79835 results about "Petroleum engineering" patented technology

A method of managing a fluid or gas reservoir is disclosed which assimilates diverse data having different acquisition time scales and spatial scales of coverage for iteratively producing a reservoir development plan that is used for optimizing an overall performance of a reservoir. The method includes: (a) generating an initial reservoir characterization, (b) from the initial reservoir characterization, generating an initial reservoir development plan, (c) when the reservoir development plan is generated, incrementally advancing and generating a capital spending program, (d) when the capital spending program is generated, monitoring a performance of the reservoir by acquiring high rate monitor data from a first set of data measurements taken in the reservoir and using the high rate monitor data to perform well-regional and field-reservoir evaluations, (e) further monitoring the performance of the reservoir by acquiring low rate monitor data from a second set of data measurements taken in the reservoir, (f) assimilating together the high rate monitor data and the low rate monitor data, (g) from the high rate monitor data and the low rate monitor data, determining when it is necessary to update the initial reservoir development plan to produce a newly updated reservoir development plan, (h) when necessary, updating the initial reservoir development plan to produce the newly updated reservoir development plan, and (i) when the newly updated reservoir development plan is produced, repeating steps (c) through (h). A detailed disclosure is provided herein relating to the step (a) for generating the initial reservoir characterization and the step (b) for generating the initial reservoir development plan.

A showerhead for film-depositing vacuum equipment having an effect shortening the length of injection tubes for a reactive gas is presented. The injection tubes extend from the bottom of a reactive gas showerhead module, and two different kinds of reactive gases are mixed with an injection support gas within a reactive showerhead module so as to inject the mixed gas. The showerhead for film-depositing vacuum equipment includes the reactive gas showerhead module above a cooling jacket and a purge gas showerhead module above the reactive gas showerhead module. The injection tubes of the reactive gas showerhead module pass through the cooling jacket disposed below the reactive gas showerhead module, and the injection tubes of the purge gas showerhead module pass through the reactive gas showerhead module disposed below the purge gas showerhead module, thereby enabling the purge gas to flow into a purge gas redistribution space defined above the cooling jacket.

The present invention provides a measurement-while-drilling (MWD) system having a downhole computer and multiple downhole sensors. Relatively large amounts of basic or "raw" data are measured by downhole sensors, and these data are processed within a downhole computer to be reduced to parameters of interest, which may be utilized to control the drilling operation by downhole devices, stored downhole, telemetered to the surface, or both. The measurements may be correlated downhole with stored reference data thereby providing additional information pertaining to the drilling operation. Downhole depth correlation between downhole measured parameters may be made by utilizing surface determined or downhole determined borehole depth.

Methods and compositions for forming permeable cement sand screens in well bores are provided. The compositions are basically comprised of a hydraulic cement, an acid soluble particulate solid, a liquid hydrocarbon solvent soluble particulate solid, a particulate cross-linked gel containing an internal breaker which after time causes the gel to break into a liquid, water present in an amount sufficient to form a slurry, a gas present in an amount sufficient to form a foam and a mixture of foaming and foamed stabilizing surfactants.

The present invention provides a catalytic steam gasification process for gasifying petroleum coke. The solids composition within the gasification reactor of the disclosed invention is maintained by controlling the catalyst composition of the feed. The process utilizes sour water from the raw gasification product gases to recover and recycle catalyst. Fine particles generated in the handling of coke are advantageously utilized to increase the efficiency of the process.

The present invention relates to particulate compositions of a lower ash type petroleum coke containing at least two preselected components (alkali metal and iron) that exhibit an efficient, enhanced-yielding gasification to value added gaseous products, particularly when used in a steady-state integrated gasification process. The compositions of the present invention are particularly useful for catalytic gasification of petroleum coke at moderate temperatures ranging from about 450° C. to about 900° C. Advantageously, the compositions can be readily incorporated into fluidized bed gasification units, and can result in a cost-effective, high-yielding production of methane gas from petroleum coke.

This invention relates to improved methods for completing wells in unconsolidated subterranean zones. More specifically, the present invention relates to cement compositions useful in subterranean applications, and more particularly, to permeable cement compositions and methods for forming consolidated permeable cement masses in well bores to prevent sand influx into the well bores with produced fluids. In one embodiment, the permeable cement compositions of the present invention comprise a hydraulic cement, water, and a degradable material capable of undergoing an irreversible degradation downhole.

A floating rig or structure for drilling in the floor of an ocean using a rotatable tubular includes a seal housing having a rotatable seal connected above a marine riser fixed to the floor of the ocean. The seal rotating with the rotating tubular allows the riser and seal housing to maintain a predetermined pressure in the system that is desirable in underbalanced drilling, gas-liquid mud systems and pressurized mud handling systems. A flexible conduit or hose is used to compensate for the relative movement of the seal housing and the floating structure since the floating structure moves independent of the seal housing. A method for use of the system is also disclosed.

Improved methods and compositions for consolidating proppant in fractures formed in subterranean zones are provided. An improvement of this invention comprises using proppant particles having a coating of hardenable resin including a gel breaker. The gel breaker facilitates removal of gelled carrier fluid from the surface of the proppant particles.

Synthesis gas is produced though a cyclic method where the first step of the cycle includes reforming a hydrocarbon feed over a catalyst to synthesis gas in a first zone of a bed and the second step reheats this first zone. A hydrocarbon feed is introduced to a bed along with CO2 and optionally steam where it is reformed into synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is collected at a second zone of the bed and an oxygen-containing gas is then introduced to this second zone of the bed and combusted with a fuel, thereby reheating the first zone to sufficient reforming temperatures. Additionally, a non-combusting gas can also be introduced to the second zone to move heat from the second zone to the first zone.

The invention refers to a method and system for purifying the hydraulic pressure oil in hydraulic pressure machine. The method includes magnetism absorbing step which absorbs the metal particles in the hydraulic oil through magnetism structure onto the magnetism structure and a filter step blocking the impurities in the sift filter core, and finishes the first grade filter, and the second filter step with a sorption filter; the system includes: forward oil boxes connected in series, oil heater, magnetism filter, oil pump, sorption filter, backwards oil boxes and electric control system. Each device is connected through oil pipes and valves, all of which are set in a mobile machine box, moves the box, the purification to hydraulic pressure oil of different locations can be carried on conveniently.

A process for feeding or cracking heavy hydrocarbon feedstock containing non-volatile hydrocarbons comprising: heating the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock, mixing the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock with a fluid and / or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, flashing the mixture to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase, and varying the amount of the fluid and / or the primary dilution steam stream mixed with the heavy hydrocarbon feedstock in accordance with at least one selected operating parameter of the process, such as the temperature of the flash stream before entering the flash drum.

A method is disclosed for generating a wellsite design, comprising: designing a workflow for an Earth Model; building an initial Earth Model based on the workflow adapted for modeling drilling and completions operations in a hydrocarbon reservoir; calibrating the initial Earth Model thereby generating a calibrated Earth Model; and generating the wellsite design using the calibrated Earth Model.

An under-balanced drilling fluid additive is disclosed which reduces reactive shale and / or clay swelling during under-balanced drilling operations, where the additive includes an effective amount of a choline salt. A method for under-balanced drilling is also disclosed including the step of circulating a drilling fluid including an effective amount of a choline salt to reduce reactive shale and / or clay swelling during under-balanced drilling operations.

A method is given for treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore with a viscosified fluid. The fluid contains a solid hydrolysable polyacid that upon dissolution and hydrolysis releases an acid that is a breaker for the viscosifying system. Suitable solid hydrolysable polyacids include polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid. The fluid also contains a pH control agent, present in an amount sufficient to neutralize any acid present in the solid hydrolysable polyacid before the injection and to neutralize any acid generated by the solid hydrolysable polyacid during the injection, so that the acid breaker is not available to break the fluid during the injection. In one embodiment the viscosifier is a viscoelastic surfactant fluid system and the solid hydrolysable polyacid is of a size selected to be a fluid loss additive, for example in fracturing or gravel packing. In another embodiment, the solid hydrolysable polyacid is used in particles sufficiently small that they enter the pores of the formation. In either case, the viscosifier is broken after the solid releases more acid than can be neutralized by the pH control agent.

Particulate compositions are described comprising an intimate mixture of a petroleum coke, coal and a gasification catalyst, where the gasification catalyst is loaded onto at least the coal for gasification in the presence of steam to yield a plurality of gases including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other higher hydrocarbons are formed. Processes are also provided for the preparation of the particulate compositions and converting the particulate composition into a plurality of gaseous products.

A method for designing a drilling tool assembly, having a drill bit disposed at one end includes defining initial drilling tool assembly design parameters; calculating a dynamic response of the drilling tool assembly; adjusting a value of a drilling tool assembly design parameter; and repeating the calculating and the adjusting until a drilling tool assembly performance parameter is optimized.

Particulate compositions are described comprising a carbonaceous material, such as petroleum coke and / or coal, treated or otherwise associated with a gasification catalyst, where the catalyst is at least in part derived from a leachate from a biomass char, for gasification in the presence of steam to yield a plurality of gases including methane and at least one or more of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and other higher hydrocarbons are formed. Processes are also provided for the preparation of the particulate compositions and converting the particulate composition into a plurality of gaseous products.

Aphron-containing spotting fluids and their use in releasing pipe or tools stuck in the filter cake on the sides of a borehole are disclosed. The spotting fluids comprise a liquid, either aqueous, oleaginous, or mixtures thereof, a viscosifier which imparts a low shear rate viscosity to the fluids of at least 10,000 centipoise, an aphron-generating surfactant, and aphrons. The spotting fluids are used in a conventional method of releasing pipes or tools stuck in the filter cake on the sides of a borehole during conventional drilling or well servicing operations.

The present invention provides methods of stimulating fluid production from an unconsolidated formation penetrated by a wellbore while preventing the migration of formation sand with fluids produced from the formation. The methods basically comprise the steps of injecting a liquid composition into a portion of the formation surrounding the wellbore which converts into a gel-like substance and plugs the permeability of the injected portion of the formation, but allows the injected portion to remain flexible and resist breakdown due to pressure cycling therein, creating at least one fracture in the formation extending from the wellbore through the plugged portion of the formation into an unplugged portion thereof and depositing hardenable resin composition coated proppant in the fracture and causing the resin composition to harden and consolidate the proppant into a hard permeable mass.

The present invention is a bi-center drill bit designed to drill out the cement and other material in the casing and then proceed to drill out the full gauge drilling diameter borehole with a diameter greater than the inside of the casing. The bi-center drill bit is configured with non-drilling bearing elements that contact with the casing when the bit is drilling the cement without allowing the gauge cutting elements of the bi-center drill bit to contact the casing. The bi-center drill bit also has a cutting element configuration which prevents reverse scraping of the cutting elements when drilling both the cement and the formation.

A facility comprising integrated systems for the extraction, and optionally upgrading and / or refinement, of unconventional oil sources, using fossil fuels as a primary source of energy. In particular, this facility provides a means to gasify one or more fossil fuels in an efficient manner, converting it into intermediate products such as heat, steam and electricity, which are then used by the system to obtain useful fuel products from unconventional oil sources such as tar sands and oil shale. The design of the components of this facility is optimized such that the overall costs are competitive with an equivalent unconventional oil source processing facility that uses natural gas as a source of processing energy. The facility can be used on its own, may use supplemental natural gas energy sources, or may be used in conjunction with an existing facility that uses natural gas as an energy source in order to improve the overall cost effectiveness of the processing and / or reduce the requirement for other energy sources, such as natural gas.

There is provided a system, apparatus and methods for the laser drilling of a borehole in the earth. There is further provided with in the systems a means for delivering high power laser energy down a deep borehole, while maintaining the high power to advance such boreholes deep into the earth and at highly efficient advancement rates, a laser bottom hole assembly, and fluid directing techniques and assemblies for removing the displaced material from the borehole.

A process and system which improves the capacity and efficiency of a power plant. A LNG supply system fuels the plant. Gasified LNG in a combustor mixes with the air from an air compressor to provide the hot combustion gas for a gas turbine. The expanding LNG is used to chill a heat exchange fluid, e.g. water, which heat exchange fluid cools and densifies the intake air for the air compressor. Subsequently, the heat exchange fluid is used in another heat exchange step and is then re-chilled and recycled to cool and densify the intake air.

A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with processing natural gas to recover natural gas liquids (NGL) is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is taken from one of the streams in the NGL recovery plant and cooled under pressure to condense it. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the NGL recovery plant to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream. The condensed natural gas stream is expanded to an intermediate pressure and supplied to a mid-column feed point on a distillation column. The bottom product from this distillation column preferentially contains the majority of any hydrocarbons heavier than methane that would otherwise reduce the purity of the liquefied natural gas, and is routed to the NGL recovery plant so that these heavier hydrocarbons can be recovered in the NGL product. The overhead vapor from the distillation column is cooled and condensed, and a portion of the condensed stream is supplied to a top feed point on the distillation column to serve as reflux. A second portion of the condensed stream is expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.

The invention relates to a method for the catalytic hydro-processing of a petroleum feedstock of the gas oil type and of a biological feedstock containing vegetal oils and / or animal fats, in a catalytic fixed-bed hydro-processing unit, said method being characterised in that the petroleum feedstock is introduced into the reactor upstream from the biological feedstock. The invention also relates to a catalytic hydro-processing unit for implementing said method, and to a corresponding hydro-refining unit.

The present invention is a composition for forming seals. The composition includes a base material and a hydrogel. The base materials is preferably an elastomer or a thermoplastic. Seals formed with the composition are particularly suited for use in a wellbore environment. The inclusion of hydrogel in the seals allows the seals to be manipulated or altered through certain environmental factors. For instance, temperature, oil / water ratio, pH and the electronic field may all be used to alter the characteristics of the hydrogel. In this way, the seal may be caused to swell in response to a specific stimulus, thereby preventing or sealing a leak without requiring additional work or input from the operator.

A method of selecting a drilling tool assembly including selecting components of a first drilling tool assembly and simulating a dynamic response of the first drilling tool assembly. Further, selecting components of a second drilling tool assembly, simulating a dynamic response of the second drilling tool assembly, and graphically illustrating the dynamic responses of the first and second drilling tool assemblies.

The present invention generally relates to a method and a composition useful in restoring the permeability of a porous underground petroleum containing formation. Restoring permeability to the formation enhances the injectivity thereby accelerating petroleum recovery. The method of the invention comprises treating said formation with a composition which comprises a combination of at least one nonionic compound, preferably an alkoxylated alcohol, with at least one cationic compound, preferably a quaternary ammonium compound, in an amount effective to improve the permeability of the formation. The composition may also optionally contain an alkyl glycoside.