Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Russell Thomas Ewy

William Malcolm Calhoun

Hector Ulpiano Caicedo

John Thomas Balczewski

Margaretha Catharina Maria Rijken

Oya Aysen Karazincir

Karim Shafik Zaki

Wade H Williams

Yan Li

Ruiting Wu

Yunhui Tan

In some embodiments, a system includes a housing having a cavity defined therein for holding a test sample, a first inlet in fluid communication with the cavity to deliver fluid to the test sample, a second inlet in fluid communication with the cavity to deliver fluid to the test sample, the first inlet configured to deliver fluid to the test sample in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction that the second inlet is configured to deliver fluid to the test sample, an outlet in fluid communication with the cavity to receive fluid from the test sample, and a force applicator configured to apply compressive force to the test sample within the cavity. The force applicator forms a seal with the housing while applying compressive force to the test sample. The system also comprises at least one sensor configured to, while fluid flows from at least one of the inlets through the test sample to the outlet, determine a fluid characteristic, a test sample characteristic, or any combination thereof.

Systems and methods for fracture face formation permeability measurements

A method of drilling into a geological region including a subsurface clathrate reservoir includes drilling a borehole into the geological region including the subsurface clathrate reservoir and dissociating at least a portion of the clathrate in a region near the borehole. After the dissociating, material within at least a portion of the region near the borehole in which the clathrate has been dissociated is compacted to form a compacted region at least partially surrounding the borehole within the clathrate reservoir. After the compacting, well casing is placed into the borehole within the compacted region and the well casing is cemented into the borehole in the compacted area.

System and method for pre-conditioning a hydrate reservoir

A method for predicting the rate of penetration (ROP) of a drill bit drilling a well bore through intervals of rock of a subterranean formation is provided based on determined relationships between a bit-specific coefficient of sliding friction &#x3bc; and mechanical efficiency EFFand confined compressive strength CCS over a range of confined compressive strengths CCS. Confined compressive strength CCS is estimated for intervals of rock through which the drill bit is to be used to drill a well bore. The rate of penetration ROP is then calculated utilizing the estimates of confined compressive strength CCS and those determined relationships.

Method for predicting rate of penetration using bit-specific coefficients of sliding friction and mechanical efficiency as a function of confined compressive strength

A method for estimating the CCS for a rock in the depth of cut zone of a subterranean formation which is to be drilled using a drilling fluid is disclosed. An UCS is determined for a rock in the depth of cut zone. A change in the strength of the rock due to applied stresses imposed on the rock during drilling is calculated which includes estimating the &#x394;PP. The CCS for the rock in the depth of cut zone is calculated by adding the estimated change in strength to the UCS. The present invention calculates the &#x394;PP in accordance with Skempton theory where impermeable rock or soil has a change in pore volume due to applied loads or stresses while fluid flow into and out of the rock or soil is substantially non-existent. CCS may be calculated for deviated wellbores and to account for factors such as wellbore profile, stress raisers, bore diameter, and mud weight utilizing correction factors derived using computer modeling and using a baseline formula for determining an uncorrected value for CCS.

Method for estimating confined compressive strength for rock formations utilizing skempton theory

A method for predicting the rate of penetration (ROP) of a drill bit drilling a well bore through intervals of rock of a subterranean formation is provided. The method uses an equation based upon specific energy principles. A relationship is determined between a bit-specific coefficient of sliding friction &#x3bc; and confined compressive strength CCS over a range of confined compressive strengths CCS. Similarly, another relationship for the drill bit is determined between mechanical efficiency EFFand confined compressive strength CCS over a range of confined compressive strengths CCS. Confined compressive strength CCS is estimated for intervals of rock through which the drill bit is to be used to drill a well bore. The rate of penetration ROP is then calculated utilizing the estimates of confined compressive strength CCS of the intervals of rock to be drilled and those determined relationships between the bit-specific coefficient of sliding friction &#x3bc; and the mechanical efficiency EFFand the confined compressive strengths CCS, as well as using estimated drill bit speeds N (RPM) and weights on bit (WOB).

Method for predicting rate of penetration using bit-specific coefficient of sliding friction and mechanical efficiency as a function of confined compressive strength

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San Ramon, CA, United States of America

Russell Thomas Ewy