Did You Know...
...that in 1800 ether was first used by partyers as a fun diversion? Sniffing the gas led to hilarious and raucous laughter as people watched each other become more and more intoxicated and silly. Several doctors independently realized the value ether would have to anesthetize surgery patients. Of those who claimed rights to the "discovery," none had a happy ending. One had a seizure and died defending his rights. Another spent his life in an asylum because he had been denied acclaim. A third became addicted to chloroform and, in a New York City jail, he soaked a cloth in the drug, severed an artery and bled to death.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8151881 | Permeability flow balancing within integral screen joints A SAGD system in a formation including a heated fluid injection well having a tubular including permeability control, one or more open hole anchors restricting thermal growth of the tubular and one or more baffles directing heated fluid application to target areas o... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8141636 | Method and system integrating thermal oil recovery and bitumen mining for thermal efficiency Thermal oil recovery operations, such as SAGD, result in waste heat that is typically released to the environment. Bitumen mining operations require heat input for heating fluids used in the mining process. A method and system of recovering heat from a thermal recov... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8113281 | Method and apparatus for in situ extraction of bitumen or very heavy oil A method to extract bitumen or very heavy oil in situ from oil sand seams close to the Earth's surface is provided. Energy is introduced via at least two pipes at a given, repeatable distance from the seam, a predefined geometry is maintained in relation to the well... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8091636 | Method for increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons Methods for increasing the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir. A method may include the steps of injecting a first fluid into a first horizontal well in the reservoir by a first device; producing hydrocarbons from a second horizontal well dispose... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8056627 | Permeability flow balancing within integral screen joints and method A borehole system having a permeability controlled flow profile including a tubular string; one or more permeability control devices disposed in the string; and the plurality of permeability control devices being selected to produce particular pressure drops for flu... | 11/15/2011 |
| 7946342 | In situ generation of steam and alkaline surfactant for enhanced oil recovery using an exothermic water reactant (EWR) A method for oil recovery whereby an exothermic water reactant (EWR) encapsulated in a water soluble coating is placed in water and pumped into one or more oil wells in contact with an oil bearing formation. After the water carries the EWR to the bottom of the injec... | 05/24/2011 |
| 7931083 | Integrated system and method for steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)-heavy oil production to produce super-heated steam without liquid waste discharge A method and system for producing steam for extraction of heavy bitumen including the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel. The fuel is crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin, petcoke or coal. The oxidation gas includes oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combust... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7905283 | Process for removing silica in heavy oil recovery A process for recovery oil includes recovering an oil/water mixture from an oil well. Thereafter, the method includes separating oil from the oil/water mixture to produce an oil product and produced water having dissolved silica therein. The produced water is direct... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7841408 | In situ heat treatment from multiple layers of a tar sands formation A method for treating a tar sands formation is disclosed. The method includes providing a drive fluid to a first hydrocarbon containing layer of the formation to mobilize at least some hydrocarbons in the first layer. At least some of the mobilized hydrocarbons are ... | 11/30/2010 |
| 7819190 | Systems, methods and apparatuses for monitoring and recovery of petroleum from earth formations A system for production of petroleum from an earth formation includes: an injection assembly disposable within a first borehole for injecting a first thermal source into the formation, the injection assembly including an injector extending from a distal end of the a... | 10/26/2010 |
| 7798220 | In situ heat treatment of a tar sands formation after drive process treatment A method for treating a tar sands formation includes providing a drive fluid to a hydrocarbon containing layer of the tar sands formation to mobilize at least some hydrocarbons in the layer. At least some first hydrocarbons from the layer are produced. Heat is provi... | 09/21/2010 |
| 7779914 | Process for producing heavy oil A process for emulsifying and burning a portion of heavy oil extracted from an underground reservoir, wherein the emulsified heavy oil is burned to generate steam and a caustic is used to aid in emulsifying the heavy oil. ... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7735554 | System and method for recovery of fuel products from subterranean carbonaceous deposits via an electric device A system for gasification of carbonaceous deposits below the ground surface comprising: an injection well assembly comprising one end positioned at the ground surface and the opposite end of the injection well assembly located within the carbonaceous deposit; a prod... | 06/15/2010 |
| 7730947 | Creating fluid injectivity in tar sands formations Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. Methods for treating a tar sands may include heating a portion of a hydrocarbon layer in the formation from one or more heaters located in the portion. The heat may be controlled to increase the permea... | 06/08/2010 |
| 7730946 | Treating tar sands formations with dolomite Methods for treating a tar sands formation are described herein. The tar sands formation may include dolomite and hydrocarbons. Methods may include providing heat at less than the decomposition temperature of dolomite from one or more heaters to at least a portion o... | 06/08/2010 |
| 7699104 | Integrated system and method for steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)-heavy oil production using low quality fuel and low quality water A process for producing steam for extracting heavy bitumen includes the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel, the fuel being crude oil, vacuum residue, Asphaltin, or coke with an oxidation gas, the gas being oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combusting the mi... | 04/20/2010 |
| 7694736 | Integrated system and method for steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)-heavy oil production to produce super-heated steam without liquid waste discharge A method and system for producing steam for extraction of heavy bitumen including the steps of mixing carbon or hydrocarbon fuel. The fuel is crude oil, vacuum residue, asphaltin, petcoke or coal. The oxidation gas includes oxygen, oxygen enriched air or air-combust... | 04/13/2010 |
| 7635025 | Cogeneration systems and processes for treating hydrocarbon containing formations A system for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation includes a steam and electricity cogeneration facility. At least one injection well is located in a first portion of the formation. The injection well provides steam from the steam and electricity cogeneration... | 12/22/2009 |
| 7631694 | Downhole steam injection splitter A modular steam injection line, for use in steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operations for delivery of an equal steam mass flow along a length of the apparatus, incorporates steam splitter modules fluidly connected for forming the steam injection line. Each of... | 12/15/2009 |
| 7628204 | Wastewater disposal with in situ steam production Oil-contaminated clay dispersions in final tailings pond water from a bitumen extraction operation are used in downhole catalytic steam production for an in situ process such as SAGD to produce bitumen. The final tailings pond water is thus disposed of in an environ... | 12/08/2009 |
| 7591311 | Process for recovering heavy oil A method for recovering oil includes recovering an oil-water mixture from a well and separating oil from the oil-water mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. The produced water is directed to an evaporator which produces steam that is condensed to for... | 09/22/2009 |
| 7578345 | Process for recovering heavy oil using multiple effect evaporation A method for recovering heavy oil including recovering an oil-water mixture from a well and separating oil from the oil-water mixture to produce an oil product and produced water. The produced water is separated into a series of produced water streams. Each produced... | 08/25/2009 |
| 7559367 | Temperature limited heater with a conduit substantially electrically isolated from the formation A system for heating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. A conduit may be located in an opening in the formation. The conduit includes ferromagnetic material. An electrical conductor is positioned inside the conduit, and is electrically coupled to the c... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7556099 | Recovery process A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir by operating a first injector-producer well pair under a substantially gravity-controlled recovery process, the first injector-producer well pair forming a first mobilized zone, operating a second in... | 07/07/2009 |
| 7464756 | Process for in situ recovery of bitumen and heavy oil A process is described for in situ recovery of bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir having a horizontal injection well and a horizontal production well. The process includes a first phase in which steam and a heavy hydrocarbon solvent are injected into the reservoi... | 12/16/2008 |
| 7438129 | Water treatment method for heavy oil production using calcium sulfate seed slurry evaporation A process for treating produced water to generate high pressure steam. Produced water from heavy oil recovery operations is treated by first removing oil and grease. Feedwater is then acidified and steam stripped to remove alkalinity and dissolved non-condensable ga... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7428926 | Water treatment method for heavy oil production A process for treating produced water to generate high pressure steam. Produced water from heavy oil recovery operations is treated by first removing oil and grease. Pretreated produced water is then fed to an evaporator. Up to 95% or more of the pretreated produced... | 09/30/2008 |
| 7422059 | Fluid injection stimulated heavy oil or mineral production system A method and apparatus for production of material from a subsurface earth formation being intersected by a wellbore that is lined with a well casing. After preparing the well casing by forming injection and production openings or removing a section of the casing to ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7404439 | Horizontal drilling A method and apparatus for recovering viscous hydrocarbons from a subsurface reservoir holding the same using an essentially horizontal well bore having a production inlet and containing steam injection tubing that carries a plurality of jet nozzles oriented to emit... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7367399 | 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 ... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7363973 | Method and apparatus for stimulating heavy oil production A process for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation having an extraction chamber where the extraction chamber has an extraction surface. The process has the steps of heating a solvent, such as propane, and then placing the solvent into th... | 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 |
| 7350571 | Methods of preparing and using coated particulates The present invention involves methods of preparing coated particulates and using such coated particulates in subterranean applications such as production enhancement and sand control. One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of preparing coated par... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7347051 | Processing of residual oil by residual oil supercritical extraction integrated with gasification combined cycle Residual oil supercritical extraction (ROSE) 10 and integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) power systems 70, 114 are cooperatively integrated. High-level heat from the IGCC is used via a heat transfer fluid 84 for high level process heati... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7347264 | Methods and compositions for well completion in steam breakthrough wells Methods of steam flooding for stimulating hydrocarbon production are provided. In general, the methods comprise the steps of: (A) injecting a mutual solvent preflush fluid capable of dissolving oil into the near-wellbore region of at least a portion of a wellbore; (... | 03/25/2008 |
| 7341102 | Flue gas injection for heavy oil recovery A variety of methods for thermal recovery of natural gas and bitumen from a formation containing the latter. In general, the methods incorporate a series of existing, but previously uncombined technologies. A modified flue gas from the steam generators conventionall... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7337843 | Solar blackbody waveguide for solar assisted oil recovery applications A method to enhance oil shale, oil sand, asphaltic crude oil, or other high viscosity crude oil production by using a solar blackbody waveguide to heat these formations in situ. A parabolic mirror collects and directs the solar flux into a vertical shaft of a well d... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7334635 | Methods for fracturing subterranean wells A method of forming a propped fracture comprising: providing a fracture having a far-well bore area and a near-well bore area; placing first proppant particulates at least partially coated with an adhesive substance; placing a portion of second proppant particulates... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7334636 | Methods of creating high-porosity propped fractures using reticulated foam One embodiment of the prevent invention provides a method of creating a high porosity propped fracture comprising creating a slurry comprising a treatment fluid, proppant particulates, pieces of reticulated foam having cells, and an adhesive substance such that the ... | 02/26/2008 |
| 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 |
