Back to results
US 12,196,412 B2Granted
Production of renewable fuel for steam generation for heavy oil extraction
AssigneeKore Infrastructure
InventorJoseph E. Zuback
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are described for improving the efficiency and reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels produced from heavy oil extracted with the steam injection process, by replacing natural gas from fossil fuel sources with a substitute renewable gas produced from solid carbonaceous materials while co-producing a solid carbonaceous byproduct.
Claims19
A method for a heavy oil extraction process having a carbon footprint by a reduced-carbon process, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a pyrolyzer for use in a gas production process,
- (a) a fuel input stream comprising a carbon-based fuel, and
- (b) a solid, carbon-based feedstock input from a renewable feedstock source,
- indirectly heating the solid carbon-based feedstock input by the fuel in the pyrolyzer via an anaerobic pyrolysis process to produce, from the feedstock, a liberated renewable output gas, the renewable output gas having a calorific value sufficient for use in steam generation, and a carbonaceous residual solid output, the carbonaceous residual solid output comprising carbon removed from the atmosphere via plant growth, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the of the oil extraction process;
- directing the renewable output gas to a gas recycling unit, and dividing, by the gas recycling unit, the renewable output gas into a first portion and a second portion;
- using the first portion of the renewable output gas to provide energy for a steam generator, thereby reducing an amount of natural gas utilized in the steam generator;
- and
- using steam from the steam generator in a heavy oil extraction process, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the oil extraction process.
5 more elements
A system for a heavy oil extraction process having a carbon footprint by a reduced-carbon process, the system comprising:
- a pyrolyzer for use in a gas production process, wherein the pyrolyzer is configured to:
- receive (a) a fuel input stream comprising a carbon-based fuel, and (b) a solid, carbon-based feedstock input from a renewable feedstock source;
- indirectly heat the solid carbon-based feedstock input by the fuel in the pyrolyzer via an anaerobic pyrolysis process;
- and
- produce, from the feedstock, a liberated renewable output gas, the renewable output gas having a calorific value sufficient for use in steam generation, and a carbonaceous residual solid output, the carbonaceous residual solid output comprising carbon removed from the atmosphere via plant growth, thereby reducing the carbon footprint of the of the oil extraction process;
- a gas recycling unit,
- wherein the pyrolyzer is configured to direct the renewable output gas to the gas recycling unit, and
- wherein the gas recycling unit is configured to divide the renewable output gas into a first portion and a second portion;
- and
- a steam generator configured to generate steam using energy from the first portion of the renewable output gas, thereby reducing an amount of natural gas utilized in the steam generator,
- wherein using steam generated by the steam generator in a heavy oil extraction process reduces a carbon footprint of the oil extraction process.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.