Forward in situ combustion method for recovering hydrocarbons with production well cooling

Patent · Tue Oct 22 04:00:00 EDT 1968

OSTI ID:5665983

Sharp, L G

A method is described for the recovery of hydrocarbons, by forward in situ combustion, from a subterranean formation employing production well cooling. An in situ combustion front is moved by the injection of oxygen-containing gas into the formation through an injection well toward a spaced production well. The front displaces combustion-generated heated fluids, and formation fluid containing combustible hydrocarbons, into the production well. These fluids are produced from the production well and hydrocarbons recovered from them. Eventually, the combustion front moves sufficiently close to the production well to create temperatures therein at which combustion and thermal destruction of the desired hydrocarbons can occur. At this time, water is passed from the well into the surrounding formation at an upper horizon, then downward about the production well to a lower horizon where the water is coproduced into the production well with fluids displaced before the combustion front. 5 claims.

• Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 3406755
• OSTI ID: 5665983
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
COOLING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENGINEERING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
INJECTION WELLS
OIL WELLS
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ENGINEERING
RESERVOIR ROCK
STIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS