Viscous oil production using electrical current heating and lateral drain holes
US4489782A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 12, 1983 |
| Grant date | Dec 25, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 12, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/2401
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
Improved electrical power utilization and increased oil production per producing well are achieved by specially completing a production well, applying electrical current through the production well to a subsurface formation, and producing oil from said formation. The production well extends essentially vertically from the surface and has one or more drain holes, preferably cased with tubular steel, extending laterally from the longitudinal vertical axis of the wellbore and into and traversing a part of the oil bearing formation. The length of the producing well traversing and being in fluid communication with the formation being substantially greater than the thickness of the oil bearing formation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.