Abstract: An apparatus and process for separating and producing gas and liquid from a subterranean production zone via a well in fluid communication with the zone. After separation in the well, the gas is produced to the surface, compressed, and injected into an injection zone which is also in fluid communication with the well. The liquid is pumped to a production facility at the surface.

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 composition analyzer and a method of use for determination of the masses of individual components in a multiphase multicomponent fluid system containing a gas. Data and relationships not measured by the analyzer during operation but required by the method are predetermined or researched and stored, and other required data is instantaneously obtained from the composition analyzer during process operation. All these data are used in an iteration process to accurately determine the mass composition of each fluid component. The preferred means for adding energy to the fluid mixture in the test apparatus is comprised of an electrically conductive conduit through which the fluid mixture flows and which heats the fluid mixture when electrically energized.

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 containing a crosslinkable polymer and chromium(III)/carboxylate complex crosslinking agent is prepared by preforming the crosslinking agent in isolation from the polymer and thereafter combining the crosslinking agent and polymer in solution. The starting materials for the complex crosslinking agent are an organic chromium(III) salt and a selected polycarboxylate or alpha-hydroxy carboxylate anion. The gel is placed in the treatment region by injecting the gelation solution into the formation, displacing it into the desired treatment region and gelling the solution to completion forming the permeability-reducing gel in situ.

Abstract: A system for measuring the physical characteristics of a hydrocarbon places a reference hydrocarbon cell in thermal contact with a sample cell containing an unknown hydrocarbon. A near infrared spectrum measurement is taken of both the cells. Measurement data from the sample cell is adjusted by the measurement data from the reference cell, and the adjusted measurement data is evaluated by a model to predict the characteristics of the sample. The model is built from a teaching set of hydrocarbons having known physical characteristics and the reference hydrocarbon. Each of the teaching set hydrocarbons is measured and then adjusted by a measurement of the same reference hydrocarbon, and the adjusted measurements are used to build the model.

Abstract: A method determining the concentrations of fluids in a two-part fluid system. The heat loss in a test apparatus for measuring the temperatures and flow rate of a flowing fluid mixture is determined and the specific heat of the fluid mixture is calculated. Knowing the relationship between the specific heat of the fluid and its composition allows the fluid composition to be directly calculated, and hence the ratio of the two constituent fluids to be determined. A preferred heater is comprised of an electrically conductive conduit through which the fluid mixture flows which when energized efficiently heats the fluid mixture.

Abstract: Fibers are added to a gelation solution and the mixture is pumped to a subterranean injection site where it gels in place. The gelation solution is preferably comprised of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamide polymer and a crosslinking agent, while the fibers are those which do not interfere with the gelation process and can provide adequate reinforcement while not adversely affecting the ability of the solution to be pumped and injected. Glass fibers and cellulosic fibers are specifically disclosed as preferable reinforcing fibers.

Abstract: A soil treatment process is provided utilizing a polymer enhanced foam to block the flow of a migratory fluid in a soil. Placement of the polymer enhanced foam 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 method and apparatus for sealing a section of screened well casing, especially useful in soil venting wells. A foamed rubber sleeve surrounding a pipe is caused to collapse when suction is drawn on the annulus between the pipe and sleeve, allowing the pipe and sleeve to be lowered into place. When the annulus is pressurized the sleeve expands out against the screen to seal the contacted portion against the passage of air.

Abstract: A process for analyzing geological bedding plane data from a well, and plotting the cumulative dip angle and dip direction of the bedding planes with respect to depth. The cumulative dip angle may also be plotted with respect to sample numbers, which are a function of depth. The process further analyzes the cumulative dip data to produce a series of straight line approximations of various groupings of data. When these straight line approximations intercept, the interception often indicates a fault or unconformity at the location of the interception. The process further analyzes the cumulative dip plot by taking the first derivative of the plotted line. A stepwise shift in the derivative indicates an inflection point in the line, which often indicates a fault or unconformity. The process also plots the dip direction as the color or symbol of each point plotted and a color or symbol change often indicates a fault or unconformity.

Abstract: A copolymer of sodium vinyl sulfonate and polyalkylene glycol mono- or di-methacrylate and a process for inhibiting scale deposition, particularly inorganic sulfate such as barium sulfate. An aqueous fluid present in or produced from a subterranean formation is contacted with an aqueous solution having the copolymer dissolved therein. The aqueous fluid has an acidic pH and the copolymer has a molecular weight of from about 2,000 to about 30,000.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for running in a tubing string through a high angle or horizontal wellbore without damage to equipment on the tubing string. Centralizers are mounted on the tubing string at spaced intervals on either side of the equipment. The centralizers include spherical rollers which contact the wellbore casing and which are mounted so as to have little or no radially inward movement.

Abstract: A process utilizing an emulsion of a carbon dioxide phase and an aqueous phase is provided to enhance oil recovery from a subterranean formation. The aqueous phase is in a liquid state and is made up of a water-soluble polymer and surfactant dissolved within an aqueous solvent. The emulsion is prepared by condensing the carbon dioxide to a supercritical state under elevated pressure either at the surface or in situ. The carbon dioxide phase is mixed with the aqueous phase either prior to, simultaneous with, or subsequent to the condensation step. Placement of the emulsion in the formation via an injection well enables recovery of oil from the formation via a production well in accordance with one of several embodiments. In one embodiment, the emulsion functions as an oil displacement fluid. In other embodiments, the emulsion functions as a mobility control fluid or a conformance improvement treatment composition in conjunction with an oil displacement flood.

Abstract: A foam generator is provided for in-line installation within a surface tubing network. The generator has a foaming chamber with a plurality of permeable screens positioned in series along a continuous flowpath through the foaming chamber. The screens are separated from one another by spacers that define the radial boundaries of the flowpath. According to one embodiment, the screens and spacers are mounted in a cartridge that fits into the foaming chamber to maintain proper screen alignment and facilitate removal of the screens from the chamber for maintenance. In an alternate embodiment, the screens and spacers are mounted directly in the chamber. In both embodiments, the screens are aligned orthogonal to the flowpath enabling the generator to produce a properly textured foam from shear-sensitive fluids with relatively little shear degradation.

Abstract: A process is provided for promoting oil production from a producing interval of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by reducing undesirable gas production therefrom due to gas override or gas channeling in the upper portion of the interval. A polymer enhanced foam containing a polymer, an aqueous solvent, a surfactant, and a gas is placed in the upper portion of the producing interval, thereby substantially inhibiting or blocking the flow of gas therethrough to an oil production wellbore in fluid communication with the producing interval and enabling oil to more readily enter the wellbore for production to the surface.

Abstract: A process for converting hydrogen sulfide which is contained in a gaseous feed stream to elemental sulfur and hydrogen. The process comprises contacting said gaseous feed stream with a polar organic solvent having an anthraquinone, and optionally a complexing agent, dissolved therein, reacting the hydrogen sulfide gas and anthraquinone to produce sulfur and an anthrahydroquinone in the solvent, and catalytically dehydrogenating the anthrahyroquinone to anthraquinone and hydrogen. In accordance with the present invention, a relatively small quantity of water is added to a polar organic solvent thereby increasing the elemental sulfur which is precipitated and thus recovered. The addition of water prior to or during sulfur production also increases hydrogen product selectivity in the subsequent dehydrogenation of anthrahydroquinone.

Abstract: A template and process for drilling and completing multiple wells in a subterranean formation. A template having a plurality of axially extending, divergent bores therethrough is secured to surface or intermediate casing and a like plurality of subterranean wells are drilled through the bores and into the subterranean formation. Each well is separately cased to the well head at the surface and separate production tubing is inserted into each well. Thus, remedial operations can be carded out in one well or fluid injected into a subterranean formation via one well while fluid, such as hydrocarbons, are simultaneously produced from a subterranean formation via the other well(s).

Abstract: A means for taking pressure readings in a bottom-hole zone of a well without interfering with an operation in which solid material is moving through a tubing string. A pressure recorder is enclosed in a carrier attached to the outer surface of a tubing sub near the end of the tubing string. The carrier walls include ports which expose the pressure recorder to the fluid in the bottom-hole zone. This arrangement allows operations such as sand fracture stimulations and rod pumping to be unimpeded by a pressure recorder.

Abstract: A bucket for use in a swinging bucket centrifuge. A core holder is located between two end chambers, with the annular space between the core holder and the bucket sidewall maintaining the chambers in fluid communication. Windows at each end of the bucket allow fluid collections to be monitored. This enables more accurate data to be obtained regarding the effect of fluids of different specific gravity on a fluid saturating a sample. For example, to obtain data allowing a more accurate modeling of reservoir conditions in an oil field impacted by both gas and water displacement, the amount of oil expelled from a rock sample by gas under pressure and temperature conditions simulating those in the reservoir is measured and, after replacing the gas with water, the amount of oil expelled by water under simulated conditions is measured.

Abstract: A process is provided for reducing the inhibiting effect of gas coning on liquid hydrocarbon production at a production wellbore penetrating a subterranean reservoir having a gas cap overlying a liquid hydrocarbon producing zone in fluid communication with the gas cap across vertical flowpaths of gas-permeable matrix. A foamed gel containing a crosslinkable polymer, a crosslinking agent, an aqueous solvent, a surfactant, and a gas is injected through the production wellbore into gas-permeable matrix between the gas cap and wellbore, thereby effectively blocking or reducing the downward flow of gas from the gas cap to the production wellbore and enabling the more desirable liquid hydrocarbons to enter the wellbore for production to the surface.