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US3779315A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Production method

Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
•
Filing: 1972-08-29
•
Granted: 1973-12-18
•
Expires: 1992-08-29
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Abstract

Abstract A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon containing formation and reducing the flow of gas from a gas cap of the formation by passing a preselected volume of polymeric solution into the formation at an elevation lower than the gas cap, terminating the injecting of the polymeric solution, and producing fluid entering the well bore while at least intermittently injecting one of a gas-water admixture or volumes of gas and water into the gas cap.

Inventors

  • 👤 D Boneau

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 18:17
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/18; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/02; C09K8/03; C09K8/035; C09K8/50; C09K8/504; C09K8/506; C09K8/508; C09K8/58; C09K8/588

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 26 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gas and water injected is substantially continuously injected during producing of fluids entering the well bore.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 27 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gas and water injection is at a rate sufficient for maintaining the pressure of the gas cap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 46 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the polymeric solution injected is of a volume sufficient and a polymer concentration sufficient for decreasing the permeability between the gas cap and underlying portions of said formulation over a preselected radial distance from the well bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the concentration of polymer in the polymeric solution is in the range of about 1, 000 to about 5,000 parts per million.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 26 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the polymer of the polymeric solution is one of partially hydrolyzed polyacrylamides, carboxylmethyl cellulose, or polyethylene oxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the water of the gas and water injected is brine having a salt concentration less than about 5,000 parts per million.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gas of the gas and water injected is hydrocarbon gas produced from said formation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 56 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, including a second well bore penetrating the subterranean hydrocarbon-containing formation at a location spaced from the first well bore and injecting gas downwardly through the second well bore and into the gas cap of said formation for moving fluids through the formation and into the first well bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the gas and water is injected into the formation through the second well bore.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the gas-water admixture has a volume ratio in the range of about 500 to about 50,000 gas/water as measured at standard conditions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the volume of polymer injected is in the range of about 2 to about 50 barrels per foot of pay zone near oil-producing perforations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, wherein separate volumes of gas and water are intermittently injected into the gas cap and including decreasing the water injected after a preselected period Of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method, as set forth in claim 1, including producing gas from the gas cap through the first well bore while injecting the polymeric solution into the formation.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2514259A Cited
US2713906A Cited
US3093192A Cited
US3207218A Cited
US3366175A Cited
US3368624A Cited
US3400761A Cited
US3491832A Cited
US3587737A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-12-17 1977-06-18 1977-12-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-12-17 1981-06-18 1981-12-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-12-17 1985-06-18 1985-12-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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