In-situ gasification of tar sands utilizing a combustible gas
US4573530A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 7, 1983 |
| Grant date | Mar 4, 1986 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 7, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/243
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A subterranean, viscous oil-containing formation, e.g. tar sands, which has previously been exploited by an in-situ combustion operation to recover the maximum amount of oil therefrom and leaving a solid coke like residue in the formation, is first saturated with a combustible gas such as methane, ethane, propane, natural gas or mixtures thereof, thereafter reinitiating in-situ combustion and then injecting a mixture of an oxygen-containing gas and steam to convert the coke like residue to a combustible product gas consisting predominantly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen within the formation. The combustible product gas is recovered and may be utilized directly as a fuel gas, or may be utilized as feed stock for petro chemical manufacturing processes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.