Method for injecting non-condensable gas or in-situ combustion to recover remaining oil in a heavy oil reservoir with bottom water

US11306571B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Southwest Petroleum University · CN
• HEAVY OIL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, LIAOHE OILFIELD EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH INSTITUTE PETROCHINA OILFIELD · CN

Inventors

• Qi Jiang · Shanghai, CN
• Changhao Hu · Chengdu, CN
• Zhongyuan Wang · Beijing, CN
• Siyuan Huang · Nanjing, CN
• Zhibin Wang · Toronto, CA
• Dong Wang · Shanghai, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 19, 2020
• Grant date: Apr 19, 2022
• Expiry date: Mar 19, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC E): Fixed Constructions
• CPC primary: E21B43/2401
• WIPO field: Civil engineering
• WIPO sector: Other fields

Abstract

A method for injecting non-condensable gas or application of in-situ combustion to recover remaining oil in a heavy oil reservoir with bottom water includes: drilling a new horizontal well in an oil layer between the existing horizontal production well location and the bottom water layer; preheating the new horizontal well; after the horizontal section of the horizontal well is in thermal communication with the upper steam/gas chamber, performing gas injection in existing wells to maintain pressure slightly higher or similar to the pressure of the bottom water layer, and converting the horizontal well into a continuous production well; drilling a vertical well in the unswept reservoir area; establishing a fluid communication in the oil layer between the vertical well and the horizontal well, injecting air or oxygen into the vertical well; and in the later stage of the horizontal well, stopping gas injection and gradually reducing the pressure in the steam/gas chamber.