Use of water injection for promoting uniform initiation of underground combustion

Patent · Tue Dec 29 04:00:00 EST 1964

OSTI ID:6693198

Grekel, H

This is a method of forming an initial burning zone in an underground reverse combustion process. The tar and/or oil-bearing zone, adjacent to one of the wells drilled thereinto, is ignited by any one of several known methods. This injection step should supply at least 700,000 btu of sensible heat per ft of sand thickness, and should be continued until the temperature reaches a minimum level of about 1,000 to 1,500$F. Oxygen-containing gas is then injected to produce a pressure therein of at least about 260 psig. After ignition, water is injected into the burning zone via the producing well in an amount varying from 1 bbl per million but at a formation temperature of 1,000$F, to 2.5 bbl per million btu at the maximum temperature generated in the deposit. Thereafter, combustion is effected in the deposit by introducing a combustion-supporting gas into the deposit through the injection well. Fluid is recovered from the production well. (9 claims)

• Assignee: Pan American Petroleum Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 3163216
• OSTI ID: 6693198
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
03 NATURAL GAS
030900 -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GAS INJECTION
GASES
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
INJECTION WELLS
NATURAL GAS
NATURAL GAS WELLS
OIL WELLS
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WATERFLOODING
WELL TEMPERATURE
WELLS