In-situ reduction of oil viscosity during steam injection process in EOR
AssigneeIntevep, S.A.
InventorsRafael E. Campos, Jose A. Hernandez
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Abstract
A method for lowering the viscosity of a heavy hydrocarbon in situ in a well formation so as to improve well production wherein the heavy hydrocarbon has an API gravity in the range between 6.degree. and 12.degree. and a dynamic viscosity in the range between 300 and 900 centipoises @ 195.degree. F. comprising lowering the viscosity of a virgin heavy hydrocarbon outside of a well formation wherein said heavy hydrocarbon has an API gravity in the range between 6 and 12 degrees and a dynamic viscosity above 300 centipoises @ 195.degree. F. so as to make pumpable with conventional pumping equipment comprising mixing said hyrdocarbon at a temperature range between 400.degree. and 500.degree. F. with steam and an additive selected.
Claims5
A method for lowering the viscosity of a heavy hydrocarbon in situ in a well formation so as to improve well production wherein the heavy hydrocarbon has an API.degree. gravity in the range between 6 and 12 and a dynamic viscosity in the range between 300 and 900 centipoises 195.degree. F. comprising:
- injecting a mixture of steam and an aqueous solution of urea in a proportion of greater than or equal to 2% by weight with respect to the total amount of H.sub.2 O in the aqueous solution so as to reduce the viscosity of the heavy hydrocarbon by at least 50%.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.