US3794113A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combination in situ combustion displacement and steam stimulation of producing wells
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1972-11-13
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Granted: 1974-02-26
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Expires: 1992-11-13
Abstract
Abstract This specification discloses a method of producing hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation penetrated by a pattern of wells including at least one injection well and two production wells spaced relatively close one to the other. The production wells are stimulated by heating the formation to form a heated zone about the production wells, for example, by injecting steam via the wells into the formation. A forward drive in situ combustion process is initiated at an injection well and production of hydrocarbons is initiated from the reservoir from at least one of the production wells. The heated zone is maintained by injecting heat, for example, steam, via another of the production wells while continuously producing hydrocarbons from at least one production well from within the heated zone. The producing wells are alternately employed for producing hydrocarbons from the formation and for injecting heat into the formation to maintain the heated zone about the producing wells.
Inventors
- 👤 L Strange
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:16
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/30; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein concomitantly with step (b) steam is injected into said injection well thereby providing a quantity of flush hydrocarbons to be produced from said formation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
88 words
In the method of claim 1: producing hydrocarbons from said formation simultaneously via said first and said second production wells until the total production rate decreases to a rate about equal to the combustion drive oil displacement rate; and selecting the production well having the lowest production rate and injecting steam into said production well having the lowest production rate to maintain said heated zone about said production wells and to increase said total production rate to a value substantially greater than said combustion drive oil displacement rate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
In the method of claim 1: producing hydrocarbons from said formation simultaneously via said first and said second production wells until the total production rate decreases to a rate about equal to the combustion drive oil displaCement rate; and selecting the production well nearest the combustion front and injecting steam into said production well nearest the combustion front to retard the movement of said combustion front toward said production well nearest said combustion front and to maintain said heated zone about said production wells.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of producing oil from an oil-bearing formation, comprising: a. providing a pattern of wells that communicate with said formation, said pattern including an injection well, a first production well, and a second production well that is spaced laterally from said first production well a distance of no more than about 30 percent of the spacing between said injection and production wells; b. producing oil via said first and said second production wells and determining the relative production rates of said first and said second production wells to determine said production well having a lower production rate and said production well having a higher production rate; c. converting said production well having a lower production rate into a steam injection well and injecting steam via said steam injection well to increase the production rate of said well having a higher production rate while continuously producing oil from said formation via said well having a higher production rate; d. converting said steam injection well into a production well and producing oil from said formation via said first and said second production wells; and e. initiating a forward in situ combustion drive from said injection well toward said first and said second production wells.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising: f. determining the displacement rate of said in situ combustion process; g. continuing the injection of steam in step (c) to provide a combined production rate that is greater than said displacement rate of said in situ combustion process; h. continuing the producing of oil of step (d) until said combined production rate declines to an amount approximately equal to said displacement rate of said in situ combustion process; i. thereafter repeating step (c) to provide a combined production rate that is greater than said displacement rate; and j. producing oil from said formation via said first and said second production wells.
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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) | 1977-02-25 | 1977-08-27 | 1978-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-25 | 1981-08-27 | 1982-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-25 | 1985-08-27 | 1986-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |