Abstract: This invention relates to methods of treating subterranean formations. An impermeable plug is formed in a section of a cased and perforated borehole by transmitting from the surface a fluid resin comprising a polymerizable polymer and subsequently transmitting from the surface an acid catalyst which causes flash setting of the polymerizable polymer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for adjusting, measuring and controlling the vapor/liquid ratio of wet steam in the output line of a pipe junction in a two phase fluid flow line. The vapor phase and liquid phase of the two phase fluid are separated in the main flow line of the junction and the volume flow rate of each phase measured. The two phases are recombined at the plane of symmetry of the output line of the junction and the liquid flow rate is controlled and varied through an adjustable valve in a liquid phase bypass flow line.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for the more efficient production of heavy or viscous crudes in oil wells. A cased wellbore into a production zone is provided with a single production tubing string from the production zone to the surface. A dual pumping system or dual action pumping system is used to separately flow produced heavy crude and produced geometrical manner to induce core annular flow of the heavy crude and a portion of produced water to the earth's surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhanced and improved viscous oil recovery are disclosed. A horizontal well is drilled through the viscous oil formation. A specially designed steam stinger is used to inject steam substantially uniformly into the entire horizontal extent of the well borehole without direct steam impingement on the production liner in the viscous oil formation. Heat from the steam mobilizes and lowers the viscosity of the heavy crude wherein the crude is then produced to the surface via conventional lift arrangements.

Abstract: Equal distribution of two phase fluid between tow outlets is assured by an assembly which switches full fluid flow alternately between the two outlets on a timed basis. Distribution can be made for either impact T or branch T junctions without a quality variance as full flow is always directed into one or the other of the two outlets.

Abstract: A lightweight portable deer stand which is hand transportable by a single hunter is provided. The deer stand has a platform member to which are attached three pivotally mounted foldable legs. The platform member also carries a fixed stable axis of rotation to which a chair having a back and a seat and a gun rail/rest member may be detachably mounted upon. A separate sun/rain cover member may be detachably mounted to the chair. The platform itself is formed of a very lightweight open rod design. The entire deer stand apparatus may easily be taken apart or put together without the use of any tools.

Abstract: Monofrequency continuous wave signals of long duration are used as inputs form sources of known characteristics and location. These signals are reflected off subterranean features and serve to paint the features for display and evaluation. A primary feature is the use of continuous wave, long duration signals as opposed to the standard short pulse technique.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for reducing lifting costs in a producing hydrocarbon well by injecting produced water into a set of injection perforations located lower in the well borehole from a set of production perforations. A plunger pump and a cage-ball valve system are placed above a production packer which is located between the production and injection perforations. The valve system and pump are arranged to take produced water from above the packer and pump into the injection perforations only on the downstroke of the rod string activated plunger pump.

Abstract: Methods for completing and producing hydrocarbon from a well having a highly permeable production formation having a water zone and a hydrocarbon zone are disclosed. In the disclosed techniques a cased well borehole is cemented in place through the production formation. A packer is set in the casing to isolate the hydrocarbon zone from the water zone. Perforations in the water zone and in the hydrocarbon zone produce a mixture of both fluids into the casing/tubing annulus at different bottom hole pressures (FBHP's) due to the installation of a flow restriction limiting the flow of either hydrocarbon or water into the tubing string. Artificial lift means are used to produce the fluid mixture to the surface.

Abstract: A spill control plug is arranged to be selectively inserted into and removed from tubing while the tubing is being tripped into or out of a well to contain the fluids therein.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for the safe production of shallow heavy oil sands which substantially reduce the probability of surface steam breakthrough. A pattern of injection wells and producing wells are drilled through the overburden into a relatively shallow heavy oil producing zone. Firstly the injection wells and the producing wells are cold produced for a combination of heavy oil and sand by use of a progressive cavity pump or the like. Then steam push-pull is used on both the injectors and producers until heavy oil production becomes uneconomical. Finally, low pressure steam is continuously injected into the injection well and heavy oil continuously produced from the producing wells.

Abstract: This invention relates to enhanced oil recovery (EOR) techniques for improving the production economies and recovery efficiency of hydrocarbons from a reservoir after primary depletion has occurred. The reservoir has at least two production strata. At least one production well capable of producing fluids from both strata is placed into the reservoir. At least one injection well capable of injecting fluid into both strata is placed in the reservoir. At least one combination production/injection well for producing well fluid from only one of the strata is placed into the reservoir. The produced well fluid is separated into a mostly hydrocarbon component and a mostly water component in place downhole and reinjecting into the other of said strata the mostly water component by use of the combination production/injection well.

Abstract: A system for processing Aeromagnetic survey data to determine depth to basement rock is disclosed. The system uses Neural Networks having an input layer of elements, a hidden layer of elements and an output layer of elements which are interconnected by a weighted system of interconnections. A training session using known input and output data is used to train the Neural Network by adjusting the weighting functions repetitively to minimize any error in the output of the Neural Network.

Abstract: Ozonolysis is an effective process for improving the quality of produced water. A process for reducing the concentration of water soluble organic materials dissolved in produced water consists of introducing into the produced water a sufficient amount of gaseous ozone by use of a means for maximizing the collision frequency of ozone gas and the produced water. The temperature of the produced water is between from about 80.degree. to about 180.degree. F. The process renders a water effluent with markedly reduced oil and grease content. The water effluent can be used on land as a drinking or irrigation water supply source and may be safely discharged into navigable waters.

Abstract: A system for reducing lifting costs in a producing oil well is disclosed. The system employs a casing string set through a production zone having upper producing perforations and lower injection perforations. Dual electric submersible pumps are run in on a tubing string to the production zone and a production packer is set between the producing and injection perforations. Produced fluid is allowed to separate in the casing--production tubing annulus and the first electric submersible pump pumps the separated oil to the surface via the production tubing. The reported water is pumped to the injection perforations below the packer by the second electric submersible pump.

Abstract: A downhole, modular, well-monitoring and control system is disclosed for use as a stand alone system capable of being left unconnected to the surface in a cased and completed well borehole. Annular shaped interchangeably connected modules, each having a centrally located fluid flow pathway through them, are connected in end to end relationship to each other. Seating modules, sensor and flow control modules, power supply modules and other modules form the functional basis for a complete stand alone downhole system to monitor and control production in multiple zone completed wells. The system may be interrogated and reprogrammed from the surface without removing modules from the well.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for enhanced and improved viscous oil recovery are disclosed. A horizontal well is drilled through the viscous oil formation. A specially designed steam stinger is used to inject steam substantially uniformly into the entire horizontal extent of the well borehole without direct steam impingement on the production liner in the viscous oil formation. Heat from the steam mobilizes and lowers the viscosity of the heavy crude wherein the crude is then produced to the surface via conventional lift arrangements.

Abstract: Methods of directly analyzing wireline well logging data to derive pore types, pore volumes and capillary pressure curves from the wireline logs are disclosed. A trained and validated neural network is applied to wireline log data on porosity, bulk density and shallow, medium and deep conductivity to derive synthetic pore type proportions as a function of depth. These synthetic data are then applied through a derived and validated capillary pressure curve data model to derive pore volume and pressure data as a function of borehole depth.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for draining or removing well fluid from a production tubing string into a well borehole while pulling the tubing string from the well. A special length of tubing is provided near the lower end of the tubing string with a drain port communicating the interior and exterior of the tubing. The drain port is initially plugged and sealed with a knock out plug. When it is desired to remove the tubing string from the well and drain its fluid into the borehole, a drop sleeve is dropped from the surface to shear and open the knock out plug. A sleeve stop catches the drop sleeve for re-use.

Abstract: A method for evaluating the API gravity of a sample of underground formation includes steps of:Solvating a known volume of an underground formation sample in a known volume of a solvent which will solvate hydrocarbons;Quantitatively measuring with a changeable filter portable fluorometer the emission fluorescence of the solvated sample at a fixed excitation wavelength with measurements of emission intensities at two points;characterizing the oil by the ratio of two emission intensities obtained at a fixed excitation wavelength;determining the yield;applying regression analysis to a data base of oils to obtain an equation which results in an algorithm value; andinterpreting the value of the algorithm to give a value for API gravity and estimate in-situ oil concentration.