METHOD OF DEVELOPING HIGH-VISCOSITY OIL POOL Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC E21B43/24 

FIELD: oil and gas production.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to small formation-vault deposits of high-viscosity oils using thermal action on formation. Invention resides in boring wells and injecting steam with air and then air. Wells are stopped for ageing during which time product is taken off. Wells are first drilled in vault part of the deposit and run as injecting and producing wells cyclically while injecting steam with air, then ageing wells, and taking off product until bottom zone is emptied. Formations disposed below are run as producing. Moreover, below producing wells, a series of wells are drilled and run as injecting-producing wells. When working-out of the pool between producing wells and injecting well is ended, producing wells are switched for injection of gas. If design pressure is exceeded, injecting well is stopped. Further drilling is led similarly top-down across the formation until pool is worked out.

EFFECT: ensured increased coverage of formation with thermal action and increased oil recovery owing to heating of all formation between wells and displacement of oil therefrom into producing wells.