Electrolinking method for improving permeability of hydrocarbon formation
AssigneeMobil Oil Corporation
InventorWayne B. Cloud
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of improving the permeability of a hydrocarbon bearing formation such as a coal seam by electrolinking a first well and a second well which have been drilled into the formation. Both wells are completed with similar strings of casing. The portion of the casing string which passes into or through the formation is comprised of alternating sections of electrically conductive and nonconductive material. An electrode is lowered into each well into contact with one of the electrically conductive sections. Current is then flowed between the electrodes in the wells until a permeable path through the formation is established. Then one or both electrodes are moved into contact with different conductive sections within the respective wells and the procedure is repeated.
Claims12
A method of improving the permeability of a hydrocarbon bearing formation such as a coal seam or the like, said method comprising:
- drilling a first well into said formation;
- drilling a second well into said formation spaced from said first well;
- completing each of said wells with a string of casing having a portion passing into said formation comprised of alternating sections of conduit made from electrically conductive material and electrically nonconductive material, said strings of casing each having more than one electrically conductive section lying within said formation;
- lowering an electrode in said first well and into contact with one of said electrically conductive sections of casing within said formation;
- lowering an electrode in said second well and into contact with one of said electrically conductive sections of casing within said second well;
- and
- flowing electric current between said electrodes.
A method of improving the permeability of a hydrocarbon bearing formation such as a coal seam or the like, said method comprising:
- completing a first and a second well within said formation with similar strings of casing, each string of casing having a portion thereof which passes into said formation comprised of alternating sections of conduit made from electrically conductive material and electrically nonconductive material, said strings of casing each having more than one electrically conductive section lying within said formation;
- lowering an electrode in said first well and into contact with one of said electrically conductive sections of casing within said formation;
- lowering an electrode in said second well and into contact with one of said electrically conductive sections of casing within said second well;
- and
- flowing electric current between said electrodes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.