NOVEL IN SITU COMBUSTION TECHNIQUE USING A SEMI PERMEABLE COLLOIDAL SYSTEM

In‑situ combustion is a thermal enhanced oil recovery process. The technique is based on the principle of reducing a viscosity of oil by heating it in a reservoir itself. This paper presents a novel technique about the wet in‑situ combustion process, which makes use of in‑situ hydrocarbons for causing a premature spontaneous combustion within a reservoir. This technique uses a semi‑permeable colloidal sap, which has two virtual compartments in it, one store the fixed volume of fuel gas and the other compartment which allows only crude oil to enter it and occupy certain fixed volume. Once the compartment that is meant for crude oil is filled to its marked capacity, it provokes the ignition of the crude with the help of fuel gas and results in burning of crude oil creating combustion front which results in the formation of heat, water vapor and CO2. Results: With the help of this technology, a pre‑mature spontaneous ignition is induced in reservoir. It also produces a sufficient amount of coke in HTO and an ample volume of oxygen to burn the deposited coke, which gives rise to a self‑sustained combustion front. Conclusion: 1) Due to this novel technique, period of LTO is reduced and that of HTO is increased, thus, the heat which is generated at the interface, is used at its maximum efficiency, to heat up a cold heavy oil, sweeping the oil reservoir with maximum efficiency, unlike the case with conventional wet in‑situ combustion process. 2) As the fuel gas, that is stored in the colloidal sap, has certain fixed volume, it limits and controls the sustainment of the combustion front, thus avoiding the wastage.