Abstract:
An actuator that may be used in a wellbore to change the state of a downhole tool. The actuator has an operator that is axially moveable in response to changes in tubing pressure. The actuator includes a hydraulic circuit that creates a temporary reference pressure against which the tubing pressure indexes the operator.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides systems, tools, and methods for enhancing a measurement of a property of a solid body or fluid. The systems, tools, and methods may involve an electromagnetic measurement tool that includes a transmitter configured to transmit electromagnetic energy, a receiver configured to receive the electromagnetic energy, and a metamaterial element comprising a negative refractive index. The metamaterial element may focus the electromagnetic energy. The electromagnetic tool may be placed adjacent the solid body or fluid, electromagnetic energy may be transmitted via the transmitter, and the electromagnetic energy may be received with the receiver to measure a property of the solid body or fluid.
Abstract:
Methods of performing a fracture operation at a wellsite with a fracture network are provided. The methods involve obtaining wellsite data and a mechanical earth model, and generating a hydraulic fracture growth pattern for the fracture network over time. The generating involves extending hydraulic fractures from a wellbore and into the fracture network of a subterranean formation to form a hydraulic fracture network, determining hydraulic fracture parameters after the extending, determining transport parameters for proppant passing through the hydraulic fracture network, and determining fracture dimensions of the hydraulic fractures from the hydraulic fracture parameters, the transport parameters and the mechanical earth model. The methods also involve performing stress shadowing on the hydraulic fractures to determine stress interference between fractures and repeating the generating based on the determined stress interference. The methods may also involve determining crossing behavior.
Abstract:
A method for determining at least one characteristic of a geological formation having a borehole therein may include collecting nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data of the geological formation adjacent the borehole, and collecting non-NMR data for the geological formation adjacent the wellbore. The method may further include performing a Monte Carlo analysis based upon a combination of the collected NMR and non-NMR data to determine the at least one characteristic of the geological formation having a bounded uncertainty associated therewith.
Abstract:
A fiber optic sensor system includes a coherent-detection optical time domain reflectometry system to extract phase information from optical signals returned from a fiber optic sensor arrangement in response to a plurality of interrogating pulses. The system includes a frequency-shifting circuit to repeatedly translate the frequency of an optical pulse generated by a narrowband source to generate a train of interrogating pulses of multiple frequencies. The optical signals returned from the sensor arrangement in response to the pulse train is mixed on a photodetector with light from the narrowband source that has not been shifted to generate mixed output signals. The mixed output signals are filtered into frequency bands, and the phase for each frequency band is extracted.
Abstract:
An impact dissipation tool for supporting a downhole tool in downhole applications. The tool includes a base and a housing. The tool also includes a carriage located within the housing and coupled to the base, the carriage being movable relative to the housing upon a predetermined impact force. A dissipator disposed inside the housing is collapsible due to the relative movement of the carriage and the housing. The collapse of the dissipator dissipates the impact force transferred to the downhole tool.
Abstract:
A dual use cable includes at least one fiber optic cable encased in a metallic component that is encased in a layer of polymer material. The polymer material is surrounded by a tube or armor wire strength members embedded in one or two additional polymer material layers. A final assembly can include an outer metallic component or an outer layer of polymer material. The at least one fiber optic cable transmits data and the armor wire strength members and/or metallic components transmit at least one of electrical power and data.
Abstract:
An explosive pellet for characterizing a fracture in a subterranean formation is provided. The pellet can include a casing having a detonation material and an explosive material disposed within the casing. The pellet can also include a nonexplosive material moveably disposed within the casing. Movement of the nonexplosive material can generate a predetermined amount of energy in the form of friction-generated heat sufficient to detonate the explosive material.
Abstract:
A system and method is provided for performing stimulation operations at a wellsite having a subterranean formation with a reservoir therein. The method involves acquiring integrated wellsite data (e.g., geomechanical, geological, and/or geophysical properties of the formation, and/or geometrical properties of the mechanical discontinuities in the formation). The method also involves generating a mechanical earth model using the integrated wellsite data, and identifying a crossing behavior between an induced hydraulic fracture and at least one discontinuity in the formation. The method also involves optimizing a stimulation plan to achieve an optimized crossing behavior. The stimulation plan includes at least one of fluid viscosity, rate of injection of the fracturing fluid, and concentration of a fluid loss additive. The optimization may further include adjusting the stimulation plan to achieve the optimized crossing behavior between the induced hydraulic fracture and the discontinuity in the formation.
Abstract:
An apparatus and a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation including collecting baseline and subsequent sonic data, calculating either open or cased hole Stoneley and cross dipole dispersions using the baseline and subsequent sonic data, estimating the minimum and maximum horizontal stress magnitude using the calculating dispersions, calculating a pressure, and recovering hydrocarbons.