Producing plural subterranean strata by in-situ combustion and fluid drive

Patent · Sat Dec 19 04:00:00 EST 1964

OSTI ID:6704522

Stratton, C A

This is a process for the production of oil from 2 or more spaced-apart underground strata, by in situ combustion and fluid drive. It involves producing hydrocarbons from an oilfield having a less viscous oil-bearing stratum and a more viscous oil-bearing stratum, separated by an impermeable barrier and penetrated by a pair of wells. The less viscous oil-bearing stratum is produced by fluid drive between the wells, to partially deplete it. The more viscous oil-bearing stratum is ignited around one of the wells to establish a combustion zone therein. This combustion zone is then driven toward the other well by feeding combustion-supporting gas thereto, so as to produce a hot gaseous effluent. A large portion of this hot effluent is passed through the partially depleted oil stratum to the other well, to produce additional hydrocarbons for recovery from the other well. (5 claims)

• Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Co.
• Patent Number(s): US 3163215
• OSTI ID: 6704522
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020300* -- Petroleum-- Drilling & Production
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENHANCED RECOVERY
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
IN-SITU PROCESSING
NATURAL GAS
OIL WELLS
OXIDATION
PETROLEUM
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WELLS