Enhanced recovery of hydrocarbon through supercritical wet combustion, gravity stable in deep heavy-oil reservoirs

Abstract

Method to enhance the recovery factor by injecting simultaneously or alternately air and water through a well, which is located in the top part of a heavy-oil reservoir showing dip and by producing fluids through a vertical or horizontal well, which is located in the formation lower part, resulting in a gravity stable burning front (GSAI or Gravity Stable Air Injection) at high temperature and pressure.

1 . Method for enhanced heavy hydrocarbon recovery from deep reservoirs with dip, in which injection well in the reservoir top part and producing well in the lower part have been drilled, comprises comprising the steps of:
 a) injecting oxidizing gas through the injection well;   b) forming a burning front by spontaneous or induced oxidizing gas ignition;   c) monitoring the burning front until the stabilization thereof is determined;   d) injecting water and oxidizing gas through injection well;   c) Extracting extracting fluid oil through producing well, located in the formation lower part;   wherein the well is under a pressure higher than or equal to 22.1 MPa.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein water and oxidizing gas are injected simultaneously. 
     
     
         3 . Method The method according to  claim 1 , wherein water and oxidizing gas are injected alternately. 
     
     
         4 . Method The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a greater water proportion than that of oxidizing gas is injected. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a greater oxidizing gas proportion than that of water is injected. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein equal amounts of water and oxidizing gas are injected. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein water is injected in liquid form. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein water is injected in form of steam. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein water is selected from the group consisting of fresh water, brine, formation water, sea water, carbon dioxide-saturated water or mixtures thereof 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein oxidizing gas is selected from air, oxygen or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein if the pressure inside the well is lower than 22.1 MPa, an inert gas is injected until the pressure inside the well reaches at least 22.1 MPa before the step of oxidizing gas injection.