Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery technique includes the predetermination of a desired steam distribution within a steam flood pattern, which preferably is proportional to the volumes of oil in place within various sectors of an area of a subsurface formation. These sectors are associated with the various producing wells of the steam flood pattern. Initial steam distribution is then determined. Subsequently, one or more of the producing wells has its production rate modified so that the final steam distribution within the formation will more closely approximate the predetermined preferred steam distribution.

Abstract: A method is provided for modifying an original distribution pattern including an original central injection well and four original corner production wells. One or more new injection wells are provided at locations approximately aligned midway between adjacent ones of the original corner production wells. In addition to the two original corner production wells between which it is located, there are associated with each new injection well four additional new production wells. A first pair of these new production wells is provided at locations substantially aligned between and preferably substantially midway between the original central injection well and the two adjacent ones of the original corner production wells. A second pair of new production wells is located substantially as a mirror image of the first pair about an imaginary straight line between the two adjacent ones of the original corner production wells.

Abstract: Pipe dope restricting fluid communication between a well bore and a subterranean formation is contacted with a liquid perhaloalkane having no more than three carbon atoms per molecule, such as 1,1,2-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane, to improve fluid communication. The halocarbon can also be contacted with pipe dope on tubulars to remove the pipe dope from the tubulars.

Abstract: Well bores employed for production of hydrocarbons having open hole completion and zonal breakdown in the locus of the well bore are recompleted, advantageously for injection of a fluid such as CO.sub.2 in an enhanced oil recovery process. Recompletion is effected by packing off the open hole interval, emplacing a particulate material in the packed off interval and broken down zone, adhering the particulates together with an adhesive to form a permeable synthetic rock-like material, reaming out the open hole interval to a greater diameter than the original completion, setting a casing over the open hole interval, cementing between the casing and the reamed out hole, and perforating at the zones to be isolated and to be communicated with from the well bore, e.g., for CO.sub.2 injection.

Abstract: A process for detecting the population count of microorganisms in an aqueous medium by means of ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The specimen is first filtered and the resulting filtrate then centrifuged to concentrate the microbial cells in a pellet layer. The microbial cells are then redispersed in an aqueous solution having a volume less than the volume of the original specimen and the absorption of ultraviolet light by the redispersed solution at wavelengths within the range of 260-280 nanometers is measured. The concentrated microbial cells may be lysed in order to release nucleic acid and protein components from the cellular wall structure.

Abstract: Well completion system providing for an enhanced bond between a well casing and the surrounding cement sheath. The system comprises a casing string disposed within a well extending to a subterranean location within the earth's crust. A metal ribbon is disposed about the outer surface of the casing to provide a wrapping having a series of helical turns along the length of the casing. A cement sheath in the annulus about the casing encompasses the wrapping and enters into openings therein to provide a bond between the cement and the outer surface of the casing. The metal ribbon may take the form of an expanded metal ribbon having a staggered mesh structure so that a portion of the ribbon stands off from the surface of the casing.

Abstract: Well completion system providing for an enhanced bond between a well casing and the surrounding cement sheath. The system comprises a string of casing disposed within a well extending to a subterranean location in the earth. A wrapping of a metal wire is disposed about the outer surface of the casing in a conformation providing a plurality of helical turns which crisscross on another. A cement sheath in the annulus about the casing encompasses the metal wire to provide an enhanced bond between the cement and the outer surface of the casing. The wire may be provided with a plurality of protrusion elements which extend into the cement sheath to further increase the casing cement bond.

Abstract: A guideline system for positioning subsea equipment utilizes splayed guidelines for exerting lateral forces on the subsea equipment as it is lowered into place.

Abstract: Acoustic emissions are detected so that the amount of wear on the interior of a conduit can be directly determined. The acoustic emissions arise from plastic deformations and fractures caused by the fluid and particulate substances therein flowing through the conduit and impinging upon the interior surface of the conduit or by cavitation. The apparatus as disclosed has the capability to detect and also locate the surface area where wear is occurring.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of oil well production streams to process oil-contaminated sand to recover oil therefrom and produce an ecologically acceptable clean sand residue. The process involves separating the production fluid from an oil well having sand entrained therein into a plurality of components, one of which comprises an oil-contaminated sand. The contaminated sand is contacted with a light oil solvent to initiate a solvating action of the oil contaminant. The resulting mixture of oil-contaminated sand and solvent is then contacted with water and the system then gravity separated into discrete sand, water and oil phases. The oil and water phases may be removed from the sand and the sand phase again contacted with water and the resulting mixture then subjected to gravity separation to produce separate sand and water phases. The water phase is then removed and the sand passed to a suitable disposal facility.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for installing and removing a downhole rod pump form a well while preventing flow of fluids from the well through a production tubing string.

Abstract: A damping device for use with acoustic information generation machines for isolating a generation portion of the generation device from contamination by extraneous acoustic emissions. A metal isolation piece consisting of a shape-memory alloy is disposed between an extraneous noise source and the generation portion of the device. Acoustic information generation devices in accordance with the present invention include phonograph record playing devices and testing devices for recording acoustic signals generated upon stressing a test piece. Thus, the present invention provides improved phonograph record playing devices and an improved testing device.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for tension compensation in the tension legs used to moor a floating platform to the sea floor. The apparatus includes one or more hydraulic jacks, each having a cylinder coupled through a load block to a tension leg, and having a piston cooperating with a load block plug coupled to the floating platform. An accumulator supplies hydraulic fluid to the jacks to compensatingly adjust the relative position of the piston and cylinder to selectively maintain the tension loading of the tension leg.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for isolating a zone of a well bore from a portion of the well bore located above the zone, to prevent communication between the zone and the portion of the well bore located thereabove.

Abstract: A system for separating a multi-component fluid such as a water-in-oil emulsion into at least two components. The system comprises a cylindrical vessel which is equipped with a baffle system interposed between fluid inlet and outlet means. The baffle system defines a horizontally extending spiral flow path which is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet at one end and with the outlet means at the other end. The flow path is characterized by a vertically elongated channel cross section. Within the flow path, one or more distributor means are provided which function to distribute the flow of fluid in the spiral flow path evenly throughout a substantial vertical interval of the channel cross section. The distributor means may be located adjacent the inlet and outlets of the vessel and may take the form of vertically elongated impellers mounted for rotation about vertical axes.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting the flow of water into and from subterranean well formations wherein one or more gelling agents having the property of forming highly viscous gels in the presence of water are injected into the formation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the flow of fluids from an open well bore, fluidly communicating the surface and a subterranean formation, the apparatus comprising(a) a slideable base;(b) a support positioned on the base;(c) a pipe engaging device positioned on the support above the base to urge a pipe into the open well bore; and,(d) a pipe straightener positioned on the support means to engage the pipe and straighten it above the well bore.A method for using the apparatus of the present invention is also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting the flow of water into and from subterranean well formations wherein one or more gelling agents having the property of forming highly viscous gels in the presence of water are injected into the formation.

Abstract: A system is provided for determining quality, pressure, temperature and enthalpy of wet steam at a predetermined depth within a well through which the wet steam flows.

Abstract: Strain gauges are attached to a drill pipe which is inserted into a drill pipe string to be used in a well. The strain gauges are connected to an electrical circuit containing devices for digitizing the electrical signals generated by the strain gauges in response to the detection of strain and for recording and retaining the digitized signals until the drill pipe string is extracted from the well. The electrical circuit provides a communication path through which the stored digitized data is transferred to an external device when the drill pipe string is extracted from the well.