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US3231018A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Assisted recovery by solvent flooding

Assignee: Chevron USA Inc
•
Filing: 1962-05-22
•
Granted: 1966-01-25
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Expires: 1982-05-22
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Abstract

No abstract record available.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lyman L Handy

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 00:07
CPC Classifications
C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 159 words
THE METHOD OF ASSISTING THE RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM FROM A PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATION PENETRATED BY AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL AND ONE RECOVERY WELL COMPRISING ADJUSTING THE PRESSURE OF A PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATION TO A VALUE BETWEEN ABOUT 800 P.S.I.A. AND THE CRITICAL PRESSURE OF A BINARY METHANE-BUTANE SYSTEM AT THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FORMATION, INJECTING AT LEAST .025 HYDROCARBON PORE VOLUME OF BUTANE INTO SAID FORMATION THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL, INJECTING METHANE INTO SAID FORMATION THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL, PERMITTING SAID METHANE TO CONTACT AND TO MIX WITH SAID BUTANE IN SAID FORMATION TO ESTABLISH A TWO-PHASE METHANE AND BUTANE REGION IN SAID FORMATION, CONTINUING TO INJECT METHANE THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL INTO SAID FORMATION TO MOVE SAID BUTANE SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGH SAID FORMATION WHILE MAINTAINING THE PRESSURE ON SAID FORMATION BETWEEN ABOUT 800 P.S.I.A. AND THE CRITICAL PRESSURE OF METHANE AND BUTANE AT THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FORMATION AND RECOVERING THE RESULTING EFFLUENT FROM SAID FORMATION THROUGH A RECOVERY WELL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 159 words
THE METHOD OF ASSISTING THE RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM FROM A PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATION PENETRATED BY AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL AND ONE RECOVERY WELL COMPRISING ADJUSTING THE PRESSURE OF A PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATION TO A VALUE BETWEEN ABOUT 800 P.S.I.A. AND THE CRITICAL PRESSURE OF A BINARY METHANE-BUTANE SYSTEM AT THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FORMATION, INJECTING AT LEAST .025 HYDROCARBON PORE VOLUME OF BUTANE INTO SAID FORMATION THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL, INJECTING METHANE INTO SAID FORMATION THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL, PERMITTING SAID METHANE TO CONTACT AND TO MIX WITH SAID BUTANE IN SAID FORMATION TO ESTABLISH A TWO-PHASE METHANE AND BUTANE REGION IN SAID FORMATION, CONTINUING TO INJECT METHANE THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL INTO SAID FORMATION TO MOVE SAID BUTANE SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGH SAID FORMATION WHILE MAINTAINING THE PRESSURE ON SAID FORMATION BETWEEN ABOUT 800 P.S.I.A. AND THE CRITICAL PRESSURE OF METHANE AND BUTANE AT THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FORMATION AND RECOVERING THE RESULTING EFFLUENT FROM SAID FORMATION THROUGH A RECOVERY WELL.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 159 words
THE METHOD OF ASSISTING THE RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM FROM A PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATION PENETRATED BY AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL AND ONE RECOVERY WELL COMPRISING ADJUSTING THE PRESSURE AF A PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATION TO A VALUE BETWEEN ABOUT 1600 P.S.I.A. AND THE CRITICAL PRESSURE OF A BINARY NITROGENBUTANE SYSTEM AT THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FORMATION, INJECTING AT LEAST 0.25 HYDROCARBON PORE VOLUME OF BUTANE INTO SAID FORMATION THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL, INJECTING NITROGEN INTO SAID FORMATION THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL, PERMITTING SAID NITROGEN TO CONTACT AND TO MIX WITH SAID BUTANE IN SAID FORMATION TO ESTABLISH A TWO-PHASE NITROGEN AND BUTANE REGION IN SAID FORMATION, CONTINUING TO INJECT NITROGEN THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL INTO SAID FORMATION TO MOVE SAID BUTANE SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGH SAID FORMATION WHILE MAINTAINING THE PRESSURE ON SAID FORMATION BETWEEN ABOUT 1600 P.S.I.A. AND THE CRITICAL PRESSURE OF NITROGEN AND BUTANE AT THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FORMATION AND RECOVERING THE RESULTING EFFLUENT FROM SAID FORMATION THROUGH A RECOVERY WELL.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 159 words
THE METHOD OF ASSISTING THE RECOVERY OF PETROLEUM FROM A PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATION PENETRATED BY AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL AND ONE RECOVERY WELL COMPRISING ADJUSTING THE PRESSURE AF A PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATION TO A VALUE BETWEEN ABOUT 1600 P.S.I.A. AND THE CRITICAL PRESSURE OF A BINARY NITROGENBUTANE SYSTEM AT THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FORMATION, INJECTING AT LEAST 0.25 HYDROCARBON PORE VOLUME OF BUTANE INTO SAID FORMATION THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL, INJECTING NITROGEN INTO SAID FORMATION THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL, PERMITTING SAID NITROGEN TO CONTACT AND TO MIX WITH SAID BUTANE IN SAID FORMATION TO ESTABLISH A TWO-PHASE NITROGEN AND BUTANE REGION IN SAID FORMATION, CONTINUING TO INJECT NITROGEN THROUGH AN INJECTION WELL INTO SAID FORMATION TO MOVE SAID BUTANE SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGH SAID FORMATION WHILE MAINTAINING THE PRESSURE ON SAID FORMATION BETWEEN ABOUT 1600 P.S.I.A. AND THE CRITICAL PRESSURE OF NITROGEN AND BUTANE AT THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FORMATION AND RECOVERING THE RESULTING EFFLUENT FROM SAID FORMATION THROUGH A RECOVERY WELL.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2669307A Cited
GB696524A Cited
GB726712A Cited
US2885002A Cited
US2880801A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1969-01-24 1969-07-26 1970-01-25 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1973-01-24 1973-07-26 1974-01-25 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1977-01-24 1977-07-26 1978-01-25 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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