Abstract: A coreless injectivity method. Drill cuttings from drilling a well into a subterranean formation rock are pressed into a compressed core plug and the compressed core plug subjected to injectivity testing. The injectivity testing of the compressed core plug is representative of the injectivity of the subterranean formation, so the injectivity of the subterranean formation can be determined. The compressed core plug can also be used to conduct relative permeabilities and displacement studies similar to the actual reservoir core plugs.

Abstract: A method of notifying a user of a status of an electronic appliance is presented. Examples of the electronic appliance may include, but are not limited to, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens, and clothes washers and dryers. In the method, an entertainment system device receives a message from the appliance via a communication link, wherein the message indicates the status of the appliance. In response to receiving the message, the device transmits a command to a second device of the entertainment system to select an input of the second device associated with the first device. The first device transmits data indicating the status over a media content interface to the selected input of the second device for presentation to the user.

Abstract: Method of increasing the production rate of reservoir fluid from a reservoir including a wellbore pump for pumping wellbore fluid within the wellbore to a surface. The wellbore pump is associated with a production tube and within a casing, whereby an annulus is defined between the casing and the pump and the production tube, and includes reservoir fluid which is contacted with a treatment formulation containing active materials, including a first optionally crosslinked polymeric material having —O— moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof. The wellbore pump is operated to recover liquid hydrocarbons from the wellbore at a rate which is greater after contact with the treatment formulation compared to the rate of recovery of liquid hydrocarbons before contact with the treatment formulation.

Abstract: Provided herein are techniques for displaying power usage information on a television receiver. A television receiver receives power usage information regarding electrical devices and outputs the power usage information and status information regarding the electrical device for presentation by a presentation device.

Abstract: An oil well includes a wellbore (2), below ground level (4), which extends to an oil reservoir (6). The wellbore includes a casing (8) within which is arranged a progressing cavity pump (PCP) 10 which includes an inlet (12) at its lower end and is connected at its upper end to production tube (14). An annulus (16) is defined between the pump (10)/tube (14) and the casing (8). The annulus communicates with the reservoir and includes a head (20) of reservoir fluid. A water based formulation which comprises an optionally cross-linked polyvinylalcohol can be poured down the annulus (16) and pass under gravity to the reservoir (6), immediately upstream of inlet (12). The formulation may improve the performance and efficiency of the pump (10) due to its ability to increase the mobility of the oil in the reservoir immediately upstream of the pump (10) and/or enhance the ability of the oil to enter the pump inlet.

Abstract: Method of improving performance or efficiency of a wellbore pump associated with a wellbore and/or for increasing the rate of production of reservoir fluid from a reservoir, in which a wellbore pump is arranged to pump wellbore fluid within the wellbore to a surface. The method includes (a) selecting a wellbore which includes an associated wellbore pump associated with a production tube and arranged within a casing. An annulus is defined between the casing and the pump/production tube, the annulus including reservoir fluid which has a hydrostatic head which is at least 15 m above the level of an inlet of the wellbore pump, and (b) contacting a reservoir fluid in the annulus upstream of an inlet of the wellbore pump with a treatment formulation. The treatment formulation has a first polymeric material which includes —O— moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof, and the first polymeric material is optionally cross-linked.

Abstract: Provided herein are techniques for displaying power usage information on a television receiver. A television receiver receives power usage information regarding electrical devices and outputs the power usage information and status information regarding the electrical device for presentation by a presentation device.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: Provided herein are techniques for displaying power usage information on a television receiver. A television receiver receives power usage information regarding electrical devices and outputs the power usage information and status information regarding the electrical device for presentation by a presentation device.

Abstract: An additive for a water-based mud drilling fluid or for drill-in fluids comprises a 0.5 wt % solution of 87-89 mole % hydrolysed polyvinylalcohol, having a weight average molecular weight of about 20,000. Use of the additive may reduce susceptibility of a wellbore to blockages, reduce accumulation of accretions between a drill string and wellbore casing, reduce bit-balling and facilitate separation of undesirable insoluble solids from a drilling fluid returned to the surface.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil from a subterranean formation which includes an association production well involves contacting oil in the formation with a treatment fluid formulation which includes polyvinylalcohol and collecting oil which is being contacted with said treatment fluid formulation by said production well. Use of the polyvinylalcohol, optionally in combination with other materials, facilitates recovery of oil from subterranean formation, particularly those involving medium or high viscosity oils.

Abstract: An oil production arrangement comprises an oil reservoir (4), a horizontal wellbore (6) and a vertically extending production well (8). A pump (10) is positioned at the bottom of the production well (8) for pumping fluid along the horizontal wellbore and up the production well for recovery. Tubing (12) having a fluid delivery device (14) at its end is introduced into the production well and moved downwards past the pump (10) and along the horizontal wellbore as far as possible for example close to the toe (not shown) of the wellbore or at least beyond a point in the wellbore at which it is assessed that the hydrocarbon flow has terminated because of a balance between reservoir pressure and wellbore differential pressure being achieved.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O—moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: A method of notifying a user of a status of an electronic appliance is presented. Examples of the electronic appliance may include, but are not limited to, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, ovens, and clothes washers and dryers. In the method, an entertainment system device receives a message from the appliance via a communication link, wherein the message indicates the status of the appliance. In response to receiving the message, the device transmits a command to a second device of the entertainment system to select an input of the second device associated with the first device. The first device transmits data indicating the status over a media content interface to the selected input of the second device for presentation to the user.

Abstract: Provided herein are techniques for displaying power usage information on a television receiver. A television receiver receives power usage information regarding electrical devices and outputs the power usage information and status information regarding the electrical device for presentation by a presentation device.

Abstract: A method of recovering oil from a subterranean formation which includes an association production well involves contacting oil in the formation with a treatment fluid formulation which includes polyvinylalcohol and collecting oil which is being contacted with said treatment fluid formulation by said production well. Use of the polyvinylalcohol, optionally in combination with other materials, facilities recovery of oil from subterranean formation, particularly those involving medium or high viscosity oils.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent from a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: An oil well includes a wellbore (2), below ground level (4), which extends to an oil reservoir (6). The wellbore includes a casing (8) within which is arranged a progressing cavity pump (PCP) 10 which includes an inlet (12) at its lower end and is connected at its upper end to production tube (14). An annulus (16) is defined between the pump (10)/tube (14) and the casing (8). The annulus communicates with the reservoir and includes a head (20) of reservoir fluid. A water based formulation which comprises an optionally cross-linked polyvinylalcohol can be poured down the annulus (16) and pass under gravity to the reservoir (6), immediately upstream of inlet (12). The formulation may improve the performance and efficiency of the pump (10) due to its ability to increase the mobility of the oil in the reservoir immediately upstream of the pump (10) and/or enhance the ability of the oil to enter the pump inlet.

Abstract: A viscous fluid, such as heavy crude oil which is too viscous to enable it to be pumped from a flowing phase of a reservoir into and along a pipeline for delivery to a refinery or other storage facility, may be contacted with a formulation to reduce its viscosity. The formulation comprises a polymeric material AA which includes —O— moieties pendent form a polymeric backbone thereof and said material is optionally cross-linked. In one embodiment, the formulation may comprise polyvinyl alcohol. In an alternative embodiment, the formulation may comprise a cross-linked polymeric material, such as cross-linked polyvinyl alcohol. After the viscous composition has been transported to a desired location, it may be separated from the other components.

Abstract: Water problems in the production of oil or gas from subterranean formations is addressed by providing a method of restricting passage of a fluid from a first location to a second location in a subterranean formation by injecting into the formation a formulation comprising a first material, for example a dialdehyde, arranged to cross-link a second polymeric material, for example a polyvinyl alcohol, thereby to form a polymeric material of high viscosity which may block the passage between the first and second locations.