# US 2014/0190689 A1 · Use of foam with in situ combustion process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190689 A1 - Document ID: US20140190689A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/150,359 - Filed: 2014-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company - Applicants: Conocophillips Company - Inventors: Logan A. WARREN; Siluni L. WICKRAMATHILAKA; David A. BROWN; Thomas J. WHEELER - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190689A1 ## CPC - E21B 43/166: {Injecting a gaseous medium; Injecting a gaseous medium and a liquid medium (CO2 injection E21B43/164; steam injection E21B43/24)} - E21B 43/243: Combustion in situ - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract The present invention relates to a novel method of maintaining a steady and/or proper water-gas ratio for the wet in situ combustion process for oil recovery. In particular, the method comprises mixing water with a foaming agent, or some other colloid capable of generating foam, in addition to gas. The foam carries the water through heated reservoirs more efficiently and prevents separation from the gas. As such, more heat can be scavenged, thus an increased amount of steam is generated and transferred to the oil to increase its recovery. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An in situ combustion method of recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil containing formation penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: igniting the hydrocarbons to form a combustion front by injecting oxygen-containing gas and heat into the formation through an injection well; injecting a water through an injection well and in contact with a fluid that is at least one of a foam, an aerosol, a hydrosol, an emulsion and a colloidal dispersion and has a density and viscosity to carry the water via buoyancy forces; and recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids at a production well. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the density of the fluid is between 0.000598-0.0770 g/cm3 and the viscosity is between 0.0123-0.0216 cP. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting an agent into the injection well to form the fluid in situ. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said agent is a surfactant. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The foaming agent of claim 4, wherein the surfactant is chosen from a group comprising alkyl benzene, aromatic sulfonates, alpha/internal olefin, sulfonates, alkyl aryl sulfonates, alkoxy sulfates or any combination thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said agent is an alkali-based salt. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The foaming agent of claim 6, wherein the alkali-based salt is chosen from a group comprising sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hydroxide, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium hydroxide, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate or any combination thereof. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said water containing said agent is injected continuously. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said water containing the agent is injected into vertical or horizontal wells. ### Claim 10 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein said water containing said agent is injected in a slug. ### Claim 11 (depends on 0) The method of claim 0, wherein said water comprises oilfield brine, produced water, seawater, aquifer water, and riverwater. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising injecting a non-oxygen containing gas. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method in claim 1, further comprising injecting hydrogen, nitrogen, methane, hydrogen sulfide, propane, butane, natural gas, flue gas, or any combination thereof, and wherein said oxygen-containing gas is air, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, or any combination thereof. ### Claim 14 An in situ combustion method of recovery of hydrocarbons from a Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) depleted reservoir penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises: igniting the hydrocarbons to form a combustion front by injecting oxygen-containing gas and heat into the formation through an injection well; scavenging heat from a rock formation by injecting a water containing an agent to generate a fluid that is at least one of a foam, an aerosol, a hydrosol, an emulsion and a colloidal dispersion; and, recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids at a production well. ### Claim 15 An improved method of wet in situ combustion oil recovery, the method comprising igniting oil in a formation to form a burning front and injecting water behind said burning front to capture heat and drive oil towards a production well, wherein the improvement comprises injecting water behind said burning front and in contact with a fluid that is at least one of a foam, an aerosol, a hydrosol, an emulsion and a colloidal dispersion and has a density and viscosity to carry the water via buoyancy forces.