Abstract: A tubular for reservoir fines control includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path. A plurality of openings is formed in the body connecting the outer surface and the flow path. A pre-formed member including a material mesh is overlaid onto the outer surface. The material mesh is formed from a material swellable upon exposure to a selected fluid introduced into a wellbore. The material mesh has a selected porosity allowing methane to pass into the flow path while preventing passage of fines.

Abstract: A tubular for reservoir fines control includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path. A plurality of openings is formed in the body connecting the outer surface and the flow path. A pre-formed member including a material mesh is overlaid onto the outer surface. The material mesh is formed from a material swellable upon exposure to a selected fluid. The material mesh has a selected porosity allowing methane to pass into the flow path while preventing passage of fines.

Abstract: A method of drilling a wellbore system, including determining a conductive formation layer from a plurality of formation layers having a first well extending therethrough, the first well having a first work string therein, the first work string including a device, placing a second well at a distance from the first well, the distance selected to allow communication of an electrical signal between the first well and the second well through the conductive formation layer based on a resistivity of the electrically conductive formation layer, disposing a second work string in the second well, and communicating the electrical signal from the second work string to the first work string through the electrically conductive formation layer to operate the device.

Abstract: A method of drilling a wellbore system, including determining a conductive formation layer from a plurality of formation layers having a first well extending therethrough, the first well having a first work string therein, the first work string including a device, placing a second well at a distance from the first well, the distance selected to allow communication of an electrical signal between the first well and the second well through the conductive formation layer based on a resistivity of the electrically conductive formation layer, disposing a second work string in the second well, and communicating the electrical signal from the second work string to the first work string through the electrically conductive formation layer to operate the device.

Abstract: A method for deploying a sand screen in a borehole penetrating the earth includes: disposing the sand screen in an unexpanded form in the borehole, the sand screen at least partially surrounding a base-pipe; and activating the sand screen in the unexpanded form by applying at least one of an activation fluid and heat to the sand screen causing the sand screen to expand into an expanded form. The method further includes: conveying a downhole tool through the base-pipe, the downhole tool being configured to sense a property derived from at least one of expansion and non-expansion of the sand screen as a function of distance into the borehole to provide sensed data as a function of distance into the borehole; and identifying one of an expanded state and an unexpanded state of the sand screen using the sensed data as a function of distance into the borehole.

Abstract: A backup including a radially inwardly disposed circumferentially continuous ring; a radially outwardly disposed circumferentially discontinuous ring, the circumferentially discontinuous ring comprising a plurality of segments arranged to overlap adjacent ones thereof about a circumference of the circumferentially discontinuous ring.

Abstract: A unique backup ring against ends of a sealing element features axial slots extending part way along a cylindrical segment of the backup ring. The slots end in rounded openings to relieve stress and a part of the cylindrical shape of the backup ring is solid. The slotted end of the cylindrical portion is tapered in section toward the end overlapping the sealing element. The face of the backup ring away from the sealing element is tapered and rides on an adjacent tapered surface away from the mandrel during the setting. The tapered seal end of the backup ring bends to reach the surrounding tubular before the balance of the cylindrical portion reaches the surrounding tubular. Extrusion along the mandrel is stopped by a mandrel seal on an adjacent wedge ring. The mandrel end of the backup ring has a peripheral stiffener to lend rigidity.

Abstract: A tubular for reservoir fines control includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path. A plurality of openings is formed in the body connecting the outer surface and the flow path. A pre-formed member including a material mesh is overlaid onto the outer surface. The material mesh is formed from a material swellable upon exposure to a selected fluid. The material mesh has a selected porosity allowing methane to pass into the flow path while preventing passage of fines.

Abstract: A backup including a radially inwardly disposed circumferentially continuous ring; a radially outwardly disposed circumferentially discontinuous ring, the circumferentially discontinuous ring comprising a plurality of segments arranged to overlap adjacent ones thereof about a circumference of the circumferentially discontinuous ring.

Abstract: A tubular for reservoir fines control includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path. A plurality of openings are formed in the body connecting the outer surface and the flow path. A material mesh is overlaid onto the outer surface. The material mesh is formed from a material swellable upon exposure to a selected fluid. The material mesh has a selected porosity allowing methane to pass into the flow path while preventing passage of fines.

Abstract: A method for installing a tool in a downhole system including running the tool to a target location within a tubular structure, creating a magnetic pulse, and urging the tool toward the tubular structure at a minimum velocity of 200 meters per second with the magnetic pulse. A method for actuating a downhole tool including creating a magnetic pulse, coupling the magnetic pulse to a workpiece and moving the workpiece with the pulse, the workpiece achieving a minimum velocity of 200 meters per second.

Abstract: A method for deploying a sand screen in a borehole penetrating the earth includes: disposing the sand screen in an unexpanded form in the borehole, the sand screen at least partially surrounding a base-pipe; and activating the sand screen in the unexpanded form by applying at least one of an activation fluid and heat to the sand screen causing the sand screen to expand into an expanded form. The method further includes: conveying a downhole tool through the base-pipe, the downhole tool being configured to sense a property derived from at least one of expansion and non-expansion of the sand screen as a function of distance into the borehole to provide sensed data as a function of distance into the borehole; and identifying one of an expanded state and an unexpanded state of the sand screen using the sensed data as a function of distance into the borehole.

Abstract: Salt or acid solution is stored inside a frac sleeve instead of being pumped from a surface location. A mechanically-actuated valve releases the stored salt or acid solution into the borehole to electrochemically degrade the frac ball and allow it to pass through the seat. The stored fluid can be immediately released upon mechanical actuation or released after a specified delay using an integrated timer. In multiple sleeve applications a first ball shifts a first sleeve to open treatment ports and a second ball shifts a second sleeve to close the treatment port and open screened production ports while releasing the stored material either between the seated objects or above one of the seated objects to initiate the disintegration that will allow objects on both seats to disintegrate and pass through.

Abstract: An array of sliding sleeve valves are uniquely addressable without control lines or wires to open for a treatment and then close and then selectively open for production. The discrete movements employ an available pressure source such as tubing pressure and change the piston areas on opposed sides of a sliding sleeve valve to get the desired movements. Access valves to tubing pressure can be actuated in a desired sequence with signals such as acoustic or electromagnetic, for example. Access to one piston area that communicates opposed and offsetting piston areas to the tubing hydrostatic can be achieved with a straddle tool breaking a rupture disc. The piston is then in pressure balanced and can be moved in a desired direction with the straddle tool straddling access locations to the piston from above or below.

Abstract: A backup or extrusion barrier ring assembly has multiple rows of rings in segments that have circumferentially offset slots. The rings are rotationally locked to each other to maintain the circumferential offset of the slots that allow the rings to be more flexible in the setting process. The rings as a unit can be mounted to relatively rotate on a supporting mandrel. The rings are mounted to allow them to move axially during setting either in tandem or axially relatively to each other. The axial run in heights of rings decline from innermost to outermost so that when set the heights approach each other to minimize or eliminate sharp ends against the seal. Alternatively, the height difference can be such as to allow ends to bend over an adjacent end further out radially so that free ends bend toward the surrounding tubular and avoid the seal.

Abstract: A zone to be treated comprises a plurality of sliding sleeve valves. The sleeve defined opposed chambers charged with pressurized fluid on opposed sides of the sleeve. Valves responsive to a remote signal with no borehole intervention change the pressure balance on the sleeve to get it to open from a closed position and then close and then to reopen for production. One way this is done is by sequential pressure bleeding off from the opposed chambers. A zone having multiple such valves can be treated without need for dropping balls and subsequent milling out, which allows production to commence sooner with reduced restrictions to flow from the ball seats and without the debris associated from a milling operation.

Abstract: In producing methane a bottom hole assembly the borehole may enlarge due to shifting sands in an unconsolidated formation as the methane is produced. The enlargement of the borehole can be sensed in real time such as by using a fiber optic cable. In response to such information parts of the bottom hole assembly near the washout can be isolated or the bottom hole assembly in the vicinity of the washout can be fortified with inserts from the surface to minimize damage from erosion caused by higher velocities resulting from borehole washouts.

Abstract: Salt or acid solution is stored inside a frac sleeve instead of being pumped from a surface location. A mechanically-actuated valve releases the stored salt or acid solution into the borehole to electrochemically degrade the frac ball and allow it to pass through the seat. The stored fluid can be immediately released upon mechanical actuation or released after a specified delay using an integrated timer. In multiple sleeve applications a first ball shifts a first sleeve to open treatment ports and a second ball shifts a second sleeve to close the treatment port and open screened production ports while releasing the stored material either between the seated objects or above one of the seated objects to initiate the disintegration that will allow objects on both seats to disintegrate and pass through.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a filler ring for use with a packer element with a packer element radial stiffness and a packer element confined circumferential stiffness is disclosed, including, a filler ring body with a filler ring body radial stiffness greater than the packer element radial stiffness and a filler ring body circumferential stiffness less than the packer element confined circumferential stiffness. In another embodiment, a method to selectively deform a packer element with a packer element radial stiffness and a packer element confined circumferential stiffness is disclosed, including providing a filler ring body with a filler ring body radial stiffness greater than the packer element radial stiffness and a filler ring body circumferential stiffness less than the packer element confined circumferential stiffness, deforming the packer in a radial direction via the filler ring body, deforming the filler ring body in an axial direction in response to deformation of the packer element.

Abstract: A tubular for reservoir fines control includes a body having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a flow path. A plurality of openings are formed in the body connecting the outer surface and the flow path. A material mesh is overlaid onto the outer surface. The material mesh is formed from a material swellable upon exposure to a selected fluid. The material mesh has a selected porosity allowing methane to pass into the flow path while preventing passage of fines.