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The cementing of wells penetrating massive salt formations has posed a number of problems over the years. The fact that some cements displayed poor characteristics in saline environments, and that conventional additives were of only limited use in these same systems contributed to these problems. Other additives, designed for use in salt water, were found to provide characteristics far from the optimum while, at the same time, causing detrimental effects on other slurry properties, notably rheology, thickening time and early compressive strength.

Field performance of polymer pilot projects in North Texas, the Illinois Basin and Kansas is summarized. Although the projects represent a good cross section of reservoir characteristics and fluid properties, certain injection side changes and production responses fit a pattern. The same type of polymer was used in all cases. Extra oil, resulting from polymer treatment, is compared with the total cost of each treatment program to arrive at a cost for "Polymer Oil". To date, the four projects have produced a total of 65,100 bbl of extra "Polymer Oil" at an average cost of 29c/bbl.

Motor shrouds and hangers are commonly used to set ESPs below well perforations in order to maximize drawdown and/or minimize gas interference. In this New Mexico gas field, conventional shroud hangers created multiple problems. Wellbore fluids and gas leaked through conventional hangers and, consequently, a new design was installed and monitored.

The oilfield use of resin coating on proppants such as sand, glass beads and ceramics began in the middle 1970's.Applications include downhole use in both onshore and offshore oil and gas wells. The initial idea was to pump a partially cured or curable resin coated proppant (RCP) in frac fluid into a well and let the elevated bottom hole temperature polymerize and bond the phenolic resin particles together. These bonded particles form a downhole filter or sheet of permeable sandstone in the fracture.

The oilfield use of resin coating on proppant such as sand, glass beads and ceramics began in the middle 1970's. Applications include downhole use in both onshore and offshore oil and gas wells. The initial idea was to pump a partially cured or curable resin coated proppant (RCP) in frac fluid into a well and let the elevated bottom hole temperature polymerize and bond the phenolic resin particles together. These bonded particles form a downhole filter or sheet of permeable sandstone in the fracture.

The design of traditional sucker rod pump plungers has taken several approaches to reducing plunger wear with the goal of extending reciprocating lift pump run times. These methods with their advantages will be reviewed, and the concept of flushing sand and other particulates from the plunger's leading edge will be introduced by explanation of the patent-pending Sand Flush Plunger.

This paper will present and explain new equipment designed to pump gaseous wells. The need for this equipment will be explained by showing slides of pump parts damaged by wells making gaseous fluid and being over-pumped or being operated in pump-off condition. Cut away model pumps will be displayed, illustrating the application of the new equipment and its installation on existing subsurface rod pumps. The presentation will include recommendations for coping with the problems of gaseous wells.

This paper presents the development and application of new techniques for predicting the sand bank geometry created by relatively thin, non-complexed fluids in fluids in vertical fractures. The theory utilizes the concept of equilibrium velocity combined with fracturing fluid efficiency. The development includes the effects of variable fluid leakoff along the extent of the fracture face due to sand bank build-up and also the effects of the sand bank on the fluid velocity profile along the fracture face.

Progressing cavity pumps have been used on an application-limited basis throughout the world for the past twenty plus years. A vast majority of these systems are deployed in Canada and South America producing heavy, viscous oil with high sand content. Product development and numerous specialty ancillary products have most generally favored heavy oil production. A few of the ancillary products such as spin-thru rod guides, torque anchors, heavy-duty wellhead drive, etc transcend across application boundaries, however, the heavy oil market dominates most of the research and case studies.

This paper discusses the utilization of microprocessors for level measurements in multiple sealed oil and water tank batteries that incorporate Vapor Recovery Units which cause pressure variations inside each tank. The application consists of the integration of two highly accurate pressure (level) transmitters, one low range vapor pressure transmitter, a microprocessor that utilizes specific gravity information and subtraction techniques, resulting in a highly accurate level measurement system for production stock tanks.

This paper discusses the utilization of microprocessors for level measurements in multiple sealed oil and water tank batteries that incorporate Vapor Recovery Units which cause pressure variations inside each tank. The application consists of the integration of two highly accurate pressure (level) transmitters, one low range vapor pressure transmitter, a microprocessor that utilizes specific gravity information and subtraction techniques, resulting in a highly accurate level measurement system for production stock tanks.

This paper offers a new approach to qualify proppant before fracture stimulation. Automated and patented flowing stream sampling technology, only recently available, is easily positioned between pneumatic trailer and field bin. Mobile labs are used to measure sample physical properties and correlate public domain or design data. Differences, which provide the basis for performance and engineering decisions, relate to mining anomalies, manufacturing defects, transportation abuse, and contamination.

The TUBING CONVEYED Perforating and Well Completion Technique*, which was first introduced by Vann Tool Company in October 1970, has become an accepted and highly desirable method of perforating in southeastern New Mexico and is now being used in wells in West Texas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Wyoming. Since its inception, many modifications and improvements have been made in the components and mechanics of the system. In this paper, specific attention is devoted to the following: 1. Accurate and exact depth control for inzone Perforating 2. The packer-actuated vent assembly* 3.

This paper presents the results of a new treatment designed to improve the cleanup of horizontal/openhole completions. The wells evaluated in this study were drilled using either starch or cellulose polymers, xanthan polymer, and sized calcium carbonate or salt particulates. These clean "drill-in fluids" were introduced to minimize the damage to the wellbore when compared to that observed with conventional drilling fluids.

A research project was undertaken to develop an iron sequestering agent which could be used to control the precipitation of iron in fracturing operations without affecting the rheological properties of the crosslinked gel. The control of iron in production comes in combine and can cause acidizing is well documented but it has only recently been recognized as a problem in fracturing. Problems occur when oxygen in the fracturing fluid contact with iron in solution in the formation water. The two components if conditions permit an insoluble precipitant will form.

Although not recognized as a definite acidizing technique, fracture acidizing has probably occurred in a majority of acidizing treatments throughout the history of the process. Injection rates of most early acidizing treatments were high enough to cause fracturing, and it was common practice to "breakdown" the formation at the beginning of the treatment. Since the introduction of hydraulic fracturing, fracture acidizing has been recognized as a fracturing process, and it is now commonly used in an effort to increase live acid penetration into the reservoir rock.

The use of nitrogen to enhance the recovery of oil and gas reservoirs is becoming increasingly attractive. Recent examples highlight projects where large-scale nitrogen injection has been successfully implemented to increase both the production rate and recoverable reserves of oil and gas. Nitrogen-based techniques for improving oil and gas recovery include gravity drainage pressure maintenance, gas cap production, cycling of condensate reservoirs. attic oil production, driving gas for miscible slugs, and miscible nitrogen displacement.

Plunger lift is, in its best form, a method that uses only the power from the existing well to produce liquids from the well and bring them to the surface using gas pressure that has built up in the well during a time when the surface production valve is closed. One type of a typical installation is shown Figure 1.

In order to assist the pumping unit user in the use of nodular (ductile) iron the manufacturing processes from the foundry cupola to the finished gear are presented. Points of interest such as quality control, heat treatment, metallurgical properties and field tests are included.

Liquid or gas flowing in a well generates a complex group of audible sound frequencies. Twophase flow, which was gas bubbling through water behind uncemented casing, produced the frequencies shown on the curve in Fig. 1. An output signal from a piezoelectric transducer placed inside the casing has an alternating frequency waveform. The waveform is a composite of all the frequencies shown on the graph. Each frequency has a millivolt amplitude, varying with time, which contributes its relative amount to the total millivolt amplitude of the waveform.

Deep holes and high pressures with their related problems have created a demand for better quality tubular goods unknown but a few years ago. The author outlines recent approaches to inspecting. However, no single non-destructive test can be expected to reliably measure all the properties. Further, the inspection must insure adequate service life, and it must have a proven correlation between the properties inspected and the performance properties of the pipe. Defects and defect evaluations are explained along with their effect on pipe quality.

It is generally accepted that the control and removal of paraffin deposits is a costly operating problem in many fields. A great variety of methods have been and are being used to combat paraffin formation and deposition and to facilitate paraffin removal. The purpose of this paper is not to present any new control methods, but rather to discuss generally the current practices and the status of the industry's thinking regarding paraffin control in wells. A logical starting point for this discussion would be the composition of that material commonly referred to as paraffin.

The history of hydraulics is a fascinating story dating back to about 1650, when Paschal discovered the fundamental laws of physics upon which all modern hydraulic equipment is based. About 1795, Joseph Bramah developed the first hydraulically operated press using water for power transmission. Since then many changes have been made, so that today there is scarcely a product which does not utilize hydraulics at some phase in its production. Hydraulic power is unique in the ease with which it may be controlled. The amount of force is almost unlimited and any practical stroke length is available.

The processing of streams containing high concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO21 is becoming more commonplace as enhanced oil recovery (EOR) projects come to reality. The process begins with production from naturally occurring CO2 reservoirs in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, and Mississippi shown in Figure 1, or with the recovery of CO2 from vent or flue gases in chemical plants and power plants. These streams must be processed to produce a relatively pure stream of about 95% CO2 to meet purchaser specifications.

A discussion of the causes of common defects in new and used tubular goods and sucker rods. Inspection techniques utilized in detecting these defects are described.