Abstract: A method for completing a horizontal wellbore in a loosely consolidated or unconsolidated formation. To minimize collapse of the wellbore and minimize sand production while providing for greater flexibility in the placement of a sand control device in a horizontal wellbore, a slotted liner with a flexible sand control device affixed thereto is positioned into the horizontal wellbore. After positioning, the liner with sand control device attached, high permeability of openings within the liner is maintained when producing hydrocarbonaceous fluids from the formation.

Abstract: A method for enhanced oil recovery from a low permeability diatomaceous reservoir by imbibition is described. In this method, oil is displaced from the reservoir with a horizontal wellbore by a combination of applied fluid pressure, plus "enhanced imbibition." Enhanced imbibition is accomplished by adding chemical additives, water, or brine to an injection fluid so that rock in the tight diatomaceous reservoir has a stronger affinity for the water present therein, thus releasing oil from the rock. The method is either continuous or cyclic.

Abstract: A method for enhanced hydraulic fracturing which comprises injecting a proppant laden fracturing fluid into a formation or reservoir at a rate and pressure sufficient to fracture said formation. Next, a thin spacer fluid is injected into the created fracture. Afterwards, a proppant laden fracturing fluid is injected into the formation at a rate and pressure sufficient to hold the created fracture open which allows proppant to be more evenly distributed throughout the created fracture as proppant falls through the spacer fluid thereby avoiding proppant convection in the created fracture while obtaining substantially improved propping of the fracture.

Abstract: A method for enhanced oil recovery from a low permeability diatomaceous reservoir by imbibition is described. In this method, oil is displaced from a single injection well, or series of injection wells into a single producer or series of producing wells by a combination of applied fluid pressure, plus "enhanced imbibition." Enhanced imbibition is accomplished by adding chemical additives to the injection fluid so that rock in the tight reservoir has a stronger affinity for the water present therein, thus releasing oil from the rock.

Abstract: A method for increasing the efficiency by which fracture fluids are produced back from a hydrocarbonaceous fluid bearing formation. To remove said fracture fluid, agglomerated particles or granules containing a chemical blowing agent are placed into the formation. After placement of the agglomerated particles and granules containing the blowing agent and fracturing the formation, the blowing agent decomposes thereby providing a driving force for fluid load removal from the formation matrix. Increased porosity enhances communication between the formation and the fracture, thus increasing the efficiency of fracture fluid production. Gas liberation within the matrix establishes communication pathways for subsequently removing hydrocarbonaceous fluids by displacing load fluids into the fracture and the well.

Abstract: Additives which improve the low-temperature properties of distillate fuels are the reaction products of (1) diaminodiols, and (2) the product of pyromellitic dianhydride and aminoalcohols and/or amines with long-chain hydrocarbyl groups attached.

Abstract: A method for zone isolation or replacing a damaged or corroded casing with a solid plastic is described herein. A resin/curing agent mixture sufficient to form a hardened plastic or solid, underwater and/or at low wellbore temperatures that is also able to withstand downhole stresses, is placed into the wellbore so as to bind with the undamaged casing and close off any thief zone. Subsequently, the resin/curing agent mixture forms a hardened solid. The hardened solid is milled out if necessary so as to form a resinous casing the size of the original casing. Later, the hardened resinous casing is perforated to communicate with a targeted zone. Perforation is not required when isolating a zone. The hardened solid is of a strength sufficient to withstand stresses generated during EOR operations such as carbon dioxide or steam-flooding. Said solid is also resistant to workover acids and other chemicals used in EOR operations.

Abstract: A well completion process for improved cement placement in a horizontal wellbore. Initially, a cleaning fluid is circulated down the wellbore for conditioning and cleaning it. Afterwards, a production tube containing centralizers is positioned centrally within the wellbore. Next, "spacer fluids" of higher and lower densities are circulated within an annulus formed by the space between the tube and the wellbore so as to more substantially clean the annulus out. Subsequently, a cement having a density greater than the spacer fluid is pumped into the annulus. Thereafter, a light weight cement is pumped into the annulus thereby overriding the heavier cement and removing voids in the annulus resulting in more efficient cement placement.

Abstract: An improved method for hydraulically fracturing a formation or reservoir where a thermo-setting gellable mixture is utilized. This thermo-setting mixture is foamed either at the surface or in situ under fracturing pressures and conditions. The mixture and carrier fluid is of a composition such that the foamed mixture has a viscosity of sufficient magnitude to cause a created fracture to grow while the foamed mixture is kept under fracturing pressure and conditions. Once a fracture of a desired size and length has been generated, the resin is ignited and thermally set thus forming a porous hardened solid within the fracture thereby holding the fracture open. Once combustion is finished, no spent fracturing fluids or load fluids remain to be recovered. This porous solid props the fracture open thereby increasing the conductivity of the formation or reservoir and fluid flow therefrom.

Abstract: Alkoxylated- or polyalkoxylate-amine-phosphite derived olefin adducts are superior as lubricating fluid media and as multifunctional additives with internal synergistic antioxidant and extreme pressure/antiwear properties for both mineral and synthetic lubricating oils as well as fuels.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a preparative technique for concentrating or isolating a surfactant from an oil/water emulsion. First, a an emulsion or sludge sample containing surfactants is separated into separate oil, water and solid phases. Thereafter, water droplets are injected into the oil phase. The water droplets fall through the oil phase, causing surfactant in the oil phase to adhere to said droplets which form a high-internal-phase-ratio (HIPR) water-in-oil emulsion that is rich in surfactants. This emulsion is subsequently separated into an oil and a water phase. The separated surfactant-rich oil phase is then analyzed to obtain information concerning the surfactant.

Abstract: A method for zone isolation, profile modification, remedial cementing, or replacing a damaged or corroded casing with a solid plastic is described. A solidifiable epoxy resin mixture, containing a critical amount of a hardener and curing agent for improved pumpability, is placed into a wellbore so as to bind with undamaged casing and close off any thief zones. Subsequently, the epoxy resin mixture forms a hardened solid underwater and/or at low wellbore temperatures that is able to withstand downhole stresses. The hardened solid is milled out if necessary so as to form a resinous casing the size of the original casing. Later, the hardened resinous casing is perforated to communicate with a targeted zone. Perforation is not required when isolating a zone. The hardened solid is of a strength sufficient to withstand stresses generated during EOR operations such as carbon dioxide or steam-flooding. Said solid is also resistant to workover acids and other chemicals used in EOR operations.

Abstract: A method for placement of a long life scale inhibitor into a formation where variable density scale inhibitors are utilized. A substantially low density non-reactive fluid is loaded into an interval of the formation to be treated. Afterwards, a high density first stage scale inhibitor is injected into the interval. Thereafter, a low density spacer fluid is injected into the interval being treated. Next, a second stage high density scale inhibitor having a density lower than the first stage inhibitor is injected into said interval. Subsequently, a low density spacer is injected into the interval. Volume increments are repeatedly injected with decreasing fluid densities until a desired zone has been treated. The entire treatment is then overflushed with an inert high density fluid. Use of this method allows even inhibitor distribution in intervals of a formation with permeability variations thereby preventing scale build-up.

Abstract: A method for removing a viscous hydrocarbonaceous fluid or oil from a formation where carbon dioxide is utilized. Gaseous carbon dioxide is injected, by a pre-set time interval or a computer actuated valve means, into a well near a productive interval. Injection continues for a time sufficient for the carbon dioxide and oil to mix thereby decreasing the oil's viscosity and facilitating gas lift of an oil of reduced viscosity to the surface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring thickness and traction properties of elastohydrodynamic lubricant (EHL) films is described. The apparatus utilizes at least one ball or roller loaded against the internal diameter of a transparent ring having a larger radius than said ball or roller. A lubricant is placed between the rotating roller and ring thereby forming an EHL film where the ball and ring contact. Roller and ring rotating speeds are controlled to obtain different amounts of relative sliding motion between their surfaces. Contact between the surfaces and the resultant film are observed via the transparent ring which allows optical measurements of lubricating film thickness. Traction forces generated during contact are measured by any suitable force measuring device.

Abstract: Borated dihydrocarbyl dithiocarbamate reaction products have been found to be effective antioxidant/antiwear multifunctional additives for lubricants.

Abstract: A method to improve the efficiency of scale dissolution in a formation containing multiple productive intervals where variable density liquids are utilized. Initially, a liquid composition sufficient to solubilize an alkaline-earth metal sulfate scale deposit is directed into a wellbore thereby contacting scale in one productive interval of the formation. Thereafter, a second scale solubilizing liquid having a density of about 0.1 wt % less than the first liquid is directed into the wellbore thereby contacting additional perforations and a higher interval. These scale solubilizing liquids with varying densities are allowed to remain in contact with perforations and productive intervals communicating therewith for a time sufficient to solubilize the scale deposit thereby efficiently removing said scale deposit from perforations and productive intervals at two different levels.

Abstract: A method of producing high water-cut gas via in situ water-disposal. Initially, a well is drilled and cased. The casing is perforated at an upper gas producing interval. Next, a tubing is run down through the casing and its lower end is perforated so as to fluidly communicate with a lower non-productive interval. The tubing is also perforated at a location below the producing interval and a production packer is placed between the casing's lower end and the tubing thereby forming an annulus. A slidable sleeve is positioned in the annulus to selectively open and close perforations on the tube side of the annulus. As gas is produced, water separated from the gas collects in the annulus and falls through perforations in the tubing where it is disposed of in the non-productive interval.

Abstract: Two spaced apart zones of a formation are simultaneously hydraulically fractured. A lower density fracturing fluid is injected into an upper zone of the formation via an annulus of a perforated wellbore communicating with the upper zone thereby causing a fracture to propagate. Simultaneously therewith, a higher density fracturing fluid is injected into a lower spaced apart zone via a tube within the wellbore which fluidly communicates with the lower zone thereby causing simultaneously the propagation of a second fracture. Neither fracture contacts the other although complete fracture growth is obtained.

Abstract: The incorporation of the heterocyclic saccharin functionality into the alkenylsuccinimide dispersant structures via the Mannich alkylaminoalkylation procedure provides a class of ashless non-phosphorus dispersants with multifunctional antiwear, antioxidant and corrosion inhibiting properties in lubricant compositions.