US3976137A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Recovery of oil by a combination of low temperature oxidation and hot water or steam injection
Assignee: Texaco Inc
•
Filing: 1974-06-21
•
Granted: 1976-08-24
•
Expires: 1994-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A method for the recovery of low gravity viscous oil or bitumens from a subterranean formation by the injection of a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and hot water or steam into either the upper or lower section of the formation wherein the ratio of oxygen to water is used to control the oxidation temperature.
Inventors
- 👤 Issam S. Bousaid
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:45
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well connected by flow channels, comprising the steps of; a. injecting into a portion of said formation via said injection well a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and a heated aqueous fluid to effect a low temperature oxidation in a temperature range of from about 250° to about 550°F of said hydrocarbons adjacent said injection well, wherein the ratio of the oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas to the water in said aqueous fluid is in the range of about 200 to about 800 SCF of oxygen per barrel of water, b. continuing injection of said mixture to maintain said low temperature oxidation to heat said hydrocarbons in the neighborhood of said flow channels, c. displacing said hydrocarbons via said flow channels toward said production well, d. producing said hydrocarbons from said production well.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well connected by flow channels, comprising the steps of; a. injecting into a portion of said formation via said injection well a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and a heated aqueous fluid to effect a low temperature oxidation in a temperature range of from about 250° to about 550°F of said hydrocarbons adjacent said injection well, wherein the ratio of the oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas to the water in said aqueous fluid is in the range of about 200 to about 800 SCF of oxygen per barrel of water, b. continuing injection of said mixture to maintain said low temperature oxidation to heat said hydrocarbons in the neighborhood of said flow channels, c. displacing said hydrocarbons via said flow channels toward said production well, d. producing said hydrocarbons from said production well.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said formation into which said mixture is injected is the upper portion of said formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said portion of said formation into which said mixture is injected is the lower portion of said formation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said O 2 -containing gas is air.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said O 2 -containing gas is substantially pure O 2 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heated aqueous fluid is hot water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said heated aqueous fluid is steam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said ratio is about 500 SCF of oxygen per barrel of water.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well connected by flow channels, comprising the steps of; a. injecting into the upper portion of said formtion via said injection well a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and a heated aqueous fluid to effect a low temperature oxidation in a temperature range of from about 250° to about 550°F of said hydrocarbons adjacent said injection well, wherein the ratio of the oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas to the water in said aqueous fluid is in the range of about 200 to about 800 SCF of oxygen per barrel of water, b. continuing injection of said mixture to maintain said low temperature oxidation to heat said hydrocarbons in the neighborhood of said flow channels, c. displacing said hydrocarbons via said flow channels toward said production well, d. producing said hydrocarbons from said production well.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well connected by flow channels, comprising the steps of; a. injecting into the upper portion of said formtion via said injection well a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and a heated aqueous fluid to effect a low temperature oxidation in a temperature range of from about 250° to about 550°F of said hydrocarbons adjacent said injection well, wherein the ratio of the oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas to the water in said aqueous fluid is in the range of about 200 to about 800 SCF of oxygen per barrel of water, b. continuing injection of said mixture to maintain said low temperature oxidation to heat said hydrocarbons in the neighborhood of said flow channels, c. displacing said hydrocarbons via said flow channels toward said production well, d. producing said hydrocarbons from said production well.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said oxygen-containing gas is air.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said oxygen-containint gas is substantially pure oxygen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said heated aqueous fluid is hot water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said heated aqueous fluid is steam.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said ratio is about 500 SCF of oxygen per barrel of water.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well connected by flow channels, comprising the steps of; a. injecting into the lower portion of said formation via said injection well a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and a heated aqueous fluid to effect a low temperature oxidation in a temperature range of from about 250° to about 550°F of said hydrocarbons adjacent said injection well, wherein the ratio of the oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas to the water in said aqueous fluid is in the range of about 200 to about 800 SCF of oxygen per barrel of water, b. continuing injection of said mixture to maintain said low temperature oxidation said production well and to heat said hydrocarbons in the neighborhood of said flow channels, c. displacing said hydrocarbons via said flow channels toward said production well, d. producing said hydrocarbons from said production well.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well connected by flow channels, comprising the steps of; a. injecting into the lower portion of said formation via said injection well a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and a heated aqueous fluid to effect a low temperature oxidation in a temperature range of from about 250° to about 550°F of said hydrocarbons adjacent said injection well, wherein the ratio of the oxygen in said oxygen-containing gas to the water in said aqueous fluid is in the range of about 200 to about 800 SCF of oxygen per barrel of water, b. continuing injection of said mixture to maintain said low temperature oxidation said production well and to heat said hydrocarbons in the neighborhood of said flow channels, c. displacing said hydrocarbons via said flow channels toward said production well, d. producing said hydrocarbons from said production well.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said oxygen-containing gas is air.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said oxygen-containing gas is substantially pure oxygen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said heated aqueous fluid is hot water.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said heated aqueous fluid is steam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said ratio is about 500 SCF of oxygen per barrel of water.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-24 | 1980-02-23 | 1980-08-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-24 | 1984-02-23 | 1984-08-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-24 | 1988-02-23 | 1988-08-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |