Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation in which a well completion, including a well liner, lies in a generally horizontal disposition within the hydrocarbon producing layer. The liner encloses conduit means for delivering a stream of a hot stimulating agent to the well's remote or injection end, and means for regulating the production of bitumen emulsion from the production end. A fluid impervious barrier is carried on and depends from the conductor means and forms a transverse fluid barrier within the liner. The conductor member is fixed within the liner whereby to serve as a means for introducing the thermal stimulating agent or medium to the substrate as well as functioning as a guide for the movable fluid impervious barrier. By adjusting the longitudinal position of said barrier, the hot stimulating agent is more effectively introduced to the substrate to improve the sweeping action thereof.

Abstract: Means are provided for increasing the productivity of a hydrocarbon formation by modifying the formation in the vicinity of the borehole by a succession of treatments utilizing a first fluid which releases energy within the borehole and a second fluid modifying the fluid within the borehole. The means provides successive treatment of steam, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and inert gases in any order desired.

Abstract: The recovery of heavy crude oils and tars from subterranean oil bearing formations is enhanced by the injection of pressurized and heated hydrocarbon vapor into a single well drilled into the formation. Condensation of the hydrocarbon vapor heats the heavy oil and tars entrapped in the formation and dilutes the oil so as to decrease its viscosity and enhance its flow into a lower portion of the well. The oil and solvent collected are removed to the surface by pumping. The preferred hydrocarbon vapor is a low boiling fraction derived by distillation of the oil recovered from the formation, however, some stable externally-produced aromatic hydrocarbon vapors of high solvent power such as benzene or toluene or mixtures thereof may also be used and reclaimed from the oil by distillation.

Abstract: Bitumen is recovered from an underground tar sands (oil sands) formation by an in-situ percolation process. After drilling a borehole to the bottom of the tar sand formation, the hole is enlarged by radially hydraulic jetting, with the resultant slurry being removed to the surface. Then, the main body of the formation immediately surrounding the borehold is fragmented and slurried, forming a cell or chamber for in-situ processing. A system of small diameter, specially designed, flexible, perforated metal pipes is then introduced through the slurry mixture to the bottom of the chamber. As designed, the pipes flare radially outward as they descend, resulting in a set of pipes resting on or near the bottom of the chamber, pointing outwardly from the central pipe like wheel spokes. Processing material, such a hot alkaline water, is pressured through the pipe system and percolates upwardly through the slurry mixture, separating the bitumen from the sand matrix.

Abstract: A process for separating and recovering bituminous material from tar sand and other viscous petroleum deposits, either in-situ or after mining the deposits. The process may also apply to heavy oil wells and to secondary and tertiary recovery of oil from wells. The bituminous-containing matter is contacted within a confined space with the vapors of a halogenated, organic solvent, whereby the bituminous material separates from the other matter. The bituminous material accumulates at the bottom of the confined space and is recovered therefrom.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for recovering viscous petroleum from subsurface formation, such as tar sands, wherein a substantially horizontal, perforated casing is positioned in the formation and a movable diverter is positioned to direct a hot drive fluid out through the perforations and into the formation to move the viscous petroleum that has been heated by the drive fluid toward a production location. The production is monitored for content of drive fluid and petroleum and the position of the diverter is controlled in accordance with the monitored production to optimize the production of petroleum and to maintain the communication path within the formation between the injection location and the production location.

Abstract: Heavy oil or bitumen is extracted and removed from underground oil bearing formations having low permeability such as tar sands by injection of hot hydrocarbon solvent vapor into a single well hole at a pressure not substantially exceeding the pressure in the formation to effectively heat and extract the bitumen. The hot solvent vapor is passed downwardly through an annular passage of concentric piping place in the well bore and is injected out through upper performations in the casing and into the formation. The hot solvent vapor condenses in the formation and drains along with recovered oil through lower perforations back into the bottom end of the inner pipe, from which the product oil and solvent mixture is pumped to above ground. The solvent is partially reclaimed from the oil product by distillation means and the solvent friction is reheated and reinjected into the well bore for further use.

Abstract: The recovery of petroleum produced from an oil reservoir is enhanced by injecting water such as from a geopressured aquifer having a natural gas content at or near saturation at a temperature above 300.degree. F. into the oil reservoir at a flow rate sufficient to develop a back-pressure in the oil reservoir equal to between about 80% of its fracture pressure and a pressure below its fracture pressure and producing oil from the oil reservoir when the injection of water necessary to maintain the back-pressure below the oil reservoir fracture pressure drops below a predetermined level. The recovery of petroleum also is enhanced by using sand screening means to complete a portion of the well bore penetrating into the oil reservoir and a straddle packer assembly means which can be raised and lowered relative to the screening means.

Abstract: A system and method of moving near-surface water to a deep water aquifer at a high rate of transfer and with no external energy sources, and which additionally generates excess energy available for other uses. The system comprises at least one deep well into the deep aquifer and one or more shallow wells into a near-surface water table aquifer having siphon pipes from the shallow wells to the deep well. Siphon action is initiated resulting in a continuing flow of water from the shallow wells to the deep well. A water-driven turbine is disposed in the deep well above its tail water level and below the lower end of the siphon tubes. The water flow operates the turbine and the turbine shaft drives an external vacuum pump. Each shallow well has a closed top plate, and suction from the vacuum pump is applied through the top plate, holding the water level above its normal point increasing the draw down.

Abstract: The vertical conformance of a steam drive process is improved and steam override reduced by penetrating the zone between one injection well and one producing well, with an infill well which is in fluid communication with the bottom half or less of the formation, and producing petroleum from the infill well after steam channeling has occurred at the production well; then converting the infill well from a producer to an injector and injecting steam into the lower portion of the formation via the infill well and recovering fluids from the production well. Two separate communication paths are established, one between the surface and the upper half or less of the formation, and one between the bottom half or less of the formation in the producing well, or in the infill well, or injection well, or combination of two or more thereof.

Abstract: In producing shale oil from a water-productive leached zone of a subterranean oil shale the reservoir pressure is counterbalanced to restrict water production. A generally vertical heated channel is formed by injecting steam into a lower location while producing fluid from an upper location until a steam zone extends substantially between the locations. Oil shale is pyrolyzed within the heated channel by flowing gaseous fluid, which contains noncondensable components and is heated to an oil shale pyrolyzing temperature, upward through the channel. Shale oil is recovered from the fluid flowing upward through the channel while the composition, pressure and rate of flow of that fluid are adjusted to maintain a selected ratio between its oil phase and aqueous phase components.

Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation in which steam, for example, is injected into the formation via an injection well to drive the hydrocarbons toward a spaced production well. Water injected via the production well into an upper horizon of the formation is passed downwardly through the formation about the production well and then back into the production well at a lower horizon in the formation. A mixture of displaced hydrocarbons and injected water are then coproduced at the lower horizon thru the production well after which the hydrocarbons are recovered from the mixture. Optionally, a minor amount of a sulfated interfacial tension reducer may be introduced with the steam to promote increased hydrocarbon recovery.

Abstract: Heavy or viscous oils may be recovered from subterranean deposits by one or more wells each of which is provided with at least two separate communication means from the surface of the earth, one in fluid communication with the upper part of the formation and the other well being in fluid communication with the lower part of the formation, each of said communication means being completed so as to permit injection of steam or mixtures of steam and other materials into the formation and production of heated viscous petroleum therefrom. The oil recovery process comprises several separate phases of operation. In the first, steam is injected into the formation using both communication means simultaneously for a period of time followed by a soak period if desired, followed by production of heated oil from both parts of the formation using both communication means simultaneously.

Abstract: Heavy or viscous oils may be recovered from subterranean deposits by one or more wells each of which is provided with at least two separate communication means from the surface of the earth, one in fluid communication with the upper part of the formation and the other well being in fluid communication with the lower part of the formation, each of said communication means being completed so as to permit injection of steam or mixtures of steam and other materials into the formation and production of heated viscous petroleum therefrom. A relatively impermeable barrier is formed between the portions of the formation where the communication is established, oriented horizontally and extending some distance into the formation. The oil recovery process comprises several separate phases of operation.

Abstract: A method of extracting highly viscous nonfracturable oil from earthen deposits is presented by the instant invention. A plurality of radially extending horizontal conduits direct heated hydrocarbon vapors into the formation. The vapors are selected to have a boiling point above the pour point of the viscous oil. Thus, as the vapors rise in the formation, they will be in heat exchange relationship with the viscous oil to cause the latter to flow downwardly. In addition to the thermal exchange of energy, the vapors will move toward molecular equilibrium with the viscous oil formation. This latter action will cause the vapors to "strip off" the more volatile, lower boiling components, from the descending liquid oil. The liquified oil, on the other hand, will condense the less volatile, higher boiling point fraction of the vapors.

Abstract: Process for producing bitumen from a subterranean reservoir of tar sands comprises heating the casing for melting the bitumen from the tar sands adjacent the casing for forming a passage in the reservoir from upper perforations at the top of the reservoir to lower perforations at the bottom of the reservoir, setting a packer in an annulus between the casing and a tubing therein between the upper and lower perforations, circulating hot fluids from the upper perforations and back into lower perforations for melting more bitumen from the tar sands for forming a predetermined size cavity around the casing, adding a packer and a screen to the tubing, ejecting a gravel pack material slurry into the cavity around the screen, ejecting more hot fluids into the cavity for melting more bitumen from the tar sands, and flowing the melted bitumen through the gravel pack, lower perforations, and screen for filtering out the sand and gravel from the melted bitumen for recovering the melted bitumen at the surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method whereby viscous petroleum may be recovered from a subterranean viscous petroleum-containing formation in which the formation mineral matrix is substantially unconsolidated, such as a tar sand deposit. A hot fluid such as steam is injected into the formation and pressure maintained thereon for a period of time to heat the viscous petroleum in the immediate vicinity of the well bore, which causes the unconsolidated mineral grains to settle to the bottom of the formation with the viscous oil located on the top of the settled grains. The injection pressure maintenance phase is then terminated and petroleum is recovered from the upper portion of the formation. Numerous cycles of hot fluid injection, soak, followed by production of petroleum from the upper portion of the cavity are required to exploit a reasonable aerial extent of the formation by this method.

Abstract: In producing shale oil from a relatively permeable leached zone within a subterranean oil shale deposit, hot aqueous fluid is flowed between wells along paths which are vertically varied. An initial flow between near-bottom injection and production locations within the leached zone is varied by steps inclusive of producing fluid from a near-top location and injecting fluid into the initial production location.

Abstract: According to the invention, a process and system are disclosed for conditioning an oil or gas formation and the application of the various stimulating fluids to the oil or gas formation. The method consists of drilling from a vertical well hole a horizontal spiralling hole which spirals out into the oil or gas formation and around the vertical well hole. Other embodiments include the drilling of a horizontal inward spiralling well from a vertical well hole that inwardly spirals out into the oil or gas formation from the vertical well hole, and the drilling of a hole from a vertical well hole that spirals out and coils down through an oil or gas formation around the vertical well hole. The application of this process is contingent on the use of my remote control directional drilling system, U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,519, and my flexible drill pipe pending application Ser. No. 465,500, filed Apr. 30, 1974 on related equipment, now abandoned.

Abstract: Heat carrier fluid is circulated through an underground deposit of immobile petroleum. Circulation patterns are provided for more uniform heat transfer. Petroleum is made flowable and is recovered at the surface of the ground. Excessive underground channeling is controlled. Sand accumulations are removed from the well bore.

Abstract: The invention is a method for preventing water from entering a well in communication with a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir wherein the well is completed in a hydrocarbon reservoir that contains a water column below the hydrocarbon. The well will or will very nearly transverse a portion of the water column. The well is completed in such a way that fluid may be injected into the lower portion of the reservoir through the well without communicating inside the well with fluid being produced through the well from the upper portion of the reservoir. Cold fluid is injected through the well into the lower portion of the reservoir near the water column while production at the same volmetric rate is taken through the well from the upper portion of the reservoir. The production is comprised mainly of the previously injected fluid. This cold fluid removes heat from the water column until the water freezes forming an ice barrier to fluid flow.