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

Recovery of crude petroleum from a plural strata by hot fluid drive

Patent ·
OSTI ID:6705182
This is an improved process for producing crudes of extremely low API gravity. A hot fluid, such as superheated HD2UO, is passed through a permeable stratum, free of oil and lying adjacent to a permeable oil-bearing stratum, but separated therefrom by an impermeable barrier. The oil- bearing stratum and its oils are thereby heated to an elevated temperature, which greatly reduces the viscosity of the crude oil. While the crude oil is in this heated condition, a fluid flushing or displacing agent is forced through the oil-bearing stratum to force the oil into a production well, from which it is produced in a conventional manner. The temperature of the preheating fluid ranges from about 300 to 750$, depending upon the character of the crude to be produced. The injection well can be either a central injection well of a conventional 5,7, or 9-spot well pattern, or an injection well in a line of injection wells. (11 claims)
Assignee:
TUL; EDB-81-025624
Patent Number(s):
US 3167120
OSTI ID:
6705182
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English