Conocophillips Company

Harris Corporation

Daniel R Sultenfuss

Mark Alan Trautman

Thomas James Wheeler

Francis Eugene Parsche

Dwijen Kumar Banerjee

Wayne Reid Dreher

Wayne Reid Dreher, Jr

John L Stalder

Mark A Trautman

Dwijen K Banerjee

Curtis G Blount

Wendell Peter Menard

Francis E Parsche

Wendell P Menard

Wayne R Dreher

Richard Treinen

Jr Dreher Wayne R

Thomas J Wheeler

Wayne R Jr Dreher

A method of producing heavy oil from a heavy oil formation by combining electromagnetic heating to achieve fluid communication between wells, following by in situ combustion to mobilize and upgrade the heavy oil.

Em and combustion stimulation of heavy oil

An enhanced oil recovery technique that combines gas injection with EM radiation to heat and mobilize heavy oil at least until fluid communication is achieved.

Heavy oil production with EM preheat and gas injection

A method for hydrocarbon resource recovery in a subterranean formation includes forming a laterally extending injector well in the subterranean formation and forming a laterally extending producer well spaced below the injector well. The method may also include radio frequency (RF) heating the subterranean formation to establish hydraulic communication between the injector well and the producer well. The method may further include injecting heated liquid water into the injector well to recover hydrocarbon resources from the producer well based upon the hydraulic communication therebetween.

Method for hydrocarbon recovery using heated liquid water injection with RF heating

Production of heavy oil and bitumen from a reservoir is enhanced by cyclic radio frequency (RF) radiation of the well. The invention utilizes RF radiation to introduce energy to the hydrocarbon reservoir in cycles in order to heat the reservoir directly, yet conserves energy over the prior art processes that more or less continuously apply RF or microwave energy. The advantage of cyclic RF is it uses less electricity, and thus lowers operating costs. This is achieved by the soak cycle that allows heat to conduct into the formation and assists the heat penetration that is directly radiated into the formation by the antenna. The invention can also be advantageously combined with cyclic steam stimulation.

Cyclic radio frequency stimulation

A process for recovering hydrocarbons with steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) with pressure differential injection. Methods for producing hydrocarbons in a subterranean formation having at least two well pairs include installing a highest pressure well pair in the subterranean formation; installing a lowest pressure well pair in the subterranean formation; applying a pressure differential across the highest pressure well pair and the lowest pressure well pair; injecting steam into the first injection well to form a first steam chamber; injecting steam into the final injection well to form an adjacent steam chamber; monitoring the steam chambers until they merge into a final steam chamber; ceasing the flow of steam into the first injection well; and injecting steam into the final injection well to maintain the final steam chamber.

Method for steam assisted gravity drainage with pressure differential injection

The method begins by forming a gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well. The pre-soaking stage begins by soaking at least one of the wellbores of the well pair with a solvent, wherein the solvent does not include water. The pre-heating stage begins by heating the soaked wellbore of the well pair to produce a vapor. The squeezing stage begins by introducing the vapor into the soaked wellbore of the well pair, and can thus overlap with the pre-heating stage. The gravity drainage production begins after the squeezing stage, once the wells are in thermal communication and the heavy oil can drain to the lower well.

Gravity drainage startup using RF and solvent

A method is described for accelerating start-up for SAGD-type operation by providing radio frequency heating devices inside the lateral wells that can re-heat the injected steam after losing heat energy during the initial injection. The method also extends the lateral wells such that the drilling of vertical wells can be reduced to save capital expenses.

Inline RF heating for SAGD operations

A process for utilizing microwaves to heat solvent within a subterranean region wherein the heated solvent, vapor, contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.

Process for enhanced production of heavy oil using microwaves

A process for utilizing microwaves to heat HO within a subterranean region wherein the heated HO contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil.

A method of producing heavy oil from a heavy oil formation with steam assisted gravity drainage. The method begins by drilling a borehole into a heavy oil formation comprising a steam barrier between a first pay zone and a second pay zone, wherein the steam barrier prevents a steam chamber to be formed between the first pay zone and the second pay zone. The steam barrier is then heated with a radio frequency. The steam barrier is then fractured to permit a steam chamber to be formed within the first pay zone and the second pay zone. Heavy oil is then produced from the heavy oil formation with steam assisted gravity drainage.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Daniel R Sultenfuss