초록 ▼

A method is disclosed for the utilization of energy in gas of low heating value discharged from a production well of an in-situ combustion process for the production of oil. The low heating value gas is mixed with an amount of air that will provide oxygen in an amount that will limit the maximum tem

A method is disclosed for the utilization of energy in gas of low heating value discharged from a production well of an in-situ combustion process for the production of oil. The low heating value gas is mixed with an amount of air that will provide oxygen in an amount that will limit the maximum temperature rise in a catalytic combustion chamber to avoid excessive temperatures regardless of changes in composition of the low heating value gas. The mixture is preheated and delivered into the catalytic combustion chamber at a temperature exceeding about 400°F. that will cause ignition of the combustibles on contact with the catalyst. In a preferred embodiment, combustion is accomplished in two combustion chambers connected in series with a heat exchanger between the combustion chambers for cooling the combustion products discharged from the first combustion chamber before they are delivered to the next combustion chamber. Approximately fifty percent of the total combustion air is mixed with the combustible gas before delivery into each of the combustion chambers. Effluent from the second combustion chamber is used to drive a gas turbine for generation of power or direct driving of air compressors.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for the in-situ recovery of oil from a subsurface carbonaceous deposit comprising igniting the carbonaceous deposit to form a combustion front, delivering air into the carbonaceous deposit under pressure and displacing it through the combustion front to burn a portion of the carbonaceous de

A method for the in-situ recovery of oil from a subsurface carbonaceous deposit comprising igniting the carbonaceous deposit to form a combustion front, delivering air into the carbonaceous deposit under pressure and displacing it through the combustion front to burn a portion of the carbonaceous deposit and drive oil and LHV gas ahead of the combustion front, delivering produced oil and LHV gas to the surface, mixing air with the LHV gas and passing the mixture in contact with an oxidation catalyst to oxidize combustibles in the LHV gas to produce hot combustion products, the amount of air mixed with the LHV gas being less than the stoichiometric equivalent of the combustibles in the LHV gas and limiting the maximum temperature reached on oxidation to the maximum operating temperature of the catalyst, generating power with the hot combustion products from the oxidation, and driving a compressor with power generated to compress the air delivered into the carbonaceous deposit.