US3599714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of recovering hydrocarbons by in situ combustion
Assignee: HENRY C MESSMAN
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Filing: 1969-09-08
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Granted: 1971-08-17
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Expires: 1989-09-08
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a geological formation having combustible organic material. A passageway is established from a point in the formation, through same, and to the surface of the ground. The combustible organic material is ignited. Oxygen-containing gas is passed into the resulting combustion zone by establishing at lower than normal formation pressure, a pressure drop from the combustion zone to a point outside the formation through the passageway. The temperature of combustion is controlled to only partially volatilize the organic material. The gases resulting from the partial combustion are passed to the surface of the ground. The method is preferred to recover hydrocarbons and other chemicals from a coal stratum and/or from an oil sand. In the preferred specific embodiment, the method is applied to recovering hydrocarbons from a coal stratum and a separate oil sand stratum, separated by a stratum of kerogen. In the latter heat of combustion is by conduction passed from the coal stratum to the oil sand stratum.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger L Messman
- 👤 Karl E Becker
- 👤 Henry C Messman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:34
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; E21B43/247; E21B43/34; E21B43/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said combustion is carried on at a temperature in the range 600 to 1,250* F.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 wherein, a. said geological formation is a stratum of bituminous coal, b. said oxygen-containing gas is principally air, and said combustion is carried on at a temperature in the range of 900 to 1,100* F., and c. distillates are recovered from said resulting gases passed to the surface of the ground.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from geological formations having therein petroleum and other combustible organic material in different strata comprising, a. establishing a passageway from a point in said stratum having said other combustible organic material, through same, through said stratum having petroleum, and to the surface of the ground, b. igniting said other organic material, c. passing an oxygen-containing gas into the resulting combustion zone by establishing in said stratum having said other combustible organic material a pressure lower than normal formation pressure upstream of said combustion zone and a pressure drop from said combustion zone to a point in said stratum having petroleum through said passageway, and controlling the temperature of combustion at a temperature less than could maintained with an adequate amount of oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas, and only partially volatilizing said organic material, d. passing resulting gases through said stratum having petroleum, and e. passing resulting gases to the surface of the ground.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the temperature in said combustion zone is in the range of 600 to 1,250* F.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
232 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from geological formations having therein petroleum and other combustible organic material in different strata comprising, a. establishing two wells into said strata in communication therewith, and providing a gaseous fluid Passageway from a point in said other organic material stratum, through said stratum to one of said wells, through said stratum having petroleum, and to the surface of the ground, b. igniting said other combustible organic material, c. passing an oxygen-containing gas into the resulting combustion zone by establishing in the stratum having said other combustible organic material a pressure lower than normal formation pressure upstream of said combustion zone and a pressure drop from said combustion zone to the surface of the ground through said passageway to a pressure less than atmospheric, and in said zone controlling the temperature of combustion by controlling the oxygen available for combustion at a temperature less than could be maintained with an adequate amount of oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas, and producing for recovery volatilized organic material, d. passing resulting combustion gases through said stratum of other organic material and volatilizing other organic material, e. passing resulting gases through said stratum having petroleum therein and volatilizing a portion of same, f. passing resulting gases through said passageway to the surface of the ground, and g. while passing heat from said combustion zone into said stratum having petroleum therein by conduction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said combustion is carried on at a temperature in the range of 600 to 1,250* F.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 wherein combustion is carried on at a temperature in the range of 900 to 1,100* F.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
151 words
The method claim 6, wherein, a. the stratum having petroleum is an oil sand, the one having the other combustible organic material is bituminous coal, and there is a stratum of kerogen separating them, neither of said two wells being in communication with said stratum of kerogen, b. said oxygen-containing gas is principally air passed into said coal stratum by lowering the pressure in said passageway at the surface of the ground, and said combustion is carried on at a temperature in the range of 900* to 1,100* F., c. the viscosity of said petroleum in said oil sand is lowered by heat from said resulting gases passed through same, d. said petroleum in said oil sand stratum is lowered in viscosity by said heat passed thereinto by said conduction, and e. petroleum and distillates are recovered in one of said wells and pumped to the surface of the ground therefrom.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
285 words
A method of recovering hydrocarbons from geological formations having therein petroleum and other combustible organic material in different strata comprising, a. establishing a well into said strata in communication therewith, b. establishing a plurality of other wells spaced from said first-named well and each other and not in a line therewith and in communication with said strata, c. with each of said other wells and said first-named well providing a gaseous fluid passageway from a point in said other organic material stratum to the one of said other wells, through said stratum having petroleum, and to the surface of the ground, d. igniting said other combustible organic material between said first-named well and each of said other wells, d. passing an oxygen containing gas into the resulting combustion zone between said first-named well and said other wells by establishing in the stratum having said other combustible organic material a pressure lower than normal stratum pressure upstream of said combustion zone and a pressure drop from said combustion zone to the surface of the ground through said passageways to a pressure less than atmospheric, and in said zone controlling temperature of combustion by controlling the oxygen available for combustion at a temperature less than could be maintained with an adequate amount of oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas, and producing for recovery volatilized organic material, f. passing resulting combustible gases thrOugh said stratum of other organic material and volatilizing other organic material, g. passing resulting gases through said stratum having petroleum therein and volatilizing a portion of same, h. passing resulting gases through said passageways to the surface of the ground, and i. while passing heat from said combustion zone to the stratum having petroleum by conduction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein combustion is carried on at a temperature in the range of 900* to 1,100* F.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
150 words
The method of claim 10, wherein, a. the stratum having petroleum is an oil sand, the one having the other combustible organic material is bituminous coal, and there is a stratum of kerogen separating them, none of said wells being in communication with said stratum of kerogen, b. said oxygen-containing gas is principally air passed into said coal stratum by lowering the pressure in said passageway at the surface of the ground, and said combustion is carried on at a temperature in the range of 900* to 1,100* F., c. the viscosity of said petroleum in said oil sand is lowered by heat from the said resulting gases passed through same, d. said petroleum in said oil sand stratum is lowered in viscosity by heat passed thereinto by said conduction, and e. petroleum and distillates are recovered in said first-named well and pumped to the surface of the ground therefrom.
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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) | 1974-08-16 | 1975-02-15 | 1975-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-16 | 1979-02-15 | 1979-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-16 | 1983-02-15 | 1983-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |