Abstract: Disclosed is a less expensive, more efficient process for enhanced oil recovery, particularly useful in high cost environments such as offshore. This process is known as single well gas assisted gravity drainage (SW-GAGD). The process comprises the steps of drilling from a single wellbore one or more horizontal laterals near the bottom of a payzone and injecting a fluid displacer such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide through injection points. The injectant sweeps the oil and other produced fluids in the reservoir towards other producing perforations in the single well.

Abstract: Disclosed is a less expensive, more efficient process for enhanced oil recovery, particularly useful in high cost environments such as offshore. This process is known as single well gas assisted gravity drainage (SW-GAGD). The process comprises the steps of drilling from a single wellbore one or more horizontal laterals near the bottom of a payzone and injecting a fluid displacer such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide through injection points. The injectant sweeps the oil and other produced fluids in the reservoir towards other producing perforations in the single well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating steam by heating water with a flame is provided. The water is introduced into a vortex sustaining container and flows through the container in a spiraling manner creating a liquid vortex with an open axial core. The flame effects heat transfer and is the product of the ignition of fuel mixed with a tangentially swirling oxygen containing gas.

Abstract: A rapid and inexpensive process for increasing the amount of hydrocarbons (e.g., oil) produced and the rate of production from subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoirs by displacing oil downwards within the oil reservoir and into an oil recovery apparatus is disclosed. The process is referred to as “gas-assisted gravity drainage” and comprises the steps of placing one or more horizontal producer wells near the bottom of a payzone (i.e., rock in which oil and gas are found in exploitable quantities) of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir and injecting a fluid displacer (e.g., CO2) through one or more vertical wells or horizontal wells. Pre-existing vertical wells may be used to inject the fluid displacer into the reservoir. As the fluid displacer is injected into the top portion of the reservoir, it forms a gas zone, which displaces oil and water downward towards the horizontal producer well(s).