CYCLIC COMBUSTION RECOVERY PROCESS FOR MATURE IN SITU OPERATIONS

摘要

An in situ process for recovering heavy hydrocarbons from an underground reservoir includes providing an array of well pairs, e.g. SAGD, for recovery of heavy hydrocarbons; operating the array to produce hydrocarbons and forming mobilized chambers; establishing fluid communication between the mobilized chambers to create an interwell mobilized zone; operating at least one well as an oxidizing gas injection well; injecting oxidizing gas through the oxidizing gas injection well into a corresponding one of the mobilized chambers to form a combustion region at least partially sustained by residual hydrocarbons in the reservoir; promoting displacement of the combustion through the interwell communication zone to sweep the array of well pairs; regulating the array to pressurize the interwell communication zone; regulating the array of well pairs to effectuate blowdown and produce a blowdown portion of the heavy hydrocarbons therefrom; and cyclically repeating the oxidizing gas injection to blowdown steps.