Enhanced Oil Recovery In Oxygen Based In Situ Combustion Using Foaming Agents

Abstract

An in situ combustion process is utilized to extract hydrocarbons from a subterranean oil formation. The process includes injecting a foaming agent solution into the formation via an injection well that penetrates the oil formation, injecting an oxygen containing gas into the formation via the injection well and facilitating a combustion reaction between oxygen and hydrocarbons within the formation. The combustion gases formed by the combustion reaction force the flow of hydrocarbons within the formation. Hydrocarbons that are displaced within the formation are extracted from the formation via a production well that penetrates the formation.

1 . A method of removing hydrocarbons disposed within a subterranean oil containing formation, wherein the formation is penetrated by at least one injection well to facilitate injection of fluids into the formation and the formation is further penetrated by a production well to facilitate extraction of fluids from the formation, the method comprising:
 injecting a foaming agent solution into the formation via the at least one injection well;   injecting an oxygen containing gas into the formation via the at least one injection well and facilitating a combustion reaction between oxygen and hydrocarbons within the formation, wherein combustion gases formed by the combustion reaction enhance a flow of hydrocarbons within the formation toward the production well; and   extracting hydrocarbons from the formation via the production well.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 injecting steam into the formation via the at least one injection well prior to injection of the oxygen containing gas into the formation.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of foaming agent solution injected into the formation is from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight of water and/or steam injected into the formation. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of foaming agent solution injected into the formation is from about 1.5% to about 3% by weight of water and/or steam injected into the formation. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foaming agent solution and oxygen containing gas are co-injected together into the formation. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foaming agent solution and oxygen containing gas are each injected into the formation via a single injection well. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the injection of foaming agent solution and oxygen containing gas into the formation further comprises:
 (a) injecting a selected amount of oxygen containing gas into the formation via the at least one injection well;   (b) after step (a); injecting a selected amount of foaming agent solution into the formation via the at least one injection well; and   (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) for a selected number of cycles.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foaming agent solution is injected into the formation via a first injection well and the oxygen containing gas is injected into the well via a second injection well. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foaming agent solution comprises a polyglucoside compound. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the polyglucoside compound comprises an alkyl polyglucoside compound including an alkyl group having from about 4 to about 36 carbon atoms.