Chevron Research Company

Chevron Research & Technology Company

John H Duerksen

Robert G Wall

Jack D Knight

Donald J Anderson

Doug J McCallum

Mark Petrick

Steve L Vasicek

Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from tar sands is assisted using a controlled flow of hot fluid and hydrogen-generating gas in a flow path within the formation; thus a solid-wall hollow tubular member in the formation is used for conducting hot fluid to promote hydrogenation in conjunction with a hydrogen-generating gas and reduce viscosity of the petroleum to develop a potential passage in the formation outside the tubular member into which a drive fluid is injected to promote movement of the petroleum to a production position.

Method for in-situ heated annulus refining process

A method is disclosed for fluid injection and oil production from a single wellbore which includes providing a path of communication between the injection and production zones.

Single well injection and production system

A method of heating produced fluid in a wellbore having multiple tubing strings. In the portion of the wellbore above the dual-string packer a portion of hot injection fluid is selectively flowed from the injection tubing string into the casing annulus where the production tubing is heated, and the flowing viscosity of fluids therein is lowered.

Method of flowing viscous hydrocarbons in a single well

Recovery of viscous petroleum such as from tar sands is assisted using a controlled flow of hot fluid and hydrogen-containing gas in a flow path within the formation; thus a solid-wall hollow tubular member in the formation is used for conducting hot fluid to promote hydrogenation in conjunction with a hydrogen-containing gas and reduce viscosity of the petroleum to develop a potential passage in the formation outside the tubular member into which a drive fluid is injected to promote movement of the petroleum to a production position.

In-situ heated annulus refining process

Production of viscous hydrocarbons is initiated by first injecting an injection fluid down at least two tubing strings in a wellbore having multiple tubing strings therein. Following an initiation phase, flow of injection fluid in the production tubing string is ceased, and production of formation fluid to the surface commenced in the heated tubing. The production of formation fluids is controlled, and entry of uncondensed steam from the formation into the wellbore avoided by maintaining a liquid level in the formation which is above the production perforations.

Method of recovering hydrocarbons using single well injection/production

An improved cyclic steam injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer surfactants in the steam to form a foam-steam drive medium which is injected into the formation through an injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from said well when it is in a production well mode of operation.

Alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer surfactant cyclic steam stimulation process

An improved non-condensible gas injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate monomer and alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer surfactants along with the gas to form a gas-foam drive medium which is injected into the formation through at least one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well.

Non-condensible gas injection including alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer

An improved non-condensible gas injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate surfactants along with the non-condensible gas to form a gas-foam drive medium which is injected into the formation through at lest one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well.

Non-condensible gas injection including alpha-olefin sulfonate

An improved steam injection process for recovering hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation. The process includes the use of alpha-olefin sulfonate dimer surfactants in the steam to form a foam-steam drive medium which is injected into the formation through at least one injection well to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons from at least one production well.

Steam injection including alpha-olephin sulfonate dimer surfactant

A method is disclosed for increased recovery of crude petroleum from a subsurface formation containing petroleum deposits. The method combines steam and gas distillation drive using foam to divert the steam/gas and to establish a thermal barrier against heat loss into the surrounding formations. A noncondensable gas is injected with or after steam to produce a distillate bank which is moved through the formation from an injection well toward a production well. Fluids produced at the production well are monitored to provide information for control of the injected materials at the injection well.

Growing community of inventors

Fullerton, CA, United States of America

John H Duerksen