Abstract: A method for determining the reservoir properties of a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation is disclosed. The method uses field data obtained from an injection/flow-back test, which utilizes a gaseous desorbing fluid, in conjunction with reservoir modeling techniques to determine the reservoir quality and the enhanced methane recovery characteristics of the formation.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for identifying the source of a transported chemical shipment. The method employs either a chemical element or an organic compound with one or more atoms that are non-radioactive isotopes generally not found in nature. A small quantity of the isotopic compound is introduced into the storage vessel containing the chemical to be transported prior to shipment of the chemical. Upon arrival at its destination point, a sample of the chemical shipment is analyzed. Matching the isotopic compound found in the chemical with the isotopic compound introduced into the storage vessel prior to shipment is indicative that the shipped chemical is identical to the chemical received. Non-radioactive materials may further be employed for detecting the source of a newly introduced contaminant in a water supply. The chemical substance may be a non-radioactive isotope of the chemical shipment being transported.

Abstract: Steam quality is measured by mixing the steam with a small amount of surfactant to convert the steam to a stable foam, passing the stable foam through a capillary tube to determine foam quality (volume of vapor per volume of vapor and liquid) by measuring the streaming potential coupling coefficient of the foam passing through the tube, and converting foam quality (volume per volume) to steam quality (mass of vapor per mass of vapor and liquid) based upon the fluid density of the liquid-water and water-vapor phase of the steam.

Abstract: A method of tagging and detecting illicit drugs or paper currency is disclosed which comprises the steps of:(a) applying a Perfluorocarbon Tracer (PFT) to the drugs or currency such that said PFT is released over a period of time as a vapor taggant; and(b) subsequently detecting the presence of said vapor taggant, and therefore the drugs or currency.

Abstract: A method is provided for locating non-aqueous phase liquid in an aquifer. An aqueous solution having the capacity to solubilize the contaminating liquid to concentrations greater than the solubility of the contaminant in water is injected and produced through a well. Chemical concentrations in produced fluid samples are interpreted to locate the contaminating liquid. Produced fluid samples are chemically analyzed to determine composition of the contaminant.

Abstract: A process for determining an end member age of an illite component in an earth sample which contains a diagenetic illite component and a detrital illite component. As a first step, the sample is separated into a plurality of fractions so that the fractions will have different mean ages of illite. Next, the relative percentage of one of the illite components is determined for each fraction. The mean age of total illite in each fraction is determined using potassium-argon age analysis. The determined relative percentages are then correlated with the determined mean ages to generate a linear relationship. The end member age for each illite component can then be determined by using the linear relationship since zero percent of one of the illite components corresponds to the end member age of the other illite component.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for detecting and/or monitoring the presence of hydrocarbons in a fluid medium at a remote location, by sensing the presence of hydrocarbon-based fluid in the fluid medium in the remote location, generating a signal indicative of the sensed fluid, and transmitting the signal to monitoring means for indication of hydrocarbon contamination. The apparatus has multiple sensors at different vertical levels for sensing the fluid medium at a plurality of levels within the fluid.

Abstract: A method for determining residual oil saturation of a watered-out reservoir using two water soluble tracers having different partition coefficients in oil. The partitioning tracers are selected from the group consisting of tritiated or carbon 14 tagged alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, water and oil insoluble inorganics and organic radioactive isotopes. The tracers are injected into the formation, and their production curves are analyzed over a period of time to determine chromatographic separation of the tracers.

Abstract: Organic tracers are employed to monitor the movement of subterranean fluids. These organic tracers are (a) stable at elevated temperatures, (b) capable of being detected at low concentrations, and/or (c) not adversely affected by the make-up of at least one subterranean formation. In addition, a plurality of these tracers can be measured by a single analytical technique.

Abstract: Complex metal anions such as cobaltic hexacyanide are utilized as nonradioactive tracers in reservoir studies. Sensitive analytical procedures enable detection and measurement of very low tracer levels.

Abstract: Drift or residual oil saturation within a reservoir around a wellbore is determined by injection of a water-soluble tracer and then producing from the well. This injection is performed twice. The first injection is immediately followed by production in order to create a baseline. The second injection is followed by a soak period, and then production. Production of the tracers is compared to determine drift or residual oil saturation within the reservoir.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for providing sharp breakthrough of tracers in a two-well tracer test by injecting a relatively small volume of tracer at a high rate into a temporary injection well, and utilizing the flow induced by producing wells to transport the tracers across the formation to a producing well. Measurement of residual oil saturation and sweep can be obtained by this method.

Abstract: In situ transcription is provided by hybridizing cells or tissue with a primer, and extending the primer bound to any template mRNA or DNA with transverse transcriptase or DNA polymerase in the presence of labeled nucleotides, which allows for detection of cells containing the template. The resulting cDNA may be eluted and used in a polymerase chain reaction for isolation of the DNA, and/or the cDNA electrophoresed, which may provide for information concerning the sequence, or the like.

Abstract: A method for monitoring in situ miscibility of a solvent with reservoir oil by using at least two tracers having different boiling points and being miscible with the solvent. The tracers are mixed with the solvent, injected into a well and produced from another well. Appropriate analysis of the produced tracers will reveal whether the solvent is first contact miscible. The tracers are selected from the group consisting of halocarbons, halo-hydrocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, tritiated or carbon 14 tagged hydrocarbons, tritium gas and radioactive isotopes of inert gases.

Abstract: In situ transcription is provided by hybridizing cells or tissue with a primer, and extending the primer bound to any template mRNA or DNA with reverse transcriptase or DNA polymerase in the presence of labeled nucleotides, which allows for detection of cells containing the template. The resulting cDNA may be eluted and used in a polymerase chain reaction for isolation of the DNA, and/or the cDNA electrophoresed, which may provide for information concerning the sequence, or the like.

Abstract: A method of determining dilution of a well bore fluid, such as a drilling fluid, comprising preparing a drilling fluid having a known concentration of bromide ion, using the drilling fluid, recovering a sample of the used drilling fluid, determining quantitatively the concentration of bromide ion in the used drilling fluid, comparing the concentration of bromide ion in the sample drilling fluid with the known concentration of bromide ion in the drilling fluid and determining the dilution of the drilling fluid.

Abstract: The invention in one aspect provides a method of testing drilling mud in use which comprises periodically sampling the circulating mud and analyzing its aqueous filtrate at the rig site by ion chromatography for selected positive and negative ions; one or more other parameters of the sampled mud and/or mud filtrate (e.g. pH, temperature) may also be measured; preferably the composition of the mud filtrate thus monitored is interpreted to indicate downhole interactions, with the composition of the mud supplied to the hole being adjusted to or towards the optimum as drilling proceeds. The invention also provides a method in which the solids of the periodically sampled mud are analyzed at the rig site, e.g. for sorbed ions and/or for cation exchange capacity; the values so obtained are preferably combined with those for the mud filtrate analysis and used in the diagnosis of downhole conditions for adjustment of the composition of freshly supplied mud.

Abstract: For monitoring drilling mud circulation there is incorporated in the supply mud a known amount or concentration of at least one tracer ion which is substantially non-interactive with the other mud components and with the strata drilled, and the return or circulatory mud is analyzed at the rig site (preferably by ion chromatography) for the non-interactive ion(s) to give an indication or annular dispersion. Preferably at least two tracer ions (e.g. a tracer compound providing a non-interactive cation and non-interactive anion) are used, these being analyzed independently in the return or circulatory mud to give separate checks on annular dispersion. Preferably the tracer is injected discontinuously into the supply mud, in spaced discrete relatively concentrated doses, and the residence time distribution of the tracer is plotted for each dose.

Abstract: A cylinder is mounted to descend a borehole for purposes of measuring the mass flow rate of gas flowing upward in the borehole. Within the cylinder is a source of tracer gas which is ejected at a constant mass flow rate [05] from near the lower end of the cylinder. A tracer gas concentration measuring means near the top of the cylinder will measure the degree of concentration of the tracer gas and thereby provide a measurement of the mass flow rate of other gases flowing upwardly around the cylinder.

Abstract: Residual oil saturation is determined by injecting an aqueous solution containing a carbonate salt, an acid-generating material and a radioactive material which are each selectively water soluble, displacing the solution with an aqueous solution devoid of the reactants and tracer, and, after CO.sub.2 has formed within the reservoir, producing aqueous fluid from the reservoir and utilizing radioactive analysis to measure the chromatographic separation between the radioactive material and the CO.sub.2.

Abstract: The oil saturation within a subterranean reservoir is determined by injecting water containing dissolved reactants which are substantially oil-insoluble and which convert the injected solution into a tracer-containing solution in which there is at least one each of oil and water tracers, with the oil tracers being gaseous, and chromatographically analyzing the patterns of the concentrations of the tracers within fluid produced from the reservoir for determining the oil saturation.

Abstract: Tagging compounds (which function as both dyes and markers) having the following structures: ##STR1## wherein x is an integer between 0 and 3 inclusive, y is an integer between 1 and 3 inclusive, z is 0 or 1, and R is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon having from 1 to 5 carbon atoms are disclosed. These compounds can be dissolved in a diluent at a concentration of from about 10 percent to about 30 percent, forming a concentrate which can be further dispersed in an organic liquid to form a final concentration of from about 1 ppm to about 15 ppm of said tagging compound in said liquid. Methods for detecting the presence of a tagged compound in an organic liquid are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for tagging an oil so that subsequently it may be identified as to source by incorporating into the oil as a tracer material an oil-soluble or oil-dispersible Group VIB, Group VIIB or lanthanum series rare earth metal salt of a fatty acid. The so-tagged oil may be utilized in any desired manner. Thereafter, an oil suspected to contain at least a portion of the so-tagged oil is analyzed for the presence of the added metal moiety. The method is especially useful in tracing a complex oleaginous and petroliferous material so that it may be recovered and identified following a theft or spill or to trace the flow of such oil injected through a subterranean reservoir.

Abstract: Residual oil saturation is determined by injecting water containing CO.sub.2, a base-generating material and at least one radioactively labeled material which is or becomes a selectively water-soluble tracer material mixed with the injected CO.sub.2, so that the arrival of the oil and water-partitioning tracer material is demarked by a decrease in CO.sub.2 concentration and the arrival of at least one of tracer material detected by a radioactivity analysis.

Abstract: A fluorescently labeled complex hydrophobic fluid produced by dissolving a porphyrin therein. The porphyrin must be substantially soluble in acidic aqueous solutions, substantially insoluble in neutral or alkaline aqueous solutions and fluoresce at a wavelength between about 600 nm and 800 nm when irradiated at a wavelength between about 350 nm and 550 nm. The fluorescently labeled complex hydrophobic fluid may be identified by observation of the above-mentioned characteristic fluorescence upon irradiation. For identification purposes the porphyrin may be first extracted into an acidic aqueous solution for determination of fluorescence. In cases where the labeled hydrophobic fluid has been dispersed in a quantity of neutral or alkaline aqueous solution or suspension, this latter solution or suspension is first extracted with a hydrophobic solvent for the porphyrin to form a porphyrin solution. The prophyrin, in turn is extracted from this prophyrin solution with an acidic aqueous solution.

Abstract: Residual oil saturation is determined by injecting water containing dissolved CO.sub.2 and subsequently active base generating reactant into an oil and water containing reservoir and chromatographically analyzing the patterns of the concentrations of in situ reaction-depleted CO.sub.2 and reaction-increased bicarbonate salt in fluid produced from the reservoir.

Abstract: The method for determining flow patterns within a subterranean formation penetrated by a spaced apart injection system and production system that comprises injecting into the formation at a predetermined depth from the injection system a solution containing a small amount of one or more water-soluble tracer compounds, recovering said tracer in the production system, determining the depth of recovery, and identifying said tracer compounds by gas chromatography and flame ionization detector; said tracer compounds being water-soluble organic compounds having phosphorus, nitrogen, or sulfur in the molecule.

Abstract: The method for determining flow patterns within a subterranean formation penetrated by a spaced apart injection system and production system that comprises injecting into the formation at a predetermined depth from the injection system a solution containing a small amount of one or more water-soluble tracer compounds, recovering said tracer in the production system, determining the depth of recovery, and identifying said tracer compounds by gas chromatography and flame ionization detector; said tracer compounds being water-soluble organic compounds having phosphorus, nitrogen, or sulfur in the molecule.

Abstract: A material is traced to its origin or the flow pattern of a fluid medium is defined by incorporating into the material or fluid medium a perfluorinated C.sub.9 -C.sub.18 polycyclic hydrocarbon containing at least two bridgehead carbon atoms linked through a bridge containing at least one carbon atom, collecting a sample of the material or fluid medium after distribution or flow, and analyzing the sample for the presence of the perfluoro compound.

Abstract: A method for tagging an oil so that subsequently it may be identified as to source by incorporating into the oil as a tracer material a minor amount of certain halohydrocarbons or halocarbons, utilizing the so-tagged oil in any desired manner wherein control of the oil is at least temporarily lost, and thereafter analyzing an oil suspected to contain at least a portion of the so-tagged oil for the presence of the tracer material by gas chromatography, using a pulsed election capture detector.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for determining the concentration of a brine tolerant sulfonate surfactant in a complex mixture containing, in addition to said brine tolerant sulfonate surfactant, lignosulfonates, crude oil, salts, and water and, optionally, petroleum sulfonates and alcohols, that comprises incorporating into the brine tolerant sulfonate surfactant molecule a small amount of tritium prior to addition to the complex mixture and determining the concentration of the brine tolerant sulfonate surfactant by measuring its radioactivity.

Abstract: The method for determining flow patterns within a subterranean formation penetrated by a spaced apart injection system and production system that comprises injecting into the formation at a predetermined depth from the injection system a solution containing a small amount of one or more water-soluble tracer compounds, recovering said tracer in the production system, determining the depth of recovery, and identifying said tracer compounds by gas chromatography and flame ionization detector; said tracer compounds being water-soluble organic compounds having phosphorus, nitrogen, or sulfur in the molecule.