Atlantic Richfield Company

Steven D Crane

Gary L Beer

Harrison F Blacker

Quintin J Lai

James R Coleman

A method for producing a heavy crude oil from a subterranean formation through a wellbore, transporting the heavy crude oil to a market location and converting the heavy crude oil into a product distillate hydrocarbon stream and by-products such as heat, steam, electricity and synthesis gas by separating distillable components of the heavy crude oil by distillation and solvent deasphalting and converting the asphaltic residual portion of the heavy crude oil in a fluidized bed to at least one of heat, steam, electricity or synthesis gas. The method also produces diluent hydrocarbons useful as a separate product, a distillable hydrocarbon stream or a diluent for use in the production and transportation of the heavy crude oil.

Method for transporting a heavy crude oil produced via a wellbore from a

A method for producing a heavy crude oil from a subterranean formation via a wellbore, transporting the heavy crude oil to a market and producing a distillable hydrocarbonaceous stream from the crude oil, the method includes: producing the heavy crude oil from a subterranean formation via a wellbore, mixing the heavy crude oil with a diluent to form a mixture, transporting the mixture to a selected location and converting the heavy crude oil into a product distillate hydrocarbon stream and at least one of heat, steam, electricity and synthesis gas by separating distillable components of the heavy crude oil by distillation and converting the residual portion of the heavy crude oil in a fluidized bed to at least one of heat, steam, electricity or synthesis gas. The diluent is typically a hydrocarbonaceous distillate material which may be recovered as a separate product.

Method for producing from a subterranean formation via a wellbore,

A method for producing a heavy crude oil from a subterranean formation through a wellbore and converting the heavy crude oil into a product distillate hydrocarbon stream and at least one of heat, steam, electricity and synthesis gas by separating distillable components of the heavy crude oil by distillation and converting the residual portion of the heavy crude oil in a fluidized bed to at least one of heat, steam, electricity or synthesis gas. The method also produces diluent hydrocarbons useful in the production and transportation of the heavy crude oil.

Method for producing heavy crude oil via a wellbore from a subterranean

Hydraulic fractures which extend between a hydrocarbon fluid producing zone of an earth formation and a water-producing zone are sealed with respect to the water-producing zone by simultaneously injecting a non-sealing fluid such as crude oil, diesel fuel or brine into the portion of the fracture extending within the hydrocarbon producing zone and injecting a settable gel composition such as a polyacrylamide polymer cross-linked with inorganic transition metals into the portion of the fracture extending within the water-producing zone. The flow rates of the simultaneously pumped fluids are controlled in accordance with the ratio of the respective fracture heights and the viscosity and density of the respective sealing and non-sealing fluids. One fluid is typically pumped through the well annulus while the other fluid is pumped through a tubing string which is sealed from the annulus by a conventional packer disposed at the interface between the hydrocarbon and water-bearing zones.

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Plano, TX, United States of America

Steven D Crane