Hydrocarbons in underground formations. [hydrogenation/cracking]

Patent · Tue Sep 28 00:00:00 EDT 1976

OSTI ID:7228411

Hamrick, J T; Rose, L C

A process and system for in-situ hydrogenation is described, employing a gas generator in a borehole for burning a hydrogen-rich mixture of hydrogen and oxygen. The gas generator comprises a housing forming a chamber with a combustion zone at one end and a restricted outlet at the other end. A cooling annulus surrounds the chamber with passages leading from the annulus to the chamber. Hydrogen and oxygen are supplied downhole to the generator to form a hydrogen-rich combustible mixture in the combustion zone which is burned whereby hydrogen and steam are injected from the restricted outlet. Hydrogen also is supplied to the cooling annulus. The flow of hydrogen and oxygen to the generator is controlled to maintain the temperature of the exhaust gases at a level sufficient to crack the hydrocarbons in the formations into lighter segments for reaction with the excess hot hydrogen to form lighter and less viscous end products which are recovered from a production well. 6 claims, 12 figures.

• Assignee: World Energy Systems
• Patent Number(s): US 3982592
• OSTI ID: 7228411
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 8 Sep 1975
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
OIL WELLS
STEAM INJECTION
BOREHOLES
CRACKING
ENHANCED RECOVERY
HYDROGEN
HYDROGENATION
IN-SITU COMBUSTION
OXYGEN
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
STEAM
VISCOSITY
CAVITIES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DECOMPOSITION
ELEMENTS
FLUID INJECTION
FLUIDS
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
NONMETALS
OXIDATION
PROCESSING
PYROLYSIS
RESOURCES
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
WELLS
020300* - Petroleum- Drilling & Production