An expandable device comprising a plurality of expandable cells (23). The cells may be bistable cells or other types of cells that are expanded from a contracted position towards an expanded position. Additionally, the cells may be combined with locking mechanisms to hold the structure in an expanded position.

A method of preventing corrosion in pipelines comprising draining pipeline of all residual compounds, blowing through with nitrogen and rinsing with a corrosion inhibiting rinsing agent.

A wellbore penetrating a subterranean formation is treated with a fluid whereby fine particulate flowback is reduced or prevented. The method includes the steps of providing a fluid suspension including a mixture of a particulate coated with a tackifying compound, pumping the suspension into a subterranean formation and depositing the mixture within the formation whereby the tackifying compound retards movement of at least a portion of any fine particulate within the formation upon flow of fluids from the subterranean formation through the wellbore. Alternatively, the tackifying compound may be introduced into a subterranean formation in a diluent containing solution to deposit upon previously introduced particulates to retard movement of such particulates and any fines subject to flow with production of fluids from the subterranean formation.

Corrosion inhibition apparatus in an electromagnetic heating system for in situ downhole heating in an oil well or other mineral fluid well that includes an A.C. power source for a high amperage, low frequency heating current (e.g. over 50 amperes at 0.01 to 35 Hz) and a D.C. bias source for generating a low amplitude (e.g., less than one ampere) current for corrosion inhibition, both sources connected to a downhole electrode. The bias source includes at least one semiconductor device, connected in the main A.C. heating circuit, in a bias circuit that develops a net D.C. voltage differential of the polarity required for corrosion inhibition in response to the A.C. heating current.

Method and apparatus for corrosion inhibition in an electromagnetic heating system for heating a portion of a mineral fluid deposit adjacent an oil well or other mineral fluid well, in situ. The preferred apparatus includes a power source, that develops a high amperage heating current, over 100 amperes, at a heating frequency usually in a range of from 0.01 Hz or lower to 35 Hz, in a heating circuit that includes a main heating electrode downhole of the well and a return electrode. The power source also supplies a very low amplitude, controlled D.C. bias current to those electrodes, maintaining the main electrode at a neutral or negative polarity for corrosion protection. The D.C. bias current is monitored and maintained below a given minimum level, usually about one ampere, to extend the effective life of the return electrode and to minimize corrosion protection costs.

Formation of scale from radioactive components is monitored with a radiation detector (16). Upon indication of initiation of scale formation in a system, treatment with inhibitor is carried out.

La présente invention concerne un dispositif d'in­jection d'additifs inhibiteurs de corrosion ou de dépôts dans un puits géothermal d'exhaure. Ce dispositif est caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un tube d'injection (7) en matériau composite, du type verre-résine, suspendu dans le cuvelage (1) du puits en dessous du groupe de pompage d'exhaure (4,5) en étant fixé à un dispositif d'accrochage (8) monté sous le groupe de pompage (4,5), ce tube d'injec­tion (7) débouchant, à son extrémité inférieure, à proximité du fond du puits et étant raccordé, à son extrémité supérieure, à une source d'additif située en surface, par l'intermédiaire d'un tuyau flexible (9) s'étendant dans le puits le long du tube d'exhaure.

A corrosion coupon anchoring system (10) for positively positioning at least one corrosion monitoring coupon (20,22) in the production flowpath downhole in a producing well, wherein the preferably cylindrical coupons (20,22) are held firmly within a cylindrical housing (12) suspended out of contact with any other metallic surface. An adaptor (14) threadingly engages the cylindrical housing (12) with a conventional locking mandrel (11) that is locked in place to a nipple (13) positioned in the tubing string. The minimum internal dimension (D2) of the coupon holding section is not less than the minimum internal dimension (D1) of the locking mandrel so as to minimize flow restriction introduced by the anchoring system.

@ A method and apparatus for treating very large pipe sections such as those used for oil or gas wells, in which one or both cyclindrical surfaces of the pipe sections are processed entirely throughout the length and circumference of the pipe, in one cycle of operation. The processing comprises cleaning and one or more of the following treatments: inspection, coating with a corrosion preventative material and forced-air drying and the inspection process will include remote optical/video scanning of the whole circumference of the pipe. The preferred apparatus comprises a bed (1a) on which the pipe section is supported, an external processing unit (9) and a probe (8), both of which are advanced down the pipe section and retracted with a fixed spatial relationship and both of which contain means for treating the respective pipe surfaces. In a second embodiment the probe is used on its own as a means for , cleaning and inspecting down-hole pipe conditions around 360° of the circumference of the pipes.