Abstract: A method of characterizing a subterranean formation using a plurality of seismic acquisitions includes obtaining a first seismic acquisition of the subterranean formation, wherein the first seismic acquisition is a baseline survey. Injecting a gas fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the gas fluid at least partially fills a portion of a fracture network of the subterranean formation. Obtaining a second seismic acquisition of the subterranean formation. Calculating a time-lapse difference in the plurality of seismic acquisitions.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to harvesting geothermal energy from mature and near end-of-life oil and gas reservoirs that have been subjected to secondary oil recovery steam processes like steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD), steamflood, etc. The geothermal potential of these mature SAGD reservoirs can be used to generate green electricity thus reducing the greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint of the oil production. Lateral spacing of injectors and producers, with closing of unused members of a well-pair for energy recovery is described.

Abstract: Methods and systems produce petroleum products by insulating a thermal hydrocarbon recovery process from heat loss to surrounding areas of a formation utilizing an insulating composition including a non-gaseous phase component introduced into the reservoir that is different from water and insoluble in the hydrocarbons. The insulating composition may be disposed in the reservoir adjacent to where the heat loss is desired to be limited. In addition, the insulating composition may be disposed in a thief zone and may also be from an agent activated to form the composition at such desired locations by selecting activation dependent on at least one of temperature, time delay and oil saturation.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for accelerating the start-up in SAGD type processes wherein the volume between the injector and the producer is preheated utilizing open-holes drilled between wells. The recovery of hydrocarbons is also improved due to a viscous fluid drive in the open-holes during SAGD operations.

Abstract: A particularly effective well configuration that can be used for single well steam assisted gravity drainage (SW-SAGD) wherein steam flashing through production slots is prevented by including passive inflow control devices (ICDs) or active interval control valves in the completion. A thermal packer separates the injection and production segments of a horizontal well having a toe and a heel, and the ICDs can be evenly spaced or can decrease towards the heel. The cumulative steam to oil ratio (CSOR) of the SW-SAGD well is thus lowered, as compared to the same well without passive flow control devices or active interval control valves.

Abstract: Thermal recovery of oils is improved by capturing waste heat from a depleted steam chamber using steam plus foam and an optional gas to carry low quality steam deep into the chamber where the waste heat converts water to steam in situ. Thus, overall steam generation needs and thus costs are reduced.

Abstract: A method relates to improving production rate and recovery of heavy oil or bitumen and reducing heat loss to over and under burden in a steam-assisted production process. The method includes strategically injecting recycled carbon dioxide into the reservoir between production wells. The heat insulation and solvent effects provided by carbon dioxide dissolved in the oil phase facilitate the desired improvement on oil recovery, and simultaneously sequester the CO2 back into the reservoir.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for reducing solvent retention in ES-SAGD process so as to increase process economics wherein an anti-retention agent is injected into the reservoir to decrease solvent retention in the reservoir. The anti-retention agent can be made pre-injection or can form in situ, and comprises an agent in which the solvent is readily soluble, such that the solvent partitions into the foam, colloidal dispersion, or gel, and out of the condensed water or steam, and away from the reservoir rock.

Abstract: A method and system in which foams are used (instead of, or in addition to, NCG) to maintain pressure in a mature chamber during blowdown operations of a SAGD process or other enhanced oil recovery process. The foam occupies the depleted void space within the mature chamber after injection ceases, maintaining pressure, and improving blowdown performance. This use of the foam in the method and system also improves the performance of less mature chambers that are being operated at higher pressure adjacent to the mature chamber in blowdown. Foaming agents, such as metal carbonates, bicarbonates, and hydroxides, surfactants or any other colloidal foams, aerosols, hydrosols, emulsions or dispersions can be utilized. The method and system can be utilized in conjunction with other known art, such as heat scavenging in the chamber, or enhanced oil recovery utilizing foams, to displace oil in the chamber.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for steam-drive based oil recovery methods. Fishbone multilateral wells are combined with steam drive, effectively allowing drive processes to be used where previously the reservoir lacked sufficient injectivity to allow steam drive or cyclic steam based methods.

Abstract: A method of characterizing a subterranean formation using a plurality of seismic acquisitions includes obtaining a first seismic acquisition of the subterranean formation, wherein the first seismic acquisition is a baseline survey. Injecting a gas fluid into the subterranean formation, wherein the gas fluid at least partially fills a portion of a fracture network of the subterranean formation. Obtaining a second seismic acquisition of the subterranean formation. Calculating a time-lapse difference in the plurality of seismic acquisitions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for SAGD and other steam based oil recovery methods. Fishbone multilateral wells are combined with SAGD, effectively expanding steam coverage, but the fishbones are preheated to mitigate plugging problems, with e.g., resistive heating, EM heating or chemical heating.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for steam-drive based oil recovery methods. Fishbone multilateral wells are combined with steam drive, effectively allowing drive processes to be used where previously the reservoir lacked sufficient injectivity to allow steam drive or cyclic steam based methods.

Abstract: Producing hydrocarbons by steam assisted gravity drainage, more particularly utilizing conventional horizontal wellpair configuration of SAGD in conjunction of infill production wells the production wells comprising two or more fishbone lateral wells to inject steam initially and then switch to NCG-steam coinjection after establishing thermal communication between the thermal chamber and infill well.

Abstract: Described herein are methods for accelerating the start-up in SAGD type processes wherein the volume between the injector and the producer is preheated utilizing open-holes drilled between wells. The recovery of hydrocarbons is also improved due to a viscous fluid drive in the open-holes during SAGD operations.

Abstract: An interchangeable core assembly for a lock core assembly capable of being flush mounted in a door including a housing, a lock insert mounted in the housing, a lock core mounted in the housing adjacent to and cooperative with the lock insert, a thumb-turn assembly mounted in the non-cylindrical housing coaxial with the lock core, a first offset cam mounted on the thumb-turn assembly for rotation therewith, and a second offset cam mounted on the lock core for rotation therewith. The barrel of the lock core assembly is unobstructed by locking train components such that the lock core assembly extends completely through the latch assembly when installed therein. The lock core assembly is secured to the latch assembly without threads and a means to remove/replace the thumb-turn component is provided.

Abstract: A method and system in which foams are used (instead of, or in addition to, NCG) to maintain pressure in a mature chamber during blowdown operations of a SAGD process or other enhanced oil recovery process. The foam occupies the depleted void space within the mature chamber after injection ceases, maintaining pressure, and improving blowdown performance. This use of the foam in the method and system also improves the performance of less mature chambers that are being operated at higher pressure adjacent to the mature chamber in blowdown. Foaming agents, such as metal carbonates, bicarbonates, and hydroxides, surfactants or any other colloidal foams, aerosols, hydrosols, emulsions or dispersions can be utilized. The method and system can be utilized in conjunction with other known art, such as heat scavenging in the chamber, or enhanced oil recovery utilizing foams, to displace oil in the chamber.

Abstract: In-situ heating of coal facilitates desorption and diffusion of the methane for production of the methane through a wellbore. Water within fractures of the coal forms an electrical conduit through which current is passed. The heating relies at least in part on resistivity of the water, which thereby preheats the coal for the recovering of the methane.

Abstract: Methods and systems relate to recovering hydrocarbons with an injection well placed at a bottom of a reservoir some horizontal distance from a producer, such that the injection well and producer may both be in a common horizontal plane. For some embodiments, the process includes co-injection of steam with a non-condensable gas, such as methane, ethane, propane, carbon dioxide, combustion products and combinations thereof. The non-condensable gas provides additional solution gas drive while the location of the injection well beside, instead of above, the producer increases production time before a steam chamber reaches a top of the reservoir, increasing thermal and recovery efficiency of the process.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a particularly effective well configuration that can be used for single well steam assisted gravity drainage of SW-SAGD wherein steam flashing through production slots is prevented by included passive inflow control devices or active interval control valves in the completion.