Hydrocarbon recovery process

Patent · Tue May 29 04:00:00 EDT 1979

OSTI ID:6039961

Allen, J C

A two-step process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation in which the formation is first heated by injecting steam at a temperature of about 500/sup 0/ to about 1500/sup 0/F through an injection well and in a second step a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen is pressured into the formation via the injection well where in the heated formation reaction with the carbon monoxide and steam takes place forming additional hydrogen and carbon dioxide and finally hydrocarbons are recovered via a production well. Optionally, after injection of the mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into the formation has been terminated, the heat stored in the formation may be recovered by injecting water, as a drive fluid into the formation via the injection well. The injected water may contain a small amount of a sulfated interfacial tension reducer.

• Assignee: Texaco, Inc.
• Patent Number(s): US 4156462
• OSTI ID: 6039961
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
ELEMENTS
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
GAS INJECTION
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INJECTION WELLS
LEVELS
NONMETALS
OIL WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
STEAM
STEAM INJECTION
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
UNDERGROUND
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE
WATER
WELLS