Heating of a subterranean formation
A method of heating a subterranean formation consists of cyclically injecting through at least one injection well a combustible mixture above a minimum or critical pressure necessary to sustain flash burning in the formation. The combustible mixture is then burned to heat the formation uniformly and controllably. Fluids and combustion products are intermittently withdrawn from a production well while injection of the combustible mixture is continued. The method is useful as a recovery mechanism for recovering viscous hydrocarbonaceous material from formations in which it occurs. The range of formation and hydrocarbon combinations to which secondary recovery operations can be applied successfully is also extended. (18 claims)
- Assignee:
- Mobil Oil Corp.
- Patent Number(s):
- US 3280910
- OSTI ID:
- 6384359
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Recovering petroleum from subterranean formations
Recovering petroleum from subterranean formations
Related Subjects
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CONTROL
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL-AIR RATIO
FUELS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
OIL WELLS
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WELLS