Reservoir heating with autoignitable oil to produce crude oil

Patent · Sun Jan 16 04:00:00 EST 1966

OSTI ID:6079068

Dean, M R

This technique for producing virgin crude oil by heating and fluid drive does not introduce the problem involved in steam or hot water injection. An autoignitable fuel is dispersed in the stratum in an amount to permit dispersion throughout the pattern to be produced. The fuel is dispersed by injecting a non-oxidizing gas into the stratum behind the oil until the desired dispersion is obtained. An OD2U-containing oxidizing gas is then injected into the stratum and into contact with the autoignitable fuel to raise the temperature of the stratum and the in-place crude oil from normal reservoir temperature to a level below the ignition temperature of the in-place crude oil. The oxidation rate of the fuel is controlled by regulating the injection rate of the oxidizing gas, by regulating the OD2U concentration in the oxidizing gas, and/or by diluting the autoignitable fuel with a petroleum oil having a considerably higher ignition point. (9 claims)

• Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3363687
• OSTI ID: 6079068
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL OILS
FUELS
HEATING
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
LIQUID FUELS
OIL WELLS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION
STIMULATION
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS