Method and apparatus for producing a high pressure thermal vapor stream
First Claim
1. In a method of producing a high pressure thermal vapor stream of water vapor and combustion gases for injection into a subterranean formation for recovering heavy viscous petroleum, the improvement comprising the steps of:
- directing high pressure combustion gases into a partially water-filled vapor generator vessel for producing therein a high pressure stream of water vapor and combustion gases;
injecting high quality steam into the high pressure stream of water vapor and combustion gases within the vapor generator vessel to increase the steam-to-combustion gas ratio of the discharge stream producing within the vapor generator vessel; and
flowing the high pressure discharge stream from the vapor generator vessel into the subterranean formation for enhanced recovery of heavy viscous petroleum from the subterranean formation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing a high pressure thermal vapor stream of water vapor and combustion gases for recovering heavy viscous petroleum from a subterranean formation, wherein the method includes directing high pressure combustion gases into a partially water-filled vapor generator vessel for producing therein a high pressure stream of water vapor and combustion gases, and thereafter injecting high quality steam into the high pressure stream of water vapor and combustion gases within the vapor generator vessel to increase the steam-to-combustion gas ratio of the discharge stream produced within the vapor generator vessel, and thereafter flowing the discharge stream into a subterranean formation for enhanced recovery of viscous petroleum therefrom.
-
Citations
24 Claims
-
1. In a method of producing a high pressure thermal vapor stream of water vapor and combustion gases for injection into a subterranean formation for recovering heavy viscous petroleum, the improvement comprising the steps of:
-
directing high pressure combustion gases into a partially water-filled vapor generator vessel for producing therein a high pressure stream of water vapor and combustion gases; injecting high quality steam into the high pressure stream of water vapor and combustion gases within the vapor generator vessel to increase the steam-to-combustion gas ratio of the discharge stream producing within the vapor generator vessel; and flowing the high pressure discharge stream from the vapor generator vessel into the subterranean formation for enhanced recovery of heavy viscous petroleum from the subterranean formation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of producing a high pressure thermal vapor stream of water vapor in combustion gases for injection into a subterranean formation, for the recovery of heavy viscous petroleum, the improvement comprising the steps of:
-
directing high pressure combustion gases into a partially water filled vapor generator vessel for producing therein a high pressure stream of water vapor and combustion gases to be discharged therefrom in a discharge stream; injecting high quality steam into the discharge stream to increase the steam-to-combustion gas ratio of the discharge stream; and flowing the high pressure discharge stream into the subterranean formation for enhanced recovery of heavy viscous petroleum from the subterranean formation. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An apparatus for producing a high pressure thermal vapor stream of water vapor and combustion gases for recovering heavy viscous petroleum from a subterranean formation, comprising:
-
a vapor generator vessel, with vapor generator vessel being partially filled with water; directing means within said vapor generator vessel for directing high pressure combustion gases into said vapor generator vessel for producing a high pressure stream of water vapor and combustion gases in said vapor generator vessel; injection means within said vapor generator vessel for injecting high quality steam into said high pressure stream of water vapor and combustion gases within said vapor generator vessel to increase the steam-to-combustion gas ratio of a discharge stream produced with said vapor generator vessel; and
,flowing means in connection with said vapor generator vessel for flowing said high pressure discharge stream from said vapor generator vessel into the subterranean formation for enhanced recovery of heavy viscous petroleum from the subterranean formation. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
Specification