US2881838A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heavy oil recovery
Assignee: Pan American Petroleum Corp
•
Filing: 1953-10-26
•
Granted: 1959-04-14
•
Expires: 1973-10-26
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A Morse
- 👤 Michael J Rzasa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:38
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/2406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
THE METHOD OF RECOVERING AN UNDERGROUND STRATUM IN WHICH IT OCCURS, HEAVY OIL WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY NON-FLOWABLE INDER RESERVOIR CONDITIONS BY THE APPLICATION OF DRIVING-FLUID PRESSURE THERETO, WHICH METHOD COMPRISES THE STEPS OF DRILLING A WELL FROM THE GROUND SURFACE AT LEAST TO A DEPTH NEAR THE LOWER BOUNDARY OF SAID STRATUM, INITIALLY INTRODUCING STEAM INTO SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGHT OF SAID WELL BETWEEN THE STRATUM BOUNDARIES TO HEAT SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE STRATUM FACE EXPOSED IN THE DRILLING OF SAID WELL, WHEREBY THE VISCOSITY OF THE OIL AT SAID FACE REDUCED AND IT FLOWS DOWNWARDLY BY GRAVITY DRAINAGE TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF SAID WELL TO EXPOSE FOR HEATING BY SAID STEAM THE UNHEATED OIL IN SAID STRATUM BEHIND SAID FACE, AND WHEREBY AN INITIAL GRAVITYFLOW PATH IS ESTABLISHED ALONG SAID FACE SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE UPPER TO THE LOWER STRATUM BOUNDARY, WITHDRAWING FROM NEAR THE BOTTOM OF SAID WELL THE LIQUIDS WHICH FLOW THERETO BY GRAVITY DRAINAGE AND WHICH INCLUDE THE CONDENSATE FROM SAID STEAM, CONTINUING THE INJECTION OF STEAM INTO SAID WELL BORE AND THENCE INTO SAID STRATUM AT A LEVEL SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE SAID WELL BOTTOM, WHICH STEAM FLOWS OUTWARDLY FROM SAID WELL THROUGH SAID STRATUM TO CONTACT AND HEAT THE UNHEATED OIL THEREIN WHICH IS CONTINUOUSLY BEING EXPOSED BY SAID GRAVITY-DRAINAGE FLOW OF HEATED OIL
Claim 2
Independent Claim
216 words
THE METHOD OF RECOVERING AN UNDERGROUND STRATUM IN WHICH IT OCCURS, HEAVY OIL WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY NON-FLOWABLE INDER RESERVOIR CONDITIONS BY THE APPLICATION OF DRIVING-FLUID PRESSURE THERETO, WHICH METHOD COMPRISES THE STEPS OF DRILLING A WELL FROM THE GROUND SURFACE AT LEAST TO A DEPTH NEAR THE LOWER BOUNDARY OF SAID STRATUM, INITIALLY INTRODUCING STEAM INTO SUBSTANTIALLY THE FULL LENGHT OF SAID WELL BETWEEN THE STRATUM BOUNDARIES TO HEAT SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE STRATUM FACE EXPOSED IN THE DRILLING OF SAID WELL, WHEREBY THE VISCOSITY OF THE OIL AT SAID FACE REDUCED AND IT FLOWS DOWNWARDLY BY GRAVITY DRAINAGE TOWARD THE BOTTOM OF SAID WELL TO EXPOSE FOR HEATING BY SAID STEAM THE UNHEATED OIL IN SAID STRATUM BEHIND SAID FACE, AND WHEREBY AN INITIAL GRAVITYFLOW PATH IS ESTABLISHED ALONG SAID FACE SUBSTANTIALLY FROM THE UPPER TO THE LOWER STRATUM BOUNDARY, WITHDRAWING FROM NEAR THE BOTTOM OF SAID WELL THE LIQUIDS WHICH FLOW THERETO BY GRAVITY DRAINAGE AND WHICH INCLUDE THE CONDENSATE FROM SAID STEAM, CONTINUING THE INJECTION OF STEAM INTO SAID WELL BORE AND THENCE INTO SAID STRATUM AT A LEVEL SUBSTANTIALLY ABOVE SAID WELL BOTTOM, WHICH STEAM FLOWS OUTWARDLY FROM SAID WELL THROUGH SAID STRATUM TO CONTACT AND HEAT THE UNHEATED OIL THEREIN WHICH IS CONTINUOUSLY BEING EXPOSED BY SAID GRAVITY-DRAINAGE FLOW OF HEATED OIL
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US1422204A
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US1491138A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1962-04-13 | 1962-10-13 | 1963-04-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1966-04-13 | 1966-10-13 | 1967-04-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1970-04-13 | 1970-10-13 | 1971-04-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |