Enhanced oil recovery process

A modular system for generating fluids at high temperatures and high pressures for injection into subterranean formations to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons and other fluids therefrom, comprising:

• portable means defining a pressure-tight combustion reactor provided with burner means adapted to have fuel and air supplied under high pressure thereto for the creation of combustion gases at high temperatures and high pressures in said reactor;
• portable means detachably connectable to said combustion reactor for separating carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the gases for selective injection of carbon dioxide or nitrogen into the formation;
• and
• means connected to said separating means for selectively injecting into the formation such carbon dioxide and nitrogen separately or together.

A process for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons and other fluids from an underground formation, the steps comprising:

• generating combustion gases at high pressures and temperatures;
• removing impurities from the gases leaving essentially only carbon dioxide and nitrogen therein;
• injecting the purified gases at high pressures and temperatures into the formation;
• recovering liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons and gaseous impurities from the formation resulting from the heating thereof by and dissolution thereinto of the injected gases;
• separating the liquid and gaseous components of the recovery;
• and
• burning at least one of the separated components to generate the combustion gases.

A process for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons and other fluids from an underground formation, the steps comprising:

• generating combustion gases at high pressures and high temperatures;
• passing the gases through a heat exchanger type boiler to generate steam with the heat of the gases;
• removing impurities from the gases leaving essentially only carbon dioxide and nitrogen;
• selectively injecting the steam and/or at least a portion of the purified gases into the formation;
• venting any remainder of the purified gases to atmosphere;
• recovering liquid and gaseous hydrocarbons and gaseous impurities from the formation resulting from the injection;
• separating the liquid and gaseous components of the recovery;
• and
• burning at least one of the components to generate the combustion gases.

A process for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons and other fluids from an underground formation, the steps comprising:

• generating combustion gases at high pressures and temperatures comprising mainly carbon dioxide and nitrogen;
• separating the carbon dioxide from the nitrogen;
• injecting the separated carbon dioxide, as a slug, into the formation at temperatures and pressures necessary to achieve miscibility with the hydrocarbons therein;
• and
• injecting the separated nitrogen into the formation at a pressure sufficient to drive the slug therethrough.

A process for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons and other fluids from an underground formation, the steps comprising:

• generating combustion gases at high pressures and temperatures comprising mainly carbon dioxide and nitrogen;
• separating the carbon dioxide from the nitrogen;
• injecting the separated carbon dioxide into the formation at pressures and temperatures insufficient to achieve miscibility with the hydrocarbons therein;
• and
• injecting the separated nitrogen into the formation at a pressure sufficient to drive the injected carbon dioxide therethrough.

A process for enhancing the recovery of hydrocarbons and other fluids from an underground formation, the steps comprising:

• generating combustion gases under pressure at high temperatures comprising mainly carbon dioxide and nitrogen;
• generating steam with the heat of the combustion gases;
• compressing the combustion air and fuel to generate the gases with power provided by the steam;
• separating the carbon dioxide from the gases;
• venting the remaining gases to atmosphere;
• and
• compressing the separated carbon dioxide for injection into the formation with power provided by the steam.

A modular system for generating fluids at high temperatures and high pressures for selective injection into subterranean formations to enhance recovery of hydrocarbons and other fluids therefrom, comprising:

• portable means defining a pressure-tight combustion reactor provided with burner means adapted to have fuel and air supplied under high pressure thereto for the creation of combustion gases at high temperatures and high pressures in said reactor;
• portable means defining a steam boiler detachably connectable to said combustion reactor for the passage therethrough of, and heating thereof by, the high temperature high pressure combustion gases created in said combustion reactor to generate steam for selective injection into the formation with or alternatively to the gases, or for alternate use to produce power;
• portable means detachably connectable to said steam boiler for receiving therefrom the combustion gases and for separating carbon dioxide and nitrogen from the gases;
• and
• means connected to said boiler and said separating means for selectively injecting into the formation said fluids, steam, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, separately or in combination of two or three of such fluids.