Abstract: Pressure within a subsea well is managed as temperature within the well fluctuate. The management of the pressure mitigates stress to the structure of the well caused by the pressure. To manage the pressure, fluid is received from and/or provided to the well to reduce and/or increase pressure within the well.

Abstract: The methods described herein generally relate to preparing and delivering a fluid mixture to a confined volume, specifically an annular volume located between two concentrically oriented casing strings within a hydrocarbon fluid producing well. The fluid mixtures disclosed herein are useful in controlling pressure in localized volumes. The fluid mixtures comprise at least one polymerizable monomer and at least one inhibitor. The processes and methods disclosed herein allow the fluid mixture to be stored, shipped and/or injected into localized volumes, for example, an annular volume defined by concentric well casing strings.

Abstract: Pressure within a subsea well is managed as temperature within the well fluctuate. The management of the pressure mitigates stress to the structure of the well caused by the pressure. To manage the pressure, fluid is received from and/or provided to the well to reduce and/or increase pressure within the well.

Abstract: The methods described herein generally relate to preparing and delivering a fluid mixture to a confined volume, specifically an annular volume located between two concentrically oriented casing strings within a hydrocarbon fluid producing well. The fluid mixtures disclosed herein are useful in controlling pressure in localized volumes. The fluid mixtures comprise at least one polymerizable monomer and at least one inhibitor. The processes and methods disclosed herein allow the fluid mixture to be stored, shipped and/or injected into localized volumes, for example, an annular volume defined by concentric well casing strings.

Abstract: A secondary plugging tool is disclosed for use in a subterranean plug, such as in a plugged and/or abandoned well. The repaired plug may be of a cementicious material, or a mechanically, hydraulically or electrically set plug or packer. The plugging tool includes an outer housing containing an eutectic metal alloy. A thermitic reaction charge is contained within chambers within an inner tubular member and a lower housing. The lower end of the outer housing being ported circumferentially there around, the thermitic reaction charge activates the eutectic metal charge such that the eutectic charge melts and pours out of the outer housing and across and upon the initial plug to repair any failure areas therein.

Abstract: Methods are described for providing localized heating in an oil well at precise depths to accomplish or expedite specific objectives. The methods involve the use of a heating tool which can be lowered into an oil well to apply heat at a precise depth to achieve a desired result. The specific objectives may include localized heating of a fresh cement slurry to accelerate curing, or localized heating of recently emplaced chemicals which are formulated to be thermally activated. One purpose of such chemicals is to viscosify or increase in gel strength after being pumped into an oil well production zone, in order to restrict the production of unwanted formation fluids such as water.

Abstract: A molten metal plug which expands upon solidification can be used to form a pressure resistant seal in a tubular such as is used in oil and gas exploration and production.

Abstract: A cement slurry composition suitable for well bore cementation is provided containing as an essential component a synthetic hectorite clay in amount sufficient to reduce free water formation and solids segregation.

Abstract: A method and a drilling fluid/cement slurry composition for cementing a wellbore. The drilling fluid/cement slurry composition comprises A cement slurry composition comprising:a) a cementitious material;b) a drilling fluid; andc) a dispersant selected from the group consisting of water soluble polymers comprising allyloxybenzene sulfonate or allyloxybenzene phosphonate polymerized with at least one of acrylic acid, acrylamides, alkyl acrylamides, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, sulfonated or phosphonated styrene sulfonated or phosphonated vinyl toluene, sulfonated or phosphonated isobutylene, acrylamidopropane sulfonate, acrylamidopropanephosphonate, vinyl alcohol, sulfonated or phosphonated propene and alkali, alkaline earth and ammonium salts thereof.

Abstract: Spacer fluids comprising a dispersant selected from the group consisting of water soluble polymers comprising allyloxybenzene sulfonate or allyloxybenzene phosphonate polymerized with at least one of acrylic acid, acrylamides, alkyl acrylamides, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, sulfonated or phosphonated styrene, sulfonated or phosphonated vinyl toluene, sulfonated or phosphonated isobutylene, acrylamidopropane sulfonate or acrylamidopropanephosphonate, vinyl alcohol, sulfonated or phosphonated propene and alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts thereof and water with optional additional components such as surfactants, viscosifiers and wetting materials to form a rheologically compatible spacer fluid for use between a drilling fluid and a cement slurry and a method for using such spacer fluids to displace drilling fluids from a wellbore space with a cement slurry.

Abstract: A well completion spacer fluid is provided which is particularly suitable for separating a cement slurry from drilling fluid in primary cementing operations. The well completion spacer fluid is also useful for separating other potentially incompatible fluids in the wellbore, such as, separating drilling fluid from a completion brine. The spacer fluid basically comprises water, a hydrous magnesium silicate clay, silica and organic polymer(s).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in setting sidetrack plugs in a well bore. The apparatus comprises an inflation packer assembly which may be attached to the lower end of the tubing string. The packer is inflated to seal against the well bore at the lower end of the sidetrack plug. The inflation packer is attached to a tubing string with a length of tail pipe. The tail pipe is releasably attached to the tubing string. After the inflation packer is sealed against the well bore, a cementitious fluid is circulated above the bladder to form the sidetrack plug. The tailpipe is then released and the tail pipe and the inflation packer remain in the hole and form a part of the sidetrack plug. An additional embodiment includes a whipstock connected to the inflation packer assembly.

Abstract: A method of reducing fluid loss into a highly conductive formation interval during drilling and completion of a well through such an interval wherein a foamed cement slurry, including an acid or oil soluble component, is injected into the well and forced into the conductive portions of the formation zone, which may comprise a fractured or rubblized formation portion. The cement is allowed to harden or set at a porosity of at least 15%, followed by resuming drilling and, in completing the well, dissolving the soluble component to increase the permeability of or disintegrate the cement to permit production of formation fluids into the well.

Abstract: Moderate strength cement plugs and viscous pills may be formed by adding slag cement in both conventional particle size and microfine particle sizes to oil-based drilling fluids which contain water as the internal phase of an oil-water emulsion. The water may be present as a calcium chloride brine. Quantities of cementitious mixtures including slag cement, hydrocarbon oil, setting activators, such as sodium hydroxide and sodium carbonate, and nonyl phenol surfactants may be pumped into wellbores using conventional circulation techniques or conventional squeeze cementing techniques to form cement plugs, control lost circulation, or fix certain hydrocarbon oil wastes for disposal in subterranean formations.

Abstract: A method of forming a kickoff plug in a borehole is disclosed. The method includes a first phase in which the interval to be cemented is treated to remove gelled mud and mud cake from the walls of the borehole and in which drilling fluid is conditioned for subsequent cementing operations. The method includes a second phase in which a hydrostatically balanced plug of a hydraulic cement slurry is placed in the interval to be cemented and then permitted to harden to form the kickoff plug. Each phase of the method features the injection of high velocity streams of fluid, e.g. drilling fluid and cement slurry, into the borehole in a plane or planes which are substantially parallel to the cross section of the borehole and at linear velocities sufficient to cause circulation of gelled mud, mud cake, and drilling cutting from the borehole.

Abstract: A method of cementing a well casing or liner in a well bore wherein an annulus exists around the exterior of the casing or liner. The method comprises the step of placing a foamed cement slurry composition in the annulus. A method of treating a well bore comprising the steps of: (a) filling an uncased portion of the well bore with a foamed cement slurry composition; (b) allowing the cement composition to harden; and (c) drilling a hole through the hardened cement composition along at least a portion of the uncased portion of the well bore.

Abstract: A dispersant for spacer fluids, cement slurries, completion fluids and mixtures of drilling fluids and cement slurries used for drilling and cementing subterranean wells.

Abstract: What is disclosed is an improved method of cementing downhole in deviated or horizontal sections of a well bore, characterized by an improved step of flowing into the well a micro-sphere laden cement slurry and letting it set up in the set cement in situ to provide zonal isolation, bond equipment in the well.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method of cementing in which a plurality of cement slurries are employed in a well penetrating subterranean formations and having a deviated section of more than 55 degrees angle of inclination, the improvement comprising emplacing at a desired depth in the well a plurality of cement slurries, at least one of which is less dense than the drilling fluid employed to drill the well; and allowing the cement to set up in the well and to bond in situ and provide the zonal isolation and good bonding of equipment in the wellbore.A specific example given in which one of the cements had a density of less than 12 pounds per gallon and one of the cement slurries has a density of greater than 12 pounds per gallon.

Abstract: Spacer fluids providing an effective buffer between drilling fluids and cement slurries during well completion. The spacer fluids comprise a sulfonated styrene copolymer dispersant and one or more additional components such as surfactants, viscosifiers and weighting materials to form a rheologically compatible fluid between the drilling fluid and the cement slurry.