Parallel horizontal wells

Patent · Tue Oct 20 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5865117

Huang, W S; Hight, M A

A process for recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation is described which comprises: drilling and completing at least three wells, a first well, a second well and a third well, into an underground hydrocarbon formation, with a portion of the wells extending through the formation in a substantially horizontal direction, the wells being substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart form each other in a substantially horizontal direction, the second well being positioned in the formation between the first and the third wells; injecting steam into the formation through the first and second wells; continuing steam injection through the first well and producing formation hydrocarbons through the second well; injecting water into the formation through the first well and injecting steam through the second and third wells about the time of steam breakthrough at the second well; and continuing water injection through the first well and steam injection through the second well and producing formation hydrocarbons through the third well.

• Assignee: Texaco Inc., White Plains, NY
• Patent Number(s): US 4700779
• OSTI ID: 5865117
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030900 -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
INCLINATION
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
STEAM INJECTION
THERMAL RECOVERY
WELL SPACING
WELLS