Patent US4344486A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4344486A
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Method for enhanced oil recovery
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1981-02-27
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Granted: 1982-08-17
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Expires: 2001-02-27
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations, said method comprising recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation; combusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream; and injecting at least a portion of said concentrated carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation to enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Parrish
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 13:55
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/164; E21B43/24; E21B43/34; E21B43/40; F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/04; F25J3/04521; F25J3/04527; F25J3/04533; F25J3/04563; F25J3/04569; F25J2260/00; F25J2260/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations comprising: recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and about 5 to about 90 mol percent contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation; combusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream containing less than about 10 mol percent nitrogen, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof; and injecting at least a portion of said concentrated carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation to enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations comprising: recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and about 5 to about 90 mol percent contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation; combusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream containing less than about 10 mol percent nitrogen, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof; and injecting at least a portion of said concentrated carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation to enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the concentrated carbon dioxide stream comprises at least about 90 mol percent carbon dioxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the concentrated carbon dioxide stream comprises at least about 95 mol percent carbon dioxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the concentrated carbon dioxide stream comprises at least about 98 mol percent carbon dioxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises less than a 10 percent stoichiometric excess of oxygen for the combustion with oxygen of combustible contaminants.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises less than a 5 ;L percent stoichiometric excess of oxygen for the combustion with oxygen of combustible contaminants.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises at least about 90 mol percent oxygen.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises at least about 95 mol percent oxygen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the oxygen enriched gas comprises at least about 98 mol percent oxygen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the hydrocarbon comprises methane.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations comprising: recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and about 5 to about 90 mol percent contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation; comusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream containing less than about 10 mol percent nitrogen, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof; and first injecting a stream comprising at least a portion of the carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation and then injecting a stream comprising at least a portion of a nitrogen enriched stream into the underground formation to effectively move the injected carbon dioxide within the formation and enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations comprising: recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and about 5 to about 90 mol percent contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation; comusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream containing less than about 10 mol percent nitrogen, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof; and first injecting a stream comprising at least a portion of the carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation and then injecting a stream comprising at least a portion of a nitrogen enriched stream into the underground formation to effectively move the injected carbon dioxide within the formation and enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations comprising: recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and about 5 to about 90 mol percent contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation; combusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream containing less than about 10 mol percent nitrogen, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof; recovering heat or energy from the combustion of the mixture; and injecting at least a portion of said concentrated carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation to enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for the enhanced recovery of liquid hydrocarbons from underground formations comprising: recovering a mixture comprising carbon dioxide and about 5 to about 90 mol percent contaminants comprising hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, or mixtures thereof, from an underground formation; combusting said mixture with an oxygen enriched gas to form a concentrated carbon dioxide stream containing less than about 10 mol percent nitrogen, oxygen, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, or mixtures thereof; recovering heat or energy from the combustion of the mixture; and injecting at least a portion of said concentrated carbon dioxide stream into an underground formation to enhance recovery of liquid hydrocarbon.
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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) | 1985-08-16 | 1986-02-15 | 1986-08-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-08-16 | 1990-02-15 | 1990-08-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-08-16 | 1994-02-15 | 1994-08-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |