Abstract: A low profile port closure apparatus which consists of a port positioned on the vessel to be sealed, a threaded sealing means for effecting fluid-tight closing of said port, and pressure retaining manifold structure which enables sealing positioning and removal of the sealing means in said port, and which manifold means is removable from operative position.

Abstract: An improvement in a pump-down tool for use in sand washing operations is provided. The pump-down tool includes a tubular member having a locomotive member positioned thereabout and a fluid passageway positioned therethrough and a sand washing tool positioned in fluid communication with the lower end of the tubular member as positioned for use. The well has positioned therein a first and second tubing member with the first and second tubing members being in fluid communication at a junction near their lower ends so that the pump-down tool may be urged along the length of the first tubing member toward the junction by pumping fluid sequentially through the first tubing member, the junction and the second tubing member. The tool is recovered by pumping fluid in the opposite direction.

Abstract: Sulfonates having an equivalent weight of about 300 to about 600 are saturated with carbon dioxide and injected into a petroliferous formation to improve a waterflood process.

Abstract: Diverless monitoring of cathodic protection of offshore platforms wherein a reference electrode is passed along a guideline in proximity to a portion of the platform subject to corrosion is improved by maintaining the electrode at a fixed distance and radial direction from the taut guideline, as by slideably mounting a fixed distance from a second parallel taut guideline.

Abstract: In pump-down tools for use in well maintenance operations wherein fluids are injected into a well and wherein the tool includes a tubular member having locomotives positioned thereabout and a fluid passageway positioned therethrough and is connected to a fluid injection member positioned in fluid communication with the fluid passageway and the well; the well being equipped with a first tubing member and a second tubing member which are in fluid communication near their lower ends so that the tool is readily moved through the first tubing member by pumping fluid sequentially through the first tubing member, the junction between the first and second tubing member and the second tubing member and is moved in the opposite direction by reverse circulation, an improvement comprising positioning on the tubular member above the locomotives a sealing ring which is releasably maintained in position at a suitable angle from the axis of the tubular member.

Abstract: A blowout preventer test plug for use in pressure testing a blowout preventer, the plug comprising a first body having fluid passage ports positioned therethrough and a second body having fluid passage ports positioned therethrough positioned on a tubular extension below the first body so that when the first and second bodies are moved into mating contact the fluid passage ports are closed and a seal is urged into sealing contact between a tubular extension of the first body and the inner diameter of a wellhead bore in which the plug is positioned.

Abstract: In a combustion process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation vertically traversed by an injection well through which an oxygen-containing gas is injected and a plurality of production wells through which liquid hydrocarbons and gaseous products of combustion are produced; oil recovery is improved by throttling of the production wells to increase the steam pressure in the locus ahead of the combustion zone, and according to a preferred mode, the combustion front advance is controlled by selectively throttling and increasing the gas pressure of production wells in the vicinity of the greatest advance of the combustion front.

Abstract: In a combustion process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation comprising an upper permeable hydrocarbon-bearing stratum overlying a lower permeable hydrocarbon-bearing stratum and separated therefrom by a semi-permeable stratum which is substantially permeable to oxygen but not substantially permeable to water; the strata are traversed by injection and production wells, the lower hydrocarbon-bearing stratum is ignited near an injection well and oxygen-containing gas is injected into the lower hydrocarbon-bearing stratum to combust hydrocarbons near the injection well and form a combustion front, an oxygen-containing gas is injected into the lower hydrocarbon-bearing stratum and an aqueous fluid is injected into the upper hydrocarbon-bearing stratum to move the combustion front between the injection and the production wells and to prevent or mitigate channeling through the upper hydrocarbon-bearing stratum, and hydrocarbons are recovered from the strata.

Abstract: In displacement processes for recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation having zones of different permeability wherein such displacement processes comprise injecting a drive fluid through an injection well vertically traversing the formation and recovering by means of a production well the liquid hydrocarbons which are displaced by the injection of the drive fluid; this invention involves an improvement comprising injecting a water insoluble liquid into the permeable zone to increase drive efficiency in the less permeable zone.