Abstract: The present invention provides novel immunotherapeutic compositions and methods useful for treating or preventing microbial infections, weakened immune systems, diseases in which cells have become obligately anaerobic and cellular proliferative disorders including cancer. The immunotherapeutics herein use benzaldehyde derivatives, precursors and intermediaries alone or in combination with additional therapeutic agents to stimulate the immune system and inhibit cellular proliferation.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel immunotherapeutic compositions and methods useful for treating or preventing microbial infections, weakened immune systems, diseases in which cells have become obligately anerobic and cellular proliferative disorders including cancer. The immunotherapeutics herein use benzaldehyde derivatives, precursors and intermediaries alone or in combination with additional therapeutic agents to stimulate the immune system and inhibit cellular proliferation.

Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars.

Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture. The channelant can be dissolvable particles, initially acting as a filler material during placement of the proppant in the fracture, and later dissolving to leave the flow channels between the proppant pillars.

Abstract: An optical fibre tape assembly for attaching an optical fibre to the surface of a pipe comprising; at least one optical fibre; and a tape having an attachment means to enable attachment of the tape to the pipe; wherein the optical fibre runs longitudinal along the tape and is integral with the tape.

Abstract: Methods of making and using wellbore casing are described, one method comprising providing a plurality of flow-through passages in a portion of a casing while the casing is out of hole; temporarily plugging the flow-through passages with a composition while out of hole; running the casing in hole in a wellbore intersecting a hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and exposing the composition to conditions sufficient to displace the composition from the flow-through passages while in hole. Methods of using the casing may include pumping a stimulation treatment fluid through the casing string and into a formation through the flow-through passages in the first casing joint; plugging the flow-through passages in the first casing section; and exposing a second casing joint of the casing string to conditions sufficient to displace the composition from the flow-through passages in the second casing joint.

Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to a method and system for acoustic monitoring using a fibre optic cable. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, embodiments of the present invention provide for using an optical fiber as a distributed interferometer that may be used to monitor a conduit, wellbore or reservoir. In certain aspects, the distributed interferometric monitoring provides for accurate detection of acoustic occurrences along the fibre optic cable and these acoustic occurrences may include fluid flow in a pipeline or wellbore, processes taking place in a wellbore or pipeline, fracturing, gravel packing, production logging and/or the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to treat a subterranean formation including introducing a fluid comprising degradable material into a wellbore, contacting a surface of the wellbore with the fluid, and stimulating a surface of a subterranean formation, wherein the contacting the wellbore surface and stimulating the formation occur over a time period that is tailored by the properties of the degradable material. In some embodiments, the properties of the degradable material include a chemical composition, a surface area, a geometric shape of a particle of the material, a concentration of the material in the fluid, a density of the material, a dimension of a particle of the material, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for fracturing a wellbore while drilling a wellbore includes inserting a drill string into a wellbore. A fluid is pumped into at least one of an interior passage in the drill string and an annular space between a wall of the wellbore and the drill string. At least one of a pressure and a temperature of the fluid proximate a lower end of the drill string is measured and the measurements are transmitted to the surface substantially contemporaneously with the measuring. At least one of a flow rate and a pressure of the fluid is controlled in response to the measurements to selectively create fractures in formations adjacent to the wellbore.

Abstract: Acoustic monitoring of a conduit, a wellbore or a reservoir associated with hydrocarbon production or transportation and/or carbon dioxide sequestration is carried out using a fibre optic cable extending along or appurtenant to it as a distributed interferometer. Coherent Raleigh noise generated by the transmission of the coherent beam of radiation through the fiber optic is detected and processed to identify an acoustic occurrence.

Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting well treatment fluid including proppant (16) wherein the proppant comprises from 1 to 100 percent in weight of stiff, low-elasticity and low-deformability elongated particles (34) and proppant-spacing filler material called a channelant (18) through a wellbore (10) into the fracture (20), heterogeneously placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters or islands (22) spaced apart by the channelant (24), and removing the channelant filler material (24) to form open channels (26) around the pillars (28) for fluid flow from the formation (14) through the fracture (20) toward the wellbore (10). The proppant and channelant can be segregated within the well treatment fluid, or segregated during placement in the fracture.

Abstract: A method of heterogeneous proppant placement in a subterranean fracture is disclosed. The method comprises injecting a first treatment fluid comprising a gas and substantially free of macroscopic particles through a wellbore to initiate a fracture in a subterranean formation; injecting a second treatment fluid comprising proppant and channelant through the wellbore into the fracture; placing the proppant in the fracture in a plurality of proppant clusters forming pillars spaced apart by the channelant; and removing the channelant to form open channels around the pillars for fluid flow from the subterranean formation through the fracture toward the wellbore.

Abstract: A method for stimulating a reservoir formation while running a casing string into the wellbore includes the steps of: connecting a stimulation assembly to a casing string, the stimulation assembly including a packer actuator in operational connection with a packer and a logging sensor; running the casing string into the wellbore and positioning the logging assembly proximate to a selected reservoir formation; logging the reservoir formation; positioning the stimulation assembly proximate to the reservoir formation; actuating the packer to substantially isolate the reservoir formation from the wellbore; performing the stimulation operation; releasing the packers from sealing engagement with the wellbore; positioning the logging assembly proximate to the reservoir formation; logging the reservoir formation; and disconnecting the stimulation assembly from the casing string.

Abstract: Methods of making and using wellbore casing are described, one method comprising providing a plurality of flow-through passages in a portion of a casing while the casing is out of hole; temporarily plugging the flow-through passages with a composition while out of hole; running the casing in hole in a wellbore intersecting a hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and exposing the composition to conditions sufficient to displace the composition from the flow-through passages while in hole. Methods of using the casing may include pumping a stimulation treatment fluid through the casing string and into a formation through the flow-through passages in the first casing joint; plugging the flow-through passages in the first casing section; and exposing a second casing joint of the casing string to conditions sufficient to displace the composition from the flow-through passages in the second casing joint.

Abstract: An adaptive cementitious composite composition, comprising: a coarse particulate material such as sand or proppant; a series of other particulate or fibrous materials; and a carrier fluid; the sand and other particulate materials being present as a series of coarse, medium and fine particle sizes in ratios selected to provide an optimized packing volume fraction; wherein the sand or proppant is coated with a resin and at least one of the other particulate or fibrous materials is a material that can be modified when placed at a downhole location.

Abstract: A method for stimulation of gas production from coal seams is described using a permeability modifier, such as a coal swelling agent, injected into the coal seams via a wellbore to reduce the permeability of the coal seams prior to a fracturing treatment.

Abstract: Methods of making and using wellbore casing are described, one method comprising providing a plurality of flow-through passages in a portion of a casing while the casing is out of hole; temporarily plugging the flow-through passages with a composition while out of hole; running the casing in hole in a wellbore intersecting a hydrocarbon-bearing formation; and exposing the composition to conditions sufficient to displace the composition from the flow-through passages while in hole. Methods of using the casing may include pumping a stimulation treatment fluid through the casing string and into a formation through the flow-through passages in the first casing joint; plugging the flow-through passages in the first casing section; and exposing a second casing joint of the casing string to conditions sufficient to displace the composition from the flow-through passages in the second casing joint.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation comprising combining a partitioning agent, crosslinkable polymer, and crosslinker into a fluid, wherein more than 50 percent of the crosslinkable polymer crosslinks and less than 10 percent of the partitioning agent crosslinks, and introducing the fluid into the subterranean formation. Methods and apparatus of forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation comprising combining a partitioning agent, crosslinkable polymer, and crosslinker into a fluid, wherein a critical polymer concentration for crosslinking the crosslinkable polymer is lower than if the partitioning agent were not in the fluid, and introducing the fluid into the subterranean formation.

Abstract: A method of creating multiple fractures in a well traversing a formation is described using pressurized fluids in a highly deviated or horizontal section of the well at a pressure above the fracturing pressure of the formation, wherein for creating a fracture the pressurized fluid is alternated between an acid fracturing fluid and a proppant loaded fluid, such that the proppant blocks the flow of pressurized fluid into a fracture created during a previous step of the method and the subsequently pressurized acid fracturing fluid creates a new fracture at a location along the highly deviated or horizontal section different from the location of the previously created fracture.

Abstract: A method of creating multiple fractures in a well traversing a formation is described using pressurized fluids in a highly deviated or horizontal section of the well at a pressure above the fracturing pressure of the formation, wherein for creating a fracture the pressurized fluid is alternated between an acid fracturing fluid and a proppant loaded fluid, such that the proppant blocks the flow of pressurized fluid into a fracture created during a previous step of the method and the subsequently pressurized acid fracturing fluid creates a new fracture at a location along the highly deviated or horizontal section different from the location of the previously created fracture.