Method of gas-cap air injection for thermal oil recovery
US8176980B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 2010 |
| Grant date | May 15, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/2408
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a subsurface oil sands reservoir, the subsurface oil sands reservoir and an overlying gas zone in fluid communication, the method includes providing an in situ combustion process in the overlying gas zone, to create or expand a combustion front within the overlying gas zone, providing a thermal recovery process in the oil sands reservoir, to create or expand a rising hot zone within the oil sands reservoir, and selectively operating the thermal recovery process or the in situ combustion process or both such that the rising hot zone does not intersect the overlying gas zone until the combustion front has moved beyond that portion of the overlying gas zone at the intersection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.