Abstract: A process is provided for selectively converting methane and a hydrating agent to C.sub.3 to oxygenates. More particularly, methane is reacted with water in the presence of a nickel metal powder catalyst using microwave irradiation to produce acetone and propanol.

Abstract: A microbial system is provided for selective plugging of permeable regions of a subterranean formation, for use in conjunction with injection of surfactant-containing foams. Bacteria indigenous to the target formation are isolated, and selected for ability to degrade the surfactant of interest. Small, non-adherent ultramicrobacteria, or UMB, are prepared from the selected culture by starvation. The UMB and the surfactant-containing foam are then injected into the target formation. The surfactant allows the foam to penetrate into the formation. The UMB then revive to their vegetative state, degrade the surfactant and produce exopolymer, thus plugging the formation.

Abstract: Heavy crude oil or tar sand oil or bitumen is recovered from an underground formation containing the same by introducing into said formation via an injection well or conduit a hot alkaline aqueous fluid so as to bring about the movement or migration or stripping of said heavy crude oil or tar sand oil or bitumen from said formation into said hot alkaline aqueous fluid at the interface between said hot alkaline aqueous fluid and said heavy crude oil or tar sand oil or bitumen-containing formation as said hot alkaline aqueous fluid moves along within said formation from said injection well or conduit to a production well or conduit for the recovery of the resulting produced heavy crude oil or tar sand oil or bitumen from said formation as an emulsion via said production well or conduit.

Abstract: A foam is provided for use in a subterranean oil-bearing formation for reducing and controlling the mobility of a gaseous drive fluid. The foam is generated using an inert gas and a fluorocarbon surfactant solution in admixture with an amphoteric or anionic hydrocarbon surfactant solution. A relatively small amount of the fluorocarbon surfactant is operative, when mixed with the hydrocarbon surfactant and foamed, to generate a foam that has better stability when in contact with oil than a foam made with hydrocarbon surfactant alone.

Abstract: A device is provided for installing multiple piezometers in a borehole at predetermined elevations. An inner support pipe which may be interconnected with a string of grouting pipe is utilized. A continuous fluid passageway for introduction of grout to the bottom of the borehole results by inclusion of the support pipe as an integral part of the string. A tray member is provided which carries a piezometer embedded in a layer of permeable material. The latter makes a hydraulic connection with the borehole wall. A spring assembly is adapted to move the tray outwardly and radially so as to bring the layer into contact with the borehole wall. A wire restrains the tray against the support pipe so as to permit the device to be inserted into the borehole. A messenger is inserted into the fluid passageway to sever the wires whereupon the spring expands, bringing the layer of permeable material into hydraulic connection with the borehole wall.

Abstract: The invention has application only to a first oil well producing oil having a high water cut, said oil well being completed in a reservoir having an increased gas saturation, in the vicinity of the first oil well, arising from injection of gas through an adjacent injection well. The first oil well is treated by injecting through it into the reservoir a slug of non-condensible gas in an amount between about 40,000 m.sup.3 and 200,000 m.sup.3. The first well is then placed back on production and its water cut is significantly reduced.

Abstract: An oil well producing water is treated to reduce the water cut by injecting through the well into the reservoir a composite slug comprising:a relatively small volume of water-wetting agent in liquid form, said agent being adapted to modify the reservoir matrix to increase its water-wetted character; anda relatively large volume of non-condensable gas for further laterally extending the matrix surface modification.

Abstract: A process is provided for enhancing the recovery of oil in a subterranean formation. The process involves injecting a surfactant-containing foam having oil-imbibing and transporting properties. A foam having such properties is selected either by determination of the lamella number or by micro-visualization techniques.

Abstract: Laboratory coreflood experiments were conducted on Athabasca oil sands using hot water and caustic or carbon dioxide. Production temperatures were maintained at 150.degree. C. or lower and at an injection pressure of 3.55 MPa (500 psi). The objective of the experiments was to determine the conditions under which oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion could be produced in-situ. In addition, the study was to investigate the potential benefit of adding carbon dioxide to hot water to improve bitumen recovery.The results prove that when the pH of injected fluids is between 10.5 and 11.5, the O/W emulsion predominates. The emulsion is stable and has a viscosity much lower than that of the oil itself, due to the continuous water phase, and should beneficial in the recovery of heavy oil and bitumen. When the injected fluids have a pH less than 10.5, the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion predominates.

Abstract: A transient flow capillary viscometer is provided for establishing a measure of the viscosity of a highly viscous test fluid. More particularly, a capillary tube filled with the test fluid is provided. The viscometer relies upon inducing a step change in the differential pressure across the ends of the capillary tube, which causes the fluid to flow therein. The resultant decrease in pressure drop as a function of time, i.e. the half-life of pressure decay, is monitored and provides an approximate measure indicative of the viscosity of the fluid.

Abstract: A microbial process is provided for selectively plugging a high permeability stratum or zone in a subterranean reservoir. Starved bacteria of reduced size are injected into the zone. A poor-nutrient media is either simultaneously or subsequently thereafter injected into the zone to substantially uniformly resuscitate the starved bacteria. Thereupon, the bacteria regain full cell size, proliferate, and commence production of biofilm-forming exocellular polysaccharides. The biofilm is functional to selectively seal off the high permeability zone of the formation and reduce aqueous flow through the zone.

Abstract: A cyclic process is described for recovering heavy oil from a reservoir having a network of generally linear, narrow permeable communication channels interconnecting outlying producing wells with an injection well. Except for the channels, the reservoir must be sufficiently impermeable so that pressure may be built up therein by the continued injection of oxidizing gas and propagation of a combustion front when the producers are choked or shut in.

Abstract: A stepping commutator is provided for supplying power to a plurality of electrode plates mounted on a rotating shaft. The commutator comprises a central annular plate which is fixed to the shaft. The plate has a ring of cylindrical stationary contacts mounted therein concentrically about the shaft, so that they rotate with the shaft. Means are provided for connecting the contacts with the electrode plates. A pair of annular second plates bracket the central plate. Said pair of second plates are free to rotate on the shaft. Each such second plate carries a ring of horizontally slidable cylindrical contacts arranged to correspond with the central contacts. Said slidable contacts are connected with a power source. Means are provided for biasing the slidable contacts into or out of engagement with the central contacts, when appropriate.

Abstract: A clarifier is provided for simultaneously treating a plurality of bodies of liquid-solid suspension in a vertically stacked fashion, with the aim of separating the particulate solids from the liquid, by process steps involving a combination of electrophoresis and reverse osmosis. The clarifier comprises a conical shell which is mounted on a shaft for rotation. The shaft extends through the apex of the shell and is disposed at an upward angle, so that the base of the shell is tilted. A plurality of nested, spaced apart, truncated, conical bands are secured to the inner surface of the shell. The bands each carry an elongate anode electrode on the upper surface and an elongate cathode electrode on the lower surface. Thus there are formed a plurality of vertically stacked, endless, arcuate treatment chambers, with an elongate anode extending along the base and an elongate cathode electrode extending along the top of each chamber.

Abstract: The tubular flowmeter is capable of measuring two different physical parameters in a flowing mixture of liquid and gas (such as wet steam). These measurements are such that they can be used to determine the individual gas and liquid flowrates. The flowmeter comprises first means, such as an orifice plate or a twisted tape, for causing an accelerational or frictional pressure drop in the total flow. Suitable means measure such pressure drop. Downstream of the first means, is positioned means for inducing rotational motion of the total flow, to cause the mixture to separate while remaining within the same conduit into discrete liquid and gas flows. Such means may comprise a rib extending helically along the inner surface of the flowmeter. Means, such as a pitot-static tube assembly, measure a pressure head indicative of the velocity of the gas flow. Downstream from this velocity measurement device, the two phases are permitted to mix freely again, all the time remaining within the same conduit.

Abstract: A process for selectively converting methane to ethylene and hydrogen is provided. Methane is brought into contact with a metal powder catalyst and subjected to a pulse train of microwave radiation for a sufficient period of time to effect conversion thereof. The reaction products are recovered.

Abstract: The viscosity of heavy oil may be incrementally reduced over what can be achieved by steam alone, by introducing an aqueous metal salt solution into a reservoir undergoing steam injection. The metal ion is selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo and Al. In a preferred feature CO is also introduced as a second additive, with a further oil viscosity reduction being observed with certain of the metal ions.

Abstract: An aqueous suspension of fine mineral solids, for example oil sand tailings sludge, is separated into separate solid and liquid components by first chemically conditioning the suspension with the addition of lime, and thereafter passing an electrical potential between electrodes submerged in the suspension. The electrical potential causes the solids to migrate toward, and deposit on, the positive of the electrodes. The lime pre-treatment allows the electrode deposit to dry, through electroosmosis, to render it sufficiently dry by disposal. The chemical conditioning step preferably includes adding a carbonate- or bicarbonate-forming reagent after the lime addition.

Abstract: A process for recovering oil from a subterranean heavy oil-containing reservoir is provided, wherein steam and carbon monoxide are injected into the reservoir at a temperature less than about 260.degree. C. At these low temperatures, the steam and hydrogen-free carbon monoxide are found to react in the reservoir, by the water gas reaction, to form carbon dioxide and hydrogen. These products both have upgrading effects on the heavy oil, enhancing its quality and producibility. At the low temperatures of the process, gasification and polymerization of the heavy oil are minimized.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in an in situ steamflooding process for recovering oil from a subterranean, heavy oil-containing reservoir. An organic sulfonate surfactant, for example a petroleum sulfonate surfactant, is injected with the steam into the reservoir. The steam-surfactant injection stream is introduced to the reservoir at a temperature in the range of about 180.degree. C. to 260.degree. C. The process may be practised in a single well or multi-well pattern using any of a continuous steam drive, steam soak or cyclic steam recovery program. A substantial increase in oil recovery is achieved by this process, as compared to a steam-only injection scheme.