| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080236935 | DETERMINATION OF DOWNHOLE PRESSURE WHILE PUMPING - Tubewaves are used to transmit an indication of the depth at which a condition is detected in a well. In particular, the depth is calculated based on the difference in arrival time at the surface of a first tubewave which propagates directly upward in the borehole and a second tubewave which initially travels downward and is then reflected upward. The tubewaves may be generated by a canister designed to implode at a certain pressure. After being introduced into the flowline at an above ground inlet, the canister is carried downhole by gravity and the fluid being pumped. When the canister reaches a depth at which its pressure tolerance is exceeded, it implodes and generates the tubewaves. An analyzer at the surface detects the tubewaves with a hydrophone array and generates a pressure versus depth profile of the well, i.e., one data point for each implosion. Canisters may be acoustically tagged by controlling volume and orifice size in order to generate tubewaves having particular frequency and amplitude characteristics. Canisters may also be configured to produce multiple implosions, e.g., one implosion at each of a selection of different pressures. Canisters may also be equipped with triggering and arming mechanisms, and may generate tubewaves in response to conditions other than a particular pressure. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080239872 | Wireless Logging of Fluid Filled Boreholes - A predetermined condition in a fluid-filled wellbore system can be detected by generating at least one sound in the wellbore system in response to the condition, such that a detectable change is created in some characteristic of the emitted sound, and detecting the at least one sound and the change, the detection being indicative that the predetermined condition has occurred. Equipment for facilitating detection of the condition can include a trigger operable in response to the condition; a generator operable to emit sound in the borehole and to create a detectable change in some characteristic of the emitted sound in response to the trigger; and at least one sensor operable to monitor the sound and detect the change, the detection being indicative that the predetermined condition has occurred. It is also possible to estimate a value of a property of a fluid-filled wellbore system. This can be accomplished by recording data including at least one of pressure and rate of flow at one or more locations in the wellbore system, and then estimating the value of the property by employing a model for predicting at least one of pressure and rate of flow dependent upon parameters detailing at least one of wellbore system geometry, viscoacoustic properties of the fluid and entrained solids contained in the wellbore system, locations of boundaries and entrained solids, and characteristics and locations of disturbances to pressure and flow in the wellbore system, in order to determine a best prediction of some attribute of the recorded data. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080272931 | Method and Apparatus for Measuring a Parameter within the Well with a Plug - The invention provides a system for measuring a parameter within a well comprising: a first apparatus comprising a first reel of first wound optic fiber line (or fiber) able to be unwound from the first reel, at least a first sensor able to measure the parameter of the well, wherein information on said parameter can be transmitted trough the first optic fiber; a second apparatus comprising a second reel of second wound optic fiber line able to be unwound from the second reel, an extremity of the second optic fiber being fixed to a reference point; a light transmitter or receiver device linked to the reference point and able to generate or detect a light pulse through the second optic fiber line; and means to exchange said light pulse between first and second optic fiber line. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20090159272 | MONITORING, CONTROLLING AND ENHANCING PROCESSES WHILE STIMULATING A FLUID-FILLED BOREHOLE - Tubewaves are used for detection and monitoring of feature state to enhance stimulation operations and remediate failure conditions. For example, proper sealing of perforations may be confirmed based on lack of a reflection of a tubewave by the perforations. Alternatively, at least one of amplitude, frequency, attenuation, dispersion and travel time associated with a tubewave and reflection may be used to determine feature state. If a sealant fails during treatment then the failure condition is indicated by appearance of a tubewave reflection. Consequently, the stimulation operation can be stopped in a timely manner, and remediation by means, for example, of pumping diversion fluid or dropping of balls, can be reinitiated until the difference between the expected responses and responses measured by the instrument along the segment to be stimulated confirm that sealing has taken place and that stimulation of the intended zone can resume. Further, specific remediation steps may be selected based on response of the borehole system to tubewaves. The efficacy of the selected remediation steps may also be determined by response of the borehole system to tubewaves during or after execution of those steps. | 06-25-2009 |
| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090305914 | Phosphorus-Free Gelled Hydrocarbon Compositions and Method for Use Thereof - A method of forming a gelled organic-based fluid is disclosed. The method comprises combining an organic solvent, a viscoelastic surfactant, and a metal carboxylate crosslinker; and forming the gelled organic-based fluid. In a further aspect, the method is used to treat a subterranean formation of a well, for example for a stimulation job as fracturing or the like. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100056405 | SELF-DIVERTING ACID TREATMENT WITH FORMIC-ACID-FREE CORROSION INHIBITOR - A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore of a well having iron-containing components is carried out by introducing a treatment fluid into the wellbore of the well. The treatment fluid is formed from an aqueous solution, a mineral acid, a viscoelastic surfactant gelling agent and corrosion inhibitor system containing at least one of an alkyl, alkenyl, alicyclic or aromatic substituted aliphatic ketone and aliphatic or aromatic aldehyde. The treatment fluid is substantially free of any formic acid or precursor formic acid. In certain embodiments, the corrosion inhibitor system comprises a mixture of at least one of an alkenyl phenone or α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, an unsaturated ketone or unsaturated aldehyde other than the alkenyl phenone and α,β-unsaturated aldehyde, a dispersing agent, an extender and an alcohol solvent. A corrosion inhibitor intensifier may also be used in certain embodiments, which may include a mixture of cuprous iodide and cuprous chloride. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20100190666 | METHOD FOR TREATING FRACTURING WATER - A method of treating a medium for water fracturing is disclosed, the method comprises: introducing at least one biocide and at least one metabolic inhibitor in the medium, using the medium for water fracturing. In another aspect a method of controlling the post-fracture reservoir souring by the metabolic activities of sulfate reducing bacteria of a well is described: at least one biocide and at least one metabolic inhibitor are introduced in a medium made of water, the medium is used for fracturing the well, and the medium remains in the reservoir to kill and/or inhibit growth of sulfate reducing bacteria. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100243242 | METHOD FOR COMPLETING TIGHT OIL AND GAS RESERVOIRS - A method and apparatus for processing a subterranean formation comprising stimulating and fracturing a subterranean formation, and drilling the subterranean formation wherein the drilling and fracturing occurs without removing equipment for drilling from the formation. A method and apparatus for drilling and fracturing a subterranean formation, comprising a drill string assembly and a hydraulic fracturing system, wherein the drill string and fracturing system are in communication with a wellbore and wherein the drill string and a fracture formed by the hydraulic fracturing system are less than about 1000 feet apart. A method and apparatus for processing a subterranean formation comprising fracturing a subterranean formation using a hydraulic fracturing system and drilling the subterranean formation using a drill string assembly wherein the drilling and fracturing occurs without removing the drill string from the formation, and wherein the fracturing occurs via ports in the drill string assembly. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110017464 | WELLBORE DEBRIS CLEANOUT WITH COILED TUBING USING DEGRADABLE FIBERS - Embodiments of this invention relate to a method of removing debris from a wellbore including contacting debris in a wellbore with a treatment fluid, wherein the fluid contains degradable fibers, collecting at least a portion of the treatment fluid, and allowing the degradable fibers to degrade. Embodiments of this invention also relate to a method of removing debris from a wellbore including contacting debris in a wellbore with a treatment fluid, wherein the fluid contains degradable fibers, collecting the treatment fluid, and exposing the fluid to a composition to encourage the degradable fibers to degrade. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110188348 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING ACOUSTIC ACTIVITY IN A SUBSURFACE FORMATION - A method and apparatus is disclosed for monitoring microseismic activity in a formation. The method and apparatus include placing a tool string having a shuttle including a sensor thereon in a stimulation well, and activating the shuttle to acoustically couple the sensor to an inner surface of a casing. The sensor is acoustically decoupled from the tool string. Fluid is then injected into the formation via the tool string. The sensor is reengaged with the tool string. The tool string may then be removed from the stimulation well or moved to another position along the wellbore. | 08-04-2011 |
