Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring Reid Vapor Pressure, as defined in ASTM D-323 procedure, of liquid hydrocarbon materials including a totally contained system having a sample preparation portion and a measurement portion. The method and apparatus is totally automated in preparing the apparatus for measurement and in performing the measurement.

Abstract: A pressure-controlled valve comprising an elastic-walled conductor, such as a tube, with a flow-obstructing body within the conductor. Fluid flow through the conductor is controlled by expanding the elastic wall away from the flow-obstructing body to provide fluid flow paths and by contracting the elastic-wall of the conductor toward the body to close the flow paths. Expansion and contraction of the elastic-wall of the conductor is in response to the differential pressure between the inside and the outside of the conductor.

Abstract: A process for avoiding compaction and permeability reduction in carbonate formations when fluids are injected into such formations in a manner to produce hydrocarbons from such formations. The process involves controlling the pH and the state of mineral saturation of the injection fluids.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering viscous crudes from petroleum-containing formation, such as tar sand deposits, which are too deep to mine economically but not deep enough, or geologically not structured properly, to successfully hydraulically fracture for well to well production. The method contemplates a field grid layout of sets of injection and production wells and a subsurface generally horizontal heated tubular member passing through the subsurface petroleum-containing formation. Heated fluids are circulated through the tubular members to heat the viscous crudes in the vicinity of the tubular members and a heated drive fluid is injected through the injection wells to move heated crude toward the production wells.

Abstract: A new high efficiency, multijunction photovoltaic solar cell for use with a concentration lens. This cell comprises an elemental single crystal substrate without an internal light sensitive junction, upon which are two or more successive homogenous layers of semiconductor materials, each layer containing within it a light sensitive p/n junction of a similar polarity, each layer having essentially the same lattice constant as the single crystal substrate, each layer having a shorting junction contact with the layer immediately above and below it, each successive layer adsorbing light energy at a shorter wavelength, and each layer being of sufficient thickness and appropriate composition to develop essentially the same current as the other layers. At the junction, between the successive layers of the multilayer cell, a thin pseudo transparent low bandgap semiconductor layer is provided at the shorting junction interface.

Abstract: A method is proposed for treating subsurface earth formations in the neighborhood of a steam injection well by selectively altering the effective permeability of the formation through depositing a monomer within the formation where the permeability is to be controlled and the eventual polymerization of that monomer to produce a high-viscosity polymer within the formation to effectively decrease the permeability of that portion of the formation. The monomer is transported to the subsurface formation in vapor form with steam. The mixed vapor first condenses out liquid water only and later condenses out water and immiscible liquid monomer. The polymerization of the monomer then takes place to produce a high-viscosity polymer within the subsurface formation.

Abstract: A method is described for cleaning nonsettling oil-solid mixtures from the bottom of catalytic cracking rundown tanks wherein a solvent of particular specifications is introduced in the rundown tank and circulated around, in and through the non-settling oil solids with an angularly adjustable pump. After the floating oil-solid mixture has been separated by the solvent, the solvent and liquid are removed from the tank, separated and recycled to process streams. The remaining settled solid sediments may then be washed with an aqueous solution circulated in the tank with the adjustable pump to water-wash additional oils from the solid sediments, and the aqueous solution and oils carried therewith are removed from the tank and separated. The remaining solid materials are then vacuumed from the tank or water-washed from the tank to complete the cleaning process initiated totally from outside of the tank.

Abstract: A tensiometer apparatus for use in the field, for instance at the site of an oil well, for measuring the interfacial tension between two immiscible fluids, for instance oil and water, wherein a droplet of one fluid is caused to move under the force of gravity through the second fluid and a characteristic of the droplet is determined by measuring the change the droplet causes in capacitance of one or more capacitors as the droplet moves through the second fluid. The determined characteristic is then converted by calibration means to interfacial tension between the fluids.

Abstract: A method for removing material from directional wells using centralized tubing to circulate foam in the well at a velocity in excess of 30 feet per minute.

Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons by injecting a mixture of oxidizing gas and steam into a lateral conduit in a hydrocarbon-containing formation to produce a product gas and, based on values contained in such gas, controlling the reactions between mixtures of oxidizing gas and steam and hydrocarbons in the formation to optimize the Btu value of the product gas.