US3727686A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil recovery by overlying combustion and hot water drives
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1971-03-15
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Granted: 1973-04-17
•
Expires: 1991-03-15
Abstract
Abstract In recovering a viscous oil from a reservoir in which the initial effective permeability to an injected fluid increases with increasing depth, a hot liquid is flowed between injection and production locations in the lower portion of the reservoir before or during the advancing of a combustion front between injection and production locations in the upper portion of the reservoir. Petroleum materials are recovered from the fluids produced from the upper and/or lower portions of the reservoir.
Inventors
- 👤 M Prates
- 👤 W Engelberts
- 👤 C Engelberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:58
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 1 in which said combustion supporting fluid contains a mixture of oxygen and aqueous liquid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 1 in which said liquid is flowed through the lower portion of the reservoir in substantially the same direction as said combustion supporting fluid is flowed through the upper portion of the reservoir and said combustion front is advanced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1 in which gaseous and liquid fluids are separated in downhole locations within the wells and are produced from the reservoir in separate streams having separately controlled resistances to their outflow from the reservoir.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process of claim 1 in which said liquid is flowed through the lower portion of the reservoir in substantially the opposite direction as said combustion supporting fluid is flowed through the upper portion of the reservoir and said combustion front is advanced.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process of claim 1 in which steam is injected into the lower portion of the reservoir to condense and form said relatively high density liquid which is flowed from injection to production locations and is injected at a rate and pressure such that substantially all of the fluid entering the reservoir is liquid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3170515A
Cited
US3208519A
Cited
US3196945A
Cited
US3323590A
Cited
US3375870A
Cited
US3409077A
Cited
US3441083A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-16 | 1976-10-16 | 1977-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-16 | 1980-10-16 | 1981-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-16 | 1984-10-16 | 1985-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |