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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8104537 | Method of developing subsurface freeze zone A method of lowering the temperature of a subsurface formation, e.g., comprising oil shale, includes injecting a cooling fluid under pressure into a wellbore. The wellbore is completed at or below a depth of the subsurface formation, and the wellbore includes a bore... | 01/31/2012 |
| 7647967 | Drilling and opening reservoir using an oriented fissure to enhance hydrocarbon flow and method of making A system and method for increasing hydrocarbon production from a subsurface reservoir by utilizing an intersection of two well bores and a flexible linear cutting device, such as a segmented diamond wire saw, to form a fissure beginning at the intersection of the we... | 01/19/2010 |
| 7584790 | Method of isolating and completing multi-zone frac packs Multiple formations are isolated in the wellbore and fractured and gravel packed together. The bottom hole assembly can have a series of screens that are separated with packers in between and above and below the screen stack. The assembly is positioned where needed ... | 09/08/2009 |
| 7431090 | Methods and apparatus for multiple fracturing of subterranean formations The invention relates to methods and apparatus for creating multiple fractures in subterranean formations. The apparatus is a jetting tool having a plurality of sets of jetting nozzles so that the sets of nozzles are substantially parallel to one another such that p... | 10/07/2008 |
| 7409911 | Propellant for fracturing wells An apparatus for fracturing wells employs a propellant charge and an ignition cord wrapped around the outer surface of the propellant charge to rapidly ignite the outer surface of the propellant charge. ... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7410934 | Aqueous viscoelastic fluid The invention concerns an aqueous viscoelastic fluid for use in the recovery of hydrocarbons. According to the invention, the aqueous viscoelastic fluid comprises a monomer, a dimer or an oligomer of a viscoelastic surfactant able to form a viscoelastic gel under do... | 08/12/2008 |
| 7363978 | Methods of using reactive surfactants in subterranean operations Novel uses of reactive surfactants in treating subterranean formations and/or proppant particulates are provided. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method comprising: providing a treatment fluid that comprises a base fluid and a reactive surfactant... | 04/29/2008 |
| 7360595 | Method and system for underground treatment of materials A method for underground treatment of subsurface materials comprises providing an injection pattern and a recovery pattern, the injection pattern and the recovery pattern located proximate to a subsurface treatment zone and at least one of the injection pattern and ... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7358215 | Quaternary ammonium salts as thickening agents for aqueous systems This invention relates to the use of alkyl amido quaternary ammonium salts, and formulations thereof, as thickening agents in aqueous based fluids, especially those used in oil field applications. The quaternary ammonium salts of the present invention exhibit improv... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7350572 | Methods for controlling fluid loss A method of treatment of subterranean formations in which leakoff through natural fractures is controlled through the use of fibers. The method involves pumping a mixture of a formation treatment fluid and a fiber into the formation for matrix stimulation, fracture ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7338924 | Oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion An oil-in-water-in-oil emulsion (O/W/O) comprising a first oil-in-water emulsion dispersed in a second oil, and a method of preparing the same. The O/W/O emulsion can be used as a drive fluid in an enhanced oil recovery process. The O/W/O emulsion of this invention ... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7337839 | Fluid loss additive for enhanced fracture clean-up A hydraulic fracturing method is disclosed that includes designing a fracture treatment including a fluid pumping schedule to fracture a subterranean formation according to a design model that accounts for cumulative filter cake thickness, including polymer concentr... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7328743 | Toe-to-heel waterflooding with progressive blockage of the toe region A modified toe-to-heel waterflooding (TTHW) process is provided for recovering oil from a reservoir in an underground formation. After establishing the conventional TTHW waterflood, the process includes placing a chemical blocking agent at the watered out producing ... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7325608 | Methods of hydraulic fracturing and of propping fractures in subterranean formations Methods that comprise: providing a carrier fluid comprising a delayed breaker; providing a plurality of proppant aggregates comprising a binder fluid and a filler material; suspending the plurality of proppant aggregates in the carrier fluid; introducing the carrier... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7320221 | Method and apparatus for using geothermal energy for the production of power An apparatus and method for enhancing the flow of geothermal fluid from at least one injection well to at least one production well, which comprises a first horizontal geothermal well, which is used as the injection well, and into which water is injected; a second h... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7229952 | Additive packages for removing oil from solid materials recovered from a well bore An additive package for removing oil from solid material recovered from a well bore, e.g., drill cuttings and produced sand, is provided. The additive package includes an aqueous acidic solution containing a polymer substituted with an amino group, a halogenating ag... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7228908 | Hydrocarbon sweep into horizontal transverse fractured wells The present invention is directed to a method of increasing hydrocarbon production in an existing well in a hydrocarbon reservoir. The method includes the steps of forming a substantially horizontal transverse fractured wellbore that intersects the existing well and... | 06/12/2007 |
| 7213644 | Cavity positioning tool and method In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a method is provided for preventing formation of sludge in a subsurface cavity having particulate laden fluid disposed therein. The method includes positioning a downhole device having a fluid agitator into ... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7213651 | Methods and compositions for introducing conductive channels into a hydraulic fracturing treatment Methods for the treatment of subterranean wells involving injecting a first fracturing fluid into a formation, and then injecting at least a second fracturing fluid into the formation in order to create extended conductive channels through a formation are described.... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7210528 | Method of treatment subterranean formations using multiple proppant stages or mixed proppants An increase in effective propped lengths is evidenced in hydraulic fracturing treatments by the use of ultra lightweight (ULW) proppants. The ULW proppants have a density less than or equal to 2.45 g/cc and may be used as a mixture in a first proppant stage wherein ... | 05/01/2007 |
| 7207386 | Method of hydraulic fracturing to reduce unwanted water production A method of hydraulically fracturing a hydrocarbon-bearing subterranean formation ensures that the conductivity of water inflow below the productive zone of the subterranean formation is reduced. The method consists of two principal steps. In the first step, a fract... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7207390 | Method and system for lining multilateral wells In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method for lining a lateral wellbore includes drilling a main wellbore extending from a surface to a subterranean zone, casing the main wellbore with a main casing having a plurality of lateral wellbore w... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7207395 | Method and system for testing a partially formed hydrocarbon well for evaluation and well planning refinement A method and system for testing a partially formed well includes forming a first well bore intersecting a subterranean formation. The first well bore includes a portion of a planned well having a first configuration. A production characteristic of the subterranean f... | 04/24/2007 |
| 7205264 | Well treatment method using fluid containing lactic acid or salt thereof Fluids comprising an aqueous acid, synthetic polymer, metal crosslinking agent and lactic acid or a salt thereof have particular applicability in fracturing subterranean formations of an oil or gas well. The lactic acid acts as a delaying agent. As a result, crossli... | 04/17/2007 |
| 7199083 | Self-generating foamed drilling fluids Self-generating foamed fluids for circulation through a well during drilling operations and methods for circulating such self-generating foamed drilling fluids are provided for. The drilling fluid comprises an aqueous solvent, a polymer, a surfactant, a first foam g... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7192527 | Processes for removing oil from solid wellbore materials and produced water Processes for removing oil from a solid wellbore material such as drill cuttings or water such as produced by a subterranean formation include contacting the solid material/water with an amino-substituted polymer such as chitosan and a halogenating agent. The oil se... | 03/20/2007 |
| 7186673 | Stability enhanced water-in-oil emulsion and method for using same A method for enhancing the stability of a water-in-oil emulsion pretreating at least a portion of the oil prior to emulsification. The pretreatment step may consist of adding polymers to the oil, biotreating the oil, photochemically treating the oil, or combinations... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7163063 | Method and system for extraction of resources from a subterranean well bore A method for stimulating production of resources from a coal seam includes forming a drainage well bore in the coal bed that has a first end coupled to a ground surface and a second end in the coal seam. The method further includes inserting a liner into the well bo... | 01/16/2007 |
| 7156579 | Manufactured caverns in carbonate rock Disclosed is a process for manufacturing underground caverns suitable in one embodiment for storage of large volumes of gaseous or liquid materials. The method is an acid dissolution process that can be utilized to form caverns in carbonate rock formations. The cave... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7147057 | Loop systems and methods of using the same for conveying and distributing thermal energy into a wellbore Systems and methods are provided for treating a wellbore using a loop system to heat oil in a subterranean formation contacted by the wellbore. The loop system comprises a loop that conveys a fluid (e.g., steam) down the wellbore via a injection conduit and returns ... | 12/12/2006 |
| 7134492 | Mapping fracture dimensions Hydraulic fracture dimensions and, optionally, fracture closure pressure and time are determined by adding particulate matter that discharges to create an acoustic signal to the proppant, allowing the particulate matter to discharge, and detecting the acoustic signa... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7121339 | Solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing same A solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion and a method for preparing the solids-stabilized oil-in-water emulsion. The oil-in-water emulsion is formed by combining oil, water, solid particles and a pH enhancing agent and mixing until the solid-stabilized oil-in-water... | 10/17/2006 |
| 7100687 | Multi-purpose well bores and method for accessing a subterranean zone from the surface A well system includes at least two well bores extending from a surface to a subterranean zone. Each of the two well bores is used to form a well bore pattern for the subterranean zone that intersects the other well bore and transports fluid from the subterranean zo... | 09/05/2006 |
| RE39244 | Acid gas disposal Acid gas is liquified by compression and cooling, mixed with water under pressure and flowed into a disposal well. ... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7093655 | Method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from hydrates A method for recovering hydrocarbon trapped in a hydrate formation, comprising the steps of (a) contacting the hydrate formation with an aqueous solution comprising from 10% to 75% by weight of a salt such as potassium formate or acetate salt to liberate hydrocarbon... | 08/22/2006 |
| 7082993 | Means and method for assessing the geometry of a subterranean fracture during or after a hydraulic fracturing treatment A method is given of fracturing a subterranean formation including the step of a) pumping at least one device actively transmitting data that provide information on the device position, and further comprising the step of assessing the fracture geometry based on the ... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7073595 | Method and system for controlling pressure in a dual well system A method for controlling pressure of a dual well system includes drilling a substantially vertical well bore from a surface to a subterranean zone and drilling an articulated well bore from the surface to the subterranean zone using a drill string. The articulated w... | 07/11/2006 |
| 7069990 | Enhanced oil recovery methods A process for enhanced oil recovery from an extraction operation comprises the steps of selection of an appropriate hydrocarbon bearing stratum; providing at least one production well and one injection well; and injecting into the target stratum a slurry formed from... | 07/04/2006 |
| 7066257 | In situ recovery from lean and rich zones in a hydrocarbon containing formation A method for treating lean and rich zones of a hydrocarbon containing formation is provided. In one embodiment, heat from one or more heaters may be provided to at least a portion of the formation. Heat may be allowed to transfer from the one or more heaters to a fi... | 06/27/2006 |
| 7051809 | Burn assisted fracturing of underground coal bed A method for fracturing subterranean coal formations by injecting air into the formation, igniting the coal, driving the fire away from the wellbore by injecting a cooling media into the burning formation adjacent the wellbore, and subsequently extinguishing the fir... | 05/30/2006 |
