Texaco Inc.

Donald S Mims

Richard S Allen

Terry L Frazier

Alfred Brown

Wann-Sheng Huang

Stewart Haynes, Jr

John F Rooney

Henry J Grimm

Richard H Widmyer

William C Richardson

Donald L Hoyt

Kevin David Kimber

Arthur Ruch Deemer

Christopher M Lonvick

A method of enhancing recovery of viscous petroleum is provided. A hydrocarbons mixture comprising hydrocarbons having a selected range of boiling points, all higher than that of water, is injected at relatively low concentrations along with steam. The range and distribution of hydrocarbon boiling points in the mixture to be injected may be selected by experiment or calculations.

Hydrocarbon-assisted thermal recovery method

The invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons from an underground hydrocarbon formation which comprises drilling and completing at least three substantially parallel horizontal wells to form a substantially triangular well pattern within a hydrocarbon formation. The first well is placed relatively near the top of a hydrocarbon interval and the second and third wells are placed near the bottom of the interval on each side of the first well. A recovery fluid is injected into the formation through the second and third wells and hydrocarbons and other fluids are recovered through the first well.

Recovering hydrocarbons with a triangular horizontal well pattern

The invention is a method of recovering oil bypassed by a steam override zone. First, the production well is drilled below the oil producing zone into an underlying interval. The well perforations in the oil producing zone are closed off. The underlying interval is fractured to establish fluid communication between the underlying interval and the oil producing zone. The production well is completed for production through the fractured portion of the underlying interval. Finally, the steamflood is controlled to increase the pressure in the oil producing zone and drive the oil and steam downward to the new perforations in the underlying for production.

Recovering oil bypassed by a steam override zone

Our invention concerns a method for treating a well completed in a subterranean petroleum containing formation which will improve the rate at which steam can be injected into the formation for a steam push-pull or steam drive oil recovery method. This preconditioning process is applied to formations exhibiting very limited steam receptivity because the formation contains high oil viscosity and has high oil saturation and is completely liquid filled. The method involves injecting a heated non-condensable and oil soluble gas all in the gaseous phase into the formation at a controlled rate which will avoid permanently fracturing the formation and also avoid the immediate formation of an oil bank due to dissolution of the injected gaseous fluid into the oil. Ideally by controlling the injection rate, carbon dioxide first displaces water from the flow channels and then slowly dissolves in the oil. Steam injection can then be applied to the formation without the previously experienced loss in steam injectivity.

Viscous oil recovery method

The disclosed invention is an apparatus for analyzing the annulus effluent of a producing well. The apparatus is designed to measure the flow rate of the annulus effluent, sample the annulus effluent and determine the quantities of each of the various phases of the annulus effluent. The apparatus is preferably mounted on a mobile vehicle and comprises a means for measuring the flow rate of the annulus effluent, a liquid vapor separator to split the annulus effluent into streams of entrained liquid and vapor, a separator to split the entrained liquid into the phases of oil and water, a sampling loop for extracting a sample of annulus effluent vapor which contains a condensor and a separator for splitting the fluid into its various phases, a means for measuring the amounts of all of the phases of the annulus effluent, and a means to record the data gathered. The apparatus is very useful in determining whether a producing well should be shut-in, worked over or left to produce 'as is'.

Apparatus for analyzing the annulus effluent of a well

A method based on an orifice flow equation is provided for determining both the quality and the mass flow rate of steam flowing in a line, such as to an injection well in steam flooding operations for recovery of petroleum. A sample of the steam is drawn off from the steam line through an orifice and is condensed and collected. The mass of sample collected and the time to collect it give the mass flow rate of the sample. Pressure and temperature measurements at the sample line orifice together with the measured mass flow rate of the sample and with known constants are used in the orifice flow equation to derive the sample steam quality. The line steam also flows through an orifice, with pressure and temperature measurements thereon. The desired quality of the line steam is the same as the derived quality of the sample steam, since care is taken to make them the same. The orifice flow equation is used again, substituting the derived sample steam quality for the line steam quality, together with the temperature and pressure measurements at the steam line orifice and with known constants, to derive the desired mass flow rate of the line steam.

Method and apparatus for determining quality and mass flow rate of

Method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation in which a well completion, including a well liner, lies in a generally horizontal disposition within the hydrocarbon productive substrate. The liner encloses conductor means for delivering a stream of a hot stimulating agent to the well's remote or injection end, and means for regulating the production of bitumen emulsion from the producing end thereof. A fluid impervious barrier is movably interposed in the well liner between the injection end and the producing end to establish a pressure differential across said barrier thereby directing a flow of stimulating agent into the substrate. Said agent, by liquefying bitumen, creates a pattern of paths along which the mixture flows toward the well's lower pressure producing end. By progressively moving the barrier toward said producing end, the flow path pattern can be extended into a broader area of the substrate.

Completion for tar sand substrate

A method for determining the quality of steam flowing in a line used for steam injection, e.g. in an oil well. It has a vertical loop in the line, with an orifice in the up-flow side. The pressure, temperature and pressure drop at the orifice are measured before and after injecting a stream of water upstream from the orifice. The water stream is injected at a constant flow rate, and its temperature and pressure are measured. Using the measurements before and after the introduction of the water stream, simultaneous equations are developed related to the mass flow rate and to the heat flow rate, so that the steam quality may be determined.

Method of measuring quality of steam in a flow fine

A well completion, and method for recovering heavy hydrocarbons or bitumen from a subterranean formation. The completion includes a well liner which lies in a generally horizontal disposition within a hydrocarbon holding substrate to define the main or primary well. A secondary well which extends to the surface intersects the main well to communicate therewith. Said secondary well includes means to conduct a stream of hot stimulating fluid into the main well. A fluid impervious barrier or flow diverter means positioned within the main well between the injection end and the production end, establishes a pressure differential across the barrier. The barrier urges stimulating agent into the substrate at a desired location, thereby creating a heated path along which the bitumen emulsion flows toward the well's production end. Means is provided in the secondary well to position the impervious barrier from one end of the main well to the other.

Bitumen production and substrate stimulation with flow diverter means

A well completion, having an injection end and a recovery end, and method for recovering heavy hydrocarbons or bitumen from a subterranean formation. The completion includes a well liner which lies in a generally horizontal disposition within a hydrocarbon holding substrate. Means for carrying a stream of a hot stimulating fluid from the well's injection end such that said fluid will migrate into the substrate surrounding the liner. A fluid impervious barrier is movably positioned within the well liner between the injection end and the production end thereof, and prompts establishment of a pressure differential across the said barrier. The barrier urges pressurized stimulating agent outwardly into the substrate, thereby creating a heated path along which the bitumen emulsion flows toward the well's lower pressure production end. The barrier is adapted to be repositioned within the liner to adjust the bitumen flow path through the substrate.

Bitumen production and substrate stimulation

Method and apparatus for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation in which a well completion, including a well liner, lies in a generally horizontal disposition within the hydrocarbon producing layer. The liner encloses conduit means for delivering a stream of a hot stimulating agent to the well's remote or injection end, and means for regulating the production of bitumen emulsion from the production end. A fluid impervious barrier is carried on and depends from the conductor means and forms a transverse fluid barrier within the liner. The conductor member is fixed within the liner whereby to serve as a means for introducing the thermal stimulating agent or medium to the substrate as well as functioning as a guide for the movable fluid impervious barrier. By adjusting the longitudinal position of said barrier, the hot stimulating agent is more effectively introduced to the substrate to improve the sweeping action thereof.

Tar sand production using thermal stimulation

The disclosed invention is a method for analyzing the annulus effluent of a producing well in a steam flood and using the information derived therefrom to determine whether to workover the production well for greater production, whether to allow the well to continue producing 'as is', or whether to shut-in the annulus or the tubing production and approximately when the well should be worked over or shut-in.

Method for predicting workovers and shut-ins from analyzing the annulus

Oil is produced from a steeply dipping subterranean reservoir containing high viscosity petroleum by injecting a fluid comprising steam into the lower portion of the reservoir and withdrawing the oil from production wells in an intermediate portion of the reservoir while injecting a fluid such as cold water into the updip portion of the reservoir to prevent loss of steam vapor therethrough.

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Donald S Mims