Abstract: Systems and methods for penetrating a subterranean formation with a downhole laser assembly include a laser generation unit located within a subterranean well. The downhole laser assembly further includes a vortex tube. The vortex tube has a compressed air supply port, a hot air outlet oriented to direct a hot air stream in a direction away from the laser generation unit, and a cold air outlet oriented to direct a cold air stream over the laser generation unit.

Abstract: A system for fracturing a formation comprising a laser surface unit configured to generate a laser beam, a power cable electrically connected to a power source, a fluid line connected to a cooling fluid source, a protective shaft extending into the wellbore, the motor configured to rotate a motor shaft, and the thermal shocking tool comprising a protective case, a rotational shaft connected to the motor shaft, the laser delivery device extending from the rotational shaft configured to transform the laser beam to a focused laser beam operable to increase the temperature of the formation to a fracture temperature, and the cooling system extending from the rotational shaft opposite the laser delivery device configured to introduce the cooling fluid stream onto the formation such that the cooling fluid stream reduces the temperature of the formation such that thermal shocks occur and fractures are formed in the formation.

Abstract: The present application relates to compositions and methods for enhancing fracturing operation. In some embodiments, the present application includes compositions and methods that are used to minimize clustering of proppants or introduce proppants into narrow fractures. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods involve magnetic proppants.

Abstract: The present application relates to compositions and methods for enhancing fracturing operation. In some embodiments, the present application includes compositions and methods that are used to minimize clustering of proppants or introduce proppants into narrow fractures. In some embodiments, the compositions and methods involve magnetic proppants.

Abstract: A steam injector assembly for handling steam in a subterranean well includes a steam separation system, the steam separation system directing an initial high quality steam to a subterranean formation and directing low quality fluid mix to a heating system. The heating system includes a ceramic-containing member located in a travel path of the low quality fluid mix and an electromagnetic antenna positioned to heat the ceramic-containing member with electromagnetic waves. A relief valve is movable to an open position when an improved high quality steam within a heating chamber of the heating system reaches an injection pressure, wherein in the open position, the relief valve provides a fluid flow path out of the heating chamber.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for in-situ heating fluids with electromagnetic radiation are provided. An example tool includes a housing operable to receive a fluid flowed through a flow line and a heater positioned within the housing. The heater includes a number of tubular members configured to receive portions of the fluid and an electromagnetic heating assembly positioned around the tubular members and configured to generate electromagnetic radiation transmitted to heat the tubular members. The heated tubular members can heat the portions of the fluid to break emulsion in the fluid. Upstream the heater, the tool can include a homogenizer operable to mix the fluid to obtain a homogenous fluid and a stabilizer operable to stabilize the fluid to obtain a linear flow. Downstream the heater, the tool can include a separator operable to separate lighter components from heavier components in the fluid after the emulsion breakage.

Abstract: A fracturing assembly for forming fractures in a subterranean formation includes a source tool having a rotational joint moveable to orient the source tool in a range of directions and a directional electromagnetic antenna having an electromagnetic wave source. A ceramic-containing member is located within a distance of the electromagnetic antenna to be heated to a fracture temperature by electromagnetic waves produced by the electromagnetic wave source. The ceramic-containing member is positionable to orient a fracture in the subterranean formation at the fracture temperature.

Abstract: Tools, processes, and systems for in-situ fluid characterization based on a thermal response of a fluid are provided. The thermal response of a downhole fluid may be measured using a downhole thermal response tool and compared with thermal responses associated with known fluids. The properties of the downhole fluid, such as heat capacity, diffusivity, and thermal conductivity, may be determined by matching the thermal response of the downhole fluid with a thermal response of a known fluid and using the properties associated with the known fluid. The composition of the downhole fluid may be determined by matching the viscosity of the downhole fluid to the viscosity of known fluid. A downhole thermal response tool for cased wellbores or wellbore sections and a downhole thermal response tool for openhole wellbores or wellbore sections are provided.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for in-situ heating fluids with electromagnetic radiation are provided. An example tool includes a housing operable to receive a fluid flowed through a flow line and a heater positioned within the housing. The heater includes a number of tubular members configured to receive portions of the fluid and an electromagnetic heating assembly positioned around the tubular members and configured to generate electromagnetic radiation transmitted to heat the tubular members. The heated tubular members can heat the portions of the fluid to break emulsion in the fluid. Upstream the heater, the tool can include a homogenizer operable to mix the fluid to obtain a homogenous fluid and a stabilizer operable to stabilize the fluid to obtain a linear flow. Downstream the heater, the tool can include a separator operable to separate lighter components from heavier components in the fluid after the emulsion breakage.

Abstract: A method to control the shape of an opening in a formation including the steps of emitting a laser beam from a fiber optic cable into a direction unit, focusing the laser beam in the focusing lens to produce a focused laser, collimating the focused beam in the collimating lens to produce a directed beam, directing the directed beam onto a motorized master, where the compact scanner further comprises a motorized slave, wherein the motorized master comprises a master mirror and a master motor, wherein the motorized slave comprises a slave mirror and a slave motor, operating the motorized master and the motorized slave to produce a controlled beam, where the controlled beam moves in a movement pattern, introducing the controlled beam to a laser head, sublimating the formation to produce the opening, and vacuuming the dust and vapor with the vacuum nozzle.

Abstract: A steam injector assembly for handling steam in a subterranean well includes a steam separation system, the steam separation system directing an initial high quality steam to a subterranean formation and directing low quality fluid mix to a heating system. The heating system includes a ceramic-containing member located in a travel path of the low quality fluid mix and an electromagnetic antenna positioned to heat the ceramic-containing member with electromagnetic waves. A relief valve is movable to an open position when an improved high quality steam within a heating chamber of the heating system reaches an injection pressure, wherein in the open position, the relief valve provides a fluid flow path out of the heating chamber.

Abstract: A fracturing assembly for forming fractures in a subterranean formation includes a source tool having a rotational joint moveable to orient the source tool in a range of directions and a directional electromagnetic antenna having an electromagnetic wave source. A ceramic-containing member is located within a distance of the electromagnetic antenna to be heated to a fracture temperature by electromagnetic waves produced by the electromagnetic wave source. The ceramic-containing member is positionable to orient a fracture in the subterranean formation at the fracture temperature.

Abstract: A system for fracturing a formation comprising a laser surface unit configured to generate a laser beam, a power cable electrically connected to a power source, a fluid line connected to a cooling fluid source, a protective shaft extending into the wellbore, the motor configured to rotate a motor shaft, and the thermal shocking tool comprising a protective case, a rotational shaft connected to the motor shaft, the laser delivery device extending from the rotational shaft configured to transform the laser beam to a focused laser beam operable to increase the temperature of the formation to a fracture temperature, and the cooling system extending from the rotational shaft opposite the laser delivery device configured to introduce the cooling fluid stream onto the formation such that the cooling fluid stream reduces the temperature of the formation such that thermal shocks occur and fractures are formed in the formation.

Abstract: A laser-jet apparatus for creating a penetration through a stress region adjacent to a wellbore includes an outer tool housing, the outer tool housing having a housing central bore. A laser assembly includes a lens case with an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the housing central bore, defining an annular passage between the outer tool housing and the lens case. A focusing lens and a collimating lens are located within the lens case. The focusing lens is shaped to control the divergence of a laser beam and the collimating lens is shaped to fix the diameter of the laser beam. A jet fluid path is located in the annular passage, the jet fluid path shaped to merge jet fluid with the laser beam. The outer tool housing has a frusto-conical tip for directing the combined jet fluid and laser beam to the stress region.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for spatially orienting a subterranean pressure pulse to a hydrocarbon-bearing formation are provided. The apparatus includes an injection body with a fixed shape, where the injection body is operable to hold an exothermic reaction component prior to triggering an exothermic reaction of the exothermic reaction component, and where the injection body maintains the fixed shape during and after triggering of the exothermic reaction component. The injection body includes a chemical injection port, where the chemical injection port is operable to feed components of the exothermic reaction component to the injection body. The injection body includes a reinforced plug, where the reinforced plug is operable to direct a pressure pulse generated by the exothermic reaction component within the injection body to a perforation to generate a spatially-oriented fracture, where spatial orientation of the spatially-oriented fracture is pre-determined.

Abstract: A downhole tool, and method of using the downhole tool, for enhancing recovery of heavy oil from a formation. The downhole tool includes an outer core having at least one ceramic portion. At least one electromagnetic antenna is disposed within the outer core. The at least one electromagnetic antenna is operable to emit electromagnetic radiation to heat the at least one ceramic portion.

Abstract: A laser-jet apparatus for creating a penetration through a stress region adjacent to a wellbore includes an outer tool housing, the outer tool housing having a housing central bore. A laser assembly includes a lens case with an outer diameter that is smaller than an inner diameter of the housing central bore, defining an annular passage between the outer tool housing and the lens case. A focusing lens and a collimating lens are located within the lens case. The focusing lens is shaped to control the divergence of a laser beam and the collimating lens is shaped to fix the diameter of the laser beam. A jet fluid path is located in the annular passage, the jet fluid path shaped to merge jet fluid with the laser beam. The outer tool housing has a frusto-conical tip for directing the combined jet fluid and laser beam to the stress region.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a downhole tool, and method of using the downhole tool, for enhancing recovery of heavy oil from a formation. A method for enhancing recovery of heavy oil from a formation includes placing a downhole tool in a first wellbore. The downhole tool has an outer core having at least one ceramic portion and at least one electromagnetic antenna located within the outer core. Electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the at least one electromagnetic antenna to heat the at least one ceramic portion.

Abstract: A downhole laser tool for penetrating a hydrocarbon bearing formation includes a laser surface unit to generate a high power laser beam, a fiber optic cable to conduct the high power laser beam from the laser surface unit to a rotational system that has a rotational head which includes a focusing system and a downhole laser tool head, the focusing system includes a beam manipulator, a focused lens, and a collimator, the downhole laser tool head includes a first cover lens to protect the focusing system, a laser muzzle to discharge the collimated laser beam from the downhole laser tool head into the hydrocarbon bearing formation, a fluid knife to sweep the first cover lens, a purging nozzle to remove dust from the path of the collimated laser beam, a vacuum nozzle to collect dust and vapor from the path of the collimated laser beam.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a downhole tool, and method of using the downhole tool, for enhancing recovery of heavy oil from a formation. A method for enhancing recovery of heavy oil from a formation includes placing a downhole tool in a first wellbore. The downhole tool has an outer core having at least one ceramic portion and at least one electromagnetic antenna located within the outer core. Electromagnetic radiation is emitted from the at least one electromagnetic antenna to heat the at least one ceramic portion.