Blowdown pressure maintenance with foam
US10472942B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 2017 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/18
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method and system in which foams are used (instead of, or in addition to, NCG) to maintain pressure in a mature chamber during blowdown operations of a SAGD process or other enhanced oil recovery process. The foam occupies the depleted void space within the mature chamber after injection ceases, maintaining pressure, and improving blowdown performance. This use of the foam in the method and system also improves the performance of less mature chambers that are being operated at higher pressure adjacent to the mature chamber in blowdown. Foaming agents, such as metal carbonates, bicarbonates, and hydroxides, surfactants or any other colloidal foams, aerosols, hydrosols, emulsions or dispersions can be utilized. The method and system can be utilized in conjunction with other known art, such as heat scavenging in the chamber, or enhanced oil recovery utilizing foams, to displace oil in the chamber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.