Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090023614 | Polymer Delivery in Well Treatment Applications - This invention relates to compositions and methods for treating subterranean formations, in particular, oilfield stimulation compositions and methods using water-in-water polymer emulsions to uniformly dissolve a rheologically active polymer, such as a thickener or friction reducer, in the treatment fluid. The emulsions have a low viscosity and are easily pumped for mixing into a treatment fluid, where upon dilution with an aqueous medium, the polymer is easily hydrated without forming fish-eyes. The partitioning agent in the water-in-water emulsion does not generally affect the rheology of the treatment fluid. The invention also relates to further processing of the emulsion by wet grinding, high shear mixing and/or heating to enhance the hydration rate in the preparation of the well treatment fluid. | 01-22-2009 |
20090126932 | REVERSIBLE POLYMERIC GELATION FOR OILFIELD APPLICATIONS - This invention relates to the synthesis and use in oilfield applications of copolymers which can undergo the Diels-Alder reaction to form a gel. Under appropriate conditions, the retro Diels-Alder reaction can take place to provide for decreasing the viscosity of the aforementioned gel. | 05-21-2009 |
20090163387 | Stabilizing Biphasic Concentrates Through the Addition of Small Amounts of High Molecular Weight Polyelectrolytes - This invention relates to compositions and methods of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore including providing a treatment composition comprising a rheological polymer, a partitioning agent, a charged polyelectrolyte, and a first liquid medium, forming a stabilized heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed rheological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase, and injecting the treatment fluid into the well bore. The invention relates to methods and compositions for preparing a well treatment fluid, including mixing polyethylene glycol partitioning agent, a charged polyelectrolyte, a first aqueous medium, and one or more rheological polymers selected from the group consisting of guar, modified guar, cellulose, modified cellulose, heteropolysaccharide, heteropolysaccharide derivative, or polyacrylamide, to hydrate the one or more polymers and form a water-in-water emulsion, and mixing the water-in-water emulsion with a second aqueous medium to form a well treatment fluid. | 06-25-2009 |
20090205824 | Polymeric Microspheres As Degradable Fluid Loss Additives In Oilfield Applications - Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation including crosslinking a polymer along the surface of microspheres in a water-in-water emulsion and introducing the microspheres into the subterranean formation. Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation including crosslinking a polymer along the surface of microspheres in a water in water emulsion, isolating the microspheres from the emulsion, and introducing the microspheres into the subterranean formation. Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid to treat a subterranean formation including introducing a crosslinkable polymer, partitioning agent, and crosslinker into a solvent, crosslinking the crosslinkable polymer, isolating beads of the crosslinkable polymer from the partitioning agent, introducing the beads into a fluid for treating a subterranean formation. | 08-20-2009 |
20090291864 | VISCOELASTIC COMPOSITIONS - The present invention provides aqueous viscoelastic compositions comprising a cleavable anionic surfactant which is a sulphonate and possibly also an electrolyte. The cleavable surfactants useful in the present invention comprise a chemical bond, which is capable of being broken under appropriate conditions, to produce oil soluble and water soluble products typically having no interfacial properties and surface activity compared with the original surfactant molecule. Further, the rheological properties of the aqueous viscoelastic composition are usually altered upon cleavage of the cleavable surfactant generally resulting in the elimination of the viscosifying, viscoelastic and surfactant properties of the composition. Aqueous viscoelastic compositions in accordance with the present invention are suitable for use in oil-field applications, particularly for hydraulic fracturing of subterranean formations. Thus, the present invention also relates to a wellbore service fluid and a method of fracturing a subterranean formation. | 11-26-2009 |
20100039890 | SEISMIC DATA ACQUISITION ASSEMBLY - A seismic data acquisition assembly includes a cable; seismic sensors that are disposed along the cable; and a filler material inside the cable. The filler includes a hydrocarbon-based liquid and an agent to cause the filler material to have a rheological property that is substantially different than a corresponding rheological property of the hydrocarbon-based liquid. | 02-18-2010 |
20100065273 | METHODS AND MATERIALS FOR ZONAL ISOLATION - The invention relates to the use of one or more water-soluble reactive liquid component capable of subsequent polymerization or cross-linking to form a solid to improve the zonal isolation and alleviate the impacts of cracks and fissures in the cement sheath around a completed subterranean well. It includes the steps of injecting a wellbore fluid carrying the reactive component or additive into the wellbore, injecting a cementitious composition as slurry into the wellbore and letting said reactive liquid component pass through at least one of the interfaces between cement and formation, cement and filter cake, and filter cake and formation before forming a solid of said reactive liquid component that traverses said at least one of the interfaces. | 03-18-2010 |
20100126723 | Fluid Loss Control - A fluid loss control method uses a fluid loss control pill in a well in advance of a completion operation. An embodiment of the fluid loss control pill comprises polyester solids that are hydrolysable and can exhibit plastic deformation at formation conditions. An embodiment of the method comprises spotting the fluid loss control pill in the well adjacent to a formation to form a filtercake to inhibit fluid entry from the well into the formation, performing a completion operation comprising contacting the filtercake with overbalanced wellbore fluid, and degrading the filtercake wherein the polyester particles are hydrolyzed to remove formation damage. | 05-27-2010 |
20100175881 | Using A Biphasic Solution As A Recyclable Coiled Tubing Cleanout Fluid - Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation including combining a partitioning agent and viscosifying polymer into a fluid, introducing the fluid into the subterranean formation, and recovering at least a portion of the fluid at a uppermost surface of the subterranean formation. Methods and apparatus of forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation including combining a partitioning agent and viscosifying polymer into a fluid, introducing the fluid into the subterranean formation at a temperature of about 45° C. or higher, and recovering at least a portion of the fluid at a uppermost surface of the subterranean formation at a temperature of about 45° C. or lower. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179076 | Filled Systems From Biphasic Fluids - Methods and apparatus for forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation comprising combining a partitioning agent, crosslinkable polymer, and crosslinker into a fluid, wherein more than 50 percent of the crosslinkable polymer crosslinks and less than 10 percent of the partitioning agent crosslinks, and introducing the fluid into the subterranean formation. Methods and apparatus of forming a fluid for use within in a subterranean formation comprising combining a partitioning agent, crosslinkable polymer, and crosslinker into a fluid, wherein a critical polymer concentration for crosslinking the crosslinkable polymer is lower than if the partitioning agent were not in the fluid, and introducing the fluid into the subterranean formation. | 07-15-2010 |
20100184630 | BREAKING THE RHEOLOGY OF A WELLBORE FLUID BY CREATING PHASE SEPARATION - Embodiments of this invention relate to compositions and methods of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore including introducing a Theological polymer into a subterranean formation, introducing a partitioning agent into a subterranean formation and forming a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed Theological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase, wherein the viscosity of the mixture is lower than the viscosity of the mixture when no partitioning agent is present. Embodiments of this invention relate to compositions and methods of treating a surface in contact with a wellbore and/or a subterranean formation penetrated by a well bore including forming a heterogeneous mixture comprising a dispersed Theological polymer-rich phase and a partitioning agent-rich phase at the surface of the subterranean formation, and introducing the mixture into a subterranean formation, wherein the viscosity of the mixture within the subterranean formation is lower than the viscosity of the mixture when no partitioning agent is present and wherein the viscosity of the mixture within the subterranean formation is lower than the viscosity of the mixture when the mixture is formed at the surface of the subterranean formation. | 07-22-2010 |
20110240287 | DETECTION OF TRACERS USED IN HYDROCARBON WELLS - In an arrangement for monitoring of flow within a hydrocarbon well or reservoir by means of one or more tracers which are placed at subterranean locations such that they may be present in flow produced from the well, the analysis of the flow produced from the well is carried out using an electrochemical method, preferably voltammetry, to detect tracer chosen to undergo a detectable electrochemical reaction. The tracer may be provided as nanoparticles in the well fluid. | 10-06-2011 |
20110319301 | Polymer Delivery in Well Treatment Applications - This invention relates to compositions and methods for treating subterranean formations, in particular, oilfield stimulation compositions and methods using water-in-water polymer emulsions to uniformly dissolve a rheologically active polymer, such as a thickener or friction reducer, in the treatment fluid. The emulsions have a low viscosity and are easily pumped for mixing into a treatment fluid, where upon dilution with an aqueous medium, the polymer is easily hydrated without forming fish-eyes. The partitioning agent in the water-in-water emulsion does not generally affect the rheology of the treatment fluid. The invention also relates to further processing of the emulsion by wet grinding, high shear mixing and/or heating to enhance the hydration rate in the preparation of the well treatment fluid. | 12-29-2011 |
20120055242 | DOWNHOLE SAMPLING - A reservoir sampling apparatus comprising at least one probe adapted to provide a fluid flow path between a formation and the inner of the apparatus with a heating projector adapted to project heat into the formation surrounding the probe and a controller to maintain the temperature in the formation below a threshold value. | 03-08-2012 |
20130039153 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MARINE ANTI-FOULING - An anti-biofouling casing for a seismic streamer is described, the anti-biofouling casing including a polymer system having a hydrophobically-modified base polymer, the hydrophobically-modified base polymer including a base polymer having a backbone and a hydrophobically derivatized chain extender coupled to the backbone of the base polymer. The polymer system including between about 0.1% and 10% of the hydrophobically derivatized chain extender by weight. The anti-fouling casing including a hydrophobic surface that serves to prevent biofouling of the surface. | 02-14-2013 |
20130051176 | SEISMIC ACQUISITION USING SOLID STREAMERS - Some embodiments of the disclosed invention include a method for acquiring marine seismic data using solid streamers in a curved pattern. Streamers can be towed in a curved pattern within a body of water. While being towed in the curved patter the source may be fired and response data can be collected by the streamers as they are towed through the water in the curved/circular pattern. These streamers can be solid streamers and can be filled with a gel like substance. Moreover, the streamers can be placed at various known depths within the body of water. | 02-28-2013 |
20130062222 | ELECTROCHEMICAL SENSOR SYSTEM - An electrochemical sensor measuring concentration of an analyte in a test fluid at 50° C. or above by voltammetry uses electrodes in contact with an electrolyte containing the analyte and a redox-active species electrochemically convertible between reduced and oxidised forms. At least one form of the redox active species is present within surfactant micelles. The surfactant micelles enhance thermal stability of the redox active species and may also solubilise a species with poor water solubility, such as t-butylferrocene. A downhole tool incorporating such a sensor comprises a barrier, permeable to the analyte, to separate the electrolyte from subterranean reservoir fluid, so that the sensor directly measures analyte which has passed through the barrier and thereby indirectly measures analyte in the test fluid. | 03-14-2013 |
20130100767 | SEISMIC ACQUISITION USING SOLID STREAMERS - An embodiment of the disclosed invention includes a method for attenuating noise during acquisition of marine seismic date. The method includes placing a seismic streamer in a body of water. The seismic streamer includes a streamer body having a length and a channel, a seismic sensor disposed within the channel, and a gel disposed within the channel. The gel has a complex viscosity of at least 50 Pascals and includes a concentration of a polymer between the range of about 5% and about 25% by weight. The method also includes placing a source in the body of water. The seismic streamer and the source are towed through the body of water and the source is fired while being towed through the body of water. Data is collected from the seismic streamer as it is towed through the body of water. | 04-25-2013 |
20130142013 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MARINE ANTI-FOULING - An anti-biofouling casing for a seismic streamer is provided, the casing comprising an outer-skin, the outer skin comprising a mix of a base material and a molecular additive, wherein the molecular additive is localized throughout the base material and the molecular additive is configured to impart a high contact angle and/or a low surface energy to an outer surface of the anti-biofouling casing to prevent adhesion of living organism thereto. The outer-skin may comprise a casing/skin for a seismic streamer such that the streamer skin comprises a base material with a hydrophobic molecular additive distributed throughout the streamer skin. | 06-06-2013 |
20130170322 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MARINE ANTI-FOULING - An anti-biofouling casing for a seismic streamer is described, the anti-biofouling casing comprising a polymer system comprising a hydrophobically-modified base polymer, the hydrophobically-modified base polymer comprising a base polymer having a backbone and a hydrophobically derivatized chain extender coupled to said backbone of said base polymer, wherein the the hydrophobically derivatized chain extender comprises a hydrophobic moiety. The anti-fouling casing comprises a hydrophobic surface the serves to prevent biofouling of the surface. | 07-04-2013 |
20130233551 | Methods for Servicing Subterranean Wells - Pumpable process-fluid compositions and methods for establishing hydraulic isolation in cemented subterranean wells comprise more than 1 wt % polyacrylamide and a non-metallic crosslinker. Upon entering voids and cracks in or adjacent to a cement sheath, and contacting the set-cement surfaces, the compositions react and form a seal that prevents further leakage. | 09-12-2013 |
20130312970 | THICKENING OF FLUIDS - An aqueous fluid contains an aqueous solution or dispersion of a polymer to thicken the fluid together with a cross linking agent to enhance the viscosity of the fluid by crosslinking the polymer, wherein the crosslinking agent comprises supporting structures bearing functional groups to react with the polymer molecules and has a mean particle size of 2 nanometer or more. The supporting structures may be nanoparticles and the functional groups may be boronic acid groups. The concentration of boron in a thickened fluid may be low and in some instances there is resistance to applied pressure. The fluid may be a hydraulic fracturing fluid. | 11-28-2013 |
20140269172 | ANTI-FOULING SEISMIC STREAMER - A seismic streamer and associated method are provided. The seismic streamer may include a seismic streamer core having a cylindrical configuration. A melt-processable thermoplastic layer may be coupled with the seismic streamer core, the melt-processable thermoplastic layer being extruded to form a first tube. An elastomeric layer may be coupled with the melt-processable thermoplastic layer, the elastomeric layer being extruded to form a second tube. | 09-18-2014 |