Method and apparatus to release energy in a well
OwnerDavid R. Smithinventor
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Abstract
The present invention is directed towards methods and apparatus to release energy into wells using combustion of monopropellants. More specifically, this invention is directed to industrial methods to enhance the extraction of well fluids from wells by using the in-situ energy released from this inventions apparatus, methods, catalyst, and fluids blends for subterranean catalytic combustion of monopropellants.
Claims39
A method for the in-situ treatment of stimulation fluids comprising the steps of:
- (a) constructing a well in the earth comprising a wellbore and a first conduit inserted inside said wellbore, said first conduit forming a fluid path from a location at or above surface to at least one subterranean reservoir;
- (b) inserting a second conduit inside said wellbore with a first end of said second conduit at or above the surface and a second end of said second conduit inside said wellbore at a point below the surface, said second conduit and said first conduit in fluid communication with one another at a mixing point below the surface;
- (c) simultaneously injecting a first fluid into said first conduit at the surface and into a subterranean environment, said first fluid comprising a stimulation fluid;
- and,
- (d) injecting a second fluid into said second conduit at the surface and into a subterranean environment to cause mixing of said second fluid with said first fluid at, or downstream from, said mixing point, said second fluid comprising a fluid that modifies the viscosity of said stimulation fluid.
An apparatus for the in-situ treatment of stimulation fluids, said apparatus comprising:
- a wellbore extending from the surface to a subterranean region;
- a first conduit within said wellbore, said first conduit comprising a fluid path from a location at or above surface to at least one subterranean reservoir, said first conduit coupled to a fluid reservoir at the surface, said fluid reservoir comprising a stimulation fluid;
- a second conduit within said wellbore, said second conduit comprising a fluid path for transporting a fluid from a location at or above surface to a location below the surface, said second conduit further comprising a communication line extending from a location at or above surface to a location below the surface said surface, said second conduit coupled to a fluid reservoir at or above the surface;
- a tubing injector device coupled to said second conduit;
- and,
- a mixing point below the surface, said mixing point fluidly coupling said first conduit to said second conduit.
A method for in-situ treatment of produced stimulation fluids, comprising the steps of
- (a) constructing a well in the earth comprising a wellbore and a first conduit inserted inside said wellbore, said first conduit forming a fluid path from at least one subterranean reservoir to a location at or above surface;
- (b) inserting a second conduit inside said wellbore with a first end of said second conduit at or above the surface and a second end of said second conduit inside said wellbore at a point below the surface, said second conduit and said first conduit in fluid communication with one another at a mixing point below the surface;
- (c) injecting a first fluid from the surface through said second conduit and past said mixing point, said first fluid comprising a fluid that modifies the viscosity of a stimulation fluid, to form a viscosity-modified stimulation fluid in-situ and,
- (d) producing viscosity-modified stimulation fluid to the surface through said first conduit.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.