Abstract: An improved method for stimulating coal degasification wells comprising the injection of a foam into a coal seam which contains natural or induced fractures. Thereafter, high pressure gas is injected into the coal seam and suddenly released to cause disintegration of coal surrounding the borehole.

Abstract: Predetermined quantities of slurried solids wastes are injected into earth formation waste disposal zones having a predetermined in situ stress distribution and compaction rate for a predetermined hydraulic injection pressure and wherein the disposal zones are bounded by zones having greater in situ stresses. Unconsolidated or lightly cemented formation zones may be used for waste disposal wherein it is determined that a substantial compaction of the material defining opposed faces of hydraulic fractures may occur. Fracture volume available for retention of solids in the slurry is calculated based on fracture height, fracture length, elastic deflection of the fracture faces, compaction of the fracture faces and the number of fractures based on either unequal or substantially equal horizontal stress distributions.

Abstract: Fractures are initiated or extended within an earth formation from a well which includes a tubing string extending to a wellbore space adjacent the fracture zone from a conventional wellhead. Carbon dioxide, nitrogen or a similar highly expansible fluid is pumped into the wellbore space and/or at least a portion of the tubing string at a pressure greater than the fluid critical pressure and greater than the fracture initiation or extension pressure required in the formation zone. A perforating gun is fired or a shear disk is actuated to release the expansible fluid to flow into the formation at an initial velocity and kinetic energy which substantially exceeds that which is obtained with water or similar conventional fracturing fluids so as to initiate or extend hydraulic fractures with a minimum radius of curvature with respect to the wellbore.

Abstract: Liquid wastes and slurries of ground solids wastes are injected into earth formation zones which have a fluid content of fluid similar to the liquid wastes or slurry which is below the irreducible saturation level for the liquid wastes or slurry to be injected. The formation may be non-hydrocarbon bearing or a depleted hydrocarbon bearing reservoir which has been depleted by enhanced fluid recovery techniques below its ambient irreducible fluid saturation value.

Abstract: Slurries of relatively fine particles of solids wastes and similar materials are disposed of through injection wells which penetrate earth formation disposal zones which have a minimum in situ compressive stress generally less than an overburden zone and an underburden zone adjacent to the disposal zone. The disposal zone preferably has a permeability greater than the overburden and underburden zones. The slurry is injected through a disposal well intersecting all of the zones and having perforations preferably communicating the slurry with the underburden zone to provide for lateral growth of the hydraulically fractured disposal zone as the solids filter cake plates out on the fracture faces of the disposal zone without substantially penetrating the overburden zone.

Abstract: Deposits are removed from cargo tanks of marine crude oil tankers and the like by introducing into the tanks a solvent for the deposits which are formed on the interior surfaces of the tanks, including those surfaces which cannot be reached by crude oil washing machines and the like. The solvent is caused to contact all of the interior surfaces of the tanks by pumping ballast water sequentially into and out of the tanks to cause the solvent to rise and fall in each of the tanks. The method may be carried out during return trips of tankers from the point of discharge of cargo to the point of loading new cargo.

Abstract: Floating roof storage tanks are modified to include a foam surge tank, a low-pressure blower and a foam generator for generating vapor-suppressing foam during withdrawal of liquid from the storage tank and after the floating roof reaches its lowest elevation in the storage tank so that the tank space previously occupied by volatile liquid is provided with a vapor-suppressing foam blanket during liquid withdrawal and refill. The surge tank is mounted directly on the floating roof and discharges its foam through an opening in the roof into the tank storage space. During liquid refill the foam may be forced out through a vent conduit onto the roof of the tank and dissolved and recovered.

Abstract: Slurried solid waste materials are injected into subterranean earth formations in a zone of interest which has a relatively low in situ compressive stress bounded by zones of higher in situ compressive stress and wherein the zone of interest has alternate layers of material of relatively high and low permeability to fluid flow, respectively. The solid waste slurry is conducted through an injection well penetrating the zone of interest to form a conventional two-winged hydraulic fracture. The fracture is extended by reducing the tendency to form filtercake in the fracture adjacent to the layers of material of relatively low permeability while depositing particle filtercake adjacent the earth layers of high permeability so as to provide clear fluid flowpaths through the fracture while allowing the filtercake layers disposed in the fracture to assist in propping the fracture open until adequate lateral extension of the fracture and disposal of the waste material is accomplished.

Abstract: An improved method for loading crude oil into a tank or tanks of a tanker ship wherein a layer of foam is used to suppress the formation of hydrocarbon vapors during the loading operation. The foam is generated at a point remote from the tanks and is then supplied to the bottom of the tanks through the already-existing crude oil loading manifold aboard the tanker.

Abstract: Marine tankers and cargo tanks for storing hydrocarbon liquids are provided with treated flue gas which is heated to a temperature at least about equal to or in excess of the liquids to be stored in the tanks to minimize the generation and emission of hydrocarbon vapors during loading, storage and transfer of hydrocarbon liquids with respect to the tanks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing hydrocarbon vapor emission from a hydrocarbonaceous liquid in a storage tank during filling of same wherein at least two storage tanks are present and an essentially inert gas is provided in a first storage tank containing said hydrocarbonaceous liquid, the inert gas being at a temperature at least about equal to or above the temperature of the hydrocarbonaceous liquid, and as said first storage tank fills with hydrocarbonaceous liquid removing at least a portion of said inert gas from said first storage tank and passing same into a least one second storage tank that is later to be filled thereby (a) displacing from said second storage tank atmospheric gas originally present which is below the temperature of said hydrocarbonaceous liquid, (b) prewarming said second storage tank, (c) substituting said inert gas for said atmospheric gas, and (d) reducing hydrocarbon vapor emission from the fill liquid in the second storage tank.

Abstract: Unconsolidated formations may be produced to yield hydrocarbons and other fluids by forming an openhole wellbore in the region to be produced, cleaning the wellbore face with a low solids content, low leakoff type fluid and/or underreaming the wellbore to provide a clean face in the region of interest and followed by insertion of a production tubing string including a filter medium which will retain larger formation sand particles in the wellbore cavity but will allow a limited amount of solids fines to be produced with the produced fluids. An in situ sand pack is formed within the wellbore cavity together with a dilatant zone of generally cylindrical shape having an outer radius which grows into the formation until the in situ stresses increase and the dilatant zone as well as the in situ sand pack become stable. This type of well completion eliminates the requirement for other means of consolidating formation sands as well as the cost of installing artificial gravel packs in a well.

Abstract: A process for recovery of hydrocarbons from a porous reservoir comprising injecting substantially simultaneously into the reservoir a gas and an aqueous liquid including at least one surface active agent present in an amount up to about 50 percent of the critical micellar concentration such that menisci are formed in certain ones of the pore spaces of the reservoir to an extent that oil droplets lodged in others of the pore spaces are swept by the injected mixture toward a production well.

Abstract: A selectively electrically insulated, cemented and perforated tubular electrode provides a more effective system for electrically heating formations comprised of interbedded high and low electrical conductivity layers. The tubular electrode is located opposite the formation and is exteriorly insulated at an upper part of the formation and perhaps in low part of the formation. A central part of the tubular electrode is left free of electrical insulation. The tubular electrode is cemented in place and perforated at vertically spaced apart points into oil-bearing layers of the formation. The electrode may be a part of a casing string and the casing string specially designed to reduce alternating current hysteresis losses and current losses to the overburden.

Abstract: A method of initiating fractures in preselected zones by precooling the zones of interest. A cooling fluid is either circulated in a wellbore at the selected zone or injected into the selected zone. After cooling, conventional fracturing techniques are used, but fractures are more easily controlled by reduction of required pressures in the cooled zones.

Abstract: An enhanced oil recovery process comprises injection of water into a subterranean formation followed by the injection of a surfactant such as a micellar fluid and a thickening agent such as a polymer solution to drive oil toward a production well. Temperatures and pressures of injection of the water, surfactant, and thickening agent are controlled so as to thermoelastically fracture the formation behind the oil-water bank to increase the injectivity rate and propagation rate of the slugs of fluids behind the oil-water bank to control the shape of the flood front and to minimize misdirected fracturing ahead of the flood front.

Abstract: A process for viscous oil recovery from a subsurface formation wherein the electric power is generated by burning combustible material and the electric power is passed through the formation via electrodes, preferably producing wells, to apply heat to the oil and reduce its viscosity. Simultaneously therewith, the hot flue gas is used to heat water which is injected into the formation to apply heat to the formation, or reduce loss of the heat created by the electric current, or to force oil toward the producing wells, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for hydraulic fracturing a subterranean formation region to control the fracture extent in vertical and horizontal directions characterized by the injection of cold liquid into the formation region to precool the region and reduce the stresses in the formation region so that a hydraulic fracture may be propagated at a lower fluid injection pressure. The shape of the cooled region may be controlled by injection of various quantities of leakoff control agent during injection of the cold liquid and extension of the hydraulic fracture may be carried out simultaneously with the cold liquid flooding or by raising the pressure after the flood front has progressed a desired radial extent from the wellbore. The fracturing operation may be completed by injecting a pad of cold liquid with a high concentration of leakoff control agent to seal the fracture face followed by injection of liquid carrying a sufficient quantity of proppant material to maintain the fracture width and conductivity at the desired level.

Abstract: A subterranean viscous oil bearing formation is progressively produced in a preselected direction by a combination of steps conducted in sets of wells spaced from each other in the preselected direction. A first set of wells is used to both apply electrical heat to the formation and inject brine, preferably at low rates. Then electrical heating and brine injection are applied to a second set of wells spaced in the preselected direction from the first set of wells. Electrical heating in the first of wells is ceased and hot aqueous fluid injection is commenced. These steps are moved in sequence to coact with each other and traverse and produce the formation thereby providing a more energy efficient process. Variations cover electrically stimulated huff and puff backflowing or producing steps to control wellbore resistance and distribute the heat uniformly in the proper direction. A pressure maintenance fluid may also be injected in the depleted part of the formation.

Abstract: A method for supplying foam to a tank, said method comprising positioning a foam generator in a housing positioned over a tank opening, installing a foam solution line to provide foam solution to said foam generator, and supplying foam to at least a portion of said tanks. The foam generator in a housing comprises (a) a generally cylindrical body adapted to sealingly engage the tank above an opening in the tank, (b) a plate positioned to sealingly engage a first end of the cylindrical body to form a zone enclosed within the cylindrical body above the opening in the tank, and (c) a foam generator positioned in the enclosed zone for supplying foam to the tank. The method is useful for loading tanker ships.