Recovery of oil by flashing of heated connate water

Patent · Tue Dec 02 04:00:00 EST 1969

OSTI ID:6683795

Hujsak, K L

In the production of fluid hydrocarbons from unconsolidated heavy oil or tar sand deposits, the formation is fractured between injection and producing wells after which it is ignited at the approximate level of the fractures. The resulting combustion front is moved toward the producing well by injection of air at pressures sufficient to hold the fractures open. When a temperature increase is observed at the producing well, the latter is shut in while air injection is continued until the desired formation heating is accomplished. During this heating period, connate water is heated to an average temperature in excess of 200/sup 0/F. The producing well is opened, the hot water in the reservoir flashes into steam, thereby driving the oil of reduced viscosity to the producing well. (8 claims)

• Assignee: Pan American Petr Corp
• Patent Number(s): US 3481399
• OSTI ID: 6683795
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300 -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040401* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- In Situ Methods
True & Modified
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CONNATE WATER
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
EVAPORATION
FLASHING
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
GROUND WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
INJECTION WELLS
INTERSTITIAL WATER
MATERIALS
OIL SANDS
OIL WELLS
OXIDATION
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
PHASE TRANSFORMATIONS
PRESSURIZING
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
THERMAL RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
VISCOSITY
WATER
WELLS