Baker Hughes Corporation

Exxon Production Research Company

Deep Vision, Inc.

Larry A Watkins

Roger W Fincher

Peter S Aronstam

Peter Fontana

Volker Krueger

Sven Krueger

Harald Grimmer

Michael H Johnson

Bennett M Richard

Daniel James Turick

Roland May

James W Macfarlane

Allen Sinor

John Lindley Baugh

Roland Edward Chemali

John W Harrell

John W Graham

Joseph F Donovan

Marcus Oesterberg

Detlef Hahn

Donald Keith Trichel

Edward O'Malley

Paulo S Tubel

Randy Gold

Michael A Carmody

Dick Lee Knox

Jerald Ray Rider

James Edward Goodson

John L Bearden

William M Salathiel

Paul M McElfresh

Friedhelm Makohl

Gordon Lee Besser

Leon H Robinson

Mark S Ramsey

Daniel Lee Crosby

Gerald Heisig

Joel Wilmes

Vu Thieu

Jens Uwe Bruns

Robert W Lannom

J V Henry

Wallace Wf Leung

James E Goodson, Jr

Aftab Khokhar

Svan Krueger

Roger Fincher

An apparatus and methods for pumping a fluid mixture from a wellbore location to a selected location is disclosed. The apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a container configured to be placed in the wellbore, wherein the container is configured to mix therein a fluid received from a first source and an additive received from a second source, and a pump unit coupled to the container and configured to pump the mixed fluid from the container to the selected location. The method in one embodiment includes: supplying a fluid from a first source to a container placed in a wellbore; supplying an additive from a second source to the container; allowing the fluid and the additive to mix in the container to form a mixed fluid; and pumping the mixed fluid from the container to the selected location.

Apparatus and method for pumping a fluid and an additive from a downhole location into a formation or to another location

An apparatus and method for reducing temperature along a bottomhole assembly during a drilling operation is provided. In one aspect the bottomhole temperature may be reduced by drilling a borehole using a drill string having a bottomhole assembly at an end thereof, circulating a fluid through the drill string and an annulus between the drill string and the borehole, diverting a selected portion of the fluid from the drill string into the annulus at a selected location above the drill bit to reduce pressure drop across at least a portion of the bottomhole assembly to reduce temperature of the bottomhole assembly during the drilling operation.

Method and apparatus for controlling bottomhole temperature in deviated wells

Fluid systems may contain elements to provide changes in bulk fluid density in response to various environmental conditions. One environmental driver to the variable density is pressure; other environmental drivers include, but are not limited to, temperature or changes in chemistry. The variable density of the fluid is beneficial for controlling sub-surface pressures within desirable pore pressure and fracture gradient envelopes. The variability of fluid density permits construction and operation of a wellbore with much longer hole sections than when using conventional single gradient fluids.

Wellbore operations using controlled variable density fluid

Controlled variable density fluid for wellbore operations

A measurement and communication system for use with a tubular string, comprises a tubular string having a plurality of self-powered, autonomous telemetry stations disposed at predetermined locations along the tubular string. Each autonomous telemetry station is adapted to receive at least one first signal and transmit at least one second signal related to the at least one first signal. Power is extracted from potential energy sources proximate each autonomous telemetry station. A method of communicating information along a tubular string comprises, disposing an autonomous telemetry station at predetermined locations along the tubular string. A preferred transmission path is autonomously determined at each of the autonomous telemetry stations. Information is transmitted along the tubular string according to the autonomously determined preferred path.

Apparatus and methods for self-powered communication and sensor network

A method for reducing temperature of a bottomhole assembly during a drilling operation is disclosed, that, in one aspect, may include: drilling a borehole using a drillstring including a bottomhole assembly by circulating a fluid through the drillstring and an annulus between the drillstring and the borehole, pausing drilling, continuing circulating the fluid through the dill string and the annulus. The method further includes diverting a portion of the fluid from the drillstring into the annulus at a selected location above the drill bit to reduce temperature of the bottomhole assembly.

Apparatus and methods for controlling bottomhole assembly temperature during a pause in drilling boreholes

A system for communicating between a first location and a second location comprises a jointed tubular string having a first section and a second section connected at a connection joint, with the tubular string having a fluid in an internal passage thereof. A first acoustic transducer is mounted in the internal passage of the first section proximate the connection joint, and a second acoustic transducer is mounted in the internal passage of the second section proximate the connection joint. A signal transmitted from the first location to the second location is transmitted across the connection joint as an acoustic signal in the fluid from the first acoustic transducer to the second acoustic transducer.

A system for reverse circulation in a wellbore includes equipment for supplying drilling fluid into the wellbore bit via at least an annulus of the wellbore and returning the drilling fluid to a surface location via at least a bore of a wellbore tubular. The system also includes devices for controlling the annulus pressure associated with this reverse circulation. An active pressure differential device may increase the pressure wellbore annulus to at least partially offset a circulating pressure loss. Alternatively, the system may include devices for decreasing the pressure in the annulus of the wellbore.

Reverse circulation pressure control method and system

One exemplary APD Device is used with a liner drilling assembly to control wellbore pressure. The APD Device reduces a dynamic pressure loss associated with the drilling fluid returning via a wellbore annulus. Another exemplary APD Device is used to control pressure in a wellbore when deploying wellbore equipment, including running, installing and/or operating wellbore tools. The APD Device is set to reduce a dynamic pressure loss associated with a circulating fluid. The APD Device can also be configured to reduce a surge effect associated with the running of the wellbore equipment. Still another APD Device is used to control pressure in a wellbore when completing or working over a well. Exemplary completion activity can include circulating fluid other than a drilling fluid, such as a gravel slurry. The APD Device can reduce the dynamic pressure loss associated with circulation of both drilling fluid and non-drilling fluid.

Active bottomhole pressure control with liner drilling and completion systems

A drilling system includes a steerable bottomhole assembly (BHA) having a steering unit and a control unit that provide dynamic control of drill bit orientation or tilt. Exemplary steering units can adjust bit orientation at a rate that approaches or exceeds the rotational speed of the drill string or drill bit, can include a dynamically adjustable articulated joint having a plurality of elements that deform in response to an excitation signal, can include adjustable independently rotatable rings for selectively tilting the bit, and/or can include a plurality of selectively extensible force pads. The force pads are actuated by a shape change material that deforms in response to an excitation signal. A method of directional drilling includes continuously cycling the position of the steering unit based upon the rotational speed of the drill string and/or drill bit and with reference to an external reference point.

Steerable bit system assembly and methods

An apparatus for generating seismic body waves in a hydrocarbon reservoir includes a closed-loop borehole source having a resonant cavity for generating resonant energy, a drive source and a control unit. The drive source injects pressure pulses to the resonant cavity at a predetermined or selectable pressure and frequency. The fluid circulates between the cavity and the drive source in a closed-loop fashion. In another embodiment, the borehole source utilizes a smart or controllable material that is responsive to an applied excitation field. The cavity includes an excitation coil for providing an excitation field that changes a material property of the smart fluid. The control unit is programmed to adjust operating parameters to produce seismic waves having a selected frequency and amplitude. In one embodiment, a control unit adjusts operating parameters in response to measured parameters of interest or surface commands.

Closed-loop downhole resonant source

An APD Device provides a pressure differential in a wellbore to control dynamic pressure loss while drilling fluid is continuously circulated in the wellbore. A continuous circulation system circulates fluid both during drilling of the wellbore and when the drilling is stopped. Operating the APD Device allows wellbore pressure control during continuous circulation without substantially changing density of the fluid. The APD Device can maintain wellbore pressure below the combined pressure caused by weight of the fluid and pressure losses created due to circulation of the fluid in the wellbore, maintain the wellbore at or near a balanced pressure condition, maintain the wellbore at an underbalanced condition, reduce the swab effect in the wellbore, and/or reduce the surge effect in the wellbore. A flow restriction device that creates a backpressure in the wellbore annulus provides surface control of wellbore pressure.

Active controlled bottomhole pressure system and method with continuous circulation system

A novel well bore drilling system and method utilizes independently deployable multiple tubular strings to drill, line and cement multiple hole sections without intervening trips to the surface. In one embodiment, the drilling system includes two or more independent, telescoping, tubular members that form a nested tubular assembly and one or more sensors disposed on the nested tubular assembly. The nested tubular string is deployed in the wellbore in conjunction with a Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA). In some embodiments, a drilling motor for rotating a drill bit is also positioned in the tubular assembly. The sensors can be disposed in a stator of the drilling motor or adjacent the motor. Also, in embodiments, the sensors can be positioned on extensible members that can position the sensor or sensors adjacent the wellbore wall.

Drilling methods utilizing independently deployable multiple tubular strings

An active vibration control device improves drilling by actively applying a dampening profile and/or a controlled vibration to a drill string and/or bottomhole assembly (BHA). Embodiments of the present invention control the behavior of a drill string and/or BHA in order to prevent or minimize the occurrence of harmful drill string/BHA motion and/or to apply a vibration to the drill string/BHA that improves one or more aspects of the drilling process. Measurements of one or more selected parameters of interest are processed to determine whether the undesirable vibration or motion is present in the drill string or BHA and/or whether the drill string and/or BHA operation can be improved by the application of a controlled vibration. If either or both conditions are detected, corrective action is formulated and appropriate control signals are transmitted to one or more devices in the drill string and/or BHA.

Active vibration control for subterranean drilling operations

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Larry A Watkins