Patent US4434849A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4434849A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for recovering high viscosity oils
Assignee: BARBER HEAVY OIL PROCESS Inc A TX CORP
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Filing: 1981-02-09
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Granted: 1984-03-06
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Expires: 2001-02-09
Abstract
Abstract Improved methods and apparatus are provided for recovering high viscosity oils from a sub-surface earth formation utilizing horizontal well apparatus. A plurality of horizontal drill holes extend from a large diameter vertical shaft hole into the formation of interest. Steam may be injected into the formation through selectively placed conventional vertical wells terminating within the oil-bearing formation, while oil is recovered from the lateral drill holes. A noncondensible gas or cold water may be injected into the formation subsequent to steam injection to enhance the overall recovery of oil.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph C. Allen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:48
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/16; E21B43/24; E21B43/2406; E21B43/164; E21B43/30; E21C; E21C41/00; E21C41/16; E21C41/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface earth formation in which formation a steam cap can form comprising: establishing a shaft hole extending from the surface to said subsurface earth formation; drilling a first plurality of boreholes radially from said shaft hole in a substantially horizontal plane within a lower portion of said formation, said first plurality of boreholes defining a blanketed zone; drilling a second plurality of boreholes within the blanketed zone substantially vertically from said surface into said formation, said second plurality of boreholes extending to a depth above said first plurality of boreholes; heating oil in said formation by injecting a heating fluid into one of said plurality of boreholes; injecting steam into said second plurality of boreholes to form a gas cap; and thereafter discontinuing injection of steam through said plurality of boreholes and injecting water such that said water is converted to steam to further provide for drive of oil by said gas cap towards said first plurality of boreholes.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
166 words
A method of recovering oil from a subsurface earth formation in which formation a steam cap can form comprising: establishing a shaft hole extending from the surface to said subsurface earth formation; drilling a first plurality of boreholes radially from said shaft hole in a substantially horizontal plane within a lower portion of said formation, said first plurality of boreholes defining a blanketed zone; drilling a second plurality of boreholes within the blanketed zone substantially vertically from said surface into said formation, said second plurality of boreholes extending to a depth above said first plurality of boreholes; heating oil in said formation by injecting a heating fluid into one of said plurality of boreholes; injecting steam into said second plurality of boreholes to form a gas cap; and thereafter discontinuing injection of steam through said plurality of boreholes and injecting water such that said water is converted to steam to further provide for drive of oil by said gas cap towards said first plurality of boreholes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting water comprises injecting at a rate which is a fraction of the rate of injectivity of said formation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 2 wherein the step of injecting water comprises injecting at the rate of 10-20% of the maximum rate of injection and wherein said step is performed subsequent to recovery of oil from said formation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of injecting water following injecting steam comprises performing a plurality of cycles of injecting steam through said second plurality of boreholes, discontinuing injecting steam and then injecting water.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
36 words
The method according to either of claims 3 or 4 wherein the step of injecting steam into said second plurality of boreholes further comprises the step of injecting non condensable gas in addition to injecting steam.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
54 words
The method according to either of claims 3 or 4 wherein the step of injecting fluid into one of said first or second plurality of boreholes comprises the step of injecting steam into said first plurality of boreholes, and performing a soaking operation prior to injection of steam into said second plurality of boreholes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 6 wherein the step of injecting heating fluid comprises injecting steam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 7 further comprising the steps of monitoring oil recovery from each of said first plurality of boreholes, and regulating injection of steam through selected ones of said second plurality of boreholes in response to oil recovery from each of said first plurality of boreholes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 7 wherein the step of drilling said second plurality of boreholes comprises spacing each borehole of said second plurality of boreholes equally in a horizontal direction between two of said boreholes within said first plurality of boreholes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein the step of drilling said second plurality of boreholes further comprises spacing each of borehole in said second plurality of boreholes 60 to 95% of the distance from the center of said shaft hole to to the extremity of the blanketed zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method according to claim 10 wherein the step of providing said first plurality of boreholes comprises providing eight radially exrending boreholes and wherein the step of providing said second plurality of boreholes comprises providing eight boreholes terminating twenty feet vertically from said first plurality of boreholes and wherein each of said second plurality of boreholes exposes one hundred feet of perforations in a vertical direction to said formation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a method of recovering oil from a subsurface earth formation in which formation a steam cap can form comprising the steps of establishing a shaft hole extending from the surface to said subsurface earth formation; drilling a first plurality of boreholes radially from said shaft hole in a substantially horizontal plane within a lower portion of said formation; drilling a secondary plurality of boreholes substantially vertically from said surface into said formation, said second plurality of boreholes extending to a depth above said first plurality of boreholes; heating oil in said formation by injecting a heating fluid into one of said plurality of boreholes; the improvement comprising: injecting steam into said second plurality of boreholes to form a gas cap; for causing production from said first plurality of boreholes and thereafter discontinuing injection of steam through said plurality of boreholes and injecting water such that said water is converted to further provide for drive of oil by said gas cap.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
In a method of recovering oil from a subsurface earth formation in which formation a steam cap can form comprising the steps of establishing a shaft hole extending from the surface to said subsurface earth formation; drilling a first plurality of boreholes radially from said shaft hole in a substantially horizontal plane within a lower portion of said formation; drilling a secondary plurality of boreholes substantially vertically from said surface into said formation, said second plurality of boreholes extending to a depth above said first plurality of boreholes; heating oil in said formation by injecting a heating fluid into one of said plurality of boreholes; the improvement comprising: injecting steam into said second plurality of boreholes to form a gas cap; for causing production from said first plurality of boreholes and thereafter discontinuing injection of steam through said plurality of boreholes and injecting water such that said water is converted to further provide for drive of oil by said gas cap.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 12 wherein the step of injecting water comprises injecting at a rate which is a fraction of the rate of injectivity of said formation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the step of injecting water comprises injection at the rate of 10-20% of the maximum rate of injection and wherein said step is performed subsequent to recovery of oil from said formation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the step of injecting water following injecting steam comprises performing a plurality of cycles of injecting steam through said second plurality of boreholes, discontinuing injecting steam and then injecting water.
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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) | 1987-03-06 | 1987-09-05 | 1988-03-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-06 | 1991-09-05 | 1992-03-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-06 | 1995-09-05 | 1996-03-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |