US3872924A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas cap stimulation for oil recovery
Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co
•
Filing: 1973-09-25
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Granted: 1975-03-25
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Expires: 1993-09-25
Abstract
Abstract A hot fluid, e.g., steam, combustion gas, CO2, natural gas, etc., is injected preferably into the gas cap above an oil interval or formation, followed by sufficient water to partially seal the treated formation against fingering and channeling of air later injected, then injecting air to cause spontaneous ignition and in situ combustion of gas and/or residual oil in the gas cap creating heat and pressure whereby viscosity of oil is reduced and oil is moved in improved manner toward producing wells.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L Clampitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:09
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/164; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF OIL FROM AN OIL BEARING FORMATION HAVING A GAS CAP ASSOCIATED THEREWITH WHICH METHOD COMPRISES HEATING THE INTERSTICES OF THE GAS CAP AND FORMATION THEN INJECTING INTO THE HEATED PORTION OF THE FORMATION A QUANTITY OF WATER SUFFICENT UPON LATER INJECTION OF A COMBUSTION SUSTAINING FLUID SUBSTANTIALLY TO RETAIN THE COMBUSTION SUSTANING FLUID IN SAID HEATED PART OF THE FORMATION AS SAID COMBUSTION SUSTAINING FLUID DISPLACES THE WATER THEREFROM TO THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TREATED AREA, AND THEN INJECTING A COMBUSTION SUSTAINING FLUID INTO THE THUS TREATED PORTION OF THE FORMATION IN QUANTITIES SUFFICIENT AND FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE AUTO-IGNITION AND CONSEQUENT IN SITU COMBUSTION TO GENERATE HEAT AND PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE OIL CONTAINED IN THE FORMATION TO FLOW AWAY FROM SAID INJECTION WELL TOWARD AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
139 words
A METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF OIL FROM AN OIL BEARING FORMATION HAVING A GAS CAP ASSOCIATED THEREWITH WHICH METHOD COMPRISES HEATING THE INTERSTICES OF THE GAS CAP AND FORMATION THEN INJECTING INTO THE HEATED PORTION OF THE FORMATION A QUANTITY OF WATER SUFFICENT UPON LATER INJECTION OF A COMBUSTION SUSTAINING FLUID SUBSTANTIALLY TO RETAIN THE COMBUSTION SUSTANING FLUID IN SAID HEATED PART OF THE FORMATION AS SAID COMBUSTION SUSTAINING FLUID DISPLACES THE WATER THEREFROM TO THE BOUNDARIES OF THE TREATED AREA, AND THEN INJECTING A COMBUSTION SUSTAINING FLUID INTO THE THUS TREATED PORTION OF THE FORMATION IN QUANTITIES SUFFICIENT AND FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE AUTO-IGNITION AND CONSEQUENT IN SITU COMBUSTION TO GENERATE HEAT AND PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE OIL CONTAINED IN THE FORMATION TO FLOW AWAY FROM SAID INJECTION WELL TOWARD AT LEAST ONE PRODUCTION WELL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of claim 1 wherein the heating of the intertices of the gas cap and formation is accomplished by injection of a heating fluid into the gas cap and formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of claim 2 wherein the heating fluid is chosen from among the group consisting of steam, combustion gases, carbon dioxide, and natural gas.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of claim 1 wherein the combustion sustaining fluid is chosen from among air and oxygen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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US3024841A
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US3170515A
Cited
US3163216A
Cited
US3171479A
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US3196945A
Cited
US3380527A
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US3542129A
Cited
US3563312A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-24 | 1978-09-23 | 1979-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-24 | 1982-09-23 | 1983-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-24 | 1986-09-23 | 1987-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |