DRAINHOLE AND DOWNHOLE HOT FLUID GENERATION OIL RECOVERY METHOD

摘要

ABSTRACTViscous oil is recovered by a process that increasessweep efficiency and heat and fuel utilization and thatreduces well and compression requirements and costs. Initially,fluid pressure communication is created between two horizontaldrainhole wells in a manner such that oil is produced duringat least a part of the step of creating fluid pressurecommunication between the wells. Fluid pressure communicationmay be created by practicing hot aqueous fluid (preferably,steam) huff and puff techniques in one or both of the wells.After fluid pressure communication is created, a combustionsupporting gas (probably, air), a fuel (preferably, naturalgas) and an aqueous fluid are injected into one of the drain-hole wells. The fuel is burned downhole in a manner suchthat hot aqueous fluid (preferably, steam) is formed. Thehot aqueous fluid and hot products of combustion are passeddirectly into the formation in horizontal line drive fashion.These hot fluids follow a horizontally wide sweep patternwhich increases heat transfer to the inplace on and increasesoil drainage into the producing well. The process is especiallyuseful in permafrost areas.