Importance

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Abstract

A method has been invented for recovering hydrocarbons from an earth formation containing hydrocarbons, the method including injecting a recovery injectant (e.g., but not limited to, saturated or supersaturated steam), into the earth formation at a plurality of injection points, the injection points spaced apart in one particular aspect by about 14 to about 208 feet, and producing hydrocarbons from the formation with at least one producer well extending into the formation. In one aspect the method includes injecting steam into an earth formation which contains oil bearing diatomite at a plurality of injection points spaced apart, in one aspect, by about 14 to about 208 feet, and producing hydrocarbons from the formation with a one or more producer wells extending into the oil bearing diatomite formation, with a plurality of producer wells spaced apart by a distance ranging between about 14 to about 149 feet, injecting steam into the oil bearing diatomite at an injection rate of between about 10 to about 149 barrels of steam per day per hundred feet thickness of diatomite, and injecting the steam at a pressure between about 10 p.s.i. to about 260 p.s.i. (or up to about 600 psi). The present invention also discloses a method for treating a hydrocarbon-bearing diatomite formation including applying an artificial overburden over at least a portion of the formation and applying a concept of variable well spacing as needed.

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First Claim