Enhanced liquid hydrocarbon recovery by miscible gas injection water drive
US7506690B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 24, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/305
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
In distinct embodiments, miscible gas is injected directly into crude oil within its formation, entering into solution within it at optimum pressures, adding desired solution gas saturation, increasing its mobility and fluidity. This mobile solution gas saturated oil is produced by controlled wellbore to formation pressures maintained above its critical bubble point pressure, from same injection wells converted into oil recovery wells, where liquids only are differential pressure injected through invention's improved Liquid Injector DOLI, into the production tubing, while maintaining gas volume, pressure, and solution gas saturation in the formation, for total in place oil recovery.Injected down structure water drive pressure WDP into crude oil or gas formations augments recovery.Completely effective gas well De-liquefying is attained by flowing gas recovery up the wellbore annulus dry, while producing all liquids separately through the liquid Injector into the production tubing, to be plunger lifted to surface with gas lift.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.