In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to identify one or more multiphase fluid flow regimes as an output of fuzzy logic processing, with inputs to the fuzzy logic processing comprising a set of physical parameter values as attributes at a location in a fluid flow that are determined by at least one of measurement or simulation, and to operate a controlled device based on the output. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

In some embodiments, an apparatus and a system, as well as a method and article, may operate to identify one or more multiphase fluid flow regimes as an output of fuzzy logic processing, with inputs to the fuzzy logic processing comprising a set of physical parameter values as attributes at a location in a fluid flow that are determined by at least one of measurement or simulation, and to operate a controlled device based on the output. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.

A system includes a solids catcher that is centered with respect to a central axis of a tubing. The system includes an inner annulus, an outer annulus, and a chamber between the inner annulus and the outer annulus. A solids accumulation zone is formed in the chamber. A pump disposed offset from the central axis of the tubing. The pump is fluidly connected to the solids catcher through the outer annulus. A fluid stream carrying solids flowing from the pump. The fluid stream carrying solids is configured to follow a path delimited by the outer annulus and the chamber until the fluid stream deposits the solids in the solids accumulation zone and departs the solids catcher via the inner annulus into a tubing.

A method of extracting underground resources including a step of mixing hydrolysable particles and a proppant to an aqueous dispersion fluid, and introducing the fluid with pressure into an ore chute formed under the ground, wherein as the hydrolysable particles, use is made of spherical particles that include a hydrolysable resin of a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of not less than 5,000 and, specifically, not less than 10,000, and that have an average particle size (D.sub.50) in a range of 300 to 1,000 μm, and a circularity of a short diameter/long diameter ratio of not less than 0.8. The spherical particles have a hyrolysable capability, a circularity and a particle size adapted to the hydraulic fracturing.

An automated sand separator discharge system includes a sand separator disposed downstream of a wellhead, an inlet conduit for transporting a process stream to the sand separator, a fluid outlet conduit for transporting a liquid and gas stream from the sand separator, a sand discharge conduit for removing sand from the sand separator, first, second, and third valves disposed along the sand discharge conduit, a first transducer connected between the first and second valves and operative to measure pressure in a portion of the sand discharge conduit and to produce a pressure reading, and a control panel operatively connected to the first, second, and third valves and the first transducer, the control panel being programmed to initiate and terminate discharge of sand from the sand separator, and to determine if the first and second valves are sealing completely when closed.

A natural gas conditioning system for conditioning unconditioned natural gas for use in a gas lift system at a wellbore comprises a series of coolers to receive and cool unconditioned natural gas, and a high-pressure, three-phase separator. The separator receives cooled unconditioned natural gas from the coolers and results in separate flows of conditioned lift gas, waste water and hydro-carbon liquids. The conditioned lift gas can be directed to a first heat exchanger, and the hydro-carbon liquids can be directed to a second heat exchanger. A chiller can be coupled to a third heat exchanger. All the components can be carried by a skid.

A device and a method for gas-water-sand separation and measurement during a simulated exploitation of natural gas hydrates are disclosed. The device includes a natural gas hydrate formation and dissociation system and a filtering unit. The natural gas hydrate formation and dissociation system includes a compressed air pump, a reactor, and a water-bath temperature regulating unit. The filtering unit includes a kettle body, wherein an inlet end of the kettle body is connected to the sand-control liner zone, an outlet end of the kettle body is connected to a water-collecting container, and a plurality of filtering layers are disposed inside the kettle body from the inlet end to the outlet end. The method is conducted using the device. The device and the method realize the gas-water-sand separation and measurement of produced gas-water-sand mixture during a simulative exploitation process, allowing for a direct inspection on a sand production and sand control.

A method of treating a contaminated oil comprising preparing a brine solution, adding ozone to the brine solution to produce ozonated brine solution, adding a volume of ozonated brine solution to a volume of the contaminated oil, mixing the volumes of contaminated oil and ozonated brine solution with coagulant and surfactant at a shear rate sufficiently high so as to cause formation of an emulsion of the contaminated oil and the brine solution, stopping the mixing, thereby causing the emulsion to separate into an aqueous brine liquid phase and an oil liquid phase, separating the brine liquid phase from the oil liquid phase, and separating at least one contaminant from the oil liquid phase to produce a volume of purified oil.

An apparatus, system and related methods for controlling a pressurized flow from a high or low pressure system. An actuated sand dump system and related methods include a first valve positioned downstream of a high or low pressure system, a second valve positioned downstream of the first valve, a choke positioned between in the first and second valves, a plurality of pressure gauges, and a control unit operable to automatically open and close the first and second valves and the choke in a predetermined sequence, upon initiating the predetermined sequence, and in response to pressure measurements from the plurality of pressure gauges.

A method of enhanced oil recovery may comprise placing into a subterranean formation a production enhancement fluid comprising a short chain hydrocarbon phase and a silane based wettability modifier, wherein the short chain hydrocarbon phase comprises hydrocarbons having 5 or less carbon atoms; allowing the production enhancement fluid to remain in the subterranean formation for a shut-in period; and producing hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation.