Patent · US Active

Reducing the energy requirements for the production of heavy oil

US7874350B2 · kind B2 · utility

77Cited by
14References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 6, 2010
Grant dateJan 25, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 6, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/243
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

An apparatus for generating a heated product stream downhole is provided wherein a fuel rich mixture is reacted downhole by contact with a catalyst to produce a partially reacted product stream, the fuel rich mixture comprising fuel and oxygen. The partially reacted product stream is brought into contact with an oxidant thereby igniting combustion upon contact producing a combustion product stream. The combustion product stream may be cooled by injecting a diluent flow such as water or CO2. The cooled combustion product stream may be injected into oil bearing strata in order to reduce the energy requirements for the production of heavy oil.

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