Abstract: A three phase meter to measure the oil/water/gas fractions of a multi-phase fluid flow uses a fraction meter and a flow meter to calibrate flow with the fraction meter sending mixture density information to the flow meter to make the calculation.

Abstract: An oil recovery skimmer assembly, mountable on any suitable barge like structure, has means for placing booms so as to direct water to at least one scoop assembly where surface water and oil is skimmed off and pumped to a separator tank where substantially all the oil is separated from the water and the water returned to within the boom area, thereby assuring retreatment of the water and non-return of oil to the environment.

Abstract: A series of water-dispersible and oil-dispersible corrosion inhibiting solutions are disclosed which comprise about 10 ppm by volume to about 5% by volume of an acid catalyzed condensation reaction product of a fatty acid and a polythioether polyol represented by the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are H, a methyl group, or an ethyl group, X is a divalent organic radical selected from the group consisting of --C.sub.2 H.sub.4 --, --C.sub.4 H.sub.8 --, --C.sub.2 C.sub.4 OC.sub.2 H.sub.4 --, and C.sub.2 H.sub.4 SC.sub.2 H.sub.4 --, and n is about 2 to about 40. Metal equipment can be protected through the use of the invention corrosion inhibiting solutions by contacting metal with an effective amount of inhibiting solution containing the polythioether polyol/fatty acid reaction product in a continuous exposure or batch treatment.

Abstract: A method for retarding the effect of water coning during the production of oil from a subterranean formation is described. The retarding occurs by injecting into the subterranean formation, at or below the oil/water interface, a polymer solution having a viscosity at least twice that of the connate water to form a zone of high viscosity about the wellbore during the oil production.

Abstract: An improved method for preventing iron precipitation from a spent oil well acidizing solution is disclosed. The acidizing solution is preceded into the tubular goods and formation by the injection of an iron sensitive, acid insensitive acidified surfactant solution.

Abstract: A continuous method of in situ steam generation for steamflooding which comprises injecting a mixture of hydrocarbons to serve as fuel for in situ combustion and water to be converted into steam by the hot formation into an upper zone of the formation, while simultaneously injecting into the lower zone an oxidant causing at least a portion of the oxidant to contact and combust with the injected hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A batch method of in situ steam generation for steamflooding which comprises injecting hydrocarbons into an upper zone of the formation to serve as fuel for in situ combustion, injecting oxidant into the lower zone causing at least a portion of the oxidant to contact and combust with the injected hydrocarbons, injecting water into the upper zone to be converted into steam by the hot formation, followed by ceasing oxidant injection, injecting a non-oxidant material into the lower zone so that the combustion zone does not approach the wellbore, and generating a steam front to drive formation hydrocarbons towards at least one production well.

Abstract: The present invention includes a purge chamber which includes a chamber holding the interlocking solid material. An entrance port apparatus passes the interlocking solid material into the chamber where it is purged by a purging gas. An exit port apparatus passes the solid interlocking solid material from the chamber. Located within the chamber is other apparatus which move the interlocking solid material from the chamber through the exit port apparatus and other apparatus which prevent the binding of the interlocking solid material.

Abstract: The reactor forms a chamber which contains the reaction process. There are accesses to the chamber for receiving shredded tires and oil. There are egresses from the chamber for discharging the tire oil and for discharging unreacted elements. Apparatus is located within the chamber which separates the unreacted components of the shredded tires from the tire oil. The apparatus also provides for the removal of the unreacted elements from the chamber means. The reactor also includes a heater which heats the inside of the chamber to a temperature sufficient to cause a reaction between the shredded tires and the oil.

Abstract: A method for fluid control or plugging of a well by injecting a mixture of an acid polymerizable resin, a polar organic diluent, and an acid catalyst, and later injecting an acidic fluid to quick-set a portion of the resin and hold it in place while the pre-mixed catalyst sets the resin. In an alternate sand consolidation embodiment, a fluid slug is injected between the resin and acidic fluid injections to create permeability in the resin saturated area of the formation prior to final set of the resin.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground reservoir with a cyclic injection/production process, wherein after one or more injection and production cycles, a second recovery fluid is injected into the formation comprising a cosolvent, a solute, preferably polydimethylsiloxane, and the primary recovery fluid such as carbon dioxide, said second fluid composition designed for solute to drop out of solution in the formation during the later soaking and production phases.

Abstract: A method for recovering surfactants from produced fluids by mixing with produced fluids about 0.1% to about 5% of a nonionic surfactant having a phase inversion temperature above the temperature of the produced fluids, heating the mixture above the phase inversion temperature, mixing the phase containing oil and the surfactants with water, and cooling the mixture below the phase inversion temperature to extract the surfactants into an aqueous phase, provided that if a sufficient concentration of the nonionic surfactant is already in the produced fluids, it need not be added.

Abstract: The present invention includes a crucible which holds volatile material to be tested. The crucible is lowered into an oven apparatus and removed from the oven apparatus by equipment programmed in a predetermined manner.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir under an active waterflood or water drive by injecting a recovery fluid comprising carbon dioxide or nitrogen under immiscible conditions, allowing the recovery fluid to soak, and producing the recovery fluid and formation fluids under conditionally miscible or miscible conditions after pressure has sufficiently increased in the wellbore area.

Abstract: A method to determine the amount of oil, including dispersed oil, in water at low levels wherein a surfactant is first mixed with water which may contain dispersed oil, the surfactant comprising a non-aromatic surfactant able to solubilize into water the particular oil being tested for, and comparing the emission fluorescence of the surfactant/water mixture to previous correlations drawn between known amounts of oil in water and their emission fluorescence under similar conditions.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for treating wells to form a permeable barrier around the well for consolidating unconsolidated mineral particles such as sand in a subterranean petroleum formation penetrated by a well, or for forming an impermeable barrier for fluid entry control, or for plugging the well for abandonment. A fluid containing a polymerizable resin such as furfuryl alcohol, a polar organic diluent such as butyl acetate and a mixture of oil soluble acid catalysts including one low pK and one high pK acid to cause polymerization of the resin at formation temperatures is prepared. The preferred low pK acid is toluene sulfonic acid and the preferred high pK acid is oxalic acid. The two acids and total acid concentration are selected to cause the polymerization reaction to be essentially complete in from 0.75 to 4.0 hours and preferably 1.0-2.0 hours at the formation temperature. This fluid is injected into the formation to saturate at least a portion of the formation adjacent to the well.

Abstract: A steam foam method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation, which comprises injecting steam through an injection well into the formation, injecting an aqueous solution having a salinity greater than about 1% by weight and a pH of about 8 to about 12, comprising about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a fatty acid salt having about 10 to about 24 carbon atoms, and injecting steam into the formation to sweep hydrocarbons towards the production well for recovery.

Abstract: The invention is a method for increasing the effectiveness of steam or carbon dioxide foaming operations for improving conformance during steam or carbon dioxide floods by adding to the surfactant foaming solution an alcohol having about 8 to about 20 carbon atoms in a concentration such that the ratio of alcohol to surfactant in the foaming solution is between about 1:6 and about 1:2.

Abstract: A method of recovering polychlorinated biphenyls from solution, which comprises a multi-step method of mixing and reacting an alkali metal or alkaline earth hydroxide in glycol solution with polychlorinated biphenyls in non-aqueous solvent to form biphenyl phenoxy-type anions, separating the glycol solution containing biphenyl phenoxy-type anions from the non-aqueous solvent, and separating the biphenyl phenoxy-type anions from the glycol solution.

Abstract: A method of recovering hydrocarbons from underground formations by employing a modified inverted 5-spot well pattern, which comprises drilling four substantially horizontal wells located along each of the four sides of an inverted 5-spot vertical well pattern, injecting an oil recovery fluid through the central injection well, producing hydrocarbons and other fluids through the vertical corner production wells, ceasing production through the vertical corner wells, and producing hydrocarbons and other fluids through the horizontal wells.