Abstract: A method for the recovery of low gravity viscous oil or bitumens from a subterranean formation by the injection of a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and hot water or steam into either the upper or lower section of the formation wherein the ratio of oxygen to water is used to control the oxidation temperature.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for treating wells completed in subterranean formations to prevent the movement of unconsolidated sand particles from the formation into the well during recovery of formation fluid or away from the well during injection of an extraneous recovery fluid thereinto. The method is especially applicable to formations containing asphaltic or bituminous petroleum, such as tar sand deposits. In one embodiment, granular material such as sand or gravel is introduced into the formation adjacent to the well bore and saturated with bituminous or asphaltic petroleum. The bituminous petroleum naturally occurring in a tar sand material may be used, or bituminous petroleum may be pumped into the sand and gravel.

Abstract: A method for displacing a freezable liquid from a permafrost zone in a wellbore and replacing the displaced freezable liquid with an essentially nonfreezable liquid, wherein the nonfreezable liquid is introduced into the wellbore and displaced freezable liquid returns are recovered at the earth's surface, the nonfreezable liquid being of known water and solids content. The liquid returns are monitored for changes in water and solids content until a cumulative volume of freezable liquid has been recovered at the earth's surface which indicates displacement of the freezable liquid originally in the permafrost zone of the wellbbore to the desired extent.

Abstract: A method of extracting hydrocarbons in situ from an underground hydrocarbon deposit (such as petroleum or lignite). A selected part of the deposit is heated by electrical induction to temperatures high enough to drive off hydrocarbon fractions as gases or vapors, which are then collected. The deposit may be heated through a coking and cracking stage. The electrical induction heating is conveniently effected by passing alternating current through a conductive path encompassing that part of the deposit to be heated.

Abstract: A simple dewatering system comprises hollow expandable bore-plugging body which can be set in place and locked there in the borehole, at any desired level, by simply pumping compressed air into it. An orifice of calculated size in the bottom of the body allows compressed air to escape and build up pressure below to raise the water in the lower part of the hole to the ground surface through a conduit which extends from the borehole bottom to a level above the ground. The orifice, which may be adjustable, maintains a predetermined minimum pressure differential inside the body which pressure is enough higher than the water-expelling pressure below to keep the body tightly inflated so it cannot slide upwardly. Compressed air escapes continuously through the orifice so that outflow of water from the borehole bottom is continuous until the water level reaches the bottom of the outflow conduit, when the conduit is blown clear, preventing run-back of the water in the conduit.

Abstract: Where a micellar displacement fluid interacts with the rock of a particular reservoir to produce a negative surface potential, the least adsorption of surfactant occurs and slug instability due to surfactant loss is minimized. Thus, micellar displacement fluid integrity can be increased by selecting slug components which produce a more negative surface potential at the fluid-rock interface compared to the surface potential of the rock formation fluids prior to injection of the micellar system.

Abstract: A method for completing a well whose wellbore passes through a permafrost zone, the wellbore having at least one annulus in the permafrost zone, the annulus initially containing a freezable liquid. In the method openable and closable apertures are disposed near the bottom of the permafrost zone for achieving access between the interior of the wellbore and the annulus. Using these apertures, a hard collar, for example composed of cement, is emplaced in the annulus in the vicinity of said apertures. Thereafter the freezable liquid is displaced from the annulus above the collar using an essentially nonfreezable liquid which can be left in the annulus in the permafrost zone for the life of the well.

Abstract: A subsurface control which can be installed and retrieved from the interior of a borehole by a wireline. The apparatus is preferably located at the bottom of the borehole and controls production by a pulse flow type operation which shuts in the well prior to reaching the critical flow rate. The apparatus more efficiently utilizes well energy in lifting liquid to the surface of the ground, and includes means therein which cyclically operates in response to flow rate and bottomhole pressure. In one embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is used in combination with a free traveling plunger.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method of producing hydrocarbons from an unconsolidated hydrocarbon-bearing formation that is penetrated by a well that has an irregular wall adjacent the formation. Granular particles that are water-wet are injected down the well to fill the irregularities in the wall and a packer that has lateral passageways therethrough is set against the well wall. Pressure is applied via the packer to the formation in an amount no greater than the overburden pressure on the formation and hydrocarbons are produced from the formation via the lateral passageways of the packer into the well.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method of creating a horizontally disposed fracture in a subterranean formation that is penetrated by a wellbore. Two packers are set in the wellbore against the formation to be fractured to define with the wellbore and intermediate the packers a fracture treatment zone. Hydraulic pressure is applied to the fracture treatment zone in an amount slightly less than that required to create a vertical fracture in the formation. Acoustical energy is applied in the fracture treatment zone to form a resonant condition therein and to provide rigid coupling of acoustic stress pulses between the packer and the formation and form a horizontal fracture in the formation. The horizontal fracture is propagated into the formation by the continued application of the hydraulic pressure to the fracture treatment zone.

Abstract: In a subterranean reservoir, a strata or zone of high permeability as compared to other stratas of the reservoir may be plugged by forming a solid gel in situ within the highly permeable strata. The gel plug is formed by injecting a colloidal silica suspension into the strata which is in a liquid state and contacting the suspension in situ with a surfactant. Upon mixing with the surfactant, the colloidal silica suspension forms a gel which effectively plugs the highly permeable zone blocking further fluid flow through the zone.

Abstract: Wireline apparatus and method for measuring pressure downhole in well tubing comprising a main plug body which seats in a seating nipple forming part of the tubing, a pressure gauge in communication with the tubing below the main plug body, and means for equalizing the tubing pressure above and below the seated main plug body so that the apparatus may be removed from the well.

Abstract: A method for recovering low gravity viscous oils and bitumens from a subterranean formation by the simultaneous injection of an oxygen-containing gas and steam so as to control the combustion, followed by a conventional in-situ combustion, after which the formation may be scavenged by water injection.

Abstract: Improved oil recovery by flooding subterranean formations with micellar dispersions; comprised of hydrocarbon, water, cosurfactant, electrolyte, and petroleum sulfonate obtained by sulfonating whole or topped crude oil; is obtained by incorporating within the micellar dispersion about 1.5 to about 4.5 wt. % of active sulfonate groups (e.g. --SO.sub.3 NH.sub.4 or --SO.sub.3 Na) which are attached to the petroleum sulfonate. The micellar dispersions of this invention contain an amount of cosurfactant in excess of the amount required to produce a viscosity maximum with the particular micellar dispersion.

Abstract: A method of recovering bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation by the following multi-step method. First, an injection well is drilled to the formation and cased. Perforations are provided in the portion of the injection well contacting the formation. Next, a plurality of production wells are drilled and completed into the formation positioned above and along the length of the injection well. Thereafter, a heated fluid is circulated through the injection well contacting the formation via the perforations and thereby reducing the viscosity of the bitumen contained therein rendering same mobile. Subsequently, the mobilized bitumen is recovered through the plurality of production wells.

Abstract: A method of producing bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation by the following multi-step method. First, an injection well is drilled to the formation and extended into the formation. Subsequent thereto, a perforated liner is inserted into the injection well extending the entire length thereof and having the perforations provided in the portion of the injection well in contact with the formation. Next, a plurality of production wells are drilled and completed into the formation positioned above and along the length of the injection well. Thereafter, a heated fluid is circulated through the injection well contacting the formation via the perforations and thereby reducing the viscosity of the bitumen contained therein rendering same mobile. Subsequently, the mobilized bitumen is recovered through the plurality of production wells.

Abstract: Hydraulic mining of tar sands in a formation wherein water is introduced into a plurality of spaced cavities in the bottom of a tar sands formation and above a number of tunnels communicating with respective cavities by openings. In one embodiment of the method, water is sprayed onto exposed tar sands surfaces in the cavity and further creates a moist atmosphere in those regions of the cavity where the water is not directly sprayed on the surfaces. The moist atmosphere can be in the form of suspended water droplets or can be saturated water vapor at a temperature above the ambient temperature of the tar sands or a combination of both. The water on the exposed surfaces penetrates the formation along paths of preferential wetability, causing adjacent portions of the formation to separate and break loose from the formation itself in a direction in which the portions are free to expand.

Abstract: A pumpable tool and method of utilizing the tool to perform an operation at a point axially spaced from a circulating means between a pair of conduits. The tool includes a pair of pistons one of which is associated with a bypass valve. The operation is performed by applying fluid pressure in both conduits with the bypass valve closed. The tool can be circulated out of one of the conduits when the bypass valve is open. This abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application which, of course, is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: Aqueous hydraulic cement compositions containing sulfonated copolymers of styrene-maleic anhydride as flow-property-improving and turbulence-inducing additives and their use in cementing wells is disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of placing aggregate packs in a well bore annulus wherein one or more producing high-pressure formations are penetrated includes the use of multiple packer and sandscreen assemblies placed in the borehole one at a time with a dual conduit aggregate placement tool string used to place the aggregate pack at each interval.