Alfred Wesley Brown

US Patent:

40857999, Apr 25, 1978

Filed:

Nov 18, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/742922

Inventors:

Issam S. Bousaid - Houston TX
Alfred Brown - Houston TX
Thomas W. Norman - Houston TX

Assignee:

Texaco Inc. - New York NY

International Classification:

E21B 4322
E21B 4324

US Classification:

166272

Abstract:

Petroleum may be recovered from subterranean, petroleum-containing formations by injecting into the formation an organic liquid having dispersed therein, an alkali metal in very fine, preferably colloidal size range, particular form. The organic liquid containing the alkali metal dispersion is followed by injecting an aqueous fluid to react with the alkali metal, generating alkali metal hydroxide, hydrogen gas and heat in the formation which stimulates displacement of the petroleum by encouraging formation of low viscosity oil-in-water emulsions, as well as by thermal viscosity reduction effects, and dissolution of hydrogen gas in the viscous petroleum. The organic liquid having alkali metal dispersed therein may be preceded or followed by injecting crude petroleum from another formation which is prone to emulsify spontaneously and aid in the formation of low viscosity oil-in-water emulsions. Liquids containing emulsifying agents may also be used in combination with the present process, injected either in advance of or after injection of the organic liquid having alkali metal particles dispersed therein. Alkali metals suitable for use in this invention include sodium, potassium and lithium.

US Patent:

42079454, Jun 17, 1980

Filed:

Jan 8, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/001520

Inventors:

Wilbur L. Hall - Bellaire TX
Charles R. French - Bridgeport TX
Ching H. Wu - Golden CO
Alfred Brown - Houston TX

Assignee:

Texaco Inc. - White Plains NY

International Classification:

E21B 4324

US Classification:

166272

Abstract:

A process for enhanced recovery of petroleum from subterranean formations wherein a vapor mixture of steam and a petroleum fraction containing naturally occurring phenolic and carboxylic compounds is injected via an injection well, and a mixture of steam condensate and petroleum is produced via a production well.

US Patent:

41414152, Feb 27, 1979

Filed:

Jul 1, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/812077

Inventors:

Ching H. Wu - Golden CO
Alfred Brown - Houston TX
Daniel T. Konopnicki - Houston TX
Joseph C. Allen - Bellaire TX

Assignee:

Texaco Inc. - New York NY

International Classification:

E21B 4324
E21B 47026

US Classification:

166252

Abstract:

A method for recovering viscous hydrocarbons from subterranean formations involves injecting a hydrocarbon solvent into the formation at spaced intervals to produce permeable regions or streaks in the formation. The injection is preferably directed to those regions of highest oil saturation, i. e. , those regions with lowest effective permeability. A subsequent introduction of a heated fluid then will enable recovery of the viscous hydrocarbons in the treated regions and the untreated zones therebetween.

US Patent:

52256740, Jul 6, 1993

Filed:

Jan 21, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/822789

Inventors:

Joseph H. Frantz - Pittsburgh PA
Alfred Brown - Houston TX
Richard A. Deans - Stamford CT

Assignee:

Texaco Inc. - White Plains NY

International Classification:

G01V 504

US Classification:

250260

Abstract:

A potassium salt which is soluble either in water or in an oil-based drilling mud is forced via filtrate invasion into permeable subsurface formation zones adjacent a well borehole via an over-balanced drilling mud or completion system. Well logging is then performed in an interval of interest in the formations using natural gamma ray spectrometry. Gamma radiation at an energy of 1. 46 MeV from the naturally occurring radioactive potassium isotope. sup. 40 K is detected. Gamma radiation levels of the isotope. sup. 40 K above normal background readings indicate the presence of permeable formations.

US Patent:

47279370, Mar 1, 1988

Filed:

Oct 2, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/914435

Inventors:

Yick M. Shum - Armonk NY
Margaret A. Hight - Houston TX
Alfred Brown - Houston TX

Assignee:

Texaco Inc. - White Plains NY

International Classification:

E21B 4324

US Classification:

166245

Abstract:

An oil recovery process employing a well pattern having a horizontal well located along each of the four sides of a substantially rectangular well pattern, a vertical injection well located at the center of the well pattern, and four vertical infill wells located midway between the central injection well and the four corners of the rectangular well pattern. Steam is initially injected through the central injection well and production taken at the four infill walls. After the injection of about 0. 5 to about 1. 0 pore volumes of steam through the central injection well, central injection is converted to water, the infill production wells are converted to steam injection, and production is taken from the horizontal wells.

US Patent:

45358451, Aug 20, 1985

Filed:

Sep 1, 1983

Appl. No.:

6/528672

Inventors:

Alfred Brown - Houston TX
Yick-Mow Shum - Houston TX

Assignee:

Texaco Inc. - White Plains NY

International Classification:

E21B 4324

US Classification:

166272

Abstract:

Method for producing viscous hydrocarbon products such as heavy crude oil or bitumen from tar sands, which products must be thermally converted into flowable condition. A discrete vertical subsection of a productive subterranean layer is marginated by a pair of spaced apart vertical wells and a horizontal well that lies substantially horizontal to the vertical wells. Controlled, pressurized flows of a heating medium such as steam are introduced to one of the vertical wells and to the horizontal well, whereby to establish a controlled thermal front. The latter is progressively urged by the pressurized steam, through the discrete vertical subsection and toward the other of the vertical wells at which hydrocarbon emulsion is produced.

US Patent:

40077853, Feb 15, 1977

Filed:

Mar 1, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/447106

Inventors:

Joseph C. Allen - Bellaire TX
Charles D. Woodward - Houston TX
Alfred Brown - Houston TX
Ching H. Wu - Houston TX

Assignee:

Texaco Inc. - New York NY

International Classification:

E21B 4324

US Classification:

166263

Abstract:

Viscous petroleum may be recovered from viscous petroleum-containing formations including tar sand deposits by contacting the formation with a heated multiple-component solvent for the petroleum. At least one solvent component is normally gaseous material such as methane, ethane, propane or butane and at least one component is normally liquid, such as pentane and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The solvent mixture is heated to a temperature in excess of ambient temperature, and preferably from 100. degree. to 500. degree. F. prior to injection into the formation. The multiple solvent is introduced under sufficient pressure that it is substantially all liquid at the injection conditions. Recovery of petroleum and solvent may be from the same well as is used for injection or from a remotely located well. When the pressure in a portion of the formation contacted by the solvents is reduced below the bubble point pressure of the solvent-bitumen solution, the solvents vaporize to provide a solution gas oil recovery mechanism.

US Patent:

41665015, Sep 4, 1979

Filed:

Aug 24, 1978

Appl. No.:

5/936439

Inventors:

Ralph J. Korstad - Austin TX
Wilbur L. Hall - Bellaire TX
Ching H. Wu - Goldon CO
Alfred Brown - Houston TX

Assignee:

Texaco Inc. - White Plains NY

International Classification:

E21B 4324

US Classification:

166263

Abstract:

The vertical or both vertical and horizontal conformance of a steam drive process is improved and steam override reduced by penetrating the zone between one injector and one producer, with one or more infill wells in fluid communication with the bottom half or less of the formation, and producing petroleum from the infill well after steam channeling has occurred at the production well. After the water cut of the fluids being produced from the infill well reaches 95 percent, the infill well is converted from a producer to an injector and steam is injected into the infill well and fluids are recovered from the production well. When one infill well is employed in a more or less aligned arrangement between injection and production wells, the vertical conformance is improved. When one or more infill wells are positioned in an offset or nonaligned arrangement relative to each injector and producer, conformance in both the horizontal and vertical planes is improved. By this multi-step process involving the infill wells, the amount of oil recovered from the portion of the formation in the recovery zone defined by the injection and production well is increased significantly.

Address:

9292 Imogene St APT 212, Houston, TX 77036

VIN:

1NXBR32E57Z815284

Make:

TOYOTA

Model:

COROLLA

Year:

2007