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Abstract

A method for the in situ conversion and recovery of heavy hydrocarbonaceous crude oil containing indigenous trace metal from two adjacent non-communicating hydrocarbon reservoirs which are alternately pressured and recovered which method comprises: (a) heating the heavy hydrocarbonaceous crude oil in a first reservoir to a hydrocarbon conversion temperature; (b) contacting the first reservoir with elemental essentially-anhydrous hydrogen at a pressure from about 200 to about 10,000 psig; (c) heating the heavy hydrocarbonaceous crude oil in a second reservoir to a hydrocarbon conversion temperature; (d) depressuring the first reservoir to yield an effluent comprising hydrocarbonaceous crude oil and unreacted elemental hydrogen; (e) separating the effluent from the first reservoir to recover a hydrocarbonaceous crude oil and a gaseous component comprising elemental hydrogen; (f) contacting the second reservoir with elemental essentially-anhydrous hydrogen, a portion of which is recovered in step (e), at a pressure from about 200 to about 10,000 psig; and (g) depressuring said second reservoir to yield an effluent comprising hydrocarbonaceous crude oil and unreacted elemental hydrogen.

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First Claim