Claims
- 1. In a recovery process for recovering hydrocarbons or other fluids from underground formations penetrated by a borehole and wherein a gas generator is located in the borehole at or near the level of said formations, said gas generator comprising:
- a housing forming a chamber with a combustion zone at one end, a restricted outlet at an opposite end, a second zone located downstream of said combustion zone, and a gas and water mixing zone located between said second zone and said restricted outlet,
- the method of operating said gas generator comprising the steps of:
- flowing through said borehole from the surface to said gas generator, by way of separate passages, hydrogen and oxygen,
- injecting said hydrogen and oxygen into said combustion zone to form a combustible mixture of gases,
- igniting and burning said combustible mixture in said combustion zone,
- injecting an additional supply of oxygen into said second zone to burn additional hydrogen from said first zone while supplying water into said second zone to maintain the temperature below a predetermined maximum value, and
- flowing water into said gas and water mixing zone for the formation of steam whereby hot gases and steam are injected from said restricted outlet for flow into said formations.
- 2. A system including a gas generator for generating in a borehole, hot gases and steam, for recovering hydrocarbons and other fluids from underground formations penetrated by the borehole, comprising:
- a gas generator located in the borehole at or near the level of said formations,
- said gas generator comprising:
- a housing forming a chamber and having a combustion zone at one end, a restricted outlet at an opposite end, a second zone located downstream of said combustion zone, and a gas and water mixing zone located between said second zone and said restricted outlet,
- first conduit means coupled to said one end of said chamber for injecting hydrogen into said combustion zone,
- second conduit means coupled to said one end of said chamber for injecting oxygen into said combustion zone for forming a combustible mixture of gases therein for ignition,
- third conduit means for injecting an additional supply of oxygen into said second zone of said chamber for burning additional hydrogen from said combustion zone,
- means for injecting water into said second zone for maintaining the temperature below a predetermined value,
- hydrogen supply means, including conduit means, extending from the surface for supplying hydrogen to said first conduit means,
- oxygen supply means, including conduit means, extending from the surface of supplying oxygen to said second and third conduit means,
- means including conduit means, for supplying water for injection into said gas and water mixing zone for the formation of steam whereby hot gases and steam are injected from said restricted outlet into the formations.
Parent Case Info
This Patent Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 756,129 filed Jan. 3, 1977, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,613. U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 756,129 is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 602,680 filed Aug. 7, 1975, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 534,778 filed Dec. 20, 1974, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,591.
US Referenced Citations (9)
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
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Parent |
602680 |
Aug 1975 |
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Continuation in Parts (2)
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Number |
Date |
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756129 |
Jan 1977 |
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Parent |
534778 |
Dec 1974 |
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