US PATENT SUBCLASS 166 / 268
.~ Distinct, separate injection and producing wells

Current as of: June, 1999
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166 /   HD   WELLS

244.1  DF  PROCESSES {39}
268.~ Distinct, separate injection and producing wells {7}
270  DF  .~.~> Injecting a composition to adjust the permeability (e.g., selective plugging)
270.1  DF  .~.~> Injecting a composition including a surfactant or cosurfactant {1}
400  DF  .~.~> Sequentially injected separate fluids (e.g., slugs) {1}
272.1  DF  .~.~> Involving the step of heating {4}
271  DF  .~.~> Including fracturing or attacking formation
269  DF  .~.~> Fluid injected from longitudinally spaced locations in injection well
275  DF  .~.~> Injected fluid comprises water and material other than inorganic gas

DEFINITION

Classification: 166/268

Distinct, separate injection and producing wells:

(under subclass 244.1) A process comprising a step of using a plurality of wells, at least one of which receives a fluid for insertion into the pores of the earth, usually to push hydrocarbons, and another of which conducts the pushed hydrocarbons and fluid from the pores of the earth to the surface of the earth.

(1) Note. Patents are classified as originals under this definition even if the output well is not claimed if the sole disclosure is for a process involving input and output wells, and a fluid claimed as inserted into the formation is disclosed as a drive fluid. A "drive fluid" is one which is continued to be inserted into the formation until breakthrough or near breakthrough at an output well occurs (e.g., the "water" in a waterflood process, etc.). A patent describing a waterflood secondary recovery process or the like which is not specifically disclosed as applicable to a single combined input and output well is considered as drawn to a sole disclosure of input and output wells even if the output well is not mentioned.

SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:

245, for a process in which there is a specific pattern of plural wells including input and output wells.

252.1+, for a process using input and output wells and including a step of indicating, testing, measuring, or locating.

256, for a process using in situ combustion.

263, for a process using a single well in which a single well is used as an output well and then shut in or used as an input well or is used as an input well and then used as an output well.

266, for a process using input and output wells and in which there is a separation of material issuing from an output well. 306, for a process in which fluid enters and leaves a single well at spaced zones in the well.

SEE OR SEARCH CLASS

299, Mining or In Situ Disintegration of Hard Material,

4, for subject matter relating to input and output wells utilized for in situ conversion of solid material other than hydrocarbon to fluid for recovery.

507, Earth Boring, Well Treating, and Oil Field Chemistry,

200+, for compositions for treating a well and processes for using the compositions involving no significant manipulative step or relationship with the well. A process including placing a composition into the pores of the earth is considered to involve a significant manipulative step or relationship.