Systems and methods for initiating annular obstruction in a subsurface well

The present invention is directed to systems and methods for initiating annular obstructions in wells used in, or in support of, enhanced oil recovery operations-particularly enhanced oil recovery (EOR) efforts involving steam injection (e.g., steam flooding). In at least some instances, system and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors CORBETT THOMAS G, CHRUSCH LARRY J, MASKOS KRYSTIAN K, BIANCO LUIS C, SIMS JACKIE C
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 30.10.2012
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 is directed to systems and methods for initiating annular obstructions in wells used in, or in support of, enhanced oil recovery operations-particularly enhanced oil recovery (EOR) efforts involving steam injection (e.g., steam flooding). In at least some instances, system and method embodiments of the present invention utilize one or more passively-activated annular obstruction devices (and/or hybrid active/passive devices) for inducing annular obstruction, wherein the associated passive or hybrid activation is at least partially controlled by thermal means such that it can be deemed to be thermally-directed or thermally-controlled. Such thermally-directed passive activation can afford considerably more control over the annular obstruction process and, correspondingly, over the overall steam injection into the formation and associated reservoir-thereby providing more efficient recovery of hydrocarbons.
Bibliography:Application Number: US20090607712