Method for increasing the recovery of natural gas from a geo-pressured aquifer

Patent · Tue Aug 09 04:00:00 EDT 1977

OSTI ID:6556502

Cook, Jr, H L; Geer, E C; Katz, D L

A method is described for increasing the recovery of natural gas from a geopressured aquifer containing water and gas and having a zone of free gas dispersed in water. One or more wells extend into the geopressured aquifer in the zone. The aquifer is allowed to flow water and gas under natural pressure through the well to lower the pressure in the aquifer sufficiently to allow the gas to be released from solution in the water. The released gas will migrate more freely to the well and be produced. Also, any gas-phase saturation in the aquifer and any deposit of gaseous hydrocarbons in the formation in pressure communication with the wells will expand due to lowered aquifer pressure and be encouraged to flow to the wells and be recovered. Preferably, the wells are produced at a high enough rate of production to reduce the existing aquifer pressure in the drainage area of the wells as quickly as possible so that gas may be released from solution in the water and so that gaseous hydrocarbons in the formation may expand and flow to the wells. (8 claims) (Continuation-in-part of U.S. Appl. 589,240, f. 6/23/75)

• Assignee: Transco Energy Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 4040487
• OSTI ID: 6556502
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
AQUIFERS
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRESSURE RELEASE
PRIMARY RECOVERY
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR PRESSURE
RESERVOIR ROCK
WATER
WELLS