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 employing a foamed gel in a wellbore as a completion, workover, or kill fluid. The foamed gel is formed from an aqueous solvent, a water-soluble carboxylate-containing polymer crosslinked by a crosslinking agent containing a reactive transition metal cation, a surfactant, and an added gas. The foamed gel is placed in the wellbore, where it substantially prevents the flow of formation fluid into or out of the wellbore. The completion, workover, or kill operation is then performed. Alternatively, the foamed gel may be combined with another completion, workover, or kill fluid after commencing a wellbore operation.

Abstract: A subterranean well system and a process for drilling and completing such a system from a first subterranean well bore which extends to the surface of the earth. A second well bore may be drilled from the first well bore and a first tubular of a multiple well drilling template can be positioned within the first well bore while a second tubular of the template can be positioned within both the first and second well bores. Additionally, a third well bore can be drilled from the first well bore and the first tubular can be further positioned therein. The first and second well bores can penetrate subterranean formation(s) or additional well bore(s) can be drilled from the first, second and/or third well bores so as to penetrate subterranean formations. A second multiple well drilling template may be utilized to drill such additional well bore(s) from the second or third well bores.

Abstract: An asphaltic roadway base or sub base which includes a by-product of petroleum refining units utilizing a Residuum Oil Supercritical Extraction (ROSE) process. The base course is a designed mixture of a resin-asphaltene residuum and aggregate, wherein the resin-asphaltene residuum has a penetration less than 10 at 77.degree. F. and a softening point above 150.degree. F., the resin-asphaltene residuum is present in the range of 3% to 12%, by weight of the composition, and the aggregate is present in the range of 88% to 97%, by weight of the composition.

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, a carboxylate salt delaying agent and an aqueous solvent. The gel is placed in the treatment region by injecting the gelation solution into a well bore in fluid communication with the formation, displacing it into the desired treatment region and gelling the solution to completion forming the permeability-reducing gel in situ. The gelation rate is retarded in a controlled manner by adjusting the composition or concentration of the delaying agent in the gelation solution.

Abstract: A process and composition are provided for permeability reduction in a treatment region to improve hydrocarbon recovery from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation. 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, a carboxylate salt delaying agent and an aqueous solvent. The gel is placed in the treatment region by injecting the gelation solution into a well bore in fluid communication with the treatment region, displacing it into the desired treatment region and gelling the solution to completion forming the permeability-reducing gel in situ. The gelation rate is retarded in a controlled manner by adjusting the composition or concentration, and correspondingly the pH, of the delaying agent in the gelation solution.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for perforating and fracturing subterranean formations to enhance fluid production. At least one unlined punch charge is loaded into at least one punch charge carrier, and the void spaces in the punch charge carrier are filled with sand. The punch charge carrier is assembled with at least one perforating charge carrier, loaded with at least one perforating charge, and a means for detonation. The assembly is positioned in a well containing a pressurized fluid adjacent the interval to be perforated and/or fractured, and the charges are detonated. The one or more punch charges create one or more apertures in the punch charge carrier, allowing sand to enter the well and be carried by the fluid in the well into the perforations and/or fractures created by the perforating charges and the pressurized fluid. The sand scours and/or props the perforations and/or fractures.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of activating electric wireline firing systems in which a firing pin is restrained against movement toward a detonator until application of sufficient voltage to the apparatus. The firing pin is not permitted to move immediately upon application of voltage to the apparatus thereby providing a period during which voltage may be interrupted to prevent detonation of the system. The requisite voltage which must be applied to the apparatus is relatively high thereby ensuring against premature detonation of the system due to high radio frequencies, stray voltages or other electrical influences.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for storing a continuous length of an assembled jointed tubular conduit on an offshore vessel and for conveying the tubular conduit between the deck of the vessel and a subsurface wellhead on the floor of the body of water. The system includes a carousel positioned around the perimeter of the vessel defining a continuous close-curved carousel pathway in parallel or coplanar alignment with the horizontal deck. The assembled tubular conduit is maintained in coiled storage along the carousel pathway until it is desired to convey the tubular conduit into or out of the carousel. Horizontal and vertical directing means are provided that, in cooperation with rotation of the carousel, enable uncoiling of the tubular conduit from the carousel into the water or recoiling of the tubular conduit into the carousel from the water.

Abstract: A process for recovering entrained liquid from natural gas. The gas containing entrained liquid flows from a subterranean formation via a well into a gas/liquid separation chamber where the liquid and gas are separated by centrifugal force. One or more vanes mounted in one or more slits in the separator wall extend into the separation chamber and aid in transposing liquid through the slit or slits. Outside the chamber, the liquid drains into a storage tank. The gas is vented to the atmosphere or to a gas collection system. The separator chamber may be mounted inside a storage tank and may have an external shell around the chamber wall.

Abstract: A process employing a polymer enhanced foam in a wellbore as a drilling fluid during a wellbore drilling operation. The polymer enhanced foam is formed from an uncrosslinked acrylamide polymer, a surfactant, an aqueous solvent, and an added gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining the minimum miscibility pressure of a system comprising a gas and a liquid. A liquid-filled tube is equilibrated at a predetermined temperature and initial pressure, and pressure changes are determined as a single gas bubble is launched, rises through the tube, and stabilizes in the liquid. The measurements are repeated with fresh liquid at a series of different predetermined pressures. The minimum miscibility pressure is obtained either by finding the final pressure at which the time between launch and stabilization is constant or by evaluating the derivative of an empirically derived relationship between initial pressure and final pressure.

Abstract: A process employing a foamed gel in a wellbore as a drilling fluid, lost circulation fluid, or combined drilling/lost circulation fluid during the wellbore drilling operation. The foamed gel is formed from a crosslinkable carboxylate-containing polymer, a crosslinking agent containing a reactive transition metal cation, a surfactant, an aqueous solvent, and an added gas.

Abstract: A downhole burner that economically generates hot inert gas and injects this gas into a subterranean formation. The burner has a nipple attached to a first tubing string that carries an oxidizer to the burner. The first tubing string also contains a coil tubing string that carries fuel to a movable nozzle inside the nipple. A small orifice in the nozzle increases the velocity of the fuel, and the nozzle extends out through a small orifice in a burner shroud that increases the velocity of the oxidizer flowing around the nozzle. The high velocity of the fuel and oxidizer keeps the flame front below the shroud and nozzle. A second tubing string supplies coolant gas around the burner shroud. Injection of an oxygen containing coolant gas provides a method for enhancing in situ combustion reactions through superheating the oxygen containing mix of coolant and exhaust gas.

Abstract: A process is provided for selectively placing a permeability-reducing material in an interval of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by a well bore to inhibit the vertical flow of fluid between the well bore and an aquifer underlying the interval. The process is performed by simultaneously injecting a pair of fluids into the well bore, wherein one fluid has a density substantially less than the density of the other, and displacing the fluids out into the interval. The two fluids directly contact one another as they are displaced, however, the density difference between the fluids causes the first fluid to preferentially enter an upper portion of the interval and the second fluid to preferentially enter a lower portion of the interval under the force of gravity stratification or gravity segregation.

Abstract: An integrated oilfield tubing string is provided with two continuous fluid-isolated interior passageways extending longitudinally therethrough, wherein the first interior passageway serves as a production or injection tube and the smaller second interior passageway serves as a service line. The second passageway has a crescentic cross section and is formed by affixing the longitudinal edges of an elongated arcuate band to the inside or outside of the tube while maintaining a space between the band and the tube wall. The internally and externally exposed surfaces of the tube and band define relatively smooth convex outside and concave inside surfaces of the integrated tubing string. The present invention further provides a method of constructing the integrated tubing string.

Abstract: A process for recovering oil from a multiple-layered heterogeneous reservoir with a higher oil saturation in the lower permeability layers than in the higher permeability layers. An aqueous surfactant solution is injected into the formation, where it imbibes into the lower permeability layers and displaces a first quantity of oil into the higher permeability layers. Next, a first aqueous fluid is injected to sweep the displaced oil from the higher permeability layers into at least one production well. A gas is injected into the formation to displace a second quantity of oil from the lower permeability layers. The second aqueous fluid is injected to sweep the displaced oil into at least one production well. The process may be repeated one or more times.

Abstract: A soil treatment process is provided utilizing a foamed gel to block the flow of a migratory fluid in a soil. Placement of the foamed gel in a desired treatment region of the soil produces a seal that substantially eliminates the permeability of the treatment region to the migratory fluid and prevents migration of fluid across the region. In each of its numerous embodiments, the process can be employed as either a remedial or a preventative treatment.

Abstract: A process for drilling and completing multiple subterranean wells from a common well bore and an assembly for guiding a drill string during drilling and casing during completion of such multiple wells. The assembly comprises a wellhead located at or near the surface of the earth and positioned over the common well bore, at least two tubulars positioned within the common well bore, and means positioned at said wellhead for segregating and supporting the tubulars. In accordance with the process, at least one subterranean well bore is drilled through one of the tubulars and into a subterranean formation and hydrocarbons can be produced from the subterranean formation to the surface via production casing and/or production tubing positioned within the subterranean well bore. Other subterranean well bores can be drilled in a similar manner through other tubulars of the assembly.

Abstract: A wellbore operation in which a downhole tool is given rotary motion without rotating the tubing string to which it is attached. A "Yankee screwdriver" type of connecting element is used to connect a downhole tool to a tubing string so that compressive forces acting on the connector as a result of relative linear movement between the connector and the tool cause the tool to rotate. A number of various types of downhole operations are possible, such as rotating a tool away from an obstruction and retrieving the upper section of a lost tubing string.