Method for forming a gas phase in water saturated hydrocarbon reservoirs

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a method of recovering oil and gas from a hydrocarbon-containing reservoir generally having some degree of water saturation within the reservoir pore network by injecting a gas into the reservoir. The method applicable to reservoirs having high water saturation of about 50 percent or greater. High water saturation in a reservoir can cause excessive amounts of water to be produced to produce the hydrocarbons. Coproduction and management of this water is costly and burdensome to operations leaving many reservoirs of oil and gas are stranded, rendering the production uneconomic. The method described herein addresses this need and other needs. The injection gas (with or without other hydrocarbons) can coalesce with the hydrocarbons contained within the hydrocarbon-containing reservoir to form a continuous phase of hydrocarbons within the reservoir. Once the targeted volume of the injection gas is injected, the flow is reversed producing the gathered hydrocarbons.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 providing a reservoir having a first water saturation value and a first ratio of barrels of water to other produced fluids;   providing a gas;   injecting the provided gas at rate of from about 10 mcfd or more to about no more than about 8,000 mcfd into the reservoir to form within the reservoir a second water saturation value, the second water saturation value being less than the first water saturation value;   ceasing the injection of the gas; and   producing for the reservoir after the ceasing of the injection of gas, at second ratio of barrels of water to other produced fluids, wherein the second ratio of barrels of water to other produced fluids is less than the first ratio of barrels of water to other produced fluids.