Abstract:
Alkaline earth metal scales, especially barium sulfate scale is removed from a well (18) (the wellbore (30) and the adjacent formation (10)) by contacting the scale with a scale-removing solvent and thereafter sparging the solvent with air or inert gas to dissolve the scale. The sparging aids in achieving a flushing action by the solvent relative to the scale thereby enabling the solvent to more effectively dissolve the scale in the well (18). Temperature and caustic compatible surfactants (anionic and non-ionic) may be used in the solvent to generate a column of foam which increases the extent of cleaning oil from the scale surfaces, enabling the solvent to more effectively remove the scale.
Abstract:
A robot for sealing and blocking pipes which are subject to very high pressure. The robot comprises a counter-pressure device below the main blocking portion for simultaneously acting on the inner wall, at depth in the pipe, by expansion caused by a single linear movement of a tapered shaft in a cylinder having therein a tapered bore; said shaft having a diameter which is 50 % greater than the difference between the inner taper diameters of the two ends of the cylinder, which cylinder has a slot running the full length thereof and is controlled by hydraulic jacks; a centre pipe allowing oil flow and normalising the upward pressure during the insertion process; and two pantographs for centering the system in the well in spite of the very high pressure. The high pressure in the well helps ensure blocking of the system.
Abstract:
A washpipe seal and method includes providing a first sliding mechanical face seal between two seal elements to seal a mud conduit, and a second mechanical face seal between two additional seal elements to define a cavity within a housing of the washpipe between the first and second mechanical face seals and independently from the mud conduit, and in which, during operation, a buffer fluid can be provided.
Abstract:
Aspects of the subject technology relate to a component module for a downhole tool. The component module can include a platform for components for use in the downhole tool, an enclosure covering the platform for components, wherein the enclosure is configured to fit within a pocket of the downhole tool, and an elastomer layer surrounding at least one portion of the enclosure and preventing the at least one portion of the enclosure from touching the pocket of the downhole tool.
Abstract:
La presente invención, relacíona un conjunto de sistemas móviles auto soportados tipo patín o skid estructural para el taponamiento de fugas en ductos y tuberías que transportan líquidos y gases. La tecnología está conformada por uno o múltiples patines de dosificación (100) de elementos geométricos obstructores (300), ubicados en cada una de las líneas de transporte que alimentan la tubería principal y un patín de recolección de estos elementos ubicado en un punto aguas abajo (200).
Abstract:
An above-ground well shut-in safety apparatus, structure, and method useful for shutting-in wells during a blow-out is provided. The apparatus includes a top portion closing an upper end of an apparatus, a side wall with a long axis, a sleeve inside the side wall, and a bottom portion including an open end. A structure for shutting in a well, comprising a rig, a drive rigidly connected to the rig, and an apparatus rigidly connected to the drive, the apparatus including a tubular side wall, a top portion closing an upper end of the side wall, and a sealing sleeve inside the side wall. A method for shutting-in a well including driving an open end of an apparatus onto a stump of the well, the apparatus including a closed end opposite the open end and a tubular side wall with a sealing sleeve, and sealing the sleeve onto the stump.
Abstract:
A system for establishing a collection of well foundations, the well foundations being formed of suction-foundation units (2) arranged to be driven down into an unconsolidated mass (31), wherein an alignment template (1) including several through cut-outs (11), each arranged to receive a suctiοη-foundation unit (2), is placed over the unconsolidated mass (31), forming a means of positioning the suction-foundation units (2) before the suction-foundation units (2) are driven down into the unconsolidated mass (31 ). A method of establishing a collection of well foundations is described as well, the method comprising the following steps: a) placing an alignment template (1) over an unconsolidated mass (31); b) lowering a suction-foundation unit (2) into a cut-out (11) in the alignment template (1); c) driving the suction-foundation unit (2) down into the unconsolidated mass (31) to a prescribed depth; and d) repeating steps b) and c).
Abstract:
An apparatus includes a blowout preventer housing comprising a bore extending therethrough and a cavity intersecting the bore and a shear ram movably positionable within the cavity and at least partially movable into the bore of the blowout preventer housing. The apparatus further includes a projectile receivable into the bore of the blowout preventer housing and configured to pierce a tubular member when positioned within the bore of the blowout preventer housing.
Abstract:
A system for coupling to equipment at a well includes a connector and/or an outer sleeve sub engageable with the connector, each including an internal bore. An isolation sleeve includes a seal and is positioned at least partially within the internal bore, in which the seal is axially movable with respect to the internal bore so as to be positionable to seal against the equipment.
Abstract:
A reinforced seal for maintaining a pressure differential in a well bore includes an elastomeric layer and a backup layer between a drill pipe and the elastomeric layer at the wellhead. The backup layer has a first end portion, a second end portion, and a tapered portion, wherein the first end portion has a larger inner diameter than the second end portion and the tapered portion connects the first end portion and second end portion. In addition, the backup layer includes a plurality of slats substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the drill pipe and arranged circumferentially about the perimeter of the drill pipe along the internal surface of the backup layer such that a portion of each slat underlies a portion of each adjacent slat.