Method for in situ combustion
Abstract
This invention relates to an improved in situ combustion method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean earth formations containing carbonaceous material. The method is practiced by penetrating the subterranean earth formation with a borehole projecting into the coal bed along a horizontal plane and extending along a plane disposed perpendicular to the plane of maximum permeability. The subterranean earth formation is also penetrated with a plurality of spaced-apart vertical boreholes disposed along a plane spaced from and generally parallel to that of the horizontal borehole. Fractures are then induced at each of the vertical boreholes which project from the vertical boreholes along the plane of maximum permeability and intersect the horizontal borehole. The combustion is initiated at the horizontal borehole and the products of combustion and fluids displaced from the earth formation by the combustion are removed from the subterranean earth formation via the vertical boreholes. Each of the vertical boreholes are, in turn, provided with suitable flow controls for regulating the flow of fluid from the combustion zone and the earth formation so as to control the configuration and rate of propagation of the combustion zone. The fractures provide a positive communication with the combustion zone so asmore »
- Inventors:
-
- (Morgantown, WV)
- Morgantown, WV
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Pittsburgh, PA, Morgantown, WV (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 862968
- Patent Number(s):
- 4062404
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States Energy (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
E - FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS E21 - EARTH DRILLING E21B - EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; situ; combustion; relates; improved; recovery; hydrocarbons; subterranean; earth; formations; containing; carbonaceous; material; practiced; penetrating; formation; borehole; projecting; coal; bed; horizontal; plane; extending; disposed; perpendicular; maximum; permeability; penetrated; plurality; spaced-apart; vertical; boreholes; spaced; parallel; fractures; induced; intersect; initiated; products; fluids; displaced; removed; via; provided; suitable; flow; controls; regulating; fluid; zone; control; configuration; rate; propagation; provide; positive; communication; facilitate; removal; resulting; situ combustion; horizontal plane; products resulting; maximum permeability; coal bed; earth formations; earth formation; flow control; combustion zone; carbonaceous material; subterranean earth; containing carbon; vertical borehole; holes disposed; combustion method; containing carbonaceous; disposed perpendicular; vertical bore; formations containing; formation via; /166/
Citation Formats
Pasini, III, Joseph, Shuck, Lowell Z, and Overbey, Jr., William K. Method for in situ combustion. United States: N. p., 1977.
Web.
Pasini, III, Joseph, Shuck, Lowell Z, & Overbey, Jr., William K. Method for in situ combustion. United States.
Pasini, III, Joseph, Shuck, Lowell Z, and Overbey, Jr., William K. Sat .
"Method for in situ combustion". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/862968.
@article{osti_862968,
title = {Method for in situ combustion},
author = {Pasini, III, Joseph and Shuck, Lowell Z and Overbey, Jr., William K.},
abstractNote = {This invention relates to an improved in situ combustion method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from subterranean earth formations containing carbonaceous material. The method is practiced by penetrating the subterranean earth formation with a borehole projecting into the coal bed along a horizontal plane and extending along a plane disposed perpendicular to the plane of maximum permeability. The subterranean earth formation is also penetrated with a plurality of spaced-apart vertical boreholes disposed along a plane spaced from and generally parallel to that of the horizontal borehole. Fractures are then induced at each of the vertical boreholes which project from the vertical boreholes along the plane of maximum permeability and intersect the horizontal borehole. The combustion is initiated at the horizontal borehole and the products of combustion and fluids displaced from the earth formation by the combustion are removed from the subterranean earth formation via the vertical boreholes. Each of the vertical boreholes are, in turn, provided with suitable flow controls for regulating the flow of fluid from the combustion zone and the earth formation so as to control the configuration and rate of propagation of the combustion zone. The fractures provide a positive communication with the combustion zone so as to facilitate the removal of the products resulting from the combustion of the carbonaceous material.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977},
month = {Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977}
}