Abstract: In a fluid flood process for enhancing the secondary recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon permeable and hydrocarbon bearing reservoir using plural recovery wells, each adjacent at least one injection well. Each well has a well bore. A horizontal injection fracture extends substantially horizontally from the well bore of each of selected injection well bores. A horizontal recovery fracture extends substantially horizontally from the well bore of each of selected recovery wells and is vertically displaced from and overlapping with one or more of the injection fractures of the adjacent injection wells. A pair of overlapping injection and recovery fractures, that would overlap with a low permeable layer in the reservoir, is selectively positioned vertically at one side of such layer in the reservoir.

Abstract: A process for enhanced recovery of hydrocarbons, such as oil from a geological reservoir through an injection well bore and a plurality of production well bores which extend into the geological reservoir. Flooding is performed through at least one injection well bore into a lower portion of the geological reservoir, to thereby form a substantially horizontal injection fracture which may have an upward vertical component. The vertical component is elongated along an azimuth. The vertical components of any significance size are not always formed on horizontal fractures. However, to avoid intersecting horizontal production fractures into the vertical components, certain procedures must be followed. To this end, the azimuth of the elongation of the vertical component is determined. The producing well bores are then disposed, substantially parallel with the azimuth of the elongation of the vertical component and along a line displaced from the injection well bore.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a wireline at a top of a well from wear due to flow of fluid about the wireline includes a valve assembly coupled to a wellhead for introducing fluid into a well. A wireline adaptor section passes the wireline from outside the well and adaptor section into the well through the wellhead. The wireline adaptor section includes a hollow rigid tube passing from the wireline adaptor section into a flow passage for the fluid and has an end extending away from the adaptor section. A flexible bushing is coupled to an extends beyond the end of the tube in a direction toward the wellhead. A wireline is slidable from the outside of the adaptor section the tube and bushing and out the end of the tube.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transmitting data uphole in a well to the top of the well. A string of electrically conductive tubing and a tool connected to the tubing are lowered down the well along the inside of tubular shaped electrically conductive casing for the well. The inside of the casing is electrically contacted with an electrical contact carried by the tool. A switch in the tool is operated for alternately electrically connecting and disconnecting the contact and thereby the casing and with respect to the conductive tubing for changing the electrical conductance between the tubing and the casing representative of data. The changing conductance is interrogated with an alternating current, formed at the top of the well, to recover the data.

Abstract: A tool with a switch is inserted and moved down the inside of tubular-shaped and electrically conductive casing in the well. Spaced apart contacts on the tool are connected between upper and lower electrically conductive casings located on opposite sides of a high impedance separation in the casing. The switch is operated for creating a changing electrical conductance between the upper and lower casings representative of data. The electrical conductance across the high impedance separation is interrogated with an alternating current signal to retrieve the data.

Abstract: The method uses a tubular shaped and electrically conductive well casing that extends to a geological formation in an oil or gas well. The casing is used for both flowing fluid between the formation and the casing at the top of the well and for communicating data representative of a parameter in the well to the casing at the top of the wall. A tool carrying a switch and an electrical contact is inserted down the inside of the casing. The contact on the tool is connected to the inside of the casing. The flow of the fluid between the geological formation and the casing at the top of the well through the side of the casing above the tool is controlled. A parameter in the well adjacent the formation is sensed. The switch in the tool is operated for sequentially connecting together and disconnecting the contact to a return electrical path to the top of the well for causing changes in the conductance between the casing and the return path representative of data about the parameter.

Abstract: A tool changes the electrical conductance across a nonconductive separation in a string of electrically conductive casing in a well located in the earth. The tool is for transmission of data up the well. The casing has at least one inwardly extending landing shoulder for the tool. The tool has a housing elongated between first and second ends. The housing has a first contact for electrical connection to the casing on one side of the nonconductive separation. The housing has a second contact spaced from the first contact for electrical connection to the casing on the other side of the nonconductive separation from the one side. The housing also has a nonconductive housing portion, substantially circular in cross-section, between the first and second contacts. An outwardly extending landing shoulder is provided on the housing for landing and for supporting the tool on the casing landing shoulder.