METHOD AND APPARATUS TO ENHANCE OIL RECOVERY IN WELLS

The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for the enhanced recovery of hydrocarbon fluids from subterranean reservoirs using cryogenic fluids. Using the Earth's geothermal energy to warm cryogenic flood fluids injected into subterranean reservoirs, the pressure within the subterran...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author SMITH, DAVID RANDOLPH
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 17.04.2014
Subjects
EARTH DRILLING
EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
MINING
OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR ASLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
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Summary:The present invention provides methods and apparatuses for the enhanced recovery of hydrocarbon fluids from subterranean reservoirs using cryogenic fluids. Using the Earth's geothermal energy to warm cryogenic flood fluids injected into subterranean reservoirs, the pressure within the subterranean reservoir is increased. Consequently, the reservoir conductivity is enhanced due to thermal cracking, and improved sweep efficiency of the reservoir by the flood fluids is provided. This rise in pressure due to the injection of the cryogenic fluid increases the reservoir conductivity enhancement and improves sweep efficiency of the flood fluids, which leads to the production of more fluids from to the subterranean reservoirs. WO 2010/123886 PCT/US2O1O/031734 ml 00 0I) m /o -~ _ _ _ _ _ o - ___ I coN-
Bibliography:Application Number: AU20140201894