Production of hydrocarbon using direct-contact steam generation
AssigneeSuncor Energy Inc.
InventorsHugo Acosta Ramirez, Todd Pugsley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for in situ thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir is provided. The process includes: providing an oxygen-enriched mixture, fuel, feedwater and an additive including at least one of ammonia, urea and a volatile amine to a Direct-Contact Steam Generator (DCSG); operating the DCSG, including contacting the feedwater and the additive with hot combustion gas to obtain a steam-based mixture including steam, CO2 and the additive; injecting the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture into the reservoir to mobilize the hydrocarbons therein; and producing a produced fluid including the hydrocarbons.
Claims29
A process for in situ thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising:
- providing an oxygen-enriched mixture, fuel, feedwater and an additive comprising at least one of ammonia, urea or a volatile amine to a direct-contact steam generator (DCSG);
- operating the DCSG, comprising contacting the feedwater and the additive with hot combustion gas to obtain a steam-based mixture comprising steam, CO2 and the additive;
- injecting the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture into the reservoir to mobilize the hydrocarbons therein;
- and
- producing a produced fluid comprising the hydrocarbons.
A system for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising:
- a DCSG for generating a steam-based mixture, the DCSG comprising:
- an oxygen inlet for receiving an oxygen-enriched mixture;
- a fuel inlet for receiving fuel;
- and
- at least one inlet for receiving feedwater and an additive comprising
- at least one of ammonia, urea or a volatile amine, the steam-based mixture comprising steam, CO2 and the additive;
- an injection well in fluid communication with the DCSG to receive the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture;
- a production well for recovering produced fluids from the reservoir;
- and
- a hydrocarbon separating unit in fluid communication with the production well to receive the produced fluids and separate the hydrocarbons from the produced fluids.
A process for in situ thermal recovery of hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising:
- providing an oxygen-enriched mixture, fuel, feedwater and an additive in liquid state to a DCSG, wherein the additive comprises at least one of a surfactant or a viscosity reduction agent for reducing the viscosity of the hydrocarbons;
- operating the DCSG, comprising contacting the feedwater and the additive with hot combustion gas to obtain a steam-based mixture comprising steam, CO2 and the additive in a gaseous state and/or a dispersed state;
- and
- injecting the steam-based mixture or a stream derived from the steam-based mixture into the reservoir to mobilize the hydrocarbons therein;
- and
- producing a produced fluid comprising the hydrocarbons.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.