Abstract:
The movement of unconsolidated sand from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation into a wellbore during recovery of the formation hydrocarbon fluids is prevented by forming a permeable, acid-susceptible cement barrier between the formation and the wellbore. The permeability of said acid-susceptible cement barrier or pack traversing a producing formation is improved by treatment with a composition comprised of mineral acid having dissolved therein a vinylpyrrolidone polymer, which composition slowly reacts with acid-soluble components accumulated at the pack face and within the cement pack so that the permeability of the cement barrier to the flow of formation hydrocarbon fluids is increased while adequate mechanical strength and proper pore size to prevent the movement of unconsolidated formation sand into the bore-hole is maintained and recovering formation hydrocarbon fluids from the formation through the formed permeable cement barrier.
Abstract:
A vertical downward gas-driven miscible blanket oil recovery process wherein the spreading rate of the solvent blanket on top of the oil column is increased by adding to the conventional solvent a high density solvent such as carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride or certain halogenated hydrocarbons. Sufficient dense solvent is added to the conventional hydrocarbon solvent to increase the density of the injected solvent mixture to a value only slightly less than the density of the formation petroleum being displaced, so that a stable blanket will be maintained with substantially increased rate and extent of spreading of the solvent blanket on top of the oil column. The miscible blanket is displaced downward by injecting gas such as natural gas, methane, or carbon dioxide into the upper portion of the reservoir.
Abstract:
A solution-mining technique for recovering bitumen from subterranean bitumen-containing deposits such as tar sand deposits having a ratio of overburden thickness to formation thickness of one or less. The overburden is excavated from the deposit and injection and production wells are completed open hole into the tar sand interval, and a solvent for bitumen, said solvent having a density greater than the density of water, is injected into an injection well and a mixture of solvent and bitumen is produced from the remotely located production well. The solvent moves in a horizontal direction across the top portion of the tar sand deposit. Water is used to fill the cavity above the tar sand deposit previously occupied by the overburden. The solvent remains in a thin horizontal layer between the water and the top of the tar sand deposit. As the bitumen is removed from an upper portion of the tar sand interval, water moves down to occupy the area previously occupied by bitumen, and the horizontally moving solvent layer is forced down deeper into the tar sand deposit.
Abstract:
A method for treating subterranean formations containing water sensitivity clays which have sustained permeability damage due to contact with fresh water, to increase the permeability of the subterranean formations, comprising injecting into the formation via wells drilled into such formations a solution of potassium chloride followed by treating with a heated fluid including steam having a temperature of at least 300* F. for several hours, followed by treating the formation with mud acid or retarded mud acid.
Abstract:
METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF SCALE, PARTICULARLY CALCIUM SULFATE SCALE, USING A WATER SOLUBLE PARTIALLY ESTERIFIED POLYPHOSPHORIC ACID HAVING A PRESCRIBED FORMULA, THE CORRESPONDING WATER SOLUBLE SALTS AND MIXTURES.
Abstract:
This invention concerns methods of imparting properties of scale resistance to surfaces upon which adherent scale is normally prone to form during contact with mineralized waters through the use of novel, polyurethane-type resins, characterized by containing pendant polyoxyalkylene chains attached to a basic polyurethane skeletal network wherein the polyurethane is formed utilizing a blocked isocyanate.
Abstract:
Significant improvement in the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation containing acidsoluble components is accomplished by injecting into the formation via an injection well drilled into a formation communicating with an adjacent producing well and containing acid-soluble components which may or may not have water-sensitive clays and shales included therein, an aqueous acidic solution of a phosphate ester of prescribed formula whereupon the acid component reacts with the acid-soluble components of the formation creating passageways or enlarging existing passageways thus facilitating the flow of fluids therein and the phosphate ester prevents post precipitation of dissolved salts and thereby increases the recovery of hydrocarbons from the formation through the adjacent producing well.
Abstract:
A miscible displacement process for the recovery of petroleum from a petroleum-bearing reservoir is performed in situ by use of a solvent miscible with the petroleum and having a density greater than water followed by an aqueous driving fluid wherein the solvent is introduced in the vapor state into the reservoir or is vaporized within the reservoir by a heated driving fluid and proceeds in a substantially horizontal manner through the reservoir forming a condensation front ahead of the driving fluid.
Abstract:
A miscible displacement process for the recovery of petroleum from a petroleum bearing formation is performed in situ by the use of a solvent system miscible with the petroleum, the solvent system comprising carbon disulfide and a hydrocarbon solvent.
Abstract:
A petroleum recovery method employing a mixed solvent for use in formation in contact with and over-laying a substantially water saturated porous formation which is prone to bottom water coning. The mixed solvent density is less than the density of water and greater than the density of the formation petroleum, and has a boiling point less than the boiling point of the formation petroleum. The solvent is injected into the formation near the petroleum-water interface and the mixture comprising solvent and petroleum is recovered from production wells. The solvent may be separated from the produced petroleum-solvent mixture by distillation and recondensation for reinjection into the formation.