Abstract: A mutant strain of the genus Xanthomonas produces a pyruvate-free biopolymer. This biopolymer and the deacetylated form of this new biopolymer provide mobility control solutions which are especially useful for enhanced oil recovery where high brine applications are involved. The mobility control solutions of the present invention may be made from whole or filtered fermentation broth containing the pyruvate-free biopolymer or its deacetylated form. Alternatively, the biopolymer or its deacetylated form may be recovered from the broth and the recovered product used to form the desired mobility control solutions.

Abstract: A process and installation for the flooding of petroleum deposits and oil shale and, more particularly, through the use of dispersions of non-ionogenic, boundary surface-active materials in water as the flooding medium. For the flooding of petroleum-hydrocarbon materials from petroleum deposits and oil shale there can be utilized dispersions of non-ionogenic, boundary surface-active glycolipids, and such preferred structures can be employed which are produced from hydrocarbon mixtures as the C-source. This is effected in two stages with predetermined technological measures. In the first stage, there are initially produced glycolipids through microorganisms with alkane mixtures under predetermined parameters in semi- or continual process cycles and, in the second stage, separated from the cellular material through temperature, pH, osmotic shock. The formed glycolipids can also be separated from the cellular material with unpolarized, organic solvent media.

Abstract: A method of converting organic waste into useful petroleum products and for recovering previously unrecoverable residual oil in oil bearing geologic layers. An organic slurry containing obligatory anaerobes is first formed from garbage, sewage and the like to which may be added various catalysts such as iron or cobalt. The slurry is then pumped into a geological layer, which is preferably oil bearing, having a temperature of a magnitude which allows anaerobic digestion to continue. One or more explosive devices are positioned above the geological layer and below an explosion directing cap. After a period of anaerobic digestion, the explosive devices are detonated causing heat and pressure to be applied to the organic waste in the geological layer. The combination of heat and pressure cause various chemical reactions, including molecular restructuring, to occur which convert the organic waste into various petroleum products.

Abstract: A single cell protein plant is operated to produce high density cell growth and a substantially pure stream of generally high pressure carbon dioxide for further use, for example, in enhanced oil recovery operations. The plant employs an air separator producing substantially pure streams of oxygen and nitrogen. The oxygen stream is used to enrich a carrier fluid and used for aeration of the fermenter. The off-gases from the fermenter are separated into a generally high pressure, substantially pure carbon dioxide stream which can be used for enhanced oil recovery and a residual recycle stream to which oxygen is again added and which is returned to the fermenter. The single cell protein is dried and further processed as required for human or animal consumption.

Abstract: A composition containing a heteropolysaccharide produced by the action of bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas, wherein the heteropolysaccharide has been modified by heating, at a temperature of at least 100.degree. C. for 1 to about 300 minutes, an aqueous solution containing native, untreated heteropolysaccharide produced by the action of bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas, and at least about 0.5 weight percent salt. The solution is preferably filtered or otherwise treated to separate the modified heteropolysaccharide from bacterial cells, cellular debris and other materials, prior to being put to use in, e.g., oil recovery processes, additive for foodstuffs, pharmaceutical preparations, etc.

Abstract: Subterranean coal seams are treated with ammonia to enhance methane removal and improve the mineability of coal. Residual ammonia remaining from the coal treatment is removed by contacting the coal seam with nitrifying bacteria after ammonia treatment and before mining is carried out.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved viscous, aqueous, hydrophilic polymer-containing fluid suitable for injection into porous media such as subterranean petroleum-containing earth formations and an oil recovery method in which the aqueous fluid is injected into the subterranean petroleum-containing formation. The fluid contains an effective amount of an aromatic treating substance, preferrably benzene, toluene, xylene, and low alkyl-substituted benzene or toluene. The improvement resulting from incorporation of this additive in the polymer fluid includes greatly increased resistance to microbial degradation of the polymer, improved screen factor, and improves the injectivity of the fluid.

Abstract: The injectability, filterability and stability, especially resistance to precipitation on contact with water containing relatively high content of boron salts such as borates, of an aqueous polysaccharide-containing fluid for use in viscous oil recovery operations is improved by prehydrating the polysaccharide in fresh water of low boron content followed by shearing for a period of time sufficient to provide desirable filtration properties following by dilution with field brine followed by a second shearing step prior to injecting the aqueous fluid into the formation.

Abstract: In an oil recovery process in which an aqueous solution thickened with a water-soluble anionic polysaccharide polymer (Xanthan gum polymer) is injected into a subterranean reservoir, the stability of the solution viscosity is improved by de-oxygenating the aqueous liquid and then adding a sulfur-containing antioxidant, a readily oxidizable water-soluble alcohol or glycol and the Xanthan gum polymer.

Abstract: Filterability of aqueous solutions of polymers employed to thicken waterfloods such as biopolymers (e.g. heteropolysaccharides) is improved by addition of a surfactant (e.g. a sulfated alkoxylated alcohol). Filterability is further enhanced by addition of an ethoxylated alcohol surfactant and/or an alcohol.

Abstract: A waterflood process wherein a slug of biopolymer is injected into a formation, followed by a slug of synthetic polymer. The biopolymer slug protects the synthetic polymer from degradation due to presence of salts or surfactants in the formation.

Abstract: A process for recovering underground fossil fuel deposits retained in an inorganic matrix wherein the deposit is contacted with an aqueous medium of anaerobic microorganisms for a time sufficient to produce particles of the deposit containing both the organic fossil fuel and inorganic matrix of a size capable of forming a slurry with the aqueous medium for pumping to the ground surface. At the ground surface, the particulates are separated from the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms, the particulates further processed by efficient surface techniques to separate the organic carbon and hydrocarbon component from the inorganic matrix. The aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms is recycled to the underground fossil fuel deposit for further production of the slurry forming particles of the deposit. Spent inorganic matrix may be added to the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms to provide solid support and nutrient for the organisms and to maintain the desired pH.

Abstract: In an enhanced recovery process involving flooding of subterranean formations with aqueous mixtures of biopolymers, filterability of the biopolymer is synergistically enhanced by treatment with ESPERASE.RTM. enzyme at a pH range of 12.5 to 13.0. The range is narrow and exclusive since pHs as high as 12.1 give poor results. The biopolymer can be any one containing debris which must be reduced by the enzyme.

Abstract: Waterflood oil recovery process employing a Xanthomonas polysaccharide as a thickening agent in which the aqueous polysaccharide solution contains a C.sub.3 -C.sub.5 aliphatic alcohol. The aliphatic alcohol functions to stabilize the polysaccharide against thermal degradation in reservoirs having temperatures in excess of 60.degree. C. The polysaccharide solution may also contain an alkali metal carbonate which functions with the alcohol to impart further stability to the Xanthomonas polysaccharide solution.

Abstract: A composition and method for providing improved mobility control in secondary and tertiary recovery processes obtained by injecting into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, as part of the secondary or tertiary recovery fluid, an aqueous solution of a mixture of a heteropolysaccharide produced by bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas together with a polyacrylamide or a chemically altered derivative of a polyacrylamide.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for preparing a Xanthomonas colloid-containing fermentation broth suitable for the preparation of mobility control solution used in oil recovery which comprises aerobically fermenting a Xanthomonas organism in an aqueous nutrient medium whose ingredients comprise a carbohydrate, a nitrogen source, an assimilable Krebs cycle acid, chelated calcium and trace elements, whereby the whole broth produced provides mobility control solutions of about 100 to 3000 ppm of Xanthomonas colloid which are substantially free of insoluble matter having a particle size greater than about 3 microns.

Abstract: Coal gas is produced in situ using the techniques of gasification, liquefaction and pyrolysis. Normal effluents to the atmosphere are recycled in part to the underground reaction zone for conversion into commercial products. Contaminants to underground aquifers are captured and injected into the underground reaction zone for destruction and transformation into useful products.

Abstract: Method for imparting superior viscosity to an aqueous polysaccharide solution comprises prehydrating polysaccharide in fresh and deionized water. The viscosity imparted to the final aqueous solution by this method is greater than the viscosity of an aqueous polysaccharide solution initially hydrated in hard water. Alternatively, the polysaccharide solution in fresh water may be used alone or diluted with water containing inorganic ions.

Abstract: A process for recovering underground fossil fuel deposits retained in an inorganic matrix wherein the deposit is contacted with an aqueous medium of anaerobic microorganisms for a time sufficient to produce particles of the deposit containing both the organic fossil fuel and inorganic matrix of a size capable of forming a slurry with the aqueous medium for pumping to the ground surface. At the ground surface, the particulates are separated from the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms, the particulates further processed by efficient surface techniques to separate the organic carbon and hydrocarbon component from the inorganic matrix. The aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms is recycled to the underground fossil fuel deposit for further production of the slurry forming particles of the deposit. Spent inorganic matrix may be added to the aqueous medium of anaerobic organisms to provide solid support and nutrient for the organisms and to maintain the desired pH.

Abstract: The specification discloses a process for recovering oil from a subterranean reservoir which process utilizes a thickened flooding liquid containing polysaccharide B-1459. In the process the polysaccharide B-1459 is imparted with superior viscosity by first prehydrating it with fresh or deionized water before mixing with another aqueous component, for example brine water containing large amounts or inorganic ions, that is, hard water. The invention comprises the polysaccharide B-1459 which has been prehydrated in the fresh or deionized aqueous medium and then mixed with hard water. The process for imparting viscosity to polysaccharide B-1459 is an improvement over the prior art in that a higher viscosity is obtained while using the same amount of polysaccharide that has been obtained by hydrating the polysaccharide in hard or brine water initially.

Abstract: Gelled acidic compositions suitable for either matrix acidizing or fracture-acidizing of subterranean formations, and methods of using said compositions in acidizing operations, are provided. Said compositions comprise water, a water-dispersible biopolysaccharide, an acid, a water soluble compound of a polyvalent metal wherein the metal can be reduced to a lower polyvalent valence state and cause gelation of the water containing said biopolysaccharide and said acid, and a reducing agent capable of reducing said metal and causing said gelation.

Abstract: This specification discloses a technique of hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation wherein there is used a fracturing fluid comprised of an aqueous solution of an interaction product of a polysaccharide and a galactomannan.

Abstract: A composition and method for providing improved mobility control in secondary and tertiary recovery processes obtained by injecting into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation, as part of the secondary or tertiary recovery fluid, an aqueous solution of a mixture of a heteropolysaccharide produced by bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas together with a polyacrylamide or a chemically altered derivative of a polyacrylamide.

Abstract: A method of withdrawing landfill gas from a landfill without drawing air into the landfill comprising providing a well in the landfill and withdrawing landfill gas from the well at a plurality of different withdrawal rates. The pressure at a selected region within the landfill is detected while the landfill gas is being withdrawn. A relationship is then established between the withdrawal rate and the pressure at the selected regions. This relationship is utilized to establish a maximum withdrawal rate, and this maximum rate occurs at approximately zero gauge pressure. Landfill gas is then withdrawn from the well at no more than about the maximum withdrawal rate.

Abstract: In plugging a relatively low temperature subterranean earth formation by injecting a cationic emulsion that contains an asphalt and a pH-increasing reactant that subsequently breaks the emulsion, the timing of the emulsion breaking is improved by using a pH-increasing reactant comprising a mixture of urea and urease.

Abstract: A packaged core is obtained using a conventional core barrel system. A lining is provided in the core sample container of the core barrel. The core barrel is connected to a drill string extending into a borehole. As the drill string is rotated, the core sample moves into the sample container and inside of the lining. When the core barrel arrives at the surface, the sample core may be removed from the core barrel packaged in the lining. The core may be examined on site or the ends of the lining closed and the core completely packaged for shipment to the laboratory.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for converting oil shale into a fuel by contacting oil shale with a bacteria capable of producing an acid that will dissolve a portion of the inorganic lattice structure of oil shale which is thereby made porous or sponge-like in structure to expose combustible bitumen and kerogen therein.

Abstract: Fermentation broths and other aqueous suspensions containing a dissolved xanthan gum and suspended solids resulting from the fermentation producing the xanthan gum are clarified by treatment with a minor amount of a protease enzyme. The injectivity of aqueous solutions containing xanthan gum so clarified is improved, in oil well flooding operations, over solutions not so treated.

Abstract: Proteins, amino acids, gums, and other valuable fermentation products are efficiently biosynthesized from hydrocarbon derived feedstocks containing aldehydes which have been admixed with a nitrogen-containing compound before being passed to a fermentor.

Abstract: Mineral values are recovered in situ by generating a leaching agent in the formation containing the mineral to be recovered.