Injection well with high-pressure, high-temperature in situ down-hole steam formation

An injection well comprising a bore hole, a casing, sealing means, a pair of electrode means, liquid conduit means, liquid pressure means and electric power supply,

• the bore hole having a perimeter and extending from ground surface level into or through an oil-bearing earth formation,
• the casing being hollow and extending along the perimeter of the bore hole from ground surface level to a level at or below the oil-bearing earth formation and having multiple perforations throughout a portion thereof adjacent the oil-bearing earth formation,
• the sealing means being two spaced-apart high-pressure-resistant plugs sealing the casing, the first such plug being at an elevation above and the second such plug being at an elevation below at least a portion of the oil-bearing earth formation,
• the electrode means comprising means to conduct an electrical current into and out of the bore hole from ground level through the first plug and to a lower extremity in the space between the two plugs, said electrode means being externally electrically insulated from the ground surface level to and including the level of the first plug, but to a level which is significantly higher than the lower extremity.
• the means for conducting liquid comprising means to conduct a liquid from the ground surface level through the first plug and into the space between the two plugs,
• the liquid pressure means comprising means to supply a liquid at a pressure of at least 400 psi to the space between the two plugs, and
• the electric-power supply comprising means to produce a current of at least 800 amps through the non-insulated portion of the electrode means.

An injection well comprising a bore hole, a casing, sealing means, electrode means, liquid conduit means, liquid pressure means and electric power supply.

• the bore hole having a perimeter and extending from ground surface level into or through an oil-bearing earth formation,
• the casing being an electrically-conductive hollow casing extending along the perimeter of the bore hole from ground surface level to a level at or below the oil-bearing earth formation and having multiple perforations throughout a portion thereof adjacent the oil-bearing earth formation,
• the sealing means being two spaced-apart high-pressure-resistant plugs sealing the casing, the first such plug being at an elevation above and the second such plug being at an elevation below at least a portion of the oil-bearing earth formation, said second plug being electrically conductive and said casing being in electrical contact therewith,
• the electrode means comprising means to conduct electrical current into the bore hole from ground surface level through the first plug and to the second plugs, said electrode means being externally electrically insulated from the ground surface level to and including the level of the first plug, said electrode in electrical contact with said second plug,
• an electrical insulation sleeve internally adjacent the casing as it extends between the first and second plugs, and electrically insulating the casing from the non-insulated portion of said electrode,
• the liquid conduit means comprising means to conduct a liquid from the ground surface level through the first plug and into the space between the two plugs,
• the liquid pressure means comprising means to supply a liquid at a pressure of at least 400 psi to the space between the two plugs, and
• the electric-power supply comprising means to produce a current of at least 800 amps through the electrode means to the second plug and to the casing.