Recovery of oil from oil-bearing formation by continually flowing pressurized heated gas through channel alongside matrix
OwnerJay P. Nielsoninventor
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Abstract
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for recovering oil from so-called depleted oil fields and also from tar sands. A pressurized, heated, non-aqueous gas, such as carbon dioxide, is continuously flowed through a channel which is in heat exchange relationship with an oil-bearing matrix, thus reducing the viscosity and mobilizing the oil in the sensible boundary region. Mobilized oil flows to a collection reservoir from which it is then produced.
Claims12
A thermal method for producing oil from a natural reservoir of oil distributed throughout an underground oil-bearing formation, comprising the steps of continually flowing a pressurized heated non-aqueous gas along and in heat exchange relationship with a sensible boundary of said reservoir so as to impart sufficient heat and dissolve sufficient gas into oil-in-place which is in close proximity to said boundary of said reservoir to mobilize said oil-in-place by decreasing its viscosity;
- effecting flow of said mobilized oil into one or more collection reservoirs;
- producing said oil from said one or more collection reservoirs;
- and extracting at least some of the gas with reduced heat content from said formation.
Means for establishing a collection reservoir or channel in an oil-bearing formation and simultaneously producing some oil, comprising a well extending into the oil-bearing formation;
- means for injecting into said well a pressurized heated gas which dissolves into the oil;
- means for releasing the pressure, thus resulting in swelling of the oil and expansion and expulsion of the gas and the oil through the well;
- and means for repeating said injection and expulsion a sufficient number of times to progressively establish the desired collection reservoir or channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.