Abstract: The present invention provides a preperforated casing for a well bore and a method of installing a preperforated casing in a well bore. The inventive casing comprises (a) a conduit having a plurality of apertures extending through the wall thereof and (b) a liner fixed adjacent at least a portion of the interior surface of the conduit such that the liner is positioned adjacent the apertures and is operable for preventing fluid flow through the apertures. The liner is removable from the conduit by drilling. Additionally, the liner comprises a material which, upon drilling, will break up into pieces which can be readily circulated out of the well. The inventive method comprises the steps of running the inventive casing into a well bore and then drilling the liner such that the liner is broken up into pieces and the above-mentioned apertures are open for fluid flow.

Abstract: A fluid handling system comprises a vessel having an interior, an outlet collector disposed in the vessel having a plurality of flow tubes disposed through its bottom, the flow tubes all having substantially identical lengths and substantially identical diameters and the flow tubes all having their upper ends at substantial identical elevations; and a level controller for maintaining a liquid level in the collector interior below the upper ends of the flow tubes. In a presently preferred embodiment, the flow tubes have a flow resistance which is very large compared to the flow resistance through the vessel, the flow tubes are substantially uniformally distributed across a horizontal cross section of the vessel, and the primary flow direction through the vessel is vertical.

Abstract: A Heave-Restrained Platform and Drilling System (HRP/DS) comprises a floating structure having a central buoyance means, at least three out-rigger columns, and a hybrid mooring system in which a spread (lateral) mooring system functions with an array of tensioned production risers (serving as a vertical tension leg) to keep the structure generally over a specified seabed location. The central buoyancy means has supports for upper terminations of a plurality of well production risers. Each riser is comprised of plural concentric tubular structural and pressure containment elements connecting a hydrocarbon well on the sea floor with a pressure containment means located on the floating structure.

Abstract: A Heave-Restrained Platform and Drilling System (HRP/DS) comprises a floating structure having a central buoyancy means, at least three out-rigger columns, and a hybrid mooring system in which a spread (lateral) mooring system functions with an array of tensioned production risers (serving as a vertical tension leg) to keep the structure generally over a specified seabed location. The HRP/DS provides a means for drilling and producing through oil wells in deep water such that critical pressure containment means are achieved with safe, redundant barriers and systems similar to those employed on shallow water fixed platforms.

Abstract: A tension leg platform which can be a heave restrained platform and drilling system (HRP/DS) is taken to the heave restrained mode by rapidly sluicing ballast by gravitational force from a reservoir above the water line.

Abstract: A composite tubular tendon containing axial fibers and helical fibers laid on an inner liner is connected to a circular opening in a hollow termination body having an opposite curved end which is connected with an elongated member smaller than the termination body. The inner liner of the composite tubular tendon abuts the circular opening in the hollow termination body and fibers of the composite tubular tendon are extended over and cover the termination body from the point of abutment to the elongated member which is smaller than the termination body. The axial fibers of the composite tubular tendon are continued over the termination body in a geodesic path and the helical fibers are continued over the termination body in a helical path.

Abstract: A separating system is provided for a fluid stream containing oil, water and gas. The fluid stream has a nominal flow rate, a maximum surge flow rate, and a cycle time or period. The system includes upper and lower elongated horizontal vessels. A weir separates the upper vessel into an inlet surge chamber and a liquid over flow chamber. A gas separator is located in the inlet surge chamber of the upper vessel and separates gas from the incoming fluid stream. A gas outlet is defined in the upper vessel. A downcomer tube communicates the inlet surge chamber of the upper vessel with the lower vessel. Oil and water are separated from each other in the lower vessel, which has oil and water outlets defined therein. A liquid overflow drain line communicates the liquid overflow chamber of the upper vessel with the lower vessel.

Abstract: A riser system includes inflatable buoyancy bladders and a near surface disconnect so that a drilling vessel can rapidly disconnect from the riser leaving the riser in a freestanding buoyant position.

Abstract: The drilling of highly angulated wellbores (with a rotary rig having a drill string terminated with a bit wherein drilling fluid is employed) is improved by employing in the highly angulated drill string a length of drill pipe which has a helical ridge disposed thereabout such that the flight of the helical ridge is wound so as to rise from the bit with the rotation of the drill string and the height of the helical ridge above the length of the surface of the drill pipe is 1 to 15 percent of the diameter of the drill pipe.

Abstract: A Kevlar.RTM. rope termination in which the rope is passed through an opening in a tension leg termination, is divided and laid over a rigid pin, being sealed around the pin with a resin. A flexible bearing member is located between the rope covered pin and a rigid support member contiguous with the inside of the termination, adjacent to the opening so that the rope covered pin can easily rotate within the bearing member without kinking the rope.

Abstract: A compact well jack is particularly suitable for reciprocating a long stroke rod pump and in situations wherein horizontal area around the well head is limited. The pump jack has a frame with elongated guides, a lifting bar slidably disposed between the guides, a horizontal slot in the lifting bar, pulleys carrying an endless belt having a stud affixed opposite to a counter weight and extending into the slot such that rotation of the pulleys vertically reciprocates the lifting bar and sucker rod string while the stud moves horizontally within the slot.

Abstract: 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane or 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane are employed as solvents to remove oleophylic material from mineral particulates. In one aspect the method of this invention includes the steps of transporting oil-based mud-laden cuttings to a solid feed tank wherein the oil-based cuttings are subjected to turbulent mixing to leave the surface of the cuttings substantially free of oil. The cuttings are then subjected to countercurrent flow of solvent in order to separate oily solvent and fines smaller than a chosen diameter from the heavier solids. The heavier solids are cleaned of any remaining oil-based muds, separated from cleaning solvent and ultimately returned to the sea environment.

Abstract: A recirculating gas separator for a submersible well pump includes a rotary gas separator for separating liquid to be directed to the pump from a gas. The separator includes a separating chamber, a well fluid inlet upstream of the separating chamber, and a liquid discharge outlet downstream of the separating chamber. A recirculating system recirculates a portion of the liquid discharged from the discharge outlet back to the separating chamber so that a gas-to-liquid ratio in the separator is substantially lower than a gas-to-liquid ratio of well fluid entering the well fluid inlet. Thus, the submersible well pump with the recirculating gas separator can successfully pump wells having substantially higher gas-to-liquid ratios than can be accomplished with prior devices.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring the presence in a liquid of a material which is at lest partially immiscible in the liquid are disclosed. The apparatus includes a container and an overflow outlet for allowing a surface layer of the liquid to flow out of the container. A slick of the material forms in the container on a surface of the liquid. The container includes a settling portion with an adjustably angled baffle and a second, fixed baffle located therein, a concentrating portion for concentrating the slick downstream of the settling portion, and an intermediate constricting portion for gradually constricting the surface of the liquid. An ultraviolet light source and visible light detector are provided for detecting the fluorescent radiation produced by irradiating the surface of the liquid and the material.

Abstract: A test is provided for evaluating and/or designing an enhanced oil recovery process including CO.sub.2 injection. A modified log-inject-log technique is utilized to determine residual CO.sub.2 saturation and incremental hydrocarbon displacement.

Abstract: Processes and oxidizing agents for oxidizing sulfide ion found in sour water to innocuous, soluble sulfur species are provided. The processes basically comprise contacting the sour water with a nitrogen halogenated triazine or a nitrogen halogenated derivative thereof for a period of time sufficient to convert the sulfide ion to sulfate ion. The processes are particularly useful for removing sulfide ion from oil field produced waters, particularly waters associated with secondary recovery or enhanced oil recovery operations.

Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery method utilizes a monitored salinity concentration decline in produced water at the various producing wells of a steam flood project to determine actual steam distribution. This actual steam distribution is utilized to determine appropriate production capability modifications for certain ones of the producing wells so as to cause the actual steam distribution to more closely approximate a predetermined preferred steam distribution so as to maximize oil production from the steam flood project.

Abstract: The addition of vaporized solvent to injected steam in a fracture-assisted steamflood process provides surprisingly significant enhancement of the process as compared to both the basic fracture-assisted steamflood process of the Britton et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,265,310 patent and to a conventional matrix drive type steamflood process utilizing solvent. Much lower solvent losses to the formation are observed than are generally provided by conventinal matrix drive type steamflood processes utilizing solvent. Dramatically different effects of the addition of heat-scavenging water follow-up after the steam injection phase are observed as compared to a conventional process utilizing solvent. Directly opposite effects are observed from changes in solvent composition as compared to conventional matrix drive type steamflood processes utilizing steam; for the present invention SOR is decreased by going to lighter solvents, whereas with a conventional process, lighter solvents increase the SOR.

Abstract: A line (such as a pipeline) of smaller diameter is mounted on a line of larger diameter with a clamp comprising a saddle for positioning on the larger line, a channel formed in the outer face of the saddle for receiving the smaller line, a closure member mountable on the saddle to close the channel around the smaller line, a strap for passing around the larger line, and at least two tensioning devices for tensioning the respective ends of the strap to the sides of the closure member. The clamp is particularly useful for connecting subsea pipelines.

Abstract: A process for establishing well-to-well flow communication between a plurality of wells penetrating a subsurface formation is provided. A common fracture network is created by initiating a fracture from a first well, and then propagating that fracture from the first well to a second well. When the fracture has reached the second well, fracturing fluid is injected into the second well and thereby further propagates the fracture to a third well, and so on, so that the fracture is successively propagated to all of the wells. Such a fracture can be located adjacent either a lower or an upper boundary of a tilted subsurface formation, as desired. Techniques are also provided for reducing uneven areal distribution of injection fluids which are injected into fractures.