Patent US1844913A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3854531A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Viscous petroleum recovery process
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1973-02-26
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Granted: 1974-12-17
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Expires: 1993-02-26
Abstract
Abstract A method for recovering heavy oils and tar sand oils which involves first improving the reservoir permeability without fracturing the reservoir and subsequently flooding the reservoir with hot water or steam. The permeability is improved by establishing some permeability using water injection followed by flooding with an aqueous fluid containing chemical additives which will spontaneously emulsify the oil.
Inventors
- 👤 J Carlin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 19:56
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; C; C09; C09K; C09K8/00; C09K8/58; C09K8/592; E21B43/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A METHOD FOR RECOVERING HEAVY OIL FROM A SUBTERRANEAN RESERVOIR HAVING FINITE PERMEABILITY WITHOUT FRACTURING THE RESERVOIR WHEREIN THERE IS AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL PENETRATING AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESERVOIR AND AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL PENETRATING AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESERVOIR BY INJECTION OF FLUIDS THROUGH THE RESERVOIR FROM THE INJECTION WELL TO THE PRODUCTION WELL WHICH COMPRISES: A. INJECTING A FIRST AQUEOUS FLUID INTO THE RESERVOIR THROUGH THE INJECTION WELL IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION IN THE RESERVOIR BETWEEN THE INJECTION AND PRODUCTION WELLS, B. INJECTING A SECOND AQUEOUS FLUID INTO THE RESERVOIR THROUGH THE INJECTION WELL CONTAINING SODIUM HYDROXIDE, GUANIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND SODIUM OLEATE TO SPONTANEOUSLY EMULSIFY THE OIL IN THE RESERVOIR AND C. INJECTING STEAM INTO THE RESERVOIR THROUGH THE INJECTION WELL AND PRODUCING BITUMEN, STEAM, AND AQUEOUS FLUIDS THROUGH THE PRODUCTION WELL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A METHOD FOR RECOVERING HEAVY OIL FROM A SUBTERRANEAN RESERVOIR HAVING FINITE PERMEABILITY WITHOUT FRACTURING THE RESERVOIR WHEREIN THERE IS AT LEAST ONE INJECTION WELL PENETRATING AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESERVOIR AND AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL PENETRATING AND IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE RESERVOIR BY INJECTION OF FLUIDS THROUGH THE RESERVOIR FROM THE INJECTION WELL TO THE PRODUCTION WELL WHICH COMPRISES: A. INJECTING A FIRST AQUEOUS FLUID INTO THE RESERVOIR THROUGH THE INJECTION WELL IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATION IN THE RESERVOIR BETWEEN THE INJECTION AND PRODUCTION WELLS, B. INJECTING A SECOND AQUEOUS FLUID INTO THE RESERVOIR THROUGH THE INJECTION WELL CONTAINING SODIUM HYDROXIDE, GUANIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND SODIUM OLEATE TO SPONTANEOUSLY EMULSIFY THE OIL IN THE RESERVOIR AND C. INJECTING STEAM INTO THE RESERVOIR THROUGH THE INJECTION WELL AND PRODUCING BITUMEN, STEAM, AND AQUEOUS FLUIDS THROUGH THE PRODUCTION WELL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the heavy oil is tar sand oil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the steam is less than 100 percent quality.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for recovering heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir having finite permeability without fracturing the reservoir wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir by injection of fluids through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well which comprises: A. injecting a first aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well in order to establish communication in the reservoir between the injection and production wells, B. injecting a second aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well containing sodium hydroxide, guanidine hydrochloride and sodium oleate to spontaneously emulsify the oil in the reservoir and C. injecting hot water.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for recovering heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir having finite permeability without fracturing the reservoir wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir by injection of fluids through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well which comprises: A. injecting a first aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well in order to establish communication in the reservoir between the injection and production wells, B. injecting a second aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well containing sodium hydroxide, guanidine hydrochloride and sodium oleate to spontaneously emulsify the oil in the reservoir and C. injecting hot water.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein the heavy oil is tar sand oil.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for recovering heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir without fracturing the reservoir wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir by injection of fluids through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well which comprises: A. injecting an aqueous fluid through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well said aqueous fluid containing sodium hydroxide, guanidine hydrochloride and sodium oleate to spontaneously emulsify the oil in the reservoir and B. injecting steam into the reservoir through the injection well and producing bitumen, steam, and aqueous fluid through the production well.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for recovering heavy oil from a subterranean reservoir without fracturing the reservoir wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir by injection of fluids through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well which comprises: A. injecting an aqueous fluid through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well said aqueous fluid containing sodium hydroxide, guanidine hydrochloride and sodium oleate to spontaneously emulsify the oil in the reservoir and B. injecting steam into the reservoir through the injection well and producing bitumen, steam, and aqueous fluid through the production well.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein the heavy oil is tar sand oil.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for recovering tar sand oil from a subterranean reservoir having finite permeability without fracturing the reservoir wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir by injection of fluids through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well which comprises: A. injecting a first aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well in order to establish communication in the reservoir between the injection and production wells, B. injecting a second aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well containing sodium hydroxide and guanidine oleate to spontaneously emulsify the oil in the reservoir and C. injecting steam into the reservoir through the injection well and producing bitumen, steam, and aqueous fluids through the production well.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for recovering tar sand oil from a subterranean reservoir having finite permeability without fracturing the reservoir wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir by injection of fluids through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well which comprises: A. injecting a first aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well in order to establish communication in the reservoir between the injection and production wells, B. injecting a second aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well containing sodium hydroxide and guanidine oleate to spontaneously emulsify the oil in the reservoir and C. injecting steam into the reservoir through the injection well and producing bitumen, steam, and aqueous fluids through the production well.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for recovering tar sand oil from a subterranean reservoir having finite permeability without fracturing the reservoir wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir by injection of fluids through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well which comprises: A. injecting a first aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well in order to establish communication in the reservoir between the injection and production wells, B. injecting a second aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well containing sodium hydroxide and guanidine oleate to spontaneously emulsify the oil in the reservoir and C. injecting hot water.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
122 words
A method for recovering tar sand oil from a subterranean reservoir having finite permeability without fracturing the reservoir wherein there is at least one injection well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir and at least one production well penetrating and in communication with the reservoir by injection of fluids through the reservoir from the injection well to the production well which comprises: A. injecting a first aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well in order to establish communication in the reservoir between the injection and production wells, B. injecting a second aqueous fluid into the reservoir through the injection well containing sodium hydroxide and guanidine oleate to spontaneously emulsify the oil in the reservoir and C. injecting hot water.
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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) | 1977-12-16 | 1978-06-17 | 1978-12-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-16 | 1982-06-17 | 1982-12-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-16 | 1986-06-17 | 1986-12-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |