US4248306A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Geothermal petroleum refining
Assignee: Imperial Energy Corp
•
Filing: 1979-04-02
•
Granted: 1981-02-03
•
Expires: 1999-04-02
Abstract
Abstract Petroleum is distilled into fractions and/or cracked to form gas and/or lighter oil fractions by pumping the oil into the boiler section of a unit disposed in a hot, deep, subterranean geothermal zone. The distillation can be aided by forming steam from the geothermal heat as a thermal carrier.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan T. Van Huisen
- 👤 Paul E. Griffin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:21
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/34; E21B43/38; C; C10; C10G; C10G11/00; E21B36/00; F; F24; F24T; F24T10/00; F24T10/30; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A geothermal system for refining petroleum oils comprising in combination: a geological formation including a subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; well means extending from the surface into the zone; a unit for receiving crude oil disposed within the portion of the well disposed in the zone and for distilling the oil therein; cracking means including solid catalyst retained in a perforated container included within the unit; and means for delivering crude oil to the unit and means for recovering vapors from the unit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
89 words
A geothermal system for refining petroleum oils comprising in combination: a geological formation including a subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; well means extending from the surface into the zone; a unit for receiving crude oil disposed within the portion of the well disposed in the zone and for distilling the oil therein; cracking means including solid catalyst retained in a perforated container included within the unit; and means for delivering crude oil to the unit and means for recovering vapors from the unit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 1 further including means for recovering non-distillate fraction of oil from the unit.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of refining petroleum oil comprising the steps of: injecting crude oil from the surface into a unit disposed in a subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; generating steam within the unit; injecting said steam into the oil contained in said unit; distilling fractions from the oil in said unit; and delivering the distilled vapors from the unit to the surface.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of refining petroleum oil comprising the steps of: injecting crude oil from the surface into a unit disposed in a subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; generating steam within the unit; injecting said steam into the oil contained in said unit; distilling fractions from the oil in said unit; and delivering the distilled vapors from the unit to the surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 3 in which the zone has a temperature of at least 500° F. and further including the step of thermally cracking the oil in said unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 3 further including the steps of delivering cracking catalyst in the unit, contacting the oil with the catalyst and catalytically cracking the oil.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 3 further including the step of recovering non-distillable oil from said unit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A geothermal system for refining petroleum oils comprising in combination; a geological formation including a subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; well means extending from the surface into the zone; a unit for receiving crude oil disposed within the portion of the well disposed in the zone and for distilling the oil therein; means for generating steam within the unit and for injecting steam into the oil; and means for delivering crude oil to the unit and means for recovering vapors from the unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
89 words
A geothermal system for refining petroleum oils comprising in combination; a geological formation including a subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; well means extending from the surface into the zone; a unit for receiving crude oil disposed within the portion of the well disposed in the zone and for distilling the oil therein; means for generating steam within the unit and for injecting steam into the oil; and means for delivering crude oil to the unit and means for recovering vapors from the unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 7 in which the unit includes a pipe still and means for delivering water to the pipe still.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A geothermal system for refining petroleum oils comprising in combination: a geological formation including a subsurface zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; well means extending from the surface into the zone; a unit for receiving crude oil disposed within the portion of the well disposed in the zone and for distilling the oil therein; means for injecting steam into oil contained in the unit from the zone; and means for delivering crude oil to the unit and means for recovering vapors from the unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A geothermal system for refining petroleum oils comprising in combination: a geological formation including a subsurface zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; well means extending from the surface into the zone; a unit for receiving crude oil disposed within the portion of the well disposed in the zone and for distilling the oil therein; means for injecting steam into oil contained in the unit from the zone; and means for delivering crude oil to the unit and means for recovering vapors from the unit.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 9 in which the zone is a pressurized wet geothermal zone, the well includes a metal casing and the steam injection means includes perforations in the casing communicating with the unit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system according to claim 9 in which the zone is a fractured dry geothermal zone and the steam injection means includes means for injecting water from the surface into the zone below the end of the well for generating steam in the zone and inlet means provided in the well for injecting the geothermally generated steam into the unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 11 in which the water injection means is concentric with the crude delivery means and steam inlet means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of refining petroleum oil comprising the steps of: injecting crude oil from the surface into a unit disposed in a pressurized, wet, geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; injecting geothermal steam from the zone into the oil contained in said unit; distilling fractions from the oil in said unit; and delivering the distilled vapors from the unit to surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of refining petroleum oil comprising the steps of: injecting crude oil from the surface into a unit disposed in a pressurized, wet, geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300° F.; injecting geothermal steam from the zone into the oil contained in said unit; distilling fractions from the oil in said unit; and delivering the distilled vapors from the unit to surface.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 13 in which the zone is dry and further including the step of injecting water into the zone to generate said steam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US781908A
Cited
US2937987A
Cited
US3154385A
Cited
US3412011A
Cited
US3679264A
Cited
US4079590A
Cited
US4060988A
Cited
US4085795A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-02-03 | 1984-08-04 | 1985-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-02-03 | 1988-08-04 | 1989-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-02-03 | 1992-08-04 | 1993-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |