Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140034305 | Method of Enhancing the Effectiveness of a Cyclic Solvent Injection Process to Recover Hydrocarbons - Described is a method of operating a cyclic solvent-dominated recovery process (CSDRP) for recovering viscous oil from a subterranean reservoir of the viscous oil to enhance recovery effectiveness. The cyclic solvent process involves using an injection well to inject a viscosity-reducing solvent into a subterranean viscous oil reservoir. Reduced viscosity oil is produced to the surface using the same well used to inject solvent. The process of alternately injecting solvent and producing a solvent/viscous oil blend through the same wellbore continues in a series of cycles until additional cycles are no longer economical. Conventionally, the solvent composition remains constant over time within each injection cycle and among cycles. In the present method, by contrast, the solvent composition is varied over time thereby providing operational benefits as described herein. | 02-06-2014 |
20140138286 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEPARATING COMPONENTS OF A SLURRY - Systems and methods for removing fluid from a slurry fluid and a plurality of solid particles including flowing a slurry stream that includes the slurry through a slurry conduit, injecting a displacing fluid through a first perforated region that is in fluid communication with the slurry conduit, displacing at least a portion of the slurry fluid from the slurry, and producing a displaced fluid stream, which may include the displaced portion of the slurry fluid and/or a portion of the injected displacing fluid, from a second perforated region that is in fluid communication with the slurry conduit. The systems and methods also may include producing a product slurry stream from the slurry conduit, separating the components of the displaced fluid stream, separating the components of the product slurry stream, and/or recycling a portion of one or more of the streams. | 05-22-2014 |
20140262239 | Preparing a Wellbore for Improved Recovery - The present disclosure provides a system for and method of preparing a wellbore for improved recovery from a formation and a method of producing hydrocarbons from a formation. The system includes an approximately horizontal wellbore in a formation, a liner enclosing a portion of the approximately horizontal wellbore; and a packer inside the liner that comprises a swellable elastomeric material. | 09-18-2014 |
20140262240 | Producing Hydrocarbons from a Formation - A system for and methods of producing hydrocarbons from a formation. A method may include drilling a wellbore in a formation, forming a first fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore, forming a second fracture in the formation that emanates from the wellbore and is approximately parallel to the first fracture, and simultaneously (a) injecting a fluid from an injection tubing string in communication with the second fracture and (b) producing hydrocarbons that travel from the first fracture into a production tubing string that is substantially parallel to the injection tubing string. The wellbore may be substantially horizontal. The fluid may increase pressure in an area of the formation adjacent to the first fracture. | 09-18-2014 |
20150013969 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPROVING RESERVOIR FLUID RECOVERY FROM FRACTURED SUBTERRANEAN FORMATIONS - Systems and methods for improving reservoir fluid recovery from fractured subterranean formations. The methods may include injecting a pressurizing fluid into an injection fracture that extends within a subterranean formation and producing a produced fluid from a production fracture that extends within the subterranean formation. The production fracture is spaced apart from the injection fracture and is in indirect fluid communication with the injection fracture via a portion of the subterranean formation that extends therebetween and the pressurizing fluid injection provides a motive force for the production of the produced fluid. The methods further include injecting a foaming agent into the production fracture to limit production of the pressurizing fluid from the production fracture. The systems may include hydrocarbon production systems that may be utilized to perform the methods and/or that may be created while performing the methods. | 01-15-2015 |
20150122336 | Systems and Methods for Decreasing Abrasive Wear in a Pipeline that is Configured to Transfer a Slurry - Systems and methods for decreasing abrasive wear in a pipeline that is configured to transfer a slurry that includes a liquid and solid particles. The pipeline includes a pipe that defines a pipeline conduit and an energy dissipation layer that is within the pipeline conduit and through which a portion of the slurry flows. The slurry may flow at high velocity and/or with high turbulence, and it may contain hydrocarbons. The systems and methods may include an energy dissipation layer to decrease the kinetic energy of a buffer portion of the slurry that flows through the energy dissipation layer relative to the kinetic energy of a central portion of the slurry that flows through a central region of the pipe. This decrease in the kinetic energy of the buffer portion of the slurry may decrease abrasion of the pipe by the slurry. | 05-07-2015 |
20150218886 | Penetrating A Subterranean Formation - Methods and systems for penetrating a subsurface formation are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a hollow member with an inner and outer annulus. A flexible hose is disposed in the outer annulus and attached to the inner annulus, wherein the flexible hose is configured to convey a fluid from the inner annulus to a drilling apparatus. The drilling apparatus is configured to penetrate the outer annulus and the subsurface formation, and to pull the flexible hose into the formation as the drilling apparatus penetrates the subsurface formation. | 08-06-2015 |
20150285002 | PENETRATING A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION - Methods and systems for penetrating a subsurface formation are disclosed. An exemplary apparatus includes a kicker configured to direct a drilling apparatus towards a well casing and a flexible hose configured to convey a fluid from a surface pump to the drilling apparatus. The drilling apparatus includes a drill bit configured to penetrate a well casing and a subsurface formation, and wherein the drilling apparatus is configured to pull the flexible hose into the subsurface formation as the drilling apparatus penetrates the subsurface formation. | 10-08-2015 |