Wells inventions 08/06

20060191679 - Triple valve blow out preventer: A triple-valve internal blow out preventer having unitary construction is provided, each valve including a tubular assembly having a central passageway with upper and lower seats mounted therein. A ball is rotatably received between the upper and lower seats and includes an external surface and a central opening, wherein the...

20060191680 - Metal-to-metal seal for bridging hanger or tieback connection: A method of completing a well having a casing hanger set in a subsea wellhead housing includes attaching a running tool to a tubular bridging hanger. A metal-to-metal inner seal is attached to a lower exterior portion of the bridging hanger and a metal-to-metal outer seal is located on an...

20060191682 - Heating and cooling electrical components in a downhole operation: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tool for a downhole operation. The tool includes a downhole power source to generate power. The tool also includes a cooler module to lower temperature based on the power....

20060191681 - Rechargeable energy storage device in a downhole operation: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tool for a downhole operation. The tool includes an electrical component. The tool includes a rechargeable energy storage device to supply power to the electrical component. The tool also includes a generator to supply power to the electrical component....

20060191683 - Systems and methods of downhole thermal property measurement: Methods and systems of measuring in-situ time variant temperature for subsurface formations utilizing an active heating and/or cooling device and temperature sensors for purposes of characterizing hydrocarbon-bearing formations by deriving formation thermal properties....

20060191684 - Assembly for determining thermal properties of a formation while drilling or perforating: An assembly for determining the thermal properties of a downhole formation while drilling or perforating comprises a system for generating a laser beam that cuts and heats the formation within a wellbore extending into the formation, and at least one temperature sensor within the wellbore that measures a temperature of...

20060191685 - Multiple port cross-over design for frac-pack erosion mitigation: A system for use in gravel packing operations wherein a gravel placement mandrel defines an axial flowbore and two or more lateral slurry flow ports for communication of slurry from the flowbore to the interior of the wear sleeve/blast liner. The slurry flow ports are oriented so as to distribute...

20060191686 - Methods and compositions for the in-situ thermal stimulation of hydrocarbons using peroxide-generating compounds: One embodiment provides a method for stimulating hydrocarbon production in a subterranean formation, comprising: introducing a peroxide-generating compound into a desired location in a subterranean formation, wherein the peroxide-generating compound is substantially mechanically isolated from the subterranean formation until the peroxide-generating compound reaches the desired location; and allowing the peroxide-generating...

20060191687 - Switchable power allocation in a downhole operation: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a tool to operate downhole. The tool includes a heater. The tool also includes a cooler. The tool includes a controller to control allocation of power between the heater and the cooler based on a temperature downhole, power usage, a time delay or a...

20060191688 - Multilateral reference point: A multilateral reference point sleeve includes a tubular member configured to be received in a tubing string of a wellbore. The tubular member has an uphole end and a downhole end. The uphole end is angled to define an orientation profile, and the orientation profile has an orientation slot extending...

20060191689 - Dual elevator system and method: A dual elevator system and method which, in one embodiment, includes two elevators and a table for supporting one or both of the elevators thereon, for shuttling an elevator between well center and offset standby positions, and for hands-free coupling and uncoupling power and control to an elevator on the...

20060191690 - Hands-free bail-elevator locking device with combined power/control connector, bail spreader and method for use: A method and apparatus for raising or lowering a tubular in a well wherein bails are conventionally coupled to elevator ears and locking assemblies secured to the outer sides of the lower bail eyes for remote controlled clamping to nipples integral with and extending from the elevator ears. The locking...

20060191691 - Expander system for stepwise expansion of a tubular element: An expander system for radially expanding a tubular element having an unexpanded portion of a first inner diameter, the expander system including an expander movable between a radially retracted mode and a radially expanded mode, the expander being operable to expand the tubular element from the first inner diameter to...

20060185839 - Propellant cartridge with restrictor plugs for fracturing wells: An apparatus for fracturing a well has a propellant charge held by a carrier, and upper and lower restrictor plugs secured to the carrier above and below the propellant charge, respectively. The restrictor plugs allow a restricted flow of combustion gases generated by the propellant charge to pass the restrictor...

20060185840 - Apparatus for monitoring pressure using capillary tubing: An apparatus for monitoring the pressure in a gas well at a downhole location is disclosed. The apparatus uses a capillary tube connecting a downhole monitoring assembly with a pressure gauge or gauges at the wellhead. The downhole monitoring assembly and capillary tube are located externally to the production tube...

20060185841 - Fracturing isolation sleeve: An apparatus operatively coupled to a well having a production casing positioned therein, the apparatus including a first device having and internal bore, a second device having an internal bore, and a fracture isolation sleeve disposed at least partially within the internal bores of the first and second devices, wherein...

20060185842 - Rheology modifiers: A method for increasing the rate of shear rehealing of fluids made with cationic, zwitterionic, and amphoteric viscoelastic surfactant fluid systems by adding an effective amount of a polymeric rheology enhancer selected from polypropylene glycols and block copolymers of polypropylene glycol and polyethylene glycol. For applications in which rapid shear...

20060185843 - Assembly and method for determining thermal properties of a formation and forming a liner: A method comprises heating a formation adjacent a selected depth level within a wellbore extending into the formation, forming a temporary liner in the wellbore, measuring a first temperature of the formation at the selected depth level at a first time after heating the formation, measuring a second temperature of...

20060185844 - Downhole device to measure and record setting motion of packers: A downhole tool assembly including a sealing device and a sensing device for sensing parameters associated with the operation of the sealing device....

20060185845 - Method and composition for enhanced hydrocarbons recovery: A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method may include providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to the hydrocarbon containing formation. Hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation may interact with the hydrocarbon recovery composition. The hydrocarbon recovery composition may include an aliphatic anionic surfactant and an aliphatic...

20060185846 - Methods for forming a permeable and stable mass in a subterranean formation: This invention relates to subterranean treatment operations. More particularly, this invention provides methods that may be useful in providing void-free barriers between a subterranean formation and a portion of a well bore. A nonlimiting example of a method is a method of degrading a filter cake in a subterranean formation....

20060185847 - Methods of placing treatment chemicals: Methods of treating a subterranean formation comprising placing a solid treatment chemical and a tacky polymer onto a solid substrate to create a coated solid substrate; placing the coated solid substrate into a portion of a subterranean formation; and, allowing the tacky polymer to degrade and allowing the solid treatment...

20060185848 - Fracturing fluids comprising degradable diverting agents and methods of use in subterranean formations: Treatment fluids comprising degradable diverting agents and methods of using such treatment fluids in subterranean formations are provided. Examples of methods include methods of fracturing a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of enhancing production from multiple regions of a subterranean formation penetrated by a well...

20060185849 - Flow control: An apparatus includes a base pipe and a fluid control material. The base pipe includes openings, and the fluid control material is mounted to the pipe to control fluid communication through the openings of the pipe. The fluid control material has a permeability that may be changed to selectively control...

20060185850 - Methods of treating subterranean formations using derivatized gelling agents: One embodiment of the present invention provides methods of treating a subterranean formation with a viscosified treatment fluid comprising combining water, a carbonyl-containing first compound, and an amine-containing second compound; wherein the carbonyl-containing first compound comprises at least one carbonyl moiety and is either a gelling agent or a derivatizing...

20060185851 - Method and apparatus for treating fouled wells: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for treating biofouled wells with azide compounds, and/or for preventing biofouling in a well. The well is contacted with an amount of an azide compound effective for treating or preventing biofouling in the well....

20060185852 - Reclosable mechanical annular flow valve: A mechanical flow control device is provided that allows flow of production fluids along an annular path and across an valve body. A sliding sealing member can be mechanically transitioned between an opened flow position and a closed flow position as desired. The mechanical flow control device may be combined...

20060185853 - Gas lift plunger arrangement: A plunger in a plunger lift system in an oil and gas well includes shaped grooves spaced along the plunger body, angled fins or below the grooves, an elongated interior cavity open at the bottom, and passages connecting the interior cavity to the grooves. The shape, sizing and spacing of...

20060185854 - Horseshoe shaped elevator and method for using same: A U-shaped elevator having no doors is provided with first and second latching mechanisms which when contacted by the tubular to be entrapped within the elevator move from a closed position to an open position and which then return to a closed position as soon as the tubular is entrapped...

20060185856 - Multi-layer deformable composite construction for use in a subterranean well: A multi-layer deformable composite construction. In a described embodiment, a method of expanding a structure in a wellbore includes the steps of: positioning the structure in an unexpanded configuration in the wellbore, the structure including a wall made up of multiple layers; expanding the structure to an expanded configuration while...

20060185855 - Retractable joint and cementing shoe for use in completing a wellbore: An improved method and/or apparatus for completing a wellbore is provided. In one embodiment, a method of lining a pre-drilled wellbore is provided. The method includes the act of providing a casing assembly, the casing assembly including a string of casing; and a retractable joint comprising an inner tubular and...

20060185857 - Expandable tubulars for use in a wellbore: The present invention generally relates to methods and systems for mitigating trouble zones in a wellbore in a preferred pressure condition and completing the wellbore in the preferred pressure condition. In one aspect, a method of reinforcing a wellbore is provided. The method includes locating a valve member within the...

20060180302 - Groundwater sampling device: A groundwater sampling and pumping device and system for withdrawing groundwater from a well. The device includes a hollow outer housing having water inlet ports formed through a bottom thereof and a hollow inner housing sized to be positioned coaxially within the outer housing and defining a water flow passage...

20060180303 - Independent measuring and processing probe for preliminary studies on a well: It includes removable anchoring resources (3, 4) capable of anchoring the probe to a casing at the bottom of the well, a set of sensors, at least one of which is a seismic sensor, recording resources, resources for processing the measurements provided by the sensors, and a central body (1)...

20060180304 - Down hole physical upgrading of heavy crude oils by selective energy absorption: The present invention utilizes the ability of electromagnetic energy at the appropriate frequency to selectively deposit thermal energy in the heavy oil for precise control of cracking temperature throughout a given volume of material. Selective electromagnetic energy absorption in the heavy crude oil provides energy efficient transfer of heat at...

20060180305 - Integral flush gauge cable apparatus and method: The present invention includes a communications system to measure and transmit date from a zone of interest below a downhole assembly to a remote location. The communications system preferably includes a sensor gauge engaged through a communications port of the downhole assembly upon a communications cable whereby the communications cable...

20060180306 - Method for improved vertical sweep of oil reservervoirs: In a WAG flood oil is displaced from a subterranean formation by injecting water alternately with gas into a single injection completion per pattern. The ratio of water to gas injected is the WAG ratio. In this invention, two separate injection completions are used in each pattern, with one placed...

20060180307 - Methods for preparing slurries of coated particulates: A method of using coated proppant slurries in subterranean applications such as production enhancement and sand control. Some embodiments of the present invention provide methods of creating a stable slurry of coated particulates wherein the slurry is capable of being stored for at least 2 hours before use comprising the...

20060180308 - Viscoelastic surfactant fluids and associated acidizing methods: Provided are treatment fluids that comprise an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant, and associated methods of use. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of acidizing a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, an acid, and...

20060180309 - Viscoelastic surfactant fluids and associated diverting methods: Provided are treatment fluids that comprise an aqueous base fluid, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant, and associated diverting methods of use. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, and a methyl ester...

20060180310 - Viscoelastic surfactant fluids and associated methods: Provided are treatment fluids that comprise an aqueous based fluid, a water-soluble salt, and a methyl ester sulfonate surfactant, and associated methods. In one embodiment, a method of treating a subterranean formation is provided, the method comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising an aqueous base fluid, a water-soluble salt, and...

20060180311 - Methods of cementing with lightweight cement compositions: Foamed cement compositions comprising density reducing additives and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of cementing is disclosed. The method of cementing comprises preparing a base cement composition comprising a cement, a water, and a density reducing additive, wherein the base cement...

20060180312 - Displacement annular swivel: A displacement annular swivel is disclosed consisting of a mandrel with a sleeve assembly positioned around the outside diameter of the mandrel. The sleeve assembly consists of at least one radial bushing such that the mandrel can be rotated and reciprocated within the sleeve assembly when the sleeve assembly is...

20060180313 - Subsea hydraulic junction plate actuator with r.o.v. mechanical override: The invention relates to the field of offshore subsea oil and gas drilling and production operations. Specifically the invention relates to a hydraulically and/or mechanically driven junction plate actuator suitable for use in connecting and/or disconnecting a dynamic junction box half to a fixed junction box assembly....

20060180314 - Co-linear tensioner and methods of installing and removing same: The invention is directed to a tensioner for providing linear and angular movement of a drilling or production facility relative to a conduit or riser secured to the tensioner and to the wellhead in offshore operations. The tensioner compensates for vessel motion induced by wave action and heave and maintains...

20060180315 - Top drive torque booster: A method and apparatus for providing additional torque in a top drive system for rotating a tubular during tubular drilling, running, and/or handling operations. In one embodiment, a gear arrangement is operatively connected to a top drive of the top drive system to increase the amount of available torque for...

20060180316 - Assembly of downhole equipment in a wellbore: A system and method for assembly of downhole equipment in a subterranean well. In a described embodiment, a method of assembling an apparatus in a subterranean well includes the steps of: positioning an expandable shell in the well; expanding the shell in the well; and then interconnecting multiple portions of...

20060180317 - Coil tubing hanger and method of using same: A coil tubing hanger includes a hanger body having a hanger base with a lower end for connection to a well tree, an upper end for connection of a hanger cap and an internal cylindrical cavity for receiving an annular, externally actuated, pack-off element for selectively providing a high-pressure fluid...

20060180318 - Constant force actuator: A radially expandable tool is provided that includes a tool body and a radially moveable member coupled to the tool body and in force receiving relation to a constant force actuator. The radially moveable member is movable by the constant force actuator from an closed position to a plurality of...

20060180319 - Packers and methods of use: Packers and methods of using same are described. The packer includes a packer body, a slip to engage a casing of the well and a sealing element to seal an annulus of the well, a fluid bypass chamber adapted to allow fluid passage through the packer body during run in...

20060180320 - System and method to seal by bringing the wall of a wellbore into sealing contact with a tubing: The invention is a system and method used to seal between an open wellbore and a tubing by bringing the wellbore wall inwardly so as to enable sections of earth from the wellbore wall to create the required seal against the tubing. The earth sections that make up the seal...

20060175052 - Flow regulator for use in a subterranean well: A flow regulator for use in a subterranean well. A well flow regulating system includes a flow regulator for regulating a flow rate of a fluid in a wellbore, the flow rate remaining substantially constant while a differential pressure across the flow regulator varies. The flow regulator is adjustable while...

20060175053 - Process to improve extraction of crude oil and installation implementing such process: A hydrocarbon extraction process enabling an acceleration in the production of the productive zone of the oil deposit of a well and an increase in the cumulated quantity of hydrocarbons, characterized by the fact that a hot fluid constituted of hydrocarbons is made to circulate so as to bring the...

20060175054 - Conductor head: A quick-release conductor head for engaging a conductor, but capable of quickly releasing the conductor, if necessary. The quick-release conductor head includes a body for receiving the conductor, a latch pivotally connected to the body, a locking system for temporarily maintaining the latch in a closed position, and an opening...

20060175055 - Device for installation of a profile liner in a well: The device relates to expansion and calibration of profile pipes, such as profile liners, with cylindrical threaded ends in their installation in a well. The device consists of several in-series connected mandrel assemblies, each of them comprises a housing with a central straight-through channel and inclined slots, in which rams...

20060175056 - Instrumented packer: A technique that is usable with a subterranean well includes communicating a fluid into a region of the well and monitoring a level of the fluid communicated via a downhole sensor. The communication is controlled in response to the monitoring....

20060175057 - Logging a well: A method for logging a well is provided. The method includes receiving energy with at least one array of elements coupled to a drill bit, wherein the at least one array of elements functions as an electronic array. An apparatus for logging a well is also provided. The apparatus includes...

20060175058 - Methods of creating high-porosity propped fractures using reticulated foam: One embodiment of the prevent invention provides a method of creating a high porosity propped fracture comprising creating a slurry comprising a treatment fluid, proppant particulates, pieces of reticulated foam having cells, and an adhesive substance such that the adhesive substance at least partially coats the proppant particulates and such...

20060175059 - Soluble deverting agents: Methods and compositions for stimulating single and multiple intervals in subterranean wells by diverting well treatment fluids into a particular direction or into multiple intervals using water soluble coated diverting agents are described. The water soluble coating of the diverting material is preferably a collagen, poly(alkylene) oxide, poly(lactic acid), polyvinylacetate,...

20060175060 - Servicing a wellbore with wellbore fluids comprising perlite: Wellbore fluids comprising an expanded and ground perlite and methods of using the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the methods include a method of cementing comprising preparing or placing a cement composition comprising cement, water, and an expanded and ground perlite. The method further comprises allowing the cement composition...

20060175061 - Method for recovering hydrocarbons from subterranean formations: Recovery of viscous hydrocarbon from subterranean formations is assisted by using a plurality of novel U-tube type wells, each with dual wellheads, a moveable wellbore packer, a lateral section with a concentric communication zone and with sequential injection production perforations in which heat is injected into the proximal perforations and...

20060175062 - Undersea well product transport: An apparatus and corresponding method of use extracts, cools, and transports effluents from subterranean, sub-sea oil formations to distant shore based processing facilities. The effluents, mostly crude oil, are conveyed rapidly to a cold flow generator near the oil wellhead on the sea bottom using the cold seawater to chill...

20060175063 - Method and apparatus for a cold flow subsea hydrocarbon production system: A system for assuring subsea hydrocarbon production flow in pipelines by chilling the hydrocarbon production flow in a heat exchanger and causing solids to form, periodically removing deposits and placing them in a slurry utilizing a closed loop pig launching and receiving systems....

20060175064 - Electric submersible pumps: An electric submersible pump contains an AC permanent magnet motor having three or more phases A, B, C and has a drive circuit for supplying varying drive signals to all the phases of the motor at the same time. Each drive signal is constituted by a cyclically smoothly varying voltage...

20060175065 - Water shut off method and apparatus: A technique is provided to control flow in subterranean applications, such as hydrocarbon fluid production applications. The technique utilizes an material formed, at least in part, of material that swell in the presence of a specific substance or substances. The material is deployed as a membrane outside a base pipe...

20060169447 - Integrated control system for beam pump systems: The present invention generally provides apparatus and methods of operating a pumping system. The pump control apparatus includes a first sensor for measuring strain on a structure of the well pumping system and a second sensor for measuring a position of the structure. The apparatus also has a controller configured...

20060169448 - Self-degrading cement compositions and methods of using self-degrading cement compositions in subterranean formations: Fracturing fluids for stimulating subterranean formations are provided. More particularly, fracturing fluids comprising self-degrading cement compositions are provided. An example of a composition is a fracturing fluid comprising a self-degrading cement composition that comprises an acid source, a base source, a water source, and a degradable material. Certain embodiments of...

20060169450 - Degradable particulate generation and associated methods: Herein provided are methods for producing degradable particulates at a drill site, and methods related to the use of such degradable particulates in subterranean applications. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method comprising: providing a degradable polymer solvent mixture that comprises a degradable polymer and a first solvent;...

20060169449 - Self-degrading fibers and associated methods of use and manufacture: This invention relates to the use of degradable fibers, and more particularly, to self-degrading fibers and their associated methods of use and manufacture. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprising the steps of: providing a treatment fluid comprising a...

20060169453 - Kickoff plugs comprising a self-degrading cement in subterranean well bores: Degradable kickoff plugs are provided. An example of a composition is a degradable kickoff plug that includes a degradable material; and an acid-base cement. Another example of a composition is a degradable kickoff plug formed by a method that includes: providing a self-degrading cement composition that that includes a degradable...

20060169452 - Methods of directional drilling and forming kickoff plugs using self-degrading cement in subterranean well bores: Methods of drilling a well bore in a subterranean formation comprising placing a self-degrading kickoff plug or the like in the well bore are provided. An example of a method is a method comprising: providing a self-degrading cement composition that comprises a degradable material, an acid source, a base source,...

20060169454 - Methods of isolating zones in subterranean formations using self-degrading cement compositions: Methods of isolating particular zones within a subterranean formation utilizing self-degrading cement compositions are provided. An example of a method of the present invention is a method that includes: providing a self-degrading cement composition that includes a degradable material, an acid source, a base source, and a water source; placing...

20060169451 - Self-degrading cement compositions and methods of using self-degrading cement compositions in subterranean formations: Methods of stimulating subterranean formations are provided. More particularly, methods of fracturing subterranean formations using a fracturing fluid comprising a self-degrading cement composition are provided. An example of a method is a method of treating a subterranean formation. Another example of a method is a method of fracturing a subterranean...

20060169455 - Compositions and methods for plugging and sealing a subterranean formation: The invention provides for a composition for treating a subterranean formation, the composition comprising a water-swellable agent and a sealing agent. Preferably, the water-swellable agent: i) absorbs greater than 100 weight % of water; and ii) swells to greater than 100 weight % as it absorbs water. Preferably the sealing...

20060169456 - Jar with adjustable preload: A jar provided with an adjustable preload has a housing defining an anvil surface and a mandrel, movable relative to the housing under an applied load, defining a hammer surface to impact the anvil surface. A trigger mechanism for releasing the mandrel to cause the hammer surface to impact the...

20060169457 - Method and apparatus for preventing slug flow in pipelines: Disclosed is a method and system for controlling the formation of liquid or gas slugs along a pipeline. In embodiments, an injection unit injects a liquid surface tension reducing agent, such as a foamant, into the pipeline upstream of the high point. A control unit can be used to control...

20060169458 - Pumping system and method for recovering fluid from a well: The present invention relates to a pumping system and method for drawing or pumping subsurface fluid (e.g., gas, oil, water, etc.) from a well, particularly a gas well. The pumping system of the present invention includes a pump which displaces fluid in a well into a string of hollow sucker...

20060169459 - Method and apparatus to complete a well having tubing inserted through a valve: A method and apparatus for inserting a small diameter continuous hydraulic conduit or capillary tube down a well bore is presented. The methods and apparatus allow either the injection of chemicals to enhance production of oil and gas, or to provide a conduit for production up through the small diameter...

20060169461 - Apparatus and methods for tubular makeup interlock: Apparatus and methods are provided to prevent an operator from inadvertently dropping a string into a wellbore during assembling and disassembling of tubulars. Additionally, the apparatus and methods may be used to for running in casing, running in wellbore components or for a drill string....

20060169460 - Apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member: An apparatus for radially expanding and plastically deforming a tubular member....

20060169462 - Interventionless oil tool actuator with floating piston: An interventionless actuator for oil well tools is described wherein the actuator comprises at least one floating piston adapted to equalize a pressure differential and lock onto an actuating member. An interventionless actuator is described that is charged to an initial energy level less than the expected at-depth well pressure...

20060169465 - Bi-directional fluid loss device: A fluid loss device including a flapper and seat assembly that provide a seal on a lower flapper surface when the flapper is closed and resists pressure in either direction. The flapper and seat assembly is spring biased to contact a flapper support above the flapper to resist deformation of...

20060169463 - Downhole tool with actuable barrier: A downhole tool for use in a cased or lined well bore (40), the tool including a barrier (36) arranged on an outer surface of the tool. The barrier may be of a resilient material so that it can be deformed on actuation to control the passage of fluid between...

20060169464 - Positioning tool with valved fluid diversion path: A positioning tool for moving an element in a flow path of a down hole system without actuating a pressure actuated device in the system. The positioning device includes a choke for restricting flow of fluid between the positioning device and the down hole system, a flow diversion path from...

20060169466 - Packer with positionable collar: A fluid actuated packer 10 and collar 36 assembly is provided for positioning on a tubular member 12. The collar 36 is moveable by a running tool 110 positioned within the tubular member and has a closed position and a packer activate position, fluidly connects the collar 36 to the...