Arrangement of wells for producing subsurface viscous petroleum
US4303126A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 27, 1980 |
| Grant date | Dec 1, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 27, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/24
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method is disclosed for recovering viscous crudes from petroleum-containing formation, such as tar sand deposits, which are too deep to mine economically but not deep enough, or geologically not structured properly, to successfully hydraulically fracture for well to well production. The method contemplates a field grid layout of sets of injection and production wells and a subsurface generally horizontal heated tubular member passing through the subsurface petroleum-containing formation. Heated fluids are circulated through the tubular members to heat the viscous crudes in the vicinity of the tubular members and a heated drive fluid is injected through the injection wells to move heated crude toward the production wells.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.