Abstract: A method for stimulating a subterranean formation which is penetrated by a well bore having casing positioned therein so as to establish fluid communication between the formation and the well bore. Propellant is secured to the outer surface of a carrier having a plurality of apertures formed therein. Detonating cord is positioned within said carrier and when ignited causes the propellant to ignite initially at each aperture. In this manner, the propellant is caused to burn in controlled, uniform manner. Upon burning, the propellant generates gases which clean perforations previously formed through the casing into the formation and which extend fluid communication between the formation and the well bore.

Abstract: A computer system that creates a metadata file having records connected to geographic locations on a map. The system also stores data relating to geographic locations into the metadata file. A user of the system can then select a geographic location from the map, which causes the system to present a list of all data available for that location. From the list, the user selects data to be processed in some manner, and the system launches software to perform the processing on the data for the user. In addition, the system converts the data into a common data exchange format, so that the data can be processed using any program that can access the data exchange format. The system provides conversion software to convert to and from the data exchange format, for each type of software that is used by the system for processing data.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for severing a tubular, such as a drill string, which is stuck within a subterranean well bore. A volume of liquid explosive is positioned within a housing and initially restrained against movement therein. The housing is lowered within the tubular and positioned at a location where the tubular is to be severed. The volume of liquid explosive is then moved into closer proximity to the tubular and detonated thereby severing the tubular. A portion of the tubular is then removed from the well bore.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the permeability of or fluid mobility within a high-temperature treatment region in or proximate to a hydrocarbon-bearing formation below an earthen surface penetrated by a well bore. The process is initiated by preparing a gelation solution at the earthen surface which includes a base loading of a high molecular weight acrylamide polymer, an additive loading of a low molecular weight acrylamide polymer, a crosslinking agent, and an aqueous solvent. The crosslinking agent is preferably a chromium(III) complex having one or more chromium(III) cations and one or more carboxylate anions. The resulting gelation solution is injected into the well bore and displaced into the treatment region where it is gelled in situ to form a gel which substantially reduces the permeability of or fluid mobility within the treatment region.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for monitoring contact levels of fluids in a subterranean oil reservoir. A monitoring wellbore is provided from an earthen surface into the oil reservoir which includes an oil zone, a water zone, and a gas zone, each having a level in the reservoir. The monitoring wellbore contains a plurality of fluids including an oil phase, a water phase and a gas phase, each have a level in the monitoring wellbore which substantially corresponds to the level of the oil, water and gas zones, respectively, in the reservoir proximal to the monitoring wellbore. The method includes positioning a transducer pair having a first and a second transducer in the oil phase of the monitoring wellbore, transmitting a plurality of first acoustic output signals from the first transducer in a first direction and transmitting a plurality of second acoustic output signals from the second transducer in a second direction.

Abstract: A process is provided for disposing of hydrogen sulfide contained in a gas stream, wherein a first gas feed stream having a hydrogen sulfide gas component, a second gas feed stream having an oxygen gas component, and an aqueous liquid feed stream are combined to form a reaction mixture. The aqueous liquid feed stream may be water available in remote oilfield locales, such as produced water, or sea water. The aqueous liquid feed stream may include a significant concentration of preexisting sulfate ions, in which case it is generally desirable to remove the preexisting sulfate ions using membrane separation before mixing the aqueous liquid feed stream with the first and second gas feed streams. The resultant low sulfate liquid may further comprise one or more of the following dissolved ions: Na.sup.+,K.sup.+, Mg.sup.2+, Cl.sup.-, Br.sup.-, HCO.sub.3.sup.-.

Abstract: A process is provided for constructing a fluid impermeable subterranean barrier wall in a permeable earthen material at an earthen surface. The process is initiated by excavating an earthen pit in the permeable earthen material. A gelable slurry is prepared including unconsolidated solids, an aqueous solvent, a crosslinkable polymer, and a polymer crosslinking agent. The unconsolidated solids have a bulk component consisting of a soil or a clay. The unconsolidated solids can also include a number of additive agents which enhance the performance of the gelable slurry, such as density control agents, mixing agents, permeability reduction agents, filtration control agents and strength loss reduction agents. The gelable slurry is placed in the earthen pit and gelled to substantial maturity. The resulting gel binds the unconsolidated solids present in the earthen pit to convert the gelable slurry to a gelled continuum of consolidated solids, which forms the fluid impermeable barrier wall in the earthen pit.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the sulfur content of a hydrocarbon stream, wherein a hydrocarbon stream containing sulfur constituents is contacted with a sorbent under temperature and pressure conditions of low severity. The sorbent includes a metal-exchanged zeolite selected from a group consisting of Y zeolites, ultra-stable Y zeolites, and mixtures thereof. A preferred sorbent is a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst having a rare earth metal exchanged Y zeolite or ultra-stable Y zeolite. The sorbent adsorbs sulfur constituents contained in the hydrocarbon stream upon contact therewith to reduce the sulfur content of the hydrocarbon stream.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining a liquid yield from a gas/condensate reservoir. The apparatus and method first determines the porosity at each depth of a reservoir, using open hole logging techniques, before the well within the reservoir is used for production. Once the well is being used for production, a pulse neutron capture logging device is used to provide RICS and RATO data at each depth within the reservoir. The apparatus and method combines the RICS and RATO data, along with the porosity data, to provide a yield plot of an estimate of the liquid yield of the condensate in the reservoir at each depth within the reservoir. The apparatus and method further compares estimates made to any actual production data from the particular well being estimated and corrects constants within the estimating method to cause the estimates to match the production data. This feedback mechanism provides a more accurate estimate of the yield.

Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for drilling and completing multiple subterranean wells from a template which is secured within a cased well bore extending to the surface. An orienting cam having a bore therethrough is positioned above the template such that the bore through the orienting cam is automatically aligned with one of at least two bores through the template. Fluid tight seals are provided between the orienting cam and the casing and between the orienting cam and one of the at least two bores through the template. Thereafter, a drill string including a drill bit is lowered from the surface of the earth through the casing, the bore through the orienting cam and the one bore through said template to drill a first subterranean well bore.

Abstract: A process is provided for treating a water to reduce its hardness by performing a series of sequential stages including a primary chemical reaction stage, a secondary chemical reaction stage and a scale removal stage. The primary chemical reaction stage includes the steps of adding a first hydroxide ion donor in the form of lime to an initial water having an initial hardness and reacting the first hydroxide ion donor to form a first portion of a scale and an intermediate water having an intermediate hardness substantially less than the initial hardness. The secondary chemical reaction stage includes the steps of adding a second hydroxide ion donor in the form of caustic to the intermediate water and reacting the second hydroxide ion donor to form a second portion of the scale and a product water having a product hardness substantially less than the intermediate hardness.

Abstract: A multi-stage process is provided for treating a water to reduce its hardness. The feed water is initially heated to a thermal reaction temperature in a heating stage. The heated water is then maintained at or near the thermal reaction temperature for a sufficient residence time to thermally react the water, producing a first portion of a scale from the scale-forming ions in the water while discharging dissolved gases from the water. After the thermal reaction stage, one or more chemical additives in the form of a hydroxide ion donor and optionally a bicarbonate ion donor are added to the heated water in a chemical reaction stage. The chemical additive is chemically reacted with the water in the chemical reaction stage, producing a second portion of the scale from the scale-forming ions in the water.

Abstract: A system and process are provided for converting a hydrocarbon gas to a reformed gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In accordance with a first embodiment, the system includes a primary combustor, compressor and power turbine. The process is practiced by compressing a feed air in the primary compressor to produce a primary air. The primary air is fed with a primary hydrocarbon gas to the primary combustor, producing a reformed gas that drives the primary power turbine. The primary power turbine is linked to the primary compressor, compressing the feed air in an energy self-sufficient manner. In a second embodiment, the system of the first embodiment further includes a secondary combustor, compressor and power turbine. The process is practiced in the same manner as the first embodiment, producing the reformed gas and driving the primary power turbine and compressor.

Abstract: A pressure data validation method which measures differential pressure along with measuring the absolute pressure while testing a well. The method uses a differential pressure gauge having a known distance between the two differential pressure measuring gauges, wherein the pressure differential indicates fluid density. During the test, as each absolute pressure reading is taken, a differential pressure reading is also taken and this reading is used to determine the density of the fluid surrounding the gauge at the time of the measurement. Each measurement is compared to previous measurements, and a change in fluid density, and thus a change in the type of fluid, is displayed to indicate that any discontinuity in the pressure display is due to a fluid boundary.

Abstract: A process employing a foamed gel in a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation to reduce the permeability of a treatment region therein or control the mobility of a drive fluid in the formation. The foamed gel is formed from a crosslinkable carboxylate-containing polymer, a crosslinking agent containing a reactive transition metal cation, a polyvinyl alcohol, an aqueous solvent, and an added gas.

Abstract: A method and assembly for igniting a burner using a pyrophoric liquid. A quantity of pyrophoric liquid is first transported from a container to a slug launching chamber and then transporting into a fuel gas stream for the burner. The slug launching chamber is flushed with a hydrocarbon liquid to remove any of the quantity of pyrophoric liquid from the launching chamber, while the assembly can be purged with an inert gas prior to removing the pyrophoric liquid container and replacing it with a new container.

Abstract: A process and composition are provided for permeability reduction in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation to improve hydrocarbon recovery therefrom. The process includes placement of a crosslinked polymer gel in the treatment region preceded by surface preparation of a gelation solution which is the gel precursor. The gelation solution contains a crosslinkable polymer, a chromium(III)/carboxylate complex crosslinking agent, an inorganic fluoride salt stabilizing agent and an aqueous solvent containing hard salts. The gel is placed in the treatment region by injecting the gelation solution into a well bore in fluid communication with the formation, displacing the gelation solution into the desired treatment region and gelling the solution to completion forming the permeability-reducing gel in situ. The inorganic fluoride salt stabilizing agent promotes the long-term stability of the gel in the treatment region, particularly at high temperatures.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for observing fluid replacement in core samples while simulating subsurface reservoir conditions, including oil composition, temperature, fluid pressure, and overburden pressure. Overburden pressure is applied to a core sample placed in the apparatus, and the core sample is saturated with a core saturating fluid at a pressure greater than the bubble point pressure of the core saturating fluid. One or more replacement fluids are provided in fluid communication with the core sample and at the same pressure as the core saturating fluid pressure. The apparatus is placed in a centrifuge and spun, and the extent and rate of replacement of the core saturating fluid in the core by a replacement fluid can be observed.

Abstract: A foam is provided having utility for improving sweep efficiency in subterranean oil-bearing formations and having specific utility for conformance improvement treatments and mobility control in such formations. The foam is a gel medium having a gas dispersed therein. The gel medium is made up of a crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, a surfactant and a liquid solvent.

Abstract: This invention relates to the recovery of oil from an oil-bearing formation having a natural fracture network with substantial vertical communication and wherein gravity drainage is the primary means of recovery. A downwardly inflating gas-cap is pressured up with a chase gas having a density less than that of CO.sub.2. CO.sub.2 is injected and a CO.sub.2 -rich displacing slug is formed at the gas-liquid hydrocarbon contact. The chase gas is injected to facilitate displacing downwardly the CO.sub.2 -rich displacing slug to recover hydrocarbon from the reservoir. CO.sub.2 is replaced in the displacing slug as the CO.sub.2 is solubilized into the oil, including matrix oil, to facilitate recovery thereof. The oil is recovered through production wells in fluid communication with the reservoir, preferably the inlet to the well is below the water-liquid hydrocarbon contact at such a level to prevent free-gas production. The chase gas has a density less than that of the CO.sub.