Abstract: Method for deriving a reservoir property change data volume from time shifts used to time-align 4D seismic survey data (31). The time alignment is performed on at least one angle stack of 4D data to determine a time-shift data volume (32). When multiple angle stacks are used, the time shifts are corrected to zero offset. A running time window is defined, and within each window the time shifts are best fit to a straight-line function of time (depth), one angle stack at a time (33). The slopes from the straight line fits from different angle stacks are averaged at each voxel in the data volume, which yields a reservoir properties (??/?) data volume (34). This data volume may be filtered with a low-pass filter to improve signal-to-noise (35). The resulting data volume may be merged with the 4D data volume to expand its bandwidth (36), or it may be converted into a reservoir saturation and pressure change data volume (38) using a rock-physics model (37).

Abstract: A Vertical Annular Separation and Pumping System (VASPS) utilizing a outer annulus liquid discharge arrangement to replace a standard pump shroud associated with an electrical submersible pump. The outer annulus liquid discharge arrangement directs produced wellbore liquids around the electrical submersible pump motor to provide a cooling medium to prevent overheating and premature failure of the electrical submersible pump.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for the operation of a distillation tower containing a controlled freezing zone and at least one distillation section. The process and tower design are utilized for the additional recovery of hydrocarbons from an acid gas. In this process, a separation process is utilized in which a multi-component feedstream is introduced into an apparatus that operates under solids forming conditions for at least one of the feedstream components. The freezable component, although typically CO2, H2S, or another acid gas, can be any component that has the potential for forming solids in the separation system. A dividing wall is added to at least a portion of the lower distillation section of the apparatus to effect the separation of at least some fraction of the hydrocarbons in that portion of the tower.

Abstract: The invention is a method for suppressing noise in controlled source electromagnetic survey data based on the frequency content of the noise. The invention recognizes that some data variations across bins cannot be attributed to resistivity variations within the earth. This variation across bins constitutes a model of noise in such surveys, and the invention mitigates noises that obey this model. Noise varying rapidly in either space or time is removed by filtering temporal frequency domain data (131) with a low-pass filter (134) having a selected cutoff frequency (133).

Abstract: A method is provided for enhancing the shear stability of a high-viscosity fluid-water flow system, such as a core annular flow system. The method employs a family of demulsifier additives for maintaining separation of the fluids in biphasic flow. The additive family is sodium salts of polynuclear aromatic sulfonic acids. In one aspect, the high-viscosity fluid is heavy oil. A method of transporting heavy oil through a tubular body is also provided. The method includes pumping the heavy oil through the tubular body within an annular flow of water, and subjecting the water in the tubular body to a salt of a polynuclear, aromatic sulfonic acid additive so as to improve shear stability of the heavy oil and water.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing hydrocarbons is described. In the method, a failure mode for a well completion is identified. A numerical engineering model to describe an event that results in the failure mode is constructed. The numerical engineering model is converted into a response surface. Then, the response surface is associated with a user tool configured to provide the response surface for analysis of another well.

Abstract: Method for improving frequency-domain (1505), controlled-source electromagnetic data readability and interpretability in hydrocarbon prospecting by mapping a scaled amplitude or the relative amplitude (or phase) of the electromagnetic field in a scaled offset?scaled frequency plane (1510). The preferred mapping space uses the offset times the square-root of the frequency as the X-axis and the square-root of the frequency as the Y-axis. The preferred way to scale the amplitude of the electric field is to multiply it by the frequency to the power of ?1.5. Resistive anomalies in the data may be identified by comparing negative offset data (or data relative to a reference) to positive offset data (1515). The location and size of a potentially hydrocarbon-bearing resistive body may be estimated from the position of the anomaly on the map (1520).

Abstract: Method for migration of seismic data into datasets having common azimuth angle at the reflection point. A velocity model is selected that prescribes subsurface P and/or S wave velocities including any required anisotropy parameters. (41) For shot locations on a surface grid, rays are traced on to a 3D grid of points in a target region of the subsurface. (42) At least the travel times of the rays and their dip angles at each subsurface point are stored in computer memory as they are computed. (43) Using the stored ray maps, the seismic data are migrated into seismic image volumes, each volume being characterized by at least an azimuthal angle bin, the azimuthal angles being computed from said ray dip angle information (44).

Abstract: Method for adapting a template to a target data set. The template may be used to remove noise from, or interpret noise in, the target data set. The target data set is transformed (550) using a selected complex-valued, directional, multi-resolution transform (‘CDMT’) satisfying the Hubert transform property at least approximately. An initial template is selected, and it is transformed (551) using the same CDMT. Then the transformed template is adapted (560) to the transformed target data by adjusting the template's expansion coefficients within allowed ranges of adjustment so as to better match the expansion coefficients of the target data set. Multiple templates may be simultaneously adapted to better fit the noise or other component of the data that it may be desired to represent by template.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing a bubble curtain with a diversity of bubble diameters for purposes such as modifying the characteristics of a seismic source used in marine seismic surveys. Bubble generating elements are used that combine porous wall material with discrete holes (91) to create a curtain of diverse-sized bubbles (92).

Abstract: Apparatus and method for estimating the 3D orientation angles for remotely deployed devices with flexible arms such as dipole antennas of receivers used in marine controlled-source electromagnetic surveys to explore for hydrocarbons. Acoustic transponders or transducers, or other positioning sensors such as attitude sensors or strain-sensitive fiber optic cables are placed on each electrode arm of the receiver. Acoustic sensors (101) on the receiver frame (94) work in conjunction with the positioning sensor(s) (101) on the electrode arms (92) to provide accurate 3D spatial position of the receiver electrodes (93) relative to the receiver frame. Alternatively, sonar transducers mounted on the frame are used to image the electrode arms, which image can be enhanced by fixing reflectors to the arms. An attitude sensor is mounted on the receiver frame, enabling conversion of the relative electrode positions to an earth reference frame.

Abstract: Method for real time monitoring of the waveform transmitted by an electromagnetic survey source, using a near-source monitoring receiver to measure electromagnetic field and transmitting the measured signal in real time to a control location.

Abstract: Methods and systems for modeling a reservoir system are described. The method includes constructing a reservoir model of a reservoir system. The reservoir model includes a reservoir and a plurality of wells. Also, one or more material balance groups are constructed with each material balance group having a portion of at least one of the plurality of wells, a portion of the reservoir, and at least one well management algorithm to track material balance within the respective material balance group. Then, fluid flow through the reservoir model is simulated based on the material balance groups by a simulator and the results are reported.

Abstract: The described invention relates to a method for determining corrosion in wet gas pipelines comprising: a) using a portion of the liquid phase from a wet gas pipeline; b) placing said portion in a high pressure, high temperature autoclave to prepare a saturated vapor phase; c) transferring the saturated vapor to a corrosion test unit, said unit having a specimen holder section having external, temperature adjustable means, and specimens being arranged in one or more positions within the specimen holder; d) chilling said specimen holder section so as to cause condensation onto said corrosion testing specimens; and, e) calculating a value selected from the group consisting of corrosions rate, pitting of the specimen, weight loss of the specimen, and any combination thereof. The invention process can be practiced in a separate laboratory apparatus designed to accomplish the above method, or in a similar online apparatus set up in a semi-batch mode or continuous mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. The process may include providing a bitumen froth feed stream, separating the stream in a froth separation unit to produce a diluted bitumen stream, treating the diluted bitumen stream in an electrostatic desalter to produce a treated bitumen stream, and separating the treated bitumen stream into a solvent recycle stream and a bitumen product stream. The system may include a combined AC/DC desalter with a control unit for optimizing the treatment process to produce a product bitumen stream using less solvent and smaller separators than conventional bitumen froth treatment plants and processes.

Abstract: An improved method is provided for removing contaminants from a hydrocarbon stream, such as a stream of raw natural gas. The contaminated hydrocarbon stream is passed through a first adsorbent bed containing molecular sieves to adsorb contaminants on the molecular sieves, thereby removing at least some of the contaminants from the hydrocarbon stream. The contaminated hydrocarbon stream may optionally be passed through a second adsorbent bed containing a desiccant material other than molecular sieves. The molecular sieves are regenerated using a wet regeneration process in which both the water content and temperature of the regeneration fluid stream are staged.

Abstract: Methods of predicting earth stresses in response to pore pressure changes in a hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir within a geomechanical system, include establishing physical boundaries for the geomechanical system and acquiring reservoir characteristics. Geomechanical simulations simulate the effects of changes in reservoir characteristics on stress in rock formations within the physical boundaries to determine the rock formation strength at selected nodes in the reservoir. The strength of the rock formations at the nodes is represented by an effective strain (?eff), which includes a compaction strain (?c) and out-of-plane shear strains (?1-3, Y2-3) at a nodal point. The methods further include determining an effective strain criteria (?effcr) from a history of well failures in the physical boundaries. The effective strain (?effcr) at a selected nodal point is compared with the effective strain criteria (?effcr) to determine if the effective strain (?eff) exceeds the effective strain criteria (?effcr).

Abstract: A process is disclosed for using heavy petroleum fraction as a drive fluid in the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The hydrocarbons may be in the form of bitumen or heavy oil. The heavy petroleum fraction may be injected into at least one injection well and hydrocarbons produced out of at least one distinct production well. The heavy petroleum fraction may be co-injected together with steam and/or hot water and/or solvent. The heavy petroleum fraction may be a heavy fraction of a process used to upgrade crude oil, such as a heavy asphaltene fraction produced from solvent deasphalting crude oil produced by this recovery process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for pressure testing one or more sections of a pipeline are provided. In at least one embodiment, the apparatus includes a first high pressure seal and a second high pressure seal adapted to isolate a test volume located within a section of the pipeline between the first and second high pressure seals. The apparatus also includes at least one flexible member connecting the first high pressure seal to the second high pressure seal, the at least one flexible member adapted to permit movement of the first high pressure seal relative to the second high pressure seal, allowing the apparatus to travel through a curvature in the pipeline.

Abstract: A system and method for treating tailings from a bitumen froth treatment process such as TSRU tailings. The tailings are dewatered and then combusted to convert kaolin in the tailings into metakaolin. Calcined fines and heavy minerals may be recovered from the combustion products, namely from the flue gas and bottom ash.