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

Method for viscous hydrocarbon recovery

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5953941

A method is described for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation having relatively high permeability zones, fractured zones and relatively low permeability zones penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well in fluid communication with a substantial portion of the formation comprising the sequential steps of: injecting a gel solution into the formation to penetrate at least 10 to 70% of the distance between the injection and production wells and plug the face of the fractured zones and high permeability zones of the formation; injecting a breaker material into the formation to break and displace the gel from the face of the fractured zones and high permeability zones in the vicinity of the injection well thereby reestablishing injectivity into the formation in the vicinity of the injection well; and injecting a flooding agent into the formation via the injection well that displaces oil through the low permeability unswept zones of the formation via the production well.

Assignee:
Mobil Oil Corp., New York, NY
Patent Number(s):
US 4815537
OSTI ID:
5953941
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English