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: In the course of completing a production well in a heavy oil or tar sand reservoir arranged for frontal displacement, thermal drive from at least one injection well, the well is divided into separate, non-communicating lower and upper zones. The lower is connected with the reservoir by perforations; the upper by a large gravel packed zone and preferably a sand screen.The completion process involves starting a local combustion drive adjacent to the bottom of the well by injecting compressed air through the perforations while preventing upward migration of the combustion zone in the vicinity of the well by injection of water or dilute aqueous soap solution through the screen and gravel packed zone. After a suitable time, generally of the order of a month or less, air injection is stopped. Production is started through the screen (no workover or killing operation needed).

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 Fluid moves from the reservoir into the conduit means and is withdrawn from the conduit means through an opening in the conduit means above and adjacent the lower end of the conduit means.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lowering measuring tools through the tubing string to a location in the well below the opening through which fluid is withdrawn from the conduit means.