A valve is for closing fluid communication between a horizontal or deviated well and a production string when a content of a first or a second undesired fluid in the fluid flow exceeds a predetermined level. The valve has a primary flow channel, and a piston arrangement movable within the valve between an inactive position allowing fluid flow through the primary channel and an active position preventing fluid flow through the primary channel. The piston arrangement further has a secondary flow channel and a bypass flow channel and inflow control elements exposed to the fluid flow upstream of the flow barrier and having different density and movable within independent paths in response to a density of fluid.

A method includes designing a lower completion string for a multi-stage hydraulic fracturing job for a wellbore drilled into a subterranean zone. The lower completion string includes a plurality of stages and a plurality of packers configured to isolate each of the stages. Each stage of the plurality of stages includes a respective tubular stage assembly, and each stage is configured to be placed within a respective one of a plurality of frac intervals of the wellbore defined by the plurality of packers. Designing the lower completion string includes, for each stage of the plurality of stages, receiving a measured hole diameter of the respective one of the plurality of frac intervals and performing an axial safety factor analysis of the stage. The axial safety factor analysis includes a comparison of a yield strength in tension or compression of the respective tubular stage assembly of the stage with calculated effective axial tensile or compressive forces to which the respective tubular stage assembly of the stage would be subject when positioned in the frac interval in the wellbore. The axial safety factor analysis uses a predicted anchored status of the lower completion string, which includes an extent to which the respective tubular stage assembly would be predicted to elongate or contract when the lower completion string is positioned in the wellbore and the plurality of packers are set. The axial safety factor analysis also uses a distance between a first packer of the plurality of packers isolating the stage and a second packer of the plurality of packers isolating the stage, and the measured hole diameter of the respective frac interval. The method also includes determining that the axial safety factor analysis for each stage of the plurality of stages satisfies a threshold and, in response to the determining that the threshold is satisfied for each stage of the plurality of stages, inserting the lower completion string into the wellbore and performing the multi-stage hydraulic fracturing job.

A method includes designing a lower completion string for a multi-stage hydraulic fracturing job for a wellbore drilled into a subterranean zone. The lower completion string includes a plurality of stages and a plurality of packers configured to isolate each of the stages. Each stage of the plurality of stages includes a respective tubular stage assembly, and each stage is configured to be placed within a respective one of a plurality of frac intervals of the wellbore defined by the plurality of packers. Designing the lower completion string includes, for each stage of the plurality of stages, receiving a measured hole diameter of the respective one of the plurality of frac intervals and performing an axial safety factor analysis of the stage. The axial safety factor analysis includes a comparison of a yield strength in tension or compression of the respective tubular stage assembly of the stage with calculated effective axial tensile or compressive forces to which the respective tubular stage assembly of the stage would be subject when positioned in the frac interval in the wellbore. The axial safety factor analysis uses a predicted anchored status of the lower completion string, which includes an extent to which the respective tubular stage assembly would be predicted to elongate or contract when the lower completion string is positioned in the wellbore and the plurality of packers are set. The axial safety factor analysis also uses a distance between a first packer of the plurality of packers isolating the stage and a second packer of the plurality of packers isolating the stage, and the measured hole diameter of the respective frac interval. The method also includes determining that the axial safety factor analysis for each stage of the plurality of stages satisfies a threshold and, in response to the determining that the threshold is satisfied for each stage of the plurality of stages, inserting the lower completion string into the wellbore and performing the multi-stage hydraulic fracturing job.

Systems and methods for harvesting geothermal energy use temperature-based flow control to optimize the extraction of thermal energy from a geothermal reservoir. In one example, a thermal transport fluid is flowed into a wellbore traversing a thermal reservoir of a formation. Flow of the thermal transport fluid into and out of the thermal reservoir is dynamically controlled at each of a plurality of injection and/or return locations in response to a downhole parameter such as temperature. For example, flow may be controlled so that the flow into the thermal reservoir is greater at the injection locations where the temperature is hotter and that the flow out of the thermal reservoir is greater at the return locations where the temperature is hotter. The thermal transport fluid produced from the return locations is then conveyed to surface to extra the thermal energy.

A method, a system, tools for use by the system, and an interpretation method for injecting and detecting tracers and conducting flow characterizing of a petroleum well are disclosed. The method describes monitoring of travel time and slip velocity between two/three different phases (oil/water and possibly gas) in the well. The travel time and slip velocity are determined using an injection too for injection of an over pressurized injection of the partitioning tracers each of which would follow certain phase. The tracers are detected by an optical detection probe in the pipe. The slip velocity is obtained from the difference of travel time of two tracers which partition to two different phases.

A method, a system, tools for use by the system, and an interpretation method for injecting and detecting tracers and conducting flow characterizing of a petroleum well are disclosed. The method describes monitoring of travel time and slip velocity between two/three different phases (oil/water and possibly gas) in the well. The travel time and slip velocity are determined using an injection too for injection of an over pressurized injection of the partitioning tracers each of which would follow certain phase. The tracers are detected by an optical detection probe in the pipe. The slip velocity is obtained from the difference of travel time of two tracers which partition to two different phases.

A fluid flow control device can include an inlet port and an outlet port. The fluid flow control device can also include a rotatable component for rotating about an axis in response to fluid flow from the inlet port. A float component positioned within the rotatable component can move between (i) an open position that enables fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, and (ii) a closed position that restricts fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The float component can move from the open position to the closed position in response to a fluid from the inlet port having one density. The float component can move from the closed position to the open position in response to the fluid from the inlet port having another density.

A fluid flow control device can include an inlet port and an outlet port. The fluid flow control device can also include a rotatable component for rotating about an axis in response to fluid flow from the inlet port. A float component positioned within the rotatable component can move between (i) an open position that enables fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, and (ii) a closed position that restricts fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The float component can move from the open position to the closed position in response to a fluid from the inlet port having one density. The float component can move from the closed position to the open position in response to the fluid from the inlet port having another density.

A flow conveyed plugging device for use in a well, the device can include a body, and one or more lines extending outwardly from the body, each of the lines having a lateral dimension that is substantially smaller than a size of the body. A method of plugging an opening in a well can include deploying at least one flow conveyed plugging device into the well, the flow conveyed plugging device including a body and, extending outwardly from the body, at least one of the group consisting of: a) one or more fibers and b) one or more lines, the flow conveyed plugging device being conveyed by flow in the well into sealing engagement with the opening. Another flow conveyed plugging device can include a body, and fibers extending outwardly from the body. The flow conveyed plugging device degrades and thereby permits flow through an opening in the well.

A method for evaluating the potential effectiveness of refracking a previously fracked oil/gas well is accomplished by isolating a plurality of previously fracked zones of an oil/gas well in a formation and measuring the fluid flow rates from the isolated zones using a three phase flow meter positioned within the well at or near the previously fracked zones. The zones may be isolated by an isolation assembly which includes two packers connected by a perforated pipe and attached to a tubular positioned within the well.