Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the residence age of petroleum fluids in subsurface reservoirs. The methods facilitate the determination of the geological timing of the emplacement of a petroleum fluid in a porous reservoir, as distinct from the timing of petroleum generation in, and expulsion from, a source rock.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the residence age of petroleum fluids in subsurface reservoirs. The methods facilitate the determination of the geological timing of the emplacement of a petroleum fluid in a porous reservoir, as distinct from the timing of petroleum generation in, and expulsion from, a source rock.

Abstract: Techniques for sampling a subsurface reservoir include lowering a downhole logging tool comprising one or more samplers, a cleaner system, and a sample probe bit into a borehole until at least one sampler is positioned correctly in a subterranean reservoir; advancing the cleaner system into the reservoir cleaning mud filtrate and contaminated reservoir material away into a mud column; advancing the sample probe bit into the reservoir; and solvent is injected into the reservoir from the solvent reservoir.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the increasing the rate of methane production in a subsurface reservoir are provided, for example by identifying the petroleum components in the reservoir; identification of microbes and nutrients contained in the formation water; selection of additional nutrients shown to be effective for the particular microbial consortium in that reservoir and then enhancing and preferably maximizing the total amount of nutrients available to the microbes in a manner such that methane generation is maximized while at the same time ensuring that the concentration of nutrients in the well is non-lethal to the microbes.

Abstract: A process for stimulating microbial methane production in a petroleum-bearing subterranean formation, comprising: (a) analyzing one or more components of the formation to determine characteristics of the formation environment; (b) detecting the presence of a microbial consortium, comprising at least one methanogenic microorganism, within the formation; (c) assessing whether the formation microorganisms are currently active; (d) determining whether the microbial consortium comprises one or more methanotrophic microorganism; (e) characterization of one or more microorganisms of the consortium, at least one of the members of the consortium being a methanogenic microorganism, and comparing the members of the consortium with at least one known microorganism having one or more known physiological and ecological characteristics; (f) characterization of one or more methanotrophic microorganisms of the consortium (if present), and comparing the members of the consortium with at least one known microorganism having one

Abstract: Techniques for sampling a subsurface reservoir include lowering a downhole logging tool comprising one or more samplers, a cleaner system, and a sample probe bit into a borehole until at least one sampler is positioned correctly in a subterranean reservoir; advancing the cleaner system into the reservoir cleaning mud filtrate and contaminated reservoir material away into a mud column; advancing the sample probe bit into the reservoir; and solvent is injected into the reservoir from the solvent reservoir.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method to obtain a bitumen or heavy oil sample from an oil reservoir sample, such as a core sample, to enable measurement of physical properties such as viscosity, API gravity, or chemical properties such as sulphur content of the obtained bitumen or heavy oil sample. The analyses performed on the samples obtained in accordance with the invention are effective in assisting oil field operators in making timely drilling and production decisions at the oil reservoir or for routine laboratory extraction of oils and bitumens. The invention also permits the collection of samples from simulated thermal recovery operations and also allows the collection of bitumens and oils for online analysis of live oil physical properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method to obtain a bitumen or heavy oil sample from an oil reservoir sample, such as a core sample, to enable measurement of physical properties such as viscosity, API gravity, or chemical properties such as sulphur content of the obtained bitumen or heavy oil sample. The analysis performed on the samples obtained in accordance with the invention are effective in assisting oil field operators in making timely drilling and production decisions at the oil reservoir or for routine laboratory extraction of oils and bitumens. The invention also permits the collection of samples from simulated thermal recovery operations and also allows the collection of bitumens and oils for online analysis of live oil physical properties.

Abstract: Methods for increasing the rate of methane production in a subsurface reservoir are provided.

Abstract: Techniques for determining viscosity of oil in a sample include extracting the oil from the sample using a volatile polar first solvent; using a portion of the extracted oil to determine a concentration factor of oil in the sample; determining a dry weight of the extracted oil using the concentration factor; adding a second solvent to a remaining portion of the extract, where the second solvent is less volatile than the first solvent; removing the first solvent from the remaining portion of the extract; taking a series of sub-samples from the remaining portion of the extract and sequentially removing different amounts of the second solvent from each sub-sample; measuring solvent concentrations and viscosity values of the solvent-oil mixtures of each sub-sample; and based on the measured solvent concentrations and viscosity values of each sub-sample, determining the second-solvent-free viscosity of the oil in the sample.

Abstract: Techniques for preconditioning an oilfield reservoir including heavy oil and/or bitumen prior to production of a petroleum product are described. A preconditioning agent can be injected into a mobile water film included in the oilfield reservoir. The preconditioning agent preconditions the reservoir prior to production of the petroleum product.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an in situ reservoir recovery process that uses a horizontal well located near the top of a reservoir and an inclined production well to extract bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. In a first stage, the top well is used for cold production of reservoir fluids to the surface, in which, reservoir fluids are pumped to the surface in the absence of stimulation by steam or other thermal and/or solvent injection. A lower production well is drilled into the formation below the top well. The top well is converted to an injection well or, if no cold production then a top well is drilled as an injector well. A portion of the bottom well is inclined so that one end of the incline is closer to the injector well than the other end of the incline. In the process, steam circulation creates a heated zone at the point of the two wells that are closest together in the reservoir.

Abstract: A method and system for production of biogenerated gas from a zone in a reservoir are described. Microbial conversion of petroleum in the zone to biogenerated gas is stimulated. The biogenerated gas can be, for example, methane, hydrogen or carbon dioxide, or another gas. Gas including the biogenerated gas is produced from the zone to surface. While producing the gas, production parameters are monitored including reservoir pressure and an isotopic composition of the produced gas. Based on the monitored production parameters, at least one of stimulation of the microbial conversion to control the composition of the produced gas or gas saturation in the zone to control mobility of the biogenerated methane is adjusted.

Abstract: A process is described for measuring a property of oil extracted from a sample, for example, the viscosity or density. The oil is extracted from the sample using a volatile polar first solvent. A portion of the extracted oil is used to determine a concentration factor. A dry weight of the oil in the sample is calculated using the concentration factor. A second solvent less volatile than the first solvent is added to the remaining extract. The first solvent is substantially removed from the remaining extract. Different amounts of the second solvent are removed from each of a series of sub-samples taken from the remaining extract. Solvent concentrations and viscosity values and/or density values of the solvent-oil mixtures are measured for each sub-sample. Based on the measured solvent concentrations and viscosity values and/or density values, the second-solvent free viscosity and/or density of the oil in the sample is estimated.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and method to obtain a bitumen or heavy oil sample from an oil reservoir sample, such as a core sample, to enable measurement of physical properties such as viscosity, API gravity, or chemical properties such as sulphur content of the obtained bitumen or heavy oil sample. The analyses performed on the samples obtained in accordance with the invention are effective in assisting oil field operators in making timely drilling and production decisions at the oil reservoir or for routine laboratory extraction of oils and bitumens. The invention also permits the collection of samples from simulated thermal recovery operations and also allows the collection of bitumens and oils for online analysis of live oil physical properties.

Abstract: Techniques for preconditioning an oilfield reservoir including heavy oil and/or bitumen prior to production of a petroleum product are described. A preconditioning agent can be injected into a mobile water film included in the oilfield reservoir. The preconditioning agent preconditions the reservoir prior to production of the petroleum product.