Abstract: A method and apparatus for removably plugging a wellbore. The wellbore leads to a reservoir having a reservoir temperature. The method includes: selecting a melting point of a metal alloy based on the reservoir temperature; sealing the metal alloy against an interior wall of a tubing, while the tubing is above a ground in which the wellbore is drilled, such that the metal alloy defines a fluid barrier plug against flow of any portion of the reservoir through the tubing when the tubing is disposed within the wellbore; and heating the metal alloy above the melting point while the tubing is disposed within the wellbore such that the metal alloy flows from the tubing and the fluid barrier plug is eliminated.

Abstract: A closure mechanism and a method for plugging a flow control device of a well is provided. The closure mechanism includes a switch having a hollow interior and a U-shaped portion. The closure mechanism also includes a metal insert located within a portion of the hollow interior of the switch. The mechanism further includes a heating device positioned within the well. In the method, the heating device is activated in the well and melts at least a portion of the metal insert. The melted portion of the metal insert collects and re-solidifies within the U-shaped portion of the switch, thereby closing the switch and plugging the flow control device against flow.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a method of distributed acoustic sensing in a subterranean well. The method including advancing a torpedo into a first portion of a wellbore of a subterranean well (the torpedo including a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) fiber-optic (FO) umbilical that is physically coupled to a surface component and adapted to unspool from the torpedo as the torpedo advances in the wellbore, and an engine adapted to generate thrust to propel the torpedo), and activating the engine to generate thrust to propel advancement of the torpedo within a second portion of the wellbore such that at least some of the DAS FO umbilical is disposed in the second portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for repairing a leak in a cement sheath of a casing of a well. A portion of the inner casing and the cement sheath is removed to create an opening that extends through the inner casing and the cement sheath. A tool is inserted within the inner casing to a location adjacent to the opening and one or more segments of a heat-deforming material that are part of the tool is heated to cause melting of the heat-deforming material. The tool is configured to direct the melted heat-deforming material radially outward into the opening. Once cooled, the heat-deforming material plugs the opening, thereby repairing the leak within the cement sheath.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removably plugging a wellbore. The wellbore leads to a reservoir having a reservoir temperature. The method includes: selecting a melting point of a metal alloy based on the reservoir temperature; sealing the metal alloy against an interior wall of a tubing, while the tubing is above a ground in which the wellbore is drilled, such that the metal alloy defines a fluid barrier plug against flow of any portion of the reservoir through the tubing when the tubing is disposed within the wellbore; and heating the metal alloy above the melting point while the tubing is disposed within the wellbore such that the metal alloy flows from the tubing and the fluid barrier plug is eliminated.

Abstract: A system and method of wellbore operations that forms notches into a subterranean formation that circumscribes a wellbore prior to fracturing the formation. The notches extend past the hoop stress regime that surrounds the wellbore so that fractures formed by fracturing are oriented in a designated plane. In one example, a fluid jet is used to form the notches, and which is discharged from a nozzle that rotates about a downhole tool. The nozzle is set in a sleeve that is rotatable about the downhole tool, and pressurized fluid is delivered to a plenum disposed on an inner surface of the sleeve. The nozzle is oriented oblique to a radius of the sleeve, so that the fluid being discharged from the nozzle generates a force that rotates the sleeve.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a method of deploying a payload in a subterranean well. The method including advancing a torpedo in a first portion of a wellbore of a subterranean well (the torpedo including a body, a fiber-optic (FO) umbilical that is physically coupled to a surface component, and adapted to unspool from the torpedo as the torpedo advances in the wellbore, and an engine adapted to generate thrust to propel the torpedo), and activating the engine to generate thrust to propel advancement of the torpedo within a second portion of the wellbore such that the FO umbilical is disposed in the second portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: A new method of gathering data real time during production or simulation tests using a gravity deployed tool, referred to as a fiber-line intervention tool (“FLI” or “FLIT”) to monitor bottom-hole pressure and temperature for well testing including the testing of adjacent wells is provided. In an embodiment, the tool is configured to include a housing, spooled fiber-line, sensors such as pressure and temperature sensors, and connections between the fiber-line and sensors such that measurement information from the sensors can be sent to the surface in real time over the fiber-line. As the housing is deployed into a well, the fiber-line can unwind, thereby providing a communication pathway from below the surface to above the surface. In an embodiment the housing can be deployed through a wellhead and down the wellbore. In an embodiment, the housing can be made of a soluble material.

Abstract: A closure mechanism and a method for plugging a flow control device of a well is provided. The closure mechanism includes a switch having a hollow interior and a U-shaped portion. The closure mechanism also includes a metal insert located within a portion of the hollow interior of the switch. The mechanism further includes a heating device positioned within the well. In the method, the heating device is activated in the well and melts at least a portion of the metal insert. The melted portion of the metal insert collects and re-solidifies within the U-shaped portion of the switch, thereby closing the switch and plugging the flow control device against flow.

Abstract: A method for performing a well intervention operation includes the steps of: (a) sealingly coupling a lubricator onto an open top end of a well tree, the lubricator having a hollow interior in which a rotatable winch is contained, the winch having a cable wound thereabout; (b) attaching a tool to the cable; (c) lowering the tool within a well bore to which the well tree is attached; and (d) operating the winch from a location exterior to the lubricator to cause rotation of the winch and winding of the cable, whereby the tool is retrieved from the wellbore.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a method of deploying a payload in a subterranean well. The method including advancing a torpedo in a first portion of a wellbore of a subterranean well (the torpedo including a body, a fiber-optic (FO) umbilical that is physically coupled to a surface component, and adapted to unspool from the torpedo as the torpedo advances in the wellbore, and an engine adapted to generate thrust to propel the torpedo), and activating the engine to generate thrust to propel advancement of the torpedo within a second portion of the wellbore such that the FO umbilical is disposed in the second portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for performing a well intervention operation includes the steps of: (a) sealingly coupling a lubricator onto an open top end of a well tree, the lubricator having a hollow interior in which a rotatable winch is contained, the winch having a cable wound thereabout; (b) attaching a tool to the cable; (c) lowering the tool within a well bore to which the well tree is attached; and (d) operating the winch from a location exterior to the lubricator to cause rotation of the winch and winding of the cable, whereby the tool is retrieved from the wellbore.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a well torpedo system that includes a torpedo adapted to be advanced in a wellbore of a subterranean well. The torpedo including an integrated spool adapted to hold a fiber-optic (FO) umbilical including a FO line adapted to couple to a surface component, and an engine adapted to combust solid propellant to generate thrust to propel advancement of the torpedo in the wellbore.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a well torpedo system that includes a torpedo adapted to be advanced in a wellbore of a subterranean well. The torpedo including an integrated spool adapted to hold a fiber-optic (FO) umbilical including a FO line adapted to couple to a surface component, and an engine adapted to combust solid propellant to generate thrust to propel advancement of the torpedo in the wellbore.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a method of distributed acoustic sensing in a subterranean well. The method including advancing a torpedo into a first portion of a wellbore of a subterranean well (the torpedo including a distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) fiber-optic (FO) umbilical that is physically coupled to a surface component and adapted to unspool from the torpedo as the torpedo advances in the wellbore, and an engine adapted to generate thrust to propel the torpedo), and activating the engine to generate thrust to propel advancement of the torpedo within a second portion of the wellbore such that at least some of the DAS FO umbilical is disposed in the second portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: Provided in some embodiments is a method of deploying a payload in a subterranean well. The method including advancing a torpedo in a first portion of a wellbore of a subterranean well (the torpedo including a body, a fiber-optic (FO) umbilical that is physically coupled to a surface component, and adapted to unspool from the torpedo as the torpedo advances in the wellbore, and an engine adapted to generate thrust to propel the torpedo), and activating the engine to generate thrust to propel advancement of the torpedo within a second portion of the wellbore such that the FO umbilical is disposed in the second portion of the wellbore.

Abstract: A system and method of wellbore operations that forms notches into a subterranean formation that circumscribes a wellbore prior to fracturing the formation. The notches extend past the hoop stress regime that surrounds the wellbore so that fractures formed by fracturing are oriented in a designated plane. In one example, a fluid jet is used to form the notches, and which is discharged from a nozzle that rotates about a downhole tool. The nozzle is set in a sleeve that is rotatable about the downhole tool, and pressurized fluid is delivered to a plenum disposed on an inner surface of the sleeve. The nozzle is oriented oblique to a radius of the sleeve, so that the fluid being discharged from the nozzle generates a force that rotates the sleeve.

Abstract: A layer of permeable material is positioned on an area of lost circulation lithology in a wellbore. An example of the permeable material includes a planar member with perforations that is rolled into and retained in an annular configuration. The permeable material is lowered into the wellbore adjacent the area of lost circulation and allowed to unroll and expand radially outward against walls of the wellbore. The wellbore wall along the area of lost circulation lithology can be reamed out so the layer of permeable material is out of the way of a drill bit. Applying a bridging agent on the interface where the permeable material contacts the wellbore wall forms a flow barrier.

Abstract: A new method of gathering data real time during production or simulation tests using a gravity deployed tool, referred to as a fiber-line intervention tool (“FLI” or “FLIT”) to monitor bottom-hole pressure and temperature for well testing including the testing of adjacent wells is provided. In an embodiment, the tool is configured to include a housing, spooled fiber-line, sensors such as pressure and temperature sensors, and connections between the fiber-line and sensors such that measurement information from the sensors can be sent to the surface in real time over the fiber-line. As the housing is deployed into a well, the fiber-line can unwind, thereby providing a communication pathway from below the surface to above the surface. In an embodiment the housing can be deployed through a wellhead and down the wellbore. In an embodiment, the housing can be made of a soluble material.

Abstract: A layer of permeable material is positioned on an area of lost circulation lithology in a wellbore. An example of the permeable material includes a planar member with perforations that is rolled into and retained in an annular configuration. The permeable material is lowered into the wellbore adjacent the area of lost circulation and allowed to unroll and expand radially outward against walls of the wellbore. The wellbore wall along the area of lost circulation lithology can be reamed out so the layer of permeable material is out of the way of a drill bit. Applying a bridging agent on the interface where the permeable material contacts the wellbore wall forms a flow barrier.