| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 175069000 | Combined liquid and gaseous fluid | 6 |
| 20090139771 | Method of making drilling fluids containing microbubbles - Light weight drilling fluids are prepared by passing a gas and the drilling fluid through a cavitation device. Bubbles are finely divided into microbubbles, thereby reducing the density of the fluid. Low HLB surfactants, natural polymers, and ionic-charged polymers may be added to enhance the stability of the microbubble suspension. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20100000795 | ENHANCED OIL-BASED FOAM DRILLING FLUID COMPOSITIONS AND METHOD FOR MAKING AND USING SAME - New oil-based foam drilling fluids for oil and/or gas wells are disclose as well as methods of making and using same. The new oil-based drilling fluids including a base oil, a foaming agent and a polymer including at least one aromatic olefin monomer and at least one diene monomer, where the polymer improves foam properties rendering a foam stable at temperatures at or above 300° F. and even at temperatures at or above 350° F. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100258353 | Apparatus for use in Drilling - A drill and a separator apparatus and a method of prolonging bearing life are described, the separator apparatus being suitable for separating an air/water mixture into discrete air and water streams during drilling of a blast hole. The separator apparatus includes a separator body which is adapted to be installed at a distal or lower region of a drill string and when installed at the distal or lower region forms one or more separation chambers or reservoirs, each separation chamber or reservoir comprising an inlet adapted to receive the air/water mixture, a first outlet in fluid communication with a drill bit for releasing air thereto and a second outlet in fluid communication with a wall of the blast hole and disposed in the distal or lower region of the drill string to release water separated from the air/water mixture in a region adjacent the drill bit. The one or more first outlets for releasing air from the or each separation chamber is disposed at an upper region of the or each separation chamber and the one or more second outlets is disposed at a lower region of the or each separation chamber for releasing water from the or each separation chamber so that when in use water is inhibited from egress from the or each separation chamber through the or each first outlet. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20140262529 | ENCAPSULATED GAS FOR DRILLING AND COMPLETION FLUIDS - Gas-core microstructures, such as microbubbles, may be used in drilling and completion operations in the exploration and production of hydrocarbon fluids (e.g. oil and gas) from subterranean formations. The gas-core microstructures are dispersed in a base fluid such as water, oil or emulsions of water and oil, in accordance with the specific performance needs. Applications for fluids containing these gas-core microstructures include, but are not necessarily limited to, use as a spacers to control trapped annular pressure, use as low density drilling fluids, use as dual gradient drilling fluids and the delivery of chemicals downhole. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20150376964 | MULTIPHASE DRILLING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - In one embodiment, a method for drilling a wellbore includes injecting drilling fluid through a drill string disposed in the wellbore and rotating a drill bit disposed on a bottom of the drill string. The drilling fluid includes a liquid and a gas. The drilling fluid is injected at the surface. The drilling fluid exits the drill bit and carries cuttings from the drill bit. The drilling fluid and cuttings (returns) flow to the surface via an annulus formed between the drill string and the wellbore. The liquid is injected at a rate so that a liquid velocity of the returns in the annulus is sufficient to transport the cuttings. The method further includes drilling through at least a portion of a non-productive formation. | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160053542 | Apparatus and Method for Underbalanced Drilling and Completion of a Hydrocarbon Reservoir - A system and method for underbalanced drilling and completion of a hydrocarbon reservoir is disclosed. The system prevents formation damage by using a solids-free, non-wetting phase drilling fluid while maintaining underbalanced conditions throughout the entire drilling and completion phase of the operation. By preventing formation damage, this system provides an alternative or supplement to hydraulic fracking. | 02-25-2016 |
