Patent ID: 8091626

Claim:
A downhole-combustion unit, disposed in a drill hole and below a ground surface, the unit adapted for receiving fuel, water and a compressed air and steam mixture and creating a thermal energy carrier fluid (TECF) therein and injecting the TECF into a hydrocarbon permeable zone next to a lower portion of the drill hole, the unit comprising: a well-bore outer casing, the outer casing cemented in place in the drill hole; a well-bore inner casing, the inner casing disposed inside the outer casing and suspended from the ground surface, the inner casing having injection holes in a lower portion thereof; the lower portion of the inner casing with injection holes providing a combustion chamber inside the lower portion, the inner casing adapted for receiving the air and steam mixture under pressure therein; an outer annulus disposed between the outer casing and the inner casing, the annulus adapted for receiving the water under pressure therein, the water received through the injection holes into the combustion chamber; a gas fuel tubing, the tubing disposed inside the inner casing and suspended from the ground surface, the tubing extending downwardly and next to the injection holes in the lower portion of the inner casing, the tubing adapted for receiving the fuel therein and discharged into the combustion chamber through holes in a lower portion of the tubing; and ignition means suspended from the ground surface and inside the inner casing for igniting the fuel, water and the air and steam mixture inside the combustion chamber thereby creating the TECF, the TECF exiting out an open bottom of the inner casing and into the permeable zone.