Method of treating a hydrocarbon producing well

Claim 1

A method of treating a hydrocarbon producing well of the type having a casing string and a tubing string inside the casing string, both strings extending from the surface to adjacent a hydrocarbon bearing formation and being in fluid transmitting relation, comprising injecting into a first of the strings, at the surface, a combustible mixture including a gaseous phase material in a quantity larger than the volumetric capacity of the first string; monitoring the other of the strings, at the surface, to detect the presence of the combustible mixture; igniting the combustible mixture after detecting the presence of the combustible mixture at the surface; valving the string closed and thereby preventing backflow of gaseous phase materials from the strings toward the surface during combustion of the mixture; and moving hot combustion products from the string into the formation.

Claim 2

A method of treating a hydrocarbon producing well of the type having a casing string and a tubing string inside the casing string, both strings extending from the surface to adjacent a hydrocarbon bearing formation and being in fluid transmitting relation, comprising injecting into a first of the strings, at the surface, a combustible mixture including a gaseous phase material in a quantity larger than the volumetric capacity of the first string; monitoring the other of the strings, at the surface, to detect the presence of the combustible mixture; igniting the combustible mixture after detecting the presence of the combustible mixture at the surface; valving the string closed and thereby preventing backflow of gaseous phase materials from the strings toward the surface during combustion of the mixture; and moving hot combustion products from the string into the formation.

Claim 10

A method of stimulating a hydrocarbon producing well of the type having a casing string extending from the surface to adjacent a hydrocarbon bearing formation and a tubing string, inside the casing string and communicating therewith, extending from the surface toward the hydrocarbon bearing formation, the method comprising steps for periodically injecting hot combustion products into the formation including (a) injecting into the tubing string, at the surface, a combustible mixture including a gaseous phase material in a quantity sufficient to substantially fill the tubing string and at least part of the annulus between the tubing and casing strings; (b) injecting into the annulus at the surface, an accumulator gas in a quantity sufficient to fill only part of the annulus; (c) preventing flow of the combustible mixture toward the surface; (d) igniting the combustible mixture; (e) combusting the mixture in the well and increasing the pressure in the well; (f) moving hot combustion products from the well into the formation and thereby decreasing the pressure in the well; and then (g) repeating steps (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f).

Claim 11

A method of stimulating a hydrocarbon producing well of the type having a casing string extending from the surface to adjacent a hydrocarbon bearing formation and a tubing string, inside the casing string and communicating therewith, extending from the surface toward the hydrocarbon bearing formation, the method comprising steps for periodically injecting hot combustion products into the formation including (a) injecting into the tubing string, at the surface, a combustible mixture including a gaseous phase material in a quantity sufficient to substantially fill the tubing string and at least part of the annulus between the tubing and casing strings; (b) injecting into the annulus at the surface, an accumulator gas in a quantity sufficient to fill only part of the annulus; (c) preventing flow of the combustible mixture toward the surface; (d) igniting the combustible mixture; (e) combusting the mixture in the well and increasing the pressure in the well; (f) moving hot combustion products from the well into the formation and thereby decreasing the pressure in the well; and then (g) repeating steps (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f).

Claim 12

A method for stimulating a hydrocarbon producing well of the type having a casing string extending from the surface to adjacent a hydrocarbon bearing formation and a tubing string, inside the casing string, extending from the surface toward the hydrocarbon formation, the method comprising steps for generating substantial pressure pulses in the strings and periodically injecting hot combustion products into the formation including (a) injecting into a first of the strings, at the surface, a combustible mixture including a gaseous phase material in a quantity sufficient to substantially fill the first string; (b) valving the strings closed at the surface and thereby preventing flow of the combustible mixture and combustion products toward the surface; (c) igniting the combustible mixture; (d) combusting substantially all of the mixture in the well and generating a pressure pulse in the well; (e) moving hot combustion products from the well into the formation and thereby decreasing the pressure in the well; (f) valving open, at the surface, at least the first string to allow further injection of combustible mixture thereinto; and then (g) repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f).

Claim 13

A method for stimulating a hydrocarbon producing well of the type having a casing string extending from the surface to adjacent a hydrocarbon bearing formation and a tubing string, inside the casing string, extending from the surface toward the hydrocarbon formation, the method comprising steps for generating substantial pressure pulses in the strings and periodically injecting hot combustion products into the formation including (a) injecting into a first of the strings, at the surface, a combustible mixture including a gaseous phase material in a quantity sufficient to substantially fill the first string; (b) valving the strings closed at the surface and thereby preventing flow of the combustible mixture and combustion products toward the surface; (c) igniting the combustible mixture; (d) combusting substantially all of the mixture in the well and generating a pressure pulse in the well; (e) moving hot combustion products from the well into the formation and thereby decreasing the pressure in the well; (f) valving open, at the surface, at least the first string to allow further injection of combustible mixture thereinto; and then (g) repeating steps (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f).