Method of removing permeability blocks

Patent · Mon Jun 28 04:00:00 EDT 1971

OSTI ID:5721410

Parker, H W

A method for removing viscous oil and tar permeability blocks from a formation and preconditioning the formation in the vicinity of an injection well for subsequent injection of oxygen for direct drive in situ combustion consists of the following steps: (1) initiating combustion within the formation at a distance within the range of not greater than 35 ft and not less than 15 ft from the well bore of the injection well; (2) injecting oxygen into the formation at a rate to maintain movement of the combustion zone substantially toward only the injection well; (3) decreasing the rate of oxygen injection into the well to maintain the temperature within the injection well below about 600$F while moving the combustion zone through the formation toward the injection well; and (4) continuing oxygen injection into the well and maintaining the temperature within the well below about 600$F until the temperature within the injection well falls below 400$F. (5 claims)

• Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3587739
• OSTI ID: 5721410
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
INJECTION WELLS
NONMETALS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
PERMEABILITY
PETROLEUM
PLUGGING
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
REMOVAL
TAR
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WELLS