Abstract:
Sub-sea processing system for the production of oil and/or gas from one or more production wells (1), especially wells producing heavy oil on deep water and with high viscosity. The system includes, beyond the production well/s (1), one or more injection wells (2) for the injection of produced water, a separator (3), a production pump (4), a water injection and circulation pump (5) and a heating arrangement (6). A water circulation and injection pipe loop (7) is provided to interconnect the separator (3), the injection and circulation pump (5), the heating arrangement (6), the flow control device (11) and the wells (1, 2) enabling circulation of heated water to the wells (1,2) via the separator (3) and heating arrangement (6).
Abstract:
A down hole heating system for use with oil and gas wells which exhibit less than optimally achievable flow rates because of high oil viscosity and/or blockage by paraffin (or similar meltable petroleum byproducts). The heating unit of the present invention includes shielding to prevent physical damage and shortages to electrical connections within the heating unit while down hole (a previously unrecognized source of system failures in prior art systems). The over-all heating system also includes heat retaining components to focus and contain heat in the production zone to promote flow to, and not just within, the production tubing.
Abstract:
An insert for an earth boring drill bit, such as a PDC rock bit or a roller cone rock bit, is provided. The insert includes a base integrally joined to a top section, the top section having a first flank that curves in a substantially helical manner about a longitudinal axis of the insert to join a crest.
Abstract:
A lightweight underwater cooling assembly with a high cooling capacity comprises: an assembly of heat exchanger tubes (4) arranged in a submerged refrigerant boiling chamber (5); a thin walled water cooled condenser (6) in which refrigerant vaporized in the boiling chamber (5) is condensed and from which condensed refrigerant is recirculated into the boiling chamber (5); and a thin walled pressure compensating membrane (9) which maintains the fluid pressure (~p sea ) within the boiling chamber (5) and condenser (6) substantially similar to the fluid pressure (p sea ) of the (sea) water surrounding the submerged refrigerant boiling chamber (5).
Abstract:
A method of cooling a multiphase well effluent stream comprises : separating the multiphase well effluent stream (G+L) into gas enriched and liquid enriched fractions in a gas liquid separator (2, 22); cooling the liquid enriched fraction in a heat exchanger (6,26); reinjecting the cooled liquid enriched fraction into the well effluent stream (G+L) at a location upstream of the gas liquid separator (2, 22), thereby cooling the well effluent stream without requiring a gas-liquid heat exchanger to directly cool the multiphase well effluent stream, which may be ten times larger than the liquid-liquid heat exchanger (6, 26) for cooling the recycled liquid enriched fraction (L cold ).
Abstract:
High strength metal alloys are described. At least one composition of a metal alloy includes chromium, nickel, copper, manganese, silicon, niobium, tungsten and iron. A heater system may include a canister at least partially made from material containing at least one of the metal alloys. A system for heating a subterranean formation may include a tublar that is at least partially made from a material containing at least one of the metal alloys.
Abstract:
A down hole heating system for use with oil and gas wells which exhibit less than optimally achievable flow rates because of high oil viscosity and/or blockage by paraffin (or similar meltable petroleum byproducts). The heating unit of the present invention includes shielding to prevent physical damage and shortages to electrical connections within the heating unit while down hole (a previously unrecognized source of system failures in prior art systems). The over-all heating system also includes heat retaining components to focus and contain heat in the production zone to promote flow to, and not just within, the production tubing.
Abstract:
A cryogenic system is described for boring a small-diameter hole through various materials including rock, soil and stone. It employs a valveless technique in a borehead [3000] where cryogenic fluid [7] fills at least one pulsejet [3100] which has proximal [3001] and distal [3003] ends. The cryogenic fluid [7] is frozen into a plug [8] near the distal end [3003], acting as a valve. Cryogenic fluid [7] just distal to the frozen plug [8] is rapidly heated by thermal units [3510, 3530] causing it to become a rapidly-expanding gas bubble. The rapidly-expanding gas bubble forces any liquid [7] distal to the expanding gas out of the distal end [3003] of each pulsejet [3100] causing it to impact the material [I]. Rapidly repeating this process causes the system to bore a hole through the material [I].
Abstract:
The invention provides systems that include a plurality of heat sources (102) configured to heat a portion of a formation; at least one production well (106) in the formation, a pump system, and a production conduit coupled to the pump system. The bottom portion of the production well is a sump positioned in an underburden of the formation that is below the heated portion of the formation. Fluids are allowed to flow from the heated portion of the formation flow into the sump . The pump system in combination with the production conduit transport fluids in the sump out of the formation. The invention also provides methods to remove a portion of the fluids from the formation.
Abstract:
A substantially sand-free, aqueous-based, bentonitic fluid comprising flaked graphite can help dissipate heat from operation of electrical lines buried underground. The fluid is used in drilling a borehole, such as in trenchless drilling, or in making a trench, for receiving and containing the lines. The fluid may also be applied directly to the outside and/or to the inside of pipe containing electrical lines. Thermal conductivities having values of about 1.6 to about 1.8 BTU/hr ft°F or higher can be attained.