation properties; and combining, said first set of formation properties, first and second parameters in order to determine the water saturation (Sw) of said underground formation.

Abstract: A method of increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons from a highly fractured reservoir uses the steps of injecting into the reservoir a membrane-forming fluid to form a membrane over the surface of at least part of exposed formation, injecting into the reservoir a fluid to establish a chemical potential gradient across the membrane and letting fluid enter the formation across the membrane to increase the pressure inside the formation and to force additional hydrocarbon from the formation.

Abstract: A method of installing a sensor system for making pressure measurements in downhole formations surrounding a wellbore includes placing a sensor in direct pressure communication with the formations from a predetermined position in the wellbore; and isolating the sensor with an elastomeric sealing means placed against the formation wall in order to prevent hydraulic pressure communication between the sensor and the inside of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for determining water saturation in a subsurface formation include determining an invasion depth in the formation from a plurality of measurements made within a wellbore drilled through the formation. The measurements have different lateral depths of investigation into the formation. Carbon and oxygen in the formation are measured at substantially a same longitudinal position as at a position of the determining the invasion depth. The measured carbon and oxygen and the invasion depth are used to determine the water saturation in a substantially uninvaded part of the formation.

Abstract: A method of testing the performance of a stimulation fluid by placing a sample of the stimulation fluid or a precursor thereof into the body of a downhole tool, positioning the tool in juxtaposition with a rock face at a downhole location, forming a sealing contact between the rock face and the tool; and injecting the sample into the rock face while monitoring pressure and/or flow rates during the injection of the sample into and/or production of formation fluid from the rock face to derive a measure of the effectiveness of the stimulation fluid in creating openings in the rock face.

Abstract: A system for making pressure measurements in a formation surrounding a wellbore includes a sensor which, in use, is positioned into direct pressure communication with the formation from a predetermined location in the wellbore, and a means for isolating the sensor, when in use, from pressure effects arising from the wellbore.

Abstract: A drilling apparatus for drilling boreholes in an underground formation. The drilling apparatus comprises a tool body that can be positioned in a borehole where drilling is to take place. The apparatus further comprises a gas cutting torch having a nozzle, a supply of a cutting gas connected to the gas cutting torch. and means for advancing the tool body through the borehole as drilling takes place.

Abstract: A method of testing the response of a subterranean formation to a formation treatment is described including the injection of a treatment fluid and the production of formation fluids from two separate boreholes or two boreholes from a single well such that the treatment fluid sweeps the formation between the two boreholes, and the use of downhole monitoring devices to determine a volume swept by the treatment fluid.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for modeling a reservoir, comprising: receiving a set of wettability logs from a wettability logging tool adapted to be disposed in a wellbore; generating a wettability map in response to the wettability logs; generating a gridded simulation model, the gridded simulation model including a plurality of grid cells; determining, for each grid cell of the gridded simulation model, a local value of wettability from the wettability map; determining, for each grid cell of the gridded simulation model, a permeability model and a capillary pressure model from the local value of wettability associated with each grid cell; and generating a set of simulation results representing characteristics of the reservoir.

Abstract: A method of increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons from a highly fractured reservoir is described using the steps of injecting into the reservoir a membrane-forming fluid to form a membrane over the surface of at least part of exposed formation, injecting into the reservoir a fluid to establish a chemical potential gradient across the membrane and letting fluid enter the formation across the membrane to increase the pressure inside the formation and to force additional hydrocarbon from the formation.

Abstract: A method for determining the water saturation of an underground formation traversed by a borehole, the method composing: determining a first parameter (?) that is representative of the critical exponent of the electrical conductivity of the formation: determining a second parameter (Wc or Sc or ?c) that is representative of the formation percolation threshold; measuring a first set of formation properties; and combining, said first set of formation properties, first and second parameters in order to determine the water saturation (Sw) of said underground formation.

Abstract: A method of testing the response of a subterranean formation to a formation treatment is described including the injection of a treatment fluid and the production of formation fluids from two separate boreholes or two boreholes from a single well such that the treatment fluid sweeps the formation between the two boreholes, and the use of downhole monitoring devices to determine a volume swept by the treatment fluid.

Abstract: A method of fracturing a rock formation is provided including placing through a wellbore penetrating the rock formation propellants in a cavity located at a radial distance from the wellbore and igniting the propellants to cause a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation.