Wells – Processes – Distinct – separate injection and producing wells
Patent
1974-06-26
1976-02-17
Novosad, Stephen J.
Wells
Processes
Distinct, separate injection and producing wells
166271, 166272, E21B 4322, E21B 4324, E21B 4326
Patent
active
039385906
ABSTRACT:
Disclosed is a process for recovering petroleum from subterranean, viscous asphaltic or bituminous petroleum-containing formations, including subterranean tar sand deposits. A zone of gas permeability is established in the formation first, such as by fracturing or gas sweeping a section of the formation. Oxidizing gas such as oxygen, air, oxygen enriched air, ozone, or chlorine, or a mixture of steam and an oxidizing gas is introduced into the zone of increased gas permeability to expand the zone and further to cause a reaction to occur between the oxidizing gas and the oxygen-susceptible groups or labile groups associated witn the bituminous or asphaltic petroleum molecules forming acidic or aldehyde groups. Next, a gaseous or liquid alkalinity agent such as ammonia is introduced into the formation to react with the oxidatively pre-treated groups in the bituminous or asphaltic petroleum to form surface active agents or surfactants in situ. Finally, steam or a mixture of steam and an alkalinity agent such as ammonia or steam and air or a mixture of steam, oxidative gas and an excess of ammonia is introduced into the treated zone to recover petroleum. This process may be applied as a push-pull process or it may be applied in a multi well, throughput process. In a preferred embodiment, gaseous ammonia serves as an alkaline agent to neutralize the surface active agents formed in the formation, and also functions as a non-condensable gas to prevent loss of gas permeability as the viscous petroleum is heated in the final stages of the process.
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Mitchell David L.
Redford David A.
Novosad Stephen J.
Park Jack H.
Ries C. G.
Texaco Exploration Canada Ltd.
Whaley T. H.
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