Abstract: The aspects herein describe a life planning system and method for multiple careers. The life planning system has a computer communicating with one or more servers using a transmitter. The computer executes instructions from a computer-readable medium and include: retrieving a workbook form from the server(s); displaying the workbook form and accepting life planning data; transmitting the life planning data to the server(s); and transmitting a permission to the server(s) in order to permit access to the life planning data by another computing device. The method of life planning comprises: retrieving a workbook form from the server(s); displaying the workbook form and accepting life planning data; determining a spending profile in retirement and a net worth curve; and displaying the net worth curve. The net worth curve comprises a net worth axis and an age axis. The life planning data comprises user profile data and financial plan data.

Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground formation having a first exploited or partially exploited region and a second less exploited region in at least partial fluid communication with said first region. Electrical heating means is provided in the first region, and electrical energy supplied to the first region to raise or sustain its pressure to mitigate the loss of fluids and pressure from the second region due to hydraulic interaction with the first region. The electric heating affects the pressure by thermal expansion of the liquids and vapors present in or added to the first region and/or flashing of those liquids to vapors. The use of electric means is advantageous over the prior art by allowing for the redirection of injection fluids to more active regions of exploitation, and allows for more timely reclamation of the equipment and surface area above the first region.

Abstract: A method for producing residual hydrocarbon located in a cellar region of a reservoir after SAGD hydrocarbon production, wherein a higher-density fluid is injected into a first producer well to displace the residual hydrocarbon toward a second, adjacent producer well. The method may also produce residual hydrocarbon located in infill regions.

Abstract: A method for determining along relatively uniformly spaced apart parallel first and second wellbores situated in an underground hydrocarbon-containing formation, regions within the formation, including in particular regions between such wellbores, to inject a fluid at a pressure above formation dilation pressure, to stimulate production of oil into the second of the two wellbores, and subsequently injecting fluid at pressures above formation dilation pressures at the discrete regions along such wellbores determined to be in need. An initial information-gathering procedure is conducted, wherein fluid is supplied under a pressure less than formation dilation or fracture pressure, to discrete intervals along a first wellbore, and sensors in the second wellbore measure and data is recorded regarding the ease of penetration of such fluid into the various regions of the formation intermediate the two wellbores.

Abstract: A method for determining along a length of a wellbore situated in an underground hydrocarbon-containing formation, regions within the formation to inject a fluid at a pressure above formation dilation pressure, to stimulate production of oil into the wellbore. An initial information-gathering procedure is conducted prior to formation dilation/fracturing, wherein fluid is supplied under a pressure less than formation dilation or fracture pressure, to discrete intervals along the wellbore, and sensors measure and data is recorded regarding the ease of penetration of such fluid into the various regions of the formation. Regions of the formation exhibiting poor ease of fluid penetration or regions of higher oil saturation, are thereafter selected for subsequent stimulation or dilation, at pressures above formation dilation pressures. Where initial fluid pressures and/or formation dilation pressures are provided in cyclic pulses, a downhole tool is disclosed for such purpose.

Abstract: A method for welding within a tubular member situated in a hydrocarbon wellbore. Downhole junctions for branch wellbores can be welded, casing windows for sidetrack drilling can be prepared, and casing repairs can be undertaken.

Abstract: A method for reducing undesired water production from a hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein scale formation/deposition in a wellbore from localized water cut increases is used for zonal isolation. Slots or other aperture types are provided in a casing length such as a slotted liner, to encourage scale formation/deposition adjacent water-producing zones, thus isolating such zones and preferentially producing from hydrocarbon-producing zones.

Abstract: Methods and systems for enhanced thermal recovery of subsurface hydrocarbons comprising the use of multilateral branches, wherein the multilateral wells are completed in a manner to improve individual branch control.

Abstract: A steam-assisted gravity drainage or cyclic steam injection method for recovering oil from a development region of an underground reservoir, further employing water injection along one or more peripheral side edges of the development region via a horizontal well or wells to thereby bound the development region on at least one side edge thereof, and preferably along two or more side edges, with water to thereby reduce steam loss from the development region and thus reduce steam-to-recovered oil ratio (SOR). The water may be combined with diluents. The water which is injected into the horizontal well or wells may comprise produced water recovered from said reservoir.

Abstract: A SAGD operation is provided, comprising: drilling a SAGD well pair in a bitumen bearing formation, the well pair comprising an injector well and a producer well; introducing an electro-thermal heating element comprising at least one individually controllable heating section in or near either the injector well, the producer well, or both; positioning the at least one individually controllable heating section at or near a sector of either the injector well, the producer well, or both, which sector may require greater thermal heat to establish thermal communication between the injector well and the producer well; and operating the at least one individually controllable heating section at a desired temperature for a period of time sufficient to establish thermal communication between the injector well and the producer well. The electro-thermal heating element having the at least one electrical heating section may remain in the injection well beyond start-up to assist in effectively recovering the hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A method for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground formation having a first exploited or partially exploited region of a hydrocarbon-containing formation and a second less exploited hydrocarbon-containing region in fluid communication or in partial fluid communication with said first region. Electrical heating means is provided in the first region, and electrical energy supplied to the first region to raise or sustain its pressure to mitigate the loss of fluids and pressure from the second region due to hydraulic interaction with the first region. The electric heating affects the pressure by thermal expansion of the liquids and vapours present in or added to the first region and/or flashing of those liquids to vapours. The use of electric means is advantageous over the prior art by allowing for the redirection of injection fluids to more active regions of exploitation, and allows for more timely reclamation of the equipment and surface area above the first region.

Abstract: A method for determining along relatively uniformly spaced apart parallel first and second wellbores situated in an underground hydrocarbon-containing formation, regions within the formation, including in particular regions between such wellbores, where injection of a fluid at a pressure above formation dilation pressure may be advantageous in stimulating production of oil into the second of the two wellbores, and subsequently injecting fluid at pressures above formation dilation pressures at the discrete regions along such wellbores determined to be in need. An initial information-gathering procedure is conducted, wherein fluid is supplied under a pressure less than formation dilation or fracture pressure, to discrete intervals along a first wellbore, and sensors in the second wellbore measure and data is recorded regarding the ease of penetration of such fluid into the various regions of the formation intermediate the two wellbores.

Abstract: A method for determining along a length of a wellbore situated in an underground hydrocarbon-containing formation, regions within the formation where injection of a fluid at a pressure above formation dilation pressure may be advantageous in stimulating production of oil into the wellbore. An initial information-gathering procedure is conducted prior to formation dilation/fracturing, wherein fluid is supplied under a pressure less than formation dilation or fracture pressure, to discrete intervals along the wellbore, and sensors measure and data is recorded regarding the ease of penetration of such fluid into the various regions of the formation. Regions of the formation exhibiting poor ease of fluid penetration or regions of higher oil saturation, are thereafter selected for subsequent stimulation or dilation, at pressures above formation dilation pressures. Where initial fluid pressures and/or formation dilation pressures are provided in cyclic pulses, as novel downhole tool is disclosed for such purpose.

Abstract: A steam-assisted gravity drainage or cyclic steam injection method for recovering oil from a development region of an underground reservoir, further employing water injection along one or more peripheral side edges of the development region via a horizontal well or wells to thereby bound the development region on at least one side edge thereof, and preferably along two or more side edges, with water to thereby reduce steam loss from the development region and thus reduce steam-to-recovered oil ratio (SOR). The water may be combined with diluents. In a preferred embodiment, the water which is injected into the horizontal well or wells comprises produced water recovered from said reservoir.