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

Method of recovering oil by in-situ produced carbon dioxide

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6470192

This is a method of recovering oil wherein the oil is displaced from a reservoir by a gaseous phase which is developed within the reservoir. Air is injected into and forced through the reservoir to a production well to establish gas permeability in the reservoir. The reservoir around the injection well is heated to initiate combustion of the reservoir materials. Introduction of air is continued until the combustion has continued through about 10% of the distance from the injection well to the production well. The flow of air is stopped and the pressure within the injection well is reduced to effect backflow of fluids toward the injection well. An oxidizing fluid, at least 66 to 95% by volume of pure oxygen, is introduced and combustion reinitiated and continued until an oil-miscible gaseous phase equal in quantity to from about 2 to 20% of the hydrocarbon pore volume has been developed. The flow of oxidizing fluid is stopped and a driving fluid is introduced to force the gaseous phase through the reservoir to displace the oil which, in turn, can be produced through the production well. (2 claims)

Assignee:
TUL; EDB-81-084748
Patent Number(s):
US 3174543
OSTI ID:
6470192
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English