| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 166256000 | In situ combustion | 73 |
| 20080257549 | Consumable Downhole Tools - A downhole tool having a body or structural component comprises a material that is at least partially consumed when exposed to heat and a source of oxygen. The material may comprise a metal, such as magnesium, which is converted to magnesium oxide when exposed to heat and a source of oxygen. The downhole tool may further comprise a torch with a fuel load that produces the heat and source of oxygen when burned. The fuel load may comprise a flammable, non-explosive solid, such as thermite. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080289819 | Utilization of low BTU gas generated during in situ heating of organic-rich rock - A method for utilizing gas produced from an in situ conversion process is provided. The method may include heating an organic-rich rock formation, for example an oil shale formation, in situ. The method may further include producing a production fluid from the organic-rich rock formation where the production fluid having been at least partially generated as a result of pyrolysis of formation hydrocarbons, for example oil shale, located in the organic-rich rock formation. The method may include obtaining a gas stream from the production fluid, where the gas stream comprises combustible hydrocarbon fluids. The method may include separating the gas stream into a first composition gas stream and a second composition gas stream, where the composition of the first composition gas stream is a low BTU gas stream maintained in a substantially constant condition and passing the first composition gas stream through a first gas turbine to form a first gas turbine exhaust stream, where the first gas turbine being configured to provide energy to a first electrical generator. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20090188667 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBONS BY IN-SITU COMBUSTION - A system and a method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir containing hydrocarbons, by in-situ combustion. The system includes a primary liquid production wellbore having a substantially horizontal primary production length extending through the reservoir, a vent well in fluid communication with the reservoir at a venting position which is relatively higher in the reservoir than the primary production length, an injector apparatus in fluid communication with the reservoir along an injection line in the reservoir which is relatively higher in the reservoir than the primary production length and relatively lower in the reservoir than the venting position, and an injection gas source connected with the injector apparatus. The method includes providing the system, injecting an injection gas containing oxygen into the reservoir to cause combustion of hydrocarbons contained in the reservoir, producing hydrocarbon liquid from the primary liquid production wellbore, and venting combustion gases from the vent well. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090200022 | CRYOGENIC TREATMENT OF GAS - Systems and methods of treating a gas stream are described. A method of treating a gas stream includes cryogenically separating a first gas stream to form a second gas stream and a third stream. The third stream is cryogenically contacted with a carbon dioxide stream to form a fourth and fifth stream. A majority of the second gas stream includes methane and/or molecular hydrogen. A majority of the third stream includes one or more carbon oxides, hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 2, one or more sulfur compounds, or mixtures thereof. A majority of the fourth stream includes one or more of the carbon oxides and hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 2. A majority of the fifth stream includes hydrocarbons having a carbon number of at least 3 and one or more of the sulfur compounds. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090236092 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXTRACTION OF HYDROCARBONS FROM OIL SANDS - A system and method for extracting hydrocarbon products from oil sands using nuclear energy sources for power to decrease the viscosity of bitumen in oil sands deposits and provide sufficient heat and pressure to produce liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products. Steps for extracting the hydrocarbon products form the oil sands deposits are disclosed. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20100139915 | PRODUCER WELL PLUGGING FOR IN SITU COMBUSTION PROCESSES - Methods and apparatus relate to controlling location of inflow into a production well during in situ combustion. The production well includes intervals closable to the inflow at identified times. Once a combustion front from the in situ combustion passes one of the intervals, a blockage conveyed from surface into the production well forms a barrier to the inflow at the interval that has been passed by the combustion front. An example of the blockage includes a cement plug delivered through coiled tubing into the production well, which may include production tubing that defines the intervals based on at least two consecutive alternating lengths of solid wall sections and slotted or perforated sections of the production tubing. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100155060 | TRIANGLE AIR INJECTION AND IGNITION EXTRACTION METHOD AND SYSTEM - The present invention is a process for recovering oil from an underground oil-containing reservoir. The process includes providing one or more injection wells for injecting a gaseous fluid (steam and air) into the reservoir, the one or more injection wells having a plurality of generally horizontal injector legs, the injector legs positioned within a first depth region in the reservoir. The process further includes providing one or more extraction wells for recovering oil from the reservoir, the one or more extraction wells having plurality of generally horizontal extractor legs, the extractor legs positioned within a second depth region in the reservoir below the first depth region and spaced between the injector legs. Gaseous fluid, typically steam, is injected through the injector legs for a first period of time; and then air is injected through at least one of the injector legs. Alternative embodiments of the invention are also described. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100200227 | BITUMEN PRODUCTION METHOD - A method for the production of a CO | 08-12-2010 |
| 20100206563 | IN SITU COMBUSTION PROCESSES AND CONFIGURATIONS USING INJECTION AND PRODUCTION WELLS - Methods and systems relate to in situ combustion utilizing configurations of injection and production wells to facilitate the in situ combustion. The wells define vertically deviated lengths that have different orientations from one another. Further, heating processes such as resistive heating and cyclic steam stimulation may take place in one or both of the injection and production wells to precondition a reservoir prior to the in situ combustion. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100258305 | Method for recovery of stranded oil - The present invention provides a method of recovering stranded oil wherein heated fluid is injected into a reservoir containing stranded oil in a region near the reservoir ceiling, or alternatively the heated fluid is generated downhole using a downhole combustor and then injected into the reservoir. The heated oil drains toward the reservoir floor and is recovered via a production well. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20120067568 | METHOD OF USING CARBON DIOXIDE IN RECOVERY OF FORMATION DEPOSITS - The present invention relates to systems, apparatuses, and methods for providing a reliable, high purity source of CO | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120222859 | Dispersing Separated Hydrocarbon Gas into Separated Oil During Surface Well Testing for Improved Oil Mobility - A surface well testing facility for dispersing separated hydrocarbon gas into separated oil from a multiphase well fluid for improved oil mobility and combustion efficiency. A multiphase fluid is produced from a well. The gas constituent and the oil constituent are separated from the multiphase fluid, the oil constituent having an undesirable viscosity. Both the gas constituent and the oil constituent are measured. Thereafter, at least a first portion of the gas constituent is injected into the oil constituent. The first portion of the gas constituent is mixed with the oil constituent such that the first portion of the gas constituent is dispersed into the oil constituent to form an oil/gas mixture having a viscosity that is lower than the undesirable viscosity of the oil constituent and a BTU content higher than the oil constituent. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20130075092 | PROCESS FOR DISPERSING NANOCATALYSTS INTO PETROLEUM-BEARING FORMATIONS - Embodiments include methods for recovering petroleum products from a formation containing heavy crude oil. In one embodiment, a method includes positioning a steam generator within the petroleum-bearing formation, flowing a fuel source and an oxidizing agent into the steam generator, generating and releasing steam from the steam generator to heat the heavy crude oil, flowing a catalytic material containing a nanocatalyst into the petroleum-bearing formation, and exposing the catalytic material to the heavy crude oil. The method further provides forming lighter oil products from the heavy crude oil within the petroleum-bearing formation and extracting the lighter oil products from the petroleum-bearing formation. In some examples, the fuel source contains methane, syngas, or hydrogen gas, and the oxidizing agent contains oxygen gas, air, or oxygen enriched air. The nanocatalyst may contain cobalt, iron, nickel, molybdenum, chromium, tungsten, titanium, alloys thereof, or combinations thereof. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130098607 | Steam Flooding with Oxygen Injection, and Cyclic Steam Stimulation with Oxygen Injection - A process to recover heavy oil from a hydrocarbon reservoir, said process comprising injecting oxygen-containing gas and steam separately injected via separate wells into the reservoir to cause heated hydrocarbon fluids to flow more readily to a production well, wherein:
| 04-25-2013 |
| 20130133884 | HORIZONTAL WELL LINE-DRIVE OIL RECOVERY PROCESS - An in situ combustion process entailing the simultaneous production of liquids and combustion gases that combines fluid drive, gravity phase segregation and gravity drainage to produce hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil-bearing formation, comprising initially injecting a gas through a horizontal well placed high in the formation and producing combustion gas and oil through parallel and laterally offset horizontal wells that are placed low in the formation. wherein the reservoir exploitation proceeds with sequential conversion of production wells to injection wells in a line-drive mode of operation. The process may also be employed without in situ combustion, using instead a gaseous solvent or steam injection. | 05-30-2013 |
| 20130146283 | OIL RECOVERY PROCESS USING CROSSED HORTIZONAL WELLS - Method of entailing the simultaneous production of oil and combustion gases using gravity phase segregation and gravity drainage to produce hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil-bearing formation, comprising initially injecting a fluid such as a solvent, steam, or an oxidizing gas through a pair of horizontal wells placed high in the formation and producing oil through a plurality of parallel lower horizontal wells situated low in the reservoir, each lower horizontal well perpendicularly disposed to said upper horizontal wells. In a preferred embodiment well liner segments in lower horizontal wells have apertures therein to allow oil to flow into said lower horizontal wells, at locations where an upper horizontal well traverses a lower horizontal well, possess no apertures to thereby prevent oxidizing gas injected in said upper horizontal wells from flowing directly into said lower horizontal wells at such point at which said lower wells are traversed by said upper wells. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130146284 | STAGGERED HORIZONTAL WELL OIL RECOVERY PROCESS - An in situ combustion process entailing the simultaneous production of oil and combustion gases that combines fluid drive, gravity phase segregation and gravity drainage to produce hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil-bearing formation, comprising initially injecting a gas through a pair of horizontal wells placed high in the formation and producing combustion gas and oil through parallel and laterally offset horizontal wells that are placed low in the formation intermediate the pair of horizontal wells placed high in the formation. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20130199777 | HEATING A HYDROCARBON RESERVOIR - A system and methods are provided for heating a hydrocarbon reservoir, wherein the reservoir includes a reduced oil saturation zone in proximity to a heavy oil zone. The method includes injecting an oxidizing gas into the reduced oil saturation zone and combusting hydrocarbons included within the reduced oil saturation zone. The method also includes determining a level of heating within the heavy oil zone that is conductively heated by combustion of the hydrocarbons within the reduced oil saturation zone, and producing hydrocarbons from the heavy oil zone once a desired level of heating has occurred. | 08-08-2013 |
| 20130206403 | ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY PROCESS - A method for recovering oil by injecting oxygen into an underground oil formation where in-situ combustion occurs. The oxygen may be co-injected with additional components to assist in the recovery of the oil, or it may be injected after the injection of the additional components sequentially. The recovered oil may be used in an integrated process above ground for the combustion and generation of power. | 08-15-2013 |
| 20130341015 | DOWNHOLE COMBUSTOR - A downhole combustor system for a production well is provided. The downhole combustor includes a housing, a combustor and an exhaust port. The housing is configured and arranged to be positioned down a production well. The housing further forms a combustion chamber. The combustor is received within the housing. The combustor is further configured and arranged to combust fuel in the combustion chamber. The exhaust port is positioned to deliver exhaust fumes from the combustion chamber into a flow of oil out of the production well. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140000878 | METHOD FOR SHORTENING AN INJECTION PIPE FOR UNDERGROUND COAL GASIFICATION | 01-02-2014 |
| 20140060823 | IN SITU COMBUSTION FOR STEAM RECOVERY INFILL - Methods and systems produce petroleum products from a formation by a steam assisted process followed by an in situ combustion process. The steam assisted process utilizes an injector and first producer to form a steam chamber within the formation as the products are recovered. The in situ combustion then starts by injecting an oxidant into the formation and ignition of residual products. A combustion front advances toward a second producer that may be offset in a lateral direction from the first producer. Heat and pressure from the in situ combustion sweeps the products ahead of the combustion front to the second producer for recovery. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140345859 | HYDROCARBON RECOVERY FACILITATED BY IN SITU COMBUSTION - A process for hydrocarbon recovery from an oil sands deposit includes injecting an oxidizing gas into an oil sands reservoir through an injection well. The oxidizing gas supports in situ combustion (ISC) in the reservoir. A generally horizontal well pair is used that is in fluid communication with the injection well to recover hydrocarbons mobilized by the ISC. The well pair includes: a generally horizontal segment of a hydrocarbon production well, and a generally horizontal segment of a combustion gas production well. The generally horizontal segment of the combustion gas production well is generally parallel to and spaced vertically above the horizontal segment of the hydrocarbon production well. The segment of the oxidizing gas injection well is spaced generally above the segment of the hydrocarbon production well and generally above the segment of the combustion gas production well. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20150060061 | HEATER AND METHOD OF OPERATING - A heater includes a heater housing with a fuel cell stack assembly disposed therein. The fuel cell stack assembly includes a plurality of fuel cells which convert chemical energy from a fuel into heat and electricity through a chemical reaction with an oxidizing agent. The fuel cell stack assembly includes a fuel cell manifold for receiving the fuel within a fuel inlet and the oxidizing agent within an oxidizing agent inlet and distributing the fuel and oxidizing agent to the fuel cells. A fuel supply conduit supplies the fuel to the fuel inlet and an oxidizing agent supply conduit supplies the oxidizing agent to the oxidizing agent inlet. A sonic orifice is disposed between the fuel supply conduit and the fuel inlet or between the oxidizing agent supply conduit and the oxidizing agent inlet, thereby limiting the velocity of the fuel or the oxidizing agent through the sonic orifice. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150136390 | EXTRACTING OIL FROM UNDERGROUND RESERVOIRS - Methods to extract oil from underground reservoirs are disclosed comprising pumping a gas comprising oxygen into the reservoir, causing combustion, and using the heat and pressure generated by the combustion to drive the oil through a well pipe to the surface. Systems for extracting oil from underground reservoirs are also disclosed comprising a gas compression system operable to pump oxygen from an oxygen source into the underground reservoir. The system has a supply pipe connected to the source of oxygen, a delivery pipe connected to the underground reservoir, a pump capable of pumping a liquid, a first tank with a first pipe and a second pipe, a second tank with a third and a fourth pipe and two pipe switchers operable to switch connections such that the tanks are swapped from a position between the supply pipe and the pump inlet and a position between the pump outlet and the delivery pipe. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20160040519 | System and Method for Facilitating Subterranean Hydrocarbon Extraction with Electrochemical Processes - This disclosure includes systems and methods for extracting hydrocarbons from a geologic structure. Some systems use or include a well-bore that extends at least partially through the geologic structure, a first electrode disposed within the wellbore, an ionically conductive medium in fluid communication with the first electrode, a second electrode in electrical communication with the first electrode, and a power source configured to establish an electrical current between the first and second electrodes to cause an electrochemical reaction. Some systems are configured to facilitate extraction of hydrocarbons from a geologic structure. | 02-11-2016 |
| 20160108707 | METHODS OF TREATING A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION WITH SHRINKABLE FIBERS - Methods of treating a subterranean formation are disclosed that include introducing a treatment fluid including thermally shrinkable fibers and a particulate material into a subterranean formation via a wellbore, adjusting at least one parameter of the treatment fluid to trigger the association of the thermally shrinkable fibers, and forming a porous pack including a network of shrunken fibers by applying heat sufficient to raise the temperature of the thermally shrinkable fibers to a temperature at or above a shrinking initiation temperature of the thermally shrinkable fibers. | 04-21-2016 |
| 166257000 | Injecting while producing by in situ combustion from same well | 4 |
| 20080236820 | PRODUCTION OF NATURAL GAS FROM HYDRATES - Methods and apparatus for producing methane gas from a hydrate formation. A column of modified material substantially filling a wellbore extending into the hydrate formation. The column of modified material is permeable to gases. A heat source extends into the column of modified material and is operable to provide heat to the hydrate formation so as to release methane gas from the hydrate formation. Methane gas flow through the column of modified material to a gas collector, which regulates the flow of gas to a production system. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080289820 | Combined Hydrogen Production and Unconventional Heavy Oil Extraction - A method of producing hydrogen and extracting heavy oil from underground reserves is provided. This method includes providing a carbon monoxide source stream and a water vapor stream to a first reactor, wherein the first reactor comprises a water shift reactor and a membrane-type separation device. This method also includes separating the products of the water shift reactor, thereby producing at least a hydrogen-rich stream, and a high pressure off-gas stream. This method also includes providing the high pressure off-gas stream and an oxidant stream to a combustion chamber. This method also includes combusting the oxidant stream and the high pressure off-gas stream as at least part of a combustion cycle thereby producing a hot injection gas stream. This method also includes combining the hot injection gas stream with a liquid water stream, wherein the combined stream may be used to heat the underground reserve sufficiently to release petroleum hydrocarbons therefrom. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20090050319 | Downhole burners for in situ conversion of organic-rich rock formations - A method for in situ heating of a selected portion of a targeted organic-rich rock formation such as an oil shale formation is provided. The method includes the steps of providing casing in a wellbore extending to a depth within or below the selected portion of the organic-rich rock formation, and also providing a tubing within the casing. An annular region is formed between the tubing and the surrounding casing. Air or other oxidant and a combustible fuel are injected into the wellbore. Either the air or the combustible fuel is in stoichiometric combustion excess. The method also includes providing hardware in the wellbore so as to cause the air and the combustible fuel to mix and to combust at substantially the depth of the organic-rich rock formation. The hardware may include more than one burner. Insulation may be placed along the tubing adjacent the first burner in order to reduce the heat transfer coefficient within the tubing and to provide a more uniform temperature within the annulus. | 02-26-2009 |
| 20100218942 | GAS-CAP AIR INJECTION FOR THERMAL OIL RECOVERY (GAITOR) - A method for producing bitumen or heavy oil from a subsurface oil sands reservoir, the subsurface oil sands reservoir and an overlying gas zone in fluid communication, the method includes providing an in situ combustion process in the overlying gas zone, to create or expand a combustion front within the overlying gas zone, providing a thermal recovery process in the oil sands reservoir, to create or expand a rising hot zone within the oil sands reservoir, and selectively operating the thermal recovery process or the in situ combustion process or both such that the rising hot zone does not intersect the overlying gas zone until the combustion front has moved beyond that portion of the overlying gas zone at the intersection. | 09-02-2010 |
| 166258000 | Plural distinct superimposed formations | 2 |
| 20100175872 | IN SITU COMBUSTION AS ADJACENT FORMATION HEAT SOURCE - Methods and apparatus relate to in situ combustion. Configurations of injection and production wells facilitate the in situ combustion. A first production well disposed in a first oil bearing reservoir is spaced from a second production well disposed in a second oil bearing reservoir separated from the first oil bearing reservoir by a stratum having lower permeability than the first and second oil bearing reservoirs. The stratum isolates one of the first and second production wells from one of the first and second oil bearing reservoirs. In situ combustion through the first oil bearing reservoir generates heat that irradiates into the second oil bearing reservoir to enable producing hydrocarbon with the second production well. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20140041867 | ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY INITIATED WITH ZERO EMISSION IN-SITU COMBUSTION - The invention provides an enhanced oil recovery process that may be used in light oil reservoirs, and which is particularly beneficial in high-relief formations. The process includes an initial injection of air into the formation through an injection well to support the in-situ combustion and mobilize formation fluids. Produced flue gas is recovered and recycled into the formation by injection through an injection well. Initially, gas production is restricted for the purpose of increasing the gas injection to recovery ratio to pressurize the formation. With an increase in formation pressure, the rate of air injection is gradually reduced as the rate of recovered flue gas injection increases. Combustion front propagation in the formation is controlled by the rate of production at each actively producing well to ensure good horizontal sweep across the well and to prevent channeling to one or more production wells. | 02-13-2014 |
| 166259000 | Including fracturing or attacking formation | 8 |
| 20090159277 | Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery by in Situ Combustion of Oil Sand Formations - The present invention is a method and apparatus for the enhanced recovery of petroleum fluids from the subsurface by in situ combustion of the hydrocarbon deposit, from injection of an oxygen rich gas and drawing off a flue gas to control the rate and propagation of the combustion front to be predominantly horizontal and propagating vertically downwards guided by the vertical highly permeable hydraulic fractures. Multiple propped vertical hydraulic fractures are constructed from the well bore into the oil sand formation and filled with a highly permeable proppant containing hydrodesulfurization and thermal cracking catalysts. The oxygen rich gas is injected via the well bore into the top of the propped fractures, the in situ hydrocarbons are ignited by a downhole burner, and the generated flue gas extracted from the bottom of the propped fractures through the well bore and mobile oil gravity drains through the propped fractures to the bottom of the well bore and pumped to the surface. The combustion front is predominantly horizontal, providing good vertical and lateral sweep, due to the flue gas exhaust control provided by the highly permeable propped fractures. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20100078167 | ENERGY EFFICIENT, LOW EMISSIONS SHALE OIL RECOVERY PROCESS - A process relates to the energy efficient, environmentally friendly recovery of liquid and gaseous products from solid or semi-solid hydrocarbon resources, in particular, oil shale or tar sands. The process involves non-oxidative pyrolysis to recover fluid energy values, oxidative combustion to recover energy values as recoverable heat, and environmental sequestration of gases produced. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20130220604 | Methods For Establishing A Subsurface Fracture Network - A method of creating a network of fractures in a reservoir is provided. The method includes designing a desired fracture network system, and determining required in situ stresses to create the desired fracture network within the reservoir. The method further includes designing a layout of wells to alter the in situ stresses within the stress field, and then injecting a fracturing fluid under pressure into the reservoir to create an initial set of fractures within the reservoir. The method also includes monitoring the in situ stresses within the stress field, and modifying the in situ stresses within the stress field. The method then includes injecting a fracturing fluid under pressure into the reservoir in order to expand upon the initial set of fractures and to create the network of fractures. A method for producing hydrocarbons from a subsurface formation is also provided herein, wherein a fracture network is created from a single, deviated wellbore production. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20140034304 | METHOD FOR EXTRACTING HYDROCARBON COMPOUNDS, ESPECIALLY CRUDE OIL, FROM UNDERGROUND OIL SANDS DEPOSITS - A method for extracting hydrocarbon compounds, especially crude oil, from underground oil sands deposits, including the following steps: at least two parallel boring sections are created in the oil sands deposits; at least some areas of the boring sections are filled with an explosive material; the explosive material is ignited in order to enlarge the boring sections; the combustible material is ignited in at least one of the boring sections in order to convert the hydrocarbon compounds in the oil sands deposit into a liquid and/or gaseous state; the hydrocarbon compounds in a liquid and/or gaseous state are collected; and auxiliary substances such as water and atmospheric oxygen are optionally introduced and removed for desired material conversions for the refining of hydrocarbons. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20150107830 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING SEISMIC PULSES TO MAP SUBTERRANEAN FRACTURES - The methods described are for determining distribution, orientation and dimensions of networks of hydraulically-induced fractures within a subterranean formation containing fluids. Micro-seismic events are generated by particles introduced into the fractures which are capable of explosive or chemical reaction. In one method, treated proppant having a reactive coating is positioned in the formation during fracturing and reactive particles are introduced. In another method, reactive particles having a reactive core and a non-reactive coating are positioned in the fractures and react upon removal of the non-reactive coating, such as by dissolving, and reaction with a reactive particle. The waves generated by the micro-seismic events are used to map fracture space. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150107831 | STRUCTURE FOR GUNPOWDER CHARGE IN MULTI-FRAC COMPOSITE PERFORATING DEVICE - This invention provides a multi-frac composite perforation device having (i) a gun body having an outer wall, (ii) an inner gunpowder box between adjacent perforating charges in the charge frame | 04-23-2015 |
| 20160045888 | Pulse Jet System and Method - A pulse jet system and method is disclosed. In an example, the pulse jet system includes a combustion chamber, intake ports to deliver combustion agents to the combustion chamber, an expansion chamber to cool a combustion product following combustion of the combustion agents in the combustion chamber, and an exhaust to exit the cooled gas from the expansion chamber. In another example, the pulse jet system includes a combustion chamber with intake ports to deliver combustion agents to the combustion chamber, wherein the combustion chamber is part of a four cycle engine. The pulse jet system also includes an expansion chamber to cool a combustion product following combustion of the combustion agents in the combustion chamber. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160076350 | METHOD AND PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING SHALE OIL AND GAS BY FRACTURING AND CHEMICAL RETORTING IN OIL SHALE IN-SITU HORIZONTAL WELL - A method and a process for extracting shale oil and gas by fracturing and chemical retorting in oil shale in-situ horizontal well. An inclined well is drilled from the ground to the upper part of an underground oil shale stratum, and a horizontal well is drilled in parallel to the oil shale stratum in the upper part of the oil shale stratum. Behind the horizontal well and the inclined well in the upper part, an inclined well leading to the lower part of the oil shale stratum is drilled, and a horizontal well is drilled in parallel to the lower part of the oil shale stratum. Highly pressurized media (air, water, and quartz sand) are injected into the horizontal well in the upper part of the oil shale stratum, cracks of 1 to 3 mm are fractured in the oil shale stratum with the horizontal well in the upper part of the oil shale stratum serving as the center and are filled with a gap support, and, an oil and gas channel connecting the horizontal well in the lower part is established. A heating apparatus is added into the horizontal well in the upper part of the oil shale stratum, the oil shale stratum is heated to 550 DEG C., the oil shale is initially retorted, shale oil and gas are extracted, and the shale oil and gas are led out of the ground from the horizontal well in the lower part via the oil and gas passages, and then are introduced to an oxidant for oxidization reaction with asphaltenes and fixed carbon contained in the oil shale when retorted, where the heat generated is used as a heat source for subsequent retorting, thus implementing underground in situ shale oil extraction. The shale oil that is led out of the ground is separated via a ground-level gas-liquid separation apparatus, and the separated shale oil is transferred to a product oil tank for storage and sale, while a combustible gas is transferred to a combustible gas power generation apparatus for use in power generation. This solves the problem that existing ground-level retorting has in terms of large recovery costs, difficult treatment of tailings, a variety of environmental issues, and large land-use footprint. In addition, there disclose a process implementing the method and a nozzle used in the method. | 03-17-2016 |
| 166260000 | Injecting specific fuel or catalyst for burning into formation | 17 |
| 20080264635 | Hydrocarbon Recovery Facilitated by in Situ Combustion Utilizing Horizontal Well Pairs - 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. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20090008090 | Generating Heated Fluid - A subterranean zone is treated by exothermically decomposing hydrogen peroxide in or near the subterranean zone. The decomposed hydrogen peroxide yields at least oxygen and heated water. The oxygen is combusted to further heat the heated water. The heated water is introduced into subterranean zone to treat the subterranean zone. In certain instances, the heated water is heated to produce 100% quality steam. Additional water may be supplied for treating the subterranean zone, for example, by supplying the hydrogen peroxide in solution with water. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090200023 | HEATING SUBSURFACE FORMATIONS BY OXIDIZING FUEL ON A FUEL CARRIER - A method of heating a portion of a subsurface formation includes drawing fuel on a fuel carrier through an opening formed in the formation. Oxidant is supplied to the fuel at one or more locations in the opening. The fuel is combusted with the oxidant to provide heat to the formation. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090321073 | Method for in-situ combustion of in-place oils - A novel method is provided for in situ combustion and recovery of oil from underground reservoirs including injecting oxygen into the reservoir at a region near the reservoir floor, establishing a combustion front wherein hot combustion gases rise at the combustion front, withdrawing hot combustion gases from a region near the reservoir ceiling, and extracting oil from a horizontal production well near the reservoir floor. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100096126 | LOW PRESSURE RECOVERY PROCESS FOR ACCELERATION OF IN-SITU BITUMEN RECOVERY - A method for recovery of hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir by operating adjacent injector producer well pairs under conditions of steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) with a lateral drainage well between and substantially parallel to them; the lateral drainage well is operated under conditions of intermittent steam injection and alternating oil, water and gas production; NCG is co-injected with steam into both the injector wells and the lateral drainage well at selected intervals, and in selected quantities in order to control the steam saturation of the SAGD steam chamber and the rise of the steam chamber, and to encourage lateral fluid communication between the adjacent well pairs and the LD well; controlling gas injection and production in order to control the rise of the steam chamber to improve production of oil; operating the well pairs and the LD well under conditions of a steam chamber pressure that is initially and briefly high to establish a steam chamber, but thereafter may be reduced to as low as 200 kPa; operating this low pressure SAGD in reservoirs that are at low pressure, due to factors such as depleted gas caps, regional geology, lack of cap rock, thief zones, or other low pressure zone or loss zones. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100126719 | INCREASING OIL PRODUCTION - A method of recovering petroleum from dormant oil wells or increasing the production of oil wells is disclosed. An alkali or alkali earth carbonate is introduced into a water layer associated with a subterranean petroleum reservoir and/or an explosive composition is introduced into an oil layer associated with a subterranean petroleum reservoir. CO | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100243245 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR RELEASE AND RECOVERY OF METHANE FROM METHANE HYDRATES - A process and system for release and recovery of methane from subterranean methane hydrate deposits in which heated CO | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110011582 | IN SITU COMBUSTION WITH MULTIPLE STAGED PRODUCERS - Methods and apparatus relate to in situ combustion. Configurations of the injection and production wells facilitate the in situ combustion. Utilizing wet combustion for some embodiments promotes heat displacement for hydrocarbon recovery with procedures in which one or more of the production and injection wells are configured with lengths deviated from vertical. In some embodiments for either dry or wet combustion, at least the production wells define intake lengths deviated from vertical and that are disposed at staged levels within a formation. Each of the productions wells during the in situ combustion allow for recovery of hydrocarbons through gravity drainage. Vertical separation between the intake lengths of the production wells enables differentiated and efficient removal of combustion gasses and the hydrocarbons. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110209869 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO RELEASE ENERGY IN A WELL - The present invention is directed towards methods and apparatus to release energy into wells using combustion of monopropellants. More specifically, this invention is directed to industrial methods to enhance the extraction of well fluids from wells by using the in-situ energy released from this inventions apparatus, methods, catalyst, and fluids blends for subterranean catalytic combustion of monopropellants. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110220351 | PROCESS FOR GENERATING HYDROGEN - The invention provides a process for the production of hydrogen in a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir, said process comprising the steps of introducing a metal-based catalyst into a hydrocarbon-containing zone in said reservoir; raising the temperature in said zone to a temperature at which catalyzed conversion of hydrocarbon to hydrogen occurs; and, optionally but preferably, recovering hydrogen from an extraction section of a production well located above said zone. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110272149 | IN SITU COMBUSTION IN GAS OVER BITUMEN FORMATIONS - The invention provides methods for natural gas and oil recovery, which include the use of air injection and in situ combustion in natural gas reservoirs to facilitate production of natural gas and heavy oil in gas over bitumen formations. | 11-10-2011 |
| 20120175110 | IN SITU COMBUSTION IN GAS OVER BITUMEN FORMATIONS - The invention provides methods for natural gas and oil recovery, which include the use of air injection and in situ combustion in natural gas reservoirs to facilitate production of natural gas and heavy oil in gas over bitumen formations. | 07-12-2012 |
| 20130062058 | IN SITU COMBUSTION FOLLOWING SAGD - There is provided herein a method for recovering petroleum from a formation, wherein said formation is intersected by at least one wellpair consisting of a horizontal production well and a horizontal injection well, and wherein said formation comprises at least one steam chamber developed by a steam-assisted process, said method comprising: providing an oxidizing agent near the top of said formation; initiating in situ combustion (ISC); and recovering petroleum from said at least one production well. | 03-14-2013 |
| 20140352957 | Oil Shale Exploitation Method - An oil shale exploitation method comprises: forming a gas inlet pipeline ( | 12-04-2014 |
| 20150041125 | UNDERGROUND COAL GASIFICATION WELL LINER - The invention relates to compositions and method for construction of an underground coal gasification (UCG) well liner assembly. In particular, a well liner segment for use in the construction of a UCG well liner assembly for conveying product gas to a production well is disclosed. Also disclosed are a system and method for UCG product gas production. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20160108702 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR RECOVERING OIL - There is provided a method or a device for recovering oil economically and with little impact on the environment. With the present invention's method and device for recovering oil, a heat-generating means is installed inside one of at least two pipes that are parallelly inserted into the soil (for example, an oil sand stratum or a core stratum). The heat is exerted on the oil contained in the soil so as to reduce the viscosity of oil, which is then recovered via the other pipe. The heat-generating means reacts amphoteric metal or its alloy with an alkaline aqueous solution in the pipe and then combusts the hydrogen generated by the reaction. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160177692 | Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage Processes with the Addition of Oxygen | 06-23-2016 |
| 166261000 | Injecting specific material other than oxygen into formation | 14 |
| 20090044940 | Method for CAGD recovery of heavy oil - A novel method for recovering oil is provided wherein oxygen is injected into a chamber within an oil deposit thereby combusting oil at the chamber walls. The heated oil to drains toward the reservoir floor and is recovered via a production well. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090194278 | Enhanced Oil Recovery In Oxygen Based In Situ Combustion Using Foaming Agents - An in situ combustion process is utilized to extract hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil formation. The process includes injecting a foaming agent solution into the formation via an injection well that penetrates the oil formation, injecting an oxygen containing gas into the formation via the injection well and facilitating a combustion reaction between oxygen and hydrocarbons within the formation. The combustion gases formed by the combustion reaction force the flow of hydrocarbons within the formation. Hydrocarbons that are displaced within the formation are extracted from the formation via a production well that penetrates the formation. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090200024 | Modified process for hydrocarbon recovery using in situ combustion - A modified method of in situ recovery of hydrocarbon from an underground hydrocarbon-containing formation. An “L” shaped production well, having a vertical upper section, and a lower horizontally-extending leg which is positioned low in the hydrocarbon formation, is provided. The horizontal leg connects to the vertical section of the production well at a heel portion and has a toe portion at an opposite end thereof. An oxidizing gas is injected into the formation proximate the vertical section of the production well. A vertical combustion front is created which is caused to sweep outwardly therefrom and laterally within the formation above the horizontal leg, from the heel to the toe of the horizontal leg, causing hydrocarbons in the formation above the horizontal leg to be upgraded and liquify, and thereafter to drain downwardly into the horizontal leg which is permeable, where such liquified hydrocarbons are then delivered to surface via production tubing. A non-oxidizing gas is injected into the heel portion of the horizontal leg via injection tubing contained within the vertical section of the production well. Benefits of the modified method of in situ recovery include decreased costs and lessened environmental impact. | 08-13-2009 |
| 20090266540 | Zero Emission Liquid Fuel Production By Oxygen Injection - An enhanced oil recovery method is provided. This method includes; introducing a first essentially pure oxygen stream into a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation traversed by at least one injection well and at least one production well, and initiating and sustaining in-situ combustion in the vicinity of the injection well. This method also includes introducing a second essentially pure oxygen stream and a hydrocarbon-containing fuel gas stream into the combustion device of a power generation system, wherein the combustion device produces an exhaust gas stream comprising water and carbon dioxide. This method also includes separating the exhaust gas stream into a stream of essentially pure water, and a stream of essentially pure carbon dioxide, and introducing at least a portion of the essentially pure carbon dioxide stream into the subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation prior to initiating the in-situ combustion. The method may be used on a structure containing a carbonaceous substance such as coal, petcoke, or biomass. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090308606 | Diluent-Enhanced In-Situ Combustion Hydrocarbon Recovery Process - A modified process for recovering oil from an underground reservoir using the toe-to-heel in situ combustion process. A diluent, namely a hydrocarbon condensate, is injected within a horizontal wellbore portion, preferably proximate the toe, of a vertical-horizontal well pair, or alternatively into an adjacent injection well, or both, to increase mobility of oil. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100006283 | Hydrocarbon recovery process - Hydrocarbons are recovered from subterranean formations by waterflooding. The method comprises passing an aqueous displacement fluid via an injection well through a porous and permeable sandstone formation to release oil and recovering said released oil from a production well spaced from said injection well, wherein (a) the sandstone formation comprises at least one mineral having a negative zeta potential under the formation conditions; (b) oil and connate water are present in the pores of the formation; and (c) the fraction of the divalent cation content of the said aqueous displacement fluid to the divalent cation content of said connate water is less than 1. | 01-14-2010 |
| 20110094735 | Completion Method for Horizontal Wells In In Situ Combustion - An underground reservoir is provided comprising an injection well and a production well. The production well has a horizontal section oriented generally perpendicularly to a generally linear and laterally extending, upright combustion front propagated from the injection well. The method relates to controlling location of inflow into a production well during in situ combustion. The horizontal section of the production well includes blocking agents to prevent well failure. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20130020076 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DOWNHOLE STEAM GENERATION AND ENHANCED OIL RECOVERY - A burner is arranged for access to a cavity in a target zone of a hydrocarbon reservoir. The burner is operated into the cavity to create and sustain hot combustion gases at a steady state for flowing into and permeating through the target zone. Water is injected into the target zone and permeates laterally therein. The hot combustion gases and the water in the target zone interact to form a steam drive front in the hydrocarbon reservoir. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130319662 | Systems and Methods For Hydrotreating A Shale Oil Stream Using Hydrogen Gas That Is Concentrated From The Shale Oil Stream - Systems and methods for hydrotreating a liquid fraction of a shale oil stream using hydrogen gas that is concentrated from a gaseous fraction of the shale oil stream. The systems and methods include providing a portion of the gaseous fraction to a sorptive separation assembly and separating a concentrated hydrogen stream from the portion of the gaseous fraction within the sorptive separation assembly. The system and methods further include providing the concentrated hydrogen stream and the liquid fraction to a hydrotreater and reacting the concentrated hydrogen stream with the liquid fraction within the hydrotreater to produce the hydrotreated liquid stream. The systems and methods may include generating the shale oil stream within a subterranean formation using an in situ process, such as an in situ shale oil conversion process and/or providing a supplemental hydrogen stream to the hydrotreater. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20140166278 | USE OF STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH OXYGEN ("SAGDOX") IN THE RECOVERY OF BITUMEN IN LEAN ZONES ("LZ-SAGDOX") - A process to recover hydrocarbons from a reservoir having at least one lean zone, wherein said lean zone has an initial bitumen saturation level less than about 0.6, said process including:
| 06-19-2014 |
| 20140166279 | EXTENDED REACH STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH OXYGEN ("ERSAGDOX") - A process to recover hydrocarbons from a reservoir, where the hydrocarbons have an initial viscosity greater than 100,000 cp, preferably greater than 1,000 cp, the process including:
| 06-19-2014 |
| 20140190689 | USE OF FOAM WITH IN SITU COMBUSTION PROCESS - The present invention relates to a novel method of maintaining a steady and/or proper water-gas ratio for the wet in situ combustion process for oil recovery. In particular, the method comprises mixing water with a foaming agent, or some other colloid capable of generating foam, in addition to gas. The foam carries the water through heated reservoirs more efficiently and prevents separation from the gas. As such, more heat can be scavenged, thus an increased amount of steam is generated and transferred to the oil to increase its recovery. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140196895 | IN SITU COMBUSTION PROCESS WITH REDUCED C02 EMISSIONS - The present invention provides a method of recovering a hydrocarbon mixture from a subterranean formation comprising: (i) injecting an oxygen-rich gas into said formation; (ii) combusting said oxygen-rich gas in said formation thereby heating and reducing the viscosity of said hydrocarbon mixture and generating CO | 07-17-2014 |
| 20150034313 | IN SITU COMBUSTION WITH A MOBILE FLUID ZONE - A process for hydrocarbon recovery from an oil sands reservoir having a mobile fluid zone above a bitumen zone. The process includes generating, in the bitumen zone a mobilized and through a mobility enhancing process. The process also includes recovering at least some of the original oil-in-place and injecting an oxidizing gas through an oxidizing gas injection well into the reservoir to support in situ combustion in the reservoir. The process includes generating fluid communication between the mobile fluid zone and the mobilized zone and recovering hydrocarbons mobilized by the in situ combustion using a hydrocarbon production well that is in fluid communication with the mobile fluid zone and the mobilized zone. | 02-05-2015 |
| 166262000 | Solid fuel or particles in well | 1 |
| 20130233539 | INCREASING OIL PRODUCTION - A method of recovering petroleum from dormant oil wells or increasing the production of oil wells. An alkali or alkali earth carbonate is introduced into a water layer associated with a subterranean petroleum reservoir and/or an explosive composition is introduced into an oil layer associated with a subterranean petroleum reservoir. CO | 09-12-2013 |
