Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil reservoir by miscible displacement using a predominantly nitrogen-containing gaseous displacing fluid which may contain lesser quantities of carbon dioxide. The miscibility of the first portion of the gaseous displacing phase injected into the formation is greater than the miscibility of the subsequent portion, as a consequence of increased concentrations of carbon dioxide and/or normally liquid hydrocarbons for the purpose of decreasing the time and distance which the gaseous nitrogen-containing displacing fluid must travel into the reservoir before attaining a conditionally miscible transition zone at reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure. The concentration of carbon dioxide and/or normally liquid hydrocarbons may be decreased in a reverse taper function, after which essentially pure nitrogen or nitrogen containing only minimal amounts of more soluble components may be injected into the formation.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil reservoir penetrated by spaced apart injection system and production system in which an aqueous fluid is injected into the reservoir via the injection system to displace oil to the production system, the improvement comprising dissolving molecular oxygen in the aqueous fluid being injected into the water under pressure sufficient to maintain liquid phase oxidation at reservoir conditions.

Abstract: Oxyalkylated addition products from ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block polymers and bis-glycidyl ethers, obtained by the addition of ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block polymers of the formula ##STR1## wherein R denotes methyl or ethyl, n and m are numbers which are so chosen that the content of polyethylene oxide groups is 5 to 80% of the molecular weight of the block polymer, and p is a number larger than 10, to bis-glycidyl ethers of the formula ##STR2## wherein the R.sup.1 's can be identical or different and denote hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl or halogen, in particular chlorine, A denotes a direct bond, a sulfonyl or cyclohexyl group or a group of the formula ##STR3## R.sup.

Abstract: Disclosed is a Process for the recovery of oil from a subterranean oil reservoir by miscible displacement. An initial light hydrocarbon slug is injected into the reservoir at a rate which results in fingering of the hydrocarbon through the reservoir oil to produce a light hydrocarbon-reservoir oil mixture. Thereafter, a predominantly nitrogen containing gas is injected into the reservoir at a rate resulting in a flow velocity which is less than the velocity of the previously injected light hydrocarbon. Injection of the nitrogen containing gas strips the previously injected light hydrocarbon from the oil to form a transition zone of conditional miscibility. The miscible zone is then displaced through the reservoir by injection of a suitable driving agent. By injecting the light hydrocarbon slug, the path length through the reservoir needed to establish the conditionally miscible transition zone at the reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure can be materially decreased.

Abstract: Addition products from ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block polymers of the formula ##STR1## wherein R denotes methyl or ethyl, n and m are numbers which are so chosen that the content of polyethylene oxide constitutes 5 to 80% of the molecular weight of the total molecule and p is a number larger than 10, and bis-glycidyl ethers of the formulae ##STR2## wherein the R.sup.1 's can be identical or different and denote hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl or halogen, in particular chlorine, A denotes a direct bond, a sulfonyl or cyclohexyl group or a group of the formula ##STR3## R.sup.2 denotes hydrogen, methyl or phenyl and a denotes an integer from 0 to 10. These addition products are used for breaking petroleum emulsions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for recovering oil from a subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation by injecting a gaseous driving fluid such as carbon dioxide into the formation and recovering oil therefrom while simultaneously transmitting vibrations in the seismic frequency range having an amplitude not exceeding 100 Angstrom units through the formation which enhances the flow of the carbon dioxide and thereby increases the efficiency of recovering the oil. The frequency of the vibrations is within the range of 0.1 the 500 Hz and preferably 1 to 100 Hz.

Abstract: A method for the enhanced recovery of both natural gas and liquid petroleum from hydrocarbon-containing subterranean formations, particularly dipping subterranean formations, by the consecutive steps of introducing a gaseous displacement fluid to recover natural gas and thereafter introducing an oil-miscible displacement fluid to recover undrained oil and/or other liquid petroleum.

Abstract: A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation comprising penetrating the formation with a plurality of wells arranged in a pattern defining a series of regular pentagons with a well at the center of each pentagon, injecting a fluid into the formation by way of the wells at the centers of the pentagons whereby hydrocarbons contained in the formation are displaced from the center wells towards the wells defining the pentagons and producing the hydrocarbons by way of the wells defining the pentagons.

Abstract: A borehole is formed down into the ground and extends towards an underlying pay zone, and then is turned horizontally through the pay zone, and then continues back up towards the surface of the earth; so that the resultant borehole is continuous from an inlet to an outlet, with the inlet and outlet being spaced from one another. When the free end of the drill string arrives at the outlet, one end of a casing string is attached thereto, and the casing string is pulled back through the entire borehole so that the borehole is cased from the outlet to the inlet, or vice versa. The casing is perforated adjacent to the pay zone so that the hydrocarbons may flow from the pay zone into the interior of the casing. Production is achieved through either of the spaced inlet or outlet; or, by using one vertical length of the borehole to force fluid to flow through the entire borehole, thereby forcing the production to the surface.

Abstract: In a method wherein valuable substances are recovered from a subterranean reservoir comprising the injection of a two phase fluid into the reservoir, uniform injectivity of the two separate phases is achieved by conducting the injected fluid to a point below the bottom of the injection interval in the well bore of the injection well through a tubing to which is attached a terminal device which is penetrated by a plurality of holes, each such hole being of sufficient diameter to reduce the bubble size of the gas phase to less than about 0.5 inches.

Abstract: Oil may be recovered from dipping reservoirs by a conditionally miscible oil recovery process in which a gaseous, carbon dioxide-containing fluid is injected up-dip to displace petroleum downward in a conditionally miscible, gravity-stabilized displacement process. Carbon dioxide-containing blending stock is mixed with an inert gas such as methane or nitrogen in order to reduce its density sufficiently to increase the critical velocity of the displacement process. By increasing the critical velocity, the time required to deplete a reservoir is decreased significantly. Sufficient intermediate hydrocarbons are added to the mixture of carbon dioxide and inert gas to insure that the mixture injected into the formation is conditionally miscible at formation temperature and pressure.

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: Heavy oil from underground oil sands or tar sands is liquified with recirculation of superheated water and when brought to the ground surface is then wet oxidized for its heat value. The sulphur content of the products of wet oxidation is then wet reduced to elemental sulphur for by-product. The carbon dioxide gas generated as a product of wet oxidation is injected back to wells for its value as a diluter of the oil. Heat produced from wet oxidation is used for useful work at wells site.

Abstract: Oil is recovered from a coastal or offshore reservoir by a water injection process in which a dispersing agent is added to sea water which is then filtered. The treated sea water is then injected into a reservoir through an injection well and crude oil is recovered from a production well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for in-situ leach mining which utilizes multiple dhole branch wells whipstocked off a single main generally vertical well. Initially the vertical well is drilled into the earth so that it may intersect the ore zone of material to be recovered. The vertical well may be cased and cemented after drilling. Thereafter from this same well a plurality of branch wells are whipstocked or drilled which intersect the vertical well at an angle from about 2 degrees to 60 degrees. These branch wells extend into the ore zone. A submersible pump and drop pipe are placed in the main well and at some point below the intersection of the main well with the branch wells a packer is placed around the drop pipe. The drop pipe carries solutions to the surface from the pump.

Abstract: A nitrogen-rich inert gas mixture is produced by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous feed containing substantially no metals nor noncombustible materials with air in a free-flow, unpacked, refractory-lined gas generator at a temperature in the range of about 1300.degree. to 3000.degree. F. and a pressure in the range of about 1 to 250 atmospheres. The product gas will comprise a mixture of nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide and may contain small amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, depending on the O/C atomic ratio selected. The atomic ratio of free oxygen in said air to carbon in said hydrocarbonaceous fuel is in the range of about 1.7 to stoichiometric, or slightly less than stoichiometric. By operating at this level of O/C atomic ratio, the H.sub.2 +CO content of the product gas may be minimized or deleted, substantially all of the particulate carbon may be oxidized, substantially no NO.sub.x is produced, and the product gas contains substantially no free oxygen.

Abstract: A process for decreasing the CO.sub.2 content of hydrocarbon gas by injecting a hydrocarbon gas containing CO.sub.2 into a water bearing zone of an underground formation and producing hydrocarbon gas from a collection point in the underground formation removed from the injection point.

Abstract: Improvements in the treatment of wells that penetrate subterranean formations are accomplished through the use of a polymer solution which includes a neutralized ionomeric polymer dissolved in an organic solvent and a polar cosolvent. The polymer has a backbone that is substantially soluble in the organic solvent and pendant ionomeric groups that are substantially insoluble in the organic solvent. The polar cosolvent solubilizes the pendant ionomeric groups such that the polymer solution upon introduction into the well has a viscosity less than about 20,000 centipoises and upon mixing with water the polar cosolvent is taken up by the water causing the polymer to aggregate and increase in viscosity sufficient to form a plug. The polymer solution may be used in well drilling operations, well completion operations, and secondary recovery operations.

Abstract: Hydrogen and other gases that are miscible in petroleum are injected into an underground reservoir to the extent that the volume of hydrogen exceeds the absorption capacity of the petroleum, thereby forming a gas cap composed substantially of hydrogen. Petroleum is withdrawn from the reservoir in part under the influence of gases absorbed into the petroleum and in part under the influence of increased reservoir pressure created by an artificial gas cap. Reservoir temperature is increased by establishing a combustion zone within the underground petroleum reservoir. Hydrogen is withdrawn from the artificial gas cap and is reinjected into the petroleum adjacent to the combustion zone with the resultant hydrogenation of the petroleum.

Abstract: A process for the recovery of hydrocarbons from oil field reservoirs, wherein dry pipeline quality natural gas, essentially entirely methane, is injected, stored and recycled in the wells of the reservoir to effect a significant recovery of the oil in the reservoir while storing and holding the gas for ultimate use only after the oil has been recovered from the reservoir, whereby the relatively scarce gas is utilized to its maximum extent and oil is produced which would be otherwise difficult or uneconomical to produce by prior known processes.

Abstract: A process of treating a plurality of wells involved in an enhanced oil recovery process so that oil and/or gas can be displaced from a reservoir in a more uniform manner comprising treating the formation surrounding and in the immediate vicinity of each well involved in the process with a solution that sets with time to form a plug in the more permeable zones of the reservoir surrounding each well.

Abstract: Electricity is generated during the injection of a dense fluid through an injection well and into a subterranean formation having a connate fluid pressure less than the available downhole pressure of injection fluid in the injection well. A fluid engine/generator is positioned in the well to define upper and lower zones in the well; a level of dense fluid is established in the upper zone; and dense fluid is flowed from the upper zone through the fluid engine/generator and into the subterranean formation to thereby generate electricity, which is subsequently recovered. Control of the downhole fluid pressure is also achieved.

Abstract: A nitrogen-rich inert gas mixture is produced by the partial oxidation of a hydrocarbonaceous feed containing substantially no metals nor noncombustible materials with air in a free-flow, unpacked, refractory-lined gas generator at a temperature in the range of about 1300.degree. to 3000.degree. F. and a pressure in the range of about 1 to 250 atmospheres. The product gas will comprise a mixture of nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide and may contain small amounts of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, depending on the O/C atomic ratio selected. The atomic ratio of free oxygen in said air to carbon in said hydrocarbonaceous fuel is in the range of about 1.7 to stoichiometric, or slightly less than stoichiometric. By operating at this level of O/C atomic ratio, the H.sub.2 + CO content of the product gas may be minimized or deleted, substantially all of the particulate carbon may be oxidized, substantially no NO.sub.x is produced, and the product gas contains substantially no free oxygen.

Abstract: Natural gas enriched in methane is produced from underground natural gas reservoirs of high CO.sub.2 content by water flooding to absorb the CO.sub.2 within the formation.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir by an enriched gas drive wherein lean gas, evolved from the miscible transition zone, is produced ahead of the miscible transition zone and reinjected behind the solvent injection point whereby excessive gas production is utilized and a drive agent miscible with the solvent is provided to displace the reservoir fluids through the reservoir to a production well from which they are produced.

Abstract: The flow from geothermal wells is stimulated by injecting a liquid at selected levels in the well with the liquid having a boiling point below the temperature of the geothermal fluid at the levels of injection at the operating pressure at the levels of injection. The geothermal fluid and vaporized injected fluid from the well are applied to a system for extracting the heat energy as well as for cleaning sand and other well depositions that may accumulate in the geothermal well. The system may include a direct contact heat exchanger having either a vertical chamber or a horizontal chamber. The contactor has a plurality of zones including a boiler zone, one or more separation zones, and at least one heat exchange zone. The contactor may also include a wash zone and a flash zone.In the wash zone there is advantageously included recirculation trays vertically spaced for washing the vapor to remove entrained substances, such as minerals dissolved in the fluid from the geothermal wells.

Abstract: A chemical treating system for oil wells in the form of a chemical injector and well manifold for protecting down hole oil well equipment from corrosion by injecting a predetermined quantity of chemical additive into a circulating fluid. The equipment includes a supply tank or reservoir supported in elevated position above a calibrated measuring container which discharges into a mixing vessel communicated with pipes connected with the tubing and casing respectively of an oil well with valving arrangements being provided to enable the chemical additive to be injected into a circulating fluid and circulated through the tubing and casing and any down hole equipment associated therewith for a desired period of time.

Abstract: An in situ heat exchange process for heating an organic fluid, which can be, for example, a normally liquid hydrocarbon having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms, in a geothermal reservoir formation penetrated by an injection well and a production well comprising injecting the said fluid into the formation via the injection well, forcing the fluid through the formation with simultaneous heating and finally recovering the heated fluid via the production well. Utilizing heat exchangers at the surface, the heated fluid may be employed to supply process heating requirements for such diverse operations as preheating of refinery streams as exemplified by crude oil feed to distillation units, for salt evaporation, etc. or the heated fluid, preferably after removal of any brine derived from the geothermal formation, may be employed in gaseous form to operate turbine generators.

Abstract: A process for removing methane from a subterranean coal deposit. A carbon dioxide-containing fluid is introduced into the coal deposit through an injection well and held therein for a period sufficient to enable a substantial amount of methane to be desorbed from the surfaces of the coal deposit. Following the hold period, the injected carbon dioxide-containing fluid and desorbed methane are recovered through a recovery well or wells spaced from the injection well. The process is repeated until sufficient methane has been removed to enable safe mining of the coal deposit.

Abstract: Sub-surface water is pumped through a bore hole to an oil-bearing formation by a pump installation in the bore hole including a submergible pump and an adjustable control valve at the discharge side of the pump. The control valve closes automatically when the pump is not operating to prevent reverse flow and loss of flooding pressure and to insure a back pressure on the pump during starting, and is controlled hydraulically from the surface of the earth to vary the flow to the oil-bearing formation. A novel control valve structure provides accurate and reliable control without unduly restricting the flow volume.

Abstract: A process is provided in which hydrocarbon gas containing CO.sub.2 is injected into an oil containing reservoir as an aid in recovering oil from the reservoir. Oil can be produced from at least one production well in said reservoir while hydrocarbon gas containing less CO.sub.2 than the injected mixture of hydrocarbon gas and CO.sub.2 can be recovered from production wells other than the oil producing well. Backflowing of the injection well produces a gas containing more CO.sub.2 than the gas originally injected. The method provides an in situ separation of CO.sub.2 from hydrocarbon gas.

Abstract: A secondary recovery process using injected air to pressurize the formation and maintain mobility of the reservoir oil by diluting the oil with carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is produced as a by-product of air injection, either by auto-oxidation of carbonaceous materials in the reservoir rock, or by ignition of oil in the reservoir. Efficiency of oxidation is observed by testing O.sub.2 content of the effluent gas; it is desirable to hold the oxygen content in the effluent gas to less than 3% by volume in the effluent gas. When this content cannot be reached by auto-oxidation, it is necessary to ignite the oil.

Abstract: Methods of and apparatus for separating hydrocarbonaceous substances from mineral solids with which they are mixed, in situ or after they have been removed from the geological formation in which they occur. A solvent extraction technique is employed; and trichlorofluoromethane is used as, or a major constituent of, the extraction solvent.