Abstract: A flow constraint material consists essentially of degradable particles, where at least 50% by volume of the degradable particles have an average particle size of about 1 millimeters (mm) to about 6 mm.

Abstract: A ball launcher and method for actuating wellsite equipment at a wellsite is disclosed. The wellsite has wellhead equipment positioned at an inlet of a wellbore. The ball launcher includes a housing, a ball release, and a housing extension. The housing has a passage for receiving balls. The ball is release positionable about the housing. The ball release includes a feeder to selectively and sequentially release the balls from the housing. The housing extension includes a hopper tube and a feed tube. The hopper tube has an inlet to receive the balls from the housing, the feed tube extending at an angle from the hopper tube. The feed tube has an exit a distance above the wellhead equipment to release the balls therethrough whereby the balls are dropped into and activates the wellsite equipment in the wellbore.

Abstract: Systems and methods to monitor a condition of a fracturing component section including a section frame and a hydraulic fracturing component of a hydraulic fracturing unit to pump fracturing fluid connected to the section frame may include a condition monitoring controller configured to receive one or more signals from one or more sensors configured to be connected to the fracturing component section and generate signals indicative of operating parameters associated with operation of the fracturing component. The condition monitoring controller may be configured to generate, based at least in part on the signals, condition signals indicative of approaching maintenance due to be performed, predicted component damage, predicted component failure, existing component damage, existing component failure, irregularities of component operation, and/or operation exceeding rated operation.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a ball injecting apparatus for releasing balls into the wellbore of a well. The apparatus comprises a body having an interior capable of housing one or more balls, at least one window in the body to allow for fluid communication between the body's interior and outside atmosphere. The window also provides for placement and removal of the balls into and out of the body's interior. An opening of suitable dimensions is provided on the body to allow the balls to exit the apparatus. A ball retaining and release mechanism retains and selectively releases the balls out the opening. The interior of the ball injecting apparatus is open to atmospheric pressure during operations. System and method aspects are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drive of a slide of an earth drilling device having a rotary drive and a pinion that is driven by the rotary drive and can be engaged with a rack, wherein the rotary drive is engaged with another pinion which can be engaged with the rack.

Abstract: A controlled aperture ball drop includes a ball cartridge that is mounted to a frac head or a high pressure fluid conduit. The ball cartridge houses a ball rail having a bottom end that forms an aperture with an inner periphery of the ball cartridge through which frac balls of a frac ball stack supported by the ball rail are sequentially dropped from the frac ball stack as a size of the aperture is increased by an aperture controller operatively connected to the ball rail. A control console displays a user interface that permits an operator to control the controlled aperture ball drop to drop frac balls only when desired.

Abstract: A method of actuating a well tool can include producing a magnetic pattern in the well, thereby transmitting a corresponding magnetic signal to the well tool, and the well tool actuating in response to detection of the magnetic signal. A method of injecting fluid into selected ones of multiple zones can include producing a magnetic pattern in a tubular string having multiple injection valves interconnected therein, actuating a set of at least one of the injection valves in response to the magnetic pattern producing, producing another magnetic pattern in the tubular string, and actuating another set of at least one of the injection valves in response to the second magnetic pattern producing.

Abstract: A ball launcher system is provided. In one embodiment, such a system includes a ball launcher having a rotatable sleeve installed within an internal bore of a hollow body. The hollow body has ball chutes extending from an external surface to the internal bore. The rotatable sleeve has one or more holes that can be sequentially aligned with the ball chutes by rotation of the sleeve to enable balls within the ball chutes to pass sequentially into a well through the one or more holes. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An object launching apparatus for a well has a housing, a flow mandrel, and a cage. The flow mandrel is disposed in the housing's internal chamber, and a flow passage in the mandrel communicates flow from the housing's inlet to the mandrel's flow port, which in turn communicates with the housing's outlet. The cage is disposed in the internal chamber and defines pockets for holding the objects. A motor and shaft move the cage in the housing relative to the mandrel's flow port so the cage's pockets can be selectively positioned in communication between the mandrel's flow port and the housing's outlet. This allows any of the object(s) held in the positioned pocket to be launched into the flow to the well. Preferably, the motor rotates the shaft so the cage can ride linearly along the shaft's thread and the cage can rotate through a cammed engagement with the housing.

Abstract: A material to be used for hydraulic fracturing, comprising argon maintained as a supercritical fluid, and a proppant. The material may also include any one of a variety of gels, foaming agents, and/or gases. The material may be used in a system to recover resources from bedrock, the system comprising the fracturing material, at least one mixer, a pump to inject the material into a bore well, and a recovery unit to recover the resource from the well. The material and system may be used in a variety of methods for extracting resources from bedrock, the method including mixing the proppant with the supercritical argon to form a mixture, pumping the mixture into a bore well, and recovering the resource from the bore well. Additionally, the material and bore well may comprise a structure used in the extraction of resources from bedrock.

Abstract: A ball dropper has a stack of trays that have solid portions for supporting a ball and open portions to allow a ball to pass through a tray. Fixed barriers limit the travel of the ball with the rotating tray to allow the ball to become unsupported so that it can be caught on the tray below. A stepper motor precisely makes the required incremental rotation to allow the addition of the next ball at the top. Once the trays are filled or the balls loaded are advanced such that the lead ball is on the last tray any further rotation will start to discharge the balls with each increment of rotation. The device is easy and cheap to fabricate and presents a reliable way to get jam free operation while having a housing that will tolerate the operating pressures in the wellbore.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon lift system and method for increasing petroleum production from an enclosed subterranean reservoir to the earth's surface comprises a column of buoyant balls in an outer pipe configured to entrain the buoyant balls into a first fluid in an annulus formed with an inner pipe drill string. A pressure differential in the inner pipe with respect to the reservoir via the entrained buoyant balls in a second fluid therein lifts the second fluid and the entrained balls via the inner pipe to increase petroleum production to the to earth's surface. A controlled rise velocity of the buoyant balls and the second fluid is predetermined by a ratio of a mass density of the buoyant balls to a mass density of the second fluid being greater than a mass density of the buoyant balls to a mass density of the first fluid for an increase over time in oil production.

Abstract: In some aspects, an injection rate of an injection test applied to a subterranean region is controlled. The injection test includes a series of injection periods and shut-in intervals. Each of the injection periods is followed by a respective one of the shut-in intervals. The subterranean region is monitored during the injection test.

Abstract: A method for producing minerals and, more specifically, for producing hydrocarbons, by hydraulic fracturing of the rock, can be used for the optimization of formation fracturing crack processing conditions. The method includes splitting a main stream of a propping agent suspension in a fluid at a mixer output into at least two flows having different volume delivery rates, and comingling the at least two flows before delivering to the hydraulic fracturing zone.

Abstract: An injector spool supports a plurality of ball injector assemblies having respective ball cartridges adapted to load one frac ball at a time into a ball chamber of a ball launcher of the respective ball injector assemblies to provide a horizontal frac ball injector adapted to be connected to a frac head by frac iron.

Abstract: A method for altering flow conditions in a porous media containing hydrocarbons includes the steps of preparing a mixture of a surfactant, a co-surfactant and a carrier fluid; transporting the mixture to the porous media; and holding the mixture in the porous media in the presence of water for a period of time sufficient to form a water film on the surfaces of the porous media.

Abstract: An injector spool supports a plurality of ball injector assemblies having respective ball cartridges adapted to load one frac ball at a time into a ball chamber of a ball launcher of the respective ball injector assemblies to provide a low profile, high capacity ball injector.

Abstract: A ball launcher has a body and a ball conveyor. The body has a sidewall defining axial bore, an attachment for attaching to a tubing string, and at least one radial port that provides access though the sidewall to the axial bore. The ball conveyor is carried by the body adjacent to an associated radial port. The ball conveyor comprises an inner bore in communication with the associated radial port and extends laterally outward from the body. A shaft extends along the inner bore, the shaft having a helical flight having at least one turn around the shaft, the flight and a bottom portion of the inner bore defining a ball receiving space large enough to receive a ball to be launched. A drive source rotates the shaft in a first direction to cause the flight to advance one or more balls toward the radial port.

Abstract: A multipart frac head with removable components permits the frac head to be refurbished in the field. A bottom leg and inlet ports of the multipart frac head can be replaced. The bottom leg is provisioned with a flange.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for injecting high pressure abrasive fluid into an abrasive jet tool. The method and system comprise a slurry tank connected to an abrasive hopper and a low pressure abrasive pump for circulating abrasive slurry and transferring the slurry to a high pressure vessel. The method and system also contain a high pressure non-abrasive pump connected to a high pressure valve for pressurizing the high pressure vessel prior to injecting abrasive fluid into the abrasive jet tool.

Abstract: A controlled aperture ball drop includes a ball cartridge that is mounted to a frac head or a high pressure fluid conduit. The ball cartridge houses a ball rail having a bottom end that forms an aperture with an inner periphery of the ball cartridge through which frac balls of a frac ball stack supported by the ball rail are sequentially dropped from the frac ball stack as a size of the aperture is increased by an aperture controller operatively connected to the ball rail.

Abstract: A ball launcher system is provided. In one embodiment, such a system includes a ball launcher having a rotatable sleeve installed within an internal bore of a hollow body. The hollow body has ball chutes extending from an external surface to the internal bore. The rotatable sleeve has one or more holes that can be sequentially aligned with the ball chutes by rotation of the sleeve to enable balls within the ball chutes to pass sequentially into a well through the one or more holes. Additional systems, devices, and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides a ball injecting apparatus for releasing balls into the wellbore of a well. The apparatus comprises a body having an interior capable of housing one or more balls, at least one window in the body to allow for fluid communication between the body's interior and outside atmosphere. The window also provides for placement and removal of the balls into and out of the body's interior. An opening of suitable dimensions is provided on the body to allow the balls to exit the apparatus. A ball retaining and release mechanism retains and selectively releases the balls out the opening. The interior of the ball injecting apparatus is open to atmospheric pressure during operations. System and method aspects are also provided.

Abstract: A segment of a structure mitigates flow of fluid therethrough. In one embodiment the segment includes an opening for the fluid flow and the modified structure may include a ferromagnetic wall defining the opening and a plurality of permanently magnetized particles. Some of the permanently magnetized particles are attached to the wall by magnetic forces. A system is also provided for injecting magnetic particles into a cavity to impede movement of fluid through the cavity. A method is also described for mitigating a flow of fluid through an opening in a wall. In one embodiment, the method includes positioning a plurality of first magnetic particles along the wall and about the opening and attaching a plurality of second magnetic particles to the first magnetic particles wherein some of the second magnetic particles collectively extend across the opening to cover the opening.

Abstract: An injector spool supports a plurality of ball injector assemblies having respective ball cartridges adapted to load one frac ball at a time into a ball chamber of a ball launcher of the respective ball injector assemblies to provide a low profile, high capacity ball injector.

Abstract: An injector spool supports a plurality of ball injector assemblies having respective ball cartridges adapted to load one frac ball at a time into a ball chamber of a ball launcher of the respective ball injector assemblies to provide a horizontal frac ball injector adapted to be connected to a frac head by frac iron.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon lift system and method for increasing petroleum production from an enclosed subterranean reservoir to the earth's surface comprises a column of buoyant balls in an outer pipe configured to entrain the buoyant balls into a first fluid in an annulus formed with an inner pipe drill string. A pressure differential in the inner pipe with respect to the reservoir via the entrained buoyant balls in a second fluid therein lifts the second fluid and the entrained balls via the inner pipe to increase petroleum production to the earth's surface. A controlled rise velocity of the buoyant balls and the second fluid is predetermined by a ratio of a mass density of the buoyant balls to a mass density of the second fluid being greater than a mass density of the buoyant balls to a mass density of the first fluid for an increase over time in oil production.

Abstract: A controlled aperture ball drop includes a ball cartridge that is mounted to a frac head or a high pressure fluid conduit. The ball cartridge houses a ball rail having a bottom end that forms an aperture with an inner periphery of the ball cartridge through which frac balls of a frac ball stack supported by the ball rail are sequentially dropped from the frac ball stack as a size of the aperture is increased by an aperture controller operatively connected to the ball rail.

Abstract: A ball launching system includes a ball launcher with a removable ball pod and sleeve assembly that retains balls prior to injection. An interchangeable ball pod with a chamber corresponding to the ball diameter, fits into a pod sleeve and comprise the ball pod and sleeve assembly. The ball launcher further includes a housing with a moveably disposed piston that engages with the ball thereby launching it. The housing also includes a thru hole through which the piston may travel to externally indicate its position within the housing. The ball launching system also includes a control system having control inputs, which may be located remote to the ball launcher. By applying a pre-determined sequence of control inputs, the piston may engage with the balls retained in the ball pod and sleeve assembly to force the balls to be launched from the ball launcher.

Abstract: A method includes treating a first formation intersecting a wellbore, preparing a diversion fluid including an inactivated viscosifier and an inactivated thinning agent, and positioning an amount of the diversion fluid to isolate the first formation. An activator is then delivered to the diversion fluid, thereby activating the inactivated viscosifier and triggering a thinning agent activation process.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a system includes at least one microsensor configured to detect one or more conditions of a fluidic medium of a reservoir; and a receptacle, wherein the receptacle encapsulates the at least one microsensor. In another general embodiment, a method include injecting the encapsulated at least one microsensor as recited above into a fluidic medium of a reservoir; and detecting one or more conditions of the fluidic medium of the reservoir.

Abstract: A controlled aperture ball drop includes a ball cartridge that is mounted to a frac head or a high pressure fluid conduit. The ball cartridge houses a ball rail having a bottom end that forms an aperture with an inner periphery of the ball cartridge through which frac balls of a frac ball stack supported by the ball rail are sequentially dropped from the frac ball stack as a size of the aperture is increased by an aperture controller operatively connected to the ball rail. A control console displays a user interface that permits an operator to control the controlled aperture ball drop to drop frac balls only when desired.

Abstract: The disclosure provides one or more manifolds having manifold portions primarily of fluid conduit and flow components mounted to the manifold portions, such as valves and fluid fittings. The manifold is formed with a uniform bore, so that the manifold portions are the same size along the flow path of the manifold, and the valves and fluid fittings have a bore the same size of the bore of the manifold portions. The uni-bore manifold creates a less turbulent flow path and allows draining of the manifold through one or more valves coupled to an end of the manifold that otherwise can become restricted or plugged with particles entrained in fluids in the manifold.

Abstract: The disclosed hydrocarbon lift system and method prohibits water-coning in production of oil from a subterranean reservoir to the earth's surface. The system comprises a well bore with a first and a second section. The first section has perforations which draw a first fluid into and up the well bore based on a negative pump pressure applied thereto. The second section has perforations which draw a second fluid into the well bore based on a differential pressure between the pump pressure and a lower induced pressure therein. The system also comprises a venturi structure fixtured into the well bore. The venturi structure has flaring ends connected by a constricting throat defining perforations therein. The constricting throat perforations draw the second fluid through the second section perforations into the venturi throat in response to the lower induced pressure in the second section created by an increased first fluid velocity there through.

Abstract: A system for powering wellsite surface equipment comprises at least one prime mover in communication with a fuel source for powering the prime mover and having at least one heat source, at least one pump arranged to be driven by the prime mover, the at least one pump in fluid communication with at least one wellbore and at least one fluid for use in the wellbore, and at least one auxiliary system in communication with the heat source from the at least one prime mover.

Abstract: A modular ball drop made up of two or more identical ball drop modules that are vertically stacked in a desired number. Each ball drop module can drop one or more frac balls into a fluid stream being pumped into a well.

Abstract: A multiple activation-device launching system for a cementing head comprises a launcher body and at least one launching chamber that are sized to receive one or more activation devices therein. The activation devices are launched into the principal process-fluid stream inside the cementing head, and may be darts, balls, bombs, canisters and combinations thereof. The launching chambers are in fluid communication with an external power source for launching the activation device into the principal process-fluid stream.

Abstract: A frac head is provided with a sacrificial wash ring. The sacrificial wash ring is located above a mixing chamber of the frac head. The sacrificial wash ring protects the frac head body from erosion caused by abrasive frac fluids pumped through the frac head.

Abstract: As disclosed, a buoyant ball assisted hydrostatic lift system and method for lifting fluid(s) from an enclosed subterranean reservoir to the earth's surface, comprises a pipe string configured at a steady state gas pressure with any quiescent gas escape offset by an equal gas input. The system also includes a plurality of buoyant balls in the pipe string; the balls configured to at least one of displace a fluid mass and have a surface friction moving in fluid(s) therein. The system additionally includes a column of the buoyant balls in the pipe string, an aggregate weight of the balls configured to entrain the balls into a fluid in an annulus formed with an outer bore pipe. The system further includes a hydrostatic pressure differential in the annulus with respect to the reservoir via the buoyant balls, the pressure configured to lift fluid(s) in the annulus to the surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering a fluid mixture using direct injection to a mixing apparatus. The apparatus including a proppant storage vessel configured to contain therein a proppant material and output a proppant output flow at ambient pressure to a solid feed pump assembly. The apparatus further including a fracturing fluid storage vessel configured to contain therein a fracturing fluid and output a fracturing fluid output flow at a fracture fluid blending pressure. The solid feed pump assembly configured to output to a mixing apparatus, a proppant output flow at the fracture fluid blending pressure. The mixing apparatus configured to output a fluid mixture of the proppant and the fracturing fluid at the fracture fluid blending pressure. The mixing apparatus coupled to a high pressure pump assembly and configured to deliver the fluid mixture therein to a downstream component at an injection pressure.

Abstract: A controlled aperture ball drop includes a ball cartridge that is mounted to a frac head or a high pressure fluid conduit. The ball cartridge houses a ball rail having a bottom end that forms an aperture with an inner periphery of the ball cartridge through which frac balls of a frac ball stack supported by the ball rail are sequentially dropped from the frac ball stack as a size of the aperture is increased by an aperture controller operatively connected to the ball rail.

Abstract: A universal dart launcher launches a dart by moving a dart from a first position to a second position. The universal dart launcher has a launcher body defining a central bore having an axis and lower and upper ends configured to attach to a string of pipe. A cartridge housed within the launcher body may move perpendicular to the axis from a first position to a second position. A drop member is positioned within the cartridge so that it will not be in axial alignment with the central bore while in the first position, and will be in axial alignment with the central bore while in the second position. An actuator assembly couples to the launcher body to move the cartridge from the first position to the second position when actuated.

Abstract: A method includes treating a first formation intersecting a wellbore, preparing a diversion fluid including an inactivated viscosifier and an inactivated thinning agent, and positioning an amount of the diversion fluid to isolate the first formation. An activator is then delivered to the diversion fluid, thereby activating the inactivated viscosifier and triggering a thinning agent activation process.

Abstract: A controlled aperture ball drop includes a ball cartridge that is mounted to a frac head or a high pressure fluid conduit. The ball cartridge houses a ball rail having a bottom end that forms an aperture with an inner periphery of the ball cartridge through which frac balls of a frac ball stack supported by the ball rail are sequentially dropped from the frac ball stack as a size of the aperture is increased by an aperture controller operatively connected to the ball rail.

Abstract: A multiple activation-device launching system for a cementing head comprises a launcher body and at least one launching chamber that are sized to receive one or more activation devices therein. The activation devices are launched into the principal process-fluid stream inside the cementing head, and may be darts, balls, bombs, canisters and combinations thereof. The launching chambers are in fluid communication with an external power source for launching the activation device into the principal process-fluid stream.

Abstract: Methods for hydrocarbon recovery from a subsurface formation include removing a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and particulate solids from a first formation. At least a portion of the hydrocarbons are separated from the particulate solids. The particulate solids are separated into a plurality of streams. A mixed slurry comprising a first portion of the plurality of streams is injected through a first pipe into the first formation. A waste stream comprising a second portion of the plurality of streams is injected through a second pipe into a second formation. The first formation and the second formation lie in a substantially vertical line.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation.

Abstract: The present invention relates in general to equipment for servicing subterranean wells and in particular to a cementing head that is intended to drop a combination of darts, balls, bombs and canisters in order to activate downhole equipment, launch cementing plugs, deliver chemical products, or the like. A cementing head comprises a modular valve apparatus, comprising at least two detatchable parts. This arrangement allows the operator to remove and disassemble the valve apparatus at the wellsite. Thus, repairs and maintenance may be performed at the wellsite and the valve apparatus may be reassembled and reinstalled, obviating the need to transport the equipment to a central facility.

Abstract: An apparatus for holding and launching down-hole actuation devices that has a body, a bottom end, a top end and a long bore between the ends. Moveable and protruding into the long bore are retainers upon which down-hole actuation devices may rest. Retainers are moved by a lockable hydraulic drive system. Additionally, a method for loading the apparatus with down-hole actuation devices and for launching said devices into a well bore is provided.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel or around the periphery of the valving member in an outer channel. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members.