Encana Corporation

Cenovus Energy Inc.

Ben Nzekwu

Larry Weiers

Harbir Chhina

Larry A Weiers

Harbir S Chhina

The invention provides methods for natural gas and oil recovery, which include the use of air injection and in situ combustion in natural gas reservoirs to facilitate production of natural gas and heavy oil in gas over bitumen formations.

In situ combustion in gas over bitumen formations

The invention provides hydrocarbon recovery processes that may be utilized in heavy oil reservoirs. Horizontal hydrocarbon production wells may be provided below horizontal oxidizing gas injection wells, with distant combustion gas production wells offset from the injection well by a distance that is greater than the hydrocarbon production well offset distance. Oxidizing gases injected into the reservoir through the injection well support in situ combustion, to mobilize hydrocarbons. The process may be adapted for use in a reservoir that has undergone depletion of petroleum in a precedential petroleum recovery process, such as a steam-assisted-gravity-drainage process, leaving a residual oil deposit in the reservoir as well as mobile zone chambers. Processes of the invention may be modulated so that a portion of the residual oil supports in situ combustion, while a larger portion of the residual oil is produced, by channelling combustion gases along the pre-existing mobile zones with the reservoir.

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Calgary, Canada

Ben Nzekwu