Patent · US Active

In situ hydrocarbon recovery using distributed flow control devices for enhancing temperature conformance

US9702233B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
0References
39Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 2014
Grant dateJul 11, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 29, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE21B43/2406
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

Hydrocarbon recovery can involve operating flow control devices distributed along a horizontal well based on temperatures of hydrocarbon-containing fluids at a plurality of locations along the horizontal well. The temperatures of hydrocarbon-containing fluids can indicate a presence of a hotter overlying reservoir region and an adjacent colder overlying reservoir region. The operation of the distributed flow control devices can involve reducing flow of hydrocarbon-containing fluid from the hotter overlying reservoir region into the horizontal well, while providing fluid communication and pressure differential between the colder overlying reservoir region and the production well, sufficiently to cause hot fluids surrounding the colder overlying reservoir region to be drawn into and induce heating of the colder overlying reservoir region.

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