US4149596A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for recovering gas from solution in aquifer waters
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
•
Filing: 1978-05-15
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Granted: 1979-04-17
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Expires: 1998-05-15
Abstract
Abstract In a method for producing hydrocarbon gas from aquifers which contain gas in water solution, water is produced from wells distributed through the aquifer and solution gases are recovered from the produced water. The aquifer pressure declines as production continues; gas comes out of water solution and a gas phase saturation builds up in the aquifer. When gas saturation exceeds a critical value, gas in gaseous phase flows through the aquifer rock to the producing wells and the ratio of total gas to total water produced increases substantially.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph G. Richardson
- 👤 Lawrence D. Christian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:31
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/18; E21B43/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for recovering gas from solution in aquifer waters of a normally pressured aquifer comprising the steps of: lifting water from wells completed in said normally pressured aquifer until the pressure in said aquifer is reduced sufficiently to cause gas initially in solution in said aquifer to become mobile and to flow as a gaseous phase in said aquifer, said wells being producible only by lifting; continuing to produce water from said wells to cause gas saturation to build up in excess of that required for gas to flow in gaseous phase to said wells; and producing said gaseous phase which has evolved from said water in said aquifer from said wells.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for recovering gas from solution in aquifer waters of a normally pressured aquifer comprising the steps of: lifting water from wells completed in said normally pressured aquifer until the pressure in said aquifer is reduced sufficiently to cause gas initially in solution in said aquifer to become mobile and to flow as a gaseous phase in said aquifer, said wells being producible only by lifting; continuing to produce water from said wells to cause gas saturation to build up in excess of that required for gas to flow in gaseous phase to said wells; and producing said gaseous phase which has evolved from said water in said aquifer from said wells.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as recited in claim 1 in which substantially more gaseous phase gas is produced than the gas in solution in said water.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as recited in claim 2 in which said produced gas is separated from said water at the surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 3 in which substantially the only gas produced is that gas in solution in said water and said gaseous phase evolved from said water.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 including producing only said gaseous phase gas from one or more of said wells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3134434A
Cited
US3215198A
Cited
US3258069A
Cited
US4040487A
Cited
US4042034A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-16 | 1982-10-16 | 1983-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-16 | 1986-10-16 | 1987-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-16 | 1990-10-16 | 1991-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |