Method for producing heavy, viscous crude oil
AssigneeConoco Inc.
InventorsGifford G. McClaflin, Henry A. Bourne, Donald L. Whitfill
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Abstract
Disclosed is a process whereby heavy, viscous crude oil may be produced from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation utilizing a jet pump without the problems associated with cavitation damage of the jet pump found in the prior art. The jet pump is operated with a power fluid comprising water and surfactant, the power fluid forming an emulsion with the heavy, viscous crude oil in the jet stream of the jet pump.
Claims11
In a method of producing hydrocarbon liquid having an A.P.I. gravity of less than about 15 degrees from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation in which the hydrocarbon liquid is propelled to the surface by a jet pump utilizing a jetted power fluid which entrains the hydrocarbon liquid in a jet stream, the improvement which comprises providing a power fluid comprising a water and surfactant solution and emulsifying the hydrocarbon liquid in the solution within the jet stream whereby heavy, viscous hydrocarbon liquid can be economically produced.
A method for producing heavy, viscous crude oil having an A.P.I. gravity of less than about 15 degrees comprising the steps of:
- providing a well bore having a casing into a heavy oil producing formation;
- providing a reverse flow jet pump in the well bore, the jet pump having production tubing connected to its discharge orifice and a power fluid intake in fluid communication with an annular space between said casing and said production tubing;
- and
- pumping a jet pump power fluid into the annulus, the power fluid comprising water and a surfactant whereby the heavy, viscous crude oil is emulsified within the jet pump and the emulsion is produced through said production tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.