Abstract: A method for drilling a wellbore in the formation, wherein the wellbore is approximately horizontal; forming two or more fractures in the formation from the wellbore; receiving fracture performance data about the two or more fractures; analyzing the fracture performance data; selecting one or more fractures for injection and selecting one or more fractures for production based on the analysis of the fracture performance data; and completing the wellbore such that injection into the one or more fractures selected for injection and production from the one or more fractures selected for production may occur simultaneously.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recovering heavy oil from subterranean reservoirs. A steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process may be used to recover the heavy oil while employing a steam-solvent mixture. The solvent may be a tailored hydrocarbon solvent obtained from a precursor mixture of hydrocarbon compounds from which light end hydrocarbon compounds have been removed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recovering heavy oil from subterranean reservoirs. A steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process may be used to recover the heavy oil while employing a steam-solvent mixture. The solvent may be a tailored hydrocarbon solvent obtained from a precursor mixture of hydrocarbon compounds from which light end hydrocarbon compounds have been removed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recovering heavy oil from subterranean reservoirs. A steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process may be used to recover the heavy oil while employing a steam-solvent mixture. The solvent may be a tailored hydrocarbon solvent obtained from a precursor mixture of hydrocarbon compounds from which light end hydrocarbon compounds have been removed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recovering heavy oil from subterranean reservoirs. A steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process may be used to recover the heavy oil while employing a steam-solvent mixture. The solvent may be a tailored hydrocarbon solvent obtained from a precursor mixture of hydrocarbon compounds from which light end hydrocarbon compounds have been removed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for recovering heavy oil from subterranean reservoirs. A steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process may be used to recover the heavy oil while employing a steam-solvent mixture. The solvent may be a tailored hydrocarbon solvent obtained from a precursor mixture of hydrocarbon compounds from which light end hydrocarbon compounds have been removed.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of producing hydrocarbons from a formation. The method may include drilling a wellbore in the formation, wherein the wellbore is approximately horizontal; forming two or more fractures in the formation from the wellbore; receiving fracture performance data about the two or more fractures; analyzing the fracture performance data; selecting one or more fractures for injection and selecting one or more fractures for production based on the analysis of the fracture performance data; and completing the wellbore such that injection into the one or more fractures selected for injection and production from the one or more fractures selected for production may occur simultaneously.

Abstract: Well logging method and logging tool for measuring cement density and thickness at different azimuth angles for a cemented, cased well. The method uses a gamma source, a short-spaced detector, a long-spaced detector, and preferably a backscatter detector, where the detector-to-source spacings are designed for calculating (93) thickness and density of the cement annulus (94) from the detector count rates (91).

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: Methods and apparatus for recovering heavy oil from subterranean reservoirs. A steam-utilizing heavy oil recovery process may be used to recover the heavy oil while employing a steam-solvent mixture. The solvent may be a tailored hydrocarbon solvent obtained from a precursor mixture of hydrocarbon compounds from which light end hydrocarbon compounds have been removed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for enhancing production of viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The methods may include heating a hydrocarbon solvent mixture to generate a vapor stream, injecting the vapor stream into the subterranean formation to generate reduced-viscosity hydrocarbons, and producing the reduced-viscosity hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation. The methods also may include selecting a composition of the hydrocarbon solvent mixture by determining a threshold maximum pressure of the subterranean formation, determining a stream temperature at which the vapor stream is to be injected into the subterranean formation, and selecting the composition of the hydrocarbon solvent mixture based upon the stream temperature and the threshold maximum pressure. The systems may include a hydrocarbon production system that may be configured to perform the methods and/or that may include an injection well, an injectant supply assembly, and a production well.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving reservoir fluid recovery from fractured subterranean formations. The methods may include injecting a pressurizing fluid into an injection fracture that extends within a subterranean formation and producing a produced fluid from a production fracture that extends within the subterranean formation. The production fracture is spaced apart from the injection fracture and is in indirect fluid communication with the injection fracture via a portion of the subterranean formation that extends therebetween and the pressurizing fluid injection provides a motive force for the production of the produced fluid. The methods further include injecting a foaming agent into the production fracture to limit production of the pressurizing fluid from the production fracture. The systems may include hydrocarbon production systems that may be utilized to perform the methods and/or that may be created while performing the methods.

Abstract: Well logging method and logging tool for measuring cement density and thickness at different azimuth angles for a cemented, cased well. The method uses a gamma source, a short-spaced detector, a long-spaced detector, and preferably a backscatter detector, where the detector-to-source spacings are designed for calculating (93) thickness and density of the cement annulus (94) from the detector count rates (91).

Abstract: Described are methods of distributing a viscosity reducing solvent to a set of wells terminating in an underground oil reservoir where the variation in the net solvent injection rate is minimized. The net solvent injection rate is the difference between the total solvent injection rate and the total solvent production rate from the set of wells, for example on an instantaneous or daily rate basis. Minimizing this variation can reduce costs associated with surface solvent storage, subsurface solvent storage, and solvent supply, since solvent supply often is least expensive when supplied at near a fixed rate. One option is to operate well pairs and to inject solvent into one well of the pair while producing oil and solvent from the other well of the pair. These methods are particularly useful in solvent-dominated, cyclic or non-cyclic, viscous oil recovery processes.

Abstract: A system for and methods of producing hydrocarbons from a formation. A method may include drilling a wellbore in a formation, forming a first fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore, forming a second fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore and is approximately parallel to the first fracture, and simultaneously (a) injecting a fluid from an injection tubing string in communication with the second fracture and (b) producing hydrocarbons that travel from the first fracture into a production tubing string that is substantially parallel to the injection tubing string. The wellbore may be substantially horizontal. The fluid may increase pressure in an area of the formation adjacent to the first fracture.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for and method of preparing a wellbore for improved recovery from a formation and a method of producing hydrocarbons from a formation. The system includes an approximately horizontal wellbore in a formation, a liner enclosing a portion of the approximately horizontal wellbore; and a packer inside the liner that comprises a swellable elastomeric material.

Abstract: Systems and methods for pressure-cycled stimulation during gravity drainage operations. These systems and methods include increasing a pressure within a stimulation well that extends within a subterranean formation and subsequently decreasing the pressure within the stimulation well to increase production of viscous hydrocarbons from a production well. The systems and methods include repeating the increasing and the decreasing for a plurality of stimulation cycles and producing viscous hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation during the increasing, the decreasing, and the repeating. The increasing may include increasing a reservoir pressure within the subterranean formation to a pressure that is greater than a bubble point pressure of the viscous hydrocarbons, and the decreasing may include decreasing the reservoir pressure to a pressure that is less than the bubble point pressure of the viscous hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A system is provided for improved steam generation. The system includes at least two steam systems, wherein a wet steam output from a first steam system is passed through a first separator. The first separator configured to separate dry steam from condensate, and a piping connection is configured to blend the condensate with a boiler feed water stream at the inlet of a second steam system.

Abstract: A steam system is provided that includes a steam generator including boiler tubes that are modified to form a number of intermediate take-offs for removing water and steam from the boiler tubes. A number of intermediate separators are provided to separate the water and steam at each of the intermediate take-offs. Intermediate couplings are used to inject the water back into the boiler tubes downstream of each of the plurality of intermediate take-offs.

Abstract: Certain viscous oil reservoirs are too deep to be commercially mined but lack an adequate top seal to employ in situ recovery methods such as SAGD. Without an adequate top seal, gases from the reservoir can rise into overlying aquifers and potentially to the surface. While ice-like hydrates would not normally form above the oil reservoir during in situ recovery, an additive can be added to promote hydrate formation. In this way, a hydrate barrier can be formed to act as a top seal to contain these gases.