The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 11, 2007
Filed:
Aug. 04, 2004
R. K. Bansal, Houston, TX (US);
David J. Brunnert, Cypress, TX (US);
Michael Brian Grayson, Sugar Land, TX (US);
James Ken Whanger, Houston, TX (US);
Evan Lowe, Houston, TX (US);
Abdolreza Gharesi, Houston, TX (US);
Tim Hanberry, Houston, TX (US);
R. K. Bansal, Houston, TX (US);
David J. Brunnert, Cypress, TX (US);
Michael Brian Grayson, Sugar Land, TX (US);
James Ken Whanger, Houston, TX (US);
Evan Lowe, Houston, TX (US);
Abdolreza Gharesi, Houston, TX (US);
Tim Hanberry, Houston, TX (US);
Weatherford/Lamb, Inc., Houston, TX (US);
Abstract
Methods for forming a portion of a wellbore are provided. The well is drilled from a first selected depth to a second selected depth to form a bore through a surrounding earth formation. A fluid heating apparatus is disposed within the bore on a working string. Fluid is then heated by moving the fluid through the fluid heating apparatus in the wellbore. The process of circulating fluid adjacent the earth formation serves to also heat the surrounding formation so as to increase the fracture gradient. The fluid heating process may be conducted during a drilling procedure. Alternatively, the fluid heating process may be conducted in connection with a liner hanging and cementing process. A fluid flow restrictor is provided along a run-in assembly that serves to warm the fluids as they are circulated. The warm fluids provide convective heat to the surrounding earth formation, thereby reducing the formation's fracture gradient.