Use of carbon monoxide and light hydrocarbons in oil reservoirs

Abstract

Injecting into an oil reservoir a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) together with gaseous hydrocarbons comprising a mixture of one or more of methane (C1), ethane (C2), propane (C3), butane (C4), pentane (C5), and natural gasoline, also referred to as NGL, for the purpose of achieving additional oil recovery from any of conventional, heavy, and unconventional oil reservoirs, including shale oil reservoirs. The gaseous hydrocarbons and the CO may range from 0.1% gaseous hydrocarbons and 99.5% CO and associated minor gases including any of CO2, H2, N2 to 98.5% gaseous hydrocarbons and 1.5% CO and associated minor gases.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.