Process and apparatus for enhanced hydrocarbon recovery
AssigneeL'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
InventorsErrico De Francesco, Pietro Di Zanno, Denis Cieutat, Guillaume De-Smedt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir includes separating air into a nitrogen-rich gas and an oxygen-rich gas, oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel with at least part of the oxygen-rich gas to produce steam and a CO2-rich gas, injecting at least part of the steam through an injection well into the reservoir to heat the hydrocarbons, purging the injection well with at least part of the nitrogen-rich gas, and injecting at least part of the CO2-rich gas into the reservoir containing the heated hydrocarbons.
Claims25
A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising:
- separating air into a nitrogen-rich gas and an oxygen-rich gas;
- oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel with at least part of the oxygen-rich gas to produce steam and a CO2-rich gas;
- injecting at least part of the steam through an injection well into the reservoir to heat the hydrocarbons;
- purging the injection well with at least part of the nitrogen-rich gas;
- and
- injecting at least part of the CO2-rich gas into the reservoir containing the heated hydrocarbons.
A system for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising:
- an air separation unit configured to separate air into at least a nitrogen-rich gas and an oxygen-rich gas;
- an oxidation unit configured to oxidize a hydrocarbon fuel using the oxygen-rich gas, wherein the oxidation unit provides heat for producing steam and produces a CO2-rich gas, and wherein the oxidation unit is configured to oxidize the hydrocarbon fuel in the absence of an atmospheric air supply;
- an injection well in fluid communication with the produced steam, the CO2-rich gas, and the nitrogen-rich gas.
A method for recovering hydrocarbons from a reservoir, comprising:
- separating air into a nitrogen-rich gas and an oxygen-rich gas;
- oxidizing a hydrocarbon fuel with at least part of the oxygen-rich gas to produce steam and a CO2-rich gas;
- injecting the steam into the reservoir to produce hydrocarbons for a period of time to heat the hydrocarbons;
- after stopping the injection of the steam, injecting the nitrogen-rich gas into the reservoir;
- after stopping the injection of the nitrogen-rich gas, injecting the CO2-rich gas into the reservoir while the hydrocarbons remain sufficiently heated to enhance recovery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.