Sidney F Smith

US Patent:

52458598, Sep 21, 1993

Filed:

Feb 27, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/842820

Inventors:

Sidney R. Smith - Lakewood CO
Richard L. Christiansen - Littleton CO

Assignee:

Marathon Oil Company - Findlay OH

International Classification:

G01N 1508

US Classification:

73 38

Abstract:

A method for rapidly and accurately determining the threshold and critical capillary pressures of a porous rock sample. A fluid saturating the sample, preferably oil, is withdrawn from the downstream end of the sample at an extremely low rate as a result of the introduction of another fluid, preferably gas, at the upstream end. The other fluid displaces the saturating fluid due to a differential pressure between the upstream and downstream ends of the sample. The differential pressure is created by means which does not require use of back pressure valves, thereby avoiding pressure surges and allowing constant slow withdrawal of the saturating fluid. The threshold and critical capillary pressures may be determined from a trace of the differential pressure.

US Patent:

39407977, Feb 24, 1976

Filed:

Feb 10, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/548846

Inventors:

George W. Brock - Boulder CO
Frank B. Shelledy - Longmont CO
Sidney H. Smith - Broomfield CO
Richard F. M. Thornley - Boulder CO

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G11B 516
G11B 522

US Classification:

360113

Abstract:

A magnetoresistive (MR) layer is placed offcenter the distance between two shields to enhance self-biasing. Information is carried on a magnetizable medium as recorded magnetic areas. The shields are spaced apart by a distance on the order of and less than the shortest recorded wavelength for which the head is meant to be used. The MR element and the shields have their edges nearest the medium in a common plane perpendicular to the vertical component of a signal from the recorded area. An additional shunt bias layer may be provided immediately adjacent and coextensive the MR element, and the head may serve one or many tracks.

US Patent:

52320499, Aug 3, 1993

Filed:

Mar 27, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/859205

Inventors:

Richard L. Christiansen - Littleton CO
Sidney R. Smith - Lakewood CO

Assignee:

Marathon Oil Company - Findlay OH

International Classification:

E21B 4318
E21B 4900

US Classification:

166252

Abstract:

A process is provided for recovering liquid hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by sequential injection of a pair of immiscible gases of differing composition which displace the liquid hydrocarbons from the formation. The compositions of the displacement gases are selected such that one gas is characterized as a swelling gas and the other is characterized as a non-swelling gas with respect to the liquid hydrocarbons in place.

US Patent:

53284402, Jul 12, 1994

Filed:

Jun 9, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/074686

Inventors:

Hiemi K. Haines - Englewood CO
Sidney R. Smith - Lakewood CO

Assignee:

Marathon Oil Company - Findlay OH

International Classification:

B04B 708
B04B 1100

US Classification:

494 10

Abstract:

A bucket for use in a swinging bucket centrifuge. A core holder is located between two end chambers, with the annular space between the core holder and the bucket sidewall maintaining the chambers in fluid communication. Windows at each end of the bucket allow fluid collections to be monitored. This enables more accurate data to be obtained regarding the effect of fluids of different specific gravity on a fluid saturating a sample. For example, to obtain data allowing a more accurate modeling of reservoir conditions in an oil field impacted by both gas and water displacement, the amount of oil expelled from a rock sample by gas under pressure and temperature conditions simulating those in the reservoir is measured and, after replacing the gas with water, the amount of oil expelled by water under simulated conditions is measured.

US Patent:

52676153, Dec 7, 1993

Filed:

May 29, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/891324

Inventors:

Richard L. Christiansen - Littleton CO
Sidney R. Smith - Lakewood CO

International Classification:

E21B 4318

US Classification:

166273

Abstract:

A process is provided for recovering oil from a gas cap in a subterranean oil-bearing formation by injecting a water-alternating-gas cycle into the gas cap via an injection well in fluid communication therewith. The cycle includes a slug of an aqueous fluid and a slug of a non-aqueous gas. The aqueous fluid slug is substantially smaller in volume than the non-aqueous gas slug, the aqueous fluid slug being only of sufficient volume to substantially increase the water saturation of the gas cap without substantially increasing the gas saturation of the gas cap. The two slugs are injected into the gas cap sequentially, thereby displacing at least a portion of the oil in place from the gas cap into a production well. Any number of cycles are performed in sequence until the process is terminated.