| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7467658 |
Down hole drilling fluid heating apparatus and method |
December 23, 2008 |
| An apparatus for providing heat energy to a fluid, including a housing adapted for connection into a working string and for inserting into a borehole, a flow path for the fluid extending within the housing, a pressure drop device positioned within the flow path, and an actuator for a |
| 7463027 |
Systems and methods for deep-looking NMR logging |
December 9, 2008 |
| An NMR logging tool for conducting NMR measurements in a plurality of sensitive volumes ranging up to a meter from the tool. The tool comprises a magnetic assembly using one or more permanent magnets and at least one pole piece for extending a magnet pole and shaping the magnetic field t |
| 7462581 |
Treatment fluids comprising starch and ceramic particulate bridging agents and methods of using |
December 9, 2008 |
| Compositions relating to fluid loss control operations are provided. In some embodiments, fluid loss treatment fluid compositions are provided that may comprise ceramic particulate bridging agents, wherein at least a portion of the ceramic particulate bridging agents comprise chemically |
| 7462580 |
Flat rheology drilling fluids |
December 9, 2008 |
| Methods for drilling, running casing in, and/or cementing a borehole in a subterranean formation without significant loss of drilling fluid are disclosed, as well as compositions for use in such methods. The methods employ drilling fluids comprising fragile gels or having fragile gel |
| 7462274 |
Fluid separator with smart surface |
December 9, 2008 |
| A separating system for separating a fluid mixture incorporates a smart surface having reversibly switchable properties. A voltage is selectively applied to the smart surface to attract or repel constituents of a fluid mixture, such as oil and water produced from a hydrocarbon well. The |
| 7462234 |
Wellbore servicing compositions |
December 9, 2008 |
| A wellbore servicing comprising a calcium aluminate cement and at least one gelation inhibitor wherein the calcium aluminate cement comprises less than about 50 wt. % alumina, greater than about 2 wt. % iron oxide, or both. A wellbore servicing composition comprising calcium aluminate |
| 7461697 |
Methods of modifying particulate surfaces to affect acidic sites thereon |
December 9, 2008 |
| Methods comprising: providing a treatment fluid that comprises a base fluid and a least a plurality of coated particulates, the coated particulates having been treated with a surface modification agent and coated with a hydrolysable coating; placing the treatment fluid into a subterr |
| 7461696 |
Methods of fracturing using fly ash aggregates |
December 9, 2008 |
| A method of propping at least one fracture in a subterranean formation is provided, the method comprising: forming a plurality of fly ash aggregates, each fly ash aggregate comprising an aqueous component and fly ash; introducing the plurality of fly ash aggregates into the at least |
| 7458267 |
Acoustic emission inspection of coiled tubing |
December 2, 2008 |
| A method for testing tubing having the following steps: plastically deforming the tubing with a tubing handling system, the tubing handling system having a reel, a gooseneck and an injector; sensing with at least one sensor acoustic emissions emitted by the tubing during the deforming; |
| 7456135 |
Methods of drilling using flat rheology drilling fluids |
November 25, 2008 |
| Methods for drilling, running casing in, and/or cementing a borehole in a subterranean formation without significant loss of drilling fluid are disclosed, as well as compositions for use in such methods. The methods employ drilling fluids comprising fragile gels or having fragile gel |
| 7455112 |
Methods and compositions relating to the control of the rates of acid-generating compounds in ac |
November 25, 2008 |
| Of the many methods provided, in one embodiment, a method is provided that comprises: providing an acid-generating fluid that comprises an acid-generating compound, a base fluid, and a salt; placing the acid-generating fluid in a well bore penetrating a subterranean formation; allowi |
| 7452417 |
Downhole servicing compositions having high thermal conductivities and methods of using the same |
November 18, 2008 |
| A downhole servicing composition comprising from about 15 percent to about 80 percent by weight of a clay, and from about 10 percent to about 75 percent by weight of a carbon source is disclosed. The invention includes a downhole servicing composition comprising from about 15 percent to |
| 7452161 |
Apparatus for sealing and isolating pipelines |
November 18, 2008 |
| A pipeline tool for use within a pipeline comprises a tool body with an internal flow bore, a swellable component disposed about the tool body, and a temporary seal disposed internally of the flow bore. The pipeline tool may further comprise a tracking device attached to the tool body, |
| 7451817 |
Methods of using casing strings in subterranean cementing operations |
November 18, 2008 |
| Improved casing strings, and methods of using improved casing strings in subterranean cementing operations, are provided. An example of an apparatus is a pipe string comprising at least one pipe section and a delivery system of an activator. Another example of an apparatus is a pipe |
| 7451815 |
Sand control screen assembly enhanced with disappearing sleeve and burst disc |
November 18, 2008 |
| A sand control screen assembly for use in a wellbore includes a tubular base pipe having a first perforated section. The first perforated section has at least a first opening that allows fluid flow therethrough. The assembly also includes an internal seal element disposed within an i |
| 7451814 |
System and method for producing fluids from a subterranean formation |
November 18, 2008 |
| The system of subterranean wells includes a subsurface flow line 20 having at least a portion within or underlining one or more subterranean formations 12. One or more drainage wells 26, 28, 30, 32, and 34 each extend from the surface and intercept at least one of the subterranean fo |
| 7449062 |
Cement compositions for reducing gas or water migration and methods of using the same |
November 11, 2008 |
| A method of cementing a wellbore comprising preparing a cement composition comprising a water-soluble aromatic sulfonated polymer, and placing the cement composition into the wellbore, wherein the cement composition develops a compressive strength of greater than about zero in less time |
| 7448451 |
Methods for controlling migration of particulates in a subterranean formation |
November 11, 2008 |
| Methods of controlling particulate migration in a portion of a subterranean formation comprising placing a pre-flush fluid into the portion of the subterranean formation; and then, placing a low-viscosity adhesive substance diluted with an aqueous dissolvable solvent into the portion |
| 7448450 |
Drilling and cementing with fluids containing zeolite |
November 11, 2008 |
| Methods and compositions for cementing, especially drilling fluids that comprise zeolite and a carrier fluid, and cementing compositions made with such drilling fluids. |
| 7447051 |
Synchronous multi-phase AC-to-DC converter |
November 4, 2008 |
| Disclosed herein are various embodiments of power conversion systems and methods employing synchronous multi-phase AC-to-DC conversion. In one embodiment, a power converter comprises a transistor bridge and a switching controller that operates the transistor bridge in response to AC |
| 7445670 |
Foamed cement compositions and associated methods of use |
November 4, 2008 |
| A method is provided for reducing the density of a well cement composition for cementing in a subterranean formation. The method comprises providing a cement composition that comprises water and a cement, and then adding an additive comprising an anionic foam stabilizer and an anionic fo |
| 7445669 |
Settable compositions comprising cement kiln dust and additive(s) |
November 4, 2008 |
| The present invention provides settable compositions that comprise water and cement kiln dust. The settable compositions optionally may comprise an additive that comprises at least one of the following group: fly ash; shale; slag cement; zeolite; metakaolin; and combinations thereof. The |
| 7445045 |
Method of optimizing production of gas from vertical wells in coal seams |
November 4, 2008 |
| The present invention is directed to a method for producing gas from a subterranean formation containing a coal seam. The method includes the steps of drilling a substantially vertical well bore into the subterranean formation, which intersects the coal seam and fracturing the coal s |
| 7445044 |
Polymer mixtures for crosslinked fluids |
November 4, 2008 |
| Treatment fluids comprising gelling agents that comprise crosslinkable polymers and certain biopolymers, and methods of use in subterranean operations, are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation comprisin |
| 7444946 |
Material management apparatus, systems, and methods |
November 4, 2008 |
| In some embodiments, an apparatus that can be used to contain radiation sources, explosives, and other material transported as cargo may include layers of lead, tungsten, plastic, paraffin, armor, and heat absorbing material to surround an interior portion, as well as a lockable port to |
| 7444861 |
Real time management system for slickline/wireline |
November 4, 2008 |
| A real-time line management system and associated methods. A line management system for use in conjunction with an operation in a subterranean well includes a line installed in the well during the operation, and a computing device which indicates a used life of the line during the op |
| 7444362 |
Method and system of sending a reduced representation of logging data to log analysis applicatio |
October 28, 2008 |
| A method and system of reducing logging data for log analysis applications. Some embodiments may be a method comprising sending a request for logging data from a log analysis application to a repository of logging data gathered by a logging device, and sending a reply comprising a re |
| 7444242 |
Method and system for statistical pressure gradient and fluid contact analysis |
October 28, 2008 |
| A method and system for statistical pressure gradient and fluid contact analysis. The method and system include planning for a pressure gradient test by using expected parameters and statistical expected error analysis to set the actual pressure gradient test parameters within an accepta |
| 7443312 |
Downhole telemetry system having discrete multi-tone modulation with QAM fallback |
October 28, 2008 |
| Improved communication systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a downhole communications system comprises a downhole transceiver and a surface transceiver. The surface transceiver receives a discrete multi-tone (DMT) modulated uplink signal from the downhole transceiver |
| 7442932 |
High temperature imaging device |
October 28, 2008 |
| High temperature imaging devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, the imaging device comprises an array of photosensitive elements fabricated on an insulator substrate, and an information storage component coupled to the array. The information storage component stores data representing |
| 7441600 |
Cement compositions with improved mechanical properties and methods of cementing in subterranean |
October 28, 2008 |
| The present invention provides foamed cement compositions with improved mechanical properties and methods of cementing in subterranean formations, particularly in conjunction with subterranean well operations. The foamed cement compositions comprise carbon fibers, a hydraulic cement |
| 7441598 |
Methods of stabilizing unconsolidated subterranean formations |
October 28, 2008 |
| Methods of stabilizing unconsolidated portions of a subterranean formation are provided. In one embodiment, the methods comprise: creating or enhancing at least two slots in an unconsolidated portion of a subterranean formation along a well bore, wherein the slots are positioned abou |
| 7439210 |
Inhibitive water-based drilling fluid system and method for drilling sands and other water-sensi |
October 21, 2008 |
| An inhibitive water-based polymer mud system and method for using the system in drilling and in stabilizing wellbores is disclosed for use in water sensitive formations as an alternative to oil-based muds. The system comprises a non-ionic low molecular weight polyacrylamide in combin |
| 7438758 |
Cement compositions comprising aromatic sulfonated polymers and methods of using the same |
October 21, 2008 |
| A method of servicing a wellbore that penetrates a subterranean formation includes displacing a cement composition comprising an aromatic sulfonated polymer into the wellbore and allowing the cement composition to set. In an embodiment, a transition time of the cement composition is |
| 7438128 |
Identifying zones of origin of annular gas pressure |
October 21, 2008 |
| A method for identifying annular gas sources in a wellbore is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a set of parameters, wherein the set of parameters corresponds to depths in the wellbore. In addition, the method comprises analyzing annular gas in the wellbore to |
| 7435706 |
Thinners for invert emulsions |
October 14, 2008 |
| A method of reducing the viscosity of oil-based drilling fluids and well service fluids at low temperatures and a thinner compound for use in such drilling fluids and well service fluids is disclosed. The method comprises adding to said drilling fluids or well service fluids a thinner |
| 7435293 |
Cement compositions comprising maltodextrin |
October 14, 2008 |
| Cement compositions, and more particularly, cement compositions that include maltodextrin. An example is a cement composition that includes: a hydraulic cement, water, and an additive comprising maltodextrin. Another example is a cement composition that includes: a hydraulic cement, wate |
| 7433762 |
Methods for controlling multiple actuators |
October 7, 2008 |
| Methods for controlling at least two actuators are provided. An internal control system sends an input received from the main control system to a first actuator and diverts a portion of the input to a second actuator when an input constraint of the first actuator is reached. The actuator |
| 7431097 |
Apparatus and method for injecting tubing into a well |
October 7, 2008 |
| The disclosed invention is an apparatus for injecting tubing into a well while sensing wear within the apparatus, along with a method for sensing wear, according to which the tubing is engaged by a chain and the linear motion of the tubing and the chain is sensed. |
| 7431094 |
Method for utilizing downhole safety joint |
October 7, 2008 |
| A method of operating a safety joint that allows disconnection from a downhole section of a drill string without rotating the drill string. In an example class of embodiments, the innovative safety joint includes a sleeve with a j-slot that fits to a lug attached to the mandrel. A piston |
| 7431090 |
Methods and apparatus for multiple fracturing of subterranean formations |
October 7, 2008 |
| The invention relates to methods and apparatus for creating multiple fractures in subterranean formations. The apparatus is a jetting tool having a plurality of sets of jetting nozzles so that the sets of nozzles are substantially parallel to one another such that parallel cavities may |
| 7431088 |
Methods of controlled acidization in a wellbore |
October 7, 2008 |
| An improved acidization method is provided in which an aqueous solution comprising one or more esters or polyesters of lactic acid or of glycerol is placed in a well where the esters or polyesters undergo hydrolysis. The hydrolysis of the esters or polyesters occurs at a slower reaction |
| 7431086 |
Methods of servicing a wellbore with compositions comprising quaternary material and sorel cemen |
October 7, 2008 |
| A method of servicing a wellbore in contact with a subterranean formation comprising viscosifying a cement composition comprising a metal oxide and a soluble salt, placing the viscosified cement composition in the wellbore, and allowing the composition to set. A method of cementing a |
| 7430965 |
Debris retention perforating apparatus and method for use of same |
October 7, 2008 |
| A perforating apparatus (100) includes a plurality of shaped charges (102) each having an initiation end and a discharge end. A detonating cord (116) is operably coupled to the initiation ends of the shaped charges (102). A carrier (106) contains the shaped charges (102). The carrier |
| 7429332 |
Separating constituents of a fluid mixture |
September 30, 2008 |
| A device for separating constituents of a fluid mixture includes an elongate vessel oriented at an acute angle to horizontal. The vessel is operable to receive the fluid mixture and direct the fluid mixture to flow in a convection cell spanning substantially a length of the vessel. T |
| 7427863 |
Method and system for calculating resistivity of an earth formation |
September 23, 2008 |
| Method and system for calculating resistivity of an earth formation. At least some of the illustrative embodiments are methods comprising transmitting a current from a first current source, receiving at least part of the current at a first current return, said first current disposed |
| 7424914 |
Cement compositions comprising high aspect ratio materials and methods of use in subterranean fo |
September 16, 2008 |
| Cement compositions that include high aspect ratio materials, and methods for using such cement compositions in subterranean formations are provided herein. An example of a method is a method of cementing in a subterranean formation. An example of a composition is a cement compositio |
| 7424913 |
Methods of using substantially hydrated cement particulates in subterranean applications |
September 16, 2008 |
| Methods of gravel packing comprising providing a gravel packing fluid comprising a base fluid and substantially hydrated cement particulates, introducing the gravel packing fluid into a subterranean formation, and depositing at least a portion of the substantially hydrated cement par |
| 7422062 |
Methods of treating subterranean formations using treatment fluids comprising chlorinated carboh |
September 9, 2008 |
| Subterranean treatment operations, and more particularly, methods of treating subterranean formations using treatment fluid compositions including chlorinated carbohydrates, are provided. An example of a method is a method of treating a subterranean formation, including: providing a |
| 7418348 |
Signal thresholding apparatus, systems, and methods |
August 26, 2008 |
| In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and an article, may include selecting a plurality of signal thresholds including a product of an integer ranging from about 2 to N and a ratio of a quotient of a maximum peak amplitude of the acoustic borehole signal and |
