US3848671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of producing bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
•
Filing: 1973-10-24
•
Granted: 1974-11-19
•
Expires: 1993-10-24
Abstract
Abstract A method of recovering bitumen from a subterranean tar sand formation characterized by a plurality of steps. First, a plurality of wells comprising at least one injection well and at least one production well are drilled from the surface and completed in the tar sand formation. Next, the bitumen and the tar sand formation are heated between the respective injection and production wells sufficiently to render the bitumen feasibly mobile in the tar sand formation. The heating is effected by passing a predetermined electrical current between the wells for a predetermined time. Thereafter, a fluid is injected into the injection well and the bitumen is produced from the production well. The fluid is preferably hot, for example an aqueous fluid such as steam or hot water. Also disclosed are specific details of the respective operational steps, including determining the predetermined time interval of electrical heating; and the use of alternate and/or simultaneous steps of heating with electrical energy and injection and production.
Inventors
- 👤 L Kern
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 10:44
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/2401; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T24/00; Y10T24/39; Y10T24/3996
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A METHOD OF PRODUCING BITUMENT FROM A SUBTERRANEAN TAR SAND FORMATION CONTAINING VISCOUS BITUMEN COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. DRILLING AND COMPLETING A PLURALITY OF AT LEAST TWO WELLS EXTENDING FROM THE SURFACE INTO SAID TAR SAND FORMATION FOR PRODUCTION OF SAID BITUMENT THEREFROM; AT LEAST ONE SAID WELL BEING COMPLETED AS AN INJECTION WELL AND AT LEAST ONE SAID WELL BEING COMPLETED AS A PRODUCTION WELL; SAID WELLS BEING SPACED APART AND ARRANGED IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN; B. PRE-HEATING SAID TAR SAND FORMATION AND SAND BITUMENT INTERMEDIATE SAID WELLS SUFFICIENTLY TO RENDER SAID BITUMEN MOBILE WITHIN SAID TAR SAND FORMATION; SAID PRE-HEATING BEING EFFECTIVE BY PASSING A PREDETERMINED ELECTRICAL CURRENT FROM ONE OF SAID WELLS TO THE OTHER OF SAID WELLS FOR A PREDETERMINED TIME INTERVAL; C. THEREAFTER INJECTING A FLUID THAT IS IMMISCIBLE WITH SAID BITUMEN THROUGH SAID INJECTION WELL AND INTO SAID TAR SAND FORMATION; AND D. PRODUCING SAID BITUMENT FROM SAID PRODUCTION WELL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A METHOD OF PRODUCING BITUMENT FROM A SUBTERRANEAN TAR SAND FORMATION CONTAINING VISCOUS BITUMEN COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. DRILLING AND COMPLETING A PLURALITY OF AT LEAST TWO WELLS EXTENDING FROM THE SURFACE INTO SAID TAR SAND FORMATION FOR PRODUCTION OF SAID BITUMENT THEREFROM; AT LEAST ONE SAID WELL BEING COMPLETED AS AN INJECTION WELL AND AT LEAST ONE SAID WELL BEING COMPLETED AS A PRODUCTION WELL; SAID WELLS BEING SPACED APART AND ARRANGED IN A PREDETERMINED PATTERN; B. PRE-HEATING SAID TAR SAND FORMATION AND SAND BITUMENT INTERMEDIATE SAID WELLS SUFFICIENTLY TO RENDER SAID BITUMEN MOBILE WITHIN SAID TAR SAND FORMATION; SAID PRE-HEATING BEING EFFECTIVE BY PASSING A PREDETERMINED ELECTRICAL CURRENT FROM ONE OF SAID WELLS TO THE OTHER OF SAID WELLS FOR A PREDETERMINED TIME INTERVAL; C. THEREAFTER INJECTING A FLUID THAT IS IMMISCIBLE WITH SAID BITUMEN THROUGH SAID INJECTION WELL AND INTO SAID TAR SAND FORMATION; AND D. PRODUCING SAID BITUMENT FROM SAID PRODUCTION WELL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined time interval is sufficient to heat said formation and said bitumen to a temperature that will allow a throughput rate of at least 10 barrels per day that is sustained by injection of said fluid in the one or more injection wells adjacent said production well.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said predetermined electrical current is maintained low enough to prevent drying said tar sand formation around said wells and said tar sand formation around said wells is maintained electrically conductive.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is steam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is hot water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid comprises a mixture of steam and hot water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is injected for a time interval and stopped; and electrical heating is again begun and continued for a predetermined time interval; and said injection of said fluid is again commenced; and wherein the steps of said heating and of said injection of said fluid are effected alternately until a desired rate of flow through said formation is effected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical pre-heating is continued after said fluid is begun to be injected such that said steps of electrical pre-heating and of injecting of said fluid are carried out simultaneously until a desired throughput rate is effected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said plurality of wells are completed so as to be operable as either injection or production wells and wherein The injection and production patterning is altered after predetermined production intervals to effect a more nearly complete sweep of said bitumen from said tar sand formation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluid is liquid water at ambient earth surface temperature.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein electrolyte is employed in at least one well to improve the electrical conductivity in and around said well.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11 wherein electrolyte is employed in at least one injection well and in at least one production well.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein electrolyte is injected into said tar sand formation for increased electrical conductivity between injection and production wells.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 7 wherein electrolyte is injected into said tar sand formation for increased electrical conductivity during said alternate electrical heating steps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 wherein electrolyte is injected into said tar sand formation for increased electrical conductivity during said simultaneous steps of electrical pre-heating and injecting of fluid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein alternate slugs of hot fluid and ambient earth surface temperature fluid are injected into said tar sand formation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1372743A
Cited
US2634961A
Cited
US2795279A
Cited
US3062282A
Cited
US3385359A
Cited
US3522848A
Cited
US3507330A
Cited
US3605888A
Cited
US3642066A
Cited
US3696866A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-18 | 1978-05-20 | 1978-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-18 | 1982-05-20 | 1982-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-18 | 1986-05-20 | 1986-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |