Enhanced oil recovery process utilizing in situ steam generation

Patent · Tue Oct 13 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5770880

Fleming, G C

A process is described for recovering hydrocarbons from a porous hydrocarbon-bearing formation having a production means through which the hydrocarbons in the formation are recovered and an injection means through which materials may be injected into the formation. Both the production means and the injection means are in fluid communication with the formation. The process comprises: (a) injecting water and oxygen into the formation through the injection means and causing at least a portion of the oxygen to combust with a portion of the hydrocarbons in the formation to form a first expanding combustion front away from the injection means; (b) injecting oxygen, water and hydrocarbons into the formation through the injection means and causing at least a portion of the oxygen to combust with at least a portion of the injected hydrocarbons along a second combustion front formed to generate a steam drive front between the pool of water and the first front for driving the hydrocarbons in the formation toward the production means; and (c) recovering hydrocarbons from the formation through the production means.

• Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co., Los Angeles, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4699213
• OSTI ID: 5770880
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
NONMETALS
OIL WELLS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN
PETROLEUM
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
STEAM GENERATION
STIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS