Technique for insulating a wellbore with silicate foam

Patent · Tue Aug 25 04:00:00 EDT 1970

OSTI ID:5378116

Bayless, J H; Penberthy, Jr, W L

A method and an apparatus are described for thermally insulating a well for us in a thermal process for oil recovery. The well is insulated by boiling a silicate solution in contact with the well tubing to form a coating of alkali metal silicate foam on the tubing. The insulated tubing may be fabricated on the surface or within the well bore. Injection of high temperature steam which may be 650$F, or even higher presents some special operational problems. When the steam is injected through the tubing, there may be substantial transfer of heat across the annular space to the well casing. Then the well casing is firmly cemented into the wellbore, the thermally induced stresses may result in casing failure. (8 claims)

• Assignee: Esso Production Res. Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3525399
• OSTI ID: 5378116
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BOREHOLES
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL COATING
COLLOIDS
DEPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
FLUID INJECTION
FOAMS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
OIL WELLS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
STEAM INJECTION
STRESSES
SURFACE COATING
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMAL STRESSES
TUBES
WELL CASINGS
WELLS