Importance

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Abstract

An active combustion zone is established in situ within a permeable hydrocarbon formation. The permeable formation is periodically charged with a combustible gas, and is thereafter subjected to a high pressure pulse produced by detonation of the combustible gas within an injection well. The periodic pressure pulses drive the combustible gas into the in situ combustion zone. Combustion is sustained by injection of an oxidant. The injection of oxidant is terminated periodically, and the injection well along with the surrounding formation is pressurized and saturated with the combustible gas mixture. The combustible gas mixture is displaced through the permeable formation in advance of the combustion flame front in response to a high pressure pulse produced by detonation of the pressurized combustible gas within the injection well. In the preferred embodiment, the combustible injection gas is a mixture of hydrogen gas and chlorine gas. As the hydrogen/chlorine gas mixture undergoes combustion, a large volume of high pressure, high temperature hydrogen chloride gas is produced, together with an aqueous solution of hydrochloric acid. The hydrochloric acid is forced into the surrounding permeable formation, and reacts with the carbonaceous materials to separate nitrogenous, sulphurous and arsenic compounds from the liquid oil product, by precipitation during distillation.

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First Claim