Atlantic Richfield Company

Eddie P Howell

John Howard Striegler

Orland J Gant, Jr

Lonnie J Smith

Daniel P Hearn

Dennis R Wood

Robert D Coffee

Apparatus for interconnecting a tubing string with downhole tool and for controlling the flow of fluid into a wellbore through the tubing string comprising an elongated body member and a resiliently deformable sleeve disposed around the body member and radially deformable to form a seal against the wellbore wall to seal off a zone of interest. The body member includes a passage for extension of a wireline cable from the tubing string to the downhole tool. An electric motor operated rotary plug valve is disposed in the apparatus body and is operable to be rotated to valve pressure fluid from the tubing string into an expansible chamber to cause the seal sleeve to deform to seal the wellbore. The valve member is movable to positions to relieve pressure fluid from the seal, to valve pressure fluid to the wellbore at an injection point below the seal and to block all ports. A lower head member of the apparatus includes an anchor for the wireline cable sheath and an upper head member includes a check valve to prevent backflow of fluids from the wellbore into the tubing string.

Inflatable packer and fluid flow control apparatus for wellbore

Method and apparatus for electrical logging in a mud-filled borehole by sensing redox potential and other formation characteristics. An elongated, tubular probe body contains reference and potential measuring electrodes which extend longitudinally thereof and are adapted to make external contact with the borehole fluid at the streamlined surface of the probe nose. The metal reference electrode member is immersed in an electrolyte-filled compartment separated from the external borehole fluid by a pressure-compensating diaphragm in the probe side wall, a fluid bridge with the mud of the borehole being established through a permeable ceramic wick. Probe design insures adequate mud flow past the electrodes in a nonturbulent state as the probe is lowered, thus eliminating clogging and providing good electrical contact. Alternate means are provided for maintaining a positive leak pressure regardless of borehole conditions.

Logging probe for making redox potential measurements

The present invention relates to an improved method for the solution mining of a mineral from a subterranean formation. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved method which enhances significantly the recovery of a mineral from a subterranean formation via solution mining utilizing an injection and production well. The improvement comprises positioning an injection well in the reduced zone and a production well in the oxidized zone of a formation.

Method for the production of minerals

Radioactive gaseous decay products emanating from a buried deposit of uranium or other radioactive ore migrate upwardly through the earth and are exhaled into the atmosphere. These products may be trapped at the surface in a series of low profile, dome-shaped plastic shelters 5 to 20 feet in diameter. Radiant energy permeating each shelter cover heats the soil beneath the enclosed surface area to accelerate the escape of gas through the soil. The air confined within the shelters is continuously recirculated over the exposed surfaces of a plurality of highly adsorbent discs. After equilibrium decay conditions are reached, the discs are analyzed to determine the radioactivity of the discs, which is proportional to the concentration of radioactive gas in the vicinity.

Method and apparatus for prospecting for buried mineral deposits

A method of recovering bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation characterized by a plurality of steps. First, a continuous wellbore having a second section thereof contained within the formation and first and third sections thereof extending the second section to the earth's surface is formed. Next, the first and third sections of the wellbore are cased. Thereafter, a heated fluid is circulated through the wellbore contacting the formation to reduce the viscosity of the bitumen contained therein rendering the bitumen mobile. Subsequently, bitumen mobilized by the heated fluid is recovered via the wellbore.

Recovery of bitumen from tar sands

A method of producing bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation characterized by the following muti-step process. First, a continuous wellbore having a second section thereof contained within the formation and a first and a third section extending said second section to the earth's surface is formed. Next, a perforated liner is inserted into the wellbore extending the entire length thereof and having perforations so positioned thereon to be adjacent the second section of the wellbore. Thereafter, a heated fluid is circulated through the wellbore, contacting the formation via the perforations, thereby reducing the viscosity of the bitumen contained therein rendering it mobile. Subsequently, the mobilized bitumen is recovered via the wellbore.

Production of bitumen from tar sands

A method for measuring the thermal conductivity of well casing in situ. The instrument consists of a probe several feet in length lowered into a well and decentralized so that it maintains contact with the casing wall. Two temperature sensors situated adjacent opposite ends of the probe are thermally insulated from an electrically heated intervening portion of the probe body. The probe is moved from one depth to another at a constant predetermined velocity, and the sensors continuously measure the temperature of the casing wall before and after passage of the heated probe portion thereover. The effective thermal conductivity of the casing is directly proportional to the flux applied by the heater and inversely proportional to the temperature change as the heater passes a point along the casing.

Method for measuring the thermal conductivity of well casing and the like

A pulse of ultrasonic acoustic energy applied to an earth formation by means of a well logging tool initiates a first compressional formation pulse followed by a secondary pulse of lower amplitude and velocity traveling exclusively in the formation fluid. These two pulses are located, identified and quantized with cross-correlation techniques to give a direct indication of formation permeability, to identify accurately the nature of the formation fluid, and to provide a more accurate determination of formation porosity.

Acoustic logging using ultrasonic frequencies

A method of producing bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation by the following multi-step method. First, an injection well is drilled to the formation and extended into the formation. Subsequent thereto, a perforated liner is inserted into the injection well extending the entire length thereof and having the perforations provided in the portion of the injection well in contact with the formation. Next, a plurality of production wells are drilled and completed into the formation positioned above and along the length of the injection well. Thereafter, a heated fluid is circulated through the injection well contacting the formation via the perforations and thereby reducing the viscosity of the bitumen contained therein rendering same mobile. Subsequently, the mobilized bitumen is recovered through the plurality of production wells.

Production of bitumen by steam injection

A method of recovering bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation by the following multi-step method. First, an injection well is drilled to the formation and cased. Perforations are provided in the portion of the injection well contacting the formation. Next, a plurality of production wells are drilled and completed into the formation positioned above and along the length of the injection well. Thereafter, a heated fluid is circulated through the injection well contacting the formation via the perforations and thereby reducing the viscosity of the bitumen contained therein rendering same mobile. Subsequently, the mobilized bitumen is recovered through the plurality of production wells.

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Plano, TX, United States of America

Eddie P Howell