Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises pre-heating by exposure to electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source, injecting through at least one injection well a solvent into the reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons contained in the pre-conditioned portion, and producing through at least one production well a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent. An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises at least one radio frequency antenna configured to transmit radio frequency energy into a subterranean reservoir, a power source to provide power to the at least one radio frequency antenna, at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent from a solvent supply source into the subterranean reservoir to lower the viscosity of the hydrocarbons, and at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises pre-heating by exposure to electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source, injecting through at least one injection well a solvent into the reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons contained in the pre-conditioned portion, and producing through at least one production well a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent. An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises at least one radio frequency antenna configured to transmit radio frequency energy into a subterranean reservoir, a power source to provide power to the at least one radio frequency antenna, at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent from a solvent supply source into the subterranean reservoir to lower the viscosity of the hydrocarbons, and at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises pre-heating by exposure to electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source, injecting through at least one injection well a solvent into the reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons contained in the pre-conditioned portion, and producing through at least one production well a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent. An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises at least one radio frequency antenna configured to transmit radio frequency energy into a subterranean reservoir, a power source to provide power to the at least one radio frequency antenna, at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent from a solvent supply source into the subterranean reservoir to lower the viscosity of the hydrocarbons, and at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises pre-heating by exposure to electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source, injecting through at least one injection well a solvent into the reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons contained in the pre-conditioned portion, and producing through at least one production well a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent. An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises at least one radio frequency antenna configured to transmit radio frequency energy into a subterranean reservoir, a power source to provide power to the at least one radio frequency antenna, at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent from a solvent supply source into the subterranean reservoir to lower the viscosity of the hydrocarbons, and at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: A storage assembly includes a physical expander for connection in use to two or more SCSI initiators, and two or more storage devices, wherein the expander is controlled such that it presents plural virtual expanders. A method for connecting two or more storage devices to two or more SCSI initiators within a storage assembly, includes providing a physical expander for connection in use to the two or more SCSI initiators, and two or more storage devices, and controlling the single expander such that it presents plural virtual expanders.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises pre-heating by exposure to electromagnetic radiation from a electromagnetic radiation source, injecting through at least one injection well a solvent into the reservoir to dilute the hydrocarbons contained in the pre-conditioned portion, and producing through at least one production well a mixture of hydrocarbons and solvent. An apparatus for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir comprises at least one radio frequency antenna configured to transmit radio frequency energy into a subterranean reservoir, a power source to provide power to the at least one radio frequency antenna, at least one injection well configured to inject a solvent from a solvent supply source into the subterranean reservoir to lower the viscosity of the hydrocarbons, and at least one production well configured to produce a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and solvent from the subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: A system and method for scaling a composite overlay image, wherein the composite overlay image comprises a plurality of pixels and each pixel comprises at least one color channel and at least one alpha channel, and further wherein at least one pixel of the composite overlay image has an alpha value of zero and a color value that is not well defined. First, a set of pixels of the composite overlay image are identified as pixels to be dilated. The color channels of the identified pixels are then dilated to form dilated composite overlay image. Finally, the dilated composite overlay image is scaled.

Abstract: A storage assembly includes a physical expander for connection in use to two or more SCSI initiators, and two or more storage devices, wherein the expander is controlled such that it presents plural virtual expanders. A method for connecting two or more storage devices to two or more SCSI initiators within a storage assembly, includes providing a physical expander for connection in use to the two or more SCSI initiators, and two or more storage devices, and controlling the single expander such that it presents plural virtual expanders.

Abstract: A method for producing hydrocarbons from a reservoir containing the hydrocarbon comprises a steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) incorporating cyclic steam, heavy (e.g. greater than C4) solvent and light (e.g. C2 to C4) solvent injection. The method involves a series of steps wherein the injection of the respective streams is varied. The method provides a significant improvement in hydrocarbon extraction efficiency as compared to a SAGD process alone and mitigates many of the drawbacks associated with typical SAGD operations.

Abstract: An image transformation system and method for transforming a source image having source image pixel data associated with a source pixel array having an origin into a target image having target image pixel data associated with a target pixel array according to an image transformation. The image transformation is applied to the source image pixel data to generate transformed image pixel data. The transformed image pixel data is then compared to the target pixel array and the portion of the transformed image pixel data that fits within the target pixel array is determined. The portion of the source image pixel data that corresponds to the portion of the transformed image pixel data is determined. Finally, the image transformation is applied to the portion of the source image pixel data to generate the target image pixel data.

Abstract: A system and method for scaling a composite overlay image, wherein the composite overlay image comprises a plurality of pixels and each pixel comprises at least one color channel and at least one alpha channel, and further wherein at least one pixel of the composite overlay image has an alpha value of zero and a colour value that is not well defined. First, a set of pixels of the composite overlay image are identified as pixels to be dilated. The color channels of the identified pixels are then dilated to form dilated composite overlay image. Finally, the dilated composite overlay image is scaled.

Abstract: An image transformation system and method for transforming a source image having source image pixel data associated with a source pixel array having an origin into a target image having target image pixel data associated with a target pixel array according to an image transformation. The image transformation is applied to the source image pixel data to generate transformed image pixel data. The transformed image pixel data is then compared to the target pixel array and the portion of the transformed image pixel data that fits within the target pixel array is determined. The portion of the source image pixel data that corresponds to the portion of the transformed image pixel data is determined. Finally, the image transformation is applied to the portion of the source image pixel data to generate the target image pixel data.

Abstract: A network tap module having a network line monitoring function has a signal splitter to split a signal received from a network into a first copy which is returned to the network and a second copy. A line monitoring and statistics circuit receives the second copy of the signal and carries out line monitoring and statistics collecting thereon. The module further has at least one of: (i) a display for displaying an indication of the state of the network line based on the line monitoring and statistics collection carried out by the line monitoring and statistics circuit, and (ii) an interface for allowing data relating to the state of the network line based on the line monitoring and statistics collection carried out by the line monitoring and statistics circuit to be output from the module.

Abstract: A method is provided for the stabilization and control of the two-phase flow of hot fluid containing water issuing from the top of an upwardly rising conduit or riser of a horizontal oil-production well. The fluid enters the bottom of the riser at a temperature higher than the saturation temperature of water at the conditions prevailing at the top of the riser. A first mass rate flow controller is coupled to a mass rate flow detector at the top of the well for controlling mass flow at a substantially constant rate over a short time interval. Signals indicative of the optimal flow rate for the process are input to a second controller. The second controller adjusts the mass flow rate setpoint of the first controller. The second controller has a time constant significantly longer than that of the first controller.