Statoil Asa

Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.s.

Berol Nobel Ab

Eimund Gilje

Aurelie Lagisquet

Jostein Alvestad

Per-Erik Hellberg

Lars Høier

Siri Espedal

Trygve Maldal

Leif Karlsson

Lena Eriksson

Stig Svennberg

Lars Hoeier

A process for the recovery of hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon bearing formation and in which are situated an upper injection well and a lower production well is presented. The region between the wells is preheated by circulating hot solvent through at least part of both of the wells until hydraulic communication between both wells is achieved. Solvent is injected into the upper injection well at or above its critical temperature and the solvent is pentane or a mixture of butane and pentane. A hot solvent chamber is created consisting of solvent vapor and liquid. Bitumen and solvent are mixed at the boundary of the solvent chamber so formed. The hydrocarbon and solvent are caused to be mixed to drain downwards by gravity and sideways by pressure gradient towards the lower production well. The mixture is produced to the surface through the lower production well.

Solvent injection recovery process

A process for the recovery of hydrocarbon such as bitumen/EHO from a hydrocarbon bearing formation in which are situated an upper injection well and a lower production well, the method comprising the steps: A non-condensable gas may be injected into the solvent chamber created by the hydrocarbon solvent.

Solvent and gas injection recovery process

A process for the recovery of hydrocarbon such as bitumen/EHO from a hydrocarbon bearing formation in which are situated an upper injection well and a lower production well, the method comprising the steps: preheating an area around and between the wells by circulating hot solvent through the completed interval of each of the wells until sufficient hydraulic communication between both wells is achieved; injecting one of more hydrocarbon solvents into the upper injection well at or above critical temperature of the solvent or solvent mixture, thereby causing a mixture of hydrocarbon and solvent to flow by gravity drainage to the lower production well; and producing the hydrocarbon to the surface through the lower production well.

A new class of surfactants exhibits properties, which make the surfactants suitable for use in surfactant flooding for enhanced oil recovery. The surfactants have the formula

Surfactant, process for its production and use

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Oltedal, Norway

Eimund Gilje