Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090159334 | Method for detecting formation pore pressure by detecting pumps-off gas downhole - Methods and systems are described for drilling a well while distinguishing circulated gas or air from pumps-off gas in a drilling fluid at downhole pressure and temperature. A well is drilled with a drilling fluid, drill string, and drill bit. Drilling fluid is pumped through the drill string, drill bit, and into an annulus between the drill string and a wellbore. The drill string comprises one or more sensors sensing a parameter indicative of circulated gas or air in the drilling fluid flowing through the drill string, one or more sensors being behind and near the drill bit. The sensors measuring gas in the drill string may be at the same level as gas detectors in the annulus. The measurements are communicated to a human-readable interface at the surface, allowing an operator to determine if pressure of the wellbore fluid is greater than formation fluid pressure. | 06-25-2009 |
20100067329 | METHOD OF DETERMINING BOREHOLE CONDITIONS FROM DISTRIBUTED MEASUREMENT DATA - Methods of determining borehole conditions using distributed measurement data are disclosed herein. The disclosed methods utilize real time data measurements taken from sensors distributed along the length of a drill string to assess various conditions or properties of the borehole. The disclosed methods of processing or using distributed measurement data have not been described before. In particular, the distributed data may be used for example, to track the progress of a chemical pill or also track the location of different types of borehole fluids, and also to determine the hole size or volume of the borehole. | 03-18-2010 |
20100258303 | ANNULUS MUD FLOW RATE MEASUREMENT WHILE DRILLING AND USE THEREOF TO DETECT WELL DYSFUNCTION - Methods and apparatus are described that combine a measurement of the physical velocity of material within the annulus of a well between the drill pipe and the wall of the well with a measurement of the area of the flow as determined from a measurement of distance between the drill pipe and the wall of the hole to determine the actual material volumetric flow rate. Changes in volumetric flow rate at one or more points along the well can be used to determine the occurrence and location of well dysfunctions. This knowledge can then be used to make decisions about treating well dysfunctions which will lead to more efficient use of drilling rig time. | 10-14-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090159337 | Method for detecting formation pore pressure by detecting pumps-off gas downhole - A method for the detection of gas invading a wellbore during drilling by the influx of fluids which contain gas from the formations penetrated by a wellbore. | 06-25-2009 |
20100000729 | METHOD TO DETECT CASING POINT IN A WELL FROM RESISTIVITY AHEAD OF THE BIT - Methods are described using resistivity measurements obtained while drilling one or more offset wells using a drilling mud to guide drilling of one or more uncased intervals of a well to identify a casing point or points in the uncased intervals of the well. Resistivity data is gathered during drilling the offset well and prior to penetrating a region of interest of a known subterranean formation. The drill string in the uncased interval of the well progresses toward the region of interest, using resistivity data at similar depths to identify a casing point while the drill bit advances toward but does not penetrate the region. In certain embodiments resistivity may also be obtained in front of the drill bit in the uncased interval of the well and used in conjunction with the offset well resistivity data to identify casing points in the uncased intervals of the well. | 01-07-2010 |
20100000791 | METHOD TO DETECT FORMATION PORE PRESSURE FROM RESISTIVITY MEASUREMENTS AHEAD OF THE BIT DURING DRILLING OF A WELL - Methods are described using resistivity ahead of a drill bit measurements obtained while drilling a subterranean well using a drilling mud. Resistivity data ahead of the bit is gathered during drilling and prior to penetrating a region of interest of a known subterranean formation using the drill bit and the drilling mud. The drill string progresses at known dip and azimuth angles toward the subterranean formation. The resistivity data is used to determine pore pressure ahead of the drill bit in the formation as a function of resistivity ahead of the drill bit in the formation while the drill bit advances toward but before the bit penetrates the formation while drilling. In certain embodiments, the methods include redirecting the drill bit while drilling toward locations in the formation where pore pressure is within an acceptable range. In other embodiments, a drilling mud parameter is adjusted based on the pore pressure in front of the bit. | 01-07-2010 |
20100000792 | METHOD TO DETECT CORING POINT FROM RESISTIVITY MEASUREMENTS - Methods are described using resistivity ahead of a drill bit measurements obtained while drilling a subterranean well using a drilling mud. Resistivity data ahead of the bit is gathered during drilling and prior to penetrating a region of interest of a target subterranean formation using the drill bit and the drilling mud. The drill string progresses at target dip and azimuth angles toward the region on interest. The resistivity data is used to determine the top of the region of interest while the drill bit advances toward but does not penetrate the region. A core bit is then installed and a whole core of the region of interest obtained. Resistivity ahead of a drill bit measurements obtained while drilling a subterranean well may also be compared with conventional resistivity measurements obtained from one or more offset wells. | 01-07-2010 |
20100282470 | METHODS OF INCREASING FRACTURE RESISTANCE IN LOW PERMEABILITY FORMATIONS - A method of increasing the fracture resistance of a low permeability formation that includes emplacing a wellbore fluid in a wellbore through the low permeability formation, the wellbore fluid comprising: a settable carrier fluid; and a solid particulate bridging material; increasing the pressure in the wellbore such that fractures are formed in the formation; allowing the settable carrier fluid to enter the fractures; bridging and sealing the mouths of the fractures to form a substantially impermeable bridge proximate the mouth of the fractures thereby strengthening the formation; and holding the increased pressure for an amount of time sufficient for setting of the carrier fluid in the fractures is disclosed. | 11-11-2010 |
20110297380 | SELECTIVE CONTROL OF CHARGING, FIRING, AMOUNT OF FORCE, AND/OR DIRECTION OF FORCE OF ONE OR MORE DOWNHOLE JARS - Methods of jarring include communicating between a surface command device and jars in a drill string, the drill string composed of spaced apart jars positioned in a corresponding plurality of wired and/or wireless pipe sections. The methods include selectively controlling charging, firing, amount of force, and/or direction of force of the jars using digitally-controlled surface command devices. One method includes firing a sub-set or all of the jars in a controlled manner and determining depth of a stuck drill string section through analysis of behavior or performance of the fired jars. Other methods include subsequently firing one or more of the jars again below the stuck drill string section. Other methods include selectively firing, using digital signals from the surface command device, jars sequenced in time so that their forces meet in a constructive or destructive manner at a preselected point in the drill string. | 12-08-2011 |
20130299241 | PREDICTION AND DIAGNOSIS OF LOST CIRCULATION IN WELLS - In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, techniques for predicting, classifying, preventing, and remedying drilling fluid circulation loss events are disclosed. Tools for gathering relevant data are disclosed, and techniques for interpreting the resultant data as giving rise to an actual or potential drilling fluid lost circulation event are also disclosed. | 11-14-2013 |