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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Method for providing solids-free production from heavy oil reservoirs

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5679171
This patent describes a method for producing viscous substantially solids free hydrocarbonaceous fluids from an unconsolidated formation or reservoir. It includes drilling into the reservoir first and second spaced apart wells into a lower productive interval of the formation; perforating both wells in the lower productive interval; fracturing hydraulically the wells at the lower productive interval with a viscous fracturing fluid containing a proppant therein so as to prop a created fracture; injecting a pre-determined volume of steam into the first well in an amount sufficient to soften the viscous fluid and lower the viscosity of the fluid adjacent a fractured face; producing the first well at a rate sufficient to allow formation fines to build up on a fracture face communicating with the first well thereby resulting in a filter screen sufficient to substantially remove formation fines from the hydrocarbonaceous fluids.
Assignee:
Mobil Oil Corp., Fairfax, VA (USA)
Patent Number(s):
US 5036917; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-446833
OSTI ID:
5679171
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English