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: 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: 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 method for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, the method comprising the steps of: injecting steam and injecting a silica-based asphaltene-sorbent into the subterranean reservoir; allowing the silica-based asphaltene-sorbent to adsorb asphaltenes from the hydrocarbons, thereby producing upgraded hydrocarbons and asphaltenes adsorbed to the silica-based asphaltene-sorbent in the subterranean reservoir; and producing the upgraded hydrocarbons, without producing the asphaltenes adsorbed to the silica-based asphaltene-sorbent.

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: Methods for producing hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs utilize a production well having a plurality of individually-actuatable fluid-inlet components that are spaced apart to define a plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones. An injection fluid including a non-condensable gas (NCG) is injected into the reservoir, such that a drainage fluid including at least a portion of the NCG occupies the production-well fluid-inlet zones. The gas phase:liquid phase ratio of a production fluid is modulated by identifying at least one of the production-well fluid-inlet zones as having a gas content above a threshold and thus being a higher-gas zone, and actuating variations in pump speed and the flow states of the plurality of fluid-inlet components adjacent and corresponding to the higher-gas zone to prioritize hydraulic communication with a subset of the plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones spaced apart from the higher-gas zone.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir that is penetrated by an injection well and a production well. The methods comprise operating the injection well under a set of injection parameters and operating the production well under a set of production parameters to produce a production fluid that has an API gravity that changes over time (?API) as the method is advanced towards an ultimate recovery factor (RFo,u) for the reservoir. The methods further comprises modulating the injection parameters, the production parameters, or a combination thereof to decrease or increase the API gravity of the production fluid depending on whether ?API and RFo,u satisfy a set of requirements as disclosed herein.

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 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: Disclosed herein are methods for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir that is penetrated by an injection well and a production well. The methods comprise operating the injection well under a set of injection parameters and operating the production well under a set of production parameters to produce a production fluid that has an API gravity that changes over time (?API) as the method is advanced towards an ultimate recovery factor (RFo,u) for the reservoir. The methods further comprises modulating the injection parameters, the production parameters, or a combination thereof to decrease or increase the API gravity of the production fluid depending on whether ?API and RFo,u satisfy a set of requirements as disclosed herein.

Abstract: Methods are provided that facilitate the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, involving the mobilization of an immobile heavy oil in situ by gravity displacement. In effect, heavy oil is mobilized by dense aqueous gravity displacement (DAGD), in a process that generally involves injecting a dense, heated aqueous injection fluid into the formation into an injection zone that is in fluid communication with immobile heavy oil. The injection well is operated so that the injection fluid mobilizes and displaces the immobile heavy oil, to produce an expanding upper zone of mobilized heavy oil amenable to production.

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: Methods for producing hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs are disclosed herein. The methods utilize a production well that comprises a plurality of fluid-inlet components that are spaced apart to define a plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones. The methods comprise injecting an injection fluid comprising a non-condensable gas (NCG) into the reservoir, such that a drainage fluid comprising at least a portion of the NCG occupies the production-well fluid-inlet zones. The method further comprises modulating the gas phase:liquid phase ratio of a production fluid by orchestrating variations in pump speed and the flow states of the plurality of fluid-inlet components to prioritize hydraulic communication with a subset of the plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones that are not plagued by high NCG content.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of producing hydrocarbons and recovering solvent from a subterranean reservoir that is penetrated by an injection well and a production well. The methods comprise orchestrating a production phase that involves injecting solvent (and optionally steam) to mobilize viscous hydrocarbons. The methods also comprise a solvent-recovery phase that 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 favour gas-phase solvent recovery.

Abstract: Methods for producing hydrocarbons from subterranean reservoirs are disclosed herein. The methods utilize a production well that comprises a plurality of fluid-inlet components are spaced apart to define a plurality of production-well fluid-inlet zones. The methods comprise injecting an injection fluid comprising a solvent into the reservoir, such that a drainage fluid comprising a liquid phase and a gas phase occupies one or more of the production-well fluid-inflow zones. The method further comprises producing a production fluid at a production-flow rate via a pump, and modulating the gas phase:liquid phase ratio of the production fluid 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: Methods are provided that facilitate the production of hydrocarbons from subterranean formations, involving the mobilization of an immobile heavy oil in situ by gravity displacement. In effect, heavy oil is mobilized by dense aqueous gravity displacement (DAGD), in a process that generally involves injecting a dense, heated aqueous injection fluid into the formation into an injection zone that is in fluid communication with immobile heavy oil. The injection well is operated so that the injection fluid mobilizes and displaces the immobile heavy oil, to produce an expanding upper zone of mobilized heavy oil amenable to production.

Abstract: A method and system in which foams are used (instead of, or in addition to, NCG) to maintain pressure in a mature chamber during blowdown operations of a SAGD process or other enhanced oil recovery process. The foam occupies the depleted void space within the mature chamber after injection ceases, maintaining pressure, and improving blowdown performance. This use of the foam in the method and system also improves the performance of less mature chambers that are being operated at higher pressure adjacent to the mature chamber in blowdown. Foaming agents, such as metal carbonates, bicarbonates, and hydroxides, surfactants or any other colloidal foams, aerosols, hydrosols, emulsions or dispersions can be utilized. The method and system can be utilized in conjunction with other known art, such as heat scavenging in the chamber, or enhanced oil recovery utilizing foams, to displace oil in the chamber.

Abstract: Methods are provided for increasing overall fluid mobility in a near-wellbore region in an oil sands reservoir, for example in a reservoir having an inter-well region between a first well and a second well of a well pair in which at least a portion of the near-wellbore region is within the inter-well region. The methods may involve inoculating the near-wellbore region with a microorganism, wherein the near-wellbore region comprises a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase, the viscosity of the hydrocarbon phase being greater than the viscosity of the aqueous phase. Conditions may be maintained in the near-wellbore region so that the microorganism metabolizes at least a portion of the hydrocarbon phase so that saturation of the near-wellbore region by the hydrocarbon phase decreases and saturation of the near-wellbore region by the aqueous phase increases.