Patent US4031956A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4031956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of recovering energy from subsurface petroleum reservoirs
Assignee: In Situ Technology Inc
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Filing: 1976-02-12
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Granted: 1977-06-28
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Expires: 1996-02-12
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is directed to a method of recovering energy from a subsurface petroleum formation by igniting the petroleum reservoir and burning as much petroleum as is possible thereby generating heat and recovering the heat so that it can be transformed into other forms of useful energy. The method also includes the steps of controlling the burning reservoir by injecting plugging agents into the more rapidly burning channels of the reservoir and by injecting oxidizing agents in spaced locations from the heat recovery location so that the burn pattern can be spread out over a selected area to maximize the recovery of energy from the selected area.
Inventors
- 👤 Ruel C. Terry
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 12:14
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/30; E21B43/305; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/243; F; F24; F24T; F24T10/00; F24T10/30; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of extracting heat from a petroleum reservoir in the earth by consuming the petroleum in situ comprising the steps of: establishing at least two injection passages and a removal passage between a surface location and the petroleum reservoir, injecting an oxidizer through one of the injection passages into the petroleum reservoir, igniting the petroleum reservoir through said one passage to create a fire front which progresses toward the other of said injection passages, injecting an oxidizing agent into said other injection passage while maintaining the injection through said one injection passage, allowing channels to be formed in the petroleum reservoir by burning petroleum, injecting a plugging agent into the most rapidly forming channels, controlling oxidizer injection so that petroleum is consumed in the fire, collecting fluids produced by the burning petroleum in the removal passage, conveying the fluids through the removal passage to the surface location, and forming an underground burn pattern by injection of a non-flammable fluid into the reservoir at locations where it is desired to discourage further burning.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of extracting heat from a petroleum reservoir in the earth by consuming the petroleum in situ comprising the steps of: establishing at least two injection passages and a removal passage between a surface location and the petroleum reservoir, injecting an oxidizer through one of the injection passages into the petroleum reservoir, igniting the petroleum reservoir through said one passage to create a fire front which progresses toward the other of said injection passages, injecting an oxidizing agent into said other injection passage while maintaining the injection through said one injection passage, allowing channels to be formed in the petroleum reservoir by burning petroleum, injecting a plugging agent into the most rapidly forming channels, controlling oxidizer injection so that petroleum is consumed in the fire, collecting fluids produced by the burning petroleum in the removal passage, conveying the fluids through the removal passage to the surface location, and forming an underground burn pattern by injection of a non-flammable fluid into the reservoir at locations where it is desired to discourage further burning.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said fluids produced by the burning petroleum are passed through heat exchange means located in the said removal passage as they are removed from the reservoir and further including the step of circulating a heat receptive fluid from a surface location through the said heat exchanger means and back to a surface location.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plugging agent decomposes into coke residue when its temperature is increased significantly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plugging agent is flamable but burns at a slower rate than the petroleum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the petroleum reservoir has a pattern of maximum permeability extending along a substantially straight path in opposite directions from said removal passage and wherein there is at least one of said injection passages along said path on each side of said removal passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 wherein there is at least one of said injection passages spaced from said removal passage along a path substantially perpendicular to said pattern of permeability path.
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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) | 1980-06-27 | 1980-12-27 | 1981-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-06-27 | 1984-12-27 | 1985-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-06-27 | 1988-12-27 | 1989-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |