Pentane-hexane solvent in situ recovery of heavy oil
US8844639B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 24, 2012 |
| Grant date | Sep 30, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 11, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE21B43/2408
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An integrated thermal recovery process using a solvent of a pentane or hexane or both as an additive to, or sole component of, a gravity-dominated process for recovering bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. A pentane-hexane specific solvent fraction is extracted at surface from a diluent stream. That pentane-hexane solvent fraction is then injected into the reservoir as part of a gravity-dominated recovery process within the reservoir, and when that solvent fraction is subsequently produced as part of the oil or bitumen blend, it is allowed to remain within the blend to enhance the subsequent blend treating and transportation steps. Meanwhile, the remainder of the diluent from which the solvent stream had been extracted is utilized at surface as a blending stream to serve as an aid in treating of produced fluids and also to serve as a means of rendering the bitumen or heavy oil stream pipelineable.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.