Apparatus for controllable in-situ combustion

Claim 1

A system including apparatus for recovering oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by controllable insitu combustion whereby means are provided for regulating the injection of oxygen enriched gas, steam, and an exhaust gas containing carbon dioxide into said injection well comprising: a. a combustion chamber for producing a gas-steam mixture having means for supplying thereto a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, burner means for combustion of said fuel, a closed means for providing said combustion chamber with a first flow of water thereby generating steam in said closed means, a means for providing said combustion chamber with a second flow of water said means having nozzles directed into said combustion chamber, means for preheating said oxygeN-containing gas, and means for exhausting said gas-steam mixture from said combustion chamber into a combustion turbine and thence into said injection well; b. a first means for providing air to said system comprising a first source of compressed air in communication with an oxygen producing plant for producing a highly concentrated oxygen stream, a compressor and a means for providing injection of said oxygen concentrated stream into said injection well; c. a second means for providing air to said system comprising an air compressor in communication with said combustion chamber, said air compressor being integral with a combustion turbine said combustion turbine being driven by said exhaust gases from said combustion chamber thereby generating power for said system of apparatus, and said first air means and said second air means being in communication with each other thereby to control the relative volumes of compressed air provided to said oxygen producing plant and said combustion chamber; d. a means for providing water to said steam system comprising a water treatment plant a first heat exchanger in communication with said combustion turbine for passage of said exhaust gases from said combustion turbine, a portion of said water from said treatment plant being supplied to said combustion chamber whereby steam generation occurs in said combustion chamber and a second portion being supplied to said nozzles to supply steam in said combustion chamber said steam being generated in said combustion chamber being thereafter supplied into a steam turbine to provide power generation and thence means for providing said steam to said injection well; e. means for providing said exhaust gas from said combustion chamber into said combustion turbine and to said first heat exchanger and thereafter providing means for injection of said exhaust gas into said injection well.

Claim 2

A system including apparatus for recovering oil from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing formation by controllable insitu combustion whereby means are provided for regulating the injection of oxygen enriched gas, steam, and an exhaust gas containing carbon dioxide into said injection well comprising: a. a combustion chamber for producing a gas-steam mixture having means for supplying thereto a fuel and an oxygen-containing gas, burner means for combustion of said fuel, a closed means for providing said combustion chamber with a first flow of water thereby generating steam in said closed means, a means for providing said combustion chamber with a second flow of water said means having nozzles directed into said combustion chamber, means for preheating said oxygeN-containing gas, and means for exhausting said gas-steam mixture from said combustion chamber into a combustion turbine and thence into said injection well; b. a first means for providing air to said system comprising a first source of compressed air in communication with an oxygen producing plant for producing a highly concentrated oxygen stream, a compressor and a means for providing injection of said oxygen concentrated stream into said injection well; c. a second means for providing air to said system comprising an air compressor in communication with said combustion chamber, said air compressor being integral with a combustion turbine said combustion turbine being driven by said exhaust gases from said combustion chamber thereby generating power for said system of apparatus, and said first air means and said second air means being in communication with each other thereby to control the relative volumes of compressed air provided to said oxygen producing plant and said combustion chamber; d. a means for providing water to said steam system comprising a water treatment plant a first heat exchanger in communication with said combustion turbine for passage of said exhaust gases from said combustion turbine, a portion of said water from said treatment plant being supplied to said combustion chamber whereby steam generation occurs in said combustion chamber and a second portion being supplied to said nozzles to supply steam in said combustion chamber said steam being generated in said combustion chamber being thereafter supplied into a steam turbine to provide power generation and thence means for providing said steam to said injection well; e. means for providing said exhaust gas from said combustion chamber into said combustion turbine and to said first heat exchanger and thereafter providing means for injection of said exhaust gas into said injection well.