Abstract: A well completion, and method for recovering heavy hydrocarbons or bitumen from a subterranean formation. The completion includes a well liner which lies in a generally horizontal disposition within a hydrocarbon holding substrate to define the main or primary well. A secondary well which extends to the surface intersects the main well to communicate therewith. Said secondary well includes means to conduct a stream of hot stimulating fluid into the main well. A fluid impervious barrier or flow diverter means positioned within the main well between the injection end and the production end, establishes a pressure differential across the barrier. The barrier urges stimulating agent into the substrate at a desired location, thereby creating a heated path along which the bitumen emulsion flows toward the well's production end. Means is provided in the secondary well to position the impervious barrier from one end of the main well to the other.

Abstract: A method comprises (1) piping of exhaust steam flow from a down hole steam generator positioned at the top of a petroliferous reservoir down to the bottom of the reservoir, and (2) reversing the direction of hot exhaust steam flow to saturate the complete petroliferous reservoir wall surface with the steam of uniform quality, the steam having uniformity of distribution of both liquid and vaporous phases for improved enhanced oil recovery. A new steam generator is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for producing a well in an unconsolidated formation by forming a sand pack in the well by applying and maintaining a high positive pressure against the cavity walls to prevent cave-in and sloughing of the formation cavity walls until the sand pack is formed comprises (1) controlling the ingress and egress of fluids and removed formation material from inner and outer annuli with a high pressure wash pipe in the well with control valves in each.

Abstract: A method for forming and assembling a well production and sand screen assembly in a well having a screen therein forming an outer annulus and a wash pipe internally of the screen forming an inner annulus comprising further (a) mounting a high pressure fluid pump means and a valve means on each wash pipe, inner annulus, and outer annulus, and (b) connecting the valve means in fluid communication with the high pressure fluid pump means for controlling the ingress and egress of the high pressure fluids and removed formation material for forming a sand pack in the well and simultaneously for applying and maintaining a positive fluid pressure against the overburden during work in the well for preventing cave-ins and sloughing of the unconsolidated formation well walls until the sand pack is formed.

Abstract: A well production system for controlling ingress and egress of high pressure fluid through the annuli formed between the well and a screen support tube internally thereof, and the screen support tube and an internal high pressure wash pipe with valves for maintaining constant high fluid pressure against the overburden during work in the well, as during drilling of an enlarged cavity therein for preventing cave-in and sloughing of the unconsolidated formation well walls until a sand pack is formed and the well producing.

Abstract: In a method wherein valuable substances are recovered from a subterranean reservoir comprising the injection of a two phase fluid into the reservoir, uniform injectivity of the two separate phases is achieved by conducting the injected fluid to a point below the bottom of the injection interval in the well bore of the injection well through a tubing to which is attached a terminal device which is penetrated by a plurality of holes, each such hole being of sufficient diameter to reduce the bubble size of the gas phase to less than about 0.5 inches.

Abstract: The amount of a petroleum recovery chemical retained within a subterranean reservoir is predicted by first gathering data from at least one injection-soak-production cycle in a core wherein the produced fluids are monitored for both the chemical concentration in the produced fluid as well as the concentration of a nonabsorbing tracer and, second, utilizing this data in a chemical flood mathematical model to simulate at least one repetition of the injection-soak-production cycle. The simulated cycles are repeated until the simulated produced fluid concentration of the chemical is virtually the same as the actual produced fluid concentration of the nonabsorbed tracer. The amount of the chemical retained per unit of reservoir volume is then determined by conventional techniques.

Abstract: The amount of a petroleum recovery chemical retained within a subterranean reservoir is predicted by first gathering data from at least one injection-soak-production cycle in a single well wherein the produced fluids are monitored for both the chemical concentration in the produced fluid as well as the concentration of a nonabsorbing tracer and, second, utilizing this data in a chemical flood mathematical model to simulate at least one repetition of the injection-soak-production cycle. The simulated cycles are repeated until the simulated produced fluid concentration of the chemical is virtually the same as the actual produced fluid concentration of the nonabsorbed tracer. The amount of the chemical retained per unit of reservoir volume is then determined by conventional techniques.

Abstract: Heavy or viscous oils may be recovered from subterranean deposits by one or more wells each of which is provided with at least two separate communication means from the surface of the earth, one in fluid communication with the upper part of the formation and the other well being in fluid communication with the lower part of the formation, each of said communication means being completed so as to permit injection of steam or mixtures of steam and other materials into the formation and production of heated viscous petroleum therefrom. A relatively impermeable barrier is formed between the portions of the formation where the communication is established, oriented horizontally and extending some distance into the formation. The oil recovery process comprises several separate phases of operation.

Abstract: Heavy or viscous oils may be recovered from subterranean deposits by one or more wells each of which is provided with at least two separate communication means from the surface of the earth, one in fluid communication with the upper part of the formation and the other well being in fluid communication with the lower part of the formation, each of said communication means being completed so as to permit injection of steam or mixtures of steam and other materials into the formation and production of heated viscous petroleum therefrom. The oil recovery process comprises several separate phases of operation. In the first, steam is injected into the formation using both communication means simultaneously for a period of time followed by a soak period if desired, followed by production of heated oil from both parts of the formation using both communication means simultaneously.

Abstract: Viscous oil recovery methods employing well-to-well throughput steam injection are frequently less successful than anticipated because the process experiences poor vertical conformance, meaning that only a portion of the full vertical thickness of the oil saturated reservoir is contacted by the injected steam. Because the specific gravity of the vapor phase portion of saturated steam is substantially less than the specific gravity of formation petroleum fluids, the vapor phase steam channels across the upper portion of the formation and only contacts and displaces petroleum present in said upper portion of the formation, bypassing substantial amounts of petroleum in the lower portion of the formation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method whereby viscous petroleum may be recovered from a subterranean viscous petroleum-containing formation in which the formation mineral matrix is substantially unconsolidated, such as a tar sand deposit. A hot fluid such as steam is injected into the formation and pressure maintained thereon for a period of time to heat the viscous petroleum in the immediate vicinity of the well bore, which causes the unconsolidated mineral grains to settle to the bottom of the formation with the viscous oil located on the top of the settled grains. The injection pressure maintenance phase is then terminated and petroleum is recovered from the upper portion of the formation. Numerous cycles of hot fluid injection, soak, followed by production of petroleum from the upper portion of the cavity are required to exploit a reasonable aerial extent of the formation by this method.