Thermo-extn. of petroleum from wells - using steam and hot water to reduce viscosity and transfer petroleum through shafts across direction of easily permeable zones

摘要

A method of mining petroleum by thermo extraction comprises first the creation of a system of mine galleries above the petroleum layer and the drilling of injection shafts from these galleries to bring a fluid into the petroleum layer. An incline and a passage are then laid out in the zone of the petroleum layer and a working gallery is excavated in this zone. A heat transfer agent is fed by force through the medium of horizontal and inclined working shafts drilled from the gallery and disposed across the predominant direction of the easily permeable zones of the petroleum layer. After the heating of the petroleum layer, the feed of heat transfer agent is stopped and a fluid is fed by force into the injection shafts having a minimal connection with the easily permeable layers of the bed to displace the petroleum to the horizontal and inclined working shafts and the working gallery, from which the petroleum is pumped to the surface. The invention can be used with the greatest efficiency during the extn. of petroleum from fissured and feebly cemented petroleum beds and from exhausted beds. Such beds cannot be exploited at present by an ordinary process, e.g. by drillings from the surface.