Shell Oil Comapny

Shell California Production Inc.

Paul B Ritter

Richard E Dilgren

Michael Prats

A well tubing hanger designed for severe service applications includes an annular seal formed about the tubing hanger exterior that is not energized during normal well operations. The annular seal is energized by lowering the tubing hanger downward within the tubing head until the annular seal subsequently contacts in a fluid-tight manner both the tubing hanger and the tubing head. The tubing hanger is lowered relative to the tubing head by rotative disengagement of a treaded mandrel operatively connected between the tubing hanger and the tubing head. The annular seal is energized prior to installation or removal of well flow control equipment located above the tubing hanger and tubing head, preferably after well fluid flow through the well has been secured.

Well tubing hanger method and apparatus for use in well control

A selective injection of gaseous fluid into a portion of a subterranean reservoir is improved by positioning an impedance to fluid flow in the annulus between a pipe string and a surrounding permeable-walled conduit, ensuring the presence of granular solids between the permeable-walled conduit and the reservoir, injecting the gaseous fluid through the pipe string to a point below the impedance and injecting fluid which is more viscous than the gaseous fluid down the annulus to restrict bypassing of the impedance.

Foam and impedance-guided steam injection

In a steam soak oil recovery process in a heavy oil reservoir which is susceptible to gravity override, improved results are obtained by injecting the steam in the form of a steam-foam-forming mixture which has a chemical selectivity for being more mobile within the reservoir in contact with the reservoir oil than in the absence of that oil.

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Bakersfield, CA, United States of America

Paul B Ritter