US3630573A - Sulfur mining with steam - Google Patents
Sulfur mining with steam Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US3630573A US3630573A US886510A US3630573DA US3630573A US 3630573 A US3630573 A US 3630573A US 886510 A US886510 A US 886510A US 3630573D A US3630573D A US 3630573DA US 3630573 A US3630573 A US 3630573A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sulfur
- hot water
- steam
- tubing
- casing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 title claims abstract description 87
- 229910052717 sulfur Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims abstract description 86
- 239000011593 sulfur Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 86
- 238000005065 mining Methods 0.000 title abstract description 12
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims abstract description 72
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 23
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 claims description 37
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 claims description 37
- 238000010793 Steam injection (oil industry) Methods 0.000 claims description 24
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 abstract description 22
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000002844 melting Methods 0.000 abstract description 4
- 230000008018 melting Effects 0.000 abstract description 4
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 229940090044 injection Drugs 0.000 description 26
- 238000009625 Frasch process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000004326 stimulated echo acquisition mode for imaging Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000000155 melt Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 description 2
- 235000014676 Phragmites communis Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 241000364021 Tulsa Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000002737 fuel gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 150000003463 sulfur Chemical class 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
- E21B43/285—Melting minerals, e.g. sulfur
Definitions
- Hot water at a temperature above 240 but not over 320 F. is injected below the steam.
- the steam zone is surrounded by an advancing zone of hot condensate within which melting of the sulfur occurs in a temperature range of 240-320 F.
- the molten sulfur flows by gravity towards the central production tubing intake and is insulated from the hot injected steam by a blanket of hot water. Reduced water requirement per ton of sulfur and higher thermal efficiency are effected by this process.
- This invention discloses a system whereby steam can be used to transfer the bulk of the heat to the sulfur deposit yet still permit the sulfur to flow.
- a borehole is drilled into a sulfur deposit and is lined with a casing.
- a steam injection tubing is inserted with the lower end in communication with perforations in the casing in the lower part of the sulfur deposit.
- a second hot water tubing is installed inside the casing with its lower end in communication with the sulfur deposit below the steam injection perforations.
- Inside the water injection tubing is a sulfur production tubing. Inside the sulfur production tubing is an airlift pipe. Hot water is injected through the hot water tubing at a temperature of from about 280320 F., which maintains the flowing sulfur in a low viscosity range.
- the steam provides the bulk of the heat injected into the sulfur deposit. There is created an inverted cone-heating zone.
- the steam zone is surrounded by a zone of hot condensate within which melting and gravity drainage of the molten sulfur occurs at 240-320 F.
- the molten sulfur flows toward the inlet of the sulfur production string.
- the hot water flowing from the wall casing provides a blanket which insulates this molten sulfur from the higher temperature steam zone.
- FIG. 1 illustrates the conventional Frasch process
- FIG. 2 illustrates the improved sulfur mining process of our invention.
- FIG. I Shown therein is a casing which has been set in a well bore drilled into the sulfur deposit I2.
- a sulfur production string 14 is suspended concentrically within casing 10.
- a small string of pipe 16 is suspended within the production tubing 14 so that lift air can be injected into the molten sulfur within the production tubing.
- An annular packer 18 is set toward the lower end of the casing to direct hot water out the perforations 20 at the desired elevation. As mentioned above, the temperature of the injected water is limited to 320 F.
- the hot water melts the sulfur and forms a molten sulfur zone 22.
- the sulfur gravity drains to the base of production string 14. Air is injected down pipe string 16 to lift the molten sulfur to the surface.
- the Frasch process has been very successful and accounts for the bulk of the commercial production of elemental sulfur.
- the thermal efficiency of the average Frasch installation is low, ranging from about 10-20 percent.
- a part of the heat is lost by thermal conduction to adjoining formations, but the bulk of the loss is by fluid transport, i.e., by escape of hot injection water from the zone of effective sulfur recovery.
- FIG. 2 shows the improved sulfur-mining process of our invention.
- External casing 30 is set in a hole drilled into a sulfur deposit 32.
- Sulfur production tubing 34 is installed inside a hot water injection pipe 36.
- a small-diameter pipe 38 is installed for injecting lift air.
- Insulated steam injection tubing 44 is installed inside casing 30 alongside water injection pipe 36. The lower end of steam injection tubing 44 terminates below packer 46 and above packer 40. Thus, steam injected through casing 44 flows out perforations 42 into the sulfur deposit.
- Hot water injection pipe 36 extends downwardly through packer 40 in the bottom of casing 30. This hot water pipe is set a short distance above the bottom of the sulfur deposit.
- An annular seal or packer 50 is provided between sulfur production tubing 34 and hot water injection pipe 36. Hot water injection perforations 52 are provided above packer 50.
- Hot water is injected below the steam and above the molten sulfur zone 48.
- the molten sulfur flows toward the lower end of production pipe 34, and is produced in the usual manner by injecting lift air through pipe 38 at a point within production pipe 34.
- the bulk of the heat input to the sulfur deposit is provided by the injection of high-pressure steam.
- high-pressure steam For illustrative purposes, 1,000 p.s.i.a. steam (545 F. saturation temperature) is used, which permits injection at a bottom hole depth of 2,300 feet.
- the pressure of the steam is adjusted to correspond to the formation pressure.
- the steam is conducted down through tubing 44 which is insulated to minimize heat transfer to the waterflow in string 36.
- the injec tion of the hot water in the annular space surrounding the production string 34 serves to control the temperature of the molten sulfur within the low viscosity range.
- the hot water is injected at the surface into pipe 36 at a temperature above 240 F., the melting point of sulfur, and the flow rate is adjusted so that its downhole exit temperature through perforations 52 is 320 F. or less.
- the hot water flows out in a zone 60 between the steam zone 62 and the molten sulfur zone 48 and provides a blanket which insulates the molten sulfur pool 48 from the high-temperature steam zone.
- a high-temperature steam zone moving out from the well is surrounded by a hot condensate zone with temperatures gradually declining from the condensation temperature (545 F. at 1,000 p.s.i.a. reservoir pressure) down to the reservoir ambient temperature. This decline in temperature is generally indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 2.
- the advancing hot water front raises the temperature of the sulfur deposit above 240 F., and within the temperature range of 240-320 F. the sulfur melts and drains toward the pool of molten sulfur 48. The melted sulfur flows toward the well at low viscosity under the protection of the hot water blanket 60.
- one of the main causes of low thermal efficiency in the conventional Frasch process is the hot water leakage from the zone of molten sulfur capture. Since steam contains much more available heat per pound, it is estimated that the total water requirements per ton of produced sulfur for a high-temperature steam injection process can be reduced by at least a factor of five. It is desirable to regulate the steam injection rate, and to plug off reservoir voids and crevices by injection of mud, in order to achieve condensation of the steam within the effective zone of sulfur capture. By this practice a marked increase in thermal efficiency can be obtained over the conventional process due to the sharply reduced heat loss by hot water leakage. Thus, by the use of our system, we save valuable resources in the form of reduced volumes of water and fuel gas used for the heating process. Our process also is less costly and therefore permits the mining of sulfur from deposits which under the old system would be marginally economical.
- a method of recovering sulfur from an underground deposit which comprises:
- a system for producing sulfur from an underground deposit which comprises:
- An apparatus or system as defined in claim 3 including means insulating said steam injection tubing string.
- a system as defined in claim 3 including means to inject steam into said steam injection tubing string and means to inject hot water in the range of 2 50-300 F. into said hot water injection tubing.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Production Of Liquid Hydrocarbon Mixture For Refining Petroleum (AREA)
Abstract
This is an improvement and modification of the Frasch-type underground sulfur-mining process. The primary source of heat is steam with temperature up to 600*-800* F. which is injected into the sulfur deposit. Hot water at a temperature above 240* but not over 320* F. is injected below the steam. The steam zone is surrounded by an advancing zone of hot condensate within which melting of the sulfur occurs in a temperature range of 240*-320* F. The molten sulfur flows by gravity towards the central production tubing intake and is insulated from the hot injected steam by a blanket of hot water. Reduced water requirement per ton of sulfur and higher thermal efficiency are effected by this process.
Description
ilnited States Patent Inventors Appl. No.
Filed Patented Assignee Clifton S. Goddln, Jr.;
Karol l... Hujsak, both of Okla.
Dec. 19, 1969 Dec. 28, 1971 Amoco Production Company Tulsa, Okla.
SULFUR MINING WITH STEAM 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.
US. Cl
Int. Cl
166/269 E21!) 43/28 Field of Search 299/4, 5, 6; 166/269 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 461,429 l0/l89l Frasch LIFT AIR 545 F STEAM IOOO PSI 4o HoT WATER 1,846,358 2/1932 Reed 3,421,583 1/1969 Koons Primary Examiner-Ernest R. Purser Attarneys- Paul F. Hawley and John D Gassett ABSTRACT: This is an improvement and modification of the Frasch-type underground sulfur-mining process. The primary source of heat is steam with temperature up to 600-800 F.
which is injected into the sulfur deposit. Hot water at a temperature above 240 but not over 320 F. is injected below the steam. The steam zone is surrounded by an advancing zone of hot condensate within which melting of the sulfur occurs in a temperature range of 240-320 F. The molten sulfur flows by gravity towards the central production tubing intake and is insulated from the hot injected steam by a blanket of hot water. Reduced water requirement per ton of sulfur and higher thermal efficiency are effected by this process.
MOLTEN SULFUR PLUS AIR 250-300F WATER PATENTEU UEC28 r971 SHEET 1 0F 2 LIFT AlR-- 320 WATER-- R w Aw m m H O 2 WV fl 5:: R p E O TF A0 8 W0 2 T3 0 H RG W W Lm U Z B PRlOR ART PATENTED UEEZS I97! SHEET 2 [IF 2 LIFT AlR-- MOLTEN SULFUR v PLUS AIR 545 F STEAM IOOO PSI SULFUR BEARING ZONE 32 lNSULATlON\ INVENTORS CLIFTON S. GODDIN JR.
BY 1 KAROL L. HUJSAK ATTORNEY SULFUR MINING WITH STEAM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the mining of underground deposits of sulfur. It relates especially to a system in which steam and hot water are injected to accomplish heating of the formation and recovery of molten sulfur.
2. Setting of the Invention Large quantities of elemental sulfur are found in underground deposits which vary in depth from about 300 to 2,300 feet. The most common method of mining this sulfur is by the Frasch hot water process. In that process a well bore is drilled into the sulfur deposit. A central production tubing is installed within an outer, larger diameter casing. Hot water is injected down the annulus between the production tubing and t the casing and flows out through perforations in the casing into the sulfur deposit. When the deposit temperature reaches 240 F. the sulfur melts and flows downwardly toward the production tubing. Compressed air is introduced into the production tubing to lift the molten sulfur to the surface. The hot water temperature is limited to 320 F. because at higher temperature the viscosity of molten sulfur rapidly rises to as high as 10,000 centipoises.
It is known that it is more efficient to transfer heat by steam than with water. However, steam is not used in this type sulfur mining process since the pressure of 320 F. saturated steam is only 75 p.s.i.g. which is insufficient to accomplish injection into sulfur deposits which lie below about 200 feet in depth. For steam to exist above 75 p.s.i.g., the temperature would be above 320 F. and the sulfur would be too viscous to flow through the production tubing.
This invention discloses a system whereby steam can be used to transfer the bulk of the heat to the sulfur deposit yet still permit the sulfur to flow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A borehole is drilled into a sulfur deposit and is lined with a casing. A steam injection tubing is inserted with the lower end in communication with perforations in the casing in the lower part of the sulfur deposit. A second hot water tubing is installed inside the casing with its lower end in communication with the sulfur deposit below the steam injection perforations. Inside the water injection tubing is a sulfur production tubing. Inside the sulfur production tubing is an airlift pipe. Hot water is injected through the hot water tubing at a temperature of from about 280320 F., which maintains the flowing sulfur in a low viscosity range. The steam provides the bulk of the heat injected into the sulfur deposit. There is created an inverted cone-heating zone. The steam zone is surrounded by a zone of hot condensate within which melting and gravity drainage of the molten sulfur occurs at 240-320 F. The molten sulfur flows toward the inlet of the sulfur production string. The hot water flowing from the wall casing provides a blanket which insulates this molten sulfur from the higher temperature steam zone.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 illustrates the conventional Frasch process;
FIG. 2 illustrates the improved sulfur mining process of our invention.
Attention is first directed to FIG. I for a brief description of the prior art method of sulfur mining and to point out some of the limitations which have been found therein. Shown therein is a casing which has been set in a well bore drilled into the sulfur deposit I2. A sulfur production string 14 is suspended concentrically within casing 10. A small string of pipe 16 is suspended within the production tubing 14 so that lift air can be injected into the molten sulfur within the production tubing. An annular packer 18 is set toward the lower end of the casing to direct hot water out the perforations 20 at the desired elevation. As mentioned above, the temperature of the injected water is limited to 320 F. since the viscosity of liquid sulfur rapidly increases from about 10 centipoises at this temperature to above l0,000 centipoises at 325 F. An attempt to operate the conventional Frasch well with injection fluid temperature above 320 F. would be futile due to flow resistance offered by the high-viscosity sulfur. Although steam at 320" F. has substantially more available heat than water at the same temperature, steam is not used in the Frasch process. This is due to the face that the sulfur deposits occur at depths which require injection pressures higher than the 75 p.s.i.g. saturation pressure of 320 F. steam.
In the process of FIG. I, the hot water melts the sulfur and forms a molten sulfur zone 22. The sulfur gravity drains to the base of production string 14. Air is injected down pipe string 16 to lift the molten sulfur to the surface.
The Frasch process has been very successful and accounts for the bulk of the commercial production of elemental sulfur. However, the thermal efficiency of the average Frasch installation is low, ranging from about 10-20 percent. A part of the heat is lost by thermal conduction to adjoining formations, but the bulk of the loss is by fluid transport, i.e., by escape of hot injection water from the zone of effective sulfur recovery.
Attention is now directed to FIG. 2 which shows the improved sulfur-mining process of our invention. External casing 30 is set in a hole drilled into a sulfur deposit 32. Sulfur production tubing 34 is installed inside a hot water injection pipe 36. Inside the sulfur production pipe 34 a small-diameter pipe 38 is installed for injecting lift air. Insulated steam injection tubing 44 is installed inside casing 30 alongside water injection pipe 36. The lower end of steam injection tubing 44 terminates below packer 46 and above packer 40. Thus, steam injected through casing 44 flows out perforations 42 into the sulfur deposit.
Hot water injection pipe 36 extends downwardly through packer 40 in the bottom of casing 30. This hot water pipe is set a short distance above the bottom of the sulfur deposit. An annular seal or packer 50 is provided between sulfur production tubing 34 and hot water injection pipe 36. Hot water injection perforations 52 are provided above packer 50. Thus, hot water is injected below the steam and above the molten sulfur zone 48. The molten sulfur flows toward the lower end of production pipe 34, and is produced in the usual manner by injecting lift air through pipe 38 at a point within production pipe 34.
in our process the bulk of the heat input to the sulfur deposit is provided by the injection of high-pressure steam. For illustrative purposes, 1,000 p.s.i.a. steam (545 F. saturation temperature) is used, which permits injection at a bottom hole depth of 2,300 feet. The pressure of the steam, of course, is adjusted to correspond to the formation pressure. The steam is conducted down through tubing 44 which is insulated to minimize heat transfer to the waterflow in string 36. The injec tion of the hot water in the annular space surrounding the production string 34 serves to control the temperature of the molten sulfur within the low viscosity range. The hot water is injected at the surface into pipe 36 at a temperature above 240 F., the melting point of sulfur, and the flow rate is adjusted so that its downhole exit temperature through perforations 52 is 320 F. or less. The hot water flows out in a zone 60 between the steam zone 62 and the molten sulfur zone 48 and provides a blanket which insulates the molten sulfur pool 48 from the high-temperature steam zone.
A high-temperature steam zone moving out from the well is surrounded by a hot condensate zone with temperatures gradually declining from the condensation temperature (545 F. at 1,000 p.s.i.a. reservoir pressure) down to the reservoir ambient temperature. This decline in temperature is generally indicated by the dashed lines in FIG. 2. The advancing hot water front raises the temperature of the sulfur deposit above 240 F., and within the temperature range of 240-320 F. the sulfur melts and drains toward the pool of molten sulfur 48. The melted sulfur flows toward the well at low viscosity under the protection of the hot water blanket 60.
As mentioned above, one of the main causes of low thermal efficiency in the conventional Frasch process is the hot water leakage from the zone of molten sulfur capture. Since steam contains much more available heat per pound, it is estimated that the total water requirements per ton of produced sulfur for a high-temperature steam injection process can be reduced by at least a factor of five. It is desirable to regulate the steam injection rate, and to plug off reservoir voids and crevices by injection of mud, in order to achieve condensation of the steam within the effective zone of sulfur capture. By this practice a marked increase in thermal efficiency can be obtained over the conventional process due to the sharply reduced heat loss by hot water leakage. Thus, by the use of our system, we save valuable resources in the form of reduced volumes of water and fuel gas used for the heating process. Our process also is less costly and therefore permits the mining of sulfur from deposits which under the old system would be marginally economical.
While the above embodiments of the invention have been described with considerable detail, it is to be understood that various modifications of the device can be made without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention.
We claim:
1. A method of recovering sulfur from an underground deposit which comprises:
injecting steam at a temperature above about 325 F. into a first part of the deposit;
injecting hot water at not over about 320 F. into the deposit just below the point of injection of steam to form a hot water zone;
producing molten sulfur from below the hot water zone.
2. A method as defined in claim 1 in which said hot water is injected down a channel surrounding the channel through which the molten sulfur is produced.
3. A system for producing sulfur from an underground deposit which comprises:
a first casing set in a well drilled into said sulfur deposit, said casing terminating in the lower part of said deposit, there being steam injection perforations in the lower end of said casing;
a water injection tubing set inside said casing and the lower end portion extending below the said steam injection perforations, there being hot water injection perforations in the lower end portion of said hot water injection tubing to establish fluid communication between the hot water injection tubing and the said underground deposit of sulfur;
a sulfur-producing string suspended within said hot water injection tubing and extending below said hot water injec tion perforations;
a steam injection string of tubing inside said casing and exterior said hot water injection tubing, the lower end of said steam injection tubing terminating adjacent said steam injection perforations;
means to seal the lower interior end of said casing exterior of said hot water injection tubing above said hot water perforations;
means to close the interior of said casing exterior of said hot water injection tubing and said steam injection string just above said steam injection perforations;
means to close the lower end of said hot water injection tubing exterior of said sulfur-producing stringjust below said hot water perforations.
4. An apparatus or system as defined in claim 3 including means insulating said steam injection tubing string.
5. A system as defined in claim 3 including means to inject steam into said steam injection tubing string and means to inject hot water in the range of 2 50-300 F. into said hot water injection tubing.
6. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the steam is injected in the temperature range of from about 600 to 800 F.
7. A method as defined in claim 1 in which said steam is injected at a pressure over about 75 psi.
Claims (6)
- 2. A method as defined in claim 1 in which said hot water is injected down a channel surrounding the channel through which the molten sulfur is produced.
- 3. A system for producing sulfur from an underground deposit which comprises: a first casing set in a well drilled into said sulfur deposit, said casing terminating in the lower part of said deposit, there being steam injection perforations in the lower end of said casing; a water injection tubing set inside said casing and the lower end portion extending below thE said steam injection perforations, there being hot water injection perforations in the lower end portion of said hot water injection tubing to establish fluid communication between the hot water injection tubing and the said underground deposit of sulfur; a sulfur-producing string suspended within said hot water injection tubing and extending below said hot water injection perforations; a steam injection string of tubing inside said casing and exterior said hot water injection tubing, the lower end of said steam injection tubing terminating adjacent said steam injection perforations; means to seal the lower interior end of said casing exterior of said hot water injection tubing above said hot water perforations; means to close the interior of said casing exterior of said hot water injection tubing and said steam injection string just above said steam injection perforations; means to close the lower end of said hot water injection tubing exterior of said sulfur-producing string just below said hot water perforations.
- 4. An apparatus or system as defined in claim 3 including means insulating said steam injection tubing string.
- 5. A system as defined in claim 3 including means to inject steam into said steam injection tubing string and means to inject hot water in the range of 250*-300* F. into said hot water injection tubing.
- 6. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the steam is injected in the temperature range of from about 600* to 800* F.
- 7. A method as defined in claim 1 in which said steam is injected at a pressure over about 75 p.s.i.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US88651069A | 1969-12-19 | 1969-12-19 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US3630573A true US3630573A (en) | 1971-12-28 |
Family
ID=25389163
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US886510A Expired - Lifetime US3630573A (en) | 1969-12-19 | 1969-12-19 | Sulfur mining with steam |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US3630573A (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4124253A (en) * | 1977-12-21 | 1978-11-07 | Freeport Minerals Company | Sulfur well sealing method |
US4157847A (en) * | 1977-07-28 | 1979-06-12 | Freeport Minerals Company | Method and apparatus for utilizing accumulated underground water in the mining of subterranean sulphur |
US4399865A (en) * | 1981-07-20 | 1983-08-23 | Chevron Research Company | Concentric steaming string downhole apparatus |
US4778010A (en) * | 1987-03-18 | 1988-10-18 | Union Carbide Corporation | Process for injection of oxidant and liquid into a well |
US4834178A (en) * | 1987-03-18 | 1989-05-30 | Union Carbide Corporation | Process for injection of oxidant and liquid into a well |
US4869555A (en) * | 1988-01-06 | 1989-09-26 | Pennzoil Sulphur Company | Apparatus for recovery of sulfur |
US5622450A (en) * | 1995-03-24 | 1997-04-22 | Grant, Jr.; Richard P. | Pressure extraction process for removing soil and groundwater contaminants |
US20090266277A1 (en) * | 2006-10-18 | 2009-10-29 | Boildec Oy | Method and device for emptying the floor of a soda recovery boiler |
US20110232688A1 (en) * | 2008-12-05 | 2011-09-29 | Boildec Oy | method and device for emptying the floor of a black liquor recovery boiler |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US461429A (en) * | 1891-10-20 | Mining sulphur | ||
US1846358A (en) * | 1930-10-27 | 1932-02-23 | Warren B Reed | Process of mining sulphur |
US3421583A (en) * | 1967-08-30 | 1969-01-14 | Mobil Oil Corp | Recovering oil by cyclic steam injection combined with hot water drive |
-
1969
- 1969-12-19 US US886510A patent/US3630573A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US461429A (en) * | 1891-10-20 | Mining sulphur | ||
US1846358A (en) * | 1930-10-27 | 1932-02-23 | Warren B Reed | Process of mining sulphur |
US3421583A (en) * | 1967-08-30 | 1969-01-14 | Mobil Oil Corp | Recovering oil by cyclic steam injection combined with hot water drive |
Cited By (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4157847A (en) * | 1977-07-28 | 1979-06-12 | Freeport Minerals Company | Method and apparatus for utilizing accumulated underground water in the mining of subterranean sulphur |
US4124253A (en) * | 1977-12-21 | 1978-11-07 | Freeport Minerals Company | Sulfur well sealing method |
US4399865A (en) * | 1981-07-20 | 1983-08-23 | Chevron Research Company | Concentric steaming string downhole apparatus |
US4778010A (en) * | 1987-03-18 | 1988-10-18 | Union Carbide Corporation | Process for injection of oxidant and liquid into a well |
US4834178A (en) * | 1987-03-18 | 1989-05-30 | Union Carbide Corporation | Process for injection of oxidant and liquid into a well |
US4869555A (en) * | 1988-01-06 | 1989-09-26 | Pennzoil Sulphur Company | Apparatus for recovery of sulfur |
US5622450A (en) * | 1995-03-24 | 1997-04-22 | Grant, Jr.; Richard P. | Pressure extraction process for removing soil and groundwater contaminants |
US20090266277A1 (en) * | 2006-10-18 | 2009-10-29 | Boildec Oy | Method and device for emptying the floor of a soda recovery boiler |
US8152965B2 (en) | 2006-10-18 | 2012-04-10 | Boildec Oy | Method and device for emptying the floor of a soda recovery boiler |
US20110232688A1 (en) * | 2008-12-05 | 2011-09-29 | Boildec Oy | method and device for emptying the floor of a black liquor recovery boiler |
US8808461B2 (en) | 2008-12-05 | 2014-08-19 | Boildec Oy | Method and device for emptying the floor of a black liquor recovery boiler |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
SU1082332A3 (en) | Method for working oil deposits | |
US3142336A (en) | Method and apparatus for injecting steam into subsurface formations | |
US2771954A (en) | Treatment of petroleum production wells | |
US3513914A (en) | Method for producing shale oil from an oil shale formation | |
US3775073A (en) | In situ gasification of coal by gas fracturing | |
CN102678096B (en) | Method for exploiting high-pour-point oil reservoir through hot water assisted gravity drainage | |
US3272261A (en) | Process for recovery of oil | |
US3180414A (en) | Production of hydrocarbons by fracturing and fluid drive | |
US3630573A (en) | Sulfur mining with steam | |
US3172470A (en) | Single well secondary recovery process | |
US5014787A (en) | Single well injection and production system | |
US4493369A (en) | Method of improved oil recovery by simultaneous injection of water with an in-situ combustion process | |
US3964547A (en) | Recovery of heavy hydrocarbons from underground formations | |
US3861469A (en) | Technique for insulating a wellbore with silicate foam | |
US4227743A (en) | Method of thermal-mine recovery of oil and fluent bitumens | |
US3373805A (en) | Steam lifting of heavy crudes | |
US3396791A (en) | Steam drive for incompetent tar sands | |
US3163218A (en) | Method of consolidating a formation using a heater within a liner which is thereafter destroyed | |
US3160208A (en) | Production well assembly for in situ combustion | |
US3379250A (en) | Thermally controlling fracturing | |
US3525399A (en) | Technique for insulating a wellbore with silicate foam | |
US3707189A (en) | Flood-aided hot fluid soak method for producing hydrocarbons | |
US3227211A (en) | Heat stimulation of fractured wells | |
US3730276A (en) | Method of increasing productivity and the injectivity of oil wells | |
US3180413A (en) | Cross flow thermal oil recovery process |