Abstract: Disclosed are processes for improving recovery of product from a subterranean carbonaceous deposit wherein there has been a reduction in product recovery from a production well, the processes comprising treating the deposit with a liquid that contains at least one of an oxoacid ester of phosphorous or an oxoacid acid ester of sulfur.

Abstract: A waxy oil-external emulsion is provided for injection into a selected zone of a subsurface formation. The selected zone is typically a high permeability zone. The emulsion generally comprises oil, added wax, and water. The emulsion may also include an emulsifying agent and a solvent. The emulsion is formulated to be a liquid at a temperature greater than a targeted temperature in the subsurface formation, but a solid at the targeted temperature. The targeted temperature is typically the maximum operating temperature for the formation. A method of formulating the emulsion is also provided. Further, a method of plugging a high permeability zone using the emulsion is disclosed.

Abstract: An electric storage device 10 has a positive electrode 13, a negative electrode 14 and a separator 15 provided between the positive electrode 13 and the negative electrode 14. The negative electrode surface 14b is formed to be larger than the positive electrode surface 13b in such a manner that a positive electrode outer edge 13c and a negative electrode outer edge 14c are apart from each other by 2 mm or more. By this configuration, an ion restricting section 15b is formed at the outer peripheral portion of the separator 15. Accordingly, the movement of the lithium ions toward the negative electrode end surface 14a can be restricted, when the device is charged with a large current, whereby the deposition of metal lithium on the negative electrode end surface 14a can be prevented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fracturing a formation containing a wellbore comprising the steps of (a) injecting a gel into the wellbore; (b) permitting the gel to increase in viscosity and (c) fracturing the formation in the vicinity of the gel.

Abstract: Solid material required at a subterranean location is supplied from the surface suspended in a carrier liquid and agglomerated below ground by means of a binding liquid. To achieve agglomeration, the binding liquid and the particulate solid are similar to each other but opposite to the carrier liquid in hydrophilic/hydrophobic character. The solid and the binding liquid may both be hydrophobic while the carrier liquid is hydrophilic, or vice versa. The solid may be hydrophobically surface modified to render it hydrophobic. The binding liquid may be provided as a precursor which converts to the binding liquid below ground to trigger agglomeration after arrival at the subterranean location. The agglomerates may function as proppant heterogeneously placed in a fracture of a reservoir, or may serve to block an unwanted path of flow. The binding liquid may polymerise after agglomeration so as to stabilise and strengthen the agglomerates.

Abstract: A method includes performing a chemical process to create a chemical product and an amount of heat, and transferring the heat to a first fluid. The method further includes hydrating a polymer in the first fluid, and adding the chemical product from the chemical process to the first fluid to create a treatment fluid. The method further includes diluting the treatment fluid with respect to at least one constituent of the treatment fluid. The method includes treating a formation of interest in a wellbore with the treatment fluid. The method includes changing a formulation of the treatment fluid during the treating. The method also includes extending the treating beyond a design amount, or ending the treatment before the design amount and preserving some reagents of the chemical process.

Abstract: The present invention is a process for recovering oil from an underground oil-containing reservoir. The process includes providing one or more injection wells for injecting a gaseous fluid (steam and air) into the reservoir, the one or more injection wells having a plurality of generally horizontal injector legs, the injector legs positioned within a first depth region in the reservoir. The process further includes providing one or more extraction wells for recovering oil from the reservoir, the one or more extraction wells having plurality of generally horizontal extractor legs, the extractor legs positioned within a second depth region in the reservoir below the first depth region and spaced between the injector legs. Gaseous fluid, typically steam, is injected through the injector legs for a first period of time; and then air is injected through at least one of the injector legs. Alternative embodiments of the invention are also described.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and process for recovering and recycling valuable target recycle materials such lost circulation material and weighting agents from drilling fluid used in hydrocarbon drilling operations. The system and process includes use of a binary fluid that is separate from the drilling fluid and has a designed density that allows separation of the valuable target recycle materials from drill cuttings. The solids are separated from the drilling fluid in a primary separation step and then mixed with the binary fluid in a density separation or enhanced mass separation device. The binary fluid density allows the separation device to distinguish the target recycle material from drilling solids and recycles the target material to the drilling operations for re-use in drilling fluid. The binary fluid is recovered and refreshed to maintain a generally continuous process of targeted recycling.

Abstract: Systems and methods for drainage of a heavy oil reservoir via a horizontal wellbore. A method of improving production of fluid from a subterranean formation includes the step of propagating a generally vertical inclusion into the formation from a generally horizontal wellbore intersecting the formation. The inclusion is propagated into a portion of the formation having a bulk modulus of less than approximately 750,000 psi. A well system includes a generally vertical inclusion propagated into a subterranean formation from a generally horizontal wellbore which intersects the formation. The formation comprises weakly cemented sediment.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of one or more water-soluble reactive liquid component capable of subsequent polymerization or cross-linking to form a solid to improve the zonal isolation and alleviate the impacts of cracks and fissures in the cement sheath around a completed subterranean well. It includes the steps of injecting a wellbore fluid carrying the reactive component or additive into the wellbore, injecting a cementitious composition as slurry into the wellbore and letting said reactive liquid component pass through at least one of the interfaces between cement and formation, cement and filter cake, and filter cake and formation before forming a solid of said reactive liquid component that traverses said at least one of the interfaces.

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: Methods and compositions that include a method comprising: providing a treatment fluid comprising at least a plurality of degradable diverting agents that comprise at least one degradable material selected from the group consisting of a fatty alcohol, a fatty acid salt, a fatty ester, a proteinous material, and a combination thereof; and introducing the treatment fluid into a subterranean formation during a subterranean operation via a well bore.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods for extracting a kerogen-based product from subsurface (oil) shale formations, wherein such methods rely on fracturing and/or rubblizing portions of said formations so as to enhance their fluid permeability, and wherein such methods further rely on chemically modifying the shale-bound kerogen so as to render it mobile. The present invention is also directed at systems for implementing at least some of the foregoing methods. Additionally, the present invention is also directed to methods of fracturing and/or rubblizing subsurface shale formations and to methods of chemically modifying kerogen in situ so as to render it mobile.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of hydrocarbon production from a hydrocarbon reservoir. The method includes providing a substantially horizontal wellbore having at least one productive interval within a hydrocarbon reservoir and forming at least one non-conductive transverse fracture in the reservoir along the substantially horizontal wellbore. An injection well is also provided. A fluid is injected into the reservoir through the injection well to displace hydrocarbons within the reservoir toward a production portion of the substantially horizontal wellbore. Hydrocarbons are drained from the reservoir into at least one production interval of the substantially horizontal wellbore. Fluid production from the at least one production interval into the substantially horizontal wellbore flows through an inflow control device that can restrict the fluid flow.

Abstract: A fracturing operation is done in open hole. The annular space is spanned by telescoping members that are located behind isolation valves. A given bank of telescoping members can be uncovered and the telescoping members extended to span the annular space and engage the formation in a sealing manner. Pressurized fracturing fluid can be pumped through the telescoped passages and the portion of the desired formation fractured. In a proper formation, cementing is not needed to maintain wellbore integrity. In formations that need annular space isolation, the string in a preferred embodiment can have an external material that grows to seal the annular space in lieu of a traditional cementing operation.

Abstract: A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, e.g., comprising oil shale, includes injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore. The wellbore is completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore includes a bore formed through the subsurface formation defining a diameter. The cooling fluid comprises a slurry having particles of frozen material. The cooling fluid is circulated across the formation in order to lower the temperature of at least a portion of the formation to a point that is at or below the freezing point of water.

Abstract: The methods described herein generally relate to preparing and delivering a fluid mixture to a confined volume, specifically an annular volume located between two concentrically oriented casing strings within a hydrocarbon fluid producing well. The fluid mixtures disclosed herein are useful in controlling pressure in localized volumes. The fluid mixtures comprise at least one polymerizable monomer and at least one inhibitor. The processes and methods disclosed herein allow the fluid mixture to be stored, shipped and/or injected into localized volumes, for example, an annular volume defined by concentric well casing strings.

Abstract: A method is provided for swelling hydrocarbon-swellable elements located in a portion of a well. The method comprises the steps of: (A) introducing a water-in-oil emulsion into the portion of the well, wherein the water-in-oil emulsion comprises: (i) a hydrocarbon liquid, wherein the hydrocarbon liquid is the external phase of the water-in-oil emulsion; (ii) an aqueous liquid, wherein the aqueous liquid is an internal phase of the water-in-oil emulsion and wherein the aqueous liquid is adjacent to the external phase of the water-in-oil emulsion; and (iii) a surfactant; and (B) allowing the water-in-oil emulsion to contact the hydrocarbon-swellable element for a sufficient length of time to cause the thickness of the hydrocarbon-swellable element to expand by a desired percentage, wherein the desired percentage is at least 5%.

Abstract: Methods and compositions of fracturing formations are provided. The fracturing fluid includes an enzyme breaker that decreases the viscosity of the fracturing fluid over time. The enzyme breaker can be used in environments having a pH value ranging from about 7 to about 12.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for treating a near zone and/or a far zone of a well is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. (1) A tube that is permeable to a material is placed inside a wellbore, forming an annulus inside the wellbore. (2) A setting section surrounded by a sleeve is placed inside the tube. The sleeve is expandable and impermeable to the material. (3) The sleeve is inflated so that the sleeve is in contact with the tube, ensuring that the first zone of the tube is impermeable to the material, but leaving a second zone permeable to the material. (4) A treatment fluid is pumped to the zones that passes through the second zone still permeable to the material. (5) The near zone in the annulus and/or the far zone in the surrounding formation is treated with the treatment fluid.