Abstract: A method for removing carbon oxides from a hydrogen stream containing more than 0.1 ppmv of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or a mixture thereof, by charging the hydrogen with a hydrocarbonaceous stream containing a minor amount of aromatics to an aromatics saturation zone; saturating at least a portion of the aromatics and methanating at least a major portion of the carbon oxide to produce a reduced aromatics content hydrocarbonaceous stream and a reduced carbon oxide content hydrogen stream; and recovering the reduced aromatics content hydrocarbonaceous stream and the reduced carbon oxide content hydrogen stream. The hydrogen may optionally be dried or further purified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a pilot well and directionally drilling a directional well from the pilot well by the use of a casing including an easily drillable section positioned through a selected zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing hydrogen sulfide from a molten sulfur stream containing hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen polysulfides by mixing the molten sulfur stream with a degassed molten sulfur stream in an eductor to form a mixture, contacting the mixture with a finely dispersed gaseous oxidant stream, separating hydrogen sulfide from the mixture and recovering molten sulfur having a reduced hydrogen sulfide content.

Abstract: A method for producing a heavy crude oil from a subterranean formation via a wellbore, transporting the heavy crude oil to a market and producing a distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream from the crude oil, the method includes: producing the heavy crude oil from a subterranean formation via a wellbore, mixing the heavy crude oil with a diluent to form a mixture, transporting the mixture to a selected location and converting the heavy crude oil into a product distillate hydrocarbon stream and at least one of heat, steam, electricity and synthesis gas by separating distillable components of the heavy crude oil by distillation and converting the residual portion of the heavy crude oil in a fluidized bed to at least one of heat, steam, electricity or synthesis gas. The diluent is typically a hydrocarbonaceous distillate material which may be recovered as a separate product.

Abstract: A method is provided for cooling prior to decoking a petroleum coke drum having a substantially solidified mass of petroleum coke by initiating the injection of water into the coke drum while the average temperature of the coke within the coke drum is greater than about 500.degree. F., wherein the average flow rate of water injected into the coke drum over the initial 10 minute period of water injection is from about 0.0033 to about 0.01 gpm per cubic foot of coke in the coke drum; and thereafter continuing the injection of water into the drum for a total injection time of at least about 60 minutes, at a flow rate during the 50 minute period immediately following the initial 10 minute period less than about 0.0036 to about 0.011 gpm per cubic foot of coke in the coke drum.

Abstract: A method for producing a heavy crude oil from a subterranean formation through a wellbore and converting the heavy crude oil into a product distillate hydrocarbon stream and at least one of heat, steam, electricity and synthesis gas by separating distillable components of the heavy crude oil by distillation and converting the residual portion of the heavy crude oil in a fluidized bed to at least one of heat, steam, electricity or synthesis gas. The method also produces diluent hydrocarbons useful in the production and transportation of the heavy crude oil.

Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen and sulfur from a first gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide and ammonia by separating ammonia from the first gaseous mixture to produce a second gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide; combusting a portion of the hydrogen sulfide in the second gaseous mixture to produce a third gaseous mixture containing hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide; heating the ammonia to a temperature of at least 1800.degree. F. to produce a fourth gaseous mixture containing nitrogen and hydrogen; and, combining the third gaseous mixture and the fourth gaseous mixture and passing the combined gaseous mixture to a sulfur recovery process wherein the hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide are recovered as sulfur.The ammonia may be partially oxidized by the use of substoichiometric amounts of oxygen or thermally dissociated.

Abstract: A method for detecting in real time the growth of a hydraulic fracture in an impermeable subterranean zone separating a monitored subterranean zone and an injection subterranean zone, which zones are penetrated by a wellbore, whereby a pressure sensor is positioned in pressure sensing communication with the first subterranean zone, and the pressure sensor is monitored for a pressure increase in the first subterranean zone, the pressure increase being indicative of a hydraulic fracture extension from the second subterranean zone through the impermeable zone to the first subterranean zone.

Abstract: A method and composition for removing deposits of heavy hydrocarbonaceous materials and finely divided drilling fluid solids from a wellbore using a composition containing an alkyl polyglycoside, an ethoxylated alcohol, a caustic and an alkyl alcohol by injecting the composition into the wellbore, maintaining the composition in the wellbore for a selected time and thereafter producing the composition from the wellbore.

Abstract: A method and a drilling fluid/cement slurry composition for cementing a wellbore. The drilling fluid/cement slurry composition comprises A cement slurry composition comprising:a) a cementitious material;b) a drilling fluid; andc) a dispersant selected from the group consisting of water soluble polymers comprising allyloxybenzene sulfonate or allyloxybenzene phosphonate polymerized with at least one of acrylic acid, acrylamides, alkyl acrylamides, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, sulfonated or phosphonated styrene sulfonated or phosphonated vinyl toluene, sulfonated or phosphonated isobutylene, acrylamidopropane sulfonate, acrylamidopropanephosphonate, vinyl alcohol, sulfonated or phosphonated propene and alkali, alkaline earth and ammonium salts thereof.

Abstract: A method for increasing the permeability to methane of a subterranean coal formation by chemically stimulating the coal formation by injecting a gaseous oxidant into the coal formation and thereafter producing methane from the coal formation at an increased rate. The gaseous oxidant is ozone, oxygen or combinations thereof. The completion of wells penetrating a subterranean coal formation is facilitated by injecting a gaseous oxidant into the coal formation surrounding the well prior to forming a cavity in the coal formation around the well.

Abstract: Spacer fluids comprising a dispersant selected from the group consisting of water soluble polymers comprising allyloxybenzene sulfonate or allyloxybenzene phosphonate polymerized with at least one of acrylic acid, acrylamides, alkyl acrylamides, maleic anhydride, itaconic acid, sulfonated or phosphonated styrene, sulfonated or phosphonated vinyl toluene, sulfonated or phosphonated isobutylene, acrylamidopropane sulfonate or acrylamidopropanephosphonate, vinyl alcohol, sulfonated or phosphonated propene and alkali metal, alkaline earth metal and ammonium salts thereof and water with optional additional components such as surfactants, viscosifiers and wetting materials to form a rheologically compatible spacer fluid for use between a drilling fluid and a cement slurry and a method for using such spacer fluids to displace drilling fluids from a wellbore space with a cement slurry.

Abstract: A method for recompleting a wellbore containing a casing and a tubing string extending from a surface through the casing to a zone of interest by through-tubing rotary drilling by forming an opening through the casing at a selected point, passing a rotatable drill string including a drill bit through the tubing and drilling a second wellbore by drilling out of the cased wellbore through the opening.

Abstract: A method for completing a well penetrating a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation by positioning a perforating gun in an uncased portion of a wellbore penetrating the solid carbonaceous subterranean formation; perforating the coal formation; and, producing fluids and particulate coal from the coal formation through the well to form a cavity in the coal formation surrounding the well.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing the emission of organic compounds including: a first tubular member including a first sintered metal wall section having its first end closed; a gas inlet for an organic compounds containing gaseous stream into an inside of the first tubular member; a catalyst comprising a catalytic compound carried by a porous substrate and positioned around the first sintered metal wall section; and a second tubular member having its first end closed, including a second sintered metal wall section and sealingly positioned to enclose the first tubular member and the catalyst. The apparatus may also include a third tubular member positioned inside the first tubular member and having its first end closed; a plug positioned to close an annular passageway between the first tubular member and third tubular member downstream from the gas inlet; and a heater optionally positioned in the third tubular member.

Abstract: A method for reducing the concentration of radioactive material in a contaminated area by removing contaminated soil from the contaminated area; determining a field survey specific activity concentration representative of the remaining soil in the contaminated area; comparing the field survey specific activity concentration with a field validation data set to determine the total concentration of contaminating radioactive material in the contaminated area and removing additional quantities of contaminated soil from the contaminated area as required. The soil area may alternatively be blended with clean soil to reduce the concentration of radioactive material in the soil or a combination of blending and removal may be used. A method for estimating the total concentration of radioactive material in a soil sample is provided.

Abstract: A portable field office having a generally rectangular base section configured to enclose the lower portion of an inner space; a generally rectangular top section configured to enclose an upper portion of the rectangular inner space and moveable between an upper extended position for use as a field office and a lowered position to form a module suitable for air transport and lift assemblies positioned to raise the top section between an extended and a lowered position and a door providing access to the inner space in the office in both the extended position and in the lowered position.

Abstract: A method for recovering waterflood residual oil from a waterflooded oil-bearing subterranean formation penetrated from an earth surface by at least one well by injecting an oil miscible solvent into a waterflood residual oil-bearing lower portion of the oil-bearing subterranean formation through a well completed for injection of the oil miscible solvent into the lower portion of the oil-bearing formation; continuing the injection of the oil miscible solvent into the lower portion of the oil-bearing formation for a period of time equal to at least one week; recompleting the well for production of quantities of the oil miscible solvent and quantities of waterflood residual oil from an upper portion of the oil-bearing formation; and producing quantities of the oil miscible solvent and waterflood residual oil from the upper portion of the oil-bearing formation. The formation may have previously been both waterflooded and oil miscible solvent flooded.

Abstract: A system and method for removing light non-aqueous liquids via a wellbore from at least a water-saturated subterranean zone using an oleophilic absorbent wick by positioning the wick in a wellbore extending from the surface through at least a portion of the subterranean water-saturated zone; reducing the pressure in the wellbore and removing vaporized light non-aqueous liquids from the wellbore.

Abstract: A system and a method for producing increased quantities of oil from an oil well producing a mixture of oil and gas through a well bore penetrating an oil bearing formation containing a gas cap zone and an oil bearing zone by separating at least a portion of the gas from the mixture of oil and gas downhole in an auger separator to produce a separated gas and an oil enriched mixture; compressing at least a portion of the separated gas downhole to a pressure greater than the pressure in the gas cap zone to produce a compressed gas; and, injecting the compressed gas into the gas cap and, recovering at least a major portion of the oil enriched mixture.