Method for producing hydrocarbons in an in situ combustion operation

Claim 1

A METHOD OF PRODUCING HYDROCARBONS FROM A SUBSURFACE HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING FORMATION INCLUDING THE STEPS: (1) INITIATING IN SITU COMBUSTION WITHIN SAID FORMATION TO HEAT THE FORMATION FLUIDS THEREIN, (2) DISPLACING THE RESULTING HEATED FORMATION FLUIDS, INCLUDING LIQUID HYDROCARBONS, DURING THE IN SITU COMBUSTION OPERATION FROM THE ZONE OF IN SITU COMBUSTION TOWARD THE WELL BORE OF A PRODUCTION WELL PENETRATING SAID FORMATION, (3) COOLING BY INDIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE WITH A RELATIVELY COOL LIQUID THE RESULTING RELATIVELY HOT FORMATION FLUIDS AS THEY ENTER SAID WELL BORE AT A LOCATION ADJACENT SAID FORMATION UNDERGOING IN SITU COMBUSTION AND BY DIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE BY SPRAYING COOLANT INTO CONTACT WITH SAID WELL BORE ADJACENT SAID FORMATION TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO AVOID EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND WELLBORE DISRUPTION DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF SAID IN SITU COMBUSTION, (4) COLLECTING THE RESULTING COOLED FORMATION FLUIDS WITHIN SAID WELLBORE AT A LOCATION THEREIN REMOTE FROM SAID FORMATION, AND (5) TRANSFERRING THE RESULTING COOLED FORMATION FLUIDS FROM THE LAST MENTIONED LOCATION VIA SAID WELLBORE TO THE SURFACE.

Claim 2

A METHOD OF PRODUCING HYDROCARBONS FROM A SUBSURFACE HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING FORMATION INCLUDING THE STEPS: (1) INITIATING IN SITU COMBUSTION WITHIN SAID FORMATION TO HEAT THE FORMATION FLUIDS THEREIN, (2) DISPLACING THE RESULTING HEATED FORMATION FLUIDS, INCLUDING LIQUID HYDROCARBONS, DURING THE IN SITU COMBUSTION OPERATION FROM THE ZONE OF IN SITU COMBUSTION TOWARD THE WELL BORE OF A PRODUCTION WELL PENETRATING SAID FORMATION, (3) COOLING BY INDIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE WITH A RELATIVELY COOL LIQUID THE RESULTING RELATIVELY HOT FORMATION FLUIDS AS THEY ENTER SAID WELL BORE AT A LOCATION ADJACENT SAID FORMATION UNDERGOING IN SITU COMBUSTION AND BY DIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE BY SPRAYING COOLANT INTO CONTACT WITH SAID WELL BORE ADJACENT SAID FORMATION TO THE EXTENT NECESSARY TO AVOID EQUIPMENT FAILURE AND WELLBORE DISRUPTION DUE TO HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED AS A RESULT OF SAID IN SITU COMBUSTION, (4) COLLECTING THE RESULTING COOLED FORMATION FLUIDS WITHIN SAID WELLBORE AT A LOCATION THEREIN REMOTE FROM SAID FORMATION, AND (5) TRANSFERRING THE RESULTING COOLED FORMATION FLUIDS FROM THE LAST MENTIONED LOCATION VIA SAID WELLBORE TO THE SURFACE.