Abstract: A method for recovering low gravity viscous crude oil or bitumen from a subterranean formation comprising first injecting super heated steam, next initiating an in situ combustion by injecting air, followed by an in situ combustion wherein both super heated steam and air are injected, then simultaneously performing an in situ combustion by injecting air while also injecting water and finally injecting water.

Abstract: The invention is a method for preventing water from entering a well in communication with a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir wherein the well is completed in a hydrocarbon reservoir that contains a water column below the hydrocarbon. The well will or will very nearly transverse a portion of the water column. The well is completed in such a way that fluid may be injected into the lower portion of the reservoir through the well without communicating inside the well with fluid being produced through the well from the upper portion of the reservoir. Cold fluid is injected through the well into the lower portion of the reservoir near the water column while production at the same volmetric rate is taken through the well from the upper portion of the reservoir. The production is comprised mainly of the previously injected fluid. This cold fluid removes heat from the water column until the water freezes forming an ice barrier to fluid flow.

Abstract: A method is provided for increasing oil recovery from reservoirs which have an active water drive so that the reservoir pressure remains essentially constant during the production of oil from the reservoir. The method entails establishing a free gas saturation by injecting a hot fluid into the reservoir so that bubbles of gas will form due to the increased temperature and be held suspended in the reservoir. An additional amount of oil about equal to the irreducible gas saturation will be displaced by the encroaching aquifer and produced.

Abstract: Hydrocarbons are recovered from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir by in-situ combustion with minimum formation of water of combustion by fracturing the reservoir with a combustible fracturing mixture, burning the fracturing mixture, and thereafter injecting fluidized carbon in an inert gas carrier while at the same time injecting an oxygen-containing gas so that the fluidized carbon is burned in the fractures for thermal stimulation of production of hydrocarbons from the reservoir.

Abstract: A method for recovering bitumen from tar sand deposits by imbibition flooding at ambient temperature wherein the bitumen is sequentially contacted with a paraffin liquid hydrocarbon followed by a soak period to allow imbibition of the solvent, after which the bitumen and solvent mixture is produced, and the cycle is repeated.

Abstract: A method for recovering low gravity viscous oils and bitumens from a subterranean formation by the simultaneous injection of an oxygen-containing gas and steam so as to control the combustion, followed by a conventional in-situ combustion, after which the formation may be scavenged by water injection.

Abstract: Petroleum may be recovered from viscous petroleum-containing formations including tar sand deposits by injecting into the formation a multiple-component solvent for the petroleum. At least one solvent component is gaseous at the temperature and pressure of the petroleum reservoir such as carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, propane, butane or pentane and at least one component is liquid at the reservoir conditions, such as hexane and higher molecular weight aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons. The multiple solvent is preferably introduced under sufficient pressure that it is substantially all in the liquid phase. Recovery of petroleum and solvent may be from the same well as is used for injection or from a remotely located well. When the pressure in a portion of the formation contacted by the solvents is reduced below the vapor pressure of the gaseous solvent, it vaporizes to provide drive energy for oil production. The liquid components dissolve in the petroleum and reduce the petroleum viscosity.

Abstract: A method for recovering oil by injecting a miscible fluid to drive the oil vertically downward to the producing wells wherein the injected miscible fluid is heated so that it has a temperature equal to or greater than normal reservoir fluid temperature.