4732results about "Borehole/well accessories" patented technology

A method of generating and recovering gas from naturally existing subsurface formations Of coal, carbonaceous shale or organic-rich shales comprising the steps Of: injecting into fracture of the subsurface formation, under substantially anaerobic conditions, a consortia of selected anaerobic, biological microorganisms for in situ conversion of organic compounds in said formation into methane and other compounds; and producing methane through at least one well extending from said subsurface formation to the surfaces.

A method, apparatus, and program storage device for integrating and implementing rule-based, heuristic, wellbore key performance rate of penetration indicators advising drilling operations personnel based on the situational awareness of trended earth properties and real time wellbore sensor data, is disclosed.

A method for simulating the drilling performance of a roller cone bit drilling an earth formation may be used to generate a visual representation of drilling, to design roller cone drill bits, and to optimize the drilling performance of a roller cone bit. The method for generating a visual representation of a roller cone bit drilling earth formations includes selecting bit design parameters, selecting drilling parameters, and selecting an earth formation to be drilled. The method further includes calculating, from the bit design parameters, drilling parameters and earth formation, parameters of a crater formed when one of a plurality of cutting elements contacts the earth formation. The method further includes calculating a bottomhole geometry, wherein the crater is removed from a bottomhole surface. The method also includes incrementally rotating the bit and repeating the calculating of crater parameters and bottomhole geometry based on calculated roller cone rotation speed and geometrical location with respect to rotation of said roller cone drill bit about its axis. The method also includes converting the crater and bottomhole geometry parameters into a visual representation.

A spoolable composite tube capable of being spooled onto a reel for storage and for use in oil field applications. The spoolable tube exhibits unique anistropic characteristics that provide improved burst and collapse pressures, increased tensile strength, compression strength, and load carrying capacity, while still remaining sufficiently bendable to be spooled onto a reel in an open bore configuration. The spoolable composite tube can include an inner liner, an interface layer, fiber composite layers, a pressure barrier layer, and an outer protective layer. The fiber composite layers can have a unique triaxial braid structure.

A “near wellbore modeling” software will, when executed by a processor of a computer, model a localized area of a reservoir field which surrounds and is located near a specific wellbore in the reservoir field by performing the following functions: (1) receive input data representative of a reservoir field containing a plurality of wellbores, (2) establish a boundary around one specific wellbore in the reservoir field which will be individually modeled and simulated, (3) impose an “fine scale” unstructured grid inside the boundary consisting of a plurality of tetrahedrally shaped grid cells and further impose a fine scale structured grid about the perforated sections of the specific wellbore, (4) determine a plurality of fluxes/pressure values at the boundary, the fluxes/pressure values representing characteristics of the reservoir field located outside the boundary, (5) establish one or more properties for each tetrahedral cell of the unstructured grid and each cylindrical grid cell of the structured grid, (6) run a simulation, using the fluxes/pressure values at the boundary to mimic the reservoir field outside the boundary and using the fine scale grid inside the boundary, to thereby determine a plurality of simulation results corresponding, respectively, to the plurality of grid cells located inside the boundary, the plurality of simulation results being representative of a set of characteristics of the reservoir field located inside the boundary, (7) display the plurality of simulation results which characterize the reservoir field located inside the boundary, and (8) reintegrate by coarsening the grid inside the boundary, imposing a structured grid outside the boundary, and re-running a simulation of the entire reservoir field.

A method and apparatus for use in estimating stress fields in a geological formation are disclosed. The method includes ascertaining a perturbation of stress in the triaxial stress state in a reservoir and in a surrounding rock mass over time; and determining the change in a seismic attribute resulting from the perturbation in the stress. The apparatus includes a program storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed by a computing device, perform such a method or a computing system programmed to perform such a method.

The present invention discloses a method for performing a stochastic analysis of one or more hydrocarbon reservoir exploitation strategies taking into consideration one or more uncertain parameters. The method optimizes an objective function that considers the gain in value of a reservoir management goal attributable to these exploitation strategies. The methodology may be used to decide whether or not to implement a strategy. Alternatively, it may be used to decide which competing strategy will yield the maximum benefit. In another embodiment of the present invention, the value of information obtained from the installation of additional sensors or new measurements is also considered.

There is provided a high power laser system for powering a remotely located laser device, such as an ROV, using a high power laser fiber optic tether and a photo-conversion device, such as a laser photovoltaic assembly. Laser device systems, such as ROV systems that utilizes a high power laser cutting and/or cleaning tools are also provided.

The present invention provides a sample tank having a window for introduction of electromagnetic energy into the sample tank for analyzing a formation fluid sample down hole or at the surface without disturbing the sample. Near infrared, mid infrared and visible light analysis is performed on the sample to provide a downhole in situ or surface on site analysis of sample properties and contamination level. The onsite analysis comprises determination of gas oil ratio, API gravity and various other parameters which can be estimated by a trained neural network or chemometric equation. A flexural mechanical resonator is also provided to measure fluid density and viscosity from which additional parameters can be estimated by a trained neural network or chemometric equation. The sample tank is pressurized to obviate adverse pressure drop or other effects of diverting a small sample.

The present invention contemplates implementation of transitory downhole video imaging and/or spectral imaging for the characterization of formation fluid samples in situ, as well as during flow through production tubing, including subsea flow lines, for permanent and/or long term installations. The present invention contemplates various methods and apparatus that facilitate one-time or ongoing downhole fluid characterization by video analysis in real time. The methods and systems may be particularly well suited to permanent and periodic intervention-based operations.

Formation fluid data based on measurements taken downhole under natural conditions is utilized to help identify reservoir compartments. A geological model of the reservoir including expected pressure and temperature conditions is integrated with a predicted fluid model fitted to measured composition and PVT data on reservoir fluid samples or representative analog. Synthetic downhole fluid analysis (DFA) logs created from the predictive fluid model can be displayed along the proposed borehole trajectory by geological modeling software prior to data acquisition. During a downhole fluid sampling operation, actual measurements can be displayed next to the predicted logs. If agreement exists between the predicted and measured fluid samples, the geologic and fluid models are validated. However, if there is a discrepancy between the predicted and measured fluid samples, the geological model and the fluid model need to be re-analyzed, e.g., to identify reservoir fluid compartments. A quantitative comparative analysis of the sampled fluids can be performed against other samples in the same borehole or in different boreholes in the field or region to calculate the statistical similarity of the fluids, and thus the possible connectivity between two or more reservoir regions.

Methods of predicting earth stresses in response to pore pressure changes in a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir within a geomechanical system, include establishing physical boundaries for the geomechanical system and acquiring reservoir characteristics. Geomechanical simulations simulate the effects of changes in reservoir characteristics on stress in rock formations within the physical boundaries to determine the rock formation strength at selected nodes in the reservoir. The strength of the rock formations at the nodes is represented by an effective strain (ε_eff), which includes a compaction strain (ε_c) and out-of-plane shear strains (γ1-3, Y2-3) at a nodal point. The methods further include determining an effective strain criteria (ε_eff^cr) from a history of well failures in the physical boundaries. The effective strain (ε_eff^cr) at a selected nodal point is compared with the effective strain criteria (ε_eff^cr) to determine if the effective strain (ε_eff) exceeds the effective strain criteria (ε_eff^cr).

A single phase fluid sampler system and associated methods. A fluid sampling method includes the steps of: receiving a fluid sample into a sample chamber of a fluid sampler; pressurizing the fluid sample using a pressure source; and increasing pressure in the pressure source while the pressure source is in the well, thereby applying increased pressure to the fluid sample in the sample chamber. Another method includes the step of applying pressure to the well to thereby increase pressure in the pressure source, and to thereby increase pressure on the fluid sample. A fluid sampler system includes a fluid sampler with a sample chamber, a pressure source for pressurizing the sample chamber, and a device which operates to increase pressure in the pressure source while the fluid sampler is in the well.

A technique includes accessing seismic data that is associated with seismic measurements taken from a reservoir and a surrounding rock mass at a given time. Based on a velocity model developed from a predicted change in the reservoir and surrounding rock mass occurring from a prior to the given time, processing the seismic data to generate a survey of the reservoir and surrounding rock mass.

A moving device in pipe lines is provided, which allows easy switching of moving/stopping and remote control of the switching by only electric wires enabling easy operation in the inside of small diameter pipe lines.

The moving device 10 in pipe lines comprises a guide frame 11 in which a line of three or more coils 15, 16, 17 is interconnected flexibly in the direction of magnet flux, ring-shaped permanent magnets 19, 20, 21 provided around the periphery of the guide frame slidably in the direction of the shaft, and a control means such as computers etc. to control by a preset program selecting the direction of turning on of the coils.

An earth model is formed in real time during drilling of a well by incorporating up-to-the-minute knowledge derived from geology, seismic, drilling, and engineering data. The process of forming the model utilizes Logging-While-Drilling (LWD) or Measuring-While-Drilling (MWD) data directly from the drilling rig as the well is drilled. The LWD or MWD data is sent to visualization centers and compared with other data such as existing geological models, the proposed well plan and present interpretation of the subsurface stratigraphy. The results of the comparison enable experts to analyze anomalous results and update the geological model within minutes of penetration of a formation during drilling. Well drilling efficiency is improved, and an “on-the-spot” road map is provided for maximal reservoir contact and pinpoint accuracy.

The invention relates to a method for the sidetrack drilling of radial branch well bores through hydraulic jet and a device thereof. The device comprises a first oil pipe and a second oil pipe, wherein the external diameter of the first oil pipe is smaller than the internal diameter of a sleeve arranged inside an oil well; and the end part of the first oil pipe is connected with a deflector. The external diameter of the second oil pipe is smaller than the internal diameter of the first oil pipe; and the second oil pipe is connected with a sidetrack drilling tool carrying out the sidetrack drilling of the radial branch well bores. The external dimensions of the deflector are smaller than the internal diameter of the sleeve; the deflector has a through passage communicated with the top and the side wall; and the sidetrack drilling tool is deflected to the side wall from the top of the deflector via the through passage. The device overcomes well-known defects, can correctly and conveniently fix the deflector at a set stratum position and have a correct drilling position. The device is particularly suitable for the sidetrack drilling of a well with an ultra short radius, can operate conveniently on a ocean platform, thereby avoiding the downhole accidents caused by a downhole tool, effectively shortening the drilling cycle, saving the drilling cost, reducing the labor intensity ofworkers, improving the construction effects and having great market potential.

Described herein are methods for optimizing petroleum reservoir analysis and sampling using a real-time component wherein heterogeneities in fluid properties exist. The methods can help predict the recovery performance of oil such as, for example, heavy oil, which can be adversely impacted by fluid property gradients present in the reservoir.

The method according to the invention allows the formation of oil and the retention phenomenon in the mother rock to be modelled. Organic matter characterization experiments are used to establish the molecular model (MM) of the initial sample (E). The thermal cracking reaction of this molecular model is reproduced by dynamic molecular simulation computations with a reactive force field (RMD) and validated by comparison with experimental data. The reaction mechanism obtained (SR) allows to carry out a kinetic study (C) by variation of the temperature parameter. The phase equilibria (PES) of the reaction medium are determined at any time from dynamic simulation. The successive phase equilibrium assessments at various progress stages of the cracking reaction allow following the physicochemical evolution (PC) of the thermal maturation of the organic sample studied. The free hydrocarbons (liquid and gaseous) that are not retained in the solid residue can be quantified throughout numerical modelling of the sample maturation; representing, in the sedimentary basins, the hydrocarbons that are not retained in the organic matrix of the mother rock (Q). This quantity can be used as an indicator or an input value for the retention threshold in basin models.

The invention discloses a method for calculating oil saturation of a reservoir. The method comprises the following steps of: establishing a reservoir oil saturation model including a free fluid porosity phi f, a bound fluid porosity phi b, as well as corresponding macropore bond index mf, micropore bond index mb and micropore bond index characteristic value parameters; measuring a core porosity phi of a selected core sample; carrying out a nuclear magnetic resonance T2 spectrum experiment and an electric petrophysical experiment on the selected core sample to determine the core porosity phi and bound water saturation Swir of the selected core sample, the free fluid porosity phi f and bound fluid porosity phi b, stratum water resistivity Rw of a saturated rock sample, saturated water rock resistivity Ro of each rock sample, and resistivity Rt of each rock under different conditions of water saturation Sw; determining parameters of a reservoir oil saturation model by adopting an optimization data fitting method; establishing a relationship between the core micropore bond index mb and the bound water saturation Swir; classifying reservoir cores according to the bound water saturation; and determining a saturation index n of each type of cores by using the optimization fitting algorithm.

A subterranean reservoir where the pore space of media or formation rock is multimodal, and the media may have imbedded multiple scales of fracture networks, is simulated. The modes of the pore system and the scale of fracture networks are each represented as a separate, but interactive continuum with the other. The simulation allows multiple continua to be co-located and multi-interacting, in that each continuum may have current and counter-current multiple multiphase exchanges with other continua.

A method is disclosed for modelling fluid flows in a fractured multilayer porous medium by accounting for the real geometry of the fracture network and the local exchanges between the porous matrix and the fractures at each node of the network, thus allowing simulation of the interactions between the pressure and flow rate variations in a well running across the medium. The method essentially comprises discretizing the fractured medium by means of a mesh pattern, with fracture meshes centered on nodes at the various intersections of the fractures with each node being associated with a matrix volume, and determination of the flows between each fracture mesh and the associated matrix volume in a pseudosteady state. The method can be applied in hydrocarbon production well testing.

A pneumatically actuated magnetic workpiece holder comprising a housing having a contact surface for contacting a workpiece to be held, and a magnet assembly translationally disposed in the housing, the magnet assembly comprising a plurality of permanent magnets arranged so that adjacent magnets are of opposite polarities. The housing is adapted for fluid communication with a pneumatic supply. The magnet assembly is biased towards an operative position, according to which the magnet assembly is sufficiently near the contact surface to exert on a workpiece an attractive force sufficient for holding the workpiece in contact with the workpiece holder, and is translationally positionable by pneumatic pressure towards an inoperative position, according to which the magnet assembly is sufficiently distant from the contact surface so as to be unable to exert on the workpiece an attractive force sufficient for holding the workpiece in contact with the workpiece holder. The invention is adapted for replacing suction-cup workpiece holders in conventional vacuum lifting devices, and a method of utilizing the present invention in this fashion is taught to comprise providing the workpiece holder with a coupling complimentary to the coupling for such conventional suction-cup workpiece holders, so that the magnetic workpiece holder may be substituted for the conventional suction-cup holder in the vacuum lifting device. According to this method, the vacuum supply of the conventional vacuum lifting device is adapted to provide such positive air pressure for employing the magnetic workpiece holder of this invention.

A dual modality container for transporting either frac sand and proppant or frac liquids for temporary storage and delivery to a well site for fracking operations. In a first modality, a plurality of inlet ports disposed atop the container roof receives frac sand from a frac sand supply source into a funnel-hopper. In a second modality, frac liquid is received at the well site and stored in bilateral bladders within a central chamber. An in situ elongated longitudinal linear valve disposed within the hopper effectuates industry standard pressurized discharge of stored frac sand or discharge of frac liquid.

A method for producing a substantially calibrated numerical model, which can be used for calculating a stress on any point in a formation, accounts for a formation's geologic history using at least one virtual formation condition to effectively “create” the present-day, virgin stress distribution that correlates, within acceptable deviation limits, to actual field stress measurement data obtained for the formation. A virtual formation condition may describe an elastic rock property (e.g., Poisson ratio, Young's modulus), a plastic rock property (e.g., friction angle, cohesion) and/or a geologic process (e.g., tectonics, erosion) considered pertinent to developing a stratigraphic model suitable for performing the desired stress analysis of the formation.

The invention relates to a method of performing a gas operation of an oilfield having a subterranean formation with at least one reservoir positioned therein. The method steps include modeling the gas operation of the oilfield using a multi-domain simulator by coupling a static model of the subterranean formation, a dynamic model of the subterranean formation, and a well model, wherein the multi-domain simulator comprises the static model, the dynamic model, and the well model, defining a development plan for the gas operation based on the modeling, and performing gas injection according to the development plan.

A resistivity tool for investigating a wall of a borehole drilled with a non-conductive mud includes a tool body adapted to be incorporated in a logging-while-drilling tool assembly; a resistivity sensor disposed on the tool body, wherein the resistivity sensor comprises a sensor pad supporting a current injector electrode, a current return electrode, and an array of measurement electrodes, and a circuitry for controlling current injection from the current injector electrode and for measuring voltage difference between electrodes in the array of measurement electrodes, wherein the current injector electrode and the current return electrode are disposed near opposite ends of the sensor pad and the array of measurement electrodes is disposed between the current injector electrode and the current return electrode, wherein the sensor pad is constructed of an insulating material and includes a conductive shielding member, or wherein the sensor pad is constructed of a conducting material and includes insulating sections around the electrodes.

The specification discloses a downhole tool that determines hydraulic permeability of a downhole formation taking into account one or both of the dip angle of the borehole relative to the formation, and damage to the borehole wall and invasion of borehole fluid-collectively referred to as skin.

An end effector for a robot is used to unpack flattened stackable items from a container using a fixed sized vacuum plenum and simple adjustable gripping elements. The gripping elements comprise a pair of adjustable, smooth blades. In addition, the end effector includes mechanisms for retaining and transporting the container.

The invention discloses a tunnel construction method in a fault fracture zone, which comprises the following steps: a. adopting the method of combining geophysical prospecting and drilling and combining long-distance and short-distance to ascertain the geological situation in front, and carry out advanced geological prediction; b. adopting advanced Anchor construction, pre-grouting construction of the surrounding walls of small conduits in advance, and advance support construction of grouting pipe shed and steel frame, and advance pre-support; c. Tunnel excavation and support. It provides a theoretical basis for detecting the specific location, range and water inflow of the fault fracture zone; ensures the safety of tunnel construction; on the basis of analyzing the specific location and scope of the fault fracture zone and adopting a reasonable advanced pre-support method, comprehensive and specific According to the geological conditions, choose a reasonable tunnel excavation method. It has strong applicability for the construction of expressway tunnels crossing fault fracture zones; at the same time, it has reference and reference significance for the construction of railway, municipal and water conservancy tunnels (holes) with similar geological conditions.