US3850243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vertical downward gas-driven miscible blanket flooding oil recovery process
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1973-05-04
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1993-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A vertical downward gas-driven miscible blanket oil recovery process wherein the spreading rate of the solvent blanket on top of the oil column is increased by adding to the conventional solvent a high density solvent such as carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride or certain halogenated hydrocarbons. Sufficient dense solvent is added to the conventional hydrocarbon solvent to increase the density of the injected solvent mixture to a value only slightly less than the density of the formation petroleum being displaced, so that a stable blanket will be maintained with substantially increased rate and extent of spreading of the solvent blanket on top of the oil column. The miscible blanket is displaced downward by injecting gas such as natural gas, methane, or carbon dioxide into the upper portion of the reservoir.
Inventors
- 👤 J Allen
- 👤 J Tate
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:28
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/34; E21B43/40; E21B43/16; E21B43/166; E21B43/168
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
IN A METHOD OF RECOVERING PETROLEUM FROM A SUBTERRANEAN, PETROLEUM-CONTAINING FORMATING PENETRATED BY AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL COMPLETED HIGH IN THE FORMATION AND BY AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL COMPLETED LOW IN THE FORMATION, OF THE TYPE WHEREIN A QUANTITY OF CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT FOR PETROLEUM MISCIBLE WITH THE PETROLEUM CONTAINED IN THE FORMATION IS INJECTED INTO THE TOP OF THE FORMATION AND THEREAFTER A GASEOUS DRIVE FLUID IS INJECTED INTO TO TOP OF THE FORMATION TO DISPLACE THE SOLVENT VERTICALLY DOWNWARD THROUGH THE PETROLEUM FORAMTION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: MIXING WITH THE CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT A DENSE SOLVENT FOR PETROLEUM HAVING A DENSITY GREATER THAN THE DENSITY OF THE CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT FOR PETROLEUM, THE MIXTURE OF CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT FOR PETROLEUM AND DENSE SOLVENT HAVING A RESULTING DENSITY LESS THAN THE DENSITY OF THE FORMATION PETROLEUM AND GREATER THAN THE DENSITY OF THE CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
IN A METHOD OF RECOVERING PETROLEUM FROM A SUBTERRANEAN, PETROLEUM-CONTAINING FORMATING PENETRATED BY AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL COMPLETED HIGH IN THE FORMATION AND BY AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL COMPLETED LOW IN THE FORMATION, OF THE TYPE WHEREIN A QUANTITY OF CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT FOR PETROLEUM MISCIBLE WITH THE PETROLEUM CONTAINED IN THE FORMATION IS INJECTED INTO THE TOP OF THE FORMATION AND THEREAFTER A GASEOUS DRIVE FLUID IS INJECTED INTO TO TOP OF THE FORMATION TO DISPLACE THE SOLVENT VERTICALLY DOWNWARD THROUGH THE PETROLEUM FORAMTION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: MIXING WITH THE CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT A DENSE SOLVENT FOR PETROLEUM HAVING A DENSITY GREATER THAN THE DENSITY OF THE CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT FOR PETROLEUM, THE MIXTURE OF CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT FOR PETROLEUM AND DENSE SOLVENT HAVING A RESULTING DENSITY LESS THAN THE DENSITY OF THE FORMATION PETROLEUM AND GREATER THAN THE DENSITY OF THE CONVENTIONAL HYDROCARBON SOLVENT.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the dense solvent is selected from the group consisting of carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, and halogenated hydrocarbons which are essentially insoluble in and unreactive with water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the dense solvent is carbon disulfide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the dense solvent is carbon tetrachloride.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon which is essentially insoluble in and unreactive with water is selected from the group consisting of trichloromethane and chlorobenzene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon is trichloromethane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the halogenated hydrocarbon is chlorobenzene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the dense solvent is a mixture of carbon disulfide and carbon tetrachloride.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the solvent also contains an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon is benzene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein the aromatic hydrocarbon is toluene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein sufficient dense solvent is added to the conventional solvent to produce a mixture having a density equal to from about 80 to about 95 percent of the density of the formation petroleum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the drive fluid is predominantly natural gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the drive fluid is predominantly methane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the driVe fluid is carbon dioxide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein a mixture of solvent and formation petroleum is produced near the conclusion of the vertically downward miscible flood and this mixture is subjected on the surface to the additional steps of, a. separating the solvent from the produced mixture of petroleum and solvent by distillation, and b. compressing and reliquefying the solvent.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for recovering petroleum from a subterranean, petroleum containing formation, said formation being penetrated by at least one production well completed near the bottom of the formation and by at least one injection well completed near the top of the formation, of the type wherein a quantity of hydrocarbon solvent is introduced into the upper portion of the formation, the density of said hydrocarbon solvent being less than the density of the formation petroleum, and thereafter introducing a gaseous drive fluid into the upper portion of the formation to displace the solvent and formation petroleum downward, wherein the improvement comprises: mixing with said hydrocarbon solvent, a dense solvent for petroleum, said dense solvent having a density greater than the density of the hydrocarbon solvent, in an amount sufficient to produce a mixture of hydrocarbon solvent and dense solvent having a density greater than the density of the hydrocarbon solvent and less than the density of the formation petroleum.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
159 words
A method for recovering petroleum from a subterranean, petroleum containing formation, said formation being penetrated by at least one production well completed near the bottom of the formation and by at least one injection well completed near the top of the formation, of the type wherein a quantity of hydrocarbon solvent is introduced into the upper portion of the formation, the density of said hydrocarbon solvent being less than the density of the formation petroleum, and thereafter introducing a gaseous drive fluid into the upper portion of the formation to displace the solvent and formation petroleum downward, wherein the improvement comprises: mixing with said hydrocarbon solvent, a dense solvent for petroleum, said dense solvent having a density greater than the density of the hydrocarbon solvent, in an amount sufficient to produce a mixture of hydrocarbon solvent and dense solvent having a density greater than the density of the hydrocarbon solvent and less than the density of the formation petroleum.
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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) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |