Method for recovering intractable petroleum from subterranean formations

Patent · Tue Mar 24 00:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5253920

Wilensky, J

This patent describes a method for producing petroleum from a subterranean formation of intractable petroleum. It comprises: constructing and operating a local visbreaking unit above the subterranean formation; starting production of intractable petroleum from the subterranean formation by: injecting a start-up injection fluid obtained from a source other than intractable petroleum production from the local visbreaking unit, obtaining an initial portion of intractable petroleum from, the subterranean formation and introducing the initial portion of the intractable petroleum from the subterranean formation into the local visbreaking unit; visbreaking the initial portion of petroleum recovered from the subterranean formation in order to obtain a first portion of a medium/heavy cracked gas oil fractionated by the visbreaking unit in a temperature range of from about 400{degrees}F. to about 1000{degrees}F. and having a UOP K Factor between about 10.0 and about 10.8; injecting, in the form of a hot liquid having a temperature from about 400{degrees}F. to about 1000{degrees}F. and by means of an injection well penetrating the subterranean formation, at least a part of the first portion of medium/heavy cracked gas oil having a UOP K Factor between about 10.0 and about 10.8 in order to impinge upon and melt a subsequent portion of the intractable petroleum and thereby forming a resulting hot, mobile, mixture of medium/heavy cracked gas oil and melted petroleum; recovering the resulting hot, mobile, mixture of medium/heavy cracked gas oil and melted petroleum from the subterranean formation.

• Assignee: Jack C. Sloan, Denver, CO (United States)
• Patent Number(s): US 5097903; A
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-644982
• OSTI ID: 5253920
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 23 Jan 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
OIL WELLS
WELL STIMULATION
PETROLEUM
VISCOSITY
EMULSIFIERS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
PETROLEUM RESIDUES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
ADDITIVES
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
PETROLEUM FRACTIONS
STIMULATION
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production
023000 - Petroleum- Properties & Composition
400105 - Separation Procedures