Vapor extraction of hydrocarbon deposits
AssigneeVapex Technologies International, Inc.
InventorIgor J. Mokrys
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Abstract
An improved method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon deposit comprising the steps of introducing a diluent gas along a predominantly horizontal injection well drilled at the base of a hydrocarbon deposit; creating an initial communication path with a predominantly horizontal production well spaced laterally apart from the injection well; gradually enriching the diluent gas with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a hydrocarbon solvent vapor which is saturated at reservoir conditions; continuously circulating the diluent gas and the saturated hydrocarbon solvent vapor through the hydrocarbon deposit; and producing mobilized hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon deposit.
Claims33
An improved method for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon deposit comprising the steps of:
- introducing a diluent gas along a predominantly horizontal injection well drilled at the base of a hydrocarbon deposit;
- creating an initial communication path with a predominantly horizontal production well spaced laterally apart from the injection well;
- gradually enriching the diluent gas with a hydrocarbon solvent to produce a hydrocarbon solvent vapour which is saturated at reservoir conditions;
- continuously circulating the diluent gas and the saturated hydrocarbon solvent vapour through the hydrocarbon deposit;
- and producing mobilized hydrocarbons from the hydrocarbon deposit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.