Abstract: A method of recovering heavy oil from a subterranean heavy oil reservoir. The method includes conducting an exothermic chemical reaction of feedstock chemicals to produce a reaction product that that is a first solvent and injecting an injected solvent including the reaction product into the subterranean heavy oil reservoir. The injected solvent has an injected solvent temperature equal to an elevated temperature resulting from heat generated by the at least one exothermic chemical reaction and the injecting occurs before the injected solvent temperature has decreased to an ambient reservoir temperature.

Abstract: A method of establishing fluid communication between a first point and a second point within a subterranean reservoir includes injecting a first penetrating liquid at a first injection pressure and at a first injection temperature into the subterranean reservoir at the first point, and establishing fluid communication through a heavy-oil containing region by allowing the first penetrating liquid to penetrate into and completely through the heavy-oil containing region between the first point and the second point. The first penetrating liquid temperature of the first penetrating liquid remains at or below the first injection temperature within the subterranean reservoir, and the first penetrating liquid is configured to dilute heavy oil, and comprises a first penetrating liquid polar compound that is at least partially miscible with water.

Abstract: A method of recovering heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir. The method includes injecting steam into a subterranean reservoir to heat heavy oil in the subterranean reservoir and thereby produce heavy oil of reduced viscosity; injecting a multi-purpose agent into the subterranean reservoir; and producing the heavy oil of reduced viscosity from the subterranean reservoir after injecting the steam and the multi-purpose agent. The multi-purpose agent comprises an ester of the formula RxCOORy wherein Rx is a straight chained or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, Ry is a straight chained or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, C is carbon and O is oxygen.

Abstract: Herein is a cyclic solvent-dominated recovery process (CSDRP) for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground reservoir. The cyclic solvent process involves using an injection well to inject a viscosity-reducing solvent into the underground reservoir. Reduced viscosity oil is produced to the surface using the same well used to inject solvent. The process of alternately injecting solvent and producing a solvent/viscous oil blend through the same well continues in a series of cycles until additional cycles are no longer economical. To contact uncovered hydrocarbons between solvent fingers, the injection includes alternating injection and production, for creating an advance-retreat movement.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to solvent surveillance in heavy oil production. A method includes the steps of measuring an amount of a native bitumen marker (NBM) in a heavy oil, measuring an amount of the NBM in a recovery-aid solvent, measuring an amount of the NBM in a blend including the heavy oil and the recovery-aid solvent, and applying a blending model to determine a fraction of the recovery-aid solvent in the blend.

Abstract: A method of recovering heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir. The method includes injecting steam into a subterranean reservoir to heat heavy oil in the subterranean reservoir and thereby produce heavy oil of reduced viscosity; injecting a multi-purpose agent into the subterranean reservoir; and producing the heavy oil of reduced viscosity from the subterranean reservoir after injecting the steam and the multi-purpose agent. The multi-purpose agent comprises an ester of the formula RxCOORy wherein Rx is a straight chained or branched alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, Ry is a straight chained or branched alkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, C is carbon and O is oxygen.

Abstract: A method of establishing fluid communication between a first point and a second point within a subterranean reservoir includes injecting a first penetrating liquid at a first injection pressure and at a first injection temperature into the subterranean reservoir at the first point, and establishing fluid communication through a heavy-oil containing region by allowing the first penetrating liquid to penetrate into and completely through the heavy-oil containing region between the first point and the second point. The first penetrating liquid temperature of the first penetrating liquid remains at or below the first injection temperature within the subterranean reservoir, and the first penetrating liquid is configured to dilute heavy oil, and comprises a first penetrating liquid polar compound that is at least partially miscible with water.

Abstract: A method of recovering heavy oil from a subterranean heavy oil reservoir. The method includes conducting an exothermic chemical reaction of feedstock chemicals to produce a reaction product that that is a first solvent and injecting an injected solvent including the reaction product into the subterranean heavy oil reservoir. The injected solvent has an injected solvent temperature equal to an elevated temperature resulting from heat generated by the at least one exothermic chemical reaction and the injecting occurs before the injected solvent temperature has decreased to an ambient reservoir temperature.

Abstract: Described is a cyclic solvent-dominated recovery process (CSDRP) for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground reservoir. The cyclic solvent process involves using an injection well to inject a viscosity-reducing solvent into the underground reservoir. Reduced viscosity oil is produced to the surface using the same well used to inject solvent. The process of alternately injecting solvent and producing a solvent/viscous oil blend through the same well continues in a series of cycles until additional cycles are no longer economical. To contact uncovered hydrocarbons between solvent fingers, the injection includes alternating injection and production, for creating an advance-retreat movement.

Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering heavy oil, such as bitumen, by steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) from subterranean formations having a water and/or gas containing layer overlying a heavy oil containing layer. A fluid blocking agent is injected into the water and/or gas containing layer above at least one pair of horizontal wells. The blocking agent undergoes a change of density, viscosity or solidity when elevated to a temperature between an initial ambient reservoir temperature and 175 degrees by heat from steam used in the SAGD process, thereby creating a seal within the reservoir above the at least one pair of horizontal wells limiting or preventing movements of fluid through the seal.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of controlling bitumen quality in a process stream within a solvent-assisted bitumen extraction operation, for instance a hydrocarbon stream from a froth separation unit (FSU). Bitumen quality is a measure of the amount of selected contaminants in the process stream. Contaminants may include asphaltenes (comprising metal porphyrins), sulfur, and inorganic solids (comprising inorganic elements, e.g. Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Na, K, Mg, and Ca). First, the amounts of selected contaminants are measured. Next, these measured values are compared to maximum reference values. If one or more of these contaminants is higher than the maximum reference value, at least one variable of the solvent-assisted bitumen extraction is adjusted to improve bitumen quality.

Abstract: Described is a method of operating a cyclic solvent-dominated recovery process (CSDRP) for recovering viscous oil from a subterranean reservoir of the viscous oil to enhance recovery effectiveness. The cyclic solvent process involves using an injection well to inject a viscosity-reducing solvent into a subterranean viscous oil reservoir. Reduced viscosity oil is produced to the surface using the same well used to inject solvent. The process of alternately injecting solvent and producing a solvent/viscous oil blend through the same wellbore continues in a series of cycles until additional cycles are no longer economical. Conventionally, the solvent composition remains constant over time within each injection cycle and among cycles. In the present method, by contrast, the solvent composition is varied over time thereby providing operational benefits as described herein.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for managing diabetes by reducing the post-prandial blood glucose spike, or the glucose shock. The blood glucose spike, or the glucose shock is reduced by generating a person-specific glucose profile for at least one significant meal to tune or train a blood glucose model (kinetic, artificial intelligence or hybrid), and then using the tuned or the trained model embedded in a computation-capable electronic device to compute and recommend a person-specific meal plan and an exercise plan, including semi-continuous meal ingestion and post-meal exercise while sitting at home or office. Advantages over prior art are that the method uses less strenuous exercise with no or less medicine, is person-specific, quantitative and more suitable for use by an individual, a dietician, or a health care practitioner.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of controlling bitumen quality in a process stream within a solvent-assisted bitumen extraction operation, for instance a hydrocarbon stream from a froth separation unit (FSU). Bitumen quality is a measure of the amount of selected contaminants in the process stream. Contaminants may include asphaltenes (comprising metal porphyrins), sulfur, and inorganic solids (comprising inorganic elements, e.g. Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Na, K, Mg, and Ca). First, the amounts of selected contaminants are measured. Next, these measured values are compared to maximum reference values. If one or more of these contaminants is higher than the maximum reference value, at least one variable of the solvent-assisted bitumen extraction is adjusted to improve bitumen quality.

Abstract: A method and system for extracting hydrocarbon products from waste tailings of a froth flotation unit and a paraffinic froth treatment process are provided. Bitumen and asphaltenes from the waste tailings are extracted using a serial addition of an aromatic solvent, followed by a polar-non-polar solvent. The method and system divert valuable hydrocarbons from tailings ponds. The hydrocarbon product can be used as a coating material or an emulsion fuel, for example.

Abstract: The use of a solvent for bitumen extraction, either from mined oil sands or in situ. The solvent includes (a) a polar component, the polar component being a compound comprising a non-terminal carbonyl group; and (b) a non-polar component, the non-polar component being a substantially aliphatic substantially non-halogenated alkane. The solvent has a Hansen hydrogen bonding parameter of 0.3 to 1.7 and/or a volume ratio of (a):(b) in the range of 10:90 to 50:50.

Abstract: In solvent-assisted bitumen extraction, a native marker, for example: sulfur, nickel, vanadium, iron copper, or manganese, is used to control the solvent to bitumen ratio in a process stream such as a stream from a froth separation unit (FSU) and/or to measure hydrocarbon loss in a tailings solvent recovery unit (TSRU).

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to solvent surveillance in heavy oil production. A method includes the steps of measuring an amount of a native bitumen marker (NBM) in a heavy oil, measuring an amount of the NBM in a recovery-aid solvent, measuring an amount of the NBM in a blend including the heavy oil and the recovery-aid solvent, and applying a blending model to determine a fraction of the recovery-aid solvent in the blend.

Abstract: A method and system for extracting hydrocarbon products from waste tailings of a froth flotation unit and a paraffinic froth treatment process are provided. Bitumen and asphaltenes from the waste tailings are extracted using a serial addition of an aromatic solvent, followed by a polar-non-polar solvent. The method and system divert valuable hydrocarbons from tailings ponds. The hydrocarbon product can be used as a coating material or an emulsion fuel, for example.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for cleaning of the perineal and the adjacent areas of a human body after using a toilet are disclosed. The method comprises cleaning the said areas with dilute soap solution delivered by gravity drainage, or a soap solution-air suspension delivered from a dispenser, and rinsing the cleaned areas with water delivered by gravity drainage or from a water dispenser. The apparatus comprises either reservoirs holding soap solution and rinse water that are hung from a decorative stand, or dispenser for soap solution-air or water-air suspension. Advantages over prior art include portability for indoor and outdoor use, compatibility with a western or a squat toilet, operability with atmospheric pressure water, affordability because of lower cost, acceptability because of easier installation and placement away from the toilet bowl, and comfortability of use by people suffering from itches, inflammation, or hemorrhoids.