Method for improving sustained solids-free production from heavy oil reservoirs

Patent · Tue Aug 06 04:00:00 EDT 1991

OSTI ID:5795954

Jennings, A R; Smith, R C

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 productive interval with a viscous fracturing fluid containing a propant therein so as to prop a created fracture and form a fines screen; 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 fracture 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; shutting in the first well while injecting steam in a predetermined amount in the second well; shutting in the second well.

• Assignee: Mobil Oil Corp., Fairfax, VA (USA)
• Patent Number(s): A; US 5036918
• Application Number: PPN: US 7-446834
• OSTI ID: 5795954
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401 -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTURING
FRACTURING FLUIDS
FUELS
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
HYDROCARBONS
INJECTION WELLS
MATERIALS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR ROCK
STEAM INJECTION
VISCOSITY
WELL DRILLING
WELL SPACING
WELLS