Importance

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Abstract

Hydrogen is injected into an underground petroleum reservoir that is devoid of natural gas. Due to its high rate of diffusion, hydrogen disperses rapidly throughout the reservoir, including the tight portions that are relatively impermeable to the injection of water. Pressure is lowered in the reservoir when the crude oil is substantially saturated with hydrogen. Hydrogen then migrates from the tight portions of the reservoir, sweeping petroleum into the more permeable portions. Expanding hydrogen experiences a temperature rise which in turn heats the crude oil and further reduces the viscosity for added mobility. A water sweep displaces the oil to production wells. In an alternate embodiment hydrogen is injected into an underground petroleum reservoir as a prelude to fire flood techniques. The absorbed hydrogen dilutes the crude in place and provides a fuel with much wider flammability limits to sustain the underground fire.

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First Claim