METHOD OF COLLECTING HYDROCARBONS USING A BARRIER TUNNEL

摘要

The present invention relates generally to a method and means of collecting oil from a reservoir overlying a water aquifer or basement rock using a manned tunnel. A manned tunnel is used as a physical barrier to intercept oil and water flowing downward along a formation dip and to preferentially collect the oil or the water through a series of collector stations. This method can be used for oil spill clean-ups or for hydrocarbon recovery in appropriate reservoirs.