US 4,366,864 AGranted

Method for recovery of hydrocarbons from oil-bearing limestone or dolomite

AssigneeExxon Research & Engineering Co.

InventorsMichael A. Gibson, Robert E. Pennington, George T. Arnold

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Abstract

Hydrocarbon liquids and/or gases are recovered from thick underground deposits of oil-bearing limestone or dolomite by drilling two or more boreholes from the earth's surface into the lower part of the deposit, establishing communication between the boreholes, burning the oil in said limestone or dolomite in an area between the boreholes to decompose the alkaline earth carbonate into alkaline earth oxide, flushing out the alkaline earth oxide formed by the combustion with water to form a cavity, collapsing the overlying oil-bearing limestone or dolomite into the cavity to form a rubblized zone extending vertically to a point near the upper boundary of the deposit, driving a flame front vertically through the rubblized zone to liberate hydrocarbon liquids and produce gases, and recovering the liquids and/or gases from the rubblized zone.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A process for the recovery of liquid and/or gaseous hydrocarbons from an underground deposit of oil-bearing limestone or dolomite which comprises:

(a) drilling at least two boreholes into the lower portion of said deposit from the earth's surface;
(b) establishing communication between said boreholes within said deposit near the lower boundary of said deposit;
(c) initiating combustion of the oil in said limestone or dolomite near the lower boundary of said deposit;
(d) introducing an oxygen-containing gas into one of said boreholes and withdrawing gaseous combustion products from said oil from another of said boreholes until a sufficient amount of the alkaline earth carbonate in said deposit is decomposed into the alkaline earth oxide occupying a volume of from about 5 to about 30 percent of the volume of said deposit;
(e) introducing water into one of said boreholes in such a manner that said water contacts said alkaline earth oxide without substantial mechanical agitation thereby disintegrating said alkaline earth oxide and forming an aqueous slurry containing alkaline earth hydroxide;
(f) withdrawing said slurry of alkaline earth hydroxide through another of said boreholes thereby creating a cavity having a volume equivalent to from about 5 to about 30 percent of the volume of said deposit;
(g) breaking down into said cavity the oil-bearing limestone or dolomite overlying said cavity until a rubblized zone extending vertically to a point near the upper boundary of said deposit has been formed;
(h) establishing a flame front within said rubblized zone;
(i) driving said flame front through said rubblized zone;
and
(j) withdrawing liquids and/or gases from said rubblized zone.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/209,560Filed 24 Nov 1980
Granted: 4 Jan 1983
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

E21B 43/281
Dissolving minerals other than hydrocarbons, e.g. by an alkaline or acid leaching agent: using heat
E21B 43/247
Combustion in situ: in association with fracturing processes or crevice forming processes
E21B 43/248
In association with fracturing processes or crevice forming processes: using explosives
E21B 43/40
Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well: separation associated with re-injection of separated materials