Combination solvent-noncondensible gas injection method for recovering petroleum from viscous petroleum-containing formations including tar sand deposits

Patent · Tue Aug 29 00:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6359513

Allen, J C; Redford, D A

Petroleum may be recovered from viscous petroleum-containing formations including tar sand deposits by injecting into the formation a solvent which is liquid at formation conditions and simultaneously therewith injecting a substance which will remain totally gaseous at the pressure and temperature conditions existing within the reservoir. The presence of noncondensible gas in the formation into which solvent is being injected prevents formation of a impremeable bitumen bank which blocks the further flow of fluids through the formation. The gas should be essentially unreactive with the solvent and formation fluids in order to obtain the desired benefits. Examples of suitable gases for the practice of this invention include methane, ethane, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and mixtures thereof.

• Assignee: Texaco Inc.; Texaco Exploration Canada, Ltd.
• Patent Number(s): US 4109720
• OSTI ID: 6359513
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 9 Nov 1976
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
OIL WELLS
FLUID INJECTION
GAS INJECTION
PETROLEUM
ENHANCED RECOVERY
CARBON DIOXIDE
ETHANE
METHANE
NITROGEN
OIL SAND DEPOSITS
ALKANES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
HYDROCARBONS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
WELLS
040401* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- In Situ Methods
True & Modified