Method of recovering viscous petroleum from an underground formation
US4037658A · kind A · utility
200Cited by
9References
14Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1975 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 1977 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 1995 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/305
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from tar sands is assisted using a controlled flow of hot fluid in a flow path within the formation but out of direct contact with the viscous petroleum; thus a solid-wall, hollow tubular member in the formation is used for conducting hot fluid to reduce the viscosity of the petroleum to develop a potential passage in the formation outside the tubular member 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.