Additional oil recovery by improved miscible displacement

Patent · Tue Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1967

OSTI ID:6160146

Kyte, J R

This method of secondary recovery of oil by a miscible displacement process involves the injection of a solvent vapor which is readily condensable at reservoir conditions of temperature and pressure. The injected vapor must have a critical temperature higher than the reservoir temperature and a vapor pressure at reservoir temperature high enough to prevent excessive condensation. In the process, a solvent bank is injected into the reservoir as a vapor. Initially, the vapor condenses in the vicinity of the injection well bore, thereby forming a bank of liquid, condensed solvent. Once the release of latent heat from the condensing vapor has raised the local reservoir temperature sufficiently to prevent further condensation, the continued injection of solvent vapor displaces the liquid solvent bank, driving it progressively farther from the injection well. The reservoir oil is in turn displaced ahead of the condensed vapor bank. (11 claims)

• Assignee: Esso Production Res. Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3333632
• OSTI ID: 6160146
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
AMMONIA
CHALCOGENIDES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GAS INJECTION
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
MISCIBLE-PHASE DISPLACEMENT
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROGEN HYDRIDES
OIL WELLS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
RECOVERY
STIMULATION
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFUR OXIDES
SULFUR TRIOXIDE
VAPOR CONDENSATION
WELL STIMULATION
WELLS