Abstract: Oil-well installation extending from the surface (14) to an oil-bearing rock stratum (16) comprising a tubing (20), arranged in the well and forming a flow channel to the surface for hydrocarbons originating from the oil-bearing rock stratum, a casing (18) delimiting the wall of the well, and a seal (24) arranged at the well bottom between the tubing (20) and the casing (18) so as to form a chamber (26) isolated from the hydrocarbons, the installation furthermore comprising, in the well, a pump (30, 48) and an electric motor (34, 46) which is intended to actuate the pump. According to the invention, the stator (40, 52) of the electric motor (34, 46) is arranged outside the tubing (20) and isolated thereby from the hydrocarbons flowing inside the tubing.

Abstract: A horizontal well completion apparatus and method for heavy, viscous oil in a producing zone (114) are disclosed using a single well. Hot injection fluid is injected into an injection string (120), and emitted through steam distribution holes (133) in the lower portion (120) of the injection string into the casing (116) near perforations (118). A packer (126) separates the upper well annulus (140) from the lower well annulus (142) Insulation (121) surrounds injection tubing string (120) between the packer (126) and the well head (111). Perforations (118) in the horizontal portion (112) of the well allow heated oil to flow into the lower annulus 42 in the horizontal portion (112) of the well where is picked up by the injected fluid and lifted to the surface of the well by a jet pump (128). Temperature and pressure in the lower well annulus (142) are controlled by the temperature and pressure of the injection fluid, and the pumping rate of the produced fluids.

Abstract: A standoff insulator and support for an elongated power cable disposed adjacent to a fluid conducting tubing string for a fluid production well utilizing an electric submersible pump connected to the tubing string. The pump power cable is held in a standoff, thermally insulated position from the tubing string by an elastomer insulator body having opposed concave surfaces engageable with the power cable and the tubing string and a flexible strap trained through a slot along one side of the insulator and through a channel on the opposite side of the insulator. The strap includes a buckle for receiving a distal end of the strap whereby the strap is tensioned and secured to clamp the insulator between the power cable and the tubing string using strap tensioning and crimping tools, respectively.

Abstract: A separate heat source, such an a skin effect heater, is added to a subterranean heat exchanger and oxygen combustion device for upgrading viscous crude oil feeds. An insulated wire is integrated with combustion oxygen supply piping to form the skin effect heater operating in conjunction with the heat exchanger. The separately controlled heater output allows a reduction of the heat from the combustion device reduced quantities of combustion products. The improvement down-sizes or eliminates excess combustion product removal facilitates and also preheats the oxygen supply. The skin-effect heater and heat exchanger combination adds heat gradually and increases feed residence time at the desired upgrading temperature and pressure conditions. Alternative embodiments can be used to treat heavy crudes within a producing well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the recovery of a heavy oil, contained in an outcropping formation, without any significant adverse environmental impact. Broadly, the invention comprises indirectly heating an oil containing formation to reduce the viscosity of the oil therein and concurrently thermally insulating an upper portion of the well, extending into the formation, to eliminate any increased seepage of oil from the formation to the surface.

Abstract: A well production apparatus includes a tubular production conduit which extends from the top of the well to a production zone interior of casing. An electric submersible pump has a production fluid flow passageway which communicates between the exterior of the conduit and the interior of the casing. A packer is in communication with the production conduit below the pump and is movable into sealing engagement with the casing to isolate the production zone. A thermal absorber is carried on the production conduit between upper and lower production conduit members whereby subsequent to positioning of the packer assembly into set position, thermal expansion or contraction of the conduit above the set packer is absorbed by the thermal absorber without transmission of thermal expansion or contraction of the conduit to the pump.

Abstract: A method of producing fluids from subterreanean reservoirs containing hydrogen sulphide and especially those reservoirs where elemental sulphur or hydrogen polysulphides are present. The method describes the use of a jet pump, chemical injection, and downhole electrical heaters to prevent the deposition of elemental sulphur within the production tubulars of wells penetrating such reservoirs by raising the pressure, temperature, and sulphur solvency of fluids being produced up these wells. In this way, subterranean reserves of sulphur and hydrogen sulphide which were previously unproducible or too expensive to produce can be commercially exploited.

Abstract: Magnesium oxide is included in a bentonite clay anti-friction composition in an amount of 0.025-0.5% based on the dry weight of the clay to substantially improve the efficiency of underground cable or pipe installation. The anti-friction composition is applied between an outer surface of the cable or pipe and tunnel walls to substantially and unexpectedly reduce the amount of force, e.g. hydraulic pressure, necessary to push or pull the cable or pipe into its intended location within the tunnel. The composition includes a water-swellable colloidal smectite clay, such as bentonite, and magnesium oxide in an amount of 0.025-0.5% based on the dry weight of the clay. In another embodiment, the composition also includes a polymeric fluid loss reduction agent, such as carboxymethyl cellulose to decrease the amount of the clay composition absorbed into the tunnel walls. Soil is extracted underground to form a tunnel and the cable or pipe is forced by a hydraulic jack, into the tunnel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the accumulation of paraffin within an oil well that includes forming an electric circuit contact between the oil well sucker rod and tubing and connecting a power source to the sucker rod and tubing. An electric current is applied to the sucker rod in order to generate heat thereat. Preferably a rolling circuit contact is offset from the sucker rod to form a moving contact between the sucker rod and tubing, and in a preferred form a section of the sucker rod and pump is made of a material having a greater electrical resistance to increase the heat generated in a region of high paraffin accumulation. In another embodiment circuit assemblies are provided in the production string to alter the region being heated as the sucker rod reciprocates.

Abstract: Apparatus for pumping fluid from a subterranean reservoir. The apparatus has in combination a well casing and a hollow tube disposed concentrically within the well casing. Secured to the end of the hollow tube is a hollow housing which includes a motor and a pump driven by the motor. An entrance conduit extends down the annulus between the tubing and the casing and carries a refrigerant working fluid which drives the motor in order to operate the pump which pumps subterranean fluids from the housing through the hollow tubing up to the surface of the earth. A return conduit extends from the hollow housing through the hollow tubing up to the surface of the earth. After the refrigerant working fluid expands and drives the motor, it is initially cooled. Subsequently, the refrigerant working fluid passes into the top of the hollow housing where it is vaporized within the return conduit as the return conduit is in contact with hot subterranean produced formation fluids.

Abstract: A housing surrounds a portion of a tubular member forming a combustion chamber in the annulus between the housing and the tubular member. The housing has an upper end and a lower end with a port for the passage of hot gases. The tubular member has a port at a lower end portion. The tubular member and housing are located in a borehole and oxygen and hydrogen are injected into the chamber to form a combustible mixture which is ignited and burned to form combustion gases for flow through the port of the housing into the borehole. Steam is injected through the tubular member for cooling the housing and the combustion gases. After a period of time, the injection of the oxygen, hydrogen and steam is terminated and a pump is lowered into the tubular member for pumping fluids in the borehole upward through the tubular member to the surface. Instead of steam, an excess of hydrogen may be injected into the combustion chamber for cooling purposes.

Abstract: Heating systems for mineral wells (e.g. oil wells) employ electrical power sources, sometimes operating at relatively high frequencies, that are connected to the well casing and production tubing so as to provide a coaxial line electrical heater projecting down into the well. The heating pattern of the coaxial line is effectively controlled so that most of the power is dissipated as heat, primarily in the tubing, above a depth D above which paraffins or other condensible constituents would tend to condense or otherwise impair the flow of mineral fluid up through the production tubing. The applied electrical power is controlled so that the fluid is kept approximately at or only somewhat above the flow impairment temperature for constituents of the fluid. In some embodiments the system is extended to provide heating of a portion of the deposit formation adjacent to the well.

Abstract: An invention for supplying power to a well. In one embodiment power heats a tubing from adjacent the surface to a selected level to prevent the formation of solids. The tubing is heated by passing an electric current therethrough. In one form the tubing is insulated from the wellhead and the casing down to a selected level where an electrical connection is made between the tubing and casing. Current is applied to the tubing at a point below an insulating tubing collar. In another form an insulated conduit is run into the well to a selected depth and connected to the tubing. Electrical power is connected to the tubing and to the insulated conduit.In another form a sucker rod is electrically insulated from the tubing down to a selected depth. The sucker rod includes a non-conducting section such as a fiberglas sucker rod. A conduit is run through the fiberglas rod and connected to the steel sucker rod therebelow.

Abstract: A pump for heating high viscosity oil and elevating it to a ground level from a subterranean level. The pump, which is preferrably of the type which produces and is operated by sonic pressure waves of special character, includes a ground level generator for producing pump operating forces that are transmitted to the subterranean level for reciprocally operating a subterranean heating and oil elevating unit which has a special magnetic piston reciprocal in a non-permanently magnetizable housing for generating heat and further has a reciprocal operating mechanism for intaking the heated oil and elevating it to the ground level.

Abstract: The invention pertains to the removal of paraffin deposits from oil producing wells wherein hot fluids are used to melt the deposits. A conduit system consisting of tubing concentric to the well tube carries hot oil to the well tube at a location below the paraffin forming depth. Ports within the well tube permit the hot oil to enter the well tube during pumping, and the heated oil and melted paraffin is removed at the well head without interrupting pumping. A check valve within the hot oil conduit prevents pumped oil from entering the conduit and the apparatus permits paraffin to be removed from an oil well in less time and with less cost than previous paraffin removal systems, without interrupting pumping, and without contamination of the oil bearing formation.

Abstract: A horizontal earth boring machine is disclosed of the type in which a carriage supports an engine rotatably connected to an auger, and a push ring. The carriage is movable along a set of tracks between a forward position and a rearward position. Hydraulic means power the carriage between its forward and rearward positions. In one version, the auger and push ring are connected by a universal joint to the engine so that a pair of hydraulic cylinders can raise the push ring and planetary gear reduction unit to an adjusted position above the track in order to accommodate any vertical misalignment of the push ring as it is pushing pipe through a horizontal hole drilled by the auger.In another version, the carriage is pivotal right to left to accommodate misalignment of the push ring.

Abstract: A pumping system (10) is disclosed for pumping a fluid (14) from within a borehole (12) to the surface. A combustion engine (18) is employed to drive a pump comprising a pump barrel (28) and an auger pump shaft (32). The pumped fluid is carried from the borehole in a fluid return tubing string (42) having a standing valve (44) therein to prevent backflow into the borehole. A fuel-air mixture is provided to the combustion engine (18) through a fuel-air tubing string (22). A byproduct of the combustion of the fuel-air mixture is heat. The combusted mixture is exhausted from the combustion engine (18) through an engine exhaust tubing string (60). The engine exhaust tubing string includes a heating coil portion (64) forming a heat exchanger to transfer heat from the combusted fuel-air mixture to the fluid (14) adjacent the inlet of the pump to reduce the viscosity of the fluid to enhance the efficiency of the pumping system.

Abstract: Novel method and apparatus for utilizing, in the mining of subterranean sulphur by the Frasch process, the heat of water that has accumulated underground above at least a part of said subterranean sulphur from previous mining operations comprising subterraneanly recycling said accumulated underground water downwardly to contact and heat additional solid subterranean sulphur. In one embodiment further heat is added to the accumulated underground water. For example, pressurized, superheated drive water generated above ground is subterraneanly commingled with said accumulated underground water in a jet pump or ejector to further heat it and to recycle it subterraneanly.

Abstract: In order to prevent freezing of the input lift gas in an oilwell in which gas under pressure is used to lift the well fluids, a heat exchanger is provided which serves to heat the input gas from the warm well fluids. The heat exchanger includes an outer casing and a coaxial tubing which is in line with the well fluid flow. The casing is sealed, and the tubing within the casing is provided with openings which permit the circulation of well fluids in the space between the casing inner wall and the tubing. Relatively small stainless steel tubing is spirally wrapped, in two spaced apart sections, around the tubing within the casing, and access parts are provided to permit the passage of input lift gas through the wrapped tubing prior to its injection into the well. The two wrapped tubing sections are coupled by a gas flow control valve external to the casing.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is described for use in the recovery of oil from natural oil-bearing formations such as tar sands by means of thermal energy causing the oil to gravity in the formation into an oil-receiving duct. Oil recovery in relation to installation and operating costs is improved by releasing heat into the formation at the site of the oil-receiving duct. For this purpose a composite heating and oil recovery string is used which is installed along the formation and comprises a tubular casing having oil-entry apertures and, internally of such casing, an oil-receiving duct and a passageway for the circulation of fluid heating medium.

Abstract: A number of oil wells each have a crude oil processing unit located at close to the wellhead. The clean oil produced from each processing unit is connected to supply the clean oil as hydraulic power oil and to sales. The sales output conduits are manifolded. The control system normally creates clean oil, which is excess over that required for pumping, to sales. The control system alternatively withdraws clean oil from the manifold if a well temporarily does not produce enough clean oil for pumping.