Steam injection apparatus and method
AssigneeUnion Oil Company of California
InventorVincent G. Tafoya
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for directing steam into selected strata of a relatively thick subterranean formation penetrated by a well. The apparatus includes an elongated housing attachable to the lower end of the well tubing, the housing having a closed lower end and a plurality of jets spaced around the sidewall thereof so as to be positioned opposite the strata to be treated. The jets direct the steam outwardly and downwardly against the formation face, causing it to preferentially enter the selected strata.
Claims15
An apparatus for injecting steam into a subterranean formation via a tubing-containing well penetrating the subterranean formation comprising:
- an elongated hollow housing having sidewalls, an open upper end an an open lower end, said open upper end being adapted to be attached to the lower end of the tubing;
- coupling means for attaching the upper end of the elongated hollow housing to the bottom end of the tubing;
- plug means to close the open lower end of the elongated hollow housing;
- a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apertures in the sidewall of the elongated hollow housing;
- a jet nozzle extending outwardly and downwardly from each aperture at an angle of from 20.degree. to 40.degree. from the axis of the well;
- a steam source means located at the earth surface for generating steam;
- and
- a steam conduit means connecting the said steam source means and the said upper end of the elongated hollow housing for conducting steam to the said housing;
- whereby steam injected down the tubing enters the elongated hollow housing, passes through the jet nozzles and is injected into the subterranean formation.
An apparatus for injecting steam into a vertical section of a subterranean formation via a tubing-containing well penetrating the subterranean formation comprising:
- a. a pipe section of about the same length as the vertical section to be treated;
- b. coupling means for attaching the upper end of the pipe section to the bottom end of the tubing;
- c. plug means to seal the lower end of the pipe section;
- d. a plurality of circumferentially-spaced apertures in the pipe section;
- e. a jet nozzle extending outwardly and downwardly from each aperture at an angle of from 20.degree. to 40.degree. from the vertical, the apertures and jet nozzles being arrayed around the pipe section in number and position so that steam passing therethrough contacts the formation in a substantially uniform manner;
- f. a steam source means located at the earth surface for generating steam;
- and
- g. a steam conduit means connecting the said steam source means and the said upper end of the elongated hollow housing for conducting steam to the said housing.
A method of injecting steam into a first selected strata of a subterranean formation penetrated by a conduit-containing well comprising:
- positioning the conduit so that the lower end thereof is just above the base of the first selected strata, and
- passing steam down the conduit, into an elongated closed-bottom-ended elongated housing attached to the bottom of the conduit, out apertures in the sidewall of said housing, through jet nozzles extending beyond each aperture, said jet nozzles pointing outwardly and downwardly from said housing at an angle of from 20.degree. to 40.degree. with respect to the axis of the well and against and into the first selected strata opposite the jet nozzles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.