Terratek, Inc.

Schlumberger Technology Corporation

Enhanced Production, Inc.

Baker Hughes Corporation

Geotechnical Resources Ltd.

Services Petroliers Schlumberger

Schlumberger Holdings Limited

Sidney J Green

Roberto Suarez-Rivera

Dean Michael Willberg

Maxim Andreevich Chertov

Dean M Willberg

Arfon H Jones

Lawrence B Owen

Chaitanya Deenadayalu

David Alexander Curry

Ronald Gene Bland

Leroy William Ledgerwood, Iii

Christopher F Johnson

David Handwerger

Yi-Kun Yang

Robert Michael Griffin

Henri Samuel Swolfs

Floyd H Shipman

Joel Wesley Martin

Carl J Van Kempen

Randy R Nielsen

Daniel M Masterson

Arnis Judzis

Alan D Black

Homer A Robertson

A method for characterizing properties of a sample that employs a test apparatus including an isolated sample cell and pressure sensor where the isolated sample cell is loaded with the sample and gaseous test fluid to perform a number of different tests to derive properties of the sample. The tests can be performed over different parameters, such as different applied pressures of the test fluid to derive parameters related to apparent gas permeability of the sample as a function of applied pressure, different gaseous test fluids to characterize dependence of permeability of the sample on mean free molecular path or pressure, with both adsorptive and non-adsorptive test gases to characterize at least one property related to adsorptive interaction between the adsorptive test gas and the sample, and with samples of varying saturation levels to derive a measure of at least one property of the subsamples at corresponding saturation levels.

Apparatus and methodology for measuring properties of microporous material at multiple scales

Well completion technology is disclosed for accounting for fracture surface roughness. A frack fluid is pumped into the wellbore to form a fracture in a formation surrounding a wellbore. In one example, a method for completing a wellbore comprises determining a fracture surface roughness for a given formation rock, and for a give fracture fluid or pumping schedule or both, prior to hydraulic fracturing. A fracture fluid and/or a pumping schedule is selected based on the determined fracture surface roughness and formation characteristics. The selected fracture fluid is pumped into the wellbore, with the selected pumping schedule, to create a desired fracture network in the formation.

Hydraulic fracturing in highly heterogeneous formations by fluid selection based on fracture surface roughness

Well completion technology for resisting imbibing frack fluid into an inner surface of a frack comprises pumping a frack fluid into the wellbore to form a fracture in a formation surrounding a wellbore. In one example, formation of transverse micro-fractures extending transverse to the fracture is resisted to resist absorption of the frack fluid into the formation through the inner face of the fracture, or into existing transverse micro-fractures or transverse micro-fractures formed by the pumping of the frack fluid. In another example, a sealer is added to a frack fluid to sealing or coating an inner face of the fracture with the sealer. In another example, micro-particles with a size less thanmicrons are added to the frack fluid.

Hydraulic fracturing in highly heterogeneous formations by resisting formation and/or sealing micro-fractures

A method for characterizing properties of a porous sample that employs a test apparatus including a sample cell and associated pressure sensor having a configuration that measures pressure of the isolated sample cell. The porous sample is divided into a number of pieces, which are loaded into the sample cell. The test apparatus is configured to perform a sequence of test operations whereby the loaded isolated sample cell is filled with test fluid under pressure and the pressure sensor is used to generate and store pressure data over time. A data processing system processes the pressure data in conjunction with a computational model that includes a set of pressure curves with a number of curve-related variables and associated values in order to identify a matching pressure curve, and processes the variable values for the matching pressure curve in order to derive bulk properties of the porous sample.

System and methodology for determining properties of a substance

A method for characterizing properties of a manufactured rock sample that employs first and second test apparatus. The first test apparatus includes a sample holder and associated pressure sensors, wherein the sample holder allows for a pulse of test fluid to flow through the sample, and the pressure sensors measure pressure upstream and downstream of the sample as the pulse of test fluid flows through the sample. The second test apparatus includes a sample cell and associated pressure sensor, wherein the sample cell has a configuration where the sample cell is isolated and filled with test fluid under pressure and the pressure sensor measures pressure of the isolated sample cell. The first and second test apparatus are used to measure bulk properties of the sample. The sample is partitioned into pieces, and the second test apparatus is used to measure properties for different size-groups of such sample pieces.

A method for stimulating production in a wellbore associated with a reservoir. The method includes determining a textural complexity of a formation in which the reservoir is located, determining an induced fracture complexity of the formation using the textural complexity, fracturing the formation to create a plurality of fractures, determining an operation to perform within the formation to maintain conductivity of the formation based on the induced fracture complexity and the textural complexity, and performing the operation, wherein the operation comprises drilling a lateral well originating from the wellbore to maintain conductivity of the formation.

Method and system for increasing production of a reservoir using lateral wells

A method for stimulating production of a first wellbore associated with a reservoir. The method includes determining a textural complexity of a formation in which the reservoir is located, determining an induced fracture complexity of the formation using the textural complexity, determining a first operation to perform within the formation to maintain conductivity of the formation based on the induced fracture complexity and the textural complexity, performing the first operation within the formation, and fracturing the formation to create a first plurality of fractures.

Method and system for increasing production of a reservoir

An apparatus for continuous measurement of a geomaterial is disclosed. The apparatus includes a measuring device and a flat bed operatively coupled to the measuring device. The measuring device includes a moving head configured to move in a longitudinal direction relative to a core section of the geomaterial and a first probe coupled to the moving head and configured to continuously measure a property of the core section. The flat bed includes a load actuator configured to secure the core section during the continuous measurement and axially rotate the core section, as well as a core holder assembly configured to apply confining pressure on a length of the core section.

Apparatus for continuous measurement of heterogeneity of geomaterials

To improve drilling performance, a drilling fluid is selected based on one or more criteria and to have at least one target characteristic. Drilling equipment is used to drill a wellbore, and the selected drilling fluid is provided into the wellbore during drilling with the drilling equipment. The at least one target characteristic of the drilling fluid includes an ability of the drilling fluid to penetrate into formation cuttings during drilling to weaken the formation cuttings.

Optimizing drilling performance using a selected drilling fluid

A triaxial test cell and pressure balanced piston therefor that includes a housing containing a vessel wherein a test specimen is located, immerged in a confining fluid. The housing includes a passage wherein the piston is installed to slide so as to move an end thereof into the vesel, which passage includes an annular area formed intermediate therealong wherein a collar portion of the piston is fitted. The piston collar portion includes a face whose surface area is equal to the area of the piston end face that travels into the vessel, and the annular area above that collar upper face is connected by an open passage to that vessel. The piston and passage include appropriate ring seals for providing a pressure seal above and below the passage annular area and that annular area is separated by a pressure seal arranged around the piston collar, with the annular area below that collar vented to atmosphere.

Pressure balanced loading piston for triaxial test cells

A method for accelerating the freezing of sea water by two different, but related approaches. One involves the use of fluorinated or fluorochemical surfactants, other surfactants with specific activity in saline water, and the other by treatment with ice nucleation agents or the use of both. The specific application for the process is construction of improved load bearing ice structures as used in Arctic regions in supprot of hydrocarbon exploration and production activities.

Rapid construction of ice structures with chemically treated sea water

A method for accelerating construction of a load bearing ice island, formed by either sea water spraying or flooding techniques, of higher quality or in a shorter time or both than would otherwise be possible. The method involves forced refreezing of spray ice by application of a vertical stream of cold ambient air, as produced by a fan or other devices described, directly downward on the ice surface or by application of the downwardly directed air stream to an impounded mass of sea water. The specific application for the process is construction of improved load bearing structures as used in Arctic regions in support of offshore hydrocarbon exploration and production activities.

Forced refreezing method for the formation of high strength ice

The present invention embodies an improved method for the in situ mining of low to impermeable minerals to sweep out sections of deposits beneath the surface of the earth. Practicing the method of the invention generally involves: locating, by exploration at depth, a mineral deposit suitable for in situ mining and drilling a well bore into that deposit; hydraulically fracturing that well bore utilizing a disintegrating solution to break up aggregate bonding, fully opening the formation, and, at the time of fracturing, by ground surface stress changes determining the principal fracture direction; from the determined fracture direction, locating at least one production well bore appropriately alongside the first well bore and fracturing that production well bore using a disintegrating solution, which solution, optionally, includes proppants therein; passing a leaching solution flow between the well bore and production well bore to dissolve appropriate minerals from the deposit; and drawing out, preferably through the production well bore, the pregnant leaching solution for further refining above ground.

Process for solution mining

The present invention in a rotary coupling or swivel is arranged for maintaining together, respectively, stationary and rotating pipes wherethrough a fluid under pressure is passed and involves an outer stationary body with an inner body journaled therein. The two bodies are held together by positioning a number of hardened balls within complimentary grooves formed, respectively, around the stationary body inner circumference and around the inner body outer circumference, the aligned grooves forming a track or race wherein the hardened balls roll freely. The hardened balls are dropped into the grooves through a port formed through the stationary body, holding the bodies together and functioning as a roller bearing to carry high thrust loads beyond the pressure loading. The coupling additionally includes a dual packing seal arrangement that, when installed between the stationary and rotating bodies will act as a barrier to fluid flow into the coupling and includes a visual flow indicator associated therewith that will indicate to an operator the failure of a primary seal. The dual packing seal arrangement is arranged to be easily installed without a necessity of fully separating the coupling bodies. Additionally, proximate ends of the coupling stationary and rotating bodies across where the fluid under pressure is passed are each tapered appropriately so as to provide a minimum pressure drop across the junction, and a plurality of radial bearings are preferably provided between the coupling bodies for supporting bending moments exerted thereacross.

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Sidney J Green