Did You Know...
...that it was melting ice cream that inspired the invention of the outboard motor? It was a lovely August day and Ole Evinrude was rowing his boat to his favorite island picnic spot. As he rowed, he watched his ice cream melt and wished he had a faster way to get to the island. At that moment the idea for the outboard motor was born!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8186433 | Methods of gravel packing long interval wells Changing concentrations of brine in a gravel pack carrier fluid gelled with a viscoelastic surfactant (VES) increases the fluid efficiency for gravel packing long interval wells, such as wellbore producing interval greater than about 100 feet (about 30 m). VES-gelle... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8151883 | Stimulation technique for open hole well A stimulation technique is provided for use in an open hole well. The stimulation technique utilizes a system which comprises one or more isolation devices positioned to isolate desired regions of the open hole well. At least one release mechanism is used to provide... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8151882 | Technique and apparatus to deploy a perforating gun and sand screen in a well A system that is usable with a well includes tubular body, at least one perforating charge that is disposed on the tubular body and at least one screen section that is disposed on the tubular body. The perforating charge(s) and the screen sectional(s) are adapted to... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8146662 | Well screen assembly with multi-gage wire wrapped layer A well screen assembly includes an elongate base pipe and a wire wrap layer. The wire wrap layer includes a wire wrapped around support ribs. The wire wrap layer has an axial end section wrapped at a first gage and an intermediate section wrapped at a second, larger... | 04/03/2012 |
| 8127845 | Methods and systems for completing multi-zone openhole formations Methods and systems for completing multi-zone formations. The method can include placing a gravel pack assembly within a borehole. The gravel pack assembly can include a first sand control extension. A first sand control screen can be disposed adjacent the first san... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8113282 | Apparatus and method for depositing a slurry in a well A wireline apparatus for depositing slurry in a well. The apparatus includes a container for holding slurry to be deposited in the well. The container is operatively associated with and disassociated from a packer. The apparatus also includes a displacement valve ac... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8113283 | Methods for improving low-quality proppant and method of using low-quality proppant in subterranean operations The present invention relates to improved low-quality particulates and methods of making such improved particulates. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising providing a slurry comprising a treatment fluid and low-quality particulates a... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8096356 | System and method for preventing buckling during a gravel packing operation A technique prevents buckling of a service tool assembly during a sand control operation in a wellbore. A completion assembly and a service tool assembly are positioned in a wellbore. An anti-buckling mechanism is positioned to limit the buckling load effects that c... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8091637 | Proppant for use in a subterranean formation A method for filling an annular area within a wellbore penetrated by a subterranean formation is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) introducing a proppant into a wellbore to form a gravel pack of the proppant, wherein a specimen of the proppant has a no... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8082993 | One trip gravel pack assembly A method of completing a wellbore is provided. The method comprises running in a screen, a gravel pack assembly comprising a flow diversion tool, and a completion string in a first trip. The method also comprises gravel packing the well and removing the flow diversi... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8069921 | Adjustable flow control devices for use in hydrocarbon production A flow control device may include a body having at least two flow paths configured to convey the fluid. The flow paths may be hydraulically isolated from one another in the body and at least one of the flow paths may be selectively occludable. In certain arrangement... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8056629 | Slant well desalination feedwater supply system and method for constructing same A system is disclosed for supplying water to a desalination plant from a subsurface feedwater supply using one or more slant wells. A method is disclosed for constructing a slant well feedwater supply system for supplying water from a subsurface feedwater supply. A ... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8056628 | System and method for facilitating downhole operations A technique is provided to facilitate use of a service tool at a downhole location. The service tool has different operational configurations that can be selected and used without moving the service string. ... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8020617 | Well treatment to inhibit fines migration A method of treating a formation with a well treatment fluid comprising a clay stabilizer comprising a polyamine ether before or during a well treatment such as cleanup, gravel packing, fracturing, or the like. The stabilizer can continue to inhibit fines migration ... | 09/20/2011 |
| 8011433 | Bidirectional gravel packing in subterranean wells Systems and methods for bidirectional gravel packing of wells. A gravel packing method includes flowing a gravel slurry in one direction in an annulus formed between a wellbore and a gravel packing assembly, and flowing another gravel slurry in an opposite direction... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8011432 | Apparatus and method for inflow control An inflow control assembly. The inflow control assembly can include an inner tubular member comprising a hole formed therethrough. A cover assembly can encircle the hole. The cover assembly can include a first outer member disposed about at least a portion of the in... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7987909 | Apparatus and methods for allowing fluid flow inside at least one screen and outside a pipe disposed in a well bore Apparatus for allowing fluid flow inside at least one screen and outside a span of pipe disposed in a well bore includes at least one flow path for fluid entering at least one screen. The flow path extends from the screens) along the outside of the pipe to at least ... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7984760 | Wellbore method and apparatus for sand and inflow control during well operations A method, system and apparatus associated with the production of hydrocarbons are described. The system includes a wellbore that accesses a subsurface reservoir; a production tubing string disposed within the wellbore; and one or more sand control devices coupled to... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7971642 | Gravel packing methods A method associated with the production of hydrocarbons is described. The method includes drilling a wellbore using a drilling fluid, conditioning the drilling fluid, running a production string in the wellbore and gravel packing an interval of the wellbore with a c... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7950454 | Technique and system for completing a well A technique that is usable with a well includes running a screen assembly and a service tool as a unit into a well and using the service tool in connection with a sand control operation. The use of the service tool in connection with the sand control operation inclu... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7938184 | Wellbore method and apparatus for completion, production and injection A method and system associated with the production of hydrocarbons comprising a joint assembly comprising a main body portion having primary and secondary fluid flow paths, wherein the main body portion is attached to a load sleeve assembly at one end and a torque s... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7934554 | Methods and compositions comprising a dual oil/water-swellable particle Methods and compositions are provided that relate to well bore treatments that comprise swellable particles. An embodiment includes a method that comprises introducing a fluid comprising a dual oil/water-swellable particle into a subterranean formation. Another embo... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7934553 | Method for controlling placement and flow at multiple gravel pack zones in a wellbore A technique utilizes a tool to selectively shift flow control devices in a variety of well applications. In one application, the tool is delivered downhole via coiled tubing to selectively deliver treatment fluid and shift valves in a combined well treatment and san... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7934555 | Multiple zone isolation method Multiple producing zones separated by a non-producing zone are gravel packed together. The non-producing zone has locations to take returns so as to get a consistent pack in the non-producing zone. The production string features external seals and/or an internal plu... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7926565 | Shape memory polyurethane foam for downhole sand control filtration devices Filtration devices may include a shape-memory material having a compressed run-in position or shape and an original expanded position or shape. The shape-memory material may include an open cell porous rigid polyurethane foam material held in the compressed run-in p... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7921911 | Surface-modifying agents for wettability modification A method and composition for treating a subterranean formation with a fluid, including forming a fluid including a particulate and an organosilane with the chemical formula RnSiX4-n, wherein n is equal to 1, 2, or 3, R is an organic functional ... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7918276 | System and method for creating a gravel pack A technique is provided for forming a gravel pack at a well zone. A completion assembly is positioned in a wellbore and cooperates with a service tool engaging the completion assembly. The completion assembly comprises a completion assembly central bore. A return is... | 04/05/2011 |
| 7905284 | Fracturing/gravel packing tool system with dual flow capabilities A fracturing/gravel packing tool system with dual flow capabilities. A method of treating a well includes the steps of: flowing a fluid into the well through a work string while simultaneously flowing another fluid into the well through an annulus; and directing eac... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7874360 | Methods for improving low-quality proppant and method of using low-quality proppant in subterranean operations The present invention relates to improved low-quality particulates and methods of making such improved particulates. A method of treating a portion of a subterranean formation, comprising providing a slurry comprising a treatment fluid and low-quality particulates a... | 01/25/2011 |
| 7857050 | Flow control using a tortuous path An apparatus for use in a wellbore includes a flow conduit and a structure defining a tortuous fluid path proximate the flow conduit, where the tortuous fluid path receives a flow of fluid. The tortuous fluid path is defined by at least first and second members of t... | 12/28/2010 |
| 7845408 | Top drive swivel apparatus and method For use with a top drive power unit supported for connection with a well string in a well bore to selectively impart longitudinal and/or rotational movement to the well string, a feeder for supplying a pumpable substance such as cement and the like from an external ... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7845407 | Profile control apparatus and method for production and injection wells Systems and associated methods for use in the production of hydrocarbons are described. The systems include a first tubular member and a second tubular member at least partially enclosing the first tubular member. Each of the first and second tubular members have a ... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7841409 | Sand control screen assembly and method for use of same A sand control screen assembly (40) is operably positionable within a wellbore (64). The sand control screen assembly (40) includes a base pipe (42) having at least one opening (46) in a sidewall portion thereof. A filter medium ( | 11/30/2010 |
| 7832476 | Downhole release of friction reducers in gravel packing operations A method of introducing friction reducing agents within a wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation during a gravel packing operation is accomplished by providing a length of tubing located downhole within the wellbore for conducting fluids within the wellbore t... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7832477 | Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation in earth formations. A method of forming at least one inclusion in a subterranean formation includes the steps of: installing a liner within a casing section in a wellbore intersecting the formation; and expan... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7789146 | System and method for low damage gravel packing A method is disclosed for low damage gravel packing. The method includes combining a carrier fluid, a first amount of particulates, and a second amount of particulates into a slurry. The first amount of particulates have a first average size distribution and the sec... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7789145 | Inflow control device A system that is usable with a well includes a tubular member and an inflow control device. The screen receives a well fluid flow, and the tubular member has a well fluid communication passageway. The inflow control device changes a momentum of the well fluid flow a... | 09/07/2010 |
| 7775277 | Device and system for well completion and control and method for completing and controlling a well An expandable liner assembly including an expandable tubular, a plurality of openings in the tubular, and a plurality of beaded matrixes in operable communication with the openings. A method for completing a section of wellbore. ... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7757763 | Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation Casing deformation and control for inclusion propagation in earth formations. A method of forming at least one inclusion in a subterranean formation includes the steps of: installing a liner within a casing section in a wellbore intersecting the formation; and expan... | 07/20/2010 |
| 7757762 | Downhole tools having screens for insertion into gravel disposed in wellbores and methods of installing same Downhole tools for gravel pack completion processes in wellbores comprise a screen, an isolation device comprising a sealing element disposed above the screen, and an artificial lifting device disposed above the isolation device. Upon actuation, the sealing element ... | 07/20/2010 |
