Patent ID: 8230921
Filing Date: 2012-07-31
Classification: E21B

Abstract:
1. A method for the in-situ hydrogenation and recovery of crude oil which method comprises: (a) establishing an in-situ reaction zone within a crude oil reservoir; (b) heating at least a portion of the in-situ reaction zone to a temperature of from about 150° C. to about 500° C.; (c) injecting an oxygenated organic hydrocarbon compound into the in-situ reaction zone; (d) reacting the oxygenated organic hydrocarbon compound in the in-situ reaction zone to produce hydrogen and other cracking products; (e) hydrogenating crude oil in the in-situ reaction zone in the presence of the hydrogen produced to form a hydrogenation reaction product; and (f) recovering a hydrocarbon material from the crude oil reservoir including at least some of the hydrogenation reaction product and crude oil.