| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7618927 |
Increased rate of penetration from low rheology wellbore fluids |
November 17, 2009 |
| A method of increasing a rate of penetration when drilling as compared to drilling with a baseline drilling fluid comprising an API-grade barite weighting agent and having a given sag, settling rate, density, flow rate, and pressure drop through a wellbore, comprising: circulating a |
| 7618925 |
Shale hydration inhibition agent and method of use |
November 17, 2009 |
| A method of using a water-base wellbore fluid in subterranean wells that penetrate through a subterranean formation containing a shale which swells in the presence of water. The well bore fluid includes, an aqueous based continuous phase, and a shale hydration inhibition agent. One i |
| 7603264 |
Three-dimensional wellbore visualization system for drilling and completion data |
October 13, 2009 |
| A visualization system for a wellbore environment includes a graphics processor for creating a wire mesh model of a well and optionally a drillstring based on datasets of depth-varying parameters of the well. A graphics system maps appropriate textures to the wire mesh models, which |
| 7596481 |
Three-dimensional wellbore analysis and visualization |
September 29, 2009 |
| A visualization system for a wellbore environment includes a graphics processor for creating a computer rendered visual model of a well, and optionally a drill string, based on data sets of depth-varying and/or time-varying parameters of the well. The model is then displayed on a gra |
| 7591375 |
Layered vibratory material conditioning apparatus |
September 22, 2009 |
| A vibratory conditioner includes a plurality of screens having a planar surface through which there is a material feed opening, wherein each screen is retained in vertical alignment such that all planar surfaces are parallel, a chamber within which the parallel screens are retained, |
| 7589049 |
Additive for increasing the density of a fluid for casing annulus pressure |
September 15, 2009 |
| A method of controlling the pressure of a casing annulus in a subterranean well that includes injecting into the casing annulus a composition including a base fluid and a polymer coated colloidal solid material. The polymer coated colloidal solid material includes: a solid particle havin |
| 7584858 |
Screen assembly designed to conform to the radius of vibrating shakers with crowned decks |
September 8, 2009 |
| A screen assembly that is sufficiently flexible to adapt to a non-planar profile of a crowned deck on a vibrating shaker. When attached to the crowned deck, the screen assembly provides a screen with less curvature than the crowned deck. |
| 7572756 |
Shale hydration inhibition agent and method of use |
August 11, 2009 |
| A water-base fluid for use in drilling, cementing, workover, fracturing and abandonment of subterranean wells through a formation containing shale which swells in the presence of water. In one illustrative embodiment, the drilling fluid is composed of an aqueous based continuous phas |
| 7571080 |
Apparatus for slurry and operation design in cuttings re-injection |
August 4, 2009 |
| A system for simulating a wellbore used for cuttings re-injection, that includes functionality to obtain as input to the system at least one wellbore design parameter for the wellbore, at least one operating parameter for the cuttings re-injection, and a slurry design for a slurry to |
| 7563424 |
Method for removing sulfur compounds from fluids using compressed metal oxide composition partic |
July 21, 2009 |
| The present invention relates to a compressed metal oxide composition particle comprised of metal oxide and an organic binder, with the binder preferably being a water insoluble cellulose composition. The present invention also relates to a method for forming a compressed metal oxide |
| 7538074 |
Additive for increasing the density of an oil-based fluid and fluid comprising such additive |
May 26, 2009 |
| A wellbore fluid having an oleaginous phase and an additive for increasing the density of the wellbore fluid. The additive comprises solid colloidal particles coated with a dispersant coated onto the colloidal particle during the comminution process of forming the particles. Exemplary |
| 7527097 |
Methods for using reversible phase oil-based drilling fluid |
May 5, 2009 |
| A method of fracturing a subterranean formation, the method including injecting a fracturing fluid into the well, wherein said fracturing fluid includes: an oleaginous fluid; and an amine surfactant having the structure ##STR00001## wherein R is a C.sub.12-C.sub.22 aliphatic hydroca |
| 7521398 |
Shale hydration inhibition agent and method of use |
April 21, 2009 |
| A method of using a water-base wellbore fluid in subterranean wells that penetrate through a subterranean formation containing a shale which swells in the presence of water. The well bore fluid includes, an aqueous based continuous phase, and a shale hydration inhibition agent. One i |
| 7520342 |
Recovery system |
April 21, 2009 |
| A process for the recovery of drilling fluid additives, including industrial carbon, calcium carbonate, natural and synthetic fibers, and other materials from a mixture. The mixture may include drilling fluids, drilled solids, and drilling fluid additives from a mud system. The proce |
| 7517835 |
Surfactant-polymer compositions for enhancing the stability of viscoelastic-surfactant based flu |
April 14, 2009 |
| Compositions for increasing the thermal and pressure stability of well fluids viscosified using viscoelastic surfactants, the compositions including an effective amount of an oligomeric or polymeric compound that has a thermally stable backbone structure and at least one pendent visc |
| 7516851 |
Retainer for an electronic communication device to detect breaks in porous element separator |
April 14, 2009 |
| A retainer holds an electronic communication device used to detect breaks in porous elements of material separators to the frame of the separator. The retainer includes a ferrule affixed around a hole through the frame of the separator, a housing made from an RF transmissible material |
| 7514392 |
Shale hydration inhibition agent and method of use |
April 7, 2009 |
| A water-base wellbore fluid for use in subterranean wells that penetrate through a subterranean formation containing a shale which swells in the presence of water. The well bore fluid includes, an aqueous based continuous phase, and a shale hydration inhibition agent. One illustrativ |
| 7514389 |
High performance water-based drilling mud and method of use |
April 7, 2009 |
| A water based drilling fluid for use in drilling a subterranean well through a subterranean formation that swells in the presence of water, the drilling fluid is formulated to include: an aqueous based continuous phase; a weight material; an optional shale hydration inhibition agent |
| 7514049 |
Method and apparatus for thermal phase separation |
April 7, 2009 |
| An improved thermal phase separation unit separates contaminants from a contaminated substrate. The improved thermal phase separation unit includes an enclosure arranged to withstand temperatures created by a combustion system, an essentially air-tight processing chamber supported wi |
| 7514005 |
Method of processing drilling fluid |
April 7, 2009 |
| A method for processing drilling fluid comprising an oil and water emulsion and solid material includes breaking the emulsion into an oil phase and a water phase, increasing the surface area of the solid material, adsorbing at least some of the water phase to the increased surface ar |
| 7507344 |
Method for recycling of oil based drilling fluid contaminated with water and water contaminated |
March 24, 2009 |
| A mobile apparatus and method for recycling an invert emulsion based drilling fluid, in which the invert emulsion based drilling fluid includes an oleaginous component and an aqueous component. The apparatus includes an emulsion breaking tank, a water treatment tank, a filter press, |
| 7497954 |
Apparatus for separation of water from oil-based drilling fluid and advanced water treatment |
March 3, 2009 |
| An apparatus for separating water from oil-based drilling fluid includes an separation tank, a chemical treatment apparatus having one or more de-oiling polymer preparation tanks, and a dissolved air flotation unit. Slop mud is directed into the separation tank where surfactant is added |
| 7497262 |
High performance water-based drilling mud and method of use |
March 3, 2009 |
| A method of forming a subterranean well and a method of reducing the swelling of shale clay during the drilling of the subterranean well. The method features the use of a water based drilling fluid, wherein the drilling fluid is formulated to include: an aqueous based continuous phas |
| 7494958 |
Shale hydration inhibition agent and method of use |
February 24, 2009 |
| A water-base wellbore fluid for use in subterranean wells that penetrate through a subterranean formation containing a shale which swells in the presence of water. The well bore fluid includes, an aqueous based continuous phase, and a shale hydration inhibition agent. One illustrativ |
| 7478672 |
Apparatus for controlling a pressure control assembly in a hazardous area |
January 20, 2009 |
| An apparatus operable is a hazardous area for controlling a choke assembly includes an air source, an air purge system in fluid communication with the air source, a remote operating panel receiving data from at least one remotely located wellbore sensor, a local operating panel in electr |
| 7478020 |
Apparatus for slurry and operation design in cuttings re-injection |
January 13, 2009 |
| A system for simulating a wellbore used for cuttings re-injection, that includes functionality to obtain as input to the system at least one wellbore design parameter for the wellbore, at least one operating parameter for the cuttings re-injection, and a slurry design for a slurry to |
| 7455783 |
Method for centrifugal separation enhancement |
November 25, 2008 |
| A method for removing low gravity solids from an oil-based drilling fluid includes directing the drilling fluid into a first inlet of a first line in fluid communication with a centrifuge, injecting steam into the drilling fluid through a second inlet in the first line, wherein the s |
| 7449431 |
Additive for increasing the density of a fluid for casing annulus pressure control |
November 11, 2008 |
| A method of controlling the pressure of a casing annulus in a subterranean well that includes injecting into the casing annulus a composition including a base fluid and a polymer coated colloidal solid material. The polymer coated colloidal solid material includes: a solid particle havin |
| 7440876 |
Method and apparatus for drilling waste disposal engineering and operations using a probabilisti |
October 21, 2008 |
| A method for determining distribution data for a disposal domain parameter to increase assurance in a cuttings injection process, including performing a fracturing simulation using a site specific datum to obtain a fracturing result, determining a probability of creating a new fracture |
| 7438142 |
Recovery system |
October 21, 2008 |
| A process for the recovery of industrial carbon material from a mixture. The mixture may include drilling fluids, drilled solids, and industrial carbon from a mud system. The process may include: separating at least a portion of the drilled solids from the mixture to form a first effluen |
| 7429327 |
Clarifying tank |
September 30, 2008 |
| Methods and apparatus for separating solid particles from a fluid. One preferred embodiment includes a tank for settling particles out of the fluid, a conical chamber at the bottom of the tank, an outlet connected to conical chamber, and a conical auger within the conical chamber. The |
| 7427582 |
Internal breaker |
September 23, 2008 |
| A wellbore fluid including a peroxide degradable polymer and an encapsulated peroxide source. The peroxide degradable polymer may be a polysaccharide. The peroxide source may include an inorganic peroxide, including zinc and alkaline earth metal peroxides, such as magnesium peroxide. |
| 7409994 |
Drilling well with drilling fluid of fluid phase and weighting agent |
August 12, 2008 |
| An additive that increases the density of fluids used in a wellbore during the construction or repair of oil, gas, injection, water, or geothermal wells comprises In one illustrative embodiment the additive comprises a weighting agent, and more preferably an ultra-fine weighting agent. |
| 7399731 |
Electrically conductive non-aqueous wellbore fluid |
July 15, 2008 |
| A non-aqueous wellbore fluid comprises a non-aqueous continuous phase with one or more organic salts having the formula ((R.sub.1-Q).sub.pX).sub.mZ.sub.n, one or more oligomeric organic salts based on linked ((R.sub.1-Q).sub.pX).sub.mZ.sub.n subunits, or a combination thereof dissolv |
| 7396052 |
Sanitary sealed connector for fluid handling systems and storage devices |
July 8, 2008 |
| A sanitary connector apparatus includes first and second tubular members coaxially aligned such that a first member end of the first tubular member is positioned toward a second member end of the second tubular member. First and second sealing components radially extend from the firs |
| 7389882 |
Multi-hardness composite screen frame |
June 24, 2008 |
| A self-cleaning screen assembly for a vibratory separator is disclosed. The self-cleaning screen assembly includes a peripheral frame having a top mounting surface to which at least one screen cloth is affixed and a bottom mounting surface to which a flow through support screen is af |
| 7387985 |
Monovalent cation-containing well fluids |
June 17, 2008 |
| A monovalent cation containing well fluid composed of an aqueous brine containing at least 0.6 equivalents per liter of a water soluble monovalent cation salt, is substantially free of divalent cations, and an amount of a starch derivative selected such that the well fluid has the fo |
| 7380673 |
Flow diverter and exhaust blower for vibrating screen separator assembly |
June 3, 2008 |
| A flow diverter and a vacuum blower for vibrating screen separator assembly. The flow diverter decelerates and increases the exposed surface of materials. The exhaust blower removes vapors from the materials. |
| 7380672 |
Flow diverter and exhaust blower for vibrating screen separator assembly |
June 3, 2008 |
| A flow diverter and a vacuum blower for vibrating screen separator assembly. The flow diverter decelerates and increases the exposed surface of materials. The exhaust blower removes vapors from the materials. |
| 7377721 |
Methods for using reversible phase oil-based drilling fluid |
May 27, 2008 |
| Invert emulsion compositions including an oleaginous, a non-oleaginous and an amine surfactant that are useful in the oil and gas well drilling art are disclosed. The amine surfactant is selected so that the invert emulsion can be converted form a water-in-oil type emulsion to a oil- |
| 7377336 |
Modular pressure control and drilling waste management apparatus for subterranean borehole |
May 27, 2008 |
| A modularly segmented apparatus for precise borehole pressure control, removing waste from borehole fluid, and recirculating the cleaned borehole fluid includes a pressure control section, a gas separator section, and a waste management section. In the pressure control section, a pre |
| 7370820 |
Method and system for harvesting weighting agent fines |
May 13, 2008 |
| A method for harvesting weighting agent fines includes milling weighting agent into a plurality of pieces, classifying the pieces based on size to extract those particles having a particle size less than an acceptable maximum diameter, reclassifying the pieces based on size to extract th |
| 7370568 |
Method and apparatus for angularly positioning a shaker separator bed |
May 13, 2008 |
| An apparatus for angularly positioning a shaker bed, including a discharge end, includes an air source providing pressurized air, an hydraulic tank in selective communication with the air source and containing a quantity of fluid, at least one bellow in selective fluid communication with |
| 7363937 |
Replaceable sleeve insert for a choke assembly |
April 29, 2008 |
| A replaceable sleeve insert for a choke assembly is disclosed, wherein the replaceable sleeve insert has a tubular member coaxially and sealingly retained within an upper body section of the choke assembly. The tubular member is also sealed against the bonnet. The tubular member has an i |
| 7358635 |
Magnetic power transmission devices for oilfield applications |
April 15, 2008 |
| A method and apparatus relates to incorporating a magnetic coupling for use in oilfield applications. The magnetic coupling is operatively coupled to an oilfield machine to provide a controlled operational speed. The magnetic coupling may be operatively connected to a motor and a drive |
| 7353621 |
Cleaning apparatus for vertical separator |
April 8, 2008 |
| A cleaning apparatus for a material dryer may include an air source, a pulse nozzle selectively in fluid communication with the air source and located within a section of the solids outlet assembly, and a controller for controlling an air flow from the air source periodically to the puls |
| 7343827 |
System and process for break detection in porous elements for screening or filtering |
March 18, 2008 |
| A method of detecting breaks in a porous element in a material separator is disclosed. A shielding is created in the material separator to form a barrier to RF energy. The shielding is formed with a path through the barrier capable of allowing RF energy and material to flow therethrough. |
| 7338922 |
Process fluid |
March 4, 2008 |
| A water-based, shear-thinning process fluid comprises bentonite, aluminium hydroxide particles, and salt. The median diameter (by weight) of the aluminium hydroxide particles does not exceed 2 .mu.m. |
| 7334639 |
In-situ solidification of invert emulsion fluids to form gas tight annular barrier |
February 26, 2008 |
| A method for sealing a subterranean zone is disclosed. The method includes the steps of preparing a wellbore fluid, placing the wellbore fluid into at least a portion of an annular space between the sidewalls of a wellbore and the exterior of a casing string disposed in the wellbore, |
| 7332097 |
Clarifying tank |
February 19, 2008 |
| Methods and apparatus for separating solid particles from a fluid. One preferred embodiment includes a tank for settling particles out of the fluid, a conical chamber at the bottom of the tank, an outlet connected to conical chamber, and a conical auger within the conical chamber. The |
