Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100175872 | IN SITU COMBUSTION AS ADJACENT FORMATION HEAT SOURCE - Methods and apparatus relate to in situ combustion. Configurations of injection and production wells facilitate the in situ combustion. A first production well disposed in a first oil bearing reservoir is spaced from a second production well disposed in a second oil bearing reservoir separated from the first oil bearing reservoir by a stratum having lower permeability than the first and second oil bearing reservoirs. The stratum isolates one of the first and second production wells from one of the first and second oil bearing reservoirs. In situ combustion through the first oil bearing reservoir generates heat that irradiates into the second oil bearing reservoir to enable producing hydrocarbon with the second production well. | 07-15-2010 |
20100206563 | IN SITU COMBUSTION PROCESSES AND CONFIGURATIONS USING INJECTION AND PRODUCTION WELLS - Methods and systems relate to in situ combustion utilizing configurations of injection and production wells to facilitate the in situ combustion. The wells define vertically deviated lengths that have different orientations from one another. Further, heating processes such as resistive heating and cyclic steam stimulation may take place in one or both of the injection and production wells to precondition a reservoir prior to the in situ combustion. | 08-19-2010 |
20100230097 | HYDROCARBON PRODUCTION PROCESS - Methods and apparatus relate to producing hydrocarbons. Injecting a fluid mixture of steam and carbon dioxide into a hydrocarbon bearing formation facilitates recovery of the hydrocarbons. Further, limiting amounts of non-condensable gases in the mixture may promote dissolving of the carbon dioxide into the hydrocarbons upon contact of the mixture with the hydrocarbons. | 09-16-2010 |
20100236778 | METHOD FOR REDUCING THERMAL LOSS IN A FORMATION - A method for reducing thermal loss in a formation comprising two zone capable of production. The method first begins drilling a pair of wells, comprising a first well and a second well in a formation having two production zones, wherein one production zone is a thief zone such that the first well and the second well are in fluid communication with the thief zone. A sealing agent is injected into the thief zone via a first well and produced from the second well. Either the first well or the second well is then capped to form a capped well and a uncapped well. An amount of activating agent is injected into the uncapped well to form in-situ a thermally restrictive substance inside the thief zone. | 09-23-2010 |
20100243249 | METHOD FOR ACCELERATING START-UP FOR STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE OPERATIONS - The present embodiment discloses a method for decreasing the time required for a start-up phase in a steam assisted gravity drainage production. The present method describes forming a steam assisted gravity drainage production well pair within a formation comprising an injection well and a production well, beginning a preheating stop by introducing heat between the injection well and the production well, beginning a steam squeeze stage by injection steam into the formation and beginning the steam assisted gravity drainage production. | 09-30-2010 |
20100294488 | ACCELERATING THE START-UP PHASE FOR A STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE OPERATION USING RADIO FREQUENCY OR MICROWAVE RADIATION - A method for preheating a formation prior to beginning steam assisted gravity drainage production. The method proceeds by forming a steam assisted gravity drainage production well pair within a formation. A preheating stage is then begun by injecting an activator into the formation. The preheating stage is then accomplished by exciting the activator with radio frequencies. This is followed by beginning the steam assisted gravity drainage operation. | 11-25-2010 |
20100294489 | IN-SITU UPGRADING OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL IN A PRODUCTION WELL USING RADIO FREQUENCY OR MICROWAVE RADIATION AND A CATALYST - A method for heating heavy oil inside a production well. The method raises the subsurface temperature of heavy oil by utilizing an activator that has been injected below the surface. The activator is then excited with a generated microwave frequency such that the excited activator heats the heavy oil. | 11-25-2010 |
20110094735 | Completion Method for Horizontal Wells In In Situ Combustion - An underground reservoir is provided comprising an injection well and a production well. The production well has a horizontal section oriented generally perpendicularly to a generally linear and laterally extending, upright combustion front propagated from the injection well. The method relates to controlling location of inflow into a production well during in situ combustion. The horizontal section of the production well includes blocking agents to prevent well failure. | 04-28-2011 |
20110120708 | COAL BED METHANE RECOVERY - Methods relate to recovering coal bed methane. In-situ heating of coal facilitates desorption and diffusion of the methane for production of the methane through a wellbore. Water within fractures of the coal forms an electrical conduit through which current is passed. The heating relies at least in part on resistivity of the water, which thereby preheats the coal for the recovering of the methane. | 05-26-2011 |
20110120710 | IN SITU HEATING FOR RESERVOIR CHAMBER DEVELOPMENT - Methods and apparatus relate to systems and methods of recovering oil from a formation. In operation, a steam chamber develops as a result of steam injection into the formation and the recovery of fluids including the oil through a production well. An auxiliary well spaced in a lateral direction from the production well helps ensure development of the steam chamber as desired. The auxiliary well may enable heating of the formation through establishing an electric potential between the auxiliary well and the production well or by resistive heating of material forming the auxiliary well. Further, the auxiliary well may provide a flow path for solvent or gas injection to facilitate the recovery through the production well. | 05-26-2011 |
20110232903 | ENHANCED BITUMEN RECOVERY USING HIGH PERMEABILITY PATHWAYS - Methods are provided for enhancing recovery of heavy oil from oil sand reservoirs through the creation of subsurface high permeability pathways distributed throughout the oil sand reservoirs. The high permeability pathways may be boreholes that extend through the oil sand reservoir. A portion of the high permeability pathway may be packed with high permeability particulate to provide structural support and allow for high permeability throughout the boreholes. After establishing the high permeability pathways throughout the oil sand reservoir, solvent may be introduced into the oil sand reservoir. The solvent has the beneficial effect of lowering the viscosity of the heavy oil, which aids in the extraction of the heavy oil. Thermal recovery processes and other enhancements may be combined with these methods to aid in reducing the viscosity of the heavy oil. Advantages of these methods include, accelerated hydrocarbon recovery, higher production efficiencies, lower costs, and lower extraction times. | 09-29-2011 |
20110253367 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
20110253368 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat solvent within a subterranean region wherein the heated solvent, vapor, contacts heavy oil in the subterranean region to lower the viscosity of the heavy oil and improve production of the heavy oil. | 10-20-2011 |
20110253370 | PROCESS FOR ENHANCED PRODUCTION OF HEAVY OIL USING MICROWAVES - A process for utilizing microwaves to heat H | 10-20-2011 |
20110259586 | WATER TREATMENT USING A DIRECT STEAM GENERATOR - The present method produces treated water from a direct steam generator. The method begins by injecting water into a direct steam generator. The injected water is then vaporized with the direct steam generator to produce steam and an effluent stream. The combustible water impurities in the water are then combusted inside a chamber in the direct steam generator and the solid particles are removed from the effluent stream to produce a treated stream. | 10-27-2011 |
20120061080 | INLINE RF HEATING FOR SAGD OPERATIONS - The present invention provides a method for accelerating start-up for SAGD-type operation by providing radio frequency heating devices inside the lateral wells that can re-heat the injected steam after losing heat energy during the initial injection. The method also extends the lateral wells such that the drilling of vertical wells can be reduced to save capital expenses. | 03-15-2012 |
20120227964 | CARBON DIOXIDE GAS MIXTURE PROCESSING WITH STEAM ASSISTED OIL RECOVERY - Methods and apparatus relate to processing flue gas from oxy-fuel combustion. Steam generated without contact of the steam with the flue gas combines with the flue gas for injection into a formation to facilitate oil recovery from the formation. Fluids produced include the oil and carbon dioxide with a lower concentration of oxygen than present in the flue gas that is injected. | 09-13-2012 |
20120227965 | METHOD FOR ACCELERATING START-UP FOR STEAM-ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE (SAGD) OPERATIONS - A method for accelerating start-up for steam assisted gravity drainage operations comprising the steps of: forming a steam-assisted gravity drainage production well pair comprising an injection well and a production well within a formation; beginning a pre-soaking stage by soaking one or both of the wellbores of the well pair with a solvent; beginning a pre-heating stage by heating the wellbores of the well pair; beginning a squeezing stage by injecting steam into the wellbores of the well pair; and beginning steam-assisted gravity drainage production. | 09-13-2012 |
20120227966 | IN SITU CATALYTIC UPGRADING - A system and method for in situ upgrading of crude oil is provided. The system includes at least one injection well, at least two first production wells, and at least one second production well. The at least one injection well has a vertical portion and a plurality of non-vertical portions connected to the vertical portion. The at least two first production wells are preferably equi-spaced and each has a horizontal portion with a first axial direction, wherein each said horizontal portion of the first production wells is horizontally spaced apart. The at least one second production well has a horizontal portion with a second axial direction. The catalytic reactor is placed at the horizontal portion of the at least one second production well such that oil coming through the second production well will first go through the catalytic reactor for hydroprocessing. | 09-13-2012 |
20120247760 | DUAL INJECTION POINTS IN SAGD - A method for recovering petroleum from a formation, wherein at least two injection wells and at least one production well are in fluid communication with said formation, comprising: introducing a gaseous mixture into a first and a second injection well at a temperature and a pressure, wherein said gaseous mixture comprises steam and non-condensable gas (NCG); and recovering a fluid comprising petroleum from said production well, wherein said injection wells and a production well are horizontal wells, and wherein said first injection well is disposed 1-10 meters above said production well, and said second injection well is disposed at least 5 meters above said first injection well. | 10-04-2012 |
20120273195 | METHOD FOR STEAM ASSISTED GRAVITY DRAINAGE WITH PRESSURE DIFFERENTIAL INJECTION - A process for recovering hydrocarbons with steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) with pressure differential injection. | 11-01-2012 |
20120312534 | ENHANCED HYDROCARBON RECOVERY THROUGH GAS PRODUCTION CONTROL FOR NONCONDENSABLE SOLVENTS OR GASES IN SAGD OR ES-SAGD OPERATIONS - Methods are provided for enhancing hydrocarbon recovery through gas production control for noncondensable gases in SAGD or ES-SAGD operations. Steam may be injected into one or more injection wells to heat the hydrocarbons and reduce their viscosity to more easily produce the hydrocarbons. A noncondensable gas may be injected into the injection wells to beneficially reduce the steam-to-oil ratio, improving economic recovery. Unfortunately, excessive production of noncondensable gases can adversely suppress hydrocarbon production rates. To counteract this problem, gas production rates at the production wells may be controlled to optimize hydrocarbon output by limiting the produced gas-to-water ratio to certain limited ranges. The noncondensable gas may optionally comprise a combustion gas such as flue gas. By providing a useful application of existing combustion gases, green house gases emissions may be reduced. Advantages include higher efficiencies, lower costs, reduced hydrocarbon extraction time, and in some embodiments, reduced greenhouse gas emissions. | 12-13-2012 |
20130000897 | RECYCLING CO2 IN HEAVY OIL OR BITUMEN PRODUCTION - A method relates to improving production rate and recovery of heavy oil or bitumen and reducing heat loss to over and under burden in a steam-assisted production process. The method includes strategically injecting recycled carbon dioxide into the reservoir between production wells. The heat insulation and solvent effects provided by carbon dioxide dissolved in the oil phase facilitate the desired improvement on oil recovery, and simultaneously sequester the CO | 01-03-2013 |
20130333884 | SIDE-WELL INJECTION AND GRAVITY THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESSES - Methods and systems relate to recovering hydrocarbons with an injection well placed at a bottom of a reservoir some horizontal distance from a producer, such that the injection well and producer may both be in a common horizontal plane. For some embodiments, the process includes co-injection of steam with a non-condensable gas, such as methane, ethane, propane, carbon dioxide, combustion products and combinations thereof. The non-condensable gas provides additional solution gas drive while the location of the injection well beside, instead of above, the producer increases production time before a steam chamber reaches a top of the reservoir, increasing thermal and recovery efficiency of the process. | 12-19-2013 |
20140190689 | USE OF FOAM WITH IN SITU COMBUSTION PROCESS - The present invention relates to a novel method of maintaining a steady and/or proper water-gas ratio for the wet in situ combustion process for oil recovery. In particular, the method comprises mixing water with a foaming agent, or some other colloid capable of generating foam, in addition to gas. The foam carries the water through heated reservoirs more efficiently and prevents separation from the gas. As such, more heat can be scavenged, thus an increased amount of steam is generated and transferred to the oil to increase its recovery. | 07-10-2014 |
20140216739 | HEAT SCAVENGING METHOD FOR THERMAL RECOVERY PROCESS - Thermal recovery of oils is improved by capturing waste heat from a depleted steam chamber using steam plus foam and an optional gas to carry low quality steam deep into the chamber where the waste heat converts water to steam in situ. Thus, overall steam generation needs and thus costs are reduced. | 08-07-2014 |