Abstract: A method id disclosed for enhancing the uniformity of steam distribution in a multiple steam injection system having a steam generator, a primary steam header, at least one secondary steam header, a primary steam line connecting the generator to the primary header, at least one secondary steam line connecting the primary header to the secondary steam header, and a plurality of tertiary steam lines connecting the secondary steam header to a plurality of steam injection wells. The enhanced uniformity of steam distribution results in better heat distribution between the wells. In that method, a surfactant is injected into the primary steam line and the secondary steam line, and the surfactant and steam are mixed sufficiently so that the surfactant and the steam enter each header as a foam. The concentration of the surfactant in the foam is from 10 ppm. to 5 wt %. Preferably, the surfactant is injected within seventy-five feet of the steam header.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for improving the effectiveness of fluid transport in a petroleum reservoir. That method comprises increasing the permeability of a portion of the reservoir by removing liquid water from that portion by evaporating off the liquid water. Preferably, substantially all of the liquid water is removed. In one embodiment, the liquid water is evaporated off by heating the portion to a temperature above the boiling point of water for the ambient pressure of the portion. In another embodiment, the liquid water is evaporated off by injecting into the reservoir a gas (such as heated nitrogen) that is undersaturated with respect to water. In a third embodiment, steam is injected into a well within the portion, and the steam is blown down to vaporize substantially all of the liquid water and to cause the vaporized water to leave the portion. In still another embodiment, superheated steam is injected into the reservoir.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for prolonging the useful life of scale inhibitors injected within a formation. This method involves injecting aqueous solution of polyquaternary amines into the formation. This solution of polyquaternary amines can be injected either prior to or simultaneously with the injection of the scale inhibitors. The scale inhibitors are preferably non-polymeric scale inhibitors. Preferably, the polyquaternary amine is a poly(dimethylamine-co-epichlorohydrin) or a poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride).

Abstract: A polymer having pendant silyl ether groups is disclosed having a minimum solubility parameter of 6.85 (cal/cc).sup.1/2 or less. That minimum solubility parameter is reduced to 6.85 (cal/cc).sup.1/2 or less by control of the number of pendant silyl ether groups and by the selection of said silyl ether groups. The polymer can be formed by reacting a olefin monomer with a silyl monomer or by grafting a silyl monomer onto an unsaturated polyolefin. Preferably, the silyl monomer is either a vinyl trimethylsilyl ether monomer, a vinyl dimethylchlorosilane monomer, or a vinyl methyldichlorosilane monomer. Preferably, the olefin monomer is decene, and the unsaturated polyolefin is polydecene.

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: An apparatus is disclosed for use within a borehole for seismic surveying that has a vertical array of seismic receivers connected to a cable, a top inflatable bladder connected to the cable above the top seismic receiver, and a bottom inflatable bladder connected to the cable below the bottom seismic receiver. The top bladder acoustically isolates all seismic receivers from the borehole environment above the top bladder. The bottom bladder acoustically isolates all seismic receivers from the borehole environment below the bottom bladder. Additional inflatable bladders are placed between each separate seismic receiver in the array.

Abstract: A polymer is disclosed that is useful in increasing the viscosity of carbon dioxide. That polymer comprises an organosilicon polymer having nonrandom crosslinkages that enhance backbone rigidity. Preferably, that polymer is a polyalkylsilsesquioxane. 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 polymer and a sufficient amount of a cosolvent to form a solution of the polymer in the carbon dioxide.

Abstract: An apparatus for the accurate measurement of pressure changes has a reference accumulator and a differential pressure transducer. The reference accumulator stores a pressure representative of the environment being measured. The differential pressure transducer measures the difference between the reference pressure and the pressure of the environment being measured. Connected to the reference accumulator is a valve that allows the reference accumulator to be charged to a pressure representative of the environment being measured and provides protection to the differential pressure transducer from overpressuring. This valve can be controlled remotely by electrical means. With the use of an isolation means, such as an isolation bellows, the whole apparatus can be protected from the environment being measured.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for enhancing the uniformity of steam distribution in a multiple steam injection system having a steam generator, a steam header, a primary steam line connecting the generator to the header, and a plurality of secondary steam lines connecting the header to a plurality of steam injection wells. The method comprises injecting a surfactant into the primary steam line, and mixing the surfactant and steam sufficiently so that the surfactant and the steam enter the header as a foam. The concentration of the surfactant in the foam is in the range of from 0.1 to 1.0 vol %. Preferably, the surfactant is injected into the primary steam line within seventy-five feet of the steam header. More preferably, the surfactant is injected into the primary steam line within fifty feet of the steam header. Still more preferably, the surfactant is injected into the primary steam line within twenty-five feet of the steam header.

Abstract: The present invention is a phosphate compound for use in a bacterial nutrient medium. The medium is injected downhole in a petroleum formation along with a bacteria (or its spore) and provides the bacteria with growth nutrients. The nutrient solution contains a phosphate compound which: will not precipitate out of solution under ambient conditions; will chelate alkaline earth, rare earth, transition and heavy metal ions; and provide a nutrient source for the bacteria.

Abstract: A polymer having pendant vinyl ether groups is disclosed having a minimum solubility parameter of 6.85 (cal/cc).sup.1/2 or less. That minimum solubility parameter is reduced to 6.85 (cal/cc).sup.1/2 or less by control of the number of pendant vinyl ether groups and by the selection of said vinyl ether groups. Preferably, the polymer has a molecular weight of over 1000 and is formed by reacting an olefin monomer (such as decene) with a vinyl(ethyl ether) monomer or by grafting a vinyl ether monomer onto an unsaturated polyolefin (such as polydecene).

Abstract: An economical, corrosion-resistant, wireline set and retrievable, downhole coupon holder is disclosed that has a non-metallic, elongated member having recessed slots and a mounting means for mounting the coupons within the recessed slots. Preferably, there are six pairs of slots, with each pair of slots being on opposite sides of the elongated member. Each pair of slots shares a common mounting means that fixes the ends of coupons within that pair of slots.

Abstract: A method of increasing the viscosity of CO.sub.2 at least three-fold by adding (1) a viscosifying amount of a polymer having a Minimum Solubility Parameter of 6.85 or less and a plurality of electron donor atoms selected from the group consisting of O, N, and S, and (2) a sufficient amount of a cosolvent to form a one-phase solution, said cosolvent being capable of (a) dissolving at least 2% by weight of CO.sub.2 at 25.degree. C. and 900 psig, and (b) forming a one-phase mixture with the polymer when the mixture contains 10 weight percent cosolvent at ambient temperature and a pressure sufficient to maintain the cosolvent in the liquid phase. New compositions containing CO.sub.2, the defined polymer and cosolvent are also claimed as is a method for recovering oil from underground formations using a viscosified CO.sub.2.

Abstract: A new catalyst is disclosed which is useful for dehydrocyclizing alkanes. This catalyst contains a type L zeolite, a Group VIII metal, and an alkaline earth metal. This catalyst has been reduced in a hydrogen atmosphere at a temperature of from 480.degree. C. to 620.degree. C.

Abstract: The contaminants level of a mother liquor can be reduced in the process of forming solutions of sodium aluminate and sodium silicate, adding together the two solutions to produce a reaction mixture comprising a mother liquor and an amorphous sodium aluminosilicate, reacting the reaction mixture to form a zeolite composition containing zeolite A, recovering the zeolite and recycling the mother liquor. This can be done by heating the zeolite A in the reaction mixture to produce a sodalite type product and recovering that sodalite type product as part of the zeolite composition.

Abstract: An organic elastomer of low heat buildup is made by blending into the elastomer a kaolin clay which has been surface treated with a diisocyanate compound. One method of treating the kaolin clay is to vaporize the diisocyanate compound and contact the vaporized diisocyanate with the clay for from 10 minutes to one hour in the absence of water vapor.

Abstract: A new silica is formed by hydrothermally reacting an aqueous dispersion of silica and sodium hydroxide, under certain conditions, to form a partly polymerized silicate; spray drying the mixture to form spheres of polysilicate; reacting the polysilicate with sulfuric acid to form a synthetic amorphous silica; and filtering, washing and drying the synthetic silica. This silica is useful as an adsorbent in polyol purification. When milled and air classified to the proper particle size, it is useful as a polishing agent in dentrifrices and as a flatting pigment in paints.

Abstract: A non-water dispersible water-softening bead is disclosed having from 80 to 90% sodium alumino silicate and from 10 to 20% low density polyethylene. The bead has a diameter of between 200 and 1000 microns and a calcium capacity of at least 200 mg calcium carbonate/g. The sodium alumino silicate has a silica to aluminum oxide molar ratio of between 2:1 and 4:1 and a sodium oxide to aluminum oxide molar ratio of between 0.8:1 and 1.2:1.

Abstract: Reject material which has been removed from a thermal black process by a screen and impinged on a plate in the bag filter, can be upgraded by removing material which has been reduced in size by being sucked into the bag filter, and adding that material to the product stream. The material of reduced size is removed by a vibrating screen. Some 50 to 60% of the reject material can be upgraded by this process.

Abstract: A new silica is formed by hydrothermally reacting an aqueous dispersion of silica and sodium hydroxide, under certain conditions, to form a partly polymerized silicate; spray drying the mixture to form spheres of polysilicate; reacting the spray dried polysilicate with sulfuric acid to form a synthetic silica; and then filtering, washing and drying the silica. This and other silicas having a BET surface area greater than 60 sq m/g, and oil absorption of 60-140 cc/100 g, and with at least 70% of the silica larger than 44 microns are useful as adsorbents in polyol purification.