Abstract: A sealing system is provided for use in a wellbore (1) formed in an earth formation whereby a stream of fluid produced from the earth formation (6) flows through the wellbore to surface (3). The sealing system comprises a sealing device (18) arranged to seal a selected portion of the wellbore from the stream of produced fluid, a compound arranged to be absorbed by fluid from the earth formation entering the stream of produced fluid via the selected wellbore portion, and detection means (16) operable to detect said compound in the stream of produced fluid.

Abstract: A method of sealing a space in a wellbore formed in an earth formation comprises inserting a plurality of swellable particles into the space by pumping them in a carrier fluid, the particles being susceptible to swelling upon contact with a selected fluid, and inducing the selected fluid to contact the swelleable particles whereby the swelleable particles swell so as to form a body of swollen particles in the space.

Abstract: A system is provided for sealing a space in a wellbore formed in an earth formation. The system has a swelleable body arranged in the wellbore in a manner so as to seal the space upon swelling of the swelleable body, the swelleable body being susceptible of being in contact with formation water flowing into the wellbore, the swelleable body including a matrix material provided with a compound soluble in the formation water. The matrix material substantially prevents or restricts migration of the compound out of the swelleable body and allows migration of the formation water into the swelleable body by osmosis so as to induce swelling of the swelleable body upon migration of the formation water into the swelleable body.

Abstract: A method of creating a zonal isolation above a target zone in an underground wellbore comprises: inserting a slurry injection tubing into the wellbore; arranging within an annular space surrounding said tubing an particle accumulation means, such as an expandable screen or an area where the slurry velocity is reduced; and pumping a slurry comprising a carrier fluid and granular material down via the slurry injection tubing and the target zone and then up into the annular space, such that at least some granular material accumulates and forms an elongate zonal isolation in the annular space between the target zone and the particle accumulation means, which zonal isolation is removable and exerts a limited radial force to the surrounding formation, thereby reducing the risk of formation damage.

Abstract: A wellbore system is provided including a wellbore formed in an earth formation, the wellbore extending into a salt layer of the earth formation. The wellbore system comprises a tubular conduit arranged in the wellbore whereby at least a portion of the tubular conduit is surrounded by the salt layer whereby an annular space is formed between said portion of the tubular conduit and the wellbore wall. The wellbore system further comprises an annular body of a- resilient material arranged in said annular space and extending substantially the length of said portion of the tubular conduit surrounded by the salt layer.

Abstract: A wellbore screen (1) is provided for controlling inflow of solid particles into a wellbore (2). The wellbore screen comprises a conduit (3) for transporting fluid, an outer layer (4) comprising a filter for reducing inflow of solid particles into the conduit (3), the outer layer extending around the conduit and being radially expandable against the wellbore wall, and swelling means arranged between the conduit and the outer layer. The swelling means (6) is susceptible of swelling upon contact with a selected fluid so as to radially expand the outer layer against the wellbore wall.

Abstract: A wellbore system is provided including a wellbore formed in an earth formation, the wellbore extending into a salt layer of the earth formation. The wellbore system comprises a tubular conduit arranged in the wellbore whereby at least a portion of the tubular conduit is surrounded by the salt layer whereby an annular space is formed between said portion of the tubular conduit and the wellbore wall. The wellbore system further comprises an annular body of a resilient material arranged in said annular space and extending substantially the length of said portion of the tubular conduit surrounded by the salt layer.

Abstract: A method of installing an expandable tubular element in a wellbore comprises lowering the tubular element into the wellbore such that an annular space is formed between the tubular element and the wellbore wall, locating a first compound in the annular space, the first compound being adapted to cooperate with a second compound upon contact therewith so as to form an annular body anchoring the tubular element in the wellbore, radially expanding a section of the tubular element, and inducing the second compound to enter a portion of the annular space surrounding said expanded tubular section. An unexpanded section of the tubular element is disconnected from the expanded tubular section and removed from the expanded tubular section.

Abstract: A method of sealing a space in a wellbore formed in an earth formation, the method comprising the steps of inserting a plurality of swelleable particles into said space, the particles being susceptible to swelling upon contact with a selected fluid, and inducing said selected fluid to contact the swelleable particles whereby the swelleable particles swell so as to form a body of swollen particles in said space.

Abstract: A method is provided of sealing an annular space between an expandable tubular element arranged in a wellbore and a wall surrounding the expandable tubular element. A pressure difference occurs between a first location in the annular space and a second location in the annular space axially spaced from the first location. The method comprises: installing the tubular element in the wellbore; locating a body of fluid in the annular space between the first and second locations, the fluid having a yield strength selected such that the pressure difference is insufficient to induce axial flow of the body of fluid in the annular space after radial expansion of the tubular element; and radially expanding the tubular element.

Abstract: A method is provided of in-situ casting well equipment wherein a metal is used which expands upon solidification. A body of such metal is placed in a cavity in a well. Before or after placing the metal in the cavity in the well, the body is brought at a temperature above the melting point of the metal. The metal of the body in the cavity is solidified by cooling it down to below the melting point of the metal.

Abstract: A wellbore system having a borehole extending into an earth formation, a tubular element extending into the borehole whereby a cylindrical wall surrounds the tubular element in a manner that an annular space is formed between the tubular element and the cylindrical wall, at least one seal member arranged in the annular space, each seal member being movable between a retracted mode in which the seal member has a first volume and an expanded mode in which the seal member has a second volume larger than the first volume, wherein the seal member in the expanded mode thereof seals the annular space, and wherein the seal member includes a material which swells upon contact with a selected fluid so as to move the seal member from the retracted mode to the expanded mode thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for activating a downhole system arranged in an annular space formed between a radially expandable tubular element extending into a borehole formed into an earth formation and a cylindrical wall surrounding the tubular element. The downhole system is arranged so as to be activated by movement of an annular movement device along the tubular element. The method involves arranging the annular moving device around the tubular element, the moving device having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tubular element in its unexpanded shape, and gradually expanding a portion of the tubular element by moving an expander through the tubular element in the direction of the moving device, whereby a transition zone of the tubular element is defined between the expanded an unexpanded portions of the tubular element.

Abstract: A wellbore system having a borehole extending into an earth formation, a tubular element extending into the borehole whereby a cylindrical wall surrounds the tubular element in a manner that an annular space is formed between the tubular element and the cylindrical wall, at least one seal member arranged in the annular space, each seal member being movable between a retracted mode in which the seal member has a first volume and an expanded mode in which the seal member has a second volume larger than the first volume, wherein the seal member in the expanded mode thereof seals the annular space, and wherein the seal member includes a material which swells upon contact with a selected fluid so as to move the seal member from the retracted mode to the expanded mode thereof.

Abstract: A method for carrying out well construction, repair and abandonment operations, the method involves introducing a resin into a well and curing the same to form a seal, plug or connection, wherein the cured resin is expanded to at least the volume occupied by the resin prior to curing (compensating shrinkage), by cooling the well and curing the resin at a reduced temperature and subsequently allowing the well to reach its static bottom hole temperature. A method is also disclosed for analyzing the setting time, elastic properties, shrinkage/expansion, compressibility or coefficient of thermal expansion of thermosetting resins or oil well cements under simulated reservoir pressure and temperature conditions, which involves introducing a sample of a thermosetting resin or oil well cement into a pressure vessel that is equipped to provide the pressure and register the volume change to the analyzer used by this method.

Abstract: A method is provided for activating a downhole system arranged in an annular space formed between a radially expandable tubular element extending into a borehole formed into an earth formation and a cylindrical wall surrounding the tubular element. The downhole system is arranged so as to be activated by movement of an annular movement device along the tubular element. The method comprises arranging said annular moving device around the tubular element, the moving device having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the tubular element in its unexpanded shape, and gradually expanding a portion of the tubular element by moving an expander through the tubular element in the direction of the moving device, whereby a transition zone of the tubular element is defined between the expanded an unexpanded portions of the tubular element.

Abstract: A method is provided of in-situ casting well equipment wherein a metal is used which expands upon solidification, the method comprising the steps of: placing a body of said metal in a cavity in the well; bringing said body at a temperature above the melting point of the metal; cooling down said body to below the melting point of the metal, thereby solidifying the metal of said body in the cavity.

Abstract: Method for sealing an annulus between two solid tubulars or between a solid tubular and a borehole which comprises the use of a thermoset or thermoplastic material in forming the seal between at least part of the outer surface of a tubular and at least part of the inner surface of the other tubular or the wellbore in which the seal is formed by expanding the inner tubular.

Abstract: Method for carrying out well construction, repair and/or abandonment operations using an addition-curing silicone formulation, in particular for forming a permanent plug in a well bore or in one or more subterranean formations penetrated by the well bore by placing a mixture of cement and an addition-curing silicone formulation in the one or more subterranean formations or in the well bore at a desired location therein or placing an addition-curing silicone formulation on top of an existing non-gas tight plug and allowing the silicone formulation to set thereby producing a gas tight plug.