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US 4,058,164 AGranted
Heating mine water for recovery of immobile hydrocarbons
OwnerXerxes T. Stoddard, Ruel C. Terryinventors
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Abstract
This invention relates to the use of superheated water as a heat carrier to melt or reduce the viscosity of a solid or semi-liquid hydrocarbon located in an underground deposit. Steam is injected in one conduit and water is injected in a second conduit. Steam is condensed and mixed with the injected water in an underground mixing chamber under sufficient pressure to maintain the resultant superheated water in the liquid phase.
Claims6
A method of blending steam and water underground to generate superheated water in thermal recovery of minerals that are capable of becoming flowable upon application of heat, comprising the steps of
- establishing a first injection passage between a surface location and an underground mineral deposit,
- establishing a second injection passage between a surface location and an underground mineral deposit,
- affixing a nozzle means positioned at the lowermost portion of the said first injection passage, the said nozzle means being positioned within a venturi means,
- affixing the said venturi means positioned at the lowermost portion of the said second injection passage,
- establishing a mixing chamber means in an underground location, said mixing chamber means being in fluid communication with the said first injection passage and the said second injection passage,
- injecting steam into the said first injection passage,
- injecting water into the said second injection passage,
- decreasing the pressure of the steam,
- condensing the steam into a liquid while
- mixing the condensed steam with water in the said mixing chamber means, and
- directing the resultant superheated water from the said mixing chamber means into the mineralized formation underground.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.