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:
Apr. 14, 2009
Filed:
Jan. 13, 2006
Harbir S. Chhina, Calgary, CA;
Ben Nzekwu, Calgary, CA;
Harbir S. Chhina, Calgary, CA;
Ben Nzekwu, Calgary, CA;
EnCana Corporation, Alberta, CA;
Abstract
The invention provides hydrocarbon recovery processes that may be utilized in heavy oil reservoirs. Horizontal hydrocarbon production wells may be provided below horizontal oxidizing gas injection wells, with distant combustion gas production wells offset from the injection well by a distance that is greater than the hydrocarbon production well offset distance. Oxidizing gases injected into the reservoir through the injection well support in situ combustion, to mobilize hydrocarbons. The process may be adapted for use in a reservoir that has undergone depletion of petroleum in a precedential petroleum recovery process, such as a steam-assisted-gravity-drainage process, leaving a residual oil deposit in the reservoir as well as mobile zone chambers. Processes of the invention may be modulated so that a portion of the residual oil supports in situ combustion, while a larger portion of the residual oil is produced, by channelling combustion gases along the pre-existing mobile zones with the reservoir.