US3754598A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for producing a hydrocarbon-containing formation
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
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Filing: 1971-11-08
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Granted: 1973-08-28
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Expires: 1991-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A hydrocarbon-containing formation penetrated by at least one in-jection well and at least one producing well is produced by passing flooding fluid at a preselected rate into the formation via the injection well while transmitting oscillatory pressure waves from the injection well outwardly through the formation for forming a wave zone in the formation and moving the wave zone outwardly through the formation by altering at least one of the frequency or amplitude of the oscillatory pressure wave transmissions.
Inventors
- 👤 C Holloway
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:57
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/003; B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/10; E21B43/16; E21B43/17
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced from said injection well, said injection well passing flooding fluid from the surface into the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation at a preselected rate and with fluid entering the production well being passed to the surface, comprising: transmitting oscillatory pressure wAves from the injection well outwardly through the formation while injecting the flooding fluid, said oscillatory pressure waves having a preselected amplitude in the range of about 10 to about 5,000 psi above the reservoir pressure and a frequency in the range of about 0.001 to about 25 cycles per second for forming a wave zone in the formation about the injection well; transmitting oscillatory pressure waves at least intermittently from the producing well outwardly through the formation; and moving the wave zone through the formation in a direction from the injection well toward the production well by altering at least one of the frequency or amplitude of the oscillatory pressure wave transmissions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced from said injection well, said injection well passing flooding fluid from the surface into the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation at a preselected rate and with fluid entering the production well being passed to the surface, comprising: transmitting oscillatory pressure wAves from the injection well outwardly through the formation while injecting the flooding fluid, said oscillatory pressure waves having a preselected amplitude in the range of about 10 to about 5,000 psi above the reservoir pressure and a frequency in the range of about 0.001 to about 25 cycles per second for forming a wave zone in the formation about the injection well; transmitting oscillatory pressure waves at least intermittently from the producing well outwardly through the formation; and moving the wave zone through the formation in a direction from the injection well toward the production well by altering at least one of the frequency or amplitude of the oscillatory pressure wave transmissions.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced from said injection well, said injection well passing flooding fluid from the surface into the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation at a preselected rate and with fluid entering the production well being passed to the surface, comprising: transmitting oscillatory pressure waves from the injection well outwardly through the formation while injecting the flooding fluid, said oscillatory pressure waves having a preselected amplitude in the range of about 10 to about 5,000 psi above the reservoir pressure and a frequency in the range of about 0.001 to about 25 cycles per second for forming a wave zone in the formation about the injection well, said pressure waves being transmitted into the hydrocarbon-containing formation at a location having a substantially common elevation relative to the opening of a fracture extending through said formation; and moving the wave zone through the formation in a direction from the injection well toward the production well by altering at least one of the frequency or amplitude of the oscillatory pressure wave transmissions.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
189 words
A method for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced from said injection well, said injection well passing flooding fluid from the surface into the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation at a preselected rate and with fluid entering the production well being passed to the surface, comprising: transmitting oscillatory pressure waves from the injection well outwardly through the formation while injecting the flooding fluid, said oscillatory pressure waves having a preselected amplitude in the range of about 10 to about 5,000 psi above the reservoir pressure and a frequency in the range of about 0.001 to about 25 cycles per second for forming a wave zone in the formation about the injection well, said pressure waves being transmitted into the hydrocarbon-containing formation at a location having a substantially common elevation relative to the opening of a fracture extending through said formation; and moving the wave zone through the formation in a direction from the injection well toward the production well by altering at least one of the frequency or amplitude of the oscillatory pressure wave transmissions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method, as set forth in claim 2, including adding surfactant material to the flooding fluid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the surfactant material is one of an alkali metal salt of petroleum sulfonate, a condensate of ethylene oxide with a hydrophobic base, a nonylphenoxpoly(ethyleneoxy) ethanol, or a Na dioctyl sulfosuccinate, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the fracture has a popcorn polymer propping agent.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced from said injection well, said injection well passing flooding fluid from the surface into the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation at a preselected rate and with fluid entering the production well being passed to the surface, comprising: transmitting oscillatory pressure waves from the injection well outwardly through the formation while injecting the flooding fluid, said oscillatory pressure waves having a preselected amplitude in the range of about 10 to about 5,000 psi above the reservoir pressure and a frequency in the range of about 0.001 to about 25 cycles per second for forming a wave zone in the formation about the injection well; imparting minor oscillations on the oscillating pressure wave over at least the portion of the wave that is increasing in pressure; and moving the wave zone through the formation in a direction from the injection well toward the production well by altering at least one of the frequency or amplitude of the oscillatory pressure wave transmissions.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
182 words
A method for producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well spaced from said injection well, said injection well passing flooding fluid from the surface into the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation at a preselected rate and with fluid entering the production well being passed to the surface, comprising: transmitting oscillatory pressure waves from the injection well outwardly through the formation while injecting the flooding fluid, said oscillatory pressure waves having a preselected amplitude in the range of about 10 to about 5,000 psi above the reservoir pressure and a frequency in the range of about 0.001 to about 25 cycles per second for forming a wave zone in the formation about the injection well; imparting minor oscillations on the oscillating pressure wave over at least the portion of the wave that is increasing in pressure; and moving the wave zone through the formation in a direction from the injection well toward the production well by altering at least one of the frequency or amplitude of the oscillatory pressure wave transmissions.
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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) | 1976-08-27 | 1977-02-26 | 1977-08-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-27 | 1981-02-26 | 1981-08-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-27 | 1985-02-26 | 1985-08-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |