Abstract: A method and means for determining the amount of stretch in a well logging cable is disclosed. An optical fiber is run into a well with a logging cable and looped back to the surface. A second optical fiber of nominal length is maintained on the surface. A source of monochromatic light is passed through both fibers and recombined. As the well logging tool is raised and lowered in the wellbore, the number of interference fringes passing a fixed point is determined. The change in length of the optical fiber and, therefore, the cable will be equal to 1/2 the number of interference fringes passing a fixed point times the wavelength of light used. A precise determination of vertical location can then be made when this information is combined with information from a surface mounted odometer or encoder. This information further allows a precise determination of interval bulk density or other formation parameters in which it is important to know the depth of a tool.

Abstract: A caustic waterflooding process for enhanced oil recovery from a production well is disclosed comprising injection of an aqueous solution under pressure to sweep oil to the production well. That aqueous solution comprises a caustic and a polymer that has an intrinsic viscosity that is at least twice as high in its hydrolyzed form than in its unhydrolyzed form, wherein the polymer is injected with less than 15% of polymer being hydrolyzed. The aqueous solution contains from 100 to 5,000 ppm of polymer and 100 to 50,000 ppm of caustic. Such solutions have improved injectivity and good efficiency in recovering oil from underground formations.Preferably, the polymer is injected with from 5% to 10% of polymer being hydrolyzed. That polymer is preferably a polyacrylamide (such as a polyacrylamide homopolymer, a polymethylacrylamide homopolymer, or a copolymer of acrylamide and monomers selected from the group consisting of methylacrylamide, N-alkyl-substituted acrylamides, alkylacrylates, and acrylic acids).

Abstract: A polymer is disclosed that is useful in increasing the viscosity of carbon dioxide. That polymer comprises a polydialkylsilalkylene polymer; wherein the dialkyl group is preferably dimethyl, methylethyl, or diethyl; and the alkylene group is preferably ethylene or methylene. Preferably, the polymer is polydimethylsilalkylene. That polymer can be used in a method for recovering oil from an underground oil-bearing earth formation penetrated by an injection well and a producing well, in which method carbon dioxide is injected into the formation to displace oil towards the producing well from which oil is produced to the surface. The viscosity of the carbon dioxide injected into the formation is increased at least three-fold by the presence of a sufficient amount of the polydialkylsilalkylene polymer and a sufficient amount of a cosolvent to form a solution of the polymer in the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining photoelectric absorption cross-section is disclosed. A photon source is operably connected to a target chamber. A collimator connected to an opposite end of a sample chamber is oriented to receive photon energy from the source. A gamma ray detector is used to measure photon energy.

Abstract: A single-crystal electro-optic modulator is described which positions a cubic temperature-stable bulk single crystal between two polarization plates rotated 90.degree. with respect to each other which are located between lensing means which focus divergent radiation emitted from an optical fiber into parallel rays for passage through the polarization means and the crystal and refocus the parallel rays a focal point and within the angle of acceptance of a return optical fiber.

Abstract: A subsea well choke system is disclosed. The well choke system has annulus and tubing access as well as wing lines for connections to flow lines. A pressure control valve is installed in the tree cap for easy replacement and also to facilitate pigging and well test operations.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for creating a three-dimensional image of data obtained from scanning a borehole wall with an acoustic transducer. Each scan produces an orientation pulse and a series of signals, including a fire pulse and echo signals. The system uses the transit times of the echo signals to modulate the geometry of the three-dimensional image, and uses the amplitudes of the echo signals to control the gray scale shading of the image. In one embodiment, a counting means keeps track of the angular position of the transducer, a ramp generating means produces a ramp voltage proportional to the elapsed time since the fire pulse, a sine table means and a sine conversion means produce a sine signal proportional in amplitude to the ramp voltage, a cosine table means and a cosine conversion means produce a cosine signal porportional in amplitude to the ramp voltage, and a monitoring means displays points on the monitoring means when the echo signals are received.

Abstract: We disclose a process for removing water-soluble organics from produced water. The process comprises: acidifying the produced water with acid; contacting the acidified with a free oil to form a mixture; agitating the mixture to produce a thoroughly mixed phase; and separating the phase to produce a free oil phase and a clean water phase.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the load bearing capacity of tubular piles by freezing an area of soil surrounding the piles. A refrigeration unit is located on the surface of an offshore structure and circulates cold brine to an isolated section of the pile. The brine freezes the soil surrounding the pile. Freezing the soil increases the surface friction beween the pile and the soil, providing increased load bearing capacity.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the interface between two materials having different dielectric properties, especially in determining the thickness of a hydrocarbon layer on ground water, is disclosed. The apparatus consists of an air-filled, cased surveillance well in which a logging tool is raised and lowered. The logging tool contains an electromagnetic receiving antenna and two transmitting antennas located above and below the receiving antenna. A first wave and a second wave are transmitted from the transmitting antennas. The first and second waves are offset 180.degree. to produce "sum" and "delta" signals using a 1/2.degree. hybrid. Alternatively, a single wave can be transmitted from a central transmitting antenna to receiving antennas located above and below the transmitting antenna. The received signals are then phase shifted 180.degree. using a 180.degree. hybrid to produce sum and delta signals.

Abstract: An improved method of recovering oil from diatomite is described. A solvent is injected into the diatomite followed by an aqueous surface active solution. The aqueous surface active solution contains a diatomite/oil water wettability improving agent and an oil/water surface tension lowering agent. The method may be supplemented by injection of water and/or steam into the diatomite.

Abstract: A choke valve for use on water injection wells is disclosed. The valve comprises a body, a sliding sleeve, in the body, a boss shaped plug, and a means for urging the sliding sleeve against the plug. The fluid path through the valve is largely straight, reducing wear on the valve, and the valve is devoid of screwed fittings.

Abstract: A method for recovering petroleum from a subterranean, petroleum-containing formation. It includes injecting into said formation a formulation comprising an oligomeric surfactant wherein said oligomeric surfactant has the following formula:R--X--(CH.sub.2 --CR.sub.1 Y).sub.a --(CH.sub.2 --CR.sub.2 Z).sub.b --Hwherein R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkylaryl radical having from 6 to 24 carbon atoms; R.sub.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, and ethyl; R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, methyl, ethyl, and a hydrocarbon having the formula CH.sub.2 COOH; X is selected from the group consisting of sulfides, sulfones, and sulfoxides; Y is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons having the formulas CN, CONH.sub.2, CH.sub.2 CONH.sub.2, CONHCH.sub.3, CONHC.sub.2 H.sub.5, COOCH.sub.3, COOC.sub.2 H.sub.5, COOC.sub.2 H.sub.4 OH, COOC.sub.3 H.sub.6 OH, CONHCH.sub.2 OH; Z is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons having the formulas COOH, CH.sub.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for determining injection profiles in a steam injection well is disclosed. The mass flow rate of steam entering the well is measured. A well logging tool is then used to measure temperature and/or pressure profiles within the perforated zone of the well. A liquid phase tracer is then injected for a short time into the well with the steam. The well logging tool contains dual gamma ray detectors and is used to measure the transit time of the tracer slug. In the preferred embodiment, the liquid tracer is radioactive elemental iodine or sodium iodide. The procedure is repeated with a vapor phase tracer which is radioactive Krypton, Argon, or Xenon in the preferred embodiment. A vapor and liquid profile can then be calculated with simple mass balance equations. In a second approach, a spinner survey and a single tracer survey are conducted. By combining the spinner and tracer survey results, vapor and liquid rates can be determined and steam injection profiles can be calculated.

Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery process is disclosed for formations that have been subjected to steam flooding. In that process, a weakly-alkaline (pH of less than 10) solution of sodium sesquicarbonate, sodium chloride salt, and an alpha olefin sulfonate dimer foaming agent is injected into the formation, then a nitrogen gas is injected into the formation to form in-situ foams for mobility control, and oil is recovered that is displaced by the sesquicarbonate solution and gas.

Abstract: An apparatus and process of mixing a gaseous phase and a liquid phase within a tubing string in a well bore is described. The apparatus and process form a homogeneous gaseous phase liquid phase mixture without requiring a blocking restriction within the tubing string.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for developing a temperature profile of a well. That apparatus has a spring bow centralizer, wherein the bow of the centralizer contacts the sidewall of the well, and it has a temperature probe attached to the underside of the bow opposite to a point of contact with the sidewall. In one embodiment, the temperature probe is attached to the underside of the bow with studs and a shim steel backing. That temperature probe is a platinum resistance thermometer surface sensor less than 0.05 inches thick coated with a polyimide insulator.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for selectively sealing thief zones in a formation. First, a saline pre-flush water is injected into the formation. Then, at least one slug of a saline soution of heat-sensitive sealing fluid is injected into the formation, followed by injection of a saline push water. Electrical resistance heating of the formation is induced sufficient to cause the sealing fluid to undergo in-situ transformation to seal the thief zones.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nondestructive downhole seismic source capable of generating S.sub.V -waves, S.sub.H -waves, and P-waves alone or in combination to determine information about a surrounding geologic formation. The invention also includes processes of performing crosswell tomography and reverse vertical seismic profiling. The invention also includes a means and process to carry out in hole seismic logging operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing fluids within a subterranean borehole wherein a submersible pump is introduced into the borehole at a first location. An intake port of the pump is connected to the first end of an intake duct having an unconnected second end located at a second location within the wellbore from which location fluid is to be withdrawn. An output port of the pump is connected to a first end of a second duct having an unconnected second end at a third location within the wellbore into which location fluid is to be introduced. By activating the pump, fluids, such as scale and corrosion inhibitors, are distributed from above the intake of a production pump to as low in the borehole as is required to protect wellbore contents.