Abstract: A process for workover of a hydrocarbon recovery well, wherein hydrocarbons are mobilized and well pressure increased by steam injection, the hydrocarbons produced to surface in emulsion fluids. The emulsion fluids are directed into a produced emulsion line at surface at a first pressure, steam injection is then discontinued into the well while continuing emulsion production at reduced pressure, at least some of the emulsion fluids are redirected to an additional line at a second pressure lower than the first pressure as pressure in the well decreases, the emulsion fluids are pumped from the additional line into the produced emulsion line at a third pressure higher than the second pressure, and a well kill fluid is injected into the well to allow the workover after the well pressure decreases.

Abstract: A process for reducing pressure in a well for well kill, during and after recovery of hydrocarbons from a formation. A mobilizing fluid is injected through the well and into the formation to mobilize the hydrocarbons and increase the well pressure, followed by emulsion fluids production to surface while mobilizing fluid injection is discontinued, which decreases the well pressure in preparation for well kill. The emulsion fluids are directed to a produced emulsion line at a first pressure, with at least some of the emulsion fluids instead redirected to an additional line at a lower second pressure as well pressure decreases, and these fluids from the additional line are then pumped at a third pressure higher than the second pressure into the produced emulsion line.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. A mixture of steam and H2S-sorbent particles (e.g., nanoparticles) is injected into the subterranean reservoir. This may be performed during the steam phase of a steam injection operation, such as steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), steam flooding, or cyclic steam stimulation, which is performed on the reservoir. The injected steam reduces the viscosity of the hydrocarbons in the subterranean formation. The injected H2S-sorbent particles attach to the subterranean reservoir and adsorb H2S therein. The hydrocarbons are produced to the surface, without producing the H2S-sorbent particles with adsorbed H2S that remain attached to the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: Methods are provided for sequestering a pollutant gas of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and/or hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas in a subterranean reservoir. In one method, a carrier gas containing pollutant-sorbent particles (e.g., nanoparticles) is pumped into the subterranean reservoir, the pollutant-sorbent particles attach to the subterranean reservoir, the pollutant gas is pumped into the subterranean reservoir, and the pollutant-sorbent particles attached to the subterranean reservoir adsorb the pollutant gas. In another method, pollutant gas is introduced into a carrier liquid containing pollutant-sorbent particles to produce a pollutant-rich carrier liquid, the pollutant-rich carrier liquid is pumped into the subterranean reservoir, and the pollutant-rich carrier liquid is allowed to remain in the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: A process for providing steam from a steam source to a well located remote from the steam source, includes heating a first portion of a first pipe by directing steam along the first portion of the first pipe that extends along a first segment of a path between the steam source and the well, across a first cross-over pipe, and back to the steam source, along a first portion of a second pipe that extends along the first segment of the path. The process also includes heating a second portion of the first pipe by directing steam along the first portion and the second portion of the first pipe, across a second cross-over pipe, and back to the steam source along a second portion of the second pipe. The first pipe and the second pipe are utilized to transport steam to the well.

Abstract: A system and method for generating power and steam for a hydrocarbon recovery operation, in which a fuel gas and oxygen are combusted in a carbon dioxide working fluid in at least one combustor, the combustion products driving a turbine to generate power, and extracting heat from the turbine output stream, part of the heat used for heating the carbon dioxide working fluid before the combustion stage and part of the heat used for heating a feedwater to generate steam.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for monitoring subsurface steam chamber development in a thermal hydrocarbon recovery operation, which employ a fiber optic cable in a horizontal wellbore beneath the steam chamber as part of a distributed acoustic sensing technique in which the cable receives attenuated sound waves passing through the steam chamber and transmits a signal corresponding to the attenuated sound waves and unattenuated sound waves for subsequent signal processing.

Abstract: Methods for producing hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs utilizing a production well having a plurality of fluid-inlet components spaced apart to define a plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones. An injection fluid comprising a solvent is injected into the reservoir, resulting in a drainage fluid with a liquid phase and a gas phase occupying one or more of the production-well fluid-inflow zones. The production fluid is produced at a production-flow rate via a pump, and the gas phase:liquid phase ratio of the production fluid is modulated by orchestrating variations in the pump speed and one or more of the plurality of fluid-inlet components to prioritize hydraulic communication with a subset of the plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones.

Abstract: A method of completing an injection well includes determining a volume of recoverable oil in each of a plurality of intervals along the injection well in a reservoir, and determining a target steam flow for respective ones of the intervals to facilitate recovery of the recoverable oil from the intervals. A quantity of steam outlets in devices along the injection well is determined for delivery of the target volume of steam determined for the ones of the intervals. The injection well is completed including steam injection tubing having the determined number of steam outlets for delivery of the target volume of steam to the ones of the intervals.

Abstract: A method of completing an injection well includes determining a volume of recoverable oil in each of a plurality of intervals along the injection well in a reservoir, and determining a target steam flow for respective ones of the intervals to facilitate recovery of the recoverable oil from the intervals. A quantity of steam outlets in devices along the injection well is determined for delivery of the target volume of steam determined for the ones of the intervals. The injection well is completed including steam injection tubing having the determined number of steam outlets for delivery of the target volume of steam to the ones of the intervals.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. The methods comprise penetrating the subterranean reservoir with a plurality of well pairs that are laterally displaced across a well pad in an array. The methods further comprise operating the plurality of well pairs under a first set of conditions that induce a solvent-concentration gradient, a temperature gradient, or a combination thereof within the subterranean reservoir by: (i) injecting varying concentrations of steam, solvent, or combinations thereof across the array, and (ii) producing hydrocarbons from the reservoir via the plurality of well pairs. The methods further comprise operating the plurality of well pairs under a second set of conditions that delocalize the solvent-concentration gradient, the temperature gradient, or the combination thereof across the array to enhance hydrocarbon production.

Abstract: A process for preparing a well for use in recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation is provided. The process includes injecting mobilizing fluid through the well and into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, producing fluids from the hydrocarbon-bearing formation to a surface and directing the fluids into a produced emulsion line coupled to a facility for separation, discontinuing mobilizing fluid injection into the well for preparing the well for well kill, discontinuing directing produced fluids to the produced emulsion line and directing further produced fluids to an additional line as pressure in the well decreases, and pumping the further produced fluids from the additional line into the produced emulsion line for separation at the facility.

Abstract: A process for preparing a well for use in recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation is provided. The process includes injecting mobilizing fluid through the well and into the hydrocarbon-bearing formation, producing fluids from the hydrocarbon-bearing formation to a surface and directing the fluids into a produced emulsion line coupled to a facility for separation, discontinuing mobilizing fluid injection into the well for preparing the well for well kill, discontinuing directing produced fluids to the produced emulsion line and directing further produced fluids to an additional line as pressure in the well decreases, and pumping the further produced fluids from the additional line into the produced emulsion line for separation at the facility.

Abstract: A coiled tubing injector for running coiled tubing into and out of a well in a hydrocarbon-bearing formation, includes a coiled tubing injector head including a base and a gripping mechanism configured to grip the coiled tubing running through the base and to advance and retract the coiled tubing, and a control system. The control system includes a coiled tubing indicator disposed between the gripping mechanism and a blowout preventer coupled to a head of the well, to indicate a change from presence of the coiled tubing to absence of the coiled tubing. The control system also includes a gripping mechanism control coupled to the coiled tubing indicator and operable to stop movement of gripping mechanism, thus discontinuing movement of the coiled tubing in response to the coiled tubing indicator indicating the change from the presence of the coiled tubing to the absence of the coiled tubing.

Abstract: Provided are methods of reducing water consumption in a fracturing operation. The methods can include imaging a geologic formation surrounding a borehole using a downhole tool within the borehole. The method can further include identifying, within the image, fractures conducive to hydrocarbon production; correlating the fractures conducive to hydrocarbon production to fracture zones; and selecting locations of the fracture zones to be hydraulically fractured, wherein the selected locations collectively represent less than the axial length of the borehole, thereby reducing water consumption compared to hydraulic fracturing along an entirety of the axial length.

Abstract: A system for use in hydrocarbon production includes a well that has a wellhead and extends downhole into a reservoir. The wellhead has a passageway that extends through a sidewall thereof. The system includes piping extending from the wellhead at the passageway. A downhole electrical device is disposed downhole in the well. A cable is coupled to the downhole electrical device and includes electrical wires extending from the downhole electrical device, out of the wellhead, through the passageway in the sidewall, and along the piping. A cooling section is disposed along the piping through which the electrical wires pass, and an electrical connector is coupled to the electrical wires for electrical connection thereto such that the wires extend along the cooling section between electrical connector and the wellhead.

Abstract: Downhole tools and method for a well. At least some of the example embodiments are methods of imaging a formation around a first borehole, including: focusing first outbound acoustic energy, launched from a tool with the first borehole, on a volume within the formation spaced away from the first borehole, the focusing creates a first virtual point source (VPS) that creates a first return acoustic energy; receiving the first return acoustic energy from the first VPS at a plurality of seismic sensors; and determining a parameter of the formation between the first VPS and a location of the seismic sensors using the first return acoustic energy.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing hydrocarbons and recovering solvent from a subterranean reservoir that is penetrated by an injection well and a production well, in which a production phase involves injecting solvent (and optionally steam) to mobilize viscous hydrocarbons and a solvent-recovery phase involves non-condensable gas injection. The production phase and the solvent-recovery phase are each defined by an injection profile. The solvent-recovery-phase injection profile is selected: (i) based on the production-phase injection profile, and (ii) to ensure the pressure/temperature conditions in proximity to the production well favor gas-phase solvent recovery.

Abstract: A process for preparing a well for use in subsequent recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation wherein (i) mobilizing fluid is injected into the formation and emulsion fluids are produced to surface and directed to a high-pressure produced emulsion line, reducing pressure in the well, (ii) mobilizing fluid injection is terminated while emulsion production continues at reduced pressure, (iii) redirecting a portion of the reduced-pressure emulsion fluids to an additional low-pressure line instead of the produced emulsion line, and (iv) pumping the portion of the emulsion fluids at an elevated pressure from the additional line into the produced emulsion line.

Abstract: A method of completing an injection well includes determining a volume of recoverable oil in each of a plurality of intervals along the injection well in a reservoir, and determining a target steam flow for respective ones of the intervals to facilitate recovery of the recoverable oil from the intervals. A quantity of steam outlets in devices along the injection well is determined for delivery of the target volume of steam determined for the ones of the intervals. The injection well is completed including steam injection tubing having the determined number of steam outlets for delivery of the target volume of steam to the ones of the intervals.