Patent ID: 9664022
Date: 2017-05-30
CPC Classifications: E21B

Claim:
1. A method of producing viscous hydrocarbons from a subterranean reservoir, comprising: providing a first well within the subterranean reservoir wherein the well includes a first annular region, defined by an inner surface of an outer wall which has hydraulic access to the subterranean reservoir through said wall, and an outer surface of an inner wall, providing a first axial resistance to fluid flow varier within the first annular region of the first well along at least a portion of a length of the first well, wherein a variation in axial resistance to fluid flow in the first annular region constitutes a first annular axial fluid resistance profile, providing a second well, at least a portion of which is aligned with and spaced apart from the first well, the second well including a second annular region, defined by an inner surface of an outer wall which has hydraulic access to the subterranean reservoir through said wall, and an outer surface of an inner wall, providing a second axial resistance to fluid flow varier within the second annular region of the second well along at least a portion of a length of the second well, wherein a variation in axial resistance to fluid flow in the second annular region constitutes a second annular axial fluid resistance profile, wherein the second annular axial fluid resistance profile is complementary to the first annular axial fluid resistance profile of the first well, injecting one or more mobilizing fluids into the first well, said one or more mobilizing fluids flowing through the first axial resistance to fluid flow varier in the first well, and producing one or both of the one or more mobilizing fluids and mobilized fluids, comprising the viscous hydrocarbons, from the second well through the at least a portion of the second well having second axial resistance to fluid flow varier, and operating the first well and the second well so that gravity drainage and convective displacement are employed concurrently in recovering the viscous hydrocarbons.