| Patent Number |
Title Of Patent |
Date Issued |
| 7345594 |
Noise attenuation apparatus for borehole telemetry |
March 18, 2008 |
| A surface mud pipeline system is described with a mechanical acoustic filter (1245) tuned to a predetermined frequency band so as to attenuate pump noise (132) within this band. The filter can be combined with a Venturi constriction to provide enhanced attenuation and is used to impr |
| 7345013 |
Polymer Crosslinking System Comprising Soluble Zr(IV), Carbonate and Bicarbonate Ions |
March 18, 2008 |
| A composition useful for making gelled fluids by crosslinking hydratable polymers is an aqueous solution of zirconium complexed with carbonate and bicarbonate as the only multidentate ligands complexed with zirconium. The composition also provides pH modifying capability and the cros |
| 7345012 |
Foamed viscoelastic surfactants |
March 18, 2008 |
| A method for increasing the foam stability of foams made with cationic, zwitterionic, and amphoteric viscoelastic surfactant fluid systems by adding an effective amount of an amphiphilic polymeric foam stabilizer containing at least one portion that is a partially hydrolyzed polyvinyl |
| 7343978 |
Scale dissolver fluid |
March 18, 2008 |
| A scale dissolver fluid for dissolving scale in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprises an effective amount of a scale dissolver formulation and an effective amount of a surfactant for controlling the viscosity of the fluid. In use, formation hydrocarbons act on the su |
| 7343970 |
Real time optimization of well production without creating undue risk of formation instability |
March 18, 2008 |
| A system and method is provided for producing fluid from a subterranean formation. A sensor system is used to monitor bottom hole flowing pressure and formation pressure. The relationship of these pressures is utilized in conjunction with a stability envelope of the formation in opti |
| 7342222 |
Method and apparatus for downhole spectroscopy processing |
March 11, 2008 |
| A method for downhole spectroscopy processing is described. The method includes: obtaining raw spectroscopy data using a downhole tool; processing the raw spectroscopy data using the downhole tool to obtain a downhole processed solution; transmitting the downhole processed solution t |
| 7341980 |
Viscoelastic surfactant rheology modification |
March 11, 2008 |
| A method for shortening the shear recovery time of zwitterionic viscoelastic surfactant fluids by adding a rheology enhancer having the structure: R-(EO).sub.x(PO).sub.y--R'--OH in which R is an alkyl group that is straight chained or branched, saturated or unsaturated, and contains |
| 7341107 |
Viscoelastic acid |
March 11, 2008 |
| An acidic viscoelastic surfactant fluid composition is formulated with an acid, for example hydrochloric acid, a cationic surfactant, for example a quaternary amine, and a break-enabling salt, for example NH.sub.4Cl. The fluid composition has low viscosity as formulated, undergoes an inc |
| 7340819 |
Field weldable connections |
March 11, 2008 |
| The present invention provides a field weldable connection. In one embodiment, the field weldable connection is a downhole connector assembly for sealingly attaching a first and a second segment of a control line. The control line has an outer housing that encapsulates a polymeric se |
| 7340385 |
Method and program storage device for generating grids representing the architecture of fluvial |
March 4, 2008 |
| A method is disclosed for modeling a point bar associated with a multi-story channel belt, the method including: (a) in response to a plurality of rock classifications, generating a first two dimensional grid representing a grid of a top of the point bar and generating a second two d |
| 7340384 |
Process for determining the variation in the relative permeability of at least one fluid in a re |
March 4, 2008 |
| A method for determining for a reservoir (1) containing fluids (W, O), the variation in the relative permeability (krO, krW) of at least one of the fluids, as a function of the saturation of at least one of the fluids (W, O),) is provided. According to this method a saturation distributi |
| 7340347 |
Method to visualize three dimensional log data on two dimensional media |
March 4, 2008 |
| This invention relates to methods and systems for displaying geological formation data obtained through well logging in the technical field of petroleum engineering. In one embodiment of this invention, two or more cylindrical surfaces are provided each representing a depth of invest |
| 7339161 |
Shielded pads for detecting subsurface radiation phenomena |
March 4, 2008 |
| Apparatus and method for detecting subsurface radiation phenomena. An elongated support member, adapted for disposal within a wellbore traversing a subsurface formation, includes a recess along its longitudinal axis. A pad is linked to the support member. The pad is configured with a |
| 7339160 |
Apparatus and method for analysing downhole water chemistry |
March 4, 2008 |
| The invention concerns an apparatus for analysing water chemistry. According to the invention, the apparatus is adapted to operate downhole and comprises a colouring agent supply device for supplying a colouring agent to a water sample, the colour of the water sample thus supplied be |
| 7337850 |
System and method for controlling actuation of tools in a wellbore |
March 4, 2008 |
| A technique is provided to control operation of well tools deployed in a wellbore. The technique utilizes a completion with at least one well tool actuated by fluid input. An electronic trigger system is associated with each well tool and is designed to respond to a unique series of pres |
| 7337839 |
Fluid loss additive for enhanced fracture clean-up |
March 4, 2008 |
| A hydraulic fracturing method is disclosed that includes designing a fracture treatment including a fluid pumping schedule to fracture a subterranean formation according to a design model that accounts for cumulative filter cake thickness, including polymer concentrated at the fractu |
| 7337068 |
Global classification of sonic logs |
February 26, 2008 |
| A method of determining the sonic slowness of a formation traversed by a borehole comprising generating tracks from sonic waveform peaks received at a plurality of depths wherein the peaks that are not classified prior to tracking is set forth. A method for generating a slowness versus d |
| 7336562 |
Sonic logging tool including receiver and spacer structure |
February 26, 2008 |
| A formation logging tool having a substantially continuous central mandrel with regularly spaced mass blocks disposed thereon, at least some of the mass blocks carrying sensors such as receivers. By adopting this structure, the tool can be made to behave as a mass-spring structure and |
| 7336474 |
Microelectromechanical devices |
February 26, 2008 |
| An apparatus includes a switch comprising microelectromechanical elements, the microelectromechanical elements including a sealed chamber containing a dielectric element, and conductors in the sealed chamber. The conductors are arranged such that application of greater than a predete |
| 7336356 |
Method and apparatus for downhole spectral analysis of fluids |
February 26, 2008 |
| A downhole fluid analysis system comprises an input light signal that is directed through a fluid sample housed in a sample cell. The input light signal may originate from a plurality of light sources. A light signal output from the sample cell is then routed to two or more spectrometers |
| 7334661 |
Acoustic logging tool sleeve |
February 26, 2008 |
| An acoustic logging tool sleeve with a preferably discontinuous, alternating structure that is acoustically opaque in some zones, and acoustically transparent in others. The sleeve may be modular, with several stages connected together. The multiple stages provide a sleeve that may b |
| 7334651 |
Kick warning system using high frequency fluid mode in a borehole |
February 26, 2008 |
| Techniques for detecting a kick in a borehole include acquiring a set of measurements with a sonic tool in the borehole; determining borehole mud slowness from the set of measurements; and comparing the mud slowness with a selected criterion, wherein the determining the mud slowness |
| 7334642 |
Constant force actuator |
February 26, 2008 |
| A radially expandable tool is provided that includes a tool body and a radially moveable member coupled to the tool body and in force receiving relation to a constant force actuator. The radially moveable member is movable by the constant force actuator from an closed position to a p |
| 7334483 |
Thermal compensation of pressure measurements |
February 26, 2008 |
| Methods and systems for thermal compensation of pressure measurements by a pressure gauge. Errors in pressure values are reduced by utilizing a predetermined correlation between the error in pressure measurements, due to temperature gradient in a pressure gauge, and the temperature gradi |
| 7334465 |
Integrated logging tool for borehole |
February 26, 2008 |
| An apparatus for measuring characteristics of earth formations surrounding a borehole, comprises a resistivity measurement device having a multiplicity of antennae spaced between each other in a longitudinal direction of the apparatus. A neutron measurement device of the apparatus co |
| 7331581 |
Inflatable packers |
February 19, 2008 |
| Improved inflatable packers are provided. A packer may be constructed from hybrid structures including slat structures and weave structures. A packer may include a bladder and a cover, with a plurality of slats disposed therebetween, and/or a weave structure or anti-extrusion layer d |
| 7331398 |
Multi-drop flow control valve system |
February 19, 2008 |
| A multi-drop flow control valve system having a plurality of hydraulically actuated flow control valve, each valve set in an initial operating position. The flow control valves are connected to a hydraulic control line in sequence, wherein the second flow control valve is below the f |
| 7331391 |
Well treating method to prevent or cure lost-circulation |
February 19, 2008 |
| A method of preventing or treating lost circulation during the drilling of a well comprises the addition, at concentration ranging between about 0.5 and 6 pounds per barrel, of water-dispersible fibers having a length between about 10 and 25 mm, for instance glass or polymer fibers, to a |
| 7331386 |
Anchor arm for seismic logging tool |
February 19, 2008 |
| A borehole seismic acquisition tool configured for release from a stuck position within a borehole having a tool body with at least one sensor package, an anchoring arm, and anchoring arm linkage adapted to connect the anchoring arm to the tool body. The anchoring arm linkage includes a |
| 7331223 |
Method and apparatus for fast pore pressure measurement during drilling operations |
February 19, 2008 |
| A method and apparatus for measuring the pressure of a formation penetrated by a wellbore is provided. A downhole tool is positioned in the wellbore and a probe is extended therefrom into sealing engagement with the formation. A piston in the probe is retracted therein where by a cav |
| 7330397 |
Electromagnetic anti-jam telemetry tool |
February 12, 2008 |
| A mud-pulse telemetry tool includes a tool housing, a motor disposed in the tool housing, and a magnetic coupling coupled to the motor and having an inner shaft and an outer shaft. The tool may also include a stator coupled to the tool housing, a restrictor disposed proximate the stator |
| 7328610 |
Method for measuring formation properties with a formation tester |
February 12, 2008 |
| A method is disclosed for estimating a formation pressure using a formation tester disposed in a wellbore penetrating a formation, said method comprising: (a) establishing fluid communication between a pretest chamber in the downhole tool and the formation via a flowline, the flowlin |
| 7327146 |
Probe for measuring the electromagnetic properties of a down-hole material |
February 5, 2008 |
| A probe 1 for measuring the electromagnetic properties of a down-hole material MC, GF, DM of a well-bore WB comprises a metallic pad 2 in contact with the down-hole material. The pad 2 further comprises an open-ended coaxial wire 4 coupled to an electronic circuit 3. The open-ended c |
| 7326854 |
Cables with stranded wire strength members |
February 5, 2008 |
| High strength cables formed from strength members. The strength members are formed from bimetallic filament wires which may be encased within a jacket of polymeric material. The bimetallic filament wires wherein the filaments include a high strength core and a corrosion resistant alloy |
| 7326037 |
Centrifugal pumps having non-axisymmetric flow passage contours, and methods of making and using |
February 5, 2008 |
| Centrifugal pumps and methods of making and using them are disclosed. One inventive pump includes a plurality of flow passages, at least one pump component having one or more non-axisymmetric flow passage contours defined at least in part by non-equal blade or vane heights. |
| 7326034 |
Pump apparatus and methods of making and using same |
February 5, 2008 |
| Pump apparatus and methods of making and using same are disclosed. One inventive apparatus includes at least two pump stages having different performance characteristics combined in series to substantially match an intended pumping application. An inventive method includes selecting two |
| 7325616 |
System and method for completing multiple well intervals |
February 5, 2008 |
| A system and method for completing a well with multiple zones of production includes a casing having a plurality of flapper valves integrated therein for isolating each well zone and a perforating gun string for selectively perforating the casing and underlying formation at each well |
| 7325612 |
One-trip cut-to-release apparatus and method |
February 5, 2008 |
| Apparatuses and methods allow a downhole anchor device to be cut, released, and retrieved using a single one-trip cutter and removal assembly. The assembly preferably includes a cutter head recessed behind an anchor latch. The latch is landed to the anchor device to be removed and th |
| 7325596 |
Pothead assembly |
February 5, 2008 |
| A connector that is usable with a subterranean well includes a flange member and a tube. The flange member is adapted to form a connection with a submersible component. The tube is adapted to connect to the flange member and receive a cable that has a conductor that is surrounded by an |
| 7324730 |
Optical fiber cables for wellbore applications |
January 29, 2008 |
| A cable which includes conductor bundles prepared from at least one optical fiber positioned either centrally or helically about the center axis of the bundle, metallic conductors helically positioned around the bundles center axis, and a polymeric insulation material. A method of ma |
| 7322422 |
Inflatable packer inside an expandable packer and method |
January 29, 2008 |
| A completion assembly for use in a well, including at least one inflatable packer; at least one control line and at least one source of pressurized fluid wherein the at least one source of pressurized fluid is in fluid communication with the at least one inflatable packer via the at leas |
| 7322417 |
Technique and apparatus for completing multiple zones |
January 29, 2008 |
| An apparatus that is usable with a well includes a string and a plurality of tools that are mounted in the string. The string includes a passageway. The tools are mounted in the string and are adapted to be placed in a state to catch objects (free-falling objects and/or pumped-down o |
| 7321123 |
Method and apparatus for radiation detection in a high temperature environment |
January 22, 2008 |
| A radiation detector operating at high temperatures is shown comprising a LuAP scintillating material for producing light when excited by incident radiation, a photocathode, and an electron multiplier. The photocathode is deposited directly onto the surface of the scintillating material |
| 7320952 |
Additive for viscoelastic fluid |
January 22, 2008 |
| Composition and method for shortening the shear recovery time of cationic, zwitterionic, and amphoteric viscoelastic surfactant fluid systems by adding an effective amount of a co-gelling agent selected from triblock oligomeric compounds having hydrophilic (for example polyether) and |
| 7320370 |
Automatic downlink system |
January 22, 2008 |
| A downlink system that includes at least one mud pump for pumping drilling fluid from a drilling fluid storage tank to a drilling system, a standpipe in fluid communication with the mud pump and in fluid communication with the drilling system, and a return line in fluid communication |
| 7318475 |
Matrix acidizing high permeability contrast formations |
January 15, 2008 |
| A method for stimulating thick or multilayered heterogeneous or homogeneous formations in a single trip without packers involves perforating with tubing conveyed perforation, then injecting a self-diverting acid, then moving the tubing string and perforating at a new location, and th |
| 7317990 |
Distributed processing system for subsurface operations |
January 8, 2008 |
| A method for distributed processing in a subsurface environment includes running a local program on a local computation unit, wherein the local program is configured to call a remote procedure to be executed by a remote computation unit, wherein the local computation unit and the rem |
| 7316277 |
Bottom hole assembly |
January 8, 2008 |
| A bottom hole assembly has a drill bit and an under-reamer on the up-hole side of the drill bit. In one aspect, the assembly further has a compliant element linking the drill bit to the under-reamer, the compliant element allowing displacement of the drill bit relative to the under-r |
| 7316272 |
Determining and tracking downhole particulate deposition |
January 8, 2008 |
| Methods and apparatus provide for the characterization of injected fluid flow within a wellbore. Particular embodiments include injecting a slurry comprising a particulate material and a carrier fluid into an isolated wellbore annulus and acquiring composite density readings at one or mo |
| 7316166 |
Method and system for analyzing multi-phase mixtures |
January 8, 2008 |
| A method and apparatus is disclosed for identifying changes in composition in a flow containing an oil/hydrocarbon gas fluid mixture, including a measurement of the respective holdups of any two of the gas, oil and water; and measurements to determine attenuation or scattering of high |
