Patent · US Expired

Oil recovery optimization using a well having both horizontal and vertical sections

US5339904A · kind A · utility

288Cited by
12References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 10, 1992
Grant dateAug 23, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 10, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P90/70
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A steam, carbon dioxide, or solvent injection method is used in combination with a cased well completed to have an upper vertical section, a lower vertical section and a horizontal section which connects the two vertical sections. Steam, carbon dioxide, or solvent is injected down tubing in the well and through perforations near the lower portion of the lower vertical section of the well and into an oil-bearing formation that is penetrated by the well. Oil is produced from the formation via perforations in the casing in the upper vertical section and thence upward through the annulus formed between the tubing and the casing to the surface of the earth for recovery.

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