Method for recovering viscous asphaltic or bituminous petroleum

Patent · Wed Jun 26 00:00:00 EDT 1974

OSTI ID:7177734

Redford, D A; Mitchell, D L

A method is described for recovering viscous, asphaltic or bituminous petroleum from a permeable, subterranean, viscous asphaltic or bituminous petroleum-containing formation including a tar sand deposit, penetrated by at least one well in fluid communication with the formation comprising: forming a zone of increased permeability in at least a portion of the formation; introducing chlorine gas into said zone of increased permeability to oxidize labile groups on the bituminous petroleum, to form surface active agents in the formation; introducing an alkalinity agent into said zone of increased permeability to neutralize oxidized groups generated by action of the chlorine gas; introducing into the formation a recovery fluid selected from the group consisting of steam, a mixture of steam and an oxygen containing gas including air, a mixture of steam and ammonia, or a mixture of steam, ammonia and an oxygen containing gas; and recovering formation petroleum from the formation.

• Assignee: Texaco Exploration Canada Ltd.
• Patent Number(s): US 3938590
• OSTI ID: 7177734
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
02 PETROLEUM
WELL STIMULATION
AIR
AMMONIA
BITUMENS
CHLORINE
ENHANCED RECOVERY
GASES
OIL SANDS
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN
PETROLEUM
STEAM
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HALOGENS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
TAR
WELLS
040400* - Oil Shales & Tar Sands- Oil Production
Recovery
& Refining
020300 - Petroleum- Drilling & Production