US3672448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interface advance control in secondary recovery program by reshaping of the interface between driving and driven fluids and by the use of a dynamic gradient barrier
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-30
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-12-30
Abstract
Abstract The interface between driving and driven fluids in a secondary recovery operation is reshaped after a cusp has developed by injection of a fluid via wells controlling the flow gradients, and the arrival of the injected driving fluid into the vicinity of a production well is delayed by the imposition of a dynamic gradient barrier of produced formation fluids.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald L Hoyt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:49
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/30; E21B43/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon-bearing formation which comprises penetrating said formation with at least three wells substantially in line, a first well, a second well and a third well, the second and third wells being on one side of said first well with said second well closer thereto, injecting an extraneous driving fluid into said formation via said first well to displace fluids including hydrocarbons in said formation toward said second and third wells, producing said formation fluids including hydrocarbons from said formation via said second well, recovering formation hydrocarbon fluids from produced formation fluids, ceasing injecting said extraneous driving fluid and ceasing producing said formation fluids via the production well upon or before suffering breakthrough of said extraneous driving fluid thereat and thereupon injecting a predetermined volume of an extraneous fluid into said formation via said production well suffering breakthrough to reshape the cusp, and thereupon continuously injecting a predetermined portion of the produced formation fluids to provide a dynamic gradient barrier while injecting extraneous driving fluid via said first well and producing formation fluids via said third well until breakthrough of said extraneous driving fluid thereat.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon-bearing formation which comprises penetrating said formation with at least three wells substantially in line, a first well, a second well and a third well, the second and third wells being on one side of said first well with said second well closer thereto, injecting an extraneous driving fluid into said formation via said first well to displace fluids including hydrocarbons in said formation toward said second and third wells, producing said formation fluids including hydrocarbons from said formation via said second well, recovering formation hydrocarbon fluids from produced formation fluids, ceasing injecting said extraneous driving fluid and ceasing producing said formation fluids via the production well upon or before suffering breakthrough of said extraneous driving fluid thereat and thereupon injecting a predetermined volume of an extraneous fluid into said formation via said production well suffering breakthrough to reshape the cusp, and thereupon continuously injecting a predetermined portion of the produced formation fluids to provide a dynamic gradient barrier while injecting extraneous driving fluid via said first well and producing formation fluids via said third well until breakthrough of said extraneous driving fluid thereat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
In the method as defined in claim 1, upon breakthrough ceasing injecting said produced formation fluids while maintaining producing said formation fluids including hydrocarbons from said formation via said third well.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
In the method as defined in claim 1, continuing injecting produced formatioN hydrocarbon fluids via said well suffering breakthrough first for a predetermined period while maintaining producing via the remaining production well.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
In the method as defined in claim 1, said injecting of said extraneous fluid via said production well suffering breakthrough first being a percentage of the pattern unit volume in the amount of about 15 percent, said extraneous fluid being selected from the group consisting of butane, propane and produced hydrocarbon fluids.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
In the method of producing formation fluids as defined in claim 1, said three wells in line being part of a thirteen well grouping, wherein the central well of said grouping is an injection well and the remaining grouping wells are production wells arranged equally along the sides and on the diagonals of a quadrilateral, said second and third wells being arranged along a diagonal thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
In the method of producing formation fluids as defined in claim 5, simultaneously initiating producing said formation fluids via all of said production wells except the side production wells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
In the method of producing formation fluids as defined in claim 6, ceasing producing from said production wells upon breakthrough thereat and shutting in each one thereafter, and upon ceasing production from the aforementioned production wells, initiating producing from the side wells until breakthrough thereat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a method of producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons as defined in claim 1, said wells being part of a direct line drive grouping.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon-bearing formation which comprises penetrating said formation with at least three wells substantially in line, a first well, a second well and a third well, the second and third wells being on one side of said first well with said second well closer thereto, injecting an extraneous driving fluid into said formation via said first well to displace fluids including hydrocarbons in said formation toward said second and third wells, producing said formation fluids including hydrocarbons from said formation via the second well, recovering formation hydrocarbon fluids from produced formation fluids, ceasing injecting said extraneous driving fluid and ceasing producing said formation fluids upon breakthrough of said extraneous driving fluid at a production well and then injecting an extraneous fluid into said formation via said last mentioned well to reshape the cusp of the interface between said driving fluid and said formation fluids and producing said formation fluids including hydrocarbons from said formation via said third well while injecting said extraneous driving fluid into said formation via said first well and continuously injecting said extraneous fluid into the production well suffering breakthrough until breakthrough of said extraneous driving fluid at said third well.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon-bearing formation which comprises penetrating said formation with at least three wells substantially in line, a first well, a second well and a third well, the second and third wells being on one side of said first well with said second well closer thereto, injecting an extraneous driving fluid into said formation via said first well to displace fluids including hydrocarbons in said formation toward said second and third wells, producing said formation fluids including hydrocarbons from said formation via the second well, recovering formation hydrocarbon fluids from produced formation fluids, ceasing injecting said extraneous driving fluid and ceasing producing said formation fluids upon breakthrough of said extraneous driving fluid at a production well and then injecting an extraneous fluid into said formation via said last mentioned well to reshape the cusp of the interface between said driving fluid and said formation fluids and producing said formation fluids including hydrocarbons from said formation via said third well while injecting said extraneous driving fluid into said formation via said first well and continuously injecting said extraneous fluid into the production well suffering breakthrough until breakthrough of said extraneous driving fluid at said third well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
66 words
In the method as defined in claim 9, said injecting of said extraneous fluid via said production well first suffering breakthrough being of predetermined amounts, starting with a percentage of the pattern unit volume for reshaping of the cusp and continuing with a percentage of the produced formation fluids, while producing said formation fluids from said remaining production well to provide a dynamic gradient barrier therebetween.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
In the method as defined in claim 9, said extraneous fluid injected via said second well being selected from the group consisting of butane, propane and produced hydrocarbon fluids.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
In the method of producing formation fluids as defined in claim 9, said three wells in line being part of a seventeen well grouping, wherein the central well of said pattern is an injection well and the remaining pattern wells are production wells arranged in equal numbers along the sides and on the diagonals of a quadrilateral.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
In a method of producing formation fluids as defined in claim 12, producing formation fluids via the wells located on a first diagonal of said grouping and continuing producing therefrom until breakthrough of said extraneous driving fluid occurs at the production well closer to the injection well, thereupon converting said aforementioned diagonal well into an injection well and injecting into said formation via such converted well an extraneous fluid in the amount of 15% of the pattern unit volume, while ceasing injecting said driving fluid, to reshape the cusp of the interface at said converted well, thereupon resuming injecting said driving fluid and producing from the corner well of said first diagonal while continuously injecting said extraneous fluid into said converted well to provide a dynamic barrier therebetween, until breakthrough of said corner well, thereafter shutting in the production wells on said first diagonal and repeating the procedure on the wells on the second diagonal and thereafter producing from the side wells.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon-bearing formation under the influence of an active aquifer which comprises penetrating said formation with a pair of production wells in line with the direction of advance of said aquifer, producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons displaced by said aquifer via said pair of production wells until breakthrough of the interface between the formation fluids and said aquifer at a production well, thereupon ceasing producing formation fluids and injecting into the last mentioned production well an extraneous fluid of predetermined volume to reshape the interface thereat and thereafter continuously injecting an extraneous fluid at a predetermined rate into this well while producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons from said formation via the remaining production well until breakthrough of extraneous driving fluid there, said rate being a percentage of the produced formation fluids.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon-bearing formation under the influence of an active aquifer which comprises penetrating said formation with a pair of production wells in line with the direction of advance of said aquifer, producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons displaced by said aquifer via said pair of production wells until breakthrough of the interface between the formation fluids and said aquifer at a production well, thereupon ceasing producing formation fluids and injecting into the last mentioned production well an extraneous fluid of predetermined volume to reshape the interface thereat and thereafter continuously injecting an extraneous fluid at a predetermined rate into this well while producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons from said formation via the remaining production well until breakthrough of extraneous driving fluid there, said rate being a percentage of the produced formation fluids.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a method of producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons as defined in claim 14, said extraneous fluid being selected from the group consisting of butane, propane and produced hydrocarbon fluids.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
In a method of producing formation fluids including hydrocarbons as defined in claim 15, said predetermined volume amounting to about 15 percent of the pattern unit volume.
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) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |