Method of collecting hydrocarbons using a barrier tunnel
US7644769B2 · kind B2 · utility
0Cited by
173References
32Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 16, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 12, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 16, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21F16/02
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a method and means of collecting oil from a reservoir overlying a water aquifer or basement rock using a manned tunnel. A manned tunnel is used as a physical barrier to intercept oil and water flowing downward along a formation dip and to preferentially collect the oil or the water through a series of collector stations. This method can be used for oil spill clean-ups or for hydrocarbon recovery in appropriate reservoirs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.