Abstract: A method for minimizing damage to downhole equipment utilized during controlled pulse fracturing ("CPF") where a shear thickening fluid is used as a tamp. A shear thickening aqueous fluid having particles therein overlies a CPF device thereby creating a tamp. Movement of the fluid by pressure forces resultant from the ignited propellant causes the fluid to thicken. This thickened fluid prevents and device and wireline from moving upwardly which minimizes damage thereto.

Abstract: A method for minimizing damage to downhole equipment utilized during controlled pulse fracturing ("CPF") where an oil based thickened fluid is used as a tamp. A gelled oil based fluid overlies a CPF propellant device thereby creating a tamp. When the propellant contained in the device is ignited, this high viscosity gelled fluid prevents the remnant of said device and wireline from moving upwardly which minimizes damage thereto.

Abstract: A method to enhance steam flooding where at least two horizontal wellbores are utilized. Carbon dioxide is injected into a lower perforated horizontal wellbore. Once sufficient carbon dioxide has been injected into the formation, steam is injected through the lower horizontal wellbore. The steam displaces the carbon dioxide into the formation where it contacts and mixes with hydrocarbonaceous fluids. Steam causes the carbon dioxide to expand, thereby providing for a better sweep of the formation. Steam injection is ceased and liquid carbon dioxide injection again is commenced. Afterwards, steam is injected again into the formation. This sequence is continued until it becomes uneconomical to produce hydrocarbonaceous fluids from an upper horizontal wellbore. Hydrocarbon displacement efficiencies are enhanced when hydrocarbons are produced into the upper horizontal wellbore due to viscosity and density differences.

Abstract: A method for minimizing damage to downhole equipment utilized in controlled pulse fracturing (CPF) where a drag reducing fluid tamp is used. Said tamp has a viscosity sufficient to reduce the flowing pressure drop thereby diminishing frictional forces along fluid/solid interfaces. The CPF device is submersed in said tamp. Upon ignition of a CPF device, the upwardly traveling pressure forces the tamp of drag-reducing characteristics to pass the downhole equipment thereby minimizing tool and equipment damage. Afterwards, the pressure is allowed to leak off slowly into the formation.

Abstract: A method to improve well performance in gravel packed wells. In this method a wellbore is perforated with four to twelve shots per foot. Thereafter, hydraulic fracturing is conducted in the formation via a viscous fracturing fluid, having a 20/40 mesh proppant therein, which creates and props a fracture. Hydraulic fracturing is ceased and a gravel pack is placed in the wellbore. The gravel pack contains gravel of a mesh smaller than the fracturing fluid proppant, e.g. 40/60 mesh. The larger mesh proppant in the fracture forms a screen which prevents entry of most fines or sand into the fracture while the smaller mesh proppant removes fines or sand escaping the fracture screen. Therefore, this combination removes substantially all fines or sand from hydrocarbonaceous fluids produced to the surface.

Abstract: A process for increasing the production of hydrocarbonaceous fluids in a reservoir where foam is injected into a gravity override zone. Foam is injected into the override zone via a well placed in the zone. This foam injection wall is positioned between an injector and a producer well. During a steam-flooding or carbon-dioxide flooding, foam is injected into the override area via the foam injection wall thereby blocking the override area and causing flooding fluids to be directed into an oil rich overridden area. Foam utilized herein can be formed in-situ or ex-situ by a noncondensible gas and a surfactant.

Abstract: A method of ameliorating two-phase flow segregation during wet steam injection in a vertical injection well wherein a compartmentalized tray of variable depth is utilized. This tray traps a liquid phase of the steam near each perforation. A hole within the tray allows steam to pass through to a lower level in the well. In this manner, the liquid phase is held up near the perforations. Steam and water thus pass into the formation uniformly at each perforation. The degree of segregation may be controlled by the tray's depth. A deeper tray allows more water to be trapped near the upper perforations. A shallow tray favors segregation within the wellbore. More than one tray can be used.

Abstract: A process for preventing steam entry into a bottom water zone of a formation. Performations are made in a well which perforations communicate with the lowest level of said bottom water zone. Air is injected into the lowest level of said zone via said well which initiates low temperature oxidation thereby increasing the viscosity of said oil and making a heavy oil. When a desired viscosity is obtained, air injection is ceased. Said well is recompleted and perforations are placed in said well which causes it to communicate with a higher level oil saturated zone. Steam is injected into said higher level since the lowest level of the bottom water zone is closed because of the high viscosity oxidized oil. Thus, steam injection causes oil to be removed from the higher level of said formation.

Abstract: An aqueous gel composition is formed from xanthan gum crosslinked with ions of a transitional metal, resorcinol, and formaldehyde. The gel which initially forms is injected into a formation where it selectively enters pores in a more permeable zone. Once in the more permeable zone, the gel reheals and forms a shear and thermally stable gel. This gel can be used in high temperature formations in addition to those formations having a pH of from about 3.0 to about 10. After the shear and thermally stable gel has formed, a steam-flooding, water-flooding, or a carbon dioxide oil recovery process is commenced in a zone of lesser permeability.

Abstract: A method for staging a fracturing treatment in a horizontal wellbore where solidified gel is used as a diverting medium. A desired section of the horizontal wellbore farthest removed from the angle of deviation from vertical of the wellbore is perforated. Via perforations contained in the horizontal section, the desired interval is fractured hydraulically. The gel is displaced with a "wiper plug" and the gel confined to the fractured interval and wellbore area adjacent the fractured interval. Here the gel forms a solid gel in the interval and a gel plug in the wellbore. Afterwards, another section of the horizontal well is perforated. Thereafter, a second desired interval is fractured. After completion of the fracturing process, the gel plug breaks and the "wiper plug" is pumped to the farthest end of the horizontal wellbore.

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-coacrylamido-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 for reducing signal degradation in a foam covered hydrophone used in seismic marine streamers. Said method comprises purging the foam streamer body with a fluid which is at least partially miscible with an oil used to fill said foam body. Thereafter, said foam body is filled with oil by gravity-assistance. Said method substantially removes air trapped in said foam body thereby reducing said signal degradation. Fluids, which can be utilized include butane, carbon dioxide, and fluorocarbons.

Abstract: A process for minimizing well recompletions in a hydrocarbonaceous fluid containing formation having an upper productive interval temperature in excess of 300.degree. F. In this process, a temperature activated gellable composition is injected into a producer well in the productive interval after cooling said well to a temperature of about 300.degree. F. to about 450.degree. F. Once in the productive interval, the formation heats the gellable composition to a temperature sufficient to cause the composition to form a solid gel thus closing pores in the upper productive interval. Thereafter, ungelled composition is either diluted or removed from cooler areas of the formation so as to prevent forming a solid gel therein. Afterwards, a steam-flooding or a steam stimulation oil recovery operation is conducted to remove hydrocarbonaceous fluids from a lower productive interval without recompleting said lower interval.

Abstract: A process for closing pores in a heated steam swept zone of a formation having zones of varying permeabilities where a temperature activated aqueous gellable mixture is utilized following a steam flooding or steam stimulation enhanced oil recovery method. After being placed into the steam swept zone having varying permeabilities, a temperature above 300.degree. F. activates components in the gellable mixture which causes a solid gel to form which closes pores in the steam swept zone. A spacer volume of cold water is pumped into the formation to remove any ungelled mixture. Steam is directed into an unswept zone and hydrocarbonaceous fluids recovered therefrom. Polymers utilized 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 stimulating a formation penetrated by a horizontal wellbore where hydraulic fracturing is utilized. The horizontal wellbore casing is perforated on its top side. Thereafter, the formation is fractured through said perforations with a fracturing fluid containing a fused refractory proppant. The density of the proppant selected is equal to the density of the fracturing fluid utilized.

Abstract: A steam flood operation in which each injector is fitted with a pressure transducer and control valve which are tied into a water supply. Upon a loss of steam injection, and injection pressure, the pressure transducer signals the control valve and a pump actuator so as to cause water injection to take place and thus prevent heavy oil containing bitumen or bitumen backflow.

Abstract: A process for improved acidizing in carbonate formations, where controlled pulse fracturing (CPF) is utilized in combination with a retarded acid and a solidifiable gel. The solidifiable gel forms a solid formation gel in a zone of greater permeability and a gel plug in the wellbore. Said gel is formed from a melamine formaldehyde resin and a cross-linkable polymer. An inhibited acid is placed in an interval of said formation having lessened permeability. The retarded acid comprises hydrochloric, formic, acetic acid or mixtures thereof which is placed in a wellbore adjacent the area to be treated. Said acid can contain retarders and corrosion inhibitors sufficient to make said acid stable in the wellbore. At least one CPF device is placed in said acid near the interval to be treated. Upon detonation of said device, acid is forced into the interval of lessened permeability, thereby enhancing the acidizing treatmemt.

Abstract: A process for closing pores in a bottom water zone where steam is directed so as to by-pass a zone of the formation containing hydrocarbonaceous fluids. Once a portion of the bottom water zone has reached a temperature in excess of about 300.degree. F., steam entry is ceased. Afterwards, a temperature activated gellable composition is placed into the bottom water zone. When the composition reaches that portion of the bottom water zone where a temperature in excess of about 300.degree. F. has been reached, the composition activates and forms a rigid gel. Thereafter, a steam flooding method is commenced. Steam is diverted from the bottom water zone and into an upper zone containing hydrocarbonaceous fluids.

Abstract: An aqueous gel composition is formed from xanthan gum crosslinked with ions of a transitional metal, resorcinol, and formaldehyde. The gel which initially forms is injected into a formation where it selectively enters pores in a more permeable zone. Once in the more permeable zone, the gel reheals and forms a shear and thermally stable gel. This gel can be used in high temperature formations in addition to those formations having a pH of from about 3.0 to about 10. After the shear and thermally stable gel has formed, a steam-flooding, water-flooding, or a carbon dioxide oil recovery process is commenced in a zone of lesser permeability.

Abstract: A process for profile control in a high permeability zone of a formation. A water flooding or carbon dioxide stimulation enhanced oil recovery (EOR) process is conducted in an an oil-containing formation having a high permeability zone. After breakthrough occurs, the EOR process is ceased. The high permeability zone is heated to a temperature of 300.degree. F. or higher by steam injection. Subsequently, steam injection is ceased and a temperature activated mixture is injected into the high permeability zone where it forms a solid gel. Thereafter, an EOR process can be used to remove hydrocarbons from a low permeability zone.