Hydrocarbon recovery process

Abstract

A process for hydrocarbon recovery from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation utilizing an injection well for the injection of a mobilizing and displacing fluid, such as steam, into the formation and a production well, spaced from the injection well, and through which hydrocarbon is recovered. The process includes injecting a surfactant and a gas into the production well for a first period of time to thereby emplace or form foam to an extent sufficient to modify the path of flow in an inter-well region between the injection well and the production well and in an area spaced from the inter-well region of the reservoir, which area is in fluid communication with at least one of the injection well and the production well. The process also includes injecting fluid into the injection well to cause the flow of hydrocarbon in the formation and recovering the hydrocarbon through the production well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A process for hydrocarbon recovery from a hydrocarbon-bearing formation utilizing an injection well and a production well, spaced at least vertically from the injection well, the process comprising:
 injecting a surfactant and a gas into the production well for a first period of time to thereby emplace or form foam within the formation to an extent sufficient to modify the pattern of flow in an inter-well region between the injection well and the production well and in an area spaced from the inter-well region of the formation, which area is in fluid communication with at least one of the injection well and the production well;   injecting fluid, into the injection well to cause the flow of hydrocarbon in the formation; and   recovering the hydrocarbon through the production well.   
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas comprises steam and one or more non-condensing gases. 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas comprises one or more non-condensing gases. 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas or gases injected at the production well differ from the fluid injected at the injection well. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1 , comprising repeating the injecting the surfactant and the gas into the production well. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1 , comprising injecting the surfactant and the gas for a second period of time into the injection well to further emplace or form foam. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the second period of time begins before the first period of time begins. 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 6  wherein the first period of time begins before the second period of time begins. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 6 , wherein the second period of time during which the surfactant and the gas are injected into the injection well, overlaps at least partially in time with the first period of time during which the surfactant and the gas are injected into the production well. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 6 , comprising periodically repeating injecting the surfactant and the gas into the production well and repeating injecting the surfactant and the gas in to the injection well. 
     
     
         11 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas comprises steam. 
     
     
         12 . The process according to  claim 1 , comprising, after recovering the hydrocarbon through the production well, repeating injecting the surfactant to create or emplace a foam within the formation, wherein a greater volume of surfactant is injected when the injecting is repeated. 
     
     
         13 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is injected while the gas is injected. 
     
     
         14 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is injected as foam such that the surfactant and the gas are injected together. 
     
     
         15 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is injected and is foamed in the formation. 
     
     
         16 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein an oil recovery rate increases when the surfactant and the gas are injected. 
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein a steam-oil ratio decreases when the surfactant and the gas are injected. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the production well and the injection well are housed, at least partially, in a single physical wellbore. 
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the production well and the injection well are functionally independent components, hydraulically isolated from each other, and housed within a single physical wellbore.