A method and apparatus for treating subterranean wells includes a tool supported on a one-piece support tube which operates to raise and lower the tool in the well to a position where well treatment is required. The tool provides inflatable packers and a selector valve operable in a first position to inflate or deflate the packers, in a second position to circulate fluid to spot treatment fluid at the tool, and a third position for injecting treatment fluid into the strata isolated from the rema...

The permeability of a subterranean formation is increased by injecting into the formation, a conventional mud acidizing solution (HCl/HF) followed by a fluoboric acid solution. Use of fluoboric acid as an overflush is believed to deter clay migration and thereby significantly reduce or delay production decline which is often otherwise encountered shortly after conventional mud acidizing treatments.

A subterranean cavern having gas impermeable walls is used to store grain. The cavern has a controlled atmosphere without oxygen and preferably has an atmosphere of nitrogen. Access is provided to the cavern from the surface for the loading and outloading of the grain stored in the cavern. The grain is loaded into the cavern by conveying the grain to the access and then either allowing the grain to fall through the access into the cavern or by pneumatically conveying the grain into the cavern. T...

Methods and compositions for altering the water permeability of subterranean formations are provided. The compositions are comprised of water, at least one polymer capable of being gelled when contacted with a crosslinking agent, at least one crosslinking agent comprised of polyvalent metal cation, and a cation reactivity retarding chelating agent which provides anion for chelating the polyvalent metal cation selected from substantially water soluble dicarboxylic acids, hydroxy carboxylic acids,...

A storage vault 10 is described for reception within a subterranean bore 11. The storage vault 10 includes a vault casement 15 that releasably receives a carriage 21, a driver 42, and a control system 65 as an assembly therein. The driver 42 is situated axially alongside the carriage 21 and is utilized to extemd and retract, lifting the carriage 21 from a lowered, closed storage condition, to an upwardly disposed access condition, where individual compartments 24 become accessible to a user. The...

The present invention provides a method of treating a subterranean formation utilizing a gelled fluid containing a galactomannan gum and a crosslinking agent comprising a source of borate ions and a delayed crosslinker comprising a source of Ti(+4) or Zr(+4) ions. The combination of crosslinking agents yields a viscous fluid at elevated temperatures having a viscosity higher than attainable by either crosslinking agent alone or as the result of the additive effects of the crosslinking agents. Th...

A lamp for use in subterranean galleries such as mines in which the cold-cathode discharge tube is received in a housing which, in turn, is removably mounted in a receptacle and is held in place by a ring clamping a flange of the housing against a flange of the receptacle. The housing may be provided with a translucent cover so that the housing can be removed and replaced as a unit. A reed switch on the receptacle cooperates with a magnet on the housing to deenergize the terminals of the housing...

A method and system for accessing subterranean zones from the surface includes a substantially vertical well bore extending from the surface to a target zone, and an articulated well bore extending from the substantially vertical well bore to the target zone. The articulated well bore diverges from the substantially vertical well bore between the surface and the target zone. The system also includes a well bore pattern extending from the articulated well bore in the target zone operable to colle...

A method for fracturing subterranean formations at a subterranean environmental temperature above 150.degree. F. which includes the steps of initially preparing an oil base gel consisting essentially of a hydrocarbon liquid containing an aluminum salt of a phosphate ester, then adding to said gel, at a temperature below about 150.degree. F., a gel-insoluble, solid aluminum salt of a phosphate ester to form a pumpable dispersion, and finally pumping the slurry down a bore hole and into the format...

Gelled acidic compositions suitable for either matrix-acidizing or fracture-acidizing of subterranean formations, and methods of using said compositions in acidizing operations, are provided. Said compositions comprise water, a water-dispersible polymer of acrylamide, an acid, and an aldehyde capable of causing gelation of an aqueous dispersion of said polymer, said acid, and said aldehyde. Preferably a mixture of aldehydes is used. However, either a mixture of aldehydes or a single aldehyde can...