Modified continuous drive drainage process
US5803171A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/305
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method of producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The method includes the steps of: building an array of at least three horizontal wells; establishing injectivity in the formation; establishing communication between adjacent horizontal sections of wells in the array; injecting a fluid through the horizontal section of an outer well in the array while producing hydrocarbons and associated fluids through the horizontal section of a well immediately adjacent to the outer well; and simultaneously applying the steps of injecting and producing to adjacent remaining pairs of wells in the array so that with respect to any particular well in the array, that is being used for fluid injection, each well in the array immediately adjacent to it is being used for fluid production, and wherein the hydrocarbons and associated fluids are produced at a cumulative rate of production from the entire array that establishes a pressure differential between the wells in the array, and wherein the cumulative rate of fluid production from the array is greater than the cumulative rate of fluid injection through the array.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.