Geothermal petroleum refining
OwnerAllan T. Van Huisen, Paul E. Griffininventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Petroleum is distilled into fractions and/or cracked to form gas and/or lighter oil fractions by pumping the oil into the boiler section of a unit disposed in a hot, deep, subterranean geothermal zone. The distillation can be aided by forming steam from the geothermal heat as a thermal carrier.
Claims14
A geothermal system for refining petroleum oils comprising in combination:
- a geological formation including a subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300.degree. F.;
- well means extending from the surface into the zone;
- a unit for receiving crude oil disposed within the portion of the well disposed in the zone and for distilling the oil therein;
- cracking means including solid catalyst retained in a perforated container included within the unit;
- and
- means for delivering crude oil to the unit and means for recovering vapors from the unit.
A method of refining petroleum oil comprising the steps of:
- injecting crude oil from the surface into a unit disposed in a subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300.degree. F.;
- generating steam within the unit;
- injecting said steam into the oil contained in said unit;
- distilling fractions from the oil in said unit;
- and
- delivering the distilled vapors from the unit to the surface.
A geothermal system for refining petroleum oils comprising in combination;
- a geological formation including a subsurface geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300.degree. F.;
- well means extending from the surface into the zone;
- a unit for receiving crude oil disposed within the portion of the well disposed in the zone and for distilling the oil therein;
- means for generating steam within the unit and for injecting steam into the oil;
- and
- means for delivering crude oil to the unit and means for recovering vapors from the unit.
A geothermal system for refining petroleum oils comprising in combination:
- a geological formation including a subsurface zone having a temperature of at least 300.degree. F.;
- well means extending from the surface into the zone;
- a unit for receiving crude oil disposed within the portion of the well disposed in the zone and for distilling the oil therein;
- means for injecting steam into oil contained in the unit from the zone;
- and
- means for delivering crude oil to the unit and means for recovering vapors from the unit.
A method of refining petroleum oil comprising the steps of:
- injecting crude oil from the surface into a unit disposed in a pressurized, wet, geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300.degree. F.;
- injecting geothermal steam from the zone into the oil contained in said unit;
- distilling fractions from the oil in said unit;
- and
- delivering the distilled vapors from the unit to surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.