Patent ID: 6230814
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: C09K,E21B,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for producing hydrocarbons from a subterranean formation that has at least one producing means which can communicate with at least a portion of said formation, said at least one producing means being used as a means for collecting said hydrocarbons, and at least one injection means for injecting a heated fluid composition comprising steam and an additive having at least one nonaqueous fluid, said method comprising:a) selecting said at least one nonaqueous fluid so that the evaporation temperature of said additive is within about .+-.150.degree. C. of the temperature of said steam under at least one predetermined operating pressure for said formation;b) making said heated fluid composition from said steam and said additive;c) injecting said heated fluid composition into said formation;d) heating the hydrocarbons in said formation using said fluid composition;e) condensing at least a portion of said additive from said fluid composition, wherein the mobility of the hydrocarbons in said formation is greater than the mobility of the hydrocarbons in said formation that would be obtained by heating said hydrocarbons using only said steam under substantially similar formation conditions; andf) collecting said hydrocarbons.