Wells inventions 11/08

20080289812 - System for downhole packing: An apparatus and method of forming a barrier to fluid flow behind a liner are provided. In one embodiment of the invention, a method includes the steps of conveying a tool to a position within a wellbore having a liner, the tool carrying a seal material, and injecting the seal... Agent: Schlumberger Reservoir Completions

20080289813 - Polished bore receptacle: An integral polished bore assembly for use in a wellbore includes a barrel having a polished bore; at least one no-go member positioned within the barrel; an elongated locator member having a sealing head and an end, the end extending out of the barrel; and a radial port formed through... Agent: Schlumberger Reservoir Completions

20080289814 - Solid expandable tubular members formed from very low carbon steel and method: A very low carbon steel alloy is provided for use in manufacturing tubular members such as oil country tubular goods. The tubular members may be radially expanded from at least twenty percent to forty percent. Sections or joints of casing formed from the steel alloy may be installed within a... Agent: Baker Botts L.L.P. Patent Department

20080289815 - Downhole screen assembly: A screen assembly that is used with a well includes a base pipe, a screen and ribs. The base pipe has a non-perforated section and has a longitudinal axis. The screen at least partially circumscribes the non-perforated section of the base pipe, and the ribs extend longitudinally in an annular... Agent: Patent Counsel Schlumberger Reservior Completions

20080289816 - Biogenic fuel gas generation in geologic hydrocarbon deposits: A process for introducing microorganisms to carbonaceous material in an anaerobic environment is described. The process includes the step of extracting formation water from a geologic formation, and removing at least a portion of an extractable material from the formation water to make amended formation water. The process may further... Agent: Townsend And Townsend And Crew, LLP

20080289817 - Method and apparatus for re-entering an abandoned well: A reentry apparatus for installation on an abandoned well with a surface casing and a production casing inside and below the top end of the surface casing. A production plate seals the production casing. The apparatus includes a drill guide tube with a bottom end attachable to the production plate... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080289818 - open hole logging for drilling rigs: A method of logging a wellbore comprises drilling a first wellbore to a depth using a drilling rig and drilling a second wellbore to a depth using the drilling rig. While the second wellbore is being drilled a logging operation is conducted in the first wellbore using the drilling rig.... Agent: Crowell & Moring LLP Intellectual Property Group

20080289819 - Utilization of low btu gas generated during in situ heating of organic-rich rock: A method for utilizing gas produced from an in situ conversion process is provided. The method may include heating an organic-rich rock formation, for example an oil shale formation, in situ. The method may further include producing a production fluid from the organic-rich rock formation where the production fluid having... Agent: Exxon Mobil Upstream Research Company

20080289820 - Combined hydrogen production and unconventional heavy oil extraction: A method of producing hydrogen and extracting heavy oil from underground reserves is provided. This method includes providing a carbon monoxide source stream and a water vapor stream to a first reactor, wherein the first reactor comprises a water shift reactor and a membrane-type separation device. This method also includes... Agent: Air Liquide Intellectual Property

20080289822 - Integrated system and method for steam-assisted gravity drainage (sagd)-heavy oil production to produce super-heated steam without liquid waste discharge: A method and system for producing steam for extraction of heavy bitumen including the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel. The fuel is crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin, petcoke or coal. The oxidation gas includes oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combustion of the mixture under high pressure and high... Agent: Egbert Law Offices

20080289821 - Integrated system and method for steam-assisted gravity drainage (sagd)-heavy oil production using low quality fuel and low quality water: A process for producing steam for extracting heavy bitumen includes the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel said fuel being crud oil, VR, Asphaltin, or coke with an oxidation gas, said gas being oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combusting the mixture under high pressure and high temperature and mixing... Agent: Egbert Law Offices

20080289823 - Degradable material assisted diversion or isolation: A method for well treatment by forming a temporary plug in a fracture, a perforation, a wellbore, or more than one of these locations, in a well penetrating a subterranean formation is provided, in which the method of well treatment includes: injecting a slurry comprising a degradable material, allowing the... Agent: Schlumberger Technology Corporation David Cate

20080289825 - Downhole mixing of encapsulated plug components for primary cementing a well: A two part encapsulated cementing system is mixed downhole in a method of primary cementing a well. Using this two part system, one of the components is first placed in the annulus of the well. Next, the other component is placed in the annulus above the first placed component. Densities... Agent: Gilbreth & Associates, P.C.

20080289824 - Primary well cementing with downhole mixed epoxy: A two part epoxy resin system is mixed downhole in a method of primary cementing a well. Using this two part epoxy resin and activator system, one of the components is first placed in the annulus of the well at the desired plugging depth. Next, the other component is placed... Agent: Gilbreth & Associates, P.C.

20080289826 - Downhole slurry method for primary cementing a well: A method of primary cementing well is provided utilizing a cement and cement activator cementing composition, in which one of the components is first placed in the annulus of the well. Next, the other component is placed in the annulus above the first placed component. Densities of the components have... Agent: Gilbreth & Associates, P.C.

20080289827 - Viscosified fluids for remediating subterranean damage: Of the many methods and compositions provided herein, one method includes a method comprising introducing a viscosified remedial fluid comprising a base fluid, a viscosifying agent, and an oxidizer into at least a portion of a subterranean formation having damage present therein so as to contact the damage with the... Agent: Robert A. Kent

20080289828 - Methods of limiting leak off and damage in hydraulic fractures: Methods for treating a formation penetrated by a wellbore which improves fluid loss control during treatment. In some aspects, the treatments include preparing an aqueous fluid including one or more water inert degradable polymers and an optional viscosifier, injecting the aqueous fluid into the wellbore at a pressure equal to... Agent: Schlumberger Technology Corporation David Cate

20080289829 - Floatation module and method: An apparatus for reducing the load applied to a rig. The rig is positioned over a well, with the well having a tubular string disposed therein. A landing string is connected to the tubular string such as casing, production and/or testing assemblies. The apparatus comprises a floatation module attached to... Agent: Longman Russo A Professional Law Corporation

20080283236 - Well plunger and plunger seal for a plunger lift pumping system: A plunger for a plunger lift system of an oil and/or gas well for use in lifting a fluid out of a well bore. The plunger includes a generally cylindrical elongated plunger body with an upper and a lower end, wherein the lower end includes a thermoset tubular seal member,... Agent: Hudak, Shunk & Farine, Co., L.p.a.

20080283237 - Low clearance centralizer and method of making centralizer: A bow-spring centralizer includes a center assembly having a plurality of bow springs and a pair of generally tubular moving collars secured one to each end of each bow spring, the center assembly formed intermediate a pair of generally tubular stop collars. Each moving collar/stop collar combination forms an interlocking... Agent: Streets & Steele

20080283238 - Apparatus for autonomously controlling the inflow of production fluids from a subterranean well: A flow control apparatus (100) for controlling the inflow of production fluids (134, 140) from a subterranean well includes a tubular member (118) having at least one opening (138) that allows fluid flow between an exterior of the tubular member (118) and an interior flow path of the tubular member... Agent: Lawrence R. Youst

20080283239 - Well screen with diffusion layer: A technique is provided for creating a well screen having a diffusion layer affixed to a filter medium to create a coherent structure. The diffusion layer is formed as a structure that freely allows movement of fluid, while the filtering medium is designed to filter particulates of a specific size.... Agent: Schlumberger Reservoir Completions

20080283240 - Screen for controlling sand production in a wellbore: A wellbore screen (1) is provided for controlling inflow of solid particles into a wellbore (2). The wellbore screen comprises a conduit (3) for transporting fluid, an outer layer (4) comprising a filter for reducing inflow of solid particles into the conduit (3), the outer layer extending around the conduit... Agent: Shell Oil Company

20080283241 - Downhole burner wells for in situ conversion of organic-rich rock formations: A method for in situ heating of an organic-rich rock formation is provided. Preferably the organic-rich rock formation comprises kerogen. The method may include the steps of providing a first wellbore extending at least to a depth of the organic-rich rock formation, and providing a second wellbore also extending to... Agent: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Law Department

20080283242 - Apparatus, compositions, and methods of breaking fracturing fluids: Apparatus and methods of reducing the viscosity of a gelled fluid is provided. In one embodiment, a viscosity reducing microbe is disposed in a capsule and added to the gelled fluid. The gelled fluid may include a thickening agent adapted to increase its viscosity. Upon release from the capsule, the... Agent: Robert W Strozier, P.l.l.c

20080283243 - Reducing flow-back in well treating materials: A composite proppant having a proppant substrate such as a porous ceramic or silica sand coated with magnetic particles and a method of propping a subterranean formation using a composition consisting essentially of the composite proppant.... Agent: Patent Group Ga30-43 Georgia-pacific LLC

20080283244 - Method and apparatus for dropping a pump down plug or ball: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member via an inner channel... Agent: Garvey Smith Nehrbass & North, LLC

20080283246 - Heating tar sands formations to visbreaking temperatures: Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods may include heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. The heat may be controlled so that at least a majority of the section reaches an... Agent: Shell Oil Company

20080283245 - Method and system for heat management of an oil field: The present invention includes a method and system for heat management in an oil field, the method including the steps of, on a first time interval: determine a thermal maturity for each subsurface region associated with a pattern of oil wells in the oil field, input the thermal maturity output... Agent: Chevron Corporation

20080283247 - Portable and modular system for extracting petroleum and generating power: An embodiment is a portable, modular apparatus, having one or more modules, for recovering oil from an oil well and generating electric power, and including a chassis to support a fuel reformer, a gas separator, a power generator, and/or a compressor. The fuel reformer module is adapted to react a... Agent: Kd Secure Attn: Daniar Hussain

20080283248 - Flexible riser and method for pulling-in and hanging up thereof:

20080283249 - Apparatus, methods, and systems for extracting petroleum using a portable coal reformer: Apparatus, methods, and systems for extracting oil or natural gas from a well using a portable coal reformer. In one example, the method may include reforming coal by reaction with water to generate driver gas (comprising carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas), and injecting the driver gas into the well. The... Agent: Kd Secure Attn: Daniar Hussain

20080283250 - Low clearance downhole pump: A pump has a housing having a top plate and a bottom plate and a shaft slidingly extending through an aperture in the top plate. A piston is connected to the shaft. The piston separates a volume within the housing into a first stage chamber defined in the housing below... Agent: Oyen, Wiggs, Green & Mutala LLP 480 - The Station

20080283251 - Method and apparatus for dropping a pump down plug or ball: An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured valving member with curved and flat portions that alternatively direct fluid flow through a bore or opening in the valving member or around the periphery... Agent: Garvey Smith Nehrbass & North, LLC

20080283253 - Expandable centralizer for expandable pipe string: A close-tolerance expandable bow spring centralizer 8 having a first expandable collar 10A coupled to and spaced apart from a second expandable collar 10B through a plurality of bow springs 30 wherein expandable collars 10A, 10B comprise a plurality of slidably coupled links 16 that separate to expand the diameter... Agent: Streets & Steele

20080283252 - System and method for multi-zone well treatment: A technique is provided for treating a plurality of well zones with a service tool during a single trip downhole. The service tool is run downhole to a selected well zone that is isolated for treatment. Following treatment of the well zone, the service tool is moved to a subsequent... Agent: Schlumberger Reservoir Completions

20080283254 - Method for increased oil recovery from an oil field: A method for increasing oil recovery from an oil reservoir in which method surplus gas streams from a plant for synthesis of higher hydrocarbons from natural gas is injected into the reservoir, is described. The surplus streams from the plant is the tailgas from the synthesis and optionally nitrogen from... Agent: K&l Gates LLP

20080277108 - Single joint elevator with gripping jaws: Single joint elevator and method for releasably securing a tabular segment. A generally horseshoe-shaped body has a slot for receiving a tubular segment, and an actuator assembly that selectively moves opposing jaws from a removed position to a deployed position to grip and retain the tubular segment within the slot... Agent: Streets & Steele

20080277109 - Method and apparatus for controlling elastomer swelling in downhole applications: A downhole tool includes a swellable core, and a coating that encapsulates the swellable core, wherein the coating is made of a material comprising a component soluble in a selected fluid and a component insoluble in the selected fluid. A method for controlling a downhole tool includes disposing a downhole... Agent: Schlumberger Reservoir Completions

20080277110 - Hydraulic open hole packer: A tubing string assembly is disclosed for fluid treatment of a wellbore. The tubing string can be used for staged wellbore fluid treatment where a selected segment of the wellbore is treated, while other segments are sealed off. The tubing string can also be used where a ported tubing string... Agent: SmithIPServices, P.C.

20080277111 - Downhole tubular expansion tool and method: A tool 10 is provided for radially expanding a downhole tubular C, and includes a central tool mandrel 12, a tubular expander 48 at the lower end of the tubular, and a downhole actuator 15 for forcibly moving the expander axially within the downhole tubular. Slips 20 are positioned for... Agent: Loren G. Helmreich

20080277112 - Methods for stimulating oil or gas production using a viscosified aqueous fluid with a chelating agent to remove calcium carbonate and similar materials from the matrix of a formation or a proppant pack: A method for treating a portion of a subterranean formation or a proppant pack is provided. In general, the method comprises the steps of: (A) forming or providing a treatment fluid comprising: (i) water; (ii) a chelating agent capable of forming a heterocyclic ring that contains a metal ion attached... Agent: Robert A. Kent

20080277113 - Heating tar sands formations while controlling pressure: Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods may include heating at least a section of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation. A pressure in the majority of the section may be maintained below a fracture pressure of... Agent: Shell Oil Company

20080277114 - Screen saver sub: A transition piece is provided near an end of a screen assembly to allow transition from a lighter weight and collapse resistant pipe under the screen sections to a heavier wall and higher collapse strength pipe between the top of the screen and the isolation packer. When a screen out... Agent: Duane Morris LLP - Houston

20080277115 - Increasing buoyancy of well treating materials: A composite proppant having an increased buoyancy comprising a proppant substrate such as a porous ceramic or a silica sand coated with a material of a lesser actual density than the apparent density of the proppant substrate to increase the buoyancy of the composite proppant.... Agent: Patent Group Ga30-43 Georgia-pacific LLC

20080277116 - Well treatment compositions and methods utilizing nano-particles: Disclosed embodiments relate to well treatment fluids and methods that utilize nano-particles. Exemplary nano-particles are selected from the group consisting of particulate nano-silica, nano-alumina, nano-zinc oxide, nano-boron, nano-iron oxide, and combinations thereof. Embodiments also relate to methods of cementing that include the use of nano-particles. An exemplary method of cementing... Agent: Craig W. Roddy Halliburton Energy Services

20080277117 - Surfaced mixed epoxy method for abandoning well: A two part epoxy resin system is surface mixed in a method of plugging an abandoned well. This surface mixed epoxy resin is then placed in the well at the desired plugging depth. Finally, the mixture in situ forms a cementing plug.... Agent: Gilbreth & Associates, P.C.

20080277118 - Method and apparatus for jet-fluid abasive cutting: A method and apparatus for down hole abrasive jet-fluid cutting, the apparatus includes a jet-fluid nozzle and a high pressure pump capable of delivering a high-pressure abrasive fluid mixture to the jet-fluid nozzle, an abrasive fluid mixing unit capable of maintaining and providing a coherent abrasive fluid mixture, a tube... Agent: HulseyIPIntellectual Property Lawyers, P.C.

20080277119 - Method and apparatus to hydraulically bypass a well tool: Apparatuses and methods to communicate with a zone below a subsurface safety valve (104, 204, 404) independent of the position of a closure member (106) of the safety valve are disclosed. The apparatuses and methods include deploying a subsurface safety valve (104, 204, 404) to a profile located within a... Agent: Howrey LLP

20080277120 - Retrievable frac mandrel and well control stack to facilitate well completion, re-completion or workover and method of use: A retrievable frac mandrel and a well control adapter are used to efficiently accomplish well completion, re-completion or workover. The retrievable frac mandrel is inserted in a tubing head spool of a well to be completed, re-completed or re-worked. The well control adapter is mounted to a top of the... Agent: Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP

20080277121 - Dust control system for transferring dry material used in subterranean wells: A portable well treating fluid mixing system includes: a supply tank having an inlet receiving pneumatically conveyed dry treating material; a cyclone separator having an inlet coupled to the supply tank and receiving dust laden air from the supply tank, and having a first outlet venting clean air and having... Agent: John W. Wustenberg

20080277122 - Apparatus and a method for deployment of a well intervention tool string into a subsea well: The present invention regards an apparatus and a method for subsea deployment and/or intervention through a wellhead (102) of a petroleum well (112). The apparatus comprises a first module (101) integrated in a portion of a subsea well intervention system assembly (102, 103) and/or a subsea production system assembly, the... Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

20080277123 - Offshore vessel mooring and riser inboarding system: There is disclosed an offshore vessel mooring and riser inboarding system (12) for a vessel (10) such as an FPSO or FSO. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first mooring element (16) adapted to be located in an offshore environment (18); a riser (20) adapted to be coupled to... Agent: Lundeen & Lundeen, PLLC

20080271882 - Controlled gas-lift heat exchange compressor: A reciprocating hydraulic compressor capable of pumping liquids, gases or liquids mixed with gases. An apparatus and process for simultaneously compressing liquids and gases and exchanging the heat of compression with fluids which may be the same liquids and gasses compressed. An apparatus and process for heating maintenance fluids using... Agent: Charles Walter, Ph.d., J.d. Attorney At Law

20080271883 - Oil well completion tool having severable tubing string barrier disc: An oil well completion tool having a tubular assembly defining an elongated main passage is adapted to be connected to a multiple-section tubing string within an oil well casing. A severable plug is mounted in the tubular assembly in normal blocking relationship to the passage. A movable shear cylinder unit... Agent: Hovey Williams LLP Suite 400

20080271884 - Dropping sub method and apparatus: In one embodiment a method and apparatus for an improved loading sub method and apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment the method and apparatus can be used to pump various pump down means into the well bore from the rig.... Agent: Garvey Smith Nehrbass & North, LLC

20080271885 - Granular electrical connections for in situ formation heating: A method for heating a subsurface formation using electrical resistance heating is provided. In one aspect, the method includes creating a passage in the subsurface formation between a first wellbore located at least partially within the subsurface formation, and a second wellbore also located at least partially within the subsurface... Agent: Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Law Department

20080271886 - Downhole gas compressor: A method for producing gas from a well with low pressure involves running a bottom hole pressure test to graph a P-Q curve. The operator computes a frictional pressure drop due to friction of the gas flowing through the production tubing to the surface. A packer is set above perforations... Agent: Bracewell & Giuliani LLP

20080271887 - Method and system for performing operations and for improving production in wells: A method for performing operations and for improving production in a well includes the steps of: providing radio identification devices at known locations in the well, and providing a reader device configured to read the identification devices, and to control the operations responsive to signals from the identification devices. The... Agent: Marathon Oil Company C/o Law Office Of Jack E. Ebel

20080271888 - Methods of using viscoelastic surfactant gelled fluids to pre-saturate underground formations: Viscoelastic surfactant (VES) based fluid systems are effective to pre-saturate high permeability subterranean formations prior to a treatment operation that would undesirably suffer from high fluid leakoff. The fluid systems may include brine, a viscosity enhancer, as well as the VES, and a high temperature stabilizer. The stabilizer may be... Agent: Madan, Mossman & Sriram, P.C.

20080271890 - Fracture stimulation of layered reservoirs: A hydraulic fracturing process consisting essentially of drilling a wellbore through at least one reservoir formation, installing in said wellbore at least one conduit, ensuring pressure communication between said wellbore and said reservoir formation, at a higher effective stress formation, selecting the location of said pressure communication between said wellbore... Agent: Carol Wilson Bp America Inc.

20080271889 - Method of isolating open perforations in horizontal wellbores using an ultra lightweight proppant: An improved method for building a plug in a horizontal wellbore using a fluid pill pumped into the wellbore at the end of a fracturing treatment. The fluid pill includes a high concentration of an ultra lightweight proppant, such as a neutrally buoyant proppant or an ultra lightweight proppant mixture.... Agent: Howrey LLP

20080271891 - Methods of limiting leak off and damage in hydraulic fractures: Methods for treating a formation penetrated by a wellbore which improves fluid loss control during treatment. In some aspects, the treatments include preparing an aqueous fluid including one or more water inert polymers and an optional viscosifier, injecting the aqueous fluid into the wellbore at a pressure equal to or... Agent: Schlumberger Technology Corporation David Cate

20080271892 - Radially expandable downhole fluid jet cutting tool having an inflatable member: Downhole fluid jet cutting tools having extendible and retractable arms with cutting heads on the ends are disclosed. The jet cutting tools permit casing and other downhole surfaces to be cut utilizing a cutting fluid forced through a jet nozzle assembly. Inflation of an inflatable member within the passageway of... Agent: Greenberg Traurig (hou) Intellectual Property Department

20080271893 - Method and apparatus for continuously injecting fluid in a wellbore while maintaining safety valve operation: A kit for converting an existing wireline retrievable surface controlled subsurface safety valve (170, 270, 370) into a bypass passageway apparatus (100) allowing the injection of production-enhancing fluid into a wellbore while maintaining the operation of the closure member (374). Bypass passageway (280) can extend between upper (260) and lower... Agent: Howrey LLP

20080271894 - Method and apparatus for subterranean fracturing: A subterranean formation stimulation system, comprising a gas generator, a high pressure seal, and means to activate the generator. The high pressure may be a packer and or plug having an outer sealing surface on its outer periphery. The outer sealing surface is configured for metal to metal contact with... Agent: Keith R. Derrington Bracewell & Guiliani LLP

20080271895 - Method and a device for regulating a fluid flow between an outside and an inside of a well pipe: A method and a device for regulating a fluid flow in a reservoir (1) between the outside and the inside of a well pipe (6), where the fluid flow has a different temperature from that of the reservoir (1), and where a temperature controlled valve (18) arranged to regulate a... Agent: Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP

20080271896 - Device in connection with heave compensation: The present invention relates to a heave compensator for a riser, particularly a working riser (9), comprising a telescopic connection (10) with a first chamber (60) which is in fluid connection with the interior of the riser and a second chamber (62) which is connected with a source of pressure... Agent: Henry C. Query, Jr.

20080271897 - Apparatus and method for installing a sucker rod guide: A fluid powered tool is disclosed for assembling a two piece guide on a sucker rod at a well site. The tool includes a table (26) laterally moveable with respect to the sucker rod and supporting a fluid powered cylinder (28), a bottom plate (42) for engaging the rod guide,... Agent: Loren G. Helmreich Browning Bushman P.C.

20080271898 - Pressure isolation plug for horizontal wellbore and associated methods: A wellbore pressure isolation apparatus is deployed in a wellbore and has a sealing element that can be activated to seal against an interior surface of a surrounding tubular. Once set, a ball valve in the apparatus restricts upward fluid communication through the apparatus, and another ball valve in the... Agent: Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri, L.L.P.