Abstract: A novel method of injecting or squeezing a cross-linked scale inhibitor down a well into a subterranean formation which significantly lengthens its effective life is accomplished by cross-linking a carboxylic acid-containing polymeric or organophosphorus-containing inhibitor with a polyalcohol. The significant extension of life afforded by cross-linking with a polyalcohol improves the overall economics of oil production in fields prone to mineral scale.

Abstract: A method for gravel packing perforations against homogeneous or heterogeneous reservoir formations utilizing a shear-thickening or dilatant fluid as the carrier medium of gravel. Use of this fluid provides for rheological behavior which improves both transporting and packing efficiencies/uniformities.

Abstract: A hot fluid is injected through an injection well into a coal seam to induce more rapid and complete desorption of methane therefrom and to cause desorbed methane to proceed toward a nearby production well in the coal seam.

Abstract: A composition for closing pores in a formation following a steam-flooding enhanced oil recovery process. The composition comprises an aqueous temperature activated gellable mixture. This mixture is comprised of water, water dispersible polymers, phenolic compounds, and aldehyde producing compounds. Polymers which can be utilized herein include polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylamide and poly(acrylamide-co-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate). Phenol is the phenolic compound of choice. At a formation temperature greater than 300.degree. F., trioxane, the preferred aldehyde producing compound decomposes to yield formaldehyde which reacts with phenol to form phenolic resin in situ. The resin gels the polymer and forms a solid gel in a heated zone of the formation.

Abstract: A method of protecting casing during high pressure well stimulation. An annulus between the casing and tubing is loaded with water via a small volume of nitrogen to partially displace annular fluid down the annulus and up the tubing. This loading takes place prior to setting a packer. Loading in this manner results in a gas "cushion". If the tubing should burst during high pressure stimulation, compression of the "cushion" will prevent the casing from rupturing.

Abstract: A profile control method for closing off a more permeable zone of a formation where water, high fluid flow, or high perssures are encountered. A water-external emulsion containing a monomer, a cross-linker, free radical initiators and reaction inhibitors is injected into the formation. There they react to form plastic-like solid spheres in the more permeable formation zone. Because the spheres are not water soluble and have high compressive strength, they can be used in severe flow applications. Ethylene, propylene and styrene monomers can be utilized to form solid spheres of polyethylene, polypropylene or polystyrene.

Abstract: A method for controlling formation fines when producing heavy oil from an unconsolidated sand formation where at least two wells are utilized. Both wells are perforated and hydraulically fractured at a lower interval via a viscous gel fluid having a sized and high temperature resistant proppant therein. The proppant is a size sufficient to filter fines from the oil, thereby keeping the fracture clear. Cyclic steam injection and oil production are conducted in one well, while the other is shut-in. This sequence is continued until a desired amount of solids free hydrocarbonaceous fluids have been produced from the lower interval. Thereafter the lower interval is blocked off mechanically while cyclic steam injection and oil production are conducted in one well and the other well is shut-in until a desired amount of solids free hydrocarbonaceous fluids have been produced from a higher interval.

Abstract: A method for controlling formation fines when producing heavy oil from an unconsolidated sand formation where at least two wells are utilized. Both wells are perforated and hydraulically fractured at a lower interval via a viscous gel fluid having a sized and high temperature resistant proppant therein. The proppant is a size sufficient to filter fines from the oil, thereby keeping the fracture clear. Cyclic steam-flooding and oil production are conducted in one well, while the other is shut-in. This sequence is continued until steam breaks through at the lower interval from a first well into a second well. Afterwards, production packers with knock-out plugs are used to isolate the lower interval of both wells. Cyclic steam injection and oil production are continued in the upper interval of both wells. Subsequently, both wells are shut-in and production strings are directed to the lower formation interval through the knock-out plugs.

Abstract: A method for controlling formation fines when producing viscous oil from a consolidated or loosely consolidated formation having at least two wells therein. Both wells are perforated and hydraulically fractured at a lower level via a viscous gel fluid having a size and temperature resistant proppant therein. The proppant is of a size sufficient to filter formation fines from the oil. Cyclic steam-flooding and oil production are continued in one well, while the other well is shut-in. Prior to steam break through, the lower perforated intervals are isolated with production packers containing knock-out plugs. A correlatable selected upper interval in both wells is perforated and hydraulic fracturing is repeated. Cyclic steam-flooding and oil production are continued in the upper interval until steam break through occurs. Cyclic steam-flooding is ceased and production strings are directed through the knock-out plugs into the lower interval.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to determine in-situ "creep" displacement in a cored or drilled borehole. A borehole creep displacement (BCD) tool is suspended into the borehole via a wireline logging cable. Gaging piston fluid forces gaging pistons in a mechanical/electrical assembly of said tool to extend and contact the borehole wall which causes gaging pressure to build. Upon reaching a predetermined pressure, excess fluid flows into a micro-motion fluid distribution body and into an actuator assembly causing an accumulator linear variable displacement transformer (ALVDT) to move thereby causing electrical signals to be transmitted to surface equipment. Once the LVDT has been displaced fully, a closed fluid system within the gaging pistons and a micro-motion assembly is created. Thereafter, any movement of the gaging pistons by the borehole wall will cause fluid motion of a micro-motion cylinder which is attached to a micro-motion LVDT.

Abstract: A liquid membrane method for removing scale deposits wherein a novel chelating composition is utilized. The composition used in the external and internal aqueous phases of said membrane comprises an aqueous solution having a pH of about 8 to about 14, and a polyaminopolycarboxylic acid chelant. Additionally, a catalyst or synergist is used in the external phase only. Preferred chelants comprise diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), salts, and mixtures thereof. The catalyst used in the external phase comprises a monocarboxylic acid, preferably a substituted acetic acid such as mercaptoacetic acid, hydroxyacetic acid and aminoacetic acid or an aromatic acid such as salicylic acid. When the solution containing the composition is contacted with a surface containing a scale deposit, the deposit dissolves substantially more scale quicker than heretofore possible.

Abstract: A method for minimizing well recompletions in a multiple zone hydrocarbonaceous fluid containing formation. A steam flooding enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is conducted in the upper zone of said formation via fluidly communicating injector and producer wells which penetrate the upper and lower zones. The wells are unperforated and do not communicate with each other in the lower zone. Thereafter, a temperature activated gellable composition is injected into the upper zone where it forms a solid gel. Afterwards, both wells are perforated so as to fluidly communicate with each other in the lower productive interval. Subsequently, a steam-flooding EOR operation is conducted in the lower level and hydrocarbonaceous fluids are removed therefrom. Polymers utilized in the gellable composition include polyvinyl alcohol and polyacrylamide cross-linked with phenol and an aldehyde producing compound sufficient to form a phenolic resin in situ.

Abstract: A method for recovering viscous oil from a formation having a bottom water zone below an oil containing zone. Steam is directed into the bottom water zone thereby heating this zone and an oil containing zone thereabove. Afterwards, steam injection is ceased and a gellable composition is directed into the bottom water zone where it forms a solid gel. Once the solid gel has formed, steam is injected into the bottom water zone where the solid gel causes it to flow upwardly into the oil containing zone. Oil, water, and steam are removed via a recompleted producer well.

Abstract: A composition of matter wherein amino resins such as melamine formaldehyde ("MF") resins co-gel and crosslink with polymers useful for profile control where said polymers have amine, amide, hydroxyl and thiol functionalities. Resulting gels are useful as permeability control agents for high temperature reservoirs during a water-flooding operation.

Abstract: A method and composition for improving high temperature and high pressure filtration control in a water base drilling fluid is described. Polyanionic cellulose is combined with a synthetic sulfonate containing vinyl polymer into a drilling fluid to provide for unexpectedly improved filtration control.

Abstract: A method for controlling the production of formation fines during the production of heavy oils from a sandstone formation. Hydraulic fracturing is conducted in an interval of the formation using a viscous gel fracturing fluid having a proppant therein. The proppant is sized based on the particle size distribution of the formation fines so as to restrict formation fines movement into the propped fracture. Thereafter, intermittent steam injection is conducted in the formation's productive interval. Hydrocarbon production from the formation is controlled so as to allow formation fines build-up on the fracture face thereby improving the filtration of fines from the heavy oil. After removing a desired amount of hydrocarbonaceous fluids from this productive interval, it is mechanically isolated. Thereafter, the steps are repeated in another productive interval.

Abstract: The permeability of a subterranean oil-bearing formation is controlled by the injection of an aqueous solution of a cross-linked block copolymer containing polar and non-polar segments, with the polar segments generally making up as least 50 percent, usually 60 to 99 percent, of the copolymer. The polar segments are derived from an alkylene oxide and the non-polar segments from styrene or an alkyl styrene either by itself or with a diene. The copolymers are cross-linked with an amino resin or a combination of a phenolic and a water-dispersible aldehyde component. The resulting copolymer gels are stable at low pH conditions, such as those of CO.sub.2 flood conditions.

Abstract: A method for selectively closing pores in a zone of greater permeability in a formation for profile control. A rehealable Xanthan biopolymer is combined with a crosslinked non-selective polyacrylamide polymer gel. The combined gel system is injected into a formation where the Xanthan biopolymer gel selectively enters a zone of greater permeability carrying therewith said non-selective gel. Once in the formation's zone of greater permeability, the gel reheals and forms a rigid gel with substantially better temperature stability.

Abstract: A method for intermittent steam injection which comprises completing wells in more than one zone and selecting a number of wells as steam injectors. As interwell communication (temperature breakthrough) develops, producers are shut-in to allow for the reservoir pressure to build up and heat to propagate from the channel of communication (e.g., fractures) to the reservoir matrix. The injection phase is followed by blowdown. Thereafter, shut in producers and, in certain other cases, injectors are put on production.

Abstract: A process is described to direct heat towards a productive interval of a reservoir during a thermal enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation. A chemical composition suitable for producing a rigid polymer foam is injected above or below the productive interval. Once in place the temperature of the composition is increased and it reacts to produce a foamed polymer thermal barrier. The temperature can be increased by steam injection or in-situ combustion. After a rigid foam is formed, thermal efficiency is increased by reducing heat losses to non-producing zones during a thermal stimulation.