Abstract: A downhole burner is used for producing heavy-oil formations. Hydrogen, oxygen, and steam are pumped by separate conduits to the burner, which burns at least part of the hydrogen and forces the combustion products out into the earth formation. The steam cools the burner and becomes superheated steam, which is injected along with the combustion products into the earth formation. Carbon dioxide is also pumped down the well and injected into the formation.

Abstract: A method for producing viscous hydrocarbon formations involves the use of a downhole burner. The well undergoes a mild hydraulic fracturing process that limits the fractured zone to a relatively small dimension so as to avoid intersecting any drainage zones of adjacent wells. The operator pumps fuel, steam and oxygen to the burner, which bums the fuel, causing the flow of hot, gaseous fluids into the fractured zone. The steam delivered from the surface cools the burner and becomes superheated as it enters the fractured zone. The operator allows the fractured zone to soak, then produces the oil. After the production declines, the operator may repeat the fracturing to incrementally increase the fractured zone, then repeat the injection and soak cycles.

Abstract: An improved tenometer provides for a bellows and a stepper motor to pressurize the interior of a probe in the barrel into which the probe is fitted for moving the probe outward towards a patient's eye. The device also includes a laser for improved centering of the patient's eye over the eye piece, and a safety detection device for terminating operation of the tenometer if the probe fails to move along the barrel after a given amount of pressure is applied to the interior of the barrel and the probe. A rotatable occluder near the head rest for blocking the eye not being tested and a computer in the instrument records the eye being tested and the test results.