Patents Assigned to Electroflood Company
  • Patent number: 4199025
    Abstract: In one exemplar embodiment, method and apparatus include providing an electrode disposed in a plurality of insulated, spaced boreholes penetrating the oil formation. The plurality of electrodes in contact with a water electrolyte in the formation are connected to a source of AC electrical power for establishing a current flow between the spaced electrodes and through the oil bearing formation by means of the electrolyte. The electrodes are insulated from the earth structure surrounding the boreholes for preventing an electrical current path between the electrodes and the earth structure for isolating the electrical current path between the electrodes and the formation. When the AC current passing through the formation surpasses a minimum current density, AC disassociaton of the H.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1980
    Assignee: Electroflood Company
    Inventor: Neil L. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 4037655
    Abstract: In one exemplar embodiment, method and apparatus include providing an electrode disposed in a plurality of vertically spaced boreholes penetrating the formation. The plurality of electrodes in contact with the salt water and oil of the formation are connected to a source of electrical power for establishing an AC electrical field of current flow between the spaced elctrodes. The electrodes are insulated from the earth structure surrounding the borehole for preventing an electrical current path between the electrodes and the earth structure for isolating the electrical current path from the electrode into the formation. The AC electrical current path through the formation generates volumes of free hydrogen in the formation where it is trapped for increasing the formation pressure. The increased pressure of the formation will drive the oil into producing boreholes spaced from the electrode boreholes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: Electroflood Company
    Inventor: Neil L. Carpenter