US3674093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for stimulating the flow of oil wells
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-06-24
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Granted: 1972-07-04
•
Expires: 1990-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for stimulating the flow of oil wells consisting of sealing off a portion of the well shaft within the oil-bearing formation of the ground, introducing a combustible fuel not requiring additional oxygen for its combustion into the sealedoff portion of the well shaft and igniting said fuel; and an apparatus capable of performing said method. The combustion produces heat, which tends to melt or burn out sludges, tars, or the like which may be clogging the oil flow passages of the formation, and also produces sudden large quantities of gaseous products of combustion, in a manner similar to a low-order explosion, which fractures the formation to form new flow passages. The flow rate of the fuel may be gradually increased, and rendered intermittent to produce a series of ''''explosions,'''' whereby the zone of the oil-bearing formation treated is gradually increased.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale C Reese
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:42
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/25; E21B43/26; E21B43/263
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of stimulating the flow of an oil well consisting of the successive steps of: a. sealing off a portion of the shaft of the well within the oil-bearing formation thereof, b. creating gases within said sealed-off portion of the shaft, whereby said gases penetrate said formation, said gases being created with an explosive force of low order whereby they fracture only that portion of the oil-bearing formation at and directly adjacent the zone of the formation penetrated by said gases, and are created in a series of pulses or bursts, whereby the gases of each successive pulse are provided access to progressively more distant zones of the formation by the fracture fissures opened in the formation by the next preceding pulse, the amount of gas released in each successive pulse being progressively increased to provide the desired fracturing pressure in the larger, more distant zone of the formation penetrated thereby.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of stimulating the flow of an oil well consisting of the successive steps of: a. sealing off a portion of the shaft of the well within the oil-bearing formation thereof, b. creating gases within said sealed-off portion of the shaft, whereby said gases penetrate said formation, said gases being created with an explosive force of low order whereby they fracture only that portion of the oil-bearing formation at and directly adjacent the zone of the formation penetrated by said gases, and are created in a series of pulses or bursts, whereby the gases of each successive pulse are provided access to progressively more distant zones of the formation by the fracture fissures opened in the formation by the next preceding pulse, the amount of gas released in each successive pulse being progressively increased to provide the desired fracturing pressure in the larger, more distant zone of the formation penetrated thereby.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said gas pulses are spaced apart sufficiently to allow the pressure generated by each pulse to be dissipated before the next pulse occurs.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
162 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said gases are created by the successive steps of: a. injecting a quantity of combustible fuel into the sealed-off portion of said well shaft, and b. igniting said fuel, said fuel, and the amount thereof introduced to said shaft, being such that said gases are produced with an explosive force of low order, capable of fracturing said formation but only those portions thereof at and directly adjacent the zone of the formation penetrated by said gases, said fuel being injected in a series of pulses or bursts, whereby the gases generated by each successive pulse are provided access to progressively more distant zones on the formation by the fracture fissures opened in the formation by gases generated by the next preceding fuel pulse, the quantity of fuel injected in each successive pulse being progressively increased to provide gases of the desired fracturing pressure in the larger, more distant zones of the formation penetrated thereby.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the fuel pulses are spaced apart sufficiently to allow the pressure generated by combustion of each pulse to be dissipated before the next pulse occurs.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparaTus for stimulating the flow of an oil well comprising: a. a chamber having means adapting it to be lowered through the shaft of the well into horizontally aligned relation with the oil-bearing formation of the well, b. means for sealing the well shaft at a point above said chamber, and c. gas generating means carried in said chamber and operable to generate large quantities of gas under high pressure in a series of distinct pulses, and including means for adjusting the volume of gases generated in each pulse, said chamber having outlets permitting the escape of said gases from said chamber into said formation.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
106 words
An apparaTus for stimulating the flow of an oil well comprising: a. a chamber having means adapting it to be lowered through the shaft of the well into horizontally aligned relation with the oil-bearing formation of the well, b. means for sealing the well shaft at a point above said chamber, and c. gas generating means carried in said chamber and operable to generate large quantities of gas under high pressure in a series of distinct pulses, and including means for adjusting the volume of gases generated in each pulse, said chamber having outlets permitting the escape of said gases from said chamber into said formation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said gas generating means includes means operable to adjust the frequency of said pulses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said gas generating means comprises: a. means for injecting a combustible fuel into said chamber in a series of distinct pulses, b. means operable to adjust the quantity of fuel injected in each pulse, and c. means operable to ignite each pulse of said fuel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 7 with the addition of means operable to adjust the frequency of said fuel pulses.
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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) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |