Shell Oil Comapny

Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij, B.v.

Duncan Charles Macdonald

David Alston Edbury

David Booth Burns

Robert George Prince-Wright

Jose Victor Guerrero

Donald Ray Sitton

Horng Jye (Jay) Hwang

Jochen Marwede

James Bryon Rogers

Jason B Norman

John Michael Karanikas

Ernest E Carter, Jr

Ernesto Rafael Fonseca Ocampos

Bruce Allen Selby

Ian Alexander Davidson

Cameron James Geddes

Randall Lynn Rudolf

James Byron Rogers

José Victor Guerrero

David Alston Enbury

A method of controlling a direction of drilling of the drill string used to form an opening in a subsurface formation, comprises varying a speed of the drill string during rotational drilling such that the drill string is at a first speed during a first portion of the rotational cycle and at a second speed during a second portion of the rotational cycle wherein the first speed is higher than the second speed, and wherein operating at the second speed in the second portion of the rotational cycle causes the drill string to change the direction of drilling.

Methods and systems for drilling

A method of automatically placing a drill bit used to form an opening in a subsurface formation on a bottom of the opening being formed comprises a) increasing a flow rate in a drill string to a target flow; b) controlling a flow rate of fluid into the drill string to be substantially the same as a flowrate of fluid out of the opening; c) allowing a fluid pressure to reach a relatively steady state; and d) automatically moving the drill bit toward the bottom of the opening at a selected rate of advance until an increase in measured differential pressure indicates that the drill bit is at the bottom of the opening.

The present disclosure provides a method for picking up a drill bit off the bottom of an opening in a subsurface formation. The method includes setting a predetermined level of differential pressure across a mud motor at which pickup of the drill bit is to be initiated, and monitoring the differential pressure across the mud motor. The method also includes allowing differential pressure across the mud motor to decrease to the predetermined level, and when the predetermined level is reached, automatically picking up the drill bit.

Methods and systems for picking up a drill bit

A method for forming a subsurface wellbore is disclosed. The method includes operating a drilling string in a first direction of rotation. A first motor located near the end of the drilling string is operated in a direction of rotation opposite that of the drilling string. A drill bit is rotated using a second motor that is coupled to the first motor.

Dual motor systems and non-rotating sensors for use in developing wellbores in subsurface formations

A method of assessing hole cleaning effectiveness of drilling comprises a) determining a mass of cuttings removed from a well wherein determining the mass of cuttings removed from a well comprises: i) measuring a total mass of fluid entering a well; ii) measuring a total mass of fluid exiting the well; and iii) determining a difference between the total mass of fluid exiting the well and total mass of fluid entering the well; b) determining a mass of rock excavated in the well; and c) determining a mass of cuttings remaining in the well wherein determining the mass of cuttings remaining in the well comprises: determining a difference between the determined mass of rock excavated in the well and the determined mass of cuttings removed from the well.

A system for forming a subsurface wellbore includes a rack and pinion system including a chuck drive system. The chuck drive system operates a drilling string. An automatic position control system includes at least one measurement sensor coupled to the rack and pinion system. The automatic position control system controls the rack and pinion system to determine a position of the drilling string.

Systems and methods of forming subsurface wellbores

A method of controlling a direction of a toolface of a bottom hole assembly for slide drilling, comprises a) synchronizing the toolface wherein synchronizing the toolface comprises determining a relationship between the rotational position of the down hole toolface with a rotational position at the surface of the formation for at least one point in time, b) stopping rotation of the drill string coupled to the bottom hole assembly, c) controlling torque at the surface of the drill string to control a rotational position of the toolface, and d) commencing a slide of the drill string.

A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more shafts. A first substantially horizontal or inclined tunnel extends from one or more of the shafts. A second substantially horizontal or inclined tunnel extends from one or more of the shafts. Two or more heat source wellbores extend from the first tunnel to the second tunnel. The heat source wellbores are configured to allow heated fluid to flow through the wellbores from the first tunnel to the second tunnel.

Heated fluid flow in mines and tunnels used in heating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations

Systems and methods for treating a subsurface formation are described herein. Some embodiments generally relate to systems, methods, and/or processes for treating fluid produced from the subsurface formation. Some methods include providing heat to a first section of the hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of heaters located in the formation; allowing the heat to transfer from the heaters to heat a portion of the first section to mobilize formation fluid; and producing formation fluid from the formation.

Methods for heating with slots in hydrocarbon formations

A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels extending from at least one shaft. One or more heater sources are located in one or more heater wellbores coupled to at least one of the substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels.

Mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations

A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels extending from one or more shafts. A production system is located in at least one of the tunnels. The production system is configured to produce fluids from the formation that collect in the tunnel.

Hydrocarbon production from mines and tunnels used in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations

A method of steering a drill bit to form an opening in a subsurface formation, comprises a) determining a distance from design of a well, and b) determining an angle offset from design of the well wherein angle offset from design is the difference between the inclination and azimuth of the hole and the inclination and azimuth of plan, c) wherein at least one distance from design and at least one angle offset from design are determined in real time based, at least in part, on a position of the hole at the last survey, a position at a projected current location of the bit, and a projected position of the bit.

A method includes making coiled tubing at a coiled tubing manufacturing unit coupled to a coiled tubing transportation system. One or more coiled tubing reels are transported from the coiled tubing manufacturing unit to one or more moveable well drilling systems using the coiled tubing transportation system. The coiled tubing transportation system runs from the tubing manufacturing unit to one or more movable well drilling systems, and then back to the coiled tubing manufacturing unit.

Wellbore manufacturing processes for in situ heat treatment processes

A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more shafts. At least two substantially horizontal or inclined tunnels extend from one or more of the shafts. A plurality of heat sources are located in at least one heat source wellbore extending between at least two of the substantially horizontal tunnels. Electrical connections for the heat sources are located in at least one of the substantially horizontal tunnels.

Heater connections in mines and tunnels for use in treating subsurface hydrocarbon containing formations

A system for treating a subsurface hydrocarbon containing formation includes one or more shafts. A first substantially horizontal or inclined tunnel extends from one or more of the shafts. A second substantially horizontal or inclined tunnel extends from one or more of the shafts. Two or more heat source wellbores extend from the first tunnel to the second tunnel. The heat source wellbores are configured to allow electrical current to flow between the heat source wellbores.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Duncan Charles Macdonald