Alberta Research Council Incorporated

Texaco Canada Resources, Ltd.

Philip Harris

Declan B Livesey

Alexander S McKay

Edward Frank Bertram

Darrell W Myroniuk

The invention is a method of recovering hydrocarbons from underground hydrocarbon formations penetrated by at least one injection well and at least one production well, which comprises injecting into the formation a mixture of hot water and about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of a hydrocarbon liquid having an aromatic content greater than about 30%. The hot water and hydrocarbon mixtures should be injected at a temperature of at least about 80.degree.C. Hydrocarbons and other fluids are recovered from a production well after a suitable period of time.

Enhanced oil recovery with a mixture of water and aromatic hydrocarbons

A chlorine source is provided in a reactor in combination with a ground oxidized ore and a particulate carbonaceous reductant. The amount of chlorine provided is significantly less than the stoichiometric requirements for reaction with the total iron content of the ore; the amount of the reductant is greater than that required to effect the reduction of the total iron content of the ore. The reactor is operative to retain the reaction gases in intimate contact with the feedstock mixture without significant dilution of said gases in order to provide a reducing atmosphere. The mixture is indirectly heated to a temperature below 950.degree. C., preferably in the range 700.degree.-950.degree. C., and the mixture is retained in the reactor for a period of time sufficient to cause the major portion of the iron to be transported out of the ore and to be deposited on or near the solid reductant and form discrete metal particles. These particles can be separated from the gangue minerals, for example by magnetic separation, to provide a high yield-high quality iron concentrate.

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Edmonton, Canada

Philip Harris