Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
166270000 | Injecting a composition to adjust the permeability (e.g., selective plugging) | 37 |
20080217008 | PROCESS FOR DISPERSING NANOCATALYSTS INTO PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATIONS - Embodiments of the invention provide methods for recovering petroleum products from a formation by distributing nanocatalysts into the formation and heating the heavy crude oil therein. In one embodiment, a method is provided which includes flowing a catalytic material containing the nanocatalyst into the formation containing the heavy crude oil, exposing the heavy crude oil and the catalytic material to a reducing agent (e.g., H | 09-11-2008 |
20080257551 | Methods of Chemical Diversion of Scale Inhibitors - A method of treating a hydrocarbon-containing formation including injecting a scale inhibiting well treating fluid into a well, wherein the well treating fluid includes a self-diverting acid that includes about 1% to 20% by volume of at least one viscoelastic surfactant selected from a family of compounds described by | 10-23-2008 |
20090294125 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING FLUIDS FROM A WELL AND/OR INJECTING FLUIDS INTO A WELL - Methods and apparatus for diverting fluids either into or from a well are described. Some embodiments include a diverter conduit that is located in a bore of a tree. The invention relates especially but not exclusively to a diverter assembly connected to a wing branch of a tree. Some embodiments allow diversion of fluids out of a tree to a subsea processing apparatus followed by the return of at least some of these fluids to the tree for recovery. Alternative embodiments provide only one flowpath and do not include the return of any fluids to the tree. Some embodiments can be retrofitted to existing trees, which can allow the performance of a new function without having to replacing the tree. Multiple diverter assembly embodiments are also described. | 12-03-2009 |
20100044039 | Geothermal Well Diversion Agent Formed From In Situ Decomposition of Carbonyls at High Temperature - A method of selectively blocking fractures in a subterranean formation by injecting a diversion agent into the well is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method comprises injecting a diversion agent into a subterranean formation to form an alkaline-earth carbonate precipitate from decomposition of a carbonyl compound, wherein the diversion agent includes the carbonyl compound and an alkaline-earth halide salt. | 02-25-2010 |
20100065269 | METHOD OF STABILIZING A WELL BORE OF A WELL PENETRATING A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION - A method of controlling the loss of a drilling fluid from a well bore into a subterranean formation in which one illustrative embodiment includes: drilling the well bore with an aqueous based drilling fluid that includes an aqueous phase and a shale hydration inhibitor that is a polyether amine compound, and circulating into the well bore a fluid pill including a dialdehyde crosslinking agent. The dialdehyde crosslinking agent reacts with the polyether amine compound and forms a polymeric material. | 03-18-2010 |
20100236778 | METHOD FOR REDUCING THERMAL LOSS IN A FORMATION - A method for reducing thermal loss in a formation comprising two zone capable of production. The method first begins drilling a pair of wells, comprising a first well and a second well in a formation having two production zones, wherein one production zone is a thief zone such that the first well and the second well are in fluid communication with the thief zone. A sealing agent is injected into the thief zone via a first well and produced from the second well. Either the first well or the second well is then capped to form a capped well and a uncapped well. An amount of activating agent is injected into the uncapped well to form in-situ a thermally restrictive substance inside the thief zone. | 09-23-2010 |
20100243248 | Particle Stabilized Emulsions for Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery - Hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles as can be used to stabilize emulsions for hydrocarbon extraction and/or recovery. | 09-30-2010 |
20110042082 | Methods and Apparatuses for Releasing a Chemical into a Well Bore Upon Command - Methods and apparatuses for releasing a chemical in a well bore are disclosed. One apparatus includes a casing collar configured to couple to a casing string. A chemical container is disposed within the casing collar, and the casing collar is configured to release the chemical from the chemical reservoir. | 02-24-2011 |
20110088899 | PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MINERAL OIL - The present invention relates to a process for the production of mineral oil from mineral oil deposits with large temperature gradients, in which, for increasing the mineral oil yield, highly permeable regions of the mineral oil formation are blocked by injecting formulations which, after being forced into the deposit, form highly viscous gels under the influence of the deposit temperature. A plurality of portions of the formulation which in each case can form gels at different temperatures and therefore result in very complete blocking of highly permeable regions of the formation are used. | 04-21-2011 |
20110120705 | Simulating Injection Treatments from Multiple Wells - Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to simulating injection treatments applied to a subterranean formation from multiple well bores in the subterranean formation. A subterranean formation model representing rock blocks of a subterranean formation is received. Information on multiple injection treatments for multiple well bores in the subterranean formation is received. The subterranean formation model and the information on the injection treatments is used to predict a response of each of the rock blocks to forces acting on the rock block during the injection treatments. The injection treatments may include, for example, multiple fracture treatments for simultaneous application to the subterranean formation. In some implementations, injection treatments may be designed for a multiple-well bore system based on the predicted response of the rock blocks. | 05-26-2011 |
20110120706 | Refining Information on Subterranean Fractures - Systems, methods, and instructions encoded in a computer-readable medium can perform operations related to refining information on characteristics of natural fractures of a subterranean formation. Fracture pattern models are generated based on sampling an initial distribution of values for a fracture parameter. Each fracture pattern model may include, for example, a model of natural fractures in a subterranean formation. Each fracture pattern model is compared to microseismic event data for a subterranean region. A refined distribution for the fracture parameter is generated based on the comparison. Generating the refined distribution may include, for example, selecting values of the fracture parameter from fracture pattern models that correlate with the microseismic event data. In some implementations, an injection treatment may be simulated and/or designed based on the refined distribution. | 05-26-2011 |
20110180254 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING OIL AND/OR GAS - A system for producing oil and/or gas from an underground formation comprising a first well in the formation; a mechanism to inject a miscible enhanced oil recovery formulation into the first well; a second well in the formation; a mechanism to produce oil and/or gas from the second well; wherein the first well and the second well comprise an interior of the system; a plurality of containment wells exterior to the first well and the second well; and a mechanism to inject a containment agent into the containment wells. | 07-28-2011 |
20110192600 | PRECISION LOW FLOW RATE FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING SAME - A method is provided for controllably delivering an additive fluid into a host fluid in a target system at a desired volumetric flow rate. The method comprises: providing a binary supply injector connected in an additive fluid delivery system between a pressurized supply of the additive fluid and the target system. The binary supply injector is controllable between an ON state which permits flow of the additive fluid therethrough and an OFF state which prevents flow of the additive fluid therethrough. The method involves iteratively repeating: estimating a volumetric flow rate of the additive fluid between the pressurized supply and the target system; and if the estimated volumetric flow rate of the additive fluid is greater than the desired volumetric flow rate, controlling the supply injector to its OFF state; or if the estimated volumetric flow rate of the additive fluid is less than the desired volumetric flow rate, controlling the supply injector to its ON state. Additive fluid delivery systems are also provided. | 08-11-2011 |
20110232903 | ENHANCED BITUMEN RECOVERY USING HIGH PERMEABILITY PATHWAYS - Methods are provided for enhancing recovery of heavy oil from oil sand reservoirs through the creation of subsurface high permeability pathways distributed throughout the oil sand reservoirs. The high permeability pathways may be boreholes that extend through the oil sand reservoir. A portion of the high permeability pathway may be packed with high permeability particulate to provide structural support and allow for high permeability throughout the boreholes. After establishing the high permeability pathways throughout the oil sand reservoir, solvent may be introduced into the oil sand reservoir. The solvent has the beneficial effect of lowering the viscosity of the heavy oil, which aids in the extraction of the heavy oil. Thermal recovery processes and other enhancements may be combined with these methods to aid in reducing the viscosity of the heavy oil. Advantages of these methods include, accelerated hydrocarbon recovery, higher production efficiencies, lower costs, and lower extraction times. | 09-29-2011 |
20110265994 | Systems and Methods For Hydraulic Barrier Formation To Improve Sweep Efficiency In Subterranean Oil Reservoirs - Systems and methods for creating a hydraulic barrier at an interface between high and low permeability regions that may exist in high permeability-contrast subterranean formations. These systems and methods may include providing injection and/or production wells that are completed within the high and/or low permeability regions, supplying a pore throat blocking agent to an interface between the high and low permeability regions, and forming the hydraulic barrier at the interface. The pore throat blocking agent may be sized to substantially flow through the high permeability region while being substantially blocked, or occluded, from the low permeability region. In some embodiments, the hydraulic barrier may be greater than one acre (0.4 hectare) in area. In some embodiments, the subterranean formation may include an oil reservoir. In some embodiments, the high and/or low permeability formations may be swept concurrently and/or independently to remove oil from the oil reservoir. | 11-03-2011 |
20110272153 | Method and System For Enhancing A Recovery Process Employing One or More Horizontal Wellbores - The present invention relates generally to a system and method for enhancing a recovery process employing one or more substantially horizontal wellbores. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for enhancing a recovery process employing one or more horizontal wellbores by providing a zone of increased permeability in a hydrocarbon reservoir to facilitate vertical movement of flowable materials through the reservoir to thereby enhance the recovery process. In some embodiments, the reservoir comprises one or more vertical permeability impediments. | 11-10-2011 |
20110278000 | GEOTHERMAL WELL DIVERSION AGENT FORMED FROM IN SITU DECOMPOSITION OF CARBONYLS AT HIGH TEMPERATURE - A method of selectively blocking fractures in a subterranean formation by injecting a diversion agent into the well is disclosed. According to one embodiment, the method comprises injecting a diversion agent into a subterranean formation to form an alkaline-earth carbonate precipitate from decomposition of a carbonyl compound, wherein the diversion agent includes the carbonyl compound and an alkaline-earth halide salt. | 11-17-2011 |
20120037363 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING OIL AND/OR GAS - A system for producing oil and/or gas from an underground formation including a well above the formation; a mechanism to inject an enhanced oil recovery formulation into the formation, the enhanced oil recovery formulation including dimethyl ether; and a mechanism to produce oil and/or gas from the formation. | 02-16-2012 |
20120037364 | DELAYED GELLING AGENTS - The invention is directed to delayed gelation agents comprising a degradable polymeric cage containing therein one or more gelation agents. The cage degrades in situ, e.g, in an oil reservoir, thus releasing the gelation agent(s), which can then crosslink second polymers in situ to form a gel. | 02-16-2012 |
20120073809 | DIVERSION PILL AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - The invention provides a method made of steps of method injecting into a wellbore, a composition comprising an aqueous solution, a viscosifying agent, a degradable material, and sized salt particulates; and allowing viscosity of the composition to increase and form a plug at dynamic reservoir conditions. | 03-29-2012 |
20120145387 | Compositions and Methods for Servicing Subterranean Wells - Disclosed are pumpable-fluid compositions and methods for establishing hydraulic isolation in cemented subterranean wells. The fluid compositions comprise solids-free solutions of water-soluble polymers. Upon entering voids and cracks in the cement sheath and contacting the set-cement surfaces, the fluid gels and forms a seal that prevents further leakage. | 06-14-2012 |
20120160483 | Hybrid Dump Bailer and Method of Use - A hybrid dump bailer is disclosed herein comprising a bailer tubes for containing a material, such as cement slurry, to be dumped. The hybrid dump bailer comprises a pressure pulse piston that is accelerated by a spring causing a pressure pulse to expel the material to be dumped. The hybrid dump bailer further comprises a collet, a retaining rod, a piston, valve, and a supply of pressurized fluid which is holds the pressure pulse piston in place while the spring is compressed. Once the valve is opened, releasing the pressurized fluid, the retaining rod separates from the collet allowing the pressure pulse piston to accelerate can produce the pressure pulse to dump the material. | 06-28-2012 |
20120222860 | SELECTIVE PLACEMENT OF CONFORMANCE TREATMENTS IN MULTI-ZONE WELL COMPLETIONS - Selective placement of conformance treatments in multi-zone well completions. A method includes injecting a relative permeability modifier into a zone and optimizing a ratio of desired fluid to undesired fluid produced from the zone, including adjusting at least one flow control device between fully open and fully closed configurations. Another method includes injecting a relative permeability modifier into multiple zones, one at a time, via respective flow control devices, and then producing fluid from each of the zones. Another method includes identifying which of the zones to treat by, for each of the zones: a) closing flow control devices corresponding to the other zones, and b) evaluating fluid produced from the zone; and injecting a conformance treatment into the zones identified as the zones to treat. | 09-06-2012 |
20120241150 | METHODS FOR PRODUCING OIL AND/OR GAS - A method for producing oil from an underground formation comprising providing a first well in one or more formations, the first well comprising a plurality of sections along a length of the well; providing a second well in the formation; injecting an enhanced oil recovery formulation into at least a first section and a second section of the first well and into the formation; flowing the formulation and/or oil towards the second well in one or more formations; producing the formulation and/or oil from the second well; and then modifying the injecting into the second section, while continuing the injecting into the first section. | 09-27-2012 |
20120255728 | Plugging Thief Zones and Fractures by In-Situ and In-Depth Crystallization for Improving Water Sweep Efficiency of Sandstone and Carbonate Reservoirs - The present invention relates to methods and compositions that can be used to delay crystallization of a treatment solution so that thief zones or fractures are plugged in subterranean formations at a substantial distance from a wellbore. A supersaturated sodium aluminate solution, or other solutions, are introduced into the reservoir. The solution is relatively stable in the supersaturated state. Crystallization, or de-stabilizing the solution, can be controlled, which in turn plugs the thief zone or fracture at a designed point of time. By controlling the time that crystallization starts, i.e., the induction period, thief zones that are located at a substantial distant from the wellbore can be plugged. | 10-11-2012 |
20130020080 | METHOD FOR IN SITU EXTRACTION OF HYDROCARBON MATERIALS - A method for in situ extraction of hydrocarbon materials in a subsurface region includes increasing permeability of a low permeability hydrocarbon-containing subsurface region to create a first well sub-region and a second well sub-region vertically below the first well sub-region. The first well sub-region is heated to extract liquid hydrocarbon materials that flow to the second well sub-region. The liquid hydrocarbon materials are then transported from the second well sub-region. | 01-24-2013 |
20130255942 | Accelerated Coalbed Methane Dewatering Using CO2 Injection - A method for producing methane from a coalbed formation including the accelerated dewatering of the coalbed formation including determining the location of water influx into the coal formation and determining an area to form a permeability barrier in the coal formation to reduce the water influx into the coal formation. A strongly adsorbing fluid is injected through one or more injection wells into the area to form a permeability barrier to the influx of the water. One or more methane production wells are drilled into the coal formation and methane is produced from the coal formation. | 10-03-2013 |
20130312958 | RESERVOIR TREATMENT - A method of treatment of a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir, the reservoir comprising at least one porous and permeable rock formation, the reservoir being penetrated by a plurality of injection wells and one or more production wells, the injection wells sharing a common injection header for delivering an aqueous injection fluid to the injection wells, the method comprising: a. identifying a group of injection wells selected from the injection wells sharing the common injection header; b. determining a cumulative volume of the treatment stream that is to be supplied contemporaneously to all of the injection wells within the identified group; c. simultaneously transmitting the treatment stream only to the identified group of injection wells so as to inject the treatment stream into the reservoir, thereby treating the reservoir to improve the sweep efficiency of subsequently injected fluid. | 11-28-2013 |
20130327524 | METHOD FOR RECOVERING OIL FROM A RESERVOIR BY MEANS OF MICRO(NANO)-STRUCTURED FLUIDS WITH CONTROLLED RELEASE OF BARRIER SUBSTANCES - The present invention relates to a method for oil recovery from a reservoir which comprises the following phases: a) injecting a volume of a micro (nano)-structured fluid with released control of barrier substances into at least a portion of an underground reservoir containing oil, said micro (nano)-structured fluid comprising an aqueous dispersion of microcapsules composed of a core comprising a modifying substance of the absolute permeability of the rock formation which houses said reservoir, a protective shell insoluble in water which coats said core; b) clogging the porous intergranular spaces of said rock formation with said modifying substance with a reduction or inhibition of the absolute permeability of said rock formation, c) recovering said oil from the remaining portion of said reservoir by the further injection of a displacing fluid, preferably water. The present invention also relates to the above microcapsules and an aqueous dispersion comprising the above microcapsules for use in the above method. | 12-12-2013 |
20140083693 | Enzyme Enhanced Oil Recovery - The invention relates to a method of establishing an enhanced oil recovery in an underground reservoir by means of a recovery system, the recovery system comprising at least one injection and production well, the injection well comprising an injection pump system, the injection pump system establishing an injection stream comprising a first injection stream and a second injection stream, wherein said injection stream comprises enzyme added at the injection well, the injection pump system establishing an injection stream through the injection well, the injection pump system being coupled with a power supply system, the production well comprising at least one fluid output, the injection well and the production well actively establishing an underground water stream, the underground water stream being established in response to pressure established by the injection pump system, the underground water stream comprising water and enzyme injected by the injection pump system, where C | 03-27-2014 |
20140090839 | ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY BY IN-SITU STEAM GENERATION - Embodiments of the invention provide methods and composition for stimulating a hydrocarbon-bearing, heavy oil containing formation, a deep oil reservoir, or a tight oil reservoir, whereby exothermic reactants are utilized to generate in-situ steam and nitrogen gas downhole in the formation or the reservoir as an enhanced oil recovery process. An oil well stimulation method is provided, which includes injecting, into the one of the formation and the reservoir, an aqueous composition including an ammonium containing compound and a nitrite containing compound. The method further includes injecting, into the one of the formation and the reservoir, an activator. The activator initiates a reaction between the ammonium containing compound and the nitrite containing compound, such that the reaction generates steam and nitrogen gas, increasing localized pressure and improving oil mobility, in the one of the formation and the reservoir, thereby enhancing oil recovery from the one of the formation and the reservoir. | 04-03-2014 |
20140131038 | PLUGGING THIEF ZONES AND FRACTURES BY IN-SITU AND IN-DEPTH CRYSTALLIZATION FOR IMPROVING WATER SWEEP EFFICIENCY OF SANDSTONE AND CARBONATE RESERVOIRS - The present invention relates to methods and compositions that can be used to delay crystallization of a treatment solution so that thief zones or fractures are plugged in subterranean formations at a substantial distance from a wellbore. A supersaturated sodium aluminate solution, or other solutions, is introduced into the reservoir. The solution is relatively stable in the supersaturated state. Crystallization, or de-stabilizing the solution, can be controlled, which in turn plugs the thief zone or fracture at a designed point of time. By controlling the time that crystallization starts, that is, the induction period, thief zones that are located at a substantial distant from the wellbore can be plugged. | 05-15-2014 |
20140190690 | OIL FORMULATION FOR PREVENTING WATER PENETRATION IN UNDERGROUND FORMATIONS - The present invention relates to the use of an oil formulation in the field of the oil industry, in particular for the prevention of water penetration. The formulation according to the invention is in particular intended to be injected into underground formations, such as injection wells or production wells. | 07-10-2014 |
20140202693 | NANOGELS FOR DELAYED GELATION - The instant application relates to nanogels or compositions that hold multivalent metal ions until some level of nanogel degradation has occurred, then slowly release the multivalent metal ions for gelation with carboxylate containing polymers. Compositions comprising such nanogels, together with polymers that can be crosslinked with multivalent metal ions, allow the deployment of such mixtures in various applications, and greatly increased gelation times. | 07-24-2014 |
20140262255 | METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE SWEEP EFFICIENCY OF GAS INJECTION - A method for recovering oil from a subterranean, hydrocarbon-bearing formation includes at least one injection well and injecting a carrier fluid including a diverting agent into a high permeability pathway within the formation. An activating fluid is injected into the high permeability pathway within the formation, resulting in the precipitation or swelling of the diverting agent. The permeability of the high permeability pathway is decreased within the formation containing the diverting agent to a permeability less than the permeability of the adjacent areas of the formation. The carrier fluid may have a predetermined residence time within the formation prior to injecting an activating fluid; the step of injecting a carrier fluid comprising a diverting agent and injecting an activating fluid may be repeated. A mineralization fluid may be injected that is oversaturated or becomes oversaturated upon interacting with the acid gas that causes mineral precipitation to seal off high-permeability pathways. | 09-18-2014 |
20140318773 | METHANE ENHANCED LIQUID PRODUCTS RECOVERY FROM WET NATURAL GAS - A process is described for enhancing the yield of liquid products from natural gas from at least one extraction well. This process is achieved by injecting methane at a higher pressure than the rock pressure in at least one injection well site. The methane serves to maintain the pressure of gas in the formation, while also promoting the flow of liquid products away from the injection well and towards a collection well. The net effect is higher net yield of liquid products (referred to as “Y-Grade” liquids) from that well, with lower net yield of non-condensable methane. Because methane is naturally present in natural gas, the gas remaining underground is still a valuable product that can be trapped in the future. The use of the dry gas as the fracturing medium reduces or potentially eliminates the need to use water in fracturing process. | 10-30-2014 |
20160194551 | METHOD FOR REMOVING BITUMEN TO ENHANCE FORMATION PERMEABILITY | 07-07-2016 |