A method to control a heat transfer profile in a defined space, the method comprising the steps of introducing a thermally insulating packer fluid into the defined space such that the thermally insulating packer fluid forms a gelled solid and reduces a rate of heat transfer through the defined space as compared to a prior rate of heat transfer through the defined space before introducing the thermally insulating packer fluid, where the thermally insulating packer fluid comprises an acidic nanosilica dispersion and a polyamine.

Disclosed is a VIT apparatus for mitigating APB in a wellbore casing annulus of a HPHT deepwater well. The apparatus includes inner and outer tubes formed of 15Cr-135 martensitic stainless steel having a vacuum space therebetween and a weld formed of high yield strength alloy for joining the inner and outer tubes. A protective weld overlay formed of corrosion resistant alloy is placed over the weld. The weld and the weld overlay are formed so as not to extend into the inner bore. Also disclosed are a process for forming the apparatus, and a system and method for using the apparatus. Multiple apparatus are connected by threaded couplings to form an elongated device that can be placed within a casing within a wellbore to carry fluids from the deepwater well to a surface location. When exposed to HPHT well conditions, the vacuum in the VIT apparatus is not lost.

A method of installing at sea a double-walled preheated undersea pipe for transporting fluids, wherein for each new pipe section to be assembled to a pipe that is already installed at sea: the method involves preheating the inner wall unit element inside the outer wall unit element of the new pipe section; assembling the inner wall unit elements of the new pipe section to the inner wall of the pipe that is already installed at sea; assembling the outer wall unit element of the new pipe section to the outer wall of the pipe that is already installed at sea; lowering the new pipe section into the sea; and repeating the above for other new pipe sections to be assembled so as to prestress the pipe while it is being installed at sea.

A heating installation for hydrocarbon extraction pipes via a well linking the surface to an extraction zone, including a substantially cylindrical casing consolidating the drill hole, a hydrocarbon extraction method and method to enable a hot fluid to be made to circulate from the surface to the well zone to be heated. The injection method includes in the casing first thermally insulated heating tubing to inject the hot fluid from the surface to the required depth and second heating tubing surrounding the first tubing to bring the hot fluid towards the surface and the extraction method includes a pumping tubing surrounding the first and second heating tubing for the extraction of hydrocarbons.

A thermal insulation structure for a substrate for use subsea, and a method of providing a thermal insulating structure. The structure comprises: an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer is the reaction product of a first part and a second part, wherein the weight ratio of the first part to the second part is from about 15:1 to 1:1. The first part comprises any of alkenyldialkyl terminated polydialkylsiloxane, alkenyldialkyl terminated polydialkylalkenylmethylsiloxane or mixtures thereof, which will individually or collectively have a viscosity of from 250 to 10000 mPa.Math.s at 25° C., and a hydrosilylation catalyst. The second part comprises a mixture of organohydrogensiloxane having two Si—H bonds per molecule and organohydrogensiloxane having at least three Si—H bonds per molecule. The outer layer is the reaction product of a first part and a second part, wherein the weight ratio of the first part to the second part is from about 15:1 to 1:1. The first part comprises any of alkenyldialkyl terminated polydialkylsiloxane, alkenyldialkyl terminated polydialkylalkenylmethylsiloxane or mixtures thereof, which will individually or collectively have a viscosity of from 250 to 10000 mPa.Math.s at 25° C., and a hydrosilylation catalyst. The second part comprises organohydrogensiloxane having at least two Si—H bonds per molecule and alkenylated MQ silicone resin, wherein said M group comprises at least two Si-alkenyl bonds per molecule.

The presently disclosed technology is directed toward the removal of plugs in a pipeline segment by installing one or more clamping devices onto a pipeline. The clamping device will have the ability to access the inside of the pipeline segment and inject media designed to dissolve the plug.

System, method, and apparatus for harnessing geothermal power from superhot geothermal fluid (SHGF) and magma reservoirs. An exemplary apparatus can include a well screen coupled to an end of a casing string. The well screen, which is at least partially submerged within an underground reservoir, defines a volume in the underground reservoir that can be filled with superhot geothermal fluid. A slidable casing is aligned coaxially with the well screen and configured to be repositioned relative to the well screen. A draw pipe extending through the slidable casing is configured to convey SHGF from the underground reservoir towards the surface in response to the slidable casing being repositioned to obstruct more of a set of apertures in the well screen and an increase in pressure within a cavity of the slidable casing.

A tubular for downhole use, the tubular including a pipe, an insulation layer surrounding the pipe, and a protective layer around the insulation layer and comprising a polymer. The protective layer can also include a compression layer adjacent to the insulation layer. There may be reinforcement material in the protective layer, for example encapsulated by the elastomer. The tubular may have bare portions at the ends for manipulation of the tubulars to form a tubing string. A sleeve may be provided using the same layer structure to insulate the bare portions which form joints of the tubing string. The sleeve can also include a base layer.

A vacuum insulated tubing including an inner pipe, an outer pipe concentrically arranged about the inner pipe such that an annulus is defined between the inner and outer pipes. A vacuum is drawn within the annulus, and a hydrocarbon-based coating is applied to at least one of the surfaces of the inner pipe or one of the surfaces of the outer pipe to reduce a rate of hydrogen migration into the annulus.

A pipe-in-pipe section comprises an inner pipe spaced within an outer pipe to define an annulus between the inner and outer pipes. The annulus contains a solid insulating material, which may be a microporous aerogel, and an inert gas such as krypton at near-atmospheric pressure.