The present invention is a process for the thermobaric production of hydrocarbons from natural reservoirs through conventional wells. The hydrocarbons are converted into corresponding vapor phase fractions in the downhole. Such conversion is accomplished through the use of a combination of gasifying agents, heated atmospheric air, and steam—all pumped into the downhole. Temperature and pressure gradients that develop in the reservoir lead to disintegration of low-porosity rock and decompaction of impermeable rock. The vapor phase fractions are recovered at the well head and condensed on-site into high quality liquid and gaseous products.

A pulse jet system and method is disclosed. In an example, the pulse jet system includes a combustion chamber, intake ports to deliver combustion agents to the combustion chamber, an expansion chamber to cool a combustion product following combustion of the combustion agents in the combustion chamber, and an exhaust to exit the cooled gas from the expansion chamber. In another example, the pulse jet system includes a combustion chamber with intake ports to deliver combustion agents to the combustion chamber, wherein the combustion chamber is part of a four cycle engine. The pulse jet system also includes an expansion chamber to cool a combustion product following combustion of the combustion agents in the combustion chamber.

Disclosed herein is a use of pulsed combustion to convert chemical energy to usable heat. For example, in boilers, heat is generated by burning fuel at burners and transferring the heat to water or other fluids, including air, through heat exchangers. In one form, these heated fluids may then be utilized to assist in removing oil from oil sand reservoirs.

Disclosed herein is a use of pulsed combustion to convert chemical energy to usable heat. For example, in boilers, heat is generated by burning fuel at burners and transferring the heat to water or other fluids, including air, through heat exchangers. In one form, these heated fluids may then be utilized to assist in removing oil from oil sand reservoirs.

A system and method for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery utilizing steam. The system may include a high pressure water pump supplying pressurized water to a heat exchanger within a combustion heater to form supercritical steam that is provided to a reservoir. The combustion heater may be a surface mounted heater or a downhole steam generator.

A system and method for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery utilizing steam. The system may include a high pressure water pump supplying pressurized water to a heat exchanger within a combustion heater to form supercritical steam that is provided to a reservoir. The combustion heater may be a surface mounted heater or a downhole steam generator.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, a process for producing dean energy from oil bearing reservoirs comprises the steps of: utilizing in-situ combustion to combust oil within an oil-bearing formation so as to generate thermal energy; producing the generated thermal energy to a surface using a purpose-built closed loop well system, the closed loop well system comprising a plurality of horizontal lateral circulation wells to circulate a working fluid between the ground-level surface and the subterranean oil-bearing formation so as to capture the generated thermal energy in the oil-bearing formation and transfer the captured generated thermal energy to the surface; and producing a plurality of combustion products to the surface using a plurality of production wells. A system for operating the process of producing clean energy from oil bearing reservoirs is also provided.

A system for recovering hydrocarbons comprises a downhole steam generator for coupling with a packer in an injector well, an umbilical device coupled to the downhole steam generator for lifting or lowering the downhole steam generator in the injector well, a first shear point disposed between the downhole steam generator and the packer, and a second shear point disposed between the umbilical device and the downhole steam generator, wherein the first shear point has a shear strength that is different than a shear strength of the second shear point.

A system for recovering hydrocarbons comprises a downhole steam generator for coupling with a packer in an injector well, an umbilical device coupled to the downhole steam generator for lifting or lowering the downhole steam generator in the injector well, a first shear point disposed between the downhole steam generator and the packer, and a second shear point disposed between the umbilical device and the downhole steam generator, wherein the first shear point has a shear strength that is different than a shear strength of the second shear point.

Methods and systems for gasifying coal are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a representative coal gasification system can comprise (i) an injection well extending from a ground surface to an underground coal gasification (UCG) reaction region of a coal seam; (ii) a production well spaced apart from the injection well and extending from the ground surface to the UCG reaction region, and (iii) conduits each extending from the ground surface to areas of the coal seam. End portions of the conduits within the coal can be laterally peripheral to the UCG reaction region. The conduits are configured to deliver a primary fluid from the ground surface to the primary region, the injection well is configured to deliver an oxidant gas to the UCG reaction region, and the production well is configured to deliver the product gas from the UCG reaction region to the ground surface.