Abstract: A well which is to produce from a heavy oil or tar sands reservoir is thermally stimulated from another well located on the order of 10 to 50 feet away. This adjacent thermal stimulation well can be considered expendable. This thermal stimulation is continued for a number of days, until the hot zone produced extends beyond the location of the production well. Thereafter, the adjacent thermal stimulation well preferably is closed off during the course of the frontal thermal drive or the like from remote injection wells. However, such stimulation may be repeated later of if the oil or tar becomes too viscous in the pay zone near the production well.

Abstract: Determinations are made of the conditions in a fluid-containing well penetrating a fluid-producing subterranean reservoir by isolating an interval in the well which penetrates the fluid-producing reservoir, withdrawing fluid from the interval and determining conditions such as fluid composition, pressure build-up, and temperature in the interval. The interval is isolated with a packing member surrounding an open conduit means extending in the well from the top of the well to a location adjacent the reservoir. Fluid moves from the reservoir into the conduit means and is withdrawn from the conduit means through an opening in the conduit means above and adjacent the lower end of the conduit means. Determinations are made by lowering measuring tools through the tubing string to a location in the well below the opening through which fluid is withdrawn from the conduit means.

Abstract: A simplified method for tensioning casing in thermal wells involving the use of an inflatable packer element. The packer element is positioned at or near the bottom of a casing string and is inflated with cement after the cement annulus has been filled with cement. The packer is used to anchor the bottom of the casing while tension is applied to the top of the casing during the setting of the cement. After the cement has set the packer is a permanently imbedded in the casing cement.

Abstract: Combustion air injection well completion comprising an outer casing having a reduced diameter lower portion and a small diameter liner casing which is run inside the outer casing and screwed into the upper end of the small diameter portion of the outer casing. The resulting completion provides an annular conduit through which cooling or divertent fluid may be injected into formations while combustion air is simultaneously pumped through the inner casing and into formations through perforations in the small diameter portion of the outer casing.