US3572437A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil recovery by steam injection followed by hot water
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
•
Filing: 1969-02-14
•
Granted: 1971-03-30
•
Expires: 1989-02-14
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses methods of recovering oil from subsurface oil reservoirs penetrated by at least an injection and a production well. Steam is injected into the reservoir to form a steam zone intermediate the injection and production wells. Subsequently hot water at the same temperature as the injected steam is injected into the reservoir to fill the steam zone. Thereafter cold water is injected into the reservoir to drive the hot water toward the production well and oil is recovered from the reservoir via the production well.
Inventors
- 👤 James E Marberry
- 👤 Henry C Coutret Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:26
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface oil reservoir penetrated by an injection well and a production well, comprising the steps of: a. injecting steam via said injection well into said reservoir to form a steam zone intermediate said injection well and said production well; b. subsequentlY injecting hot water via said injection well into said reservoir in an amount sufficient to fill said steam zone, said hot water being at the same temperature as said injected steam of step (a); c. subsequently injecting cold water via said injection well into said reservoir to move said hot water toward said production well; and d. recovering oil from said reservoir through said production well.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said injected steam is of a quality within the range of 60 to 90 percent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said injected hot water contains steam in an amount of not more than 5 percent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said hot water is injected at a rate at least as great as the steam injection rate.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface oil reservoir penetrated by an injection well and a production well, comprising the steps of: a. injecting steam via said injection well into said reservoir to form a steam zone having an areal sweep of a size less than the size of the areal sweep which would exist at steam breakthrough into said production well; b. subsequently injecting hot water via said injection well into said reservoir in an amount sufficient to fill said steam zone, said hot water being at the same temperature as said injected steam of step (a); c. injecting cold water via said injection well into said reservoir to move said hot water toward said production well; and d. producing oil from said reservoir through said production well. production
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said areal sweep of said steam zone is within the range of 40 to 60 percent of the areal sweep of a steam zone which would exist at breakthrough of steam into said production well.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface oil reservoir penetrated by an injection well and a production well, comprising the steps of: a. injecting through said injection well into said reservoir 0.25 to 1.0 pore volume of 60 to 90 percent quality steam thereby forming a steam zone intermediate said injection well and said production well; b. subsequently injecting into said reservoir through said injection well 0.02 to 0.03 pore volume of hot water of the same temperature as said injected steam of step (a) thereby filling said steam zone with hot water; c. subsequently injecting into said reservoir through said injection well at least 0.60 pore volume of cold water; and d. recovering oil from said reservoir through said production well.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface oil reservoir penetrated by a multiplicity of injection wells and production wells, comprising: a. injecting steam through a first injection well into said reservoir to form a first steam zone intermediate said first injection well and a production well; b. subsequent to step (a) injecting through said first injection well hot water of the same temperature as said injected steam into said reservoir in an amount sufficient to fill said first steam zone with said hot water; c. subsequent to step (b) injecting cold water through said first injection well into said reservoir to move said hot water toward said production well; d. subsequent to step (b) injecting steam through a second injection well into said reservoir to form a second steam zone intermediate said second injection well and a production well; e. subsequent to step (d) injecting hot water at the same temperature as said injected steam into said oil reservoir to fill said second steam zone with said hot water; and f. subsequent to step (e) injecting cold water through said second injection well into said oil reservoir to move said hot water in said second steam zone toward said production well.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 9 wherein 0.25 to 1.0 pore volume of 60 to 90 percent quality steam is injected through each of said first and seconD injection wells.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10 wherein 0.02 to 0.03 pore volume of hot water at the same temperature as said injected steam is injected through each of said first and second injection wells.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein at least 0.60 pore volume of cold water is injected through each of said first and second injection wells.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface oil reservoir penetrated by an injection well and a production well, comprising the steps of: a. injecting steam via said injection well into said reservoir to form a steam zone having an areal sweep within the range of 40 to 60 percent of the areal sweep of a steam zone which would exist at breakthrough of steam into said production well; b. subsequently injecting hot water via said injection well into said reservoir in an amount sufficient to fill said steam zone, said hot water being at the same temperature as said injected steam of step (a); and c. recovering oil from said reservoir through said production well.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-29 | 1974-09-28 | 1975-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-29 | 1978-09-28 | 1979-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-29 | 1982-09-28 | 1983-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |