Abstract: A downhole heating apparatus includes a gas separator, a downhole heater, a thermal barrier and lower and upper perforated tubing joints being vents. The thermal barrier retards fluid and heat from flowing between a lower annulus of a wellbore and an upper annulus of a wellbore. The thermal barrier is formed from one or more thermal barrier subcomponents. The downhole heater is an electrical heater. The thermal barrier and lower and upper perforated tubing joints includes one or more vents.

Abstract: A heating system for a subsurface formation includes a conduit located in a first opening in the subsurface formation. Three electrical conductors are located in the conduit. A return conductor is located inside the conduit. The return conductor is electrically coupled to the ends of the electrical conductors distal from the surface of the formation. Insulation is located inside the conduit. The insulation electrically insulates the three electrical conductors, the return conductor, and the conduit from each other.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide systems and methods for heating a wellbore environment. One or more electric heating cables are attached to an elongated support member, such as a wire rope, so that the support member receives and relieves the heating cables of a mechanical load. The attachment may be with two-piece clamps spaced at regular intervals along the support member. The heating cables and support member may be disposed in coiled tubing within the wellbore. The coiled tubing can be pressure-sealed and filled with a dielectric fluid. The heating cables and support member can be attached to a cable hang-off having a plurality of wedge-shaped slips that cooperate with a bowl to form a pinching member that grips the support member and suspends the support member and heating cables in the wellbore. The methods include methods for manufacturing and installing the heating apparatus.

Abstract: A method for making a coiled insulated conductor heater to heat a subsurface formation includes pushing the insulated conductor heater longitudinally inside a flexible conduit using pressure. One or more cups are coupled to the outside of the insulated conductor heater. The cups maintain at least some pressure inside at least a portion of the flexible conduit as the insulated conductor heater is pushed inside the flexible conduit. The flexible conduit and the insulated conductor heater are coiled onto a coiled tubing rig.

Abstract: An oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation. Heat may be applied to the formation from one or more heat sources to raise a temperature of a portion of the formation to a desired temperature. Some of the heat sources may be conductors placed within conduits. The conductors may be resistively heated so that the conductors radiantly heat the conduits. The generated heat may transfer to the formation.

Abstract: The oil shale formation may be treated using an in situ thermal process. Heat may be provided to a section of the formation from one or more heat sources. A portion of a heat source may include conductive material. In some embodiments, the conductive portion may reduce heat loss to a non-hydrocarbon containing layer in the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the heat sources to a section of the formation. Hydrocarbons, H2, and/or other formation fluids may be produced from the formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to cleaning compositions comprising a protease variant.

Abstract: The present invention relates to bleaching compositions comprising a protease variant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for unplugging a well or pipe obstructed by a gas hydrates. According to the invention, a moving heating element is applied against one end of the hydrate plug, and is displaced axially in the tube or the pipe towards the other end, so as to cause the plug to melt progressively from one end to the other. Application to the oil industry, in particular in off-shore wells.

Abstract: A heater is disclosed, the heater including: a porous metal sheet heating element; and an electrical insulating material surrounding the porous metal sheet heating element; wherein there is no casing surrounding the porous metal sheet heating element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing (e.g. heavy oil) through a wellbore which passes through a permafrost layer. To maintain an acceptable flow temperature inside the production tubing, a heating element (e.g. electrical power cable having its leads short-circuited) is lowered down the production tubing to generate heat inside the tubing when electricity is supplied thereto. A sensor is provided to sense the temperature inside the tubing and activate a source to supply electricity to the cable whenever the temperature inside the production tubing drops below the desired temperature.

Abstract: A downhole radial flow steam generator for oil wells that includes an annular casing and a water passage extending therethrough with a porous medium between the casing and passage with electrode means within the generator to heat the water into steam or hot water wherein the fluid is directed radially through the medium and the annular casing into a preselected earth strata to heat oil therein and reduce its viscosity for pumping to the surface.

Abstract: A control system for well stimulation equipment including a source of electrical power, a source of injection fluid, a fluid injection system, and a downhole electrical heater, electrically connected to the source of electrical power includes one or more of temperature and pressure sensors both above and below grade for the purpose of monitoring process conditions. The sensor output is gathered in a computational unit and then manipulated for process control. The control system includes a response time which is defined as the time between a no flow condition at the heater and a shutting off of power, which response time is used to establish a temperature set point for the well stimulation equipment. A method of stimulating hydrocarbon recovery is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of stimulating injection wells having a wellbore. The method includes the steps of placing a heater at or near the bottom of the well, adjacent to the area to be treated, energizing the heater to release heat energy, flowing a solvent past the heater to the area to be treated to contact solid wax deposits to mobilize the wax deposits, removing the mobilized wax and the solvent from the well area, and injecting waterflood water into the well and into the passageways that were previously blocked by the wax deposits. In one embodiment there is a further pretreatment step of selecting an appropriate thief zone blocker fluid and injecting the same into the well to selectively obstruct the thief zones. In a further embodiment there is a further pretreatment step of choosing an appropriate oil zone blocking fluid and injecting the same into the well prior to the injection of the thief zone blocking fluid to protect the same.

Abstract: A method of stimulating production from an oil well by removing solid wax deposits from a production zone an electrical resistance heater comprised of a packed bed of spherical heating elements lowered through the tubing on a wireline and placed adjacent to the perforations. Solvent is pumped through the heater to raise its temperature by 200.degree. C. and then into the formation to contact wax deposits. The solid wax deposits are liquified and together with the oil and the solvent form a single liquid phase. The wax is then removed from the formation by placing the well back on production. Because the invention completely avoids the use of either water or gas, the saturation of the water and gas phases in the formation is minimized, thereby maximizing the mobility of the liquid phase containing the wax and facilitating the removal of the liquified wax from the treatment area before it reprecipitates.

Abstract: This invention describes a method of stimulating production from an oil well by removing solid wax deposits from a production zone. An electrical resistance heater comprised of a packed bed of spherical heating elements is lowered through the tubing on a wireline and placed adjacent to the perforations. Solvent is pumped through the heater to raise its temperature by 200.degree. C. and then into the formation to contact wax deposits. The solid wax deposits are liquified and together with the oil and the solvent form a single liquid phase. The wax is then removed from the formation by placing the well back on production. Because the invention completely avoids the use of either water or gas, the saturation of the water and gas phases in the formation is minimized, thereby maximizing the mobility of the liquid phase containing the wax and facilitating the removal of the liquified wax from the treatment area before it reprecipitates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of stimulating production from an oil well by removing solid wax deposits from a production zone, includes an electrical resistance heater comprised of a packed bed of spherical heating elements lowered through the tubing on a wireline and placed adjacent to the perforations. Solvent is pumped through the heater to raise its temperature by 200.degree. C. and then into the formation to contact wax deposits. The solid wax deposits are liquified and together with the oil and the solvent form a single liquid phase. The wax is then removed from the formation by placing the well back on production. Because the invention completely avoids the use of either water or gas, the saturation of the water and gas phases in the formation is minimized, thereby maximizing the mobility of the liquid phase containing the wax and facilitating the removal of the liquified wax from the treatment area before it reprecipitates.