Abstract: A method and apparatus are presented which are particularly useful in testing the production capabilities of offshore oil wells. The apparatus includes a normally closed, weight operated valve which opens a preset delay after the weight operated valve is subjected to sufficient weight such as when a test string is set down upon, and supported by, a packer isolating an underground formation; and a normally open, weight and pressure operated valve which closes immediately when the test string is set down upon the packer. The weight and pressure operated valve expands a sealed chamber when subjected to sufficient weight to close its associated valve. The weight and pressure operated valve also includes a pressure responsive piston which opens and closes the valve, and which is responsive to the pressure in the sealed chamber, and to fluid pressure in the well annulus.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of low API gravity viscous oils or bitumens from a subterranean formation by the injection of a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and steam at a temperature corresponding to the temperature of saturated steam at the pressure of the formation.

Abstract: The quantity of oil which can be economically recovered from an already waterflooded predominantly oil-wet formation is increased by passing a first solution through the formation to change the formation from its oil-wet to a water-wet state, passing a second solution having high interfacial tension with the oil through the formation to force the oil from the small pores of the formation into larger ones, and passing a third solution having a low interfacial tension between the third solution and the oil through the formation, optionally passing a mobility buffer-solution through the formation to prevent fingering or channeling, and finally passing the driving fluid through the formation.

Abstract: A method of cementing oil, gas or water wells and the like, wherein a solution, dispersion, suspension, or the like of a cement additive in water is prepared at a predetermined concentration of additive and is thereafter mixed with dry powdered cement to form a cement slurry, and a sample of the additive-water mixture is analyzed prior to its being mixed with the cement, to verify that the additive-water mixture contains the desired concentration of additive. The analysis of the additive-water mixture preferably is performed continuously on a sample of the mixture in a spectrophotometer, the output signal of which may be displayed on a meter or may be used to control the relative quantities of water and additive that go into the additive-water mixture.

Abstract: A method for recovering low gravity viscous crude oil or bitumen from a subterranean formation comprising first injecting super heated steam, next initiating an in situ combustion by injecting air, followed by an in situ combustion wherein both super heated steam and air are injected, then simultaneously performing an in situ combustion by injecting air while also injecting water and finally injecting water.

Abstract: A method is provided for increasing oil recovery from reservoirs which have an active water drive so that the reservoir pressure remains essentially constant during the production of oil from the reservoir. The method entails establishing a free gas saturation by injecting a hot fluid into the reservoir so that bubbles of gas will form due to the increased temperature and be held suspended in the reservoir. An additional amount of oil about equal to the irreducible gas saturation will be displaced by the encroaching aquifer and produced.

Abstract: A process for producing shale oil by circulating hot fluid through a rubble-containing cavern within a subterranean oil shale which contains water-soluble mineral is improved by burning a carbonaceous residue left within one cavity to produce hot fluid for operating power devices and also pyrolyzing the oil shale in a different cavity.

Abstract: A method and assembly adapted to extract petroleum from a bore hole or well and particularly using steam to release the petroleum from the surrounding underground. These method and assembly include the release of steam at the bottom of a tube section and extraction of petroleum above the steam outlet to provide simple and efficient assembly and method, which allow for simultaneous feeding of steam and pumping out of petroleum. The assembly includes coaxial tube sections wherein steam pipes are placed in the annular space between the tube sections to outwardly feed steam at the bottom of the latter while defining a central passage for pumping the petroleum therefrom.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method of completing a cased well that penetrates a subterranean formation to control the production of sand from the formation. The well is provided with perforation tunnels that extend through the casing and communicate with the formation. Removable plugs are formed in the perforation tunnels and thereafter a gravel pack is formed and consolidated in the well within the casing adjacent the perforation tunnels. Thereafter the removable plugs are removed from the perforation tunnels to provide unobstructed tunnels for the flow of fluids from the formation into the well. The formation adjacent the perforation tunnels may also be consolidated to mitigate the movement of sand from the formation into the perforation tunnels.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in removing paraffin from a well tubing string above a wireline operated subsurface safety valve assembly installed in the tubing string and its method of operation. The safety valve assembly controls the flow of production oil and/or gas fluids through the tubing string. During normal production operations a wireline connects the paraffin cutting apparatus to surface facilities which include apparatus for maintaining sufficient tension on the wireline to hold the safety valve assembly in open position and for releasing tension on the wireline to permit the safety valve assembly to close. The paraffin cutter apparatus contains means for releasably connecting it to the safety valve assembly. Manipulation of the wireline actuates means on the paraffin cutting apparatus to open an equalizer port in the tubing string. Paraffin cut from the tubing string wall is removed by flow of production fluids through the open equalizer port.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir by in-situ combustion with minimum formation of water of combustion by fracturing the reservoir with a combustible fracturing mixture, burning the fracturing mixture, and thereafter injecting fluidized carbon in an inert gas carrier while at the same time injecting an oxygen-containing gas so that the fluidized carbon is burned in the fractures for thermal stimulation of production of hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

Abstract: An assembly adapted to be anchored at a subsurface location within a tubular well conduit to function as a self-closing safety valve. The assembly includes a flapper valve closure element pivotably mounted in a tubular valve housing and controlled by a pressure sensitive control mechanism. An anchoring means having radially expansible anchoring and sealing members is employed to secure the valve in place and to form a seal which forces fluid in the conduit to flow through a flow passage in the valve housing. The expansible anchoring and sealing means may be retracted to permit retrieval of the entire assembly. The control mechanism includes a pressure charged bellows chamber which moves in response to a drop in the pressure within the well conduit to cause the flapper to close the flow passage.An incompressible fluid contained within the bellows of the control mechanism cooperates with a double acting valve to prevent over extension or over compression of the bellows by extremes in pressure differential.

Abstract: Foam fracturing fluids and methods for fracturing well formations using foam as the carrier for the propping agent are disclosed. The foams are stiff stable foams formed of a relative large amount of gas and a relative small amount of liquid. The foams are stable at surface pressures and remain stable when delivered into the well formation at the bottom of the well.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of low gravity viscous oils or bitumens from a subterranean formation by the injection of a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and steam to establish a hot communications path, followed by a shutting in of the wells for a period to allow the oxygen to react with the oil or bitumen in the formation and thereafter recovering the oil or bitumens via the production well. The cycle may thereafter be repeated.

Abstract: A method for recovering bitumen from tar sand deposits by imbibition flooding at ambient temperature wherein the bitumen is sequentially contacted with a paraffin liquid hydrocarbon followed by a soak period to allow imbibition of the solvent, after which the bitumen and solvent mixture is produced, and the cycle is repeated.

Abstract: A process for producing petroleum from subterranean formations is disclosed wherein production from the formation is obtained by driving a fluid from an injection well to a production well. The process involves injecting into the formation via the injection well an aqueous solution of ethoxylated asphalts as a sacrificial agent to inhibit the deposition of surfactant and/or polymer on the reservoir matrix. Normally the process would be carried out by first injecting the ethoxylated asphalts into the formation through the injection well and following them with either a polymer or a surfactant solution. The polymer and/or surfactant would then be followed by a drive fluid such as water to push the chemicals to the production well.

Abstract: Recovery of oil from a subterranean reservoir employing an alkaline agent-sulfonate surfactant system in conjunction with the injection of a sacrificial system comprising an inorganic polyphosphate and an alkali metal carbonate. An aqueous initiaion slug containing an inorganic polyphosphate, an alkali metal carbonate and an alkaline agent selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and ammonium hydroxides is injected into the reservoir. The initiation slug is followed by the injection of an aqueous surfactant slug which contains an alkaline agent and a sulfonate surfactant. After injection of the surfactant slug, an aqueous flooding medium is injected in order to displace the oil within the reservoir to a production system from which it is recovered. The surfactant slug may also contain an inorganic polyphosphate and alkali metal carbonate and the concentrations of these agents in the surfactant slug may be lower than in the initiation slug.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of forming a highly permeable solid mass in a subterranean formation wherein a mixture of particulated solids and a resin composition are deposited in the formation and consolidated into a hard permeable mass, the particulated solids including soluble solids.

Abstract: The injectivity profile of a heterogeneous formation and/or vertical conformance is improved by injecting an aqueous solution into the formation, the solution containing a polymer obtained as a product of radiation-induced polymerizatin of acrylamide and/or methacrylamide and acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and/or alkali metal salts thereof. The polymerization is preferably carried out in a 10-60% aqueous solution with gamma radiation; the aqueous monomer solution preferably contains 25-99% acrylamide and 1-75% sodium acrylate. Immiscible, miscible, or miscible-like displacing processes can be used in conjunction with this invention.

Abstract: Methods of gravel packing are disclosed utilizing controlled melting point materials with the gravel placed behind a liner located in the wellbore. The controlled melting point materials can be coated on the gravel prior to its placement behind the liner or circulated behind the liner separate from the gravel. After placement of the gravel and controlled melting point material behind the liner, heat is provided to melt the material so that it acts as a consolidating agent.