Union Oil Company of California

A M Sarem

Richard D Hutchins

Julio M Quintana

Shlomo Ruvane Frieman

Fred Aminzadeh

William M Neill

Oil production from a fractured, oil-bearing subterranean formation is enhanced by sequentially injecting (i) a wettability reversal agent-containing fluid and (ii) an overflush fluid through a well and into the formation. The well is then place into production after allowing a sufficient period of time for (a) the matrix face of the formation to change from preferentially oil wet to preferentially water wet and (b) a displacing fluid (e.g., hot water, steam) to imbibe into the fractured matrix and displace the oil from the matrix into the fracture cracks.

Enhanced imbibition oil recovery process

Real-time monitoring of a target production zone is followed by an oscillatory drilling path to create a borehole having improved zone drainage capability. Real-time monitoring uses geophones placed in adjacent wells or the well being drilled. The drilling process itself generates the seismic signals. When the geophones are located in the well being drilled, the seismic signals are transmitted from downhole to surface through intermittent pressurization of drilling mud. Once drilling penetrates the zone, the oscillatory path is followed by fracturing to improve fluid drainage paths and minimize additional drilling.

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Yorba Linda, CA, United States of America

A M Sarem