# US 5,345,655 A · Method of and arrangement for obtaining liquids and/or gases from ground or rock layers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,345,655 A - Document ID: US5345655A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 03/305,034 - Filed: 1993-02-05 - Granted: 1994-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 1992-02-19 - Assignees: IEG Industrie-Engineering GmbH - Inventors: Bruno Bernhardt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345655A ## CPC - E21B 43/385: {by reinjecting the separated materials into an earth formation in the same well} - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract For obtaining liquids and/or gases contained in ground or rock formation, contaminants or useful substances, especially oils, at least one shaft is arranged in a corresponding region, a negative pressure is formed in the shaft provided with a casing having vertically spaced permeable and impermeable wall portions so as to produce a circulation of an available or introduced liquid from ground or rock formations through a first permeable wall region into the shaft, further in an axial direction of the shaft, and then through a second permeable wall region back into the ground or rock formations, gases entrained in the circulation of liquids are separated from the liquid by a negative pressure device, and a second shaft is arranged near the first mentioned shaft so that the circulations of liquid in the shafts touch or intersect one another. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of obtaining liquids and/or gases contained in ground or rock formations, contaminants or useful substances, especially oils, comprising the steps of arranging at least one shaft provided with a casing having vertically spaced permeable and impermeable wall regions in a corresponding region; forming a negative pressure in the shaft provided with the casing having the vertically spaced permeable and impermeable wall regions, and thereby producing a circulation of an available or introduced liquid from ground or rock formations through a first permeable wall region into the shaft, further in an axial direction of the shaft and then through a second permeable wall region back into the ground or rock formations; aspirating gases entrained in the circulation of liquid by a negative pressure device of the shaft and/or from a liquid separated in the shaft such as for example oil by means of liquid probes through a filter or another separator outwardly; and providing a second such shaft which are arranged near the first mentioned shaft so that the circulations of liquid in the shafts touch or intersect one another. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising the step of supplying tensides into the circulation of liquid through conduits extending in the shafts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising the step of arranging in the shaft at least one device for producing vibrations in the ground or rock formations and/or in the liquid which flows through an interior of the shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method as defined in claim 3; and further comprising the step of orienting the produced vibrations along the shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising the step of providing a plurality of low resistance flow paths for the liquid in addition to said shafts. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said low resistance flow paths are formed as formations selected from the group consisting of an opening, a trench and a channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A method as defined in claim 5, wherein said low resistance flow paths are formed in a ram point of a flow profile produced in the ground. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A method as defined in claim 5; and further comprising the step of producing different circulation directions in said shafts. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method as defined in claim 1; and further comprising the step of withdrawing a partial flow from the circulating of fluid in the shaft. ### Claim 10 A method of obtaining liquids and/or gases contained in ground or rock formations, contaminants or useful substances, particularly oils, comprising the steps of arranging at least one shaft in a corresponding region; subdividing the shaft by a transverse separation wall into an upper and a lower shaft region each having a substantially vertical fluid permeable wall; arranging a flow passage extending through the separating wall and provided with a circulating pump for producing a circulation of an available or introduced liquid from the ground or rock formations through one or both shaft regions into the shaft, further through the flow passage into another of the shaft regions, then from there back into the ground or rock formation; collecting the obtained liquid and/or gas in the shaft regions and aspiration of the liquids by means of probes through a filter or another separator; and providing a second such shaft which are arranged near the first mentioned shaft so that the circulations of liquid in the shafts touch or intersect one another. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A method as defined in claim 10; and further comprising the step of supplying tensides into the circulation of liquid through conduits guiding in the shafts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method as defined in claim 10; and further comprising the step of arranging in the shaft at least one device for producing vibrations in the ground or rock formations and/or in the liquid which flows through an interior of the shaft. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A method as defined in claim 12; and further comprising the step of orienting the produced vibrations along the shaft. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) A method as defined in claim 10; and further comprising the step of providing a second shaft or a second bore hole which are arranged near the first mentioned shaft or bore hole so that the circulation of liquid in them touches or intersects one another. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) A method as defined in claim 10; and further comprising the step of providing a plurality of low resistance flow paths in addition to said shafts. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said low resistance flow paths are formed as formations selected from the group consisting of an opening, a trench and a channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A method as defined in claim 15, wherein said low resistance flow paths are formed in a ram point of a flow profile produced in the ground. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A method as defined in claim 15; and further comprising the step of producing different circulation directions in said shafts. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) A method as defined in claim 10; and further comprising the step of withdrawing a partial flow of liquid from the circulating of fluid in the shaft. ### Claim 20 An arrangement of obtaining liquids and/or gases contained in ground or rock formation, such as contaminants or useful substances, in particular oils, the arrangement comprising a shaft extending to a corresponding region of ground or gas formation; a transverse separating wall separating said shaft into shaft regions which are vertically spaced and sealed from one another; a substantially vertical permeable shaft wall for aspiration of liquids or gases from a surrounding area and for further introducing the liquids or gases into the surrounding area, said separating wall having an opening which forms a part of a flow path; a pump and a filter arranged so that said flow path leads through said pump and said filter; a shaft insert arranged in said shaft; a tube extending through said opening and said separating wall and forming a part of said shaft insert, said pump being formed as a circulating pump arranged on said shaft insert and transporting the liquid or gas through said permeable shaft wall; an upwardly open collecting chamber arranged on said shaft insert above said separating wall at least one point of the flow path provided for a liquid which has a different specific density from that of other a flow medium flowing through said shaft; an aspirating conduit which opens in said collecting chamber; and an additional shaft which opens in said collecting chamber; and an additional shaft which is arranged near the first mentioned shaft so that the circulations of liquid in the shafts touch or intersect one another. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) An arrangement as defined in claim 20, wherein said shaft insert is formed as a nozzle body and has a gas chamber and is limited by a nozzle wall so that due to production of a negative pressure a gas is supplied in said nozzle body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) An arrangement as defined in claim 20, wherein said upwardly open collecting chamber has a chamber bottom provided with openings for withdrawing a liquid fraction with smaller specific density than that of the other flow medium. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) An arrangement as defined in claim 20, wherein said upwardly open collecting chamber is arranged immediately above said separating wall for withdrawing a liquid fraction with a greater specific weight than that of the other flow medium. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) An arrangement as defined in claim 20, wherein said shaft insert has a hollow body which is upwardly open and which has downwardly at least one inlet opening for the flow medium; and further comprising a nozzle body provided with a nozzle wall and arranged in said hollow body so that the flow path extends through said nozzle body. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) An arrangement as defined in claim 21; and further comprising a gas filter arranged so that due to the formation of negative pressure the gas aspirated from the shaft passes through said gas filter and at least partially again back into said shaft. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) An arrangement as defined in claim 25; and further comprising a heating aggregate arranged so that the aspirated gas is supplied additionally through said heating aggregate. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) An arrangement as defined in claim 25; and further comprising a cooling aggregate arranged so that the aspirated gas is supplied additionally through said cooling aggregate. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) An arrangement as defined in claim 20; and further comprising an additional upwardly open collecting chamber arranged in the shaft under said separating wall.