Abstract: A method of establishing fluid communication between a first point and a second point within a subterranean reservoir includes injecting a first penetrating liquid at a first injection pressure and at a first injection temperature into the subterranean reservoir at the first point, and establishing fluid communication through a heavy-oil containing region by allowing the first penetrating liquid to penetrate into and completely through the heavy-oil containing region between the first point and the second point. The first penetrating liquid temperature of the first penetrating liquid remains at or below the first injection temperature within the subterranean reservoir, and the first penetrating liquid is configured to dilute heavy oil, and comprises a first penetrating liquid polar compound that is at least partially miscible with water.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving recovery from a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir are described. A method includes drilling a horizontal well in a zone proximate to a contiguous section of cap rock over a reservoir interval. A refrigerant is flowed through the horizontal well to freeze water in the zone, forming a freeze wall in contact with the contiguous section of cap rock. A chamber is formed above the reservoir interval, wherein the chamber includes the contiguous section of cap rock and at least one freeze wall.

Abstract: A method of establishing fluid communication between a first point and a second point within a subterranean reservoir includes injecting a first penetrating liquid at a first injection pressure and at a first injection temperature into the subterranean reservoir at the first point, and establishing fluid communication through a heavy-oil containing region by allowing the first penetrating liquid to penetrate into and completely through the heavy-oil containing region between the first point and the second point. The first penetrating liquid temperature of the first penetrating liquid remains at or below the first injection temperature within the subterranean reservoir, and the first penetrating liquid is configured to dilute heavy oil, and comprises a first penetrating liquid polar compound that is at least partially miscible with water.

Abstract: A system is provided for improved steam generation. The system includes at least two steam systems, wherein a wet steam output from a first steam system is passed through a first separator. The first separator configured to separate dry steam from condensate, and a piping connection is configured to blend the condensate with a boiler feed water stream at the inlet of a second steam system.

Abstract: A steam system is provided that includes a steam generator including boiler tubes that are modified to form a number of intermediate take-offs for removing water and steam from the boiler tubes. A number of intermediate separators are provided to separate the water and steam at each of the intermediate take-offs. Intermediate couplings are used to inject the water back into the boiler tubes downstream of each of the plurality of intermediate take-offs.

Abstract: Methods and systems for improving recovery from a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir are described. A method includes drilling a horizontal well in a zone proximate to a contiguous section of cap rock over a reservoir interval. A refrigerant is flowed through the horizontal well to freeze water in the zone, forming a freeze wall in contact with the contiguous section of cap rock. A chamber is formed above the reservoir interval, wherein the chamber includes the contiguous section of cap rock and at least one freeze wall.

Abstract: A method and systems are provided for the enhancement of a start-up of a resource recovery process. The system includes a well pair including a production well at a first elevation and an injection well at a higher elevation. The well pair is configured to force an initial fluid communication between the production well and the injection well to occur at a selected region along a completion of the production well and a completion of the injection well.

Abstract: A method and systems for using a non-volatile solvent to recover heavy oils are provided. In a method a solvent that includes a non-volatile component is injected into the reservoir. A mobilizing fluid is injected into the reservoir. Fluid is produced from the reservoir, wherein the fluid comprises the solvent, the mobilizing fluid, and the hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

Abstract: A system and methods are provided for heating a hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the reservoir includes a reduced oil saturation zone in proximity to a heavy oil zone. The method includes injecting an oxidizing gas into the reduced oil saturation zone and combusting hydrocarbons included within the reduced oil saturation zone. The method also includes determining a level of heating within the heavy oil zone that is conductively heated by combustion of the hydrocarbons within the reduced oil saturation zone, and producing hydrocarbons from the heavy oil zone once a desired level of heating has occurred.

Abstract: A method and systems for improving recovery from a hydrocarbon reservoir are described. A method includes identifying an interval within the reservoir that comprises a reduced reservoir quality, wherein the interval includes hydrocarbons. A production chamber is formed in a reservoir interval below the interval of reduced reservoir quality, wherein the production chamber is in contact with the interval of reduced reservoir quality. Hydrocarbons are mobilized in the interval of reduced reservoir quality by contact with a mobilizing agent and a pressure is changed within the interval of reduced reservoir quality to allow hydrocarbon flow from the interval of reduced reservoir quality.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for improving production of hydrocarbon resources. A method for improving recovery from a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir includes drilling a well comprising a horizontal segment through a reservoir interval and installing a pipe string in the horizontal well segment, wherein the pipe string comprises a plurality of screen assemblies. Each of the plurality of screen assemblies is located and a hole is drilled in the pipe string at a portion of the plurality of screen assemblies. Each hole is drilled at a desired orientation to a radial axis of the drill string.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for improving production of hydrocarbon resources. A method for improving recovery from a subsurface hydrocarbon reservoir includes generating a productivity map for a plurality of wells in a contiguous region of a reservoir and injecting different mixtures of non-condensable gas (NCG) and steam into at least two injection wells in the plurality of wells based, at least in part, on the productivity map.

Abstract: A method is provided for drilling a well in a reservoir. The method includes planning a well trajectory for a serpentine well pair. The production well is drilled using lateral displacements and vertical displacements to follow a base of a pay interval in the reservoir. The production well is completed with perforations in regions comprising a hydrocarbon. At least a portion of the production well includes a liner with no perforations.

Abstract: A method is provided for drilling a well in a reservoir. The method includes planning a well trajectory for a serpentine well that accesses a bypassed hydrocarbon in the reservoir. The serpentine well is drilled using lateral displacements and vertical displacements to follow the base in the reservoir. The serpentine well is completed with perforations in regions comprising the bypassed hydrocarbon.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the mass production of compound cigarette filters function to deposit granular filter material into the open ends of vertically oriented filter tubes. Predetermined amounts of diverse granular material are withdrawn by suction from sources of such material, and these amounts are deposited into the tubes. Solid filter segments seal the granular material within the tube. After one half of each filter tube is filled with granular material and sealed, the tube is inverted and the opposite end is filled in substantially the same manner. When cut in half each filter tube produces two cigarette filters.

Abstract: A bead feeder for serially delivering beads to a downstream location comprises a bead supply wheel which rotates about a vertical axis. The bead supply wheel includes a bead supply bowl and a plurality of radially arranged channels below the bowl connected to rotate with the bowl. Discharge openings in the bowl are in alignment with the radially arranged channels to delivery beads to those channels, and a bead receiving pocket is positioned at the outer end of each channel. A transfer wheel picks up beads from the bead receiving pockets and transfers those beads to a delivery wheel by vacuum transfer and release. The delivery wheel serially delivers the beads to the downstream location.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the mass production of compound cigarette filters function to deposit granular filter material into the open ends of vertically oriented filter tubes. Predetermined amounts of diverse granular material are withdrawn by suction from sources of such material, and these amounts are deposited into the tubes. Solid filter segments seal the granular material within the tube. After one half of each filter tube is filled with granular material and sealed, the tube is inverted and the opposite end is filled in substantially the same manner. When cut in half each filter tube produces two cigarette filters.

Abstract: A process of impregnating fine adsorbent particles such as carbon dust or APS silica gel powder into the micro-cavities of shaped fibers comprises the steps of continuously conveying shaped fibers with micro-cavities to a reservoir of the fine adsorbent particles. The fibers pass through the reservoir to thereby produce relative motion between the fibers and the particles. Additionally, impact forces are created between the shaped fibers and the fine particles to assist in impregnating the particles into the micro-cavities of the fibers. Any excess particles are removed from the fibers outside the reservoir, and subsequently the shaped fibers impregnated with fine adsorbent particles are collected for later use in filter applications such as cigarette filter and air filter applications, for example.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the mass production of compound cigarette filters function to deposit granular filter material into the open ends of vertically oriented filter tubes. Predetermined amounts of diverse granular material are withdrawn by suction from sources of such material, and these amounts are deposited into the tubes. Solid filter segments seal the granular material within the tube. After one half of each filter tube is filled with granular material and sealed, the tube is inverted and the opposite end is filled in substantially the same manner. When cut in half each filter tube produces two cigarette filters.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the mass production of compound cigarette filters function to deposit granular filter material into the open ends of vertically oriented filter tubes. Predetermined amounts of diverse granular material are withdrawn by suction from sources of such material, and these amounts are deposited into the tubes. Solid filter segments seal the granular material within the tube. After one half of each filter tube is filled with granular material and sealed, the tube is inverted and the opposite end is filled in substantially the same manner. When cut in half each filter tube produces two cigarette filters.