Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating COS and/or CS2 from a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, and further eliminating H2S from such feed stream or converting all sulfur species in such feed stream to H2S and SO2 to allow for easy subsequent conversion of such H2S and SO2 to elemental sulfur in a Claus reaction. The method comprises: (i) injecting water so that the feed stream contains greater than 10 vol % (water equivalent); (ii) passing the feed stream through catalyst means which hydrogenates COS and/or CS2 to H2S; (iii) injecting O2 so that the stoichiometric ratio of O2 to H2S is at least 0.5:1.0; (iv) passing the stream though a reaction zone having oxidation catalyst means which oxidizes H2S to elemental sulfur or SO2 (depending on the amount of oxygen and water added); where the temperature of the reaction zone is above the elemental sulfur dew point.

Abstract: An acid-gas sorbent comprising an amine-composite. The present composite may comprise a first component comprising an amine compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 75 wt %; a second component comprising a hydrophilic polymer and/or a pre-polymer compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt %; and a third component comprising a cross-linking agent, and/or a coupling agent at a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 30 wt %.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for eliminating COS and/or CS2 from a hydrocarbon-containing feed stream, and further eliminating H2S from such feed stream or converting all sulfur species in such feed stream to H2S and SO2 to allow for easy subsequent conversion of such H2S and SO2 to elemental sulfur in a Claus reaction. The method comprises: (i) injecting water so that the feed stream contains greater than 10 vol % (water equivalent); (ii) passing the feed stream through catalyst means which hydrogenates COS and/or CS2 to H2S; (iii) injecting O2 so that the stoichiometric ratio of O2 to H2S is at least 0.5:1.0; (iv) passing the stream though a reaction zone having oxidation catalyst means which oxidizes H2S to elemental sulfur or SO2 (depending on the amount of oxygen and water added); where the temperature of the reaction zone is above the elemental sulfur dew point.

Abstract: A method of reducing sulfur compounds from an incoming gas stream, comprising flowing the gas stream over a hydrolysis catalyst to convert COS and CS2 to H2S and reduce SO2 to elemental sulfur to form an effluent stream; providing an acidic gas removal unit comprising an absorbent; flowing said effluent stream over said absorbent to produce a stream free of acidic gases; applying an acidic-gas desorption mode to said acidic-gas rich absorbent to produce an acidic gas stream; introducing oxygen to said acidic gas-rich stream; providing a direct oxidation vessel containing catalyst suitable for catalyzing the oxidation of the H2S to sulfur wherein the temperature of the vessel is at or above the sulfur dew point at the reaction pressure; and flowing said acidic gas-rich stream over said catalyst to produce a processed stream having a reduced level of sulfur compounds.

Abstract: An acid-gas sorbent comprising an amine-composite. The present composite may comprise a first component comprising an amine compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 75 wt %; a second component comprising a hydrophilic polymer and/or a pre-polymer compound at a concentration of from about 1 wt % to about 30 wt %; and a third component comprising a cross-linking agent, and/or a coupling agent at a concentration of from about 0.01 wt % to about 30 wt %.

Abstract: A method of reducing sulfur compounds from an incoming gas stream, comprising flowing the gas stream over a hydrolysis catalyst to convert COS and CS2 to H2S and reduce SO2 to elemental sulfur to form an effluent stream; providing an acidic gas removal unit comprising an absorbent; flowing said effluent stream over said absorbent to produce a stream free of acidic gases; applying an acidic-gas desorption mode to said acidic-gas rich absorbent to produce an acidic gas stream; introducing oxygen to said acidic gas-rich stream; providing a direct oxidation vessel containing catalyst suitable for catalyzing the oxidation of the H2S to sulfur wherein the temperature of the vessel is at or above the sulfur dew point at the reaction pressure; and flowing said acidic gas-rich stream over said catalyst to produce a processed stream having a reduced level of sulfur compounds.

Abstract: Method of entailing the simultaneous production of oil and combustion gases using gravity phase segregation and gravity drainage to produce hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil-bearing formation, comprising initially injecting a fluid such as a solvent, steam, or an oxidizing gas through a pair of horizontal wells placed high in the formation and producing oil through a plurality of parallel lower horizontal wells situated low in the reservoir, each lower horizontal well perpendicularly disposed to said upper horizontal wells. In a preferred embodiment well liner segments in lower horizontal wells have apertures therein to allow oil to flow into said lower horizontal wells, at locations where an upper horizontal well traverses a lower horizontal well, possess no apertures to thereby prevent oxidizing gas injected in said upper horizontal wells from flowing directly into said lower horizontal wells at such point at which said lower wells are traversed by said upper wells.

Abstract: An in situ combustion process entailing the simultaneous production of oil and combustion gases that combines fluid drive, gravity phase segregation and gravity drainage to produce hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil-bearing formation, comprising initially injecting a gas through a pair of horizontal wells placed high in the formation and producing combustion gas and oil through parallel and laterally offset horizontal wells that are placed low in the formation intermediate the pair of horizontal wells placed high in the formation.

Abstract: An in situ combustion process entailing the simultaneous production of liquids and combustion gases that combines fluid drive, gravity phase segregation and gravity drainage to produce hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil-bearing formation, comprising initially injecting a gas through a horizontal well placed high in the formation and producing combustion gas and oil through parallel and laterally offset horizontal wells that are placed low in the formation. wherein the reservoir exploitation proceeds with sequential conversion of production wells to injection wells in a line-drive mode of operation. The process may also be employed without in situ combustion, using instead a gaseous solvent or steam injection.

Abstract: An in-situ combustion process which process does not employ one or more separate gas venting wells. At least one vertical production well having a substantially vertical portion extending downwardly into the reservoir and a horizontal leg portion extending horizontally outwardly therefrom completed relatively low in the reservoir is provided. At least one vertical oxidizing gas injection well, positioned above and in spaced relation to the horizontal well, is positioned laterally along the horizontal well approximately midsection thereof. Oxidizing gas is injected therein and combustion fronts are caused to progress outwardly from such injection well in mutually opposite directions along the horizontal well.

Abstract: A modified process for recovering oil from an underground reservoir using the an in situ combustion process. A diluent, namely a hydrocarbon condensate, is injected within a separate wellbore, or alternatively within said separate wellbore and via tubing in a horizontal wellbore portion, preferably proximate the toe, of a vertical-horizontal well pair, to increase mobility of oil.

Abstract: A modified process for recovering oil from an underground reservoir using the an in situ combustion process. A diluent, namely a hydrocarbon condensate, is injected within a separate wellbore, or alternatively within said separate wellbore and via tubing in a horizontal wellbore portion, preferably proximate the toe, of a vertical-horizontal well pair, to increase mobility of oil.

Abstract: A modified process for recovering oil from an underground reservoir using the toe-to-heel in situ combustion process. A diluent, namely a hydrocarbon condensate, is injected within a horizontal wellbore portion, preferably proximate the toe, of a vertical-horizontal well pair, or alternatively into an adjacent injection well, or both, to increase mobility of oil.

Abstract: A well liner segment for use in hydrocarbon recovery processes. An elongate, typically cylindrical outer liner member, and an inner elongate liner member concentrically located therewithin is provided. Hydrocarbon upgrading catalyst is provided in the interstitial space between the two members. The outer liner members may be threadably coupled together. A slidable seal is provided between the outer liner and the inner liner to accommodated differential thermal growth between the two liners. A process for use of well liner segments having hydrocarbon upgrader catalyst pre-installed therein, is also provided, as is a method for manufacture of a well liner segment.

Abstract: A modified method for in situ recovery of hydrocarbon from an underground hydrocarbon-containing formation. An “L” shaped production well, having a vertical section, and a lower horizontal leg positioned low in the formation, is provided. The horizontal leg connects to the vertical section at a heel portion, and has a toe portion at an opposite end thereof. Oxidizing gas is injected into the formation in or proximate the vertical section. A combustion front sweeps outwardly from the vertical section and laterally within the formation above the horizontal leg, from the heel to the toe, causing hydrocarbons in the formation above the horizontal leg to drain downwardly into the horizontal leg, which are then delivered to surface via production tubing. A non-oxidizing gas is injected into at least the heel portion and preferably additional portions of the horizontal leg via injection tubing contained within the vertical section of the production well.

Abstract: A well liner segment for use in hydrocarbon recovery processes. An elongate, typically cylindrical outer liner member, and an inner elongate liner member concentrically located therewithin is provided. Hydrocarbon upgrading catalyst is provided in the interstitial space between the two members. The outer liner members may be threadably coupled together. A slidable seal is provided between the outer liner and the inner liner to accommodated differential thermal growth between the two liners. A process for use of well liner segments having hydrocarbon upgrader catalyst pre-installed therein, is also provided, as is a method for manufacture of a well liner segment.

Abstract: A modified process for recovering oil from an underground reservoir using the toe-to-heel in situ combustion process. A diluent, namely a hydrocarbon condensate, is injected within a horizontal wellbore portion, preferably proximate the toe, of a vertical-horizontal well pair, or alternatively into an adjacent injection well, or both, to increase mobility of oil.

Abstract: A process for improved safety and productivity when undertaking oil recovery from an underground reservoir by the toe-to-heel in situ combustion process employing a horizontal production well. Water, steam, and/or a non-oxidizing gas, which in the preferred embodiment substantially comprises carbon dioxide which acts as a gaseous solvent, is injected into the reservoir for improving recovery in an in situ combustion recovery process, via either an injection well, a horizontal well, or both.

Abstract: A method for recovery of oil in toe-to-heal in-situ combustion processes from underground petroleum formations, having at least one injection well for injecting oxidizing gas into the underground formation and one production well having a substantially horizontal leg and a substantially vertical production well connected thereto wherein the substantially horizontal leg extends towed the injection well, the horizontal leg having a heel portion in the vicinity of its connection to the vertical production well and a toe portion at the opposite end of the horizontal leg proximate the injection well. The improvement comprises either i) providing tubing inside the production well and injecting steam or water into the horizontal leg portion via the tubing so that steam/water is conveyed to the toe portion, ii) injecting steam/water into the injection well in additional to oxidizing gas, or iii) providing and carrying out both of steps i) and ii).