Patent · US Expired

Solvent flooding with a horizontal injection well and drive fluid in gas flooded reservoirs

US4794987A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
4References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 4, 1988
Grant dateJan 3, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 4, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/305
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The invention is a method for recovering residual hydrocarbons from a reservoir which has been previously swept by gas. The invention steps comprise drilling and completing at least one horizontal injection well relatively near the top of the reservoir and relatively near a substantially vertically oriented boundary of the reservoir, drilling and completing at least one second injection well between the horizontal injection well and the vertical boundary of the reservoir, injecting a miscible solvent through the horizontal injection well to create a curtain of solvent falling through the previously gas swept reservoir, and injecting a drive fluid into the reservoir through the second injection well to drive the curtain of falling solvent horizontally through the reservoir. A production well is employed to produce hydrocarbons and other fluids that have been banked in front of the horizontally driven falling solvent curtain.

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