Abstract: A completion assembly has a packer for isolation and indicating shoulders incorporated into a sleeve mounted uphole of the packer. Locating the indicating shoulders above the packer allows them to be larger than placement below the packer where the assembly generally has to neck down to permit operations such as gravel packing. Placement above the packer makes the indicating shoulders less restrictive to subsequent production flow or for passage of tools further down the wellbore.

Abstract: A completion assembly has a packer for isolation and indicating shoulders incorporated into a sleeve mounted uphole of the packer. Locating the indicating shoulders above the packer allows them to be larger than placement below the packer where the assembly generally has to neck down to permit operations such as gravel packing. Placement above the packer makes the indicating shoulders less restrictive to subsequent production flow or for passage of tools further down the wellbore.

Abstract: An expandable injector pipe has openings and a cover sleeve preferably secured at opposed ends with offset openings. Expansion of the base pipe causes the cover sleeve to expand while keeping the openings in the cover sleeve misaligned with the openings in the base pipe. Pressure from within the base pipe flexes the resilient cover sleeve to allow fluid to exit through the cover sleeve. Upon removal of applied pressure, the cover sleeve moves back against the base pipe to cover the openings in the base pipe to prevent flow in the reverse direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a drilling system for drilling oilfield boreholes or wellbores utilizing a drill string having a drilling assembly conveyed downhole by a tubing (usually a drill pipe or coiled tubing). The drilling assembly includes a bottom hole assembly (BHA) and a drill bit. The bottom hole assembly preferably contains commonly used measurement-while-drilling sensors. The drill string also contains a variety of sensors for determining downhole various properties of the drilling fluid. Sensors are provided to determine density, viscosity, flow rate, clarity, compressibility, pressure and temperature of the drilling fluid at one or more downhole locations. Chemical detection sensors for detecting the presence of gas (methane) and H2S are disposed in the drilling assembly. Sensors for determining fluid density, viscosity, pH, solid content, fluid clarity, fluid compressibility, and a spectroscopy sensor are also disposed in the BHA.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of preparing a fluid for use in drilling and completion operations comprising mixing a fluid comprising a salt of an alkaline earth metal with a nonionic colloid-forming material in an amount and under conditions sufficient to convert a majority of said nonionic colloid-forming material into water insoluble hydrated colloidal complexes comprising hydrated ions of said alkaline earth metal complexed with said nonionic colloid-forming material, said complexes being effective to improve a property of said fluid selected from the group consisting of rheology, fluid loss control, and a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting the completion of non-vertical, including horizontally disposed, portions of a deviated well bore traversing a production formation. To facilitate the insertion of a gravel packing tool string through the curved portion of the well bore, stabilizer elements are maintained in a radially retracted position and then operated to engage the well bore after the tool string is run-in. An anti-rotation tool may be incorporated for connecting the work string to the left hand threads conventionally provided on a conventional packer in order to permit rotation of the entire tool string to facilitate passage through the curved portion of the well bore. Two gravel packing modifications are disclosed, the one employing a single packer and a cross-over tool located at the top end of a plurality of serially connected screens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting the completion of non-vertical, including horizontally disposed, portions of a deviated well bore traversing a production formation. To facilitate the insertion of a gravel packing tool string through the curved portion of the well bore, stabilizer elements are maintained in a radially retracted position and then operated to engage the well bore after the tool string is run-in. An anti-rotation tool may be incorporated for connecting the work string to the left hand threads conventionally provided on a conventional packer in order to permit rotation of the entire tool string to facilitate passage through the curved portion of the well bore. Two gravel packing modifications are disclosed, the one employing a single packer and a cross-over tool located at the top end of a plurality of serially connected screens.