Method for establishing communication path in viscous petroleum-containing formations including tar sand deposits for use in oil recovery operations

摘要: Many oil recovery techniques for viscous such as of bitumen from tar sand deposits, including steam injection and in situ combustion, require establishment a high permeability interwell fluid flow path the formation. The method present invention comprises forming an initial entry zone into formation by means noncondensible gas sweep or hydraulic fracturing propping, utilizing streaks naturally occurring within formation, expanding injecting swept zone, propped fracture streak. mixture is injected at pressure pounds per square inch not exceeding numerically overburden thickness feet, steam-noncondensible gas-bitumen produced either same remotely located well. operation may be repeated through several cycles order to enlarge channel. Suitable gases include nitrogen, air, carbon dioxide, flue gas, exhaust methane, natural ethane, propane, butane mixtures thereof. Saturated supersaturated used.