Abstract:
A method for forming a window (45) in a subsurface well conduit (1) using a coiled tubing unit (46) together with standard rotary rig tools adopted for use with a coiled tubing unit, and a whipstock (62) with no wear projection on the guide surface (68) thereof, and controlling the angular relationship between the tools and the whipstock while forming the window.
Abstract:
A gravel pack well tool comprised of a workstring (18) having a gravel pack screen (21) thereon wherein the workstring (18) can be rotated without applying any substantial torque to the screen jacket (41) which forms part of the gravel pack screen (21). This allows the workstring (18) to be rotated in either direction during installation or removal of the gravel pack screen (21) without damaging the screen jacket (41). The gravel pack screen (21) is comprised of a fluid-permeable base pipe (40) having a screen jacket (41) rotatably mounted thereon.
Abstract:
A method and gelatin pig is provided for scraping and cleaning tubulars. The gelled, cleaning pig has a body comprised of gelled technical gelatin which has a hardened outer layer. The pig is molded in a size sufficient for the periphery of the body to contact the interior wall of the tubular to be cleaned. The outer surface of the gelatin is hardened by merely exposing the outer surface of the gelatin to the atmosphere (i.e. air) or by applying a hardener (e.g. aldehyde) to the outer surface. In operation, the gelatin pig is inserted into and passed through the pipeline to scrap and clean same. The pig is bio-degradable which can be accelerated by adding a bio-reactive agent, e.g. yeast, to the gelatin.
Abstract:
Floating roof storage tanks (10) are modified to include a foam surge tank (28), a low-pressure blower (44) and a foam generator (48) for generating vapor-suppressing foam during withdrawal of liquid from the storage tank and after the floating roof (16) reaches its lowest elevation in the storage tank so that the tank space previously occupied by volatile liquid is provided with a vapor-suppressing foam blanket during liquid withdrawal and refill. The surge tank is mounted directly on the floating roof and discharges its foam through an opening in the roof into the tank storage space. During liquid refill the foam may be forced out through a vent conduit (58) onto the roof of the tank and dissolved and recovered.
Abstract:
A whipstock (14) adapted for insertion into a wellbore through a tubing string (12) having a smaller diameter than the wellbore casing (10) or the open hole portion of the wellbore includes a setting mechanism comprising extendable legs (42, 48, 50) which engage the wellbore wall to bias the whipstock (14) into a position of inclination of the whipstock guide surface (22) relative to the wellbore axis (19). The setting mechanism includes an actuating rod (62) which may be actuated by a conventional downhole tool setting device to extend and retain the legs (42, 48, 50) in their extended position. Cooperating ratchet means (94) and tensionable couplings (82) on the setting mechanism including a frangible coupling part (100) permit actuation of the whipstock to its set position and retrieval of setting device. The whipstock (14) is releasable from the setting device by an adaptor (24) having cooperating ball keys (36) engageable with an adaptor actuating shaft (28) and the upper end of the whipstock body.
Abstract:
An ablating pig (20) comprised of a mass of gelatin for use in treating tubulars (15). The pig will ablate as it passes through the tubular thereby depositing a treatment layer (21) onto the wall of the tubular. The pig can be molded outside the tubular or it can be formed in situ. The pig is formed by mixing common (i.e. technical) gelatin of the type derived from collagen with a heated liquid and a treating solution (e.g. corrosion inhibitor, drag reducer, etc.). In one aspect, magnetic particles (13) are entrained in the mass. The mass can be integral or it can be made up of individual components of gelatin. A slug of the treating solution can also be passed through the pipeline between two ablating gelatin pigs. For high temperatures applications, a hardener may be used to increase the melting temperature of the gelatin.
Abstract:
Drill cuttings are disposed of by injection into a subsurface formation (12) by way of an annular space (26) formed in a wellbore (10). The cuttings are removed from the drilling fluid, conveyed to a shearing and grinding system that converts the cuttings into a viscous slurry with the addition of water. The system comprises a receiving tank (48, 50) and a centrifugal pump (56, 58) for recirculating the mixture of cuttings and water (seawater) between the pump and the receiving tank. A discharge conduit (76) is connected to the pump (56, 58) for moving the viscous slurry to an injection pump (78) for high pressure injection into the formation.
Abstract:
A method of deconvolving the non-ideal frequency response from acoustic vibrations transmitted along a structure such as a drill string (6) is disclosed. The deconvolution (30) retains the values of the transmission time between the signal source and the receiver, in the form of an exponential phase term, and is multiplied (32) by the amplitude frequency response of the structure. The input data time series, after transformation (34) into the frequency domain, is then divided by the deconvolution operator (35). The deconvolution method may be used in a noise reduction method where both axial and torsional vibrations are generated from the same location, where one of the time series is shifted (40) by the amount of the time delay, so that the vibrations generated from the same location coincide, providing reinforcement of the desired signal. The deconvolution method may thus be used in determining a seismic source signature in prospecting where a drill bit (10) is the source, in analyzing drilling parameters from drill string vibrations, in stress wave telemetry, and also in leak detection.
Abstract:
An improved method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products by contacting a gas comprising methane with a contact agent at a selected temperature, the agent comprising a reducible metal oxide, a support of oxides of silicon or alkaline earth metal, and an alkali metal.
Abstract:
The invention features methods and apparatus for obtaining silicon carbide whiskers on a continuous basis. Rice hulls or other carbon and silicon containing feed materials are continuously fed to a conversion zone in an unagitated state in order to promote whisker growth. The conversion zone is continuously purged, preferably with an inert gas such as nitrogen. The purging gas is vented directly out of the conversion zone and carries away gaseous reaction products and impurities, prevents oxidation of the whiskers and keeps glasses from condensing and depositing on the furnace surfaces. The feed materials are fed in a dry state to the conversion zone in order to prevent erosion of the furnace walls. After conversion and cooling the whiskers are separated from the mass of particulate silicon carbide. The whiskers find use as reinforcements.