Sequential fluid injection process for oil recovery from a gas cap
US5267615A · kind A · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 29, 1992 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 29, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/20
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A process is provided for recovering oil from a gas cap in a subterranean oil-bearing formation by injecting a water-alternating-gas cycle into the gas cap via an injection well in fluid communication therewith. The cycle includes a slug of an aqueous fluid and a slug of a non-aqueous gas. The aqueous fluid slug is substantially smaller in volume than the non-aqueous gas slug, the aqueous fluid slug being only of sufficient volume to substantially increase the water saturation of the gas cap without substantially increasing the gas saturation of the gas cap. The two slugs are injected into the gas cap sequentially, thereby displacing at least a portion of the oil in place from the gas cap into a production well. Any number of cycles are performed in sequence until the process is terminated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.