Texaco Inc.

Other

Reed Lignin, Inc.

Getty Oil Company

William C Richardson

Lawrence E Whittington

Donald S Mims

Francis E Debons

Lawrence R Morrow

Larry D Pedersen

David K Olsen

Darrell R Snider

Kevin David Kimber

Kevin D Kimber

Kenneth R Kibodeaux

Arthur Ruch Deemer

A process of using a non-radioactive tracer in the monitoring of the flow of a traced fluid is disclosed. The process includes injecting a tracer containing fluid at a first point and analyzing at least one sample from a second point in the flow of the fluid for the tracer compound. In one embodiment heavy oil is traced with a long chain hydrocarbon having a primary chain of more than 25 carbon atoms, the compound preferably being a saturated hydrocarbon. Exemplary tracer compounds include pentacosane (C,H,); hexacosane (C,H,), heptacosane (C,H,), octacosane(C,H,), nonacosane(C,H,), triacontane(C,H,), hentriacontane(C,lH,), dotriacontane(C,H,), tritriacontane (C,H,), tetratriacontane (C,H,) and the like.

Tracers for heavy oil

An enhanced oil recovery process uses an injectant containing water and an additive. The additive is an organic compound having a total of 1 to 10 carbons and at least one functional group containing a heteroatom. The additive is present at a concentration of between about 0.01% and about 20% by weight of the composition. The injectant is injected at a temperature of between about 100&deg; F. to about 500&deg; F. Hot water flooding with the additive provides enhanced oil recovery in medium to heavy oil reservoirs.

Chemically assisted thermal flood process

A method of enhancing recovery of viscous petroleum is provided. A hydrocarbons mixture comprising hydrocarbons having a selected range of boiling points, all higher than that of water, is injected at relatively low concentrations along with steam. The range and distribution of hydrocarbon boiling points in the mixture to be injected may be selected by experiment or calculations.

Hydrocarbon-assisted thermal recovery method

An apparatus and method for heating refrigerant in the chiller of a conventional refrigeration system, whereby refrigerant is removed from the chiller and pumped to a heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant is heated before being returned to the chiller to cause the pressure of the refrigerant in the system to increase. An electrical control structure monitors and controls the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant within the system.

Method and apparatus for heating refrigerant in a chiller

The permeability of an underground formation near a wellbore can be substantially decreased by the injection of one or more slugs of an aqueous solution containing an in situ forming gel of lignosulfonate and a monomer of acrylamide or acrylic acid, initiated by persulfate or hydroxylamine and a relatively small amount of a metal salt having a polyvalent cation. The gel can be formed in the formation by delaying the mixing of all of the gel components into the aqueous solution until just prior to injection or splitting up the components into two aqueous solutions so that they are not mixed until they are in the formation.

Method for decreasing permeability around a wellbore

A method of enhanced oil recovery comprising injecting a surfactant system comprised of an oxidized alkali lignin and an anionic and/or nonionic surfactant into a formation containing oil and producing the oil thus mobilized.

Growing community of inventors

Bellaire, TX, United States of America

William C Richardson