The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 20, 1991
Filed:
Jun. 29, 1990
Applicant:
Inventor:
William E Showalter, Long Beach, CA (US);
Assignee:
Union Oil Company of California, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
E21B / ; E21B / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
166302 ; 166 57 ; 166 61 ; 166 62 ;
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for the recovery of a heavy oil, contained in an outcropping formation, without any significant adverse environmental impact. Broadly, the invention comprises indirectly heating an oil containing formation to reduce the viscosity of the oil therein and concurrently thermally insulating an upper portion of the well, extending into the formation, to eliminate any increased seepage of oil from the formation to the surface.