Mine enhanced hydrocarbon recovery technique
First Claim
1. A method of extracting from an underground strata hydrocarbons having high in situ viscosity comprising:
- (1) forming a vertical access shaft from the earth'"'"'s surface to a point below the strata, the diameter of the vertical access shaft being sufficient to permit passage of workmen and machinery;
(2) mining a horizontal tunnel from the vertical access shaft to a position under the strata;
(3) establishing at least one drilling station in said horizontal tunnel;
(4) drilling upwardly from each drilling station a plurality of wells into the strata;
the drilling including directionally drilling the wells so that each well enters the bottom of the strata spaced apart from the other wells, and each well penetrates the strata substantially vertically and extends to the top of said strata;
(5) injecting a viscosity reducing agent through at least one well to reduce hydrocarbons in the strata to free flowing liquids;
(6) withdrawing the free flowing hydrocarbons from the strata through at least one of the wells; and
(7) pumping the withdrawn free flowing hydrocarbon to the earth'"'"'s surface.
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Abstract
A method of extracting hydrocarbon from an underground strata, wherein the hydrocarbon has high in situ viscosity, by the steps of forming a vertical access hole from the earth'"'"'s surface to a point below the strata, the diameter of the access hole being sufficient to permit passage of workmen and machinery, mining an elongated horizontal shaft from the vertical access hole under the strata, establishing at least one drilling station in the horizontal shaft, drilling upwardly from the drilling station a plurality of wells into the hydrocarbon strata, the wells being spaced apart and preferably drilled so as to be substantially vertical in the hydrocarbon strata, injecting a viscosity reducing agent into one or more of the wells to reduce hydrocarbon in the strata to free flowing liquid, withdrawing the free flowing hydrocarbon from the strata through one or more of the wells, and pumping the withdrawn hydrocarbon to the earth'"'"'s surface.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of extracting from an underground strata hydrocarbons having high in situ viscosity comprising:
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(1) forming a vertical access shaft from the earth'"'"'s surface to a point below the strata, the diameter of the vertical access shaft being sufficient to permit passage of workmen and machinery; (2) mining a horizontal tunnel from the vertical access shaft to a position under the strata; (3) establishing at least one drilling station in said horizontal tunnel; (4) drilling upwardly from each drilling station a plurality of wells into the strata;
the drilling including directionally drilling the wells so that each well enters the bottom of the strata spaced apart from the other wells, and each well penetrates the strata substantially vertically and extends to the top of said strata;(5) injecting a viscosity reducing agent through at least one well to reduce hydrocarbons in the strata to free flowing liquids; (6) withdrawing the free flowing hydrocarbons from the strata through at least one of the wells; and (7) pumping the withdrawn free flowing hydrocarbon to the earth'"'"'s surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification