Patent · US Expired

Recovering viscous petroleum from thick tar sand

US3994341A · kind A · utility

264Cited by
9References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 1975
Grant dateNov 30, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 1995

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/24
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from thick tar sands is assisted using a closed-loop flow path from the earth's surface through a substantial portion of the formation for conducting hot fluid to reduce the viscosity of the petroleum in the formation to develop a potential passage in the formation outside the flow path into which a drive fluid is injected to promote movement of the petroleum to a production position.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.