Process for completing wells in unconsolidated formations by reverse in situ combustion

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR COMPLETING A WELL IN AN UNCONSOLIDATED FORMATION PENETRATED BY THE WELL COMPRISING DRILLING THE BOREHOLE OF THE WELL COMPLETELY THROUGH THE UNCONSOLIDATED FORMATION INTO A PERMEABLE FORMATION BELOW THE UNCONSOLIDATED FORMATION, FORMING A SAND PACK OF SAND AND A COKABLE OIL IN THE BOREHOLE OF THE WELL THROUGHOUT THE INTERVAL OF THE UNCONSOLIDATED FORMATION, DISPLACING AIR DOWNWARDLY THROUGH THE WELL INTO THE UPPER END OF THE SAND PACK, IGNITING OIL AT THE LOWER END OF THE SAND PACK WHEREBY A REVERSE COMBUSTION ZONE PASSES UPWARDLY THROUGH THE SAND PACK, DISCHARGING PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION FROM THE LOWER END OF THE SAND PACK INTO THER PERMEABLE FORMATION BELOW THE UNCONSOLIDATED FORMATION, AND TERMINATING THE INJECTION OF AIR WHEN THE COMBUSTION ZONE REACHES THE UPPER END OF THE SAND PACK.