US3714985A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steam oil recovery process
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1971-09-01
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1991-09-01
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed herein is a method for recovering oil from a subterranean oil bearing formation using steam. The steam is generated from water which has been treated to reduce the concentration of scale forming anions and to retain substantially all of the scale forming cations. The generated saturated steam has a gaseous phase and a liquid phase which contains scale forming cations, such as magnesium and calcium, and which is substantially free of scale forming anions, such as carbonate, bicarbonate, and sulphate. The steam including the cationcontaining liquid phase is injected into the oil bearing formation in a steam oil recovery process.
Inventors
- 👤 J Bayless
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 15:53
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/592; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S507/00; Y10S507/935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean oil bearing formation comprising obtaining raw water containing scale forming anions and cations, treating the raw water to reduce the concentration of the scale forming anions and to retain substantially all of the scale forming cations, using the treated water to generate saturated steam having a gaseous phase and a liquid phase containing scale forming cations, injecting the saturated steam containing scale forming cations into the formation, and recovering oil from the formation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean oil bearing formation comprising obtaining raw water containing scale forming anions and cations, treating the raw water to reduce the concentration of the scale forming anions and to retain substantially all of the scale forming cations, using the treated water to generate saturated steam having a gaseous phase and a liquid phase containing scale forming cations, injecting the saturated steam containing scale forming cations into the formation, and recovering oil from the formation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined by claim 1 wherein the raw water is treated with a strongly basic anion exchange resin to reduce the concentration of the scale forming anions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined by claim 2 wherein the strongly basic anion exchange resin has a matrix comprising styrene and divinylbenzene and a functional group comprising quaternary ammonium with an exchangeable chloride substituent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as defined by claim 1 wherein the pH of the treated water is maintained between 7.0 and 9.0.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as defined by claim 1 wherein the steam in injected into the formation by means of a well and oil is recovered from the formation by means of the same well.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined by claim 1 wherein the steam is injected into a formation by means of a well and oil is recovered from the formation by means of an offset, producing well.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined by claim 1 further comprising treating the raw water to reduce oxygen contamination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined by claim 1 further comprising treating the treated water to reduce oxygen contamination.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean oil bearing formation comprising obtaining raw water containing cations of the group consisting of calcium and magnesium and anions of the group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate and sulphate, contacting the raw water with a strongly basic anion exchange resin to form treated water containing the cations and being substantially free of the anions, using the treated water to generate saturated steam having a gaseous phase and a liquid phase which is substantially free of the anions and which contains the cations, injecting the saturated steam containing the cations into the formation and recovering oil from the formation.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for recovering oil from a subterranean oil bearing formation comprising obtaining raw water containing cations of the group consisting of calcium and magnesium and anions of the group consisting of carbonate, bicarbonate and sulphate, contacting the raw water with a strongly basic anion exchange resin to form treated water containing the cations and being substantially free of the anions, using the treated water to generate saturated steam having a gaseous phase and a liquid phase which is substantially free of the anions and which contains the cations, injecting the saturated steam containing the cations into the formation and recovering oil from the formation.
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) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |