Mobil Oil Corporation

Maynard L Anderson

Eve S Sprunt

Joseph G Savins

Peggy M Wilson

Susan O Wooten

A core sample of an earth formation is obtained by drilling with a coring bit and circulating a coring fluid through the coring bit. The coring fluid contains no mud solids for contaminating the core sample or, in the alternative, contains drilling mud mixed with a bulk material which invades the core sample and occupies the core sample pore spaces preferentially over mud solids. This bulk material is more readily removed from the core sample by cleaning than mud solids.

Method for minimizing mud solids invasion of core samples obtained

This invention relates to a method where the soak time, required for solvent and crude oil mixing in the gravity assisted solvent flooding process, is significantly reduced. This is accomplished by inducing vertical flow of solvent into the heavy crude oil part of the reservoir through the use of intermediate wells drilled between injection and production wells and completed in the top of the oil reservoir. Steam or gas may be used prior to the introduction of the solvent to reduce the resistance to subsequent solvent flow.

Gravity assisted solvent flooding process

This specification discloses a process for the production of alga biopolymer and alga biomass. The first step of the process is carried out in a seed reactor. In this step, an aqueous culture containing an inoculum of alga and nutrients required for the growth of the alga is subjected to artificial illumination of an intensity and for such a time as to initiate growth of the alga. The aqueous culture is also subjected to the action of a mixture of carbon dioxide and air during this first step. After growth of the alga is initiated, at least a portion of the alga biomass is transferred to a main reactor where the second step of the process is carried out. In this step, the alga biomass in an aqueous culture is subjected to artificial illumination of an intensity and duration to effect growth of alga biomass and, concomitantly, synthesis of alga biopolymer. It is also subjected to the action of a mixture of carbon dioxide and air. During this second step the aqueous culture containing the alga biomass may be additionally subjected to the action of solar radiation. Following the second step, alga biomass is separated from the aqueous culture which contains extracellular biopolymer. The alga biopolymer can be subjected to a variety of uses. The biomass, if desired, may be treated for recovery of intracellular biopolymer and the resultant biomass sludge subjected to a variety of uses.

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Dallas, TX, United States of America

Maynard L Anderson