Abstract: The present disclosure describes a recovery process using injector and producer wells, each well having means for varying the axial resistance to fluid flow to provide a complementary first and second annular axial fluid flow resistance profile. The recovery mechanism includes a gravity drainage component and also includes a convective flow mechanism which operate concurrently.

Abstract: A method of producing heated water from a reservoir having a hot bitumen-depleted zone adjacent to an aqueous mobile zone. The method includes generating fluid communication between the aqueous mobile zone and the hot bitumen-depleted zone. The method further includes driving water from the aqueous mobile zone through a portion of the hot bitumen-depleted zone to heat the water to produce heated water from a heated water production well.

Abstract: A process for hydrocarbon recovery performs a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operation by injecting steam in a steam injection well of a SAGD well pair and continuing to inject steam to establish fluid communication between the steam injection well and an oxidizing gas injection well that includes an oxidizing gas injection well segment that is spaced generally above the steam injection well segment, and producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon production well of the SAGD well pair, the hydrocarbon production well including a generally horizontal production well segment disposed generally parallel to and vertically below a generally horizontal steam injection well segment of the steam injection well such that the steam injection well segment is disposed generally vertically between the production well segment and the oxidizing gas injection well segment.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method of recovering viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation using a gravity dominated recovery process with a group of wells, the recovery process incorporating an interwell recovery phase. The group of wells is initially operated independently to establish hydraulic communication between two or more wells in the group. Once hydraulic communication is established, injection of mobilizing fluid and production of hydrocarbons continues in at least one well within the group with an excess amount of mobilizing fluid being injected into the well. At the same time, production only continues in at least one well within the group, without any injection of mobilizing fluid. The wells in the group are spaced closer together than in conventional recovery processes. The recovery process may be SAGD.

Abstract: A secure gateway includes data storage for outgoing data and encrypted incoming data. SCIT server(s) rotate through unexposed mode(s) and exposed mode(s). If there is outgoing data in the data storage: the unexposed mode(s) retrieve outgoing data from the data storage; retrieve an encryption key from a key server; generate encrypted outgoing data by encrypting the outgoing data with the encryption key; delete the encryption key; and delete the outgoing data from the data storage. If there is encrypted incoming data in the data storage, the unexposed mode(s): retrieve encrypted incoming data from the data storage; retrieve a decryption key from the key server; generate incoming data by decrypting the encrypted incoming data with the decryption key; delete the decryption key; and delete the encrypted incoming data. The exposed mode: receives encrypted incoming data over an exposed interface; and transmits encrypted outgoing data over an exposed interface.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a recovery process using injector and producer wells, each well having means for varying the axial resistance to fluid flow to provide a complementary first and second annular axial fluid flow resistance profile. The recovery mechanism includes a gravity drainage component and also includes a convective flow mechanism which operate concurrently.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of producing heated water from a hydrocarbon reservoir. The method includes injecting water into at least a portion of the hot bitumen-depleted zone to heat the water; and producing the heated water from a heated water production well. The method can includes generating the hot bitumen-depleted zone using steam-assisted gravity drainage, in situ combustion, steam flooding, cyclic steam stimulation, a solvent aided thermal recovery process, electric heating, electromagnetic heating, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing heated water from a reservoir having a hot bitumen-depleted zone adjacent to an aqueous mobile zone. The method includes generating fluid communication between the aqueous mobile zone and the hot bitumen-depleted zone. The method further includes driving water from the aqueous mobile zone through a portion of the hot bitumen-depleted zone to heat the water to produce heated water from a heated water production well.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a method for the recovery of hydrocarbons using a single horizontal well having both injection and production means. The well has a means for increasing fluid flow resistance in the wellbore. The injection and production means are operated so as to increase the fluid flow into the reservoir and reduce the fluid flow in the well. The means to increase fluid flow includes a constriction in the wellbore between the injection and production means, flow conditioners placed along a portion of the well between the injection and production means, and sealing elements placed in the well between the injection and production means. The production and injection openings are also positioned relative to the flow conditioners and sealing elements.

Abstract: A process for hydrocarbon recovery from an oil sands deposit includes injecting an oxidizing gas into an oil sands reservoir through an injection well. The oxidizing gas supports in situ combustion (ISC) in the reservoir. A generally horizontal well pair is used that is in fluid communication with the injection well to recover hydrocarbons mobilized by the ISC. The well pair includes: a generally horizontal segment of a hydrocarbon production well, and a generally horizontal segment of a combustion gas production well. The generally horizontal segment of the combustion gas production well is generally parallel to and spaced vertically above the horizontal segment of the hydrocarbon production well. The segment of the oxidizing gas injection well is spaced generally above the segment of the hydrocarbon production well and generally above the segment of the combustion gas production well.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a single well predominantly gravity-dominated recovery process for producing viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil sands formation. The process operates a single vertical or inclined well within a formation, the wellbore having an injection means and a production means, the injection means being positioned in the wellbore closer to the surface than the production means. The process provides an area of high mobility adjacent the production means. A mobilizing fluid is injected through the injection means into the formation to mobilize the viscous hydrocarbons in the formation while substantially concurrently producing hydrocarbons through the production means. The gravity dominated process may be SAGD and the present process may be a single vertical or inclined well SAGD process.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a single well predominantly gravity-dominated recovery process for producing viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil sands formation. The process operates a single vertical or inclined well within a formation, the wellbore having an injection means and a production means, the injection means being positioned in the wellbore closer to the surface than the production means. The process provides an area of high mobility adjacent the production means. A mobilizing fluid is injected through the injection means into the formation to mobilize the viscous hydrocarbons in the formation while substantially concurrently producing hydrocarbons through the production means. The gravity dominated process may be SAGD and the present process may be a single vertical or inclined well SAGD process.

Abstract: An attack resistant continuous network service trustworthiness controller comprising: state estimation module(s), response selection module(s), actuation module(s), and client dispatcher communication module(s) for maintaining the availability and integrity of online server(s). The state estimation module(s) are configured to generate state estimate(s) for online server(s) using behavior data obtained using sensor module(s). The response selection module(s) are configured to determine corrective action(s) to maintain the availability and integrity of online server(s) when state estimate(s) indicate that the integrity of an online server(s) is compromised. The actuation module(s) are configured to activate actuator(s) based upon the corrective action(s). Client dispatcher communication module(s) are configured to communicate online server availability information to a client dispatcher.

Abstract: An attack resistant continuous network service trustworthiness controller comprising: state estimation module(s), response selection module(s), actuation module(s), and client dispatcher communication module(s) for maintaining the availability and integrity of online server(s). The state estimation module(s) are configured to generate state estimate(s) for online server(s) using behavior data obtained using sensor module(s). The response selection module(s) are configured to determine corrective action(s) to maintain the availability and integrity of online server(s) when state estimate(s) indicate that the integrity of an online server(s) is compromised. The actuation module(s) are configured to activate actuator(s) based upon the corrective action(s). Client dispatcher communication module(s) are configured to communicate online server availability information to a client dispatcher.

Abstract: The current invention provides a method of improving the efficiency of one or more heat exchangers used in cooperation with a high temperature solution polymerization process. Addition of surface active agents, such as C6 to C22 carboxylic acids, to a two phase liquid-liquid polymer solution downstream of a reactor system and upstream of a heat exchanger system can increase the efficiency of heat exchange by more than 10 %.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for controlling a processing unit connected to a network. The method includes providing information to the network by the processing unit via plural communication channels; sending a reset signal from a controller to a reset unit of the processing unit after a specified amount of time, the reset unit being connected only to a communication channel of the controller and being isolated from the plural communication channels; and rebooting the processor unit when the reset signal is received by the reset unit.

Abstract: A cache validating SCIT-DNS Server including a server cluster, a cache copy, a controller and a validation module. Each of the servers in the server cluster uses a DNS mapping cache which maps DNS name(s) to record entry(ies). The cache copy maintains an image of DNS mapping cache(s). The controller manages the state of servers. States include a live spare state; an exposed state; a quiescent state; and a self-cleansing state. The validation module validates DNS entry(s) using a retriever module and a comparisons module. Retriever module retrieves an independent record entry associated with a selected DNS name from an external DNS resolver. The comparison module compares the independent record entry retrieved by the retriever module with the record entry associated with the selected DNS name residing in the cache copy. The validation module may cause server(s) to take an affirmative action in response to detected validation error(s).

Abstract: Disclosed is a self-cleansing intrusion tolerance-domain name systems system comprising at least three DNS servers, at least four storage systems accessible by the DNS servers, a communications link, a message transfer mechanism, and a self-cleansing mechanism. The storage systems include at least three online storage systems and at least one offline storage system. The communications link can connect the DNS servers with the storage systems, as well as connect the DNS servers with a local area network, which can connect the DNS servers with an external network. The message transfer mechanism can rotate the DNS servers into a plurality of roles, including a primary role, a secondary role, a designated role, and a self-cleansing role. The self-cleansing mechanism can be used to perform the self-cleansing role.

Abstract: The current invention provides a method of improving the efficiency of one or more heat exchangers used in cooperation with a high temperature solution polymerization process. Addition of surface active agents, such as C6 to C22 carboxylic acids, to a two phase liquid-liquid polymer solution downstream of a reactor system and upstream of a heat exchanger system can increase the efficiency of heat exchange by more than 10%.

Abstract: The current invention provides a method of improving the efficiency of one or more heat exchangers used in cooperation with a high temperature solution polymerization process. Addition of surface active agents, such as C6 to C22 carboxylic acids, to a two phase liquid-liquid polymer solution downstream of a reactor system and upstream of a heat exchanger system can increase the efficiency of heat exchange by more than 10%.